Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

Zhang Xiaokui shook his head. "She didn’t say."

"Fine."

Jiang Mu sighed and stood up. After a quick word with Bai Xiang and Yuan Ahqing, he changed into his official uniform and followed Zhang Xiaokui to the Government Office.

They arrived at the records office.

Chu Lingzhu was standing before a desk, hands clasped behind her back. She was on her tiptoes, studying the map of Hu State hanging on the wall.

Her emerald-green dress swayed gently, giving her an air of youthful liveliness.

Standing behind her was a timid, beautiful young woman.

It was none other than Lan Rou’Er, the very same girl Jiang Mu had "physically awoken" in a dream.

She still had that same frail, delicate look, as if a gust of wind could knock her over. It made one look at her and... feel the urge to punch her again.

When Lan Rou’Er saw Jiang Mu enter, she instinctively shrank behind Chu Lingzhu, her face turning deathly pale.

Clearly, that punch had left a considerable psychological scar; she was having a stress reaction.

"Couldn’t you have just come to my house to talk? Why did you have to drag me all the way out here?"

Jiang Mu asked irritably.

Chu Lingzhu turned around and huffed. "I hate seeing that woman."

Jiang Mu was speechless.

’Looks like I’ll have to find a way to glue the two of you together,’ he thought. ’It would save me the trouble of you two glaring at each other all day.’

He sat down and casually picked up a stack of documents Zhang Daxie had organized on the desk. He began flipping through them as he asked,

"So, what case are you here to report?"

"I’m treating you to a meal," Chu Lingzhu said, as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world.

Jiang Mu’s face darkened, and he slapped the documents down on the desk.

"You dragged me all the way out here for this nonsense? Do you want me to give you a whipping? I told you before, it’s not necessary. What’s the big deal about one meal? You’d be better off saving the money for your dowry."

Chu Lingzhu’s pretty face flushed, and she shot back,

"Who’s saving for a dowry?! Don’t flatter yourself. It’s Rou’Er who wants to treat you to a meal."

Jiang Mu looked at Lan Rou’Er.

The young woman peeked out from behind Chu Lingzhu, her face beet-red. She twisted her fingers together and whispered,

"I-it’s me... I wanted to treat Lord Jiang to a meal, to thank you for saving my life."

Jiang Mu’s expression was odd.

’To be fair,’ he thought, ’though the girl is timid, she did provide a crucial clue in the dream world.’

’If it hadn’t been for the guidance from her memories, those captured children would have likely been killed long ago.’

’In a way, she’s also a savior to those surviving children.’

’Besides, if not for that incident, I wouldn’t have gotten my hands on a life-saving treasure like the Substitute Death Doll.’

"You haven’t been having nightmares lately, have you?"

Jiang Mu’s tone softened.

Lan Rou’Er shook her head vigorously. "Not anymore. Lingzhu gave me some prescriptions to calm my nerves, and I’ve been sleeping very well."

She hesitated for a moment before mustering her courage to add,

"I wanted to treat you and your subordinates to a meal because... well, actually, there’s something else I was hoping to ask for your help with."

"Is it about slaying a demon?" Jiang Mu asked.

"Mhm."

Lan Rou’Er nodded rapidly.

Jiang Mu was exasperated. "Then you should’ve just said so. Slaying demons is our job. Why go through all this trouble?"

Lan Rou’Er lowered her head, twisting her fingers even more tightly. She struggled to say a word.

Chu Lingzhu couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Looking exasperatedly at her friend, she said,

"Oh, Rou’Er, it’s just a meal! It’s not going to kill you. He’s not some kind of monster, what are you so afraid of? And you’re just treating him to a meal, it’s not like you’re in love with him. Why are you blushing so hard?!"

Jiang Mu shot a sidelong glance at the young physician.

’Yesterday I mentioned a betrothal gift and your face turned redder than a monkey’s ass.’

’And you have the nerve to talk.’

At her friend’s words, Lan Rou’Er’s face turned an even deeper shade of red, like a ripe tomato. She looked like she wanted to bury her head in her chest.

Jiang Mu figured it out.

’The girl probably has a favor to ask, but she thinks it’s a difficult one and is too embarrassed to ask directly. So she wants to soften the blow with a meal first.’

’After all, it’s hard to say no to someone who’s just bought you dinner.’

Jiang Mu thought for a moment, then tossed the documents aside. "Fine. I’m hungry anyway. It would be rude to refuse."

Hearing this, Lan Rou’Er visibly relaxed, a faint, relieved smile gracing her lips.

Jiang Mu called for Zhang Daxie and his brother to join them.

Upon hearing someone was buying dinner, the two rough-and-tumble men certainly weren’t going to refuse, and they eagerly tagged along.

Chu Lingzhu, however, didn’t come with them.

"You’re not coming?"

Jiang Mu asked, puzzled.

Chu Lingzhu gave a little wave. "I’m just the middleman, my job was just to connect you two. Besides, I still have to go back and sort the two cartloads of herbs you sent over. I don’t have time to eat with you.

Oh, and Rou’Er is timid, so don’t you dare bully her. If you make her cry, I’ll never forgive you!"

Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.

Her departure was swift and decisive.

Jiang Mu glanced back at Lan Rou’Er, who was standing behind him with her head lowered and face flushed. For some reason, he felt like he’d just been forcibly set up by a little matchmaker.

Jiang Mu didn’t dwell on it. The group set off for the restaurant in a grand procession.

He had expected the seemingly delicate young lady from a wealthy family to take them to the best restaurant in the city. Instead, after a series of twists and turns, they ended up at a small, unremarkable eatery.

Blushing, Lan Rou’Er explained quietly,

"The restaurant may not look like much, but the food is wonderful. The owner’s ’Drunken Flower Duck’ is to die for, and their house-brewed ’Peach Blossom Wine’ is also... very..."

"It’s fine. As long as the food is edible, I’m not picky."

Jiang Mu didn’t really mind.

’Sometimes the small places hidden away in alleys have more authentic food than the big restaurants anyway.’

Once they were in a private room, Jiang Mu ordered two pots of the Peach Blossom Wine.

He took a sip. It was smooth and mellow, with a crisp, sweet aftertaste. It was quite good.

After they ordered, Jiang Mu set down his cup. "Alright, out with it. What do you need our help with?"