Question

Dab, dot, flick, smear.

With a few simple strokes, a middle-aged man with thick brows, small eyes, and a Four-Cornered Pacification Scarf atop his head appeared on the blank booklet spread open before him.

Huang Bin held up his brush and scrutinized it carefully for a few moments, but frowned in dissatisfaction. Turning the brush around, he habitually bit off the two split purple-bristle tips, then spat them onto the floor—or, more accurately, onto Qiu Yu's upturned head.

This whore had been carrying on with Duan Qing for over two years, and there was indeed some affection between them—but only a little.

She might have been able to cover for him with a few casual lies under normal circumstances, but how could she withstand the threats and torture of Huang Bin and Hong Jiu?

After only a few rounds, she began confessing.

According to her, she did not know exactly why Duan Qing had quit his position here, but one thing was certain: it definitely was not because he had offended some powerful figure, as the rumors claimed.

This could be inferred from the smug satisfaction that filled Duan Qing's words when he had secretly come to Qiu Yu for a tryst more than ten days ago.

The two had dallied from noon until evening that day. Duan Qing had even, for once, left behind a piece of silver, only for Qiu Yu to curse him viciously.

While the two were arguing in the room, someone outside called Duan Qing's name. Duan Qing hurriedly got dressed and pushed open the door, but found no trace of the caller outside.

Duan Qing then told Qiu Yu to stay in the room while he left alone through the back door.

Yet Qiu Yu insisted on seeing him out, and it was because