His hands were so pale and delicate that they looked softer than a young girl′s face.

  Guo Dalu scratched his head so hard it was almost raw and muttered, "Since none of you moved the chests, could they have just grown legs and run off on their own?"

  Wang Dong replied, "Chests don′t have legs, but Suan Meitang does—and I bet she has a very nice pair of them."

  What Wang Dong said was usually the final conclusion.

  Besides Suan Meitang, they couldn't think of anyone else who knew there were five chests under the bed, let alone anyone who would take them away.

  Yan Qi said, "Now that she′s achieved her goal, there′s no reason for her to leave the five chests behind for us."

  Lin Taiping added, "So as soon as she saw us leave the mansion, she seized the opportunity to move them."

  Wang Dong stretched and said, "It's actually better this way. Otherwise, I wouldn′t be able to sleep comfortably on my bed."

  Lin Taiping frowned. "There's just one thing I don′t get. None of us ever even gnced toward the bed—so how did Jin Shi suspect something was hidden under it?"

  Wang Dong said, "Maybe that′s exactly why he suspected it."

  That, too, was a conclusion.

  The more someone deliberately acts like they don′t care about something, the more it proves they actually do.

  Especially women.

  If a woman is polite and friendly to everyone except you, completely ignoring you, then chances are there′s no one else in her heart—just you.

  Lin Taiping sighed. "Looks like that Jin Shi is quite the formidable character."

  Yan Qi added, "That man is a cunning old fox—his smile hides a knife. He′s far more dangerous than Gun Zi."

  Guo Dalu had been silent for a long time, but now he suddenly spoke. "The chests weren′t taken by Suan Meitang."

  Yan Qi asked, "If not her, then who?"

  Guo Dalu said, "If she had pnned to take the chests, she wouldn't have stayed here st night in the first pce."

  Yan Qi asked, "Why not?"

  Guo Dalu said, “It′s even harder to move those five trunks out of the city today than it was yesterday. Why didn′t she move them yesterday instead of today? Does she look like an idiot to you?”

  Yan Qi sneered, “Of course, she′s not an idiot—I am. I just can′t think of anyone else who would be moving those trunks.”

  Guo Dalu suddenly grinned and said, “Why do you get so worked up every time I mention Suan Meitang? Don′t tell me you′ve secretly taken a liking to her? Should I let you have her?”

  Yan Qi retorted, “Why should you ‘let’ me? Is she yours?”

  Lin Taiping sighed and said, “You haven′t even had your Suan Meitang yet, but you′ve already swallowed several bowls of vinegar. What′s the point?”

  Yan Qi ughed as well. His ughter was unique—and quite charming.

  Some people smile with their eyes first, some with their faces. But when Yan Qi ughed, it started with his nose. His nose would crinkle slightly, and then, little by little, two deep dimples would emerge on his cheeks.

  Guo Dalu watched him and shook his head. “If this guy weren′t who he is, I′d swear he was a woman.”

  Yan Qi immediately gred at him. “If I were a woman, then you′d be the real troublemaker.”

  Guo Dalu chuckled, “Of course, I know you′re not a woman. But that smile... those dimples...”

  Yan Qi huffed, “What about my dimples? Dimples just mean someone likes to drink, don′t you know?”

  Guo Dalu suddenly grabbed his hand and said, “Come on, let′s go drink.”

  Yan Qi asked, “Where?”

  Guo Dalu said, “Down the mountain.”

  Yan Qi frowned. “There′s still plenty of wine here. Why go all the way down the mountain to drink?”

  Guo Dalu winked. “I heard that Mai Laoguang′s barbecue is only made in the middle of the night. I want to try his freshly roasted duck.”

  Yan Qi scoffed, “I′m not as much of a glutton as you. Go by yourself.”

  Guo Dalu said, “You know I never drink alone.”

  Yan Qi replied, “Then why don′t you ask Lao Wang to go with you?”

  Guo Dalu ughed, “Even if you put a knife to his throat right now, he wouldn′t get out of bed.”

  Yan Qi said, “If he′s not going, I′m not going either.”

  Guo Dalu chuckled, “You′re not some delicate young dy—why are you so hesitant to go with me?”

  Yan Qi′s face seemed to flush slightly. “I said I′m not going, so I′m not going. Why are you clinging to me?”

  Guo Dalu grinned. “I don′t care whether you′re a man or a woman—I′ve already set my sights on you.”

  Wang Dong sighed, “I think you should just go with him. If you hadn′t made the mistake of befriending someone like him, you wouldn′t be in this mess. And if you don′t go, I won′t be able to sleep either.”

  Yan Qi let out a long sigh. “Good thing I′m a man. If I were a woman, I really wouldn′t be able to take this.”

  Guo Dalu ughed, “If you really were a woman, the one who wouldn′t be able to take it would be me.”

  There was no arguing with someone like Guo Dalu.

  In the end, Yan Qi was still dragging along. But as soon as they stepped out the door, both of them froze.

  It was the dead of night. By now, the people of this mountain town should have been deep in sleep—some had probably already slept and were about to wake up.

  Down in the mountain town, the lights were still burning. Guo Dalu had been here for three months, and he had never seen the town so brightly lit before.

  Guo Dalu asked, "Is it New Year′s already?"

  Yan Qi replied, "Doesn't seem like it."

  Guo Dalu frowned. "If it′s not New Year′s, then why is it so lively?"

  Yan Qi sniffed the air and said, "Even during New Year′s, I doubt it would be this lively."

  Guo Dalu grabbed his hand and said, "Come on, let′s go join the fun!"

  Yan Qi protested, "I can walk by myself. Why do you always have to hold my hand?"

  Guo Dalu grinned mischievously. "If you don′t want me to hold your hand, then hold mine instead."

  Yan Qi let out another sigh. "Looks like I′ll have to change my name again—to Yan Ba."

  Guo Dalu asked, "Why?"

  Yan Qi replied, "Meeting someone like you means I′ll have to die at least one more time."