Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with a Chronicle of Tragic Love

Jia Rong's face paled even more instantly, and cold sweat poured down his forehead even more.

He suppressed the urge that was about to burst forth and forced a smile, but the smile was uglier than a cry.

A knowing glint flashed in Qin Keqing's eyes. She took a half step back, her gaze instinctively avoiding his and turning away.

That obvious avoidance and disdain was like a needle piercing Jia Rong's already fragile self-esteem, which was further weakened by diarrhea.

His fake smile finally crumbled.

A surge of anger suddenly welled up inside him.

It's all Jiao Si's fault!

If it weren't for his terrible idea, how could I have ended up in this state? How could I have made such a fool of myself in front of this heavenly future daughter-in-law?!

He turned his head sharply and glared fiercely at Jiao Si, who had been standing silently to the side, his eyes almost spitting fire.

"Jiao Si! It's all your fault!"

"You damned lackey! What kind of wicked idea was this! You've ruined my life..."

Before he could finish speaking, another sharp pain struck, causing him to bend over.

Jiao Si had been observing coldly, but seeing Jia Rong's anger now, he frowned slightly and spoke calmly.

"Uncle Rong, I warned you before that those two dishes... it's best not to eat them."

"You yourself said 'it's fine,' and you even ate quite a lot."

These simple and direct words exposed Jia Rong's attempt to shirk responsibility.

Jia Rong was speechless for a moment, then became even more furious.

"You...you dare talk back?!"

"If I say it's your fault, then it's your fault!"

He raised his hand, as if to strike.

But just as she raised her hand halfway, that churning feeling in her stomach surged back, even more intensely than before.

Jia Rong's face instantly turned from deathly pale to ashen.

He no longer cared about hitting Jiao Si, nor about maintaining his "refined gentleman" image.

He suddenly squeezed his legs together, clutched his stomach tightly with both hands, and his face contorted in extreme pain.

"The...the outhouse!"

He let out a cry of pain, and without bothering to give directions, he stumbled and rushed toward the small courtyard on the west side, relying on his memory.

That figure looked utterly disheveled.

Qin Keqing watched as Jia Rong scrambled and disappeared at the end of the path, and gently shook her head.

Then, she turned her gaze back to Jiao Si.

Those clear eyes were now filled with undisguised laughter and mischief.

"Manager Jiao..."

She drew out her words, her voice carrying an obvious hint of mockery.

"Uncle Rong... admitted it himself."

He said, "It was all your bad ideas."

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Jiao Si, as if admiring his rare moment of embarrassment.

"Now... are you still going to deny it?"

Jiao Si fell silent.

Ironclad evidence.

That idiot Jia Rong, he even pulled up his own underwear.

How else could he deny it?

Looking into Qin Keqing's eyes, which seemed to see through everything, Jiao Si knew that any further sophistry would be futile.

He let out a long, helpless sigh.

That once straight back now seemed to have slackened slightly.

"Miss Qin..."

He raised his head and looked at Qin Keqing, his eyes filled with a resigned acceptance of his fate.

"I...have nothing to say."

"Indeed, I was careless and acted rashly in this matter."

"If you wish to punish me, or inform Lord Qin or Master Zhen... I accept it."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a sense of "do as you please."

Looking at his "waiting to be executed" appearance, Qin Keqing's smile deepened.

She gave a soft "humph," a sweet and charming sound, full of a young girl's unique liveliness.

"Punishment? Inform Father and Grandpa Zhen?"

She shook her head.

"If I wanted to do that, I wouldn't have just smiled in front of Master Rong just now."

She took two steps forward, getting closer to Jiao Si.

Looking up, he saw a young man who was much taller than him but seemed somewhat dejected at the moment.

"Manager Jiao, keeping it a secret... isn't actually that difficult."

She blinked, a sly glint in her eyes.

"I have a condition."

Jiao Si raised an eyebrow slightly: "Miss Qin, please speak."

Qin Keqing walked two steps with her hands behind her back, her skirt swaying slightly with her movements.

"From now on..."

She stopped, turned around, and faced Jiao Si, her face showing a mixture of anticipation and mischief.

"You must come to the Qin residence every five days."

Jiao Si was taken aback: "Come to the Qin residence? What for?"

Qin Keqing smiled slightly, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Tell me a story.

"Talk about the people and events in the Jia family... or..."

She paused, her gaze fixed intently on Jiao Si.

"Tell me about the things on Plum Blossom Mountain."

"Tell us about those heroes, those fearless men, and how they fought the Japanese pirates."

Jiao Si was startled.

She really hadn't forgotten Plum Blossom Mountain.

I haven't forgotten that he might be that person.

He remained silent for a moment, then shook his head, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"Miss Qin, I'm afraid this is... difficult to accomplish."

"I am now a servant of the Ningguo Mansion, and my movements are not as free as before. I am only able to enter the Qin Mansion today thanks to Master Rong's 'blessing'. In the future, if I do not have a proper reason, I am afraid I will not even be able to enter the Qin Mansion, let alone tell stories to the young lady."

Qin Keqing was not discouraged upon hearing this.

She gave a soft "oh," a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes, which was then replaced by a confident and intelligent gleam.

"As for getting in..."

She drew out her words, her tone light and relaxed.

"I have my own way."

"Just agree."

Looking at her confident demeanor, Jiao Si knew that this woman, though seemingly gentle, was actually quite shrewd and likely had many tricks up her sleeve.

Now that she has leverage over him, he doesn't seem to have much of a choice.

Moreover... for some reason, deep down, he didn't feel much aversion towards this intelligent, beautiful woman who also possessed a touch of mystery and kindness.

There was even a faint... inexplicable trust?

He sighed again, this time with less helplessness and more of a resigned compromise.

"If that's the case..."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Your humble servant... will obey."

A bright smile bloomed on Qin Keqing's face.

That smile was pure and radiant, as if it instantly illuminated the entire garden.

"Then it's settled!"

She clapped her hands, as if she had accomplished something extraordinary.

"Five days from now, at the same time, I will have someone waiting for you at the side gate."

She thought for a moment and then added.

"If anyone asks, just say... that you were sent by Master Zhen to discuss the follow-up matters of the wedding ceremony with Father."

The reason given was perfectly plausible and flawless.

Jiao Si nodded: "Yes, I've got it."

It seems that the matter has been settled.

But Jiao Si felt a strange sensation in his heart.

This matter... seems to be developing in a rather subtle direction that he did not expect.

What started as a calculated and helpless "task" has transformed into a "secret" with some kind of private agreement.

The other party in the agreement was Jia Rong's future wife, Qin Keqing.

The complexity and subtlety of this situation caused indescribable ripples to spread across the already turbulent lake in Jiao Si's heart.

He gazed at Qin Keqing's face, which appeared exceptionally radiant and beautiful in the sunlight, and thought to himself.

Five days later...

Who knows what will happen next.