"...Y-you, how did you know?" Lili clenched his jaw, his expression restrained and controlled. His whole face was stiff and cold, and only the storm brewing in his eyes betrayed his true feelings. He clenched the enormous fist hanging at his side. "Who are you?"
Those last three words brimmed with hostility.
It was as if he could twist Qi Shan's head off at any moment!
Shen Tang immediately stepped in front of Qi Shan, watching Lili warily, ready for him to suddenly lash out. Black-faced Gentleman, who always followed close at Shen Tang's side like a little wife, also sensed the danger and pressure. He lowered his pig's head and grunted softly.
A strange expression flickered across Qi Shan's face.
He first patted Shen Tang on the shoulder, signaling that Young Master Shen didn't need to be so guarded, then looked up into Lili's eyes and said unhurriedly, "I am Qi Shan, courtesy name Yuanliang. I'm afraid you've misunderstood, sir. I'm not your enemy..."
Much less some sort of love rival...
That "Poisonous Spider" really was the sort of woman who shortened the lives of anyone who got involved with her.
|ω)
He and Lili were connected in a way, but it was a connection that took eighty-one twists and turns. They hadn't known each other directly.
Back when Qi Shan had been fleeing for his life, he'd gone through a period of utter poverty and despair. He'd once received assistance from a certain madam.
That madam was the younger sister of the former prefect, the notorious "Poisonous Spider"—Madam Mei.
It was through this connection that he learned that the "Poisonous Spider" had kept a lover named Lili a few years earlier, and had been quite fond of him. That made sense. If she hadn't been, she probably wouldn't