Facing the sudden intruder, the person lying on the recliner didn't even open his eyes, he said, "The chicken belongs to the house next door."

Every day when Su Jingyang and the others went out, the chicken would try its best to fly over and wander around in his yard even while tied.

He went on to slowly say: "Call me Ah-Yi, don't call me by my name."

"Ah-Yi? Isn't that the nickname your father gave you?" The visitor was a woman with bright features, wearing a red bun and dress with narrow sleeves covered with a layer of tulle of the same color. Her hair was embellished, her posture heroic and straight, and her face beautiful and dazzling, but the evil in her eyes made her look a little gloomy and inaccessible.

She sat at the table casually as if lounging in her own home, she grabbed the teacup with hands covered in black gold gloves and took a big sip.

She looked around, her tone filled with faint disbelief, "You live here these days?"

"It's clean here." When he bought the house, the person who introduced it said that no people were living here and that it was very clean and quiet. He only found out that he had been fooled after arriving, the guy next door did nothing but chatter all day, teasing the child and joking around.

Rong Ci finally glanced at her and said, "What exactly is the saint doing here?"

Rong Hua snorted when she heard his words, she turned slightly to face him, crossing her arms and legs, her long black eyes stared at him, "I'm here to see the city lord who ran away to seek the old master of dreams. Why's there no news? Why, after all these days, the old dream master still refuses to see you?"

"Well, you've come for naught."

Rong Hua banged her knuckles and sneered, "He still hates Rongcheng for driving him out and separating him from his family. You should've taken care of this kind of thing, trapped him with nowhere to hide to obediently interpret your dreams."

Rong Ci, who had no expression, snorted when he heard her words. He looked at her with black eyes and said: "Yeah, who isn't afraid of you, little rakshasi¹."

Rong Hua's face changed and she cursed, "Fuck, don't utter that word in front of me, my brain hurts!"

The saint of Rongcheng was destined to be born exactly at the time and date of the wizard's calculation. The saints of the past generations of Rongcheng were either cold and ascetic or peaceful and kind, supported by the people. Rong Hua was definitely an exception. She had a cold temper, a cruel heart, and acted arrogantly; bold, and fearless. Apart from the Rong Ci who had to grow up with her, almost no one in Rongcheng dared to provoke her. As soon as she appeared on the streets, the people around her would almost instantly disperse like birds from beasts, for fear that they would provoke her. It was better than being uncertain and having their limbs removed in the street because one time she really did do this.

No one in Rongcheng didn't know of her deeds, so they call her Little Rakshasa privately, talking about her being the beacon of evil spirits, not a saint in the slightest.

Of course, they only dared to call her this privately, for if Rong Hua hears them, she would surely kill.

Obviously, Rong Hua particularly disliked this title. Whenever she heard it, she would feel very annoyed and her hands would itch to kill someone. If it wasn't Rong Ci who had said it, she would've pulled out a dagger without hesitation and stab him hard.

Rong Hua tapped her hand on the tabletop and said, "By the way, your birthday banquet has already been set up, can't you go back?"

Rong Ci sat up, his knuckles touched his eyebrows and his black hair fell on the side of his chiseled face. He said without concern, "It doesn't matter if I go back or not, they're just as capable of celebrating without me."

"Yeah," Rong Hua couldn't help but chuckle, "Anyway, your mother's on the edge of her seat wishing for you to die outside day and night so that her precious little son can take over as the city lord. For fear of others not knowing of her intentions, she even keeps on repeating the wizard's prophecy saying that you're destined to have no heirs, really shameful! If she wasn't your mother, I would've killed her long ago. I really admire you for being able to tolerate her for so many years."

"Let her go, she wouldn't be able to stir up too many storms." When she mentioned that woman, Rong Ci's expression became much colder.

He got up, stretching his long legs and putting on a black robe. Rong Hua also stood up, she walked to his side and asked him with annoyed eyes, "Do you really believe in the wizard's words? I don't believe it, you're so young and strong, how could you not be able to have children? Just go pay someone to have a child and show her, oh, yes, have eight or ten directly! Slap her face! Just don't let her open her mouth, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to help but cut it off for her."

