The Eldest Legitimate Daughter is Both Beautiful and Valiant (ELDBBV) - Chapter 39

Bai Qingyan observed the way Chen Qingsheng dealt with the innkeeper just now and became increasingly satisfied with him. In the future, when the Third Sister goes into business… Chen Qingsheng will definitely become Third Sister’s right-hand man.

She turned her head and said to Lu Ping and the accompanying guards, “Uncle Ping, you stay downstairs and don’t act rashly. Follow my instructions.”

Lu Ping clasped his fists in salute.

“Eldest Miss, the innkeeper has already arranged a private room! Manjiang Restaurant is a new establishment. Although it is not as famous as the neighbouring Yanque Restaurant, it is much quieter,” said Chen Qingsheng as he led Bai Qingyan to the staircase. “Eldest Miss, please mind your step.”

“Yes, yes, yes! The best private room was cleaned for Eldest Miss early this morning! When the sun sets, Eldest Miss can open the sliding door and lean on the railing to enjoy the view of the street lit by red lanterns. It’s definitely an excellent spot! The view is definitely not inferior to the private rooms in Yanque Restaurant!” The innkeeper followed behind with a beaming smile.

“The innkeeper is very considerate! Go ahead with your business… We will serve Eldest Miss,” said Chuntao with a bright smile.

“Oh, oh, oh!” The innkeeper nodded repeatedly while standing downstairs.

Chen Qingsheng opened the door of the private room for Bai Qingyan. Knowing that Bai Qingyan was afraid of the cold, he hurried inside first to close the window in front, saying, “Eldest Miss, although this private room has a good location, its window is too close to the window of the room in Yanque Restaurant. I’ll close it for you.”

Chen Qingsheng had arranged everything meticulously, perhaps fearing that Bai Qingyan might find it boring to sit idly in the private room. There was a chessboard under the carved wooden window, and a chess manual on a small table.

Bai Qingyan took off her cloak and walked straight to the chessboard. Her gaze swept briefly over the board. This endgame that Chen Qingsheng had found somewhere was new to her, and she found it quite interesting.

The private room was brightly lit by candlelight with five charcoal braziers burning strongly. Even though the window had been open earlier, it felt warm as soon as one entered.

Seeing the waiter standing at the door with tea, Chen Qingsheng quickly stepped forward, took the tray, and gave the waiter a tip.

As he poured tea for her, he said, “The innkeeper of the Manjiang Restaurant only bought this establishment half a month ago. About six months ago, the owner of the Yanque Restaurant next door became in-laws with an official from the neighbourhood government office. Later, Yanque Restaurant’s expansion took over half of the alley adjacent to Manjiang Restaurant and this window’s light was blocked! Because of this, the former owner of Manjiang Restaurant filed a lawsuit against Yanque Restaurant. However, after exhausting all his wealth and still failing to resolve the issue, he returned to his hometown in frustration.”

Chen Qingsheng really knew about all the significant and minor happenings in the capital city.

“Eldest Miss, please sit for a while. I will keep watch downstairs… As soon as the carriage enters the city, I will report back to you immediately.” Chen Qingsheng bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan.

“Chuntao, when we got off the carriage, I saw a stall selling dough figurines by the roadside. Go with Chen Qingsheng to buy some for the girls in the residence and bring them back later,” she said, picking up her teacup and sipping it with a bright smile.

Usually, Chen Qingsheng and Chuntao had few opportunities to meet as one worked in the inner courtyard and the other in the outer courtyard. Bai Qingyan was aware of this and wanted to give them a chance to spend some time alone together, hoping they could understand and cherish each other, unlike in the past life where they missed each other and lived in regret.

Both Chen Qingsheng and Chuntao blushed deeply, then hurried out of the private room.

In the spacious private room, only Bai Qingyan and Chunyan were left. She ignored Chunyan’s aggrieved look and simply said, “Stand guard at the door.”

Chunyan’s eyes reddened instantly. She curtseyed and left the room, sniffling.

The heat from the braziers in the room was too strong and Bai Qingyan started to sweat after sitting for a while. She pushed open the two windows and her gaze collided with the deep eyes of a man in the opposite window.

She was stunned.

Xiao Rongyan, who was standing by the window, was equally surprised. His hand, which was stroking a jade cicada, paused unintentionally.

Dressed in a white robe, Xiao Rongyan stood tall and straight, illuminated by the light. His gaze was calm and composed like water. Although he appeared refined and noble, in that brief moment when their eyes met, she clearly saw the profound depth and shrewdness in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes.

In the next moment, a gentleness returned to Xiao Rongyan’s eyes. He nodded at her lightly, completely different from the imposing and cold ruler he seemed just moments ago.

The two windows were only three feet apart. In her past and present lives, she had never been this close to Xiao Rongyan.

Hastily closing the window would appear too timid and impatient, so she straightened her back and gave a slight bow.

From the private room in Yanque Restaurant came the loud, indignant voice of Lu Yuanpeng who appeared to be arguing with someone, “What I said is true! If you don’t believe me, ask Brother Xiao if he thinks the Eldest Miss of the Bai family is an unparalleled beauty. That Eldest Miss of the Bai family is far more stunning than the so-called number one beauty, Princess Liu Ruofu of the Southern Capital, right Brother Xiao?!”

Xiao Rongyan did not turn around. He stared calmly at Bai Qingyan’s delicate, picturesque features. A faint smile was barely perceptible in his dark eyes as he responded, “She is indeed… Unparalleled in beauty.”

The calm, mellow, and warm words made her face instantly flush with heat.

This person… How could he be so unrestrained?!

“See?! See?!” Lu Yuanpeng slapped the table excitedly. “I told you I wasn’t exaggerating! Now that Brother Xiao said it, you’ll believe it, right? You guys don’t know this, but standing in the corridor under the white snow and red lanterns, the Eldest Miss of the Bai family in a white fox fur coat looked like a painting…”

She hurriedly closed the two windows, her sleeve sweeping off the chess pieces onto the floor, creating a clattering noise.

Chunyan hurriedly ran in and saw Bai Qingyan, whose ears and neck were bright red, bending to pick up the chess pieces. She quickly stepped forward: “Miss, let me pick them up!”

Bai Qingyan nodded, using a handkerchief to wipe her sweaty hands. She subconsciously turned towards the closed window and could vaguely see Xiao Rongyan’s figure outside, causing her heart to race even more chaotically.

Chunyan picked up the chess pieces and saw Bai Qingyan sitting on the stool with a flushed face. She put the chess pieces into the chess box and said with a smile, “Miss, your face is all red. You must be hot. Let me open the window for some air.”

Her heart pounding, she grabbed Chunyan’s hand before she could open the window. Her voice was unavoidably stern, “No need!”

“Miss?!” It was the first time Chunyan had seen her usually composed young lady so flustered, and she was taken aback.

Bai Qingyan’s throat tightened. She released Chunyan’s arm, concealing her inner turmoil, and said with a stern face, “Go and stand guard outside!”

Chunyan felt even more aggrieved due to Bai Qingyan’s harsh words and distant behaviour towards her in the past few days. Chunyan choked back her tears, bowed to Bai Qingyan, and stepped outside to stand guard at the door.

Once again alone in the private room, Bai Qingyan turned to look at the window. She noticed that the shadow outside had disappeared, allowing her to calm down slightly.

However, the window opposite remained open, and the raucous voices of the capital’s playboys, including Lu Yuanpeng, still drifted over. Every now and then, she heard “Brother Xiao…” which, for some reason, made her feel unsettled.