Why don’t you go be doormen instead…

Knock, knock, knock.

Once again, the sound of knocking drifted in from outside.

“Come in,” Yan Xiaohu called out, his voice a little tense.

The one who entered was a madam with a willow-like sway to her walk, her body twisting as she sauntered gracefully into the room. “Oh my, Young Master Yan, what a coincidence. Our Rouyi just happened to have an official come to see her. He only just entered, and you arrived right after. We run an open business here and can’t just chase customers away, you know… You’ll have to wait a little while longer. Once she’s finished over there, Rouyi will come right over.”

As she spoke, the madam edged closer to Yan Xiaohu, who seemed not to hear a word, his gaze fixed on her feet as though afraid she might get too close.

When it looked as if she was about to sit beside him, Yan Xiaohu quickly shifted away, pointing to a seat with its back to the screen. “Sit there. Don’t come any closer.”

“Alright, alright.” The madam smiled, “We’ve known each other for years, no need to be so distant. I assure you, Rouyi truly cares for you. Just the other day, when you didn’t come, she was secretly asking about you…”

“Rouyi asked about me?” At this, Yan Xiaohu perked up a little, some spirit returning to his eyes.

“Strange…” The madam glanced around, puzzled. “Where did those two servant girls I sent ahead to attend to you go? So unruly…”

“You’ll see them soon enough,” Yan Xiaohu muttered quietly.

“Hm?” The madam barely had time to register her confusion when a sudden pain struck the back of her head, her vision went black, and her gaudy figure crumpled to the floor.

Behind her, Chu Liang put away the brick and shook his head. “This one isn’t it either.”

Yan Xiaohu immediately got up and dragged the madam behind the screen, laying her alongside the other two unfortunate girls, lining them up neatly.

As he dragged her, he asked, “Brother Chu, why do I have to lure the Painted-Skin Ghost here? Couldn’t I just go home and have all my men protect me?”

“You could,” Chu Liang replied, “as long as you never leave your house again. There are a thousand days for a thief, but not a thousand days to guard against one. If you don’t catch the Painted-Skin Ghost soon, you’ll always be in danger. Is that what you want?”

“Never mind, then…” Yan Xiaohu gave up the idea.

He was still dragging the body when the sounds of fighting erupted from outside—thuds and slaps echoing through the hallway.

In the blink of an eye, the door was slammed open, and two bodyguards tumbled in, scrambling to their feet with groans. “Young master, she insisted on coming in! We couldn’t stop her!”

“Hm?” Yan Xiaohu was about to lose his temper when he looked up at the intruder and suddenly froze. “Instructor Song?”

Song Qingyi entered, her brows furrowed in anger. “Do you have any idea how much danger you’re in? Yet here you are, fooling around in a place like this, you—”

She stopped mid-sentence, stupefied at the sight before her: Yan Xiaohu dragging an unconscious body, his rear in the air, with two other girls already lying motionless on the floor.

Beside Yan Xiaohu stood Chu Liang.

“What are you two doing here, committing such heinous acts?” she demanded sternly.

“It was all Brother Chu’s idea!” Yan Xiaohu hastily dropped the body and shouted in panic.

How quick he was to shift the blame.

Chu Liang was speechless for a moment, then quickly explained to Song Qingyi, “I suspected the Painted-Skin Ghost might approach Yan Xiaohu, so I came to protect him.”

Song Qingyi cast a dubious glance at the three unconscious women, then looked back at Chu Liang as if he were a complete degenerate.

“We were just testing to see if any of them were the Painted-Skin Ghost. There are some minor side effects,” Chu Liang added at once.

“Forget it, you two—get out, now!” Yan Xiaohu first chased the two bodyguards out, then turned to Song Qingyi. “Instructor Song, why are you here?”

“I came to protect you as well.” She still looked suspicious, turning to Chu Liang. “Your method of testing for the Painted-Skin Ghost… is it just to knock them out and see if they retaliate?”

Chu Liang’s expression grew wistful.

...

Knock, knock, knock.

Moments later, the knocking returned.

“Come in.” Yan Xiaohu tensed up again.

This time, in walked a young beauty, graceful and enchanting, garbed in a delicate gauze gown. Her features were exquisite, her brows like distant mountains, every glance full of gentle allure.

“Rouyi, you’re finally here.” The sight of her made Yan Xiaohu’s eyes go wide, his nervousness fading considerably.

“I was delayed just now. You’re not angry with me, are you?” Rouyi asked sweetly as she approached.

“Of course not. The moment I see you, all my anger melts away,” Yan Xiaohu said, scratching his head with a smile.

“I knew it. Only you truly love me, not like those other men.” Rouyi pouted and sat in the seat facing away from the door.

Yan Xiaohu hesitated, gritting his teeth, then pointed to the seat facing the screen. “Rouyi, sit over there.”

“Hm?” Rouyi paused, then laughed softly, “You’re acting strange today.”

“It’s nothing. I just want to look at your face more clearly,” Yan Xiaohu said.

“Alright, alright.” Rouyi agreed, rising to move as she asked, “It’s not a rest day. Why aren’t you at the academy?”

“I just… didn’t feel like going,” Yan Xiaohu mumbled. There was no way he’d admit he’d been badly beaten at the academy and was too embarrassed to return—especially with his assailant hiding just behind the screen.

“Didn’t you say the new instructor at the academy, Instructor Song, is half as beautiful as me? You always said seeing her in class made your heart flutter. Why don’t you want to go anymore? Men, always so fickle,” Rouyi teased.

“That’s not true…” Yan Xiaohu sat up straighter. “You can’t say things like that, Rouyi.”

“Alright, alright.” Rouyi conceded, then caught sight of the bruises on his face and gasped. “Young Master Yan, you’re hurt! What happened? Did you get in a fight?”

“Uh… something like that,” Yan Xiaohu hedged. After all, the line between a fight and a beating was a fine one.

“It pains me to see you hurt. I’ve never seen you injured before.” Rouyi pouted again. “Whoever did this is terrible! I’ll curse them for you—”

“No, no!” Yan Xiaohu nearly reached out to cover her mouth. “Don’t say that…”

“Hmph, I suppose it’s unnecessary. I imagine they’re already in a terrible state now. Didn’t you say your father issued a warning—anyone who lays a finger on you must either kneel in apology or lose their entire family, or he’ll never rest? Just the thought of it scares me…”

“That’s not true at all!” Yan Xiaohu hastily waved his hands. “My family has been law-abiding for six generations…”

“Huh?” Rouyi was momentarily confused.

Growing impatient, Yan Xiaohu declared, “In a moment, it might hurt a little. Bear with it.”

“You’re awful…” Rouyi blushed, about to feign coyness.

Thud.

Once again, a muffled blow sounded.

The beauty collapsed in a swoon.

And behind her stood Chu Liang and Song Qingyi, side by side, looking at Yan Xiaohu with cold, mocking smiles.

Yan Xiaohu wore an expression of utter innocence.

At that awkward moment, the sounds of fighting erupted outside once more—loud thuds and slaps echoing in the corridors.

In no time at all, the two bodyguards rolled in again, scrambling to their feet and wailing, “Young master, he insisted on coming in! We couldn’t stop him!”

“Of course you couldn’t!” Yan Xiaohu seized the moment to vent his frustration, cursing, “You two might as well pack your things and leave. Don’t bother being bodyguards tomorrow—go find work as doormen at a tavern instead. I guarantee you’ll bring them prosperity!”