"Look for someone..." Rong Ci didn't seem to pay too much attention to the rest of her words. After tidying his clothes, the corners of his mouth bent upwards: "Paying for love is vulgar, one should love as one dines- with taste.²"

Rong Hua looked at his expression carefully, she said suspiciously after a long while: "Look at you all smiling... did you really find anyone?"

"Well, naturally." Rong Ci had already put on his clothes, he looked back at Rong Hua and nodded with absolute certainty, "He's an annoying spirit, and stupid to boot."

If Rong Hua felt a bit suspicious, she glanced in the direction outside the window before asking again: "That chicken in the yard is..."

"It's his." Rong Ci commented: "The chicken follows its owner and likes to sneak over walls casually."

Rong Ci tied his hair twice with ease, he grabbed rice from the plate on the table and took the rice to the yard, he sprinkled it on the ground and the chicken happily rushing over to eat the rice without being called.

Rong Hua came out from behind him, watching Rong Ci chicly feeding the chicken beside him, her eyes widened unbelievably as if her heart was suddenly struck by lightning.

Rong Hua said angrily: "Fuck your grandma, you even help him feed the chickens, do you still dare to lie to me and say that you didn't come to look for a sweetheart?!!!"

_______

The weather was fine and the long-lost sun was warm and mellow. The dirty old beggar sat diagonally on the opposite corner of an unopened restaurant, basking in the sun comfortably and eating the big meat buns given by old friends, his face was full of joy as he drank sesame porridge.

When he was full and drunk, the old beggar stroked his greasy beard with a hand and squinted his eyes contentedly. Just as he was about to sleep in content, a clear voice suddenly said, "Dream master."

Two figures stood in front of him, one black and one red, blocking the sunlight.

When the old beggar heard the name, his beard trembled a few times and his dusty brows tangled. He closed his eyes as if he hadn't heard anything, snoring and pretending to be asleep.

"... Dare to pretend to sleep? See if I don't dare kill you!!" A vicious voice said.

Rong Ci stretched out his hand to stop Rong Hua's raised palm, his eyes were cold and solemn, "Alright, don't mess around." Rong Hua glared at him, retracting her hand unwillingly and scoffing heavily.

Rong Ci looked at the old beggar in rags again, he thought for a while and squatted down on one knee, his voice was quieter, "I had a strange dream that had been troubling me for a long time, causing me to be exhausted."

The old beggar couldn't pretend anymore, he opened his eyes and looked at Rong Ci, he sighed: "If there are hundreds of dream masters in Rongcheng, if not thousands. Why should does the city lord insist on looking for me, an old man?"

Rong Ci shook his head lightly, "They are shallow and can't see the essence, they naturally can't compare to you."

The old beggar was speechless for a moment before saying again: "This old man has lived in a muddle-headed manner for many years, I have never cultivated my gift further. I'm afraid... I'm afraid I would be of no help..." After looking at Rong Ci's earnest expression, he finally couldn't resist the urge in his heart to serve the city lord. He sighed for a long time and compromised, "Even if it's nothing, let's still try it."

"Much thanks." Rong Ci said, winking at Rong Hua next to him and asking her to distance herself.

Rong Hua actually wanted to hear what it was. She only knew that Rong Ci unfailingly dreamed of someone but she still didn't know what it was about. He clearly didn't want this information to be heard by her, so she walked away to avoid it.

Just what did he dream about? Is it so mysterious? Rong Hua thought with dissatisfaction.

She looked around boredly, her wandering eyes spotted the restaurant on the opposite side busting with activity.

"Lin Ji, small pavilion." Rong Hua whispered the words on it, the red ribbon tied in her bun was blown and fluttered by the wind, her calm expression diminished some of her cold spirits.

She really had nothing to do, she just stood there and watched the action from beginning to end, until the sign was put down and the people at the door scattered. She looked back at Rong Ci.

Rong Ci had just gotten up in front of the old beggar, he said something in a low voice and gave him an ingot of gold, he then straightened up and strode towards her side.

Rong Hua realized that his expression wasn't very good, she asked him what the old beggar had said. Rong Ci was resigned, "He said... the dream ream, wasn't a dream."

