Shu Danyao never expected that her casual remark would actually be taken to heart by Sima Yi.
He followed Shu Danyao out of the Bai Mansion and really went to the ancestral shrine of the Shu family to offer a stick of incense to Ji Shihan.
Shu Danyao brought Sima Yi in secretly, behind her elder brother's back.
If her elder brother knew that she had brought her love rival here, he would surely kill her.
Watching Sima Yi sincerely repent in front of Ji Shihan's tomb, Shu Danyao scoffed and said, "If you had known this earlier, why did you do it in the first place?"
"The situation forced me. I had no choice."
Shu Danyao pursed her lips and said nothing.
How could she forget that the man in front of her was a great rebel?
As she thought about it, Shu Danyao began to calculate in her mind.
How much silver could she earn by selling this rebel?
Shu Danyao just thought about it. No matter how greedy she was, she wouldn't do something like betraying her friend.
Yes, she had already regarded Sima Yi as a friend.
Although Sima Yi had done some despicable things before, just because he came to offer incense to Ji Shihan and knew how to correct his mistakes, she respected him as a real man.
As a native of Huangcheng, Shu Danyao played the role of a good host and invited Sima Yi to the best restaurant in Huangcheng, the Mingyue Restaurant, for dinner.
The owner of the Mingyue Restaurant was A Shun. Now everyone respected him as Master Shun when they saw him.
After all, this was Huangcheng, and there were quite a few people who knew Sima Yi. Sima Yi wore a mask that covered half of his face to avoid being recognized and causing trouble.
A Shun recognized Shu Danyao at a glance and came forward to greet her in person.
"Miss Shu."
"Do you still have private rooms?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Miss. If you had come earlier, I would have reserved one for you. There are only private rooms on the upper floor. Although they're not enclosed private rooms, there are only two or three tables in each room, and there are screens for separation. What do you think?"
"Okay then. A private room will do." Shu Danyao was an easy - going customer.
She also ran a business herself and knew how hard it was for businessmen. There was no need to make things difficult for each other among peers.
A Shun personally led the two of them upstairs, prepared tea for them, and then called a waiter to serve them.
After A Shun left, Sima Yi said, "This boss looks quite familiar."
"Of course you find him familiar. He used to be the pageboy of Zhao Luoming, the third young master of the Zhao family. Since Zhao Luoming went to Budaguo to be a son - in - law of the royal family, he left this restaurant to A Shun."
Sima Yi suddenly understood.
"No wonder it's called the Mingyue Restaurant."
Shu Danyao looked at him with great interest. "So there are things even you, Brother Sima, don't know. I remember you used to know everything and had great abilities."
Sima Yi smiled bitterly. "It was the Sima Villa that had great abilities. It has nothing to do with me."
Shu Danyao thought for a while and nodded.
"You're right. I forgot you're a jobless drifter now."
Sima Yi: "..."
Shu Danyao had a misunderstanding of Sima Yi. In fact, it wasn't quite accurate to say he was a jobless drifter. The Sima Villa used to be extremely wealthy. With the family fortune left behind, Sima Yi could live a comfortable life.
Moreover, Sima Yi wasn't stupid. After giving up his position as the young master of the villa, he devoted himself to business and made money with money. The remaining family fortune of the Sima Villa had multiplied several times in his hands.
However, Shu Danyao was right in a way. He was indeed jobless and a drifter.
Sima Yi smiled and didn't intend to explain.
While they were waiting for the dishes to be served, three young gentlemen came into the private room.
As they passed by Shu Danyao, they glanced at her and joked.
"Yo, Miss Shu, are you on a blind date?"
The man said while laughing and glanced at Sima Yi.
Sima Yi was wearing a mask and dressed very simply to avoid attracting attention.
"Miss Shu, your pick isn't very good. You were so picky back then and looked down on me. Now you're only worthy of this kind of guy?"
Hearing this, Sima Yi had already tightened his grip on the wine cup.
Shu Danyao knew Sima Yi's abilities. He was highly skilled in martial arts. These weak scholars wouldn't be his opponents even if they attacked together.
