Hu Xiaotian entered the Purple Orchid Palace once more, his expression as composed as ever. In truth, his heart had been far from calm these past two days. Although his previous two conversations with Qiqi had gone reasonably well, her temperament was unpredictable. No one knew what she would ultimately decide.
This time, Qiqi received Hu Xiaotian in her bedchamber. She had not been in any hurry to send the two skulls into Dragon Spirit Wonderland, either. What she had said in front of Hong Beimo had merely been an excuse to obtain the keys.
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "I thought you'd already forgotten me."
Qiqi said, "You left me with so many mysteries, yet refused to give me any answers. I wanted to ignore them, but after turning them over in my mind, curiosity won out in the end."
Hu Xiaotian said, "If I were you, I'd be even more curious."
Qiqi said, "You guessed correctly. What Ren Tianqing delivered that night really was a skull."
Hu Xiaotian said, "That was the skull he and Meizhuang stole from me."
Qiqi glanced at him. She had never imagined this rascal could get the short end of the stick, too.
Hu Xiaotian sat down beside Qiqi and, without a trace of ceremony, picked up the fragrant tea she had just poured. There was only one cup on the table, and he drained it in a single gulp. Only then did Qiqi remind him, "I already drank from that cup."
"I don't mind!"
Qiqi said, "But I mind you!"
Hu Xiaotian said, "Let's discuss business first. Matters of the heart can wait."
Looking at his shameless expression, Qiqi was simply at a loss for words.
Hu Xiaotian said, "About Dragon Spirit Wonderland..."
Qiqi opened her right hand, revealing two keys in her palm.