"What the hell!" Rong Hua exclaimed, "What's the difference between saying that and not saying anything, is he fooling you?"

Rong Ci's expression condensed, and he whispered: "He told me that this wouldn't change, there was no advantage of me knowing and no solution to my problem. It makes no sense."

Rong Hua became even angrier when she heard this, "A bunch of nonsense, he truly is a beggar." Rong Hua looked back, only to find that the old beggar had already run away without a trace. She cursed, "Dead old man, don't count on your fast feet when running away next time."

Rong Ci closed his eyes and calmly said to her: "You'll return to Rongcheng first. I'll... plan to come back in a few days."

Rong Hua looked at him strangely and said, "Why do you still need to stay? Your goal of going out to find a dreamer to interpret your dreams had been achieved. Are you staying here to cultivate feelings with your annoying spirit?"

Rong Ci glanced at her nonchalantly.

Rong Hua pointed to Lin Ji pavilion opposite, "Since we're here, invite me to dinner."

Rong Ci looked in the direction she was pointing and observed for a moment before saying: "Change somewhere else, it's not open now." Rong Ci was about to turn around and leave when suddenly, a familiar figure ran out from the restaurant. White skin, big eyes, and face still suffering from unhealed scratches, he held two big red lanterns in his hands. The next person was thin, with a hood on his head covering his face, he carried a ladder in his arms, and the two of them began to hang lanterns around.

Rong Ci looked at the person who was climbing up the ladder as if he had been cursed, his footsteps stopped immediately.

Rong Ci knew that Su Jingyang and Ling Li had been working on the restaurant and didn't go home until the evening for the past two days, however, he didn't expect to bump into them by coincidence.

Rong Hua asked him puzzledly, "Aren't we changing places? Why aren't you moving?"

The corners of Rong Ci's mouth twitch, as if he was fighting a smile, "Don't go, just here."

As he said that, he walked towards the Lin Ji pavilion. Rong Hua was discontent, she didn't like him suddenly changing his mind for some reason, but she still followed him.

When Rong Ci approached, he saw that the person standing on the ladder while holding the lantern with both hands was already trembling. As expected, after hanging just one of the lanterns, his body tilted backward, it was too late for his hands to grab the ladder and he was about the fall backward.

Amid Ling Li's exclamation, Rong Ci flashed past and stretched out his arms to catch Su Jingyang in his arms. After stumbling with inertia, he quickly put him down on the ground without giving him time for adjustment.

Su Jingyang shook and wobbled a few times before standing still. Ling Li, who was wearing a hat, came to help him, "Are you alright!"

Su Jingyang shook his head with lingering fears and said he was fine.

Originally, the lantern was prepared to be put up so that people could still read the sign, but the people who came and went made them so busy that they had forgotten. The extra help had already left, Su Jingyang couldn't run after them and call them back, so he had to solve it by himself. It's just that his legs and waist were really soft, he struggled to hang the lanterns and ultimately fell.

Fortunately, someone caught him like a real-life TV show. But the person who caught him didn't hold him by the waist and spin him 180 degrees, nor did they have more than 30 seconds of eye contact with him, no, he was immediately slammed him to the ground. The person seemed to despise the idea of holding him for a time more than the bare minimum.

Su Jingyang wasn't surprised to see Rong Ci, he could really meet this person anywhere.

Su Jingyang said to him, depressed: "Thank you, but couldn't you wait before putting me down again?"

Rong Ci stared at him, he then laughed before saying: "No, you're too heavy."

Su Jingyang said: "Where am I heavy, you'll call me heavy even I weigh only weigh a catty³. Are you still a man?"

"You're a bit heavy, after all, you only have water in your head." Rong Ci teased him in his usual tone, wanting to watch him jump in indignation, but he didn't expect that would only look taken aback before letting out a sigh of relief, he didn't even call out his teasing

He nodded silently to Rong Hua who had just walked over and then turned around to hang another lantern.

How could Ling Li dare to let him climb the ladder, he tried to take the lantern from him, "Jingyang, go and rest if you feel unwell. I'll do it."

Unwell? Rong Ci frowned and glanced at him, his complexion indeed didn't look very good. Su Jingyang avoided him and continued to climb up, "I'll do it, I merely slipped, just hold me a little bit."

