"Miss Qingque, are you looking for me?"
Aether asked, looking at the blue-clad girl who was a head shorter than him.
In his memory, Aether had no dealings with Qingque, and today was their first meeting. Logically speaking, since they didn't know each other, she wouldn't seek him out for no reason.
"Ah? Ah, ah, this..."
When Aether asked her, Qingque didn't know how to answer for a moment. After all, she had originally planned to secretly observe Aether from the shadows, but she hadn't observed him; instead, she had exposed herself first.
"Hmm?"
Seeing that Qingque couldn't answer, Aether raised an eyebrow and began to grow suspicious.
Realizing that Aether was already suspicious, Qingque immediately became nervous and started frantically operating her super brain, which was usually used for slacking off, to think about how to quibble (not) or break free from this situation.
I remember now! Aether is a merchant. If I become his employee, it's like infiltrating his organization, which makes it easier for me to monitor him. I'm a genius!
"Aether, ah no, Boss! I'm here to apply for a job," Qingque suddenly looked up and said to Aether.
"Apply for a job? I didn't say I was hiring?"
Aether looked at Qingque and questioned, "What's more, I remember you work for the Divination Commission, right? Giving up a civil servant position to come work as a runner for me?"
"Miss Qingque, you're not being honest ~"
Aether leaned down slightly, his height, a head taller than Qingque, creating immense pressure on her.
Pressure! (Pigeon sound)
"Wuwuwu ~ Don't eat me, I'm very well-behaved, please ~" Qingque, overwhelmed by pressure, immediately hugged Aether's waist and cried bitterly, as if she had suffered an immense grievance.
"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? Let go! There are people all around! Where are you touching!"
...In the courtyard.
Qingque sat in front of Aether like a child who had made a mistake. Aether crossed his arms and scrutinized the blue-clad girl in front of him.
"Let me guess, is it Fu Xuan, the Grand Diviner of the Divination Commission, who sent you?" Aether flicked his finger slightly and said slowly.
Qingque lowered her head, not answering, but her heart was already in a panic. He knew that she was sent by the Grand Diviner. This guy was too terrifying.
"Let me guess again, did Fu Xuan want you to keep an eye on me, preferably by infiltrating my side, and then investigate all my information?" Aether twisted his neck and said slowly.
He, he knows all of this. I have no secrets in front of him... This feeling of being seen through, what in the world... Qingque didn't answer. At this moment, her hands were propped on the ground, completely looking like a defeated dog.
"Uh... it seems so. Don't be like that; it makes it seem like I have ill intentions towards you." Aether couldn't help but advise, looking at Qingque, who had such a dramatic expression.
"Please, please let me go. I have elders above and children below... Oh no, I haven't even dated... Ah ~ I'm still young, and I have a great life ahead of me to live ~" Qingque tried to feign misery to make Aether let her go.
In Qingque's eyes, this man knew her like the back of his hand and could clearly state the purpose of her trip, which meant this man was definitely not simple, perhaps even a demon who would kill to silence others.
To save her life, Qingque decisively chose to cry miserably. Although the probability of success was slim, what if the other party suddenly softened and it worked? She had to take a gamble.
"Let you go? How is that possible."
Aether smiled, propping his face with one hand, and said, "You've been sent to investigate me, so how can I just let you go?"
At these words, Qingque was struck by lightning and instantly petrified.
It's over, my life is over. I'll be locked in a dark, damp cell for the rest of my life, never seeing the sun, subjected to various tortures every day, starving, having to fight cockroaches for food, or even eating cockroaches to fill my stomach... Thinking of this future, Qingque's eyes immediately became vacant, and she lost all hope of living.
No, there's still one way, but this method shouldn't be used unless absolutely necessary. But now, it's time to use this method to save my life.
"Boss, if you don't mind, I..."
With tears in her eyes, Qingque actually began to unbutton her sleeve.
"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? Stop!"
Aether was startled by Qingque's action and quickly chopped her on the head with a hand, making her dazed.
"I haven't even said anything, why are you moving on your own?" Aether looked at Qingque, who had almost made a big mistake, with lingering fear. Why hadn't he noticed before how foolish this girl was? Wasn't she said to be a genius? How could she do something so silly?
"Are you mistaking me for some kind of ultimate villain?" Aether took a sip of tea, composed himself, and asked.
"Ah, um..." Qingque nodded blankly and responded.
"Idiot!"
Aether flicked Qingque's forehead with annoyance and said, "Look at my face; do I look like that kind of big bad guy?"
Qingque winced, covered her forehead, glanced at Aether, and replied, "No, you look more like a profiteer..."
"Hey, you..." Aether was about to retort, but then he thought about it. He usually did act like a profiteer, even wearing small sunglasses.
Thinking of this, Aether quickly took off his small sunglasses and said to Qingque, "Look, how could an exceptionally handsome, dashing, and charming man like me be a villain who abuses beautiful young girls?"
"I know everything about you. Isn't it just that your superior forced you to come and keep an eye on me? Just be my maid here," Aether said, taking a sip of tea.
"Huh? A maid? That won't do. I, Qingque, will never be a slave!" As soon as she heard 'maid,' Qingque immediately became unhappy. She'd rather be killed directly than work herself to death as a maid.
"Whatever the Divination Commission pays you, I'll pay double!" Aether held up two fingers, making a 'two' gesture, and said very grandly.
"Double... That, that still won't do. The education I've received tells me not to accept such bribes and lowly things." Qingque retorted stubbornly.
"All bonuses and insurance will be arranged, food and lodging included, and all expenses will be reimbursed!" Aether smiled slightly and continued.
"Everything, and reimbursement... That, that still won't do. A scholar would rather die than be humiliated!" Qingque was almost swayed, but being someone who had seen a bit of the world, she remained stubborn.
"Very well, then I'd like to see if you can refuse this." Aether's lips curved upward. He knew Qingque too well; the last item would surely win her over.
"Your Emperor's Jade Tiles, I'll cover them. You can play as much as you want!" Aether waved his hand, speaking with extraordinary generosity.
At this moment, in Qingque's eyes, this man had never seemed so magnificent.
"Qingque has drifted for half her life, never meeting a wise lord. If you do not abandon me, Qingque is willing to acknowledge you as her foster father!"