Shu Danyao pressed Sima Yi's hand and shook her head slightly, signaling him not to act rashly.
Fortunately, at this time, A Shun heard the commotion and came upstairs. He persuaded the men back to their seats, thus avoiding a farce.
After those men sat down, they didn't stop. They were still talking loudly. Their words were very unpleasant, and they didn't even try to avoid suspicion. They were clearly meant for Shu Danyao to hear.
At this time, A Shun came over and asked, "Miss Shu, do you need me to change a private room for you?"
"No need. They're just a few flies. They're disgusting, but I'm not going to take them to heart. I'm not going to lose my appetite because of them."
"I'm sorry, Miss Shu. I'll waive your bill this time. You can order whatever you like."
Shu Danyao smiled.
"Then I won't be polite."
Soon, the dishes were served.
As Shu Danyao said, she really didn't take it to heart and ate heartily.
Even an outsider like Sima Yi was angry, but she ate merrily and even greeted Sima Yi while eating.
"Why aren't you eating, Young Master Sima? Eat."
Sima Yi was very curious. "Aren't you angry?"
"That man is just a defeated opponent of mine. Why should I be angry?"
"Defeated opponent?"
"Yes. Back then, my parents forced me to marry him. I didn't like him, so I moved out and started my own business. Unexpectedly, he came to provoke me. I told him that he couldn't earn as much money as me and wasn't qualified to marry me. So we made a bet to see who could earn more money in three months. If I lost, I would marry him. If he lost, he would never bother me again."
"The result must be that you won, Miss Shu."
"I outperformed him by a long way. This guy loves to gamble but doesn't want to admit defeat. He refused to honor the bet afterwards. Every time he sees me on a blind date, he acts like this. I don't know where he gets his confidence from."
Sima Yi lowered his head. Men were like this. They were ordinary but extremely confident.
This seemed to be a common problem among most men.
"Okay, don't waste your energy on a few flies. Come, Brother Sima. I'll use tea instead of wine. First, I'd like to welcome you, and second, I'd like to wish you a smooth journey."
"I'll accept the welcome, but why the smooth - journey wish?"
"Brother Sima, now that you've finished your business, aren't you going to leave?"
Sima Yi smiled and said, "I haven't been to Huangcheng for a long time. I want to stay here for a few more days. Why, isn't Miss Shu welcome?"
Shu Danyao couldn't help but think to herself: You can meet someone you know with just a few steps in Huangcheng. You, a rebel, are really bold.
"Since Brother Sima is willing to stay, I'm naturally welcome. It's my fault. Then this cup is just to welcome you, Brother Sima. Welcome to Huangcheng."
Sima Yi looked at Shu Danyao and accepted it with a smile.
He didn't tell Shu Danyao that he didn't just come to Huangcheng for fun.
Of course, before that, he was going to teach those who dared to speak rudely a lesson.
...
On a dark and windy night, the three drunken young gentlemen were cornered in a dark alley and beaten up severely.
The next day, when the street - sweeping old man found them, their clothes had been stripped off. They could only cover their private parts and run away in a hurry.
At this time, Shu Danyao was doing the accounts in the accounting room. The maid heard the commotion and came to report.
"Miss, Miss, great news! That Young Master Yan who always bullies you doesn't know who he offended. He was beaten up severely. Not only did he become a mess, but his clothes were also stripped off. Now he's the laughingstock of the whole city."
"Really?"
"Miss, why aren't you reacting at all? Shouldn't you clap your hands and be happy when you hear such news?"
"They're just a few flies. There's nothing to be happy about. Their deaths have nothing to do with me."
At this time, the doorman came to report.
"Miss, there's a man named Sima who wants to see you."
A smile immediately appeared on Shu Danyao's face.
"Ask him to wait a moment. I'll come right away."
Under the stunned gaze of the maid, Shu Danyao put down the ledger, carefully tidied up her makeup in front of the bronze mirror, and then went out to greet the guest.
Watching the happy back of the young lady, the maid couldn't help but sigh.
"Our young lady's late - blooming peach blossom is finally going to bloom."