Chapter Five: Twice

The man in black was a notorious thief, once recruited by the Imperial Court after a failed heist. Now he worked for them, though he knew little of their inner workings.
“The Imperial Court is truly formidable,” Liu Jingye murmured to himself. “In such a short time, they’ve pinpointed our location and already dispatched people.” It seemed he could not afford to underestimate them.
Liu Jingye had no wish to kill, nor did he want unnecessary conflict with the Imperial Court. He released the man in black, quietly warning him, “This is my inn. Anyone who enters is my guest, and it’s my duty to protect their safety. Settle your business outside—take my words back with you.”
Standing in the darkness, Liu Jingye’s gaze was icy, his expression severe. His calm tone carried an unyielding authority and resolve that brooked no argument.
The man in black nodded, limped away, but still managed to scale the wall, disappearing into the night. Liu Jingye smiled wryly—was this professionalism, or simply a rare conscience in his trade?
Brushing dust from his clothes, Liu Jingye looked up. His carefully crafted hanging ghost still swayed outside the second-floor window, and the strange woman remained.
Entering the inn, the hall was pitch-black. Suddenly, he sensed the faintest movement—was someone else lurking here?
Liu Jingye gave a cold snort. “Come out…”
Before he finished, a pale figure suddenly stood at his side. Even he didn’t have time to react before the person dove straight into his arms.
Instinctively, Liu Jingye tried to push away, but realized the figure showed no signs of attack—she merely trembled in fear. Reaching behind, his hand brushed against smooth, soft skin, startling him so much he withdrew as if shocked by lightning.
He understood at last why his chest felt so soft—it was a woman, and apparently not clothed.
Looking down carefully, he recognized her: it was Yuan Xiaoying. The young lady had fled downstairs, stripped bare, and thrown herself into his arms with such fervor—what was going on?
Just then, the beauty in his arms quavered, “Ghost, there’s a ghost!”
He hadn’t expected his trick to work so well. Liu Jingye only wanted to scare her away, not anything untoward, but the situation had gone far beyond his expectations.
He had fabricated the ghost, yet now he needed to dispel the myth himself. “There’s no such thing as ghosts,” he said. “Even if there were, those who act with a clear conscience need not fear them at night. Only those with crooked hearts are afraid.”
Yuan Xiaoying was terrified, utterly losing her composure. She shrieked, “I saw it myself—upstairs!”
Liu Jingye sighed, “I’ll go take a look.”
He gently pushed her away, careful not to glance at her body, but she clung to him, pleading, “No, don’t leave me, I’m scared!”
Liu Jingye reached out and patted her shoulder, speaking softly, “Don’t worry, it’s fine. I’ll check upstairs. And—don’t catch a chill.”
Only then did Yuan Xiaoying remember her habit of sleeping unclothed. She’d already gone to bed, tossing and turning, when the hanging ghost appeared. In a panic, she’d run out as she was.
“Twice in one day he’s seen me completely exposed. I don’t know if I’m just unlucky, or if it’s fate,” Yuan Xiaoying thought bitterly. “If only my fiancé had seen me like this sooner, maybe he wouldn’t have cheated.”
Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt warmth upon her shoulders—Liu Jingye had draped a large, cozy jacket over her. She looked up hurriedly, but he had already turned away, leaving her only the broad outline of his back. An inexplicable wave of emotion surged within her, and she felt an urge to cry.
Is this what a man's gentleness feels like? Yuan Xiaoying did not know, but it brought her immense comfort, easing the tension and pain she had carried all along.