As the maid discovered the note left behind, Lian Yan and Jian Wei had already vanished into the distance, their whereabouts unknown to those who might seek them. Their journey led them to the Lan Tang, a place more commonly known as the Orchid Pavilion, an establishment renowned for its association with courtesans. Lian Yan found herself at a loss, her mind a whirlwind of uncertainty. She couldn't discern whether Jian Wei's intentions were genuine or if this was some cruel jest, leaving her to wonder if she was to be a 'hostage' in this place or if something more sinister was expected of her.
"Why have you brought me here?" she demanded, her voice tinged with a blend of confusion and indignation. The thought of being left in such a place did not sit well with her, and her discomfort was palpable. "Are you deceiving me about your intentions?"
Jian Wei, however, seemed uninterested in alleviating her concerns. Instead, he posed a question of his own, one that only served to deepen her unease. "Do you truly have a problem with our current location," he began, his tone measured, "or is it the thought of what you might be required to do here that unsettles you?"
His words, or rather the lack of clarity within them, did little to reassure her. The ambiguity of her situation weighed heavily on her, and the silence that followed was filled with the unspoken questions that lingered between them.
"I am concerned that you will compel me to do something against my will," she confessed, her arms crossing over her chest in a protective gesture. Jian Wei, carrying her with an ease that belied her turmoil, stepped into the building, his presence commanding and familiar.
The women within the establishment, their faces alight with recognition and affection, boldly approached him. "Boss, you're finally here!" One of them exclaimed, her smile wide and welcoming. "Where have you been? Is this someone new who will be working here?"
Lian Yan, her face buried in the crook of Jian Wei's neck, sought to conceal her identity. The last thing she desired was to be recognized as the prime minister's daughter in such a place. A chuckle rumbled from Jian Wei's chest, a sound that seemed to carry a mixture of amusement and something more indefinable. Lian Yan's eyes widened slightly as she realized the implications of the courtesan's words—Jian Wei was not merely a patron of this establishment; he was its proprietor.
"She is someone who will be working specifically for me, and only me," Jian Wei clarified, his tone leaving no room for misunderstanding.
The courtesan, though momentarily taken aback, did not press the matter further. Instead, she offered a smile, her professional demeanor seamless. "Okay! Just let us know if you wish to still get our help, Boss," she said before returning to her client.
Jian Wei carried Lian Yan up the stairs and into his private quarters. With a gentle nudge of his foot, he closed the door behind them, sealing them off from the rest of the establishment. He made to set Lian Yan down, but she clung to him, her face still hidden, her grip a silent testament to her uncertainty and fear.
"Are you going to let me go so you can stand on your own feet?" He asked, his voice a soft murmur, a question that hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken implications.
"That is what you said, isn't it?" Lian Yan pressed, her need for reassurance palpable. She found herself in the company of a man who was still largely a stranger to her, their agreement struck in haste and borne of necessity. The uncertainty of her situation gnawed at her, and she sought to confirm the terms of their arrangement, to ensure that she was not to be subjected to tasks that lay beyond the scope of their agreement.
"I reiterate to you what I have already stated to her," Jian Wei began, his tone steady and his gaze unwavering. "You will be working with me, and me alone. Your duties will not extend to anyone else within this establishment. That is the extent of our arrangement."
Soon enough, Lian Yan would raise her face from his neck to be seen. He paused, his eyes searching hers, as if seeking to unravel the thoughts that lay concealed within her mind. "Now, I must ask, are you curious about the nature of the work that lies ahead, or is there something else that occupies your thoughts?"
"You will grant me the liberty to pursue my own interests, won't you?" She asked, her hands still clinging to him, as if seeking both support and reassurance. "There's no need for me to engage with individuals who hold no interest for me. My presence here is temporary, a means to an end until you achieve your objective, and then I shall take my leave."
Jian Wei's response was tinged with a hint of amusement, as if her words had once again taken him by surprise. "That was not my intention," he clarified, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Did you truly believe that I would have you work as a courtesan?"
Lian Yan, though reluctant to fully admit it, could not deny that the thought had crossed her mind. "There was a possibility that I entertained the notion," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. She attempted to extricate herself from his grasp, but Jian Wei held her fast, his arms a gentle yet unyielding barrier.
"What are you doing?" She demanded, her attention once again drawn to the man who held her. "You can set me down now."
Jian Wei, however, seemed inclined to do the opposite of what she desired after he hears something amusing, as if her acceptance of his initial proposal had sparked a desire within him to challenge her expectations. "What if I refuse to put you down?" He asked, his tone laced with a playful defiance that left her both exasperated and intrigued.
"Then, I can just slap you again. You can get two slaps in one day." Lian Yan had one hand that was ready to do the job now.
With a swiftness that belied his earlier gentleness, Jian Wei placed Lian Yan onto a nearby table, the sudden movement causing her to steady herself with her hands. Despite the change in their positions, they remained face to face, their gazes locked in a silent battle of wills for a few minutes.
"How is it that someone like you is capable of doing things that most women would not dare to attempt?" Jian Wei questioned, his tone a blend of curiosity and something akin to admiration.
Lian Yan, her hand still poised from her earlier threat, met his gaze with a steadfast resolve. "Because what you do, the life you lead, it is not something that a woman like myself would typically engage in," she stated, her voice firm and unyielding. "Does that clarify matters for you, Jian Wei? I am not like the other women who work for you, nor am I like those you encounter elsewhere. I am my own person, with my own thoughts, my own beliefs, and my own path to follow. Do not always think that every woman is alike. You eventually offend them." She would finally push him off of her and she gets to her feet finally.
That did the job of keeping Jian Wei silent for the moment and watch her use her own feet to go around his room.
As Lian Yan's gaze swept across the room, she found herself taken aback by the sight that greeted her. The walls were lined with books, their spines showcasing a myriad of titles and topics. The room itself was devoid of the ostentatious displays of wealth that she might have expected, given Jian Wei's status. Instead, it was furnished with a simplicity that spoke of functionality and purpose, the centerpiece being a sturdy desk that bore the marks of frequent use.
Her curiosity piqued, Lian Yan found herself drawn to the books, as if an invisible force compelled her to explore their contents. With a sense of reverence, she reached out and pulled one of the volumes from its place on the shelf, her eyes scanning the cover with a keen interest.
"The Tactical Mind?" She read aloud, her voice tinged with a hint of surprise. As she opened the first page, she discovered that the book delved into the intricacies of strategic battle and warfare, its contents a far cry from the frivolous pursuits that she might have associated with a man of Jian Wei's standing. "You read this kind of stuff in this place?" She raised a brow at him, judging him inside about what kind of Boss he was.