Those words finally succeeded in diverting their attention, and the two women immediately asked what Bian Weiying had wanted with him.
Shi Chun promptly recounted how Bian Weiying had approached him and questioned him. After hearing it, neither Feng Chi nor Xiang Lan'er understood what her questions had meant.
As Shi Chun put it, he could not make out Bian Weiying's attitude. She had shown no disgust at her brother finding himself a brothel woman, nor any apparent happiness at her brother's return. It seemed she had merely been asking.
Once that was discussed, they let it drop. The two women had come to see him about something else of importance.
Feng Chi opened the subject. "Must you enter Mount Wukang with our young lady?"
With his big, powder-white face, Shi Chun immediately reacted like a bird startled by the twang of a bowstring, urgently insisting, "We already agreed on this. Don't tell me you're going back on your word?"
Xiang Lan'er neither agreed nor disagreed. She stood to one side with her eyes lowered, as though it had nothing to do with her.
Feng Chi waved a hand. "We're not going back on our word. We've come up with a way to get you in as well, but we'll need your cooperation."
Hearing that he could get in, Shi Chun immediately smiled so broadly that powder fell from his face. "Of course, of course. As long as it's reasonable and within my ability, I'll certainly cooperate."
Feng Chi said, "Good. Starting today, you must act infatuated with our young lady in front of everyone. You must actively pursue her."
"Gah..." A strange sound gurgled in Shi Chun's throat. He looked at Feng Chi, then at Xiang Lan'er, but found no clues on either woman's face. Utterly baffled, he said,