The women quickly called inside, "Male courtesans, we have a guest!"
Qin Jiujiu peered inside, and a man emerged. He was dressed in an extremely flamboyant style, with skin so fair that if he hadn't been dressed as a man, Qin Jiujiu might have mistaken him for a woman.
He walked with a captivating grace, holding a round fan in his hand. He wore a red robe, making him utterly enchanting, exuding an unparalleled charm.
Qin Jiujiu's astonishment was evident. The man approached her, standing very close, and scrutinized her. Then, he broke into a smile that instantly eclipsed the beauty of the other women.
"Look at yourselves, so coarse. You might scare my guest away..."
He gently fanned his round fan, and Qin Jiujiu felt a breeze, carrying with it a delightful fragrance from the man in red.
She seemed captivated by the man in red. Although she was a woman, compared to the man before her, most of the women in this establishment would have paled in comparison.
The man eyed her and then let out a delicate laugh, "My, what a pretty young thing!"
Qin Jiujiu looked at him. The women all burst into laughter, and for a moment, Qin Jiujiu, surrounded by them, felt a touch dazed.
"Young lady, you've come to the right place..."
Based on his words, Qin Jiujiu deduced that he was likely a pimp, similar to those who managed male courtesans.
With his soft whispers, Qin Jiujiu found herself being led towards the section where the male courtesans resided, without even realizing it.
Fortunately, Qin Jiujiu had seen such establishments in Xiuliu City before, so she wasn't entirely surprised. However, the male courtesans here seemed to possess even more allure...
She was led into a grand hall. There, the male courtesans were engaged in their respective duties: some playing musical instruments, some singing, and of course, some dancing. The hall was filled with music and merriment, rivaling any establishment run by women.
Qin Jiujiu scanned the crowd, her gaze falling upon a man in blue.
It was Yue Bei Yang!
The man in red had clearly been in this profession for a long time. He quickly noticed where Qin Jiujiu's eyes lingered and chuckled again, "The lady has good taste. That one just joined our ranks and is still pure..." Hearing this, Qin Jiujiu couldn't help but laugh.
The man continued, "It's just his etiquette, he hasn't learned that yet..."
Upon hearing this, Qin Jiujiu didn't hesitate. She immediately declared, "I want him!"
In front of Yue Bei Yang was a guqin, but apart from wielding swords and spears, he knew nothing of musical instruments. He stared at the guqin before him with a troubled expression.
The man in red coughed lightly and glanced at Yue Bei Yang.
Yue Bei Yang looked towards them. His gaze first fell on the man in red, then shifted to Qin Jiujiu. His eyes remained cold, and Qin Jiujiu couldn't help but laugh.
Looking at his face, and imagining Xie Jing in his place, Qin Jiujiu inwardly rejoiced.
He had been so arrogant before; now it was her turn for revenge.
The man in red turned his head to look at Qin Jiujiu, "Please follow me, miss. The one you desire will be sent to you shortly. However, our establishment requires a deposit first!"
As soon as money was mentioned, it was no longer an issue!
At least since her transmigration, she had never encountered trouble due to money!
Qin Jiujiu nonchalantly took a silver ingot from her satchel and presented it to the man in red. He accepted the silver, his smile deepening.
Judging by his experience, this lady was certainly not short of money!
"Then, honored guest, please follow me!"
The man in red led Qin Jiujiu to a private room. The room was not large, but it exuded a very pleasant atmosphere. Qin Jiujiu was quite satisfied; she felt she wouldn't be disturbed here.
Soon, a maid led Yue Bei Yang into the private room.
Although Yue Bei Yang was suffering from amnesia, Qin Jiujiu felt his gaze was still as cold. Looking at his face, she wasn't entirely sure if he had indeed lost his memory.
Qin Jiujiu asked, "System, are you sure this is the amnesiac Yue Bei Yang?"
The system replied, "Of course, host, please rest assured. The person before you is indeed the amnesiac Yue Bei Yang!"
Qin Jiujiu felt a little more at ease. Although she was somewhat flustered at the moment, she feigned a calm demeanor as she looked at Yue Bei Yang, at least not showing any weakness in her presence.
The attendant quickly withdrew. Qin Jiujiu looked at Yue Bei Yang. He remained still, standing in his spot, staring at her, lost in his thoughts.
Qin Jiujiu took the initiative to break the silence, "Young master, please come and sit!"
She adopted a commanding tone, but Yue Bei Yang did not move.
Even with his amnesia, his innate coldness remained unchanged.
"Do you know why I've asked you here?"
Qin Jiujiu stood up and gradually approached him, suddenly feeling a desire to tease him.
Yue Bei Yang didn't move. His gaze was fixed on her, carrying a naked threat, as if any further approach would lead to utter annihilation.
If it were before, Qin Jiujiu would have certainly been intimidated. But now, facing someone with amnesia, she felt considerably bolder!
Seeing her silence, she continued to approach him.
However, the difference in height made her look up to him. Qin Jiujiu, slightly annoyed, pouted and tiptoed closer.
Their breaths mingled. Fleeting images seemed to flash through Yue Bei Yang's mind.
He seemed to have seen this person before.
A subtle change occurred in Yue Bei Yang's cold gaze. He spoke, "Who are you?" Qin Jiujiu's heart skipped a beat, and her feet landed back on the ground.
Had he remembered?
But soon, she heard Yue Bei Yang say, "And who am I?"
The coldness in his eyes dissipated significantly, replaced by confusion. He seemed to be genuinely asking her this question.
Qin Jiujiu thought for a moment and said, "You don't remember?" She put on a mysterious air, her eyes subtly shifting away. Yue Bei Yang's gaze was intense, devoid of its previous coldness.
"You..." he began.
Before he could ask, Qin Jiujiu spoke, "You were originally my bodyguard. But our family suffered a catastrophe. My entire family died, leaving only the two of us..." Qin Jiujiu paused, looking at Yue Bei Yang, "I couldn't bear it and threw myself into the lake. To save me, you lost your memory. You were coincidentally rescued, and then ended up here. I searched for you for a long time before finding you!"
She put on a sorrowful expression, her gaze towards Yue Bei Yang filled with innocence.
She stared intently into his eyes, trying to discern his thoughts, but this person was truly inscrutable. Qin Jiujiu couldn't quite understand.
After waiting for a long time, just as Qin Jiujiu thought she wouldn't receive a response, he suddenly spoke, "Do I... have feelings for you?"
Qin Jiujiu's heart raced. The shock on her face was impossible to conceal. He asked such a question with a completely serious expression, leaving Qin Jiujiu speechless for a moment.
He gazed at her flushed face and couldn't resist reaching out, guided by memories in his mind.
The familiar touch made the memories in his mind even more vivid.
"Am I... surnamed Xie?"
Qin Jiujiu: !?