Red Heart Patrols the Sky

Chapter 1615: 11: Pitiful and Alone Like the Hairpin Phoenix

Chapter 1615: Chapter 11: Pitiful and Alone Like the Hairpin PhoenixCreaaak!

The window was casually shut.

The plaintive singing now lingered in the room, no longer drifting away.

A charming and lovely woman turned around, the silver bells on her wrist jingling lightly, her smile radiant as a flower: “For the past few days, music has been banned in the city, it’s troublesome if someone hears the sound.”

She glanced at the singer holding a pipa behind the screen and scolded, “Who allowed you to sing at this time? Are you asking for trouble?”

The singer stopped strumming, not uttering a word.

Not far from the window sat a woman with a fragile demeanor. Her eyes held a hint of grief, and her delicate face appeared as though a flower had withered, silently evoking a feeling of pity.

Upon hearing the voice, she said, “Please don’t blame me, Miss Ling’er, I’m just feeling unsettled, so I asked for the singing.”

Xiang Ling’er looked at her, instantly filled with joy: “How could I blame you, Sister Xiu Zhang? With such a lovely appearance, everything you do is right.”

Compared to her enthusiasm, Liu Xiuzhang was clearly much cooler, only saying, “I shouldn’t have come to this place in the first place.”

Xiang Ling’er turned her body and sat beside her, tilting her head to look at her delicate face: “When you say ‘this place,’ do you mean Linzi or Sanfen Xiangqi Tower?”

“I shouldn’t have come to either,” Liu Xiuzhang replied.

“Wrong, wrong, all wrong.” Xiang Ling’er shook her head repeatedly: “As for Linzi, on what grounds shouldn’t you come? Does this three-hundred-mile-wide Linyi City bear the surname Yan? If there is enmity, if there is resentment, that’s no reason. We were born into this world, and it should be others avoiding us, not us avoiding them.”

Liu Xiuzhang remained silent.

Xiang Ling’er continued, “As for the brothel… why can men visit but not women? There are plenty of places in the world selling bodies; did you know that in Snow Country, there are even special brothels for men?”

At this point, she pouted: “Unfortunately, most of them are skin and bones, not of good quality.”

“There is neither enmity nor resentment. It’s just that past scenes are before my eyes, why hurt oneself over them?” Liu Xiuzhang said: “As for what you said about the brothel… since ancient times, some brothels are frequented and some are not, some deal in flesh and some don’t get involved. It is not restricted by gender, it’s just that I belong to the latter. Miss Ling’er, maybe you’re very right, but we are different.”

Xiang Ling’er made an “Oh” sound: “I understand.”

“You mean to say that you walk a different path than us.” She rested her interlocked hands on the armrest, her chin propped on her forearms, and blinked her bright, watery eyes at Liu Xiuzhang: “But right now only we can help you, so what will you do, little beauty?”

She was charmingly cute and lively, especially with that perfectly fitting smile at the corner of her mouth, making it hard for anyone to feel antipathy.

And Liu Xiuzhang was the typical slender beauty, her figure was slim and delicate, with a waist that seemed barely graspable.

Yet she sat on the chair, showing no hint of frailty.

A woman of her gentle temperament seemed destined to sit alone in a deep boudoir, shedding tears before the mirror.

However, she now sat in Sanfen Xiangqi Tower of Linyi City, meeting eyes with the famed Tianxiang, Xiang Ling’er, with no trace of timidity in her gaze.

“You’re not helping me.” She said softly: “You’re investing in me. And you’re not the only ones who can invest in me; it just so happens that I’m negotiating with you. This is merely a business deal, very pure, and very simple. Had you not believed there was profit to be made, would you have invited me here?”

Xiang Ling’er slowly sat back, retracting her teasing demeanor, and with a smile said: “It’s a pity that it seems the Liu Family is not a good investment choice; from what I know, most who invested in the Liu Family of Fufeng have lost everything.”

“The same is true…” Liu Xiuzhang said: “In this place in Qi Country, your Sanfen Xiangqi Tower isn’t a heavyweight investor either. The targets you can choose from aren’t many.”

“You’ve convinced me.” Xiang Ling’er extended her index finger, gently lifting her chin that was as smooth as cream.

Perhaps she intended to display a domineering manner.

But Liu Xiuzhang just frowned at her.

Xiang Ling’er awkwardly withdrew her finger, chuckling dryly: “I was being frivolous.”

“I am very short on time now, and the Liu Family is very short on time… I believe so are you.” Liu Xiuzhang said plainly: “Do not do meaningless things.”

She stood up: “That’s enough talk for today then.”

Xiang Ling’er twirled a lock of hair around her finger: “But we haven’t talked about anything yet!”

“You wish to leave a safe retreat in the Eastern Region, or even genuinely relocate your headquarters there… Qi Country at least cannot say no. We have already reached a clear intent of cooperation, haven’t we?” Liu Xiuzhang asked rhetorically.

Xiang Ling’er gave a sweet smile: “A pity my sister Mei Yue isn’t here… I reckon you’d have a good conversation with her.”

Liu Xiuzhang simply said: “There will be a chance to meet.”

Then she turned and walked out.

The door opened and closed, people came and went.

Regardless of who, when, or what, often it repeats over and over.

It wasn’t until Liu Xiuzhang’s footsteps had faded into the distance that the singer behind the screen spoke up, explaining: “Indeed Miss Liu said she wished to hear ‘Hairpin Phoenix,’ that’s why I played it. It wasn’t to deliberately challenge the current ban in Linzi.”

“It’s alright.” Xiang Ling’er waved her hand, the bells on her wrist jingling, laughing playfully: “She just wants to test the capability of our Sanfen Xiangqi Tower. If we can’t handle this little issue, then there’s no need for cooperation.”

She gracefully settled back, leaning her head against the back of the chair: “Poor and lonely like ‘Hairpin Phoenix’~”

Softly closing her eyes, she murmured: “Play another song. I want to hear… ‘Eighteen Moans.'”

The silhouette behind the screen paused for a moment, ultimately lacking the courage to angrily smash the pipa.