Seeing his insistence, Rong Ci was a little irritated, his lips moved and he suddenly stretched out his hand and said in a deep voice, "You come down, I'll do it."

Su Jingyang stood on the ladder and glared at him without any appreciation, "You better stay away from my ladder. I'm afraid you'll murder me."

He didn't know if it was because of physical discomfort or because the scars on his face haven't disappeared yet, but his big eyes weren't as fierce as usual, they were moist with pitiful traces of bluff.

After Rong Ci was rejected, his eyes suddenly sharpened, his hands retracted and his chest rose and fell, staring at him intently with his lips pursed in silence.

Su Jingyang insisted on hanging up the lantern, he got down the ladder and was about to walk with Ling Li's arm when a red figure suddenly appeared beside him.

Su Jingyang tilted his head to look and was met with a bright and attractive face. Su Jingyang knew that she had come with Rong Ci, and smiled lightly at her, but he was thinking in his heart: No wonder Ah-Yi ran out so early in the morning, it turned out to be because of such a big beauty.

Although Su Jingyang wasn't interested in women, he had to admit that this person was really good-looking, with a blazing red dress, unique temperament, and a very aggressive unforgettable beauty.

Moreover, her voice was a little low and very special. She said to Su Jingyang: "My name is Murong, I'm a friend of Yi's and I want to come to your restaurant for dinner. Is it convenient?"

"Alright, you just go find a place to sit, me and Ali will go to the kitchen to prepare." They had already entered, could it still be decided whether it's inconvenient and convenient.

Because the main hall hadn't opened yet, Su Jingyang moved to close the door after everyone entered. Before he could close the door, he looked at the opposite corner and found that the old beggar had disappeared.

The old beggar once chatted with him at the door of the tailor store and told him about Rongcheng. Su Jingyang happened to see him today and gave him some food for energy by the way. Su Jingyang was planning to give him some steamed buns later but he didn't know when he left. He decided to forget about it and wait the next time he came back.

Ling Li was always worried that people outside would recognize him, so whenever he went out, he would wear a drapery to cover his face. After Su Jingyang closed the door, Ling Li took off his hat and walked into the kitchen with Su Jingyang.

Rong Hua looked around indifferently and found a place to sit down comfortably. He put his hands on the table side by side with rhythmic beats and pestered Rong Ci with her wandering eyes.

Rong Ci, who was sitting next to her, glanced at Su Jingyang's awkwardly walking back and quickly retracted his gaze, he stared coldly at the table, ignoring her.

Not long after, Su Jingyang brought out a pot of tea and poured tea for them.

Su Jingyang calmly glanced at the black gold gloves on Rong Hua's hand, but Rong Hua was keenly aware, she held a teacup and smiled at him: "It's weird, isn't it? Because my practice involves poison, I have to wear this all the time, otherwise, it would be bad if I accidentally hurt someone."

Su Jingyang nodded sternly without commenting, he then smiled at her and asked her what she wanted to eat. Rong Hua answered him one by one and said when Su Jingyang was about to go inside.

Rong Hua grabbed him and pointed at Rong Ci with a look of innocence, she said, "Boss, you haven't asked him yet."

Su Jingyang took the time to take a look at Rong Ci, the corners of his mouth tried to rise before giving up, "Him? Give him some grass."

Rong Ci pulled back his red lips and sneered, "I think you're itching for something."

"If I'm itchy, will you scratch me?"

Rong Ci said, "Come here and make me try."

"You think I don't dare?" Su Jingyang really leaned in and slammed his face close, his pure black clear eyes stared at him straightforwardly, moving his lips and whispering: "I'll make you scratch it."

Rong Ci looked at his face close at hand, his expression stagnated for half a second before saying: "Ugly." He stretched out his hand and pushed his face away and turned back to drink tea silently.

Rong Hua finally couldn't help but chuckle when she saw their bickering. She looked back and forth between the two of them and propped her cheeks, she said to Su Jingyang: "Then give him some grass, but don't make him it too spicy."

Su Jingyang immediately changed his face and smiled, he didn't look back and went straight to the kitchen to help wash the vegetables and cook.