That night, Lu Qihong came.

Lu Beicheng and Zhen Jiu’er sat together, appearing extremely intimate.

He kept leaning toward Jiu’er now and then, as if he were quite fond of the girl.

Lu Qihong found this rather puzzling.

Was he really not trying to avoid suspicion?

“Her name is Jiu’er — Zhen Jiu’er. My girlfriend.”

Not only did Lu Beicheng not avoid suspicion, he openly and generously admitted the relationship between himself and Jiu’er.

He gave Jiu’er a doting glance, his thin lips curving up slightly. “Jiu’er, call him Third Brother.”

Jiu’er seemed to blush a little, looking somewhat bashful, but she still called out obediently, “Third Brother.”

Lu Qihong’s expression darkened slightly, as if he couldn’t quite see through the two people before him.

Still, he genuinely couldn’t bring himself to like being called “Third Brother.” “She hasn’t even married into the family yet. That title can wait until later.”

Jiu’er immediately looked at Lu Beicheng, seeming somewhat troubled.

Lu Beicheng’s gaze on her was inexplicably gentle. “It’s fine. My third brother is just a little old-fashioned. Don’t mind him.”

“Mm.” Jiu’er nodded and went back to arranging the flowers and plants she’d gathered from the wilderness that day.

Apparently, she was making him some flower tea.

Most of it was wild chrysanthemum.

Lu Qihong’s gaze lingered briefly on Jiu’er’s fingers before finally meeting Lu Beicheng’s eyes.

“Since you’re injured, you should go back to Jiangzhou to recover properly. If you’re worried about your team, I can personally escort you back.”

Something flickered in the depths of Lu Beicheng’s eyes.

But Jiu’er looked alarmed. “Ninth Master, no. A helicopter accident just happened. You can’t leave right now, it’s too dangerous.”

Lu Beicheng immediately ruffled her long hair. “Don’t worry, I’m not leaving.”

Lu Qihong narrowed his eyes. “It was just a minor accident, what’s there to be afraid of? My people flew that same route today and nothing happened at all!”

“A’Jiu, since when have you become so timid?”

“The matter in Ying’an City still isn’t settled. I don’t intend to leave just yet.”

Compared to Lu Qihong’s fiery temper, Lu Beicheng seemed considerably gentler today.

Whether that had anything to do with the “little girlfriend” beside him, no one could say.

He said lightly, “Besides, Jiu’er doesn’t want me to leave, so I’ll wait a few more days — once the flight route system is fully secured, it won’t be too late to go.”

Lu Qihong said nothing more.

After a few more pleasantries, he left.

Zhou Xuan was waiting for him outside.

The tent’s soundproofing was extremely poor, and Zhou Xuan had heard every single word of their conversation inside, clear as day.

He looked puzzled. “Third Master, why does Ninth Master seem so completely unguarded around you? Something about this feels off.”

If Zhen Jiu’er really was Lu Beicheng’s girlfriend, and if Lu Beicheng truly cared for her that much, he shouldn’t have shown it in front of Third Master.

The two of them had been at odds for so many years; the calm surface between them was nothing but a disguise.

Everyone knew they were outwardly civil but inwardly at odds.

Ninth Master wasn’t guarding against Third Master? Wasn’t he afraid Third Master might target the woman he cared for?

“It could very well be a smokescreen — trying to make two negatives cancel out into a positive. Does he think that this way, I won’t touch Zhen Jiu’er?” Lu Qihong scoffed coldly.

But Zhou Xuan still felt something was strange. “Ninth Master… doesn’t seem like that foolish a person…”

Wouldn’t a trick like that be easily seen through by Third Master?

What would be the point?

Zhou Xuan thought for a moment, then asked, “Third Master, how is his leg? Has it really healed?”