He hadn’t come.

Given her various issues with Li Zhaoting, she naturally wasn’t fond of Song Yang. Song Yang probably had long heard of her strange temper and didn’t take it seriously, smiling as he toasted.

A woman pointed at her and said to her child, “Er Pang, look at this brother. To take the examination, he even made fake certificates. After being exposed, he still won’t give up and goes everywhere looking for connections. Today he even got his bottom beaten by the officials. If you don’t study hard, you’ll end up like him…”

The chubby boy nodded seriously, looked at her with complex expression, and seemed quite melancholy.

Su Zhen well knew that after a story was passed through many people, the final version would definitely be unreliable. Auntie, what version did you hear? >_<

Before this was finished, she heard someone else say, “Wuqing, look how active even Young Master Li is. You have good martial arts skills—why can’t you join us in applying to be a constable at the Six Doors?”

The Six Doors belonged to the Capital Region Office, responsible for catching major criminals. They also represented the court in dealing with jianghu sects—it was a very good government job with high salary, good benefits, year-end bonuses, horse carriages for travel, meals at the finest restaurants, and generous expense accounts… Every martial artist wanted to get in.

But this was said rather strangely. Could this “Wuqing’s” situation be worse than hers? Su Zhen quite liked the name Wuqing, thinking it paired well with her family’s Leng Xue, so she couldn’t help looking over at him.

This look gave her quite a surprise.

At the table over there sat three young men, one of whom was a black-clothed youth in a wooden wheelchair. Though the youth wore coarse old cloth, he had red lips and white teeth—what a pity.

His name was Wuqing, which was quite fitting. He sat motionless, and if not for his long eyelashes occasionally blinking, she would have thought he was a wooden puppet.

Leng Xue was cold, but this youth was still—so still he seemed to have almost no emotions at all.

But going to take a physical exam in a wheelchair—he must be a special talent student. She wondered who had better martial arts skills compared to her family’s Leng Xue.

She became curious about this youth.

But Leng Xue was someone who didn’t understand social graces and said, “So he’s a cripple.”

He didn’t mean it maliciously, but Wuqing’s two tablemates became angry and said, “Hey, you stone-face, who are you talking about?”

Leng Xue glanced back coldly.

Su Zhen tugged at his sleeve and bent down to apologize to Wuqing on his behalf, but Leng Xue wouldn’t let her and bowed deeply to Wuqing himself.

Wuqing had remained unmoved throughout, only narrowing his eyes slightly when Leng Xue pulled her back, saying softly, “Iron Hand, Life Chaser, let’s drink.”

The two young men were very obedient to Wuqing. They glared fiercely at Leng Xue once and let it go.

Nothing else happened. Su Zhen had momentarily become an inspirational figure, and by the winter hearth, everyone drank and chatted merrily, feeling the shop was as warm as a spring day.

While slightly tipsy, suddenly a group of people walked in, led by someone who asked, “Innkeeper, where is Li Huaisu?”

Shi Jian pointed at Su Zhen, and the person immediately led his group to her.

She set down her bowl and chopsticks, looking calmly at this uninvited guest.

She recognized this person—Si Lanfeng.

Today was truly lively. After Song Yang came him. What wind had blown this wind here too?

The man looked her over with interest for quite a while before saying, “I am Si Lanfeng.”

“I’ve long admired your name,” Su Zhen replied equally indifferently.