After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Before long, the two arrived at a rather grand restaurant.

It was lunchtime, and the entrance to the restaurant was bustling with carriages and horses. Guests in fine clothes and attentive servants mingled together, creating a lively and noisy scene.

Just then, a man dressed in a moon-white brocade robe with cloud patterns and holding an ivory bone fan slowly walked out of the restaurant, followed by two attendants.

As soon as Chu Yanzhao stepped out of the restaurant, his gaze inadvertently fell on the two people who were walking up the steps.

When his gaze fell upon Jiang Dusheng's exquisite and beautiful face, he paused almost imperceptibly, clearly taken aback.

Immediately afterward, when he saw Xie Jinchen standing tall and straight beside Jiang Dusheng, the leisure in his eyes was instantly replaced by a look of astonishment.

A scrutinizing glint flashed in the depths of his eyes, and the fingers gripping the fan handle unconsciously tightened slightly.

Jiang Dusheng, however, seemed not to see him at all. He kept his eyes straight ahead and his steps did not stop. He was about to walk straight in from the side.

Chu Yanzhao subtly shifted his footsteps, completely blocking her path.

His face quickly returned to its usual gentle smile, his gaze shifting between Xie Jinchen and Jiang Dusheng, his tone carrying just the right amount of surprise:

"Jin Chen? What a coincidence. And this gentleman is…"

His gaze fell on Jiang Dusheng, his smile unchanged, but a barely perceptible hint of inquiry flickered in his eyes. "Miss Jiang?"

Jiang Dusheng was forced to stop and slightly raised his eyes to look at the obstacle blocking his way.

Her brow furrowed slightly, her eyes filled with complete unfamiliarity and a hint of impatience at being disturbed, as she uttered three words:

Who are you?

"..."

The gentle smile that Chu Yanzhao had carefully maintained on his face instantly cracked slightly and froze at the corner of his mouth.

Xie Jinchen, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but chuckle softly.

He rarely lost his composure like this in front of outsiders.

The contrast between Jiang Dusheng's expression of complete unfamiliarity and indifference, coupled with Chu Yanzhao's momentary astonishment, was too great, and too... interesting.

Jiang Dusheng glanced at him sideways, his eyes cold and clear.

Seeing this, Xie Jinchen immediately suppressed his smile, coughed lightly with his fist to his lips, regained his composure, and introduced her:

"Miss Jiang, this is Chu Yanzhao, the heir apparent of Prince Chun's mansion."

He looked at Chu Yanzhao, his tone casual, "Yanzhao, I heard you've already gone to the Jiang family to propose marriage? Then, according to custom, this Miss Jiang should be your future sister?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Dusheng finally showed a look of realization.

She gave Chu Yanzhao another look, her tone indifferent:

"Oh, so it's Prince Chu. I met him last night; no wonder he looked familiar."

Last night, I was so focused on the aura swirling around his brows and eyes that I forgot to look at what he actually looked like.

Chu Yanzhao's smile returned to its usual gentle tone. "It's alright."

He turned his gaze to Xie Jinchen and smiled, "Jinchen and Miss Jiang, what's this...?"

Xie Jinchen did not respond to his words, but merely nodded slightly, his tone indifferent and polite:

"Yanzhao, I'm sorry, we're a bit pressed for time, so please excuse us."

Chu Yanzhao's smile remained unchanged as he stepped aside, saying, "Of course, please make yourselves at home."

Xie Jinchen gestured to Jiang Dusheng to invite him in, and the two walked into the restaurant side by side, their figures quickly disappearing behind the carved doors.

Chu Yanzhao stood in front of the restaurant, the spring sunlight falling on his moon-white brocade robe, but it could not diminish the deep sorrow gathering in his eyes.

After watching the two figures disappear, the gentle smile on his face vanished completely, and his eyes became dark and unfathomable.

Xie Jinchen was an aloof and unapproachable person, especially towards women, whom he deliberately kept at a distance.

When have I ever seen him invite any girl to dine alone?

This Miss Jiang is someone Xie Jinchen looks at differently, even someone he walks alongside...

interesting.

Wang Dazhuang followed behind Jiang Dusheng. After holding back for a long time, he finally couldn't help but mutter in a low voice:

"Master, I ran into that pretty boy at the door... that Chu Prince, the way he looked at you, tsk tsk, it didn't seem like he had any good intentions."

"They smile like a flower on the surface, but who knows what schemes they're hiding underneath; they're just putting on a show."

Jiang Dusheng didn't stop walking. Hearing this, she glanced at him sideways, a smile playing on her lips:

"You've only been by my side for a few days, and you've already learned to read people's faces and predict their fortunes?"

Wang Dazhuang shrank back instinctively when that gaze swept over him, then chuckled softly.

"Isn't that like being near a master, you become like the person you associate with? You're exposed to this kind of influence every day, so even my paper-thin eyes need to be opened wider, right?"

Xie Jinchen, who was walking in front, seemed unaware of the subtle interaction between master and servant behind him.

He pushed open the door to a private room by the window and stepped aside to let Jiang Dusheng go first.

The private room was softly lit, and the street view below could be seen from the window.

The room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, and the furnishings were simple yet elegant, with the sandalwood tables and chairs feeling warm to the touch.

After taking their seats, Xie Jinchen pushed the exquisitely crafted menu in front of Jiang Dusheng, his tone gentle:

"Look, is there anything you'd like to eat? This restaurant makes some pretty good Jiangnan cuisine and a few imperial desserts."

Jiang Dusheng glanced at the menu, showing little interest: "Anything is fine."

As Jiang Dusheng finished speaking, his peripheral vision seemed to casually sweep past his side.

There, Wang Dazhuang, who was trying his best to play the role of a silent maid, was staring longingly at the menu, his paper-thin face revealing his eager anticipation.

Although ghosts don't need to eat, this guy seems... to have a rather gluttonous appetite.

"...Order one more." Jiang Dusheng added to Xie Jinchen, gesturing towards Wang Dazhuang with his finger, "Give it to him."

Xie Jinchen showed no surprise or questioning, and nodded: "Okay."

He beckoned to the waiter waiting by the door and skillfully ordered several signature dishes and dim sum.

He then gently instructed, "Make sure to prepare enough of these items. Also, prepare an extra set of bowls and chopsticks."

The waiter acknowledged and left.

Xie Jinchen then waved his hand, signaling the accompanying guards to retreat to the corridor outside the door to wait.

Only the two of them and a "paper maid" remained in the private room.

With the door closed, the room became even quieter, with only the faint sounds of the city outside the window and the soft rustling of the bamboo curtain in the breeze.

Xie Jinchen picked up the celadon teapot and poured Jiang Dusheng a cup of fragrant pre-rain Longjing tea. The rising steam blurred his lowered eyes.

He put down the teapot, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the maid standing ramrod straight behind Jiang Dusheng, and suddenly said, "You are quite kind-hearted."

He tapped the table lightly with his fingertip, then looked up at Jiang Dusheng:

"He acted frivolously that day. If it were anyone else, they would have at least been punished, if not beaten to a pulp."

"You not only kept him by your side..."

His gaze swept over the uncomfortable Wang Dazhuang again, finally settling on Jiang Dusheng's calm face. "He's still considering his appetite."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Dusheng's hand, which was holding the cup, paused at his lips.

Wang Dazhuang, who was standing behind her, suddenly stiffened, his paper-like body widening as he stared intently at Xie Jinchen.

His eyes were filled with shock that "he could actually tell I was the ghost from that day."