Chen Shi'an had just closed his door.
Qianshan Xue and Xiang Li came over.
"Gu Qingyao came looking for you again?" Qianshan Xue asked softly.
The question was clearly one she already knew the answer to.
Chen Shi'an nodded without speaking.
Xiang Li followed up. "What did she want?"
Chen Shi'an answered quietly, "She wanted to invite me to dinner at the Four Seas Restaurant tomorrow evening. She said she wanted to resolve the feud between our two sides."
Qianshan Xue asked, "Did you agree?"
Chen Shi'an shook his head. "No."
A faint smile appeared on Qianshan Xue's face. "Gu Qingyao is one of the finest beauties in our region, and her talent in the martial dao is outstanding. Who knows how many men have their eyes on her?
"Now she's taken the initiative to invite you to dinner, and you actually turned her down. Your heart really is made of iron and stone, isn't it?"
Chen Shi'an smiled slightly. "Sister Qian, do you want me to go?"
Xiang Li picked up the conversation. "If it were me, I'd certainly agree. Dining with a beauty is a feast for the eyes, and even the food tastes better."
Chen Shi'an glanced sideways at him. "Brother Xiang, I really never imagined you had this side to you."
Xiang Li's expression remained unchanged. "I'm only telling the truth. My appetite has clearly improved a great deal from eating with Commander Qian these past few days."
At those words, Qianshan Xue could no longer suppress the upward curve of her lips, and joy blossomed in her heart.
Chen Shi'an shook his head with a wry smile. "So I've misunderstood you sealed gourds all along.
"I thought quiet fellows like you must be bad with words.
"I never realized you weren't bad with words-you simply