Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

Ouyang Ce was overjoyed, clutching the manuscript. He was so engrossed in turning the pages that he didn't notice Xie Xiaoyi's footsteps at all, muttering to himself:

"Young Master Xie's writing is truly superb! These stories alone are a hundred times better than those pretentious poems; the common people love reading this!"

Xie Xiaoyi leaned against the desk, nodding casually. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Ouyang Qing's shoulders trembling slightly behind the curtain, probably too frightened to breathe.

Hey!

This girl must be terrified. If her father saw her like this, it would be no different from having an affair.

But thinking about it, it's actually quite exciting!

He chuckled inwardly, but deliberately sighed aloud:

"I stayed up half the night writing last night, and I'm very tired today. My back is also very sore. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble your daughter to prepare the paper and ink again."

"Of course! Of course!" Ouyang Ce nodded repeatedly, afraid of disturbing him from writing.

"Young hero, please rest. I'll have someone send over some bird's nest porridge, and then have the kitchen stew an old hen to nourish you! Qing'er! Qing'er!"

He called out, turning to look outside the courtyard, "Where did that girl run off to so early in the morning!"

Ouyang Qing, behind the curtain, stiffened again. Xie Xiaoyi, fearing she had given herself away, quickly interrupted Ouyang Ce:

"Perhaps the young lady is busy with something else. No need to trouble yourself. I'll rest for a while. Boss, you should go and attend to the bookstore's business."

"That's right, I'll arrange it right away!"

Ouyang Ce, clutching the manuscript, rushed out with brisk steps, turning back to remind him before leaving, "Young hero, please don't be shy, just tell me if you need anything!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the door hinges creaked shut, and the courtyard fell silent instantly.

The tent flap was suddenly flung open, and Ouyang Qing rushed out, clutching her clothes. Her face was still pale with shock, and she glared reproachfully at Xie Xiaoyi.

"You scared me to death! Those embroidered shoes almost gave me away; my heart was pounding!"

As soon as Ouyang Qing finished speaking, she suddenly realized that she felt a chill on her body—

With a soft cry of "Ah!", she instinctively turned her back, but as soon as she turned her back...

Suddenly, he realized that the situation behind him was even more pitiful than the situation in front of him. In front of him, there were clothes he was holding that were blocking his view, but behind him was a desolate wasteland.

She hurriedly turned back, only to meet Xie Xiaoyi's ambiguous, half-smiling gaze...

"Don't look!"

Ouyang Qing's voice was urgent and soft, but she didn't know where to move her feet. She turned around twice before suddenly realizing that the tent was the safest place.

Forgetting all about embarrassment, she grabbed her disheveled clothes and rushed into the tent with hurried, shuffling steps.

His back looked hurried and flustered, and he didn't forget to raise his hand to cover his back, afraid of revealing any more flaws.

Looking at the beautiful scenery, Xie Xiaoyi slowly said, "Run slowly, don't fall—there's no one else in the tent, no need to rush."

The rustling of clothes came from inside the tent, mixed with Ouyang Qing's pouty scolding: "It's all your fault! And you still dare to say that!"

A short while later, Ouyang Qing came out dressed, her cheeks still flushed.

Xie Xiaoyi reached out and put his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace, and chuckled softly:

"You know everything about me, and I know everything about you, so what's the panic?"

What kind of insolent and lewd words are these?

His words were too blunt and too explicit!

Ouyang Qing's cheeks flushed red from his words, and she raised her hand to punch his chest:

"You scoundrel! We agreed last night to just tell stories, but... but you went back on your word!"

Although she spoke with a hint of reproach, her hands unconsciously wrapped around Xie Xiaoyi's waist, her fingers gently tugging at his clothes, a sweet tenderness hidden in the shyness in her eyes.

Xie Xiaoyi lifted her chin by pinching it, his lips brushing against the corner of her lips:

"I told you the story last night, but I didn't explain it clearly enough. How about I tell you another story tonight?"

Again?

Ouyang Qing frowned, although she really liked Xie Xiaoyi's story...

But his story is "too big and too long," and you have to listen to it several times a night, which is too tiring!

I can't stand it!

I can't stand it!

......

Time flies, and more than half of "Jin Ping Mei" has been serialized, with readers practically wearing down the thresholds of bookstores in the capital.

Even several noble ladies and young ladies from royal families in the capital sent their personal maids to wait for the new chapters every day.

That afternoon, Xie Xiaoyi was chatting with Ouyang Ce and Ouyang Qing in the teahouse when a waiter rushed in, his face pale.

"Boss! People from the Jing'an Prince's Mansion have arrived! They say the Princess of the Prince's Mansion specifically requests to see Young Hero Xie, and is pressing for the sequel to 'Jin Ping Mei'."

She also said... she also said that the princess had practically worn out the first half of the book, and if she didn't see a new ending soon, she was going to have the doorstep of the bookstore torn down!

Ouyang Ce was so shocked he almost dropped his teacup: "The Jing'an Prince's Mansion? Those are relatives of the emperor! What are we going to do?"

Ouyang Qing also gripped her handkerchief tightly and whispered:

"I've heard that Princess Yuanzhi is extremely spoiled and loves reading storybooks. If we anger her, our bookstore will be in trouble."

Xie Xiaoyi remained calm, tapping his fingers on the stone table with a smile:

"I never expected that my folk tales would catch the princess's eye."

No sooner had the words left her lips than a maid's sweet voice rang out from the courtyard gate: "Discard the millstone after it has served its purpose—where are you?"

As they spoke, several guards from the Prince's mansion, dressed in brocade, stood at the entrance, their imposing presence evident.

The maid behind him held a brocade box, and the gleaming silver ingots inside made Ouyang Ce's eyes widen.

Xie Xiaoyi was taken aback, then realized that she was calling him by his pen name.

"That's me. May I ask what your needs are, young lady?"

"I am a maid of the Princess of Jing'an's Mansion. My princess has given you ten days to write the complete 'Jin Ping Mei' and deliver it to the mansion."

"Um... young lady, does the princess have any other instructions?"

"My princess said that if Pan Jinlian's obsession and Li Ping'er's true feelings all come to naught, then the princess will have this Jinghua Bookstore demolished."

Xie Xiaoyi grinned, but didn't dare to reply—Princess Yuanzhi had guessed the entire ending of his book.

Seeing this, the maidservant added coldly, "If it's well-written, you'll be rewarded with a hundred taels of silver. If you dare to refuse, don't blame the princess for being impolite!"

Xie Xiaoyi smiled slightly and bowed respectfully:

"I am deeply grateful for the Princess's kindness, but writing a book cannot be rushed!"

Every word must be carefully crafted; if it is written hastily in order to rush the work, it would be a disservice to the princess's goodwill.

The maid's face darkened: "Young master refuses?"

"It's not that I'm unwilling," Xie Xiaoyi raised an eyebrow, "it's just that ten days is too short. I will definitely hand over the complete book within half a month."

The maid was about to scold him again, but when she looked up and met Xie Xiaoyi's smiling eyes, she was momentarily stunned...

What a handsome young man!

It's unbelievable that someone so young could write such stories; it must be an innate talent for romance.

I wonder what it would be like to "do it" with him?

I spit—

What am I doing?

Why am I suddenly being so horny?

The maidservant regained her composure, suppressed the turmoil within her, and softened her voice:

"You are quite handsome and quick-witted, so we'll agree to your half-month deadline."

I'll turn around and put in a good word for you with the princess, saying that you're focused on polishing your story and weren't deliberately making excuses!"