After infiltrating the main characters' group, I became the most beautiful woman in the world.

Su Ning climbed the steps, her blue-and-white embroidered shoes stepping on the mottled bluestone path. A large area of ​​peach trees was planted around her, but it was a pity it wasn't springtime, otherwise it would have been a riot of blossoms.

At the end of the path stood a building with red walls and black tiles.

Walking through the alleyway from the main street felt like entering another place.

It was very quiet here, with few houses around. Peach trees lined both sides of the road, and at the end of the bluestone steps stood a building that seemed out of place with its surroundings.

It stood there quietly, as if inviting people to explore its secrets.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the plaque bore the four large characters "Peach Blossom Study".

It turned out to be a study, which piqued Su Ning's interest.

This bookstore is quite interesting. Instead of being located on a bustling main street, it's situated in this quiet and secluded alley. The owner must be quite wealthy, otherwise, with such a lack of customers, he'd probably be losing money.

Su Ning stepped into the bookstore, but there wasn't a single book inside. Instead, all she could see were various kinds of paintings—light pink, pale pink, deep pink…

Without exception, all of them depicted peach blossoms.

It seems the shop owner truly loves peach blossoms.

There were still many paintings in the straw bucket next to her that had not been hung up. Su Ning was about to pull out a scroll when someone quickly stopped her.

"Young lady, don't move! These are all paintings that the master acquired with great difficulty!"

The person speaking came down from the second floor, carrying a stack of scrolls. She was a woman in her thirties or forties, dressed in coarse linen clothes, but with a ruddy complexion and a very energetic appearance.

She first put away the scroll she was carrying, then smiled and approached Su Ning. "I'm sorry, our bookstore doesn't sell books."

"Oh?" Su Ning's eyes flickered. "What about the painting?"

The woman was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting the girl's voice to be so beautiful. Although her face was covered by a veil, her eyes were like stars in the night, exceptionally moving.

"I don't sell paintings either."

Su Ning was a little angry. "Then what kind of business are you running if you don't sell anything?"

The woman quickly explained, "Our mistress loves peach blossoms the most. These are paintings she collected from various places. If you, young lady, have exceptional painting skills, you can also exchange peach blossom paintings for other things."

"You mean, this place is a place that collects things?"

The woman smiled and said, "Young lady, you're probably not a local from Fuxian Town, are you? Locals all know that Peach Blossom Study only accepts paintings, not sells anything."

"But if your painting catches the eye of the master, he can grant you anything you desire."

"Then your boss must be an extraordinary figure, to be able to make such a boast."

If I didn't know that this place had absolutely no connection to the butterfly in the original story...

Su Ning was afraid she would really think it was some kind of scam.

The woman continued, "Judging from your refined demeanor, young lady, you must be a lover of painting. Is there anything you wish to acquire?"

"As long as you can produce a painting that satisfies the employer, they will grant your wish."

I stumbled upon this place by mistake, but I never expected it to be so strange.

Strange things are good, Su Ning likes strange things.

However, the woman misjudged her. She knew nothing. Even if she had studied painting in her previous life, this body belonged to a peasant girl, and it was unlikely that she would have any connection with such an elegant pursuit as painting.

But she can't draw; plenty of people can.

Su Ning's gaze shifted, and she said to the woman before her, "I can give you the painting tomorrow afternoon, but I have one condition: what I want must be given to me on the spot."

The woman, not expecting Su Ning to be so confident, quickly added, "Our owner is very picky. If a guest's painting doesn't meet her standards, she'll not only take the painting, but also hand over your most precious possession."

"Otherwise... the consequences could be dire."

Perhaps because the girl in front of her looked innocent and naive, the woman specifically reminded her to make a careful decision.

In the past, there were many who envied those who obtained treasures, but unfortunately, they were not skilled in painting, so they had the idea of ​​robbery.

But in the end, he not only failed to cause trouble, he also lost his life.

How could their bunch of lackeys possibly mess with their boss?

"Don't worry, you'll definitely be satisfied with the painting I brought. Now, may I suggest what I'd like to exchange?"

"Since you are so confident, young lady, I won't say anything more. Please speak."

Su Ning smiled, a sly glint in her eyes. "It's simple, I want to meet your boss."

This peach blossom book really piqued her interest; she was quite curious to know who was behind it all.

"this……"

The woman seemed stunned, not expecting the man before her to make such a request. "Young lady, won't you reconsider? Peerless martial arts techniques, gold and silver treasures—our master can give you anything."

Su Ning shook her head. "I don't need any of that. I just want to see your boss."

Giving her a peerless martial arts technique would be a waste; it would be better to give her something that could increase her favorability. As for gold and silver jewelry, it would be even more useless. She's still with the main characters; what would she do with a box of gold and silver jewelry?

If this employer is truly an extraordinary person, befriending him might be helpful to her in the future.

"Alright, I'll inform the master. If he has time, he'll come to see you. If he doesn't, you'll have to wait a while, young lady," the woman said helplessly.

"Like you said, I'm an outsider, and I'll be leaving after the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is why I chose tomorrow. If your employer isn't available, then it's just my bad luck..."

"SuSu! SuSu, where are you?"

A boy's loud shouts came from outside the door.

Su Ning paused, forgetting about Yue Zijin, and could only nod slightly to the woman before going out to call out, "I'm here!"

But then Yue Zijin heard Su Ning's voice and ran over in a few steps. When he got closer, Su Ning noticed that his eyes were a little red.

Su Ning was about to speak when she fell into the boy's warm embrace. His voice was tinged with a hint of embarrassment, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left you alone on the street. I was going to go find that person to get your purse back..."

"But I... but I'm always so impulsive. If anything happens to you, I'll be held responsible even if I die a thousand deaths."

The boy seemed a little flustered and couldn't even utter a complete sentence, but Su Ning knew what he wanted to express, so she didn't push him away.

"Did you find your wallet?"

Once Yue Zijin had calmed down a bit, Su Ning looked up at him.

Perhaps he was truly frightened, for Yue Zijin broke out in a cold sweat.

"No, I found the thief's trail, but I searched him thoroughly and couldn't find him, so I rushed here to find you."

The thief's methods were not sophisticated; he had even calculated that finding the purse would only take the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

The person is here, but the things are gone.

In that instant, all he could think of was Su Ning's face. All sorts of conspiracy theories came to mind. He even thought of the recent rumors about the missing woman in Fuxian Town.

So when he went back and couldn't find anyone, his blood seemed to freeze, and he even felt like his heart had stopped beating.

Yue Zijin had droopy eyelids and exuded a sense of dejection, completely different from when she came out in the afternoon.

Su Ning glanced back at the Peach Blossom Study with its red walls and black tiles, and walked side by side with Yue Zijin, not forgetting to comfort the injured little dog along the way.

Although Su Ning was the one who ran off, she would never admit her mistake.

I'll just have to make do with Yue Zijin for now.