Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Unable to Resist Seeking Her Out

The situation was now completely reversed.

Before, it was Ming Lingyi begging to partner with Guanwen Hall. Now, it was the owner of Guanwen Hall chasing after her for a partnership.

"Liufang Bookstore, located on Vermilion Bird Street, is one of my properties. The storefront is decent, its street-facing location is excellent, and the daily foot traffic is high. I can place your official gazette, Boss Ming, at the very front of the bookstore as our main promotion. Furthermore, Liufang Bookstore holds a purchasing event every month. I imagine the official gazette you’ve devised will only be a page or two long, so its price shouldn’t be too high. With that in mind, for this month’s special offer, we could give away your official gazette as a free gift..."

At this, Feng Shuyu, as if worried Ming Lingyi might misunderstand, quickly added an explanation, "Our bookstore’s promotions usually feature our best-selling books as gifts. We only give them away, never sell them. Many people, in order to get their hands on such a hard-to-find book, will spend enough at the bookstore to qualify for the free gift..."

She wanted to explain to Ming Lingyi that she wasn’t looking down on her official gazette by wanting to give it away.

In fact, when Feng Shuyu had mentioned "Liufang Bookstore" just now, Xiao Chun had let out a soft gasp from behind her.

Any business that could operate on or near Vermilion Bird Street was almost certainly a major enterprise.

Though she had never been inside, Liufang Bookstore was a massive, three-story establishment! ’Anyone coming into the capital would have a hard time not noticing it, right?’

’Liufang Bookstore is actually this young lady’s dowry?!’

Ming Lingyi was also secretly astonished. Liufang Bookstore already had excellent foot traffic on its own. To have her publication sold at the entrance would be incredibly effective promotion.

After all, the people who went to bookstores were mostly scholars and literary types.

These were precisely the target audience for Ming Lingyi’s official gazette.

The moment Ming Lingyi heard the name "Liufang Bookstore," she had already made her decision.

"...Our bookstore also hosts small, interactive events like reading circles, where we share good articles. The winning poems from the poetry competition at your eatery, Boss Ming, could also be featured in our events."

Feng Shuyu’s unhurried words reached her ears. It had to be said, her offer was thoroughly appealing to Ming Lingyi.

"Boss Feng, you seem to have a lot of confidence in our official gazette?" Ming Lingyi was a little surprised. After all, the publication hadn’t been released or tested by the market yet. The risk Feng Shuyu was taking by betting on it was still quite high.

Feng Shuyu said, "Of course."

As she spoke, she lifted her chin slightly, looking proud and full of confidence. "There’s rarely a venture I, Feng Shuyu, have my eye on that doesn’t make Silver."

Seeing this, a smile bloomed on Ming Lingyi’s face.

Even though she hadn’t known Feng Shuyu before, it was hard not to feel a sense of goodwill toward her after hearing her speak like that.

Ming Lingyi took the initiative and raised her cup. "Then, I’ll be in your care from now on, Boss Feng."

The gesture clearly signaled that they had reached an agreement.

Feng Shuyu raised her cup with both hands and tapped it against Ming Lingyi’s. "Likewise. Let’s get rich together."

When Ming Lingyi had first met Feng Shuyu, she only thought the latter was a no-nonsense person who acted decisively. Now, it seemed she was also quite interesting.

Ming Lingyi didn’t want to disturb her any further, especially after learning that Feng Shuyu was the very carver for their printing workshop. Her earlier suspicion was confirmed, which made her feel even more hesitant to take up more of her work time.

"Your word count is low, so I can prioritize this job. Come directly to Liufang Bookstore the day after tomorrow in the afternoon, and we’ll talk more then," Feng Shuyu said.

After setting the time, Ming Lingyi led Xiao Chun and Shi Mingyue back to the eatery.

Unexpectedly, just as they reached the outside of the eatery, they saw a group of people.

Although the Black Armor Guards had changed into plain clothes and weren’t standing outside the eatery with the same imposing and high-profile manner as two days ago, Ming Lingyi still recognized them at a glance.

Ming Lingyi couldn’t help but quicken her pace.

She hadn’t expected Li Yun to show up at this time. Judging by the previous situation, she must have angered him quite a bit, as he hadn’t shown his face for two days.

Ming Lingyi had thought it would be a while before Li Yun’s anger cooled.

Stepping into the eatery, she found that Liu Ye had already cleared the main hall of people. Only a single figure remained, sitting at a table. He held a teacup, but likely finding the tea’s flavor too ordinary, he didn’t drink. He just held it, gently swirling the cup as he waited.

As Ming Lingyi entered, Liu Ye greeted her in a low voice.

The volume was low enough not to be disruptive, but loud enough for the person sitting in the main hall to hear.

But Li Yun did not turn around.

Seeing this, Ming Lingyi knew he was probably still angry.

She recalled how they had parted on bad terms last time. It was true that she had said something harsh, taking out her bad mood on Li Yun. Ming Lingyi took the initiative to walk toward the figure at the table. "Shall we go sit in the back courtyard?"

’Otherwise, wouldn’t having him occupy the entire main hall affect her business? On normal days, before meal times, many poor students come to the shop to read.’

But now, because of Li Yun’s presence, not a single person had come in.

When Li Yun heard Ming Lingyi’s voice, he finally looked up as if just noticing her arrival.

In all the time since they had reunited, this was the first time Ming Lingyi had proactively invited him to the back courtyard.

However, Li Yun thought of the group of people currently in the back courtyard, and his brow furrowed again. "Let’s go next door."

He didn’t want to be deprived of even a little private space with Ming Lingyi.

’Living here is really inconvenient.’

Ming Lingyi had no objections and followed Li Yun through the door to the neighboring house.

The residence Li Yun had bought was much quieter than both the front and back courtyards of Ming Lingyi’s eatery.

And because it was so quiet, it felt like it lacked a human touch.

Li Yun hadn’t been over for two days, and the house looked even more desolate.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Li Yun asked, turning around as soon as he stepped inside.

Although he was the one who had proactively left the palace to find Ming Lingyi, she had been the one to speak to him first just now, which made all the difference.

A flash of discomfort crossed Ming Lingyi’s face. In two lifetimes, she had never been the one to back down first with Li Yun.

But last time...

"I was in the wrong two days ago," Ming Lingyi said quickly. "I was in a bad mood and spoke without thinking."

When Li Yun heard this, the dark clouds hanging over his heart instantly dissipated.

On the surface, however, he remained stern and unsmiling, looking very serious.

"So, what you said about me not being as good as Jiang Yuchuan—that was you speaking without thinking?"

Even though two days had passed, Li Yun still remembered his conversation with Ming Lingyi at the eatery that day with perfect clarity.

Perhaps he was the only person in the world who knew how many times he had replayed and mulled over Ming Lingyi’s words, "still better than you," during the two days he hadn’t seen her, when he was all alone.

Each time he recalled it, a pang shot through his heart, yet he couldn’t stop, as if tormenting himself.

Just like today, when he couldn’t stop himself from coming to find her.