The streamer is being too gentle with her, but the super-rich man can't handle it.

Chapter 282 Keeping the Appointment

After hearing Wen Qiyu say something on the other end of the phone, Xiao Jiu laughed even harder: "Really? You already got the tickets? That's great! I knew Brother Qiyu was the best! Okay, sure, come pick me up then~"

As she spoke on the phone, her eyes glanced at Zhou Yanchuan almost imperceptibly. Zhou Yanchuan stood there expressionless, but his jawline tightened slightly, and the knuckles of his hand holding the dessert bag tightened imperceptibly.

He recognized the voice as Wen Qiyu's. They had made a new agreement.

“…Okay, I won’t forget! Bye-bye, Brother Qi Yu~” Xiao Jiu finally hung up the phone, put it away, and shrugged helplessly at Zhou Yanchuan. “It was Brother Wen. He asked me to go to an art exhibition next week that’s hard to get tickets for.”

Her tone was natural, as if she were just sharing something casually, even with a slight hint of "I'm busy too."

Zhou Yanchuan felt a surge of violent jealousy that threatened to overwhelm his reason, but the humble promise he made yesterday still echoed in his ears. He forcibly suppressed his surging emotions, even managing to force out a reasonably polite smile: "President Wen is certainly well-informed; that exhibition is indeed difficult to schedule."

Xiao Jiu seemed oblivious to the barb in his words, nodding with a grin, "Yes, yes." She glanced at her watch, then exclaimed, "Oh dear, Brother Yanchuan, I have something to do in a bit, I have to go upstairs now! Thanks for the desserts, see you tomorrow night!"

As she spoke, she picked up the dessert bag and the letter, waved to him, and turned around, flying into the residential area like a light butterfly.

Zhou Yanchuan stood there, watching her figure disappear. The smile on his face vanished instantly, leaving only a cold and gloomy expression.

He took out his phone, dialed a number, and said in a cold voice, "Check if there are any high-profile guqin-related events recently." Gu Xiaoheng, he knew, was Xiao Jiu's other older brother. He hadn't taken any action, and he thought Gu Xiaoheng was going to give up. But, ha, it turned out that his decision to seek peace yesterday was the right one. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't even have a place in this group.

Inside the apartment building, Xiao Jiu didn't go upstairs immediately. She stood by the window at the entrance of the building, watching Zhou Yanchuan downstairs making a gloomy phone call and giving instructions, a sly smile curving her lips.

She took out her phone, opened Gu Xiaoheng's number, and replied with two words:

【OK.】

Then, she opened Wen Qiyu's chat window and sent a cute emoji: 【Thank you, Brother Qiyu! Looking forward to the exhibition! Sending love~】

Finally, her gaze fell on the dessert bag.

Yes, Zhou Yanchuan's almond tofu is truly exceptional.

She hummed a song in a good mood and walked briskly up the stairs.

The bait has already been laid.

Let's see which of the fish can't hold back any longer.

Inside the "Songtao Pavilion" music room, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

The lingering notes of the guqin still vibrated slightly in the air. Xiao Jiu's fingers had just left the strings, the cool touch and subtle vibrations of the silk strings still lingering on her fingertips. Opposite her, Gu Xiaoheng sat upright, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses calmly fixed on her hands, as if evaluating experimental data.

"Here, press the note down a little deeper, and start the harmonic a bit faster." He spoke, his voice steady and even, offering neither praise nor criticism, only pure technical guidance. His slender fingers lightly touched a note on the score, his movements as precise as a scalpel.

Xiao Jiu tilted her head, looking at his serious and scholarly appearance, and suddenly smiled with her eyes crinkling: "Teacher Gu is so strict." Her tone was cute and coquettish, but her fingertips deliberately plucked a series of out-of-tune notes on the strings, as if challenging his order.

Gu Xiaoheng's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, as if he couldn't tolerate the chaotic noise. But he didn't say anything, only raised his eyes, his gaze passing through his glasses, calmly watching her, waiting for her to finish her tantrum.

That unusual patience, however, made Xiao Jiu feel bored. She pouted, about to say something more, when Gu Xiaoheng's silent phone screen suddenly lit up.

Although it was only for a moment, Xiao Jiu, with her sharp eyes, caught a glimpse of the information preview that was rapidly scrolling across the screen:

[...Regarding the shipment at the dock, the buyer is requesting a face-to-face delivery, which increases the risk. Should we proceed as originally planned?...]

The sender's note is "Old K".

Xiao Jiu's gaze sharpened slightly. Docks? Goods? Risk factor? These are not terms that ordinary scholars or legitimate businessmen would frequently encounter.

Gu Xiaoheng noticed her gaze almost immediately. Without the slightest panic, he naturally placed his phone screen-down on the table, making a soft "click".

He looked up at Xiao Jiu, his tone still indifferent, as if the message he had just received was just some trivial spam: "It's just some business stuff, sorry to bother you."

He didn't even try to come up with a reasonable explanation, simply glossing over it with a casual "business matter." That matter-of-fact calmness only revealed an unfathomable confidence.

Xiao Jiu's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason. She took a closer look at the man before her—his impeccable attire, rigorous academic demeanor, cold and precise speech, and that fleeting, dangerously pervasive message…

Overseas businessman?

It's probably not that simple.

Her Qingqiu fox clan possessed an innate intuition for danger and secrecy. This Gu Xiaoheng exuded a complex aura, a mixture of scholarly refinement and...bloodthirstiness, as if the most civilized exterior concealed the most savage core.

Gu Xiaoheng took in her subtle reactions but offered no further explanation or attempt to conceal them. He even leaned forward slightly, picked up the warm purple clay teapot from the small stove beside him, and poured half a cup of tea into the white porcelain cup in front of her, his movements fluid and elegant, without spilling a drop.

“Try it,” he said in a calm tone. “It’s from my friend’s own tea plantation; you can’t get this kind of tea anywhere else.”

He calmly changed the subject, defusing the subtle crisis that had just occurred. It was as if the message had never appeared, as if they were truly just two like-minded people enjoying tea and discussing music.

Xiao Jiu picked up her teacup, the rising steam blurring the fleeting golden light in her eyes. She inhaled the aroma of the tea, then took a gentle sip.

"Good tea." She looked up, her eyes crinkling with a smile, as if she hadn't seen or suspected anything. "Teacher Gu's friend is really amazing."

Gu Xiaoheng looked at her flawless smile, his gaze behind his glasses deepening.

He knew she had seen it, and he guessed that she must have become suspicious.

But this was part of his plan.

Gradually revealing the unknown, dangerous truth beneath the surface, like bait being thrown to this curious little fox.

Let her be curious, let her explore, let her... willingly walk into the web he meticulously wove, a web that is half academic hall and half dark abyss.