“I…”
Qin Keqing’s expression shifted slightly. She knew that if she gave Li Feng her contact details, he would pester her endlessly afterwards, which was far from what she wished to see.
But at the same time, Qin Keqing feared that if she refused Li Feng, he might do something to her right here.
“Miss Qin, if you are unwilling…” Li Feng curled his lips into a cold smile, looking at Qin Keqing as he said, “Then later, Miss Qin, do not regret it.”
Qin Keqing’s face changed again, some hesitation evident.
“Alright, I was only joking with Miss Qin. Miss Qin, go and attend to your duties. I need to rest.” Li Feng suddenly laughed.
“This…” Qin Keqing was somewhat caught off guard. She did not understand how Li Feng could change his attitude so abruptly, leaving her unprepared.
After speaking, Li Feng ignored Qin Keqing, leaning back in his seat with eyes closed in repose.
For Li Feng, knowing that Qin Keqing was a flight attendant meant it would be effortless to track her down later. This was a public place besides, where he could not take advantage of her, so it was better to maintain an air of inscrutability.
Qin Keqing had no choice but to leave helplessly.
…
Yong State.
Li Feng disembarked from the plane, surveying the capital city of South Ridge Province. Yong State bordered Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao to the east, backed against the great southwest, facing Southeast Asia. It served as a vital hub connecting the southeastern coast to the southwestern interior, the most convenient gateway for southwest sea routes.
Unlike Tianhai City, Yong State was the stronghold of the Song family, one of the eight supreme clans, long under their rule. The Song family had a history of over a thousand years in Yong State, their influence deeply rooted. They were the local emperors of Yong State.
South of Yong State lay Li Feng’s destination this time: the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
Upon leaving the airport, Li Feng did not linger in Yong State but headed straight to the bus station, preparing to take a vehicle south towards the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains were an untouched primitive range, so even in Yong State, there were no direct buses to them. Li Feng could only take a bus to a nearby town.
Fortunately, before coming, Li Feng had already investigated the towns near the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. Combined with memories from his previous life, he ultimately settled on Kunyang Town as his target.
From a geographical standpoint, Kunyang Town was closest to Black Wind Forest. His time was limited, less than a week. Though he wished to explore the secrets of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, without sufficient time, he only aimed to obtain the Golden Cicada Fruit in Black Wind Forest. Everything else would have to wait for his next visit.
“Come on, come on, heading to Balixiang? Over here, fair prices and honest service.”
“To Weizhen? We’re about to depart, hurry up.”
“Anyone going to Yuxi Town? We head to Yuxi Town, come quick if interested.”
As soon as Li Feng entered the bus station, he heard all sorts of touting voices, but none mentioned Kunyang Town, leaving him puzzled. Could there truly be no buses to Kunyang Town from Yong State?
Harbouring this doubt, Li Feng scoured the entire bus station but found no transport to Kunyang Town.
Should he look elsewhere?
With this thought, Li Feng approached a bus driver and asked, “Sir, do you know where I can find a bus to Kunyang Town?”
“What, you want to go to Kunyang Town?” The driver was startled upon hearing this, glancing at Li Feng as he said, “Young man, what are you doing heading to a backwater like Kunyang Town? I suggest you do not go there.”
“Why?” The driver’s reaction caught Li Feng off guard. He looked at the driver in confusion and asked.
“No reason, Kunyang Town is just unsafe and unclean.” The driver shook his head, as if recalling something frightening.
“Unsafe and unclean?” Li Feng was puzzled. Kunyang Town was merely a small settlement on the edge of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains; how could it be unsafe or unclean?
Just as Li Feng wanted to press further, the driver impatiently shooed him away. Li Feng had no choice but to abandon further questioning.
He asked several more drivers in succession, receiving the same response each time. Li Feng grew increasingly curious. Could Kunyang Town be some kind of taboo?
In desperation, Li Feng opted to hire a private car to Kunyang Town.
But what surprised him even more was that even offering a high price, no one accepted the job. It was as if Kunyang Town were a flood beast.
“What on earth is going on?”
Li Feng had not expected money to fail him in finding a ride. Moreover, it was past noon, and his stomach growled with hunger. Helplessly, he left the bus station, deciding to grab something to eat first.
Entering a nearby restaurant, Li Feng unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure. He smiled and walked over.
“Miss Qin, truly, one meets acquaintances everywhere in life. I never thought we would encounter each other here.”
“It is you?” Qin Keqing looked up upon hearing the voice, spotting Li Feng. She could not help but start in surprise. How had she run into him here? This restaurant was unremarkable in all of Yong State; how could a young master like Li Feng appear here?
Could Li Feng be stalking her?
After a moment’s thought, Qin Keqing shook her head. She had watched Li Feng disembark from the plane. If he were truly following her here, his scheming would be far too deep.
“It is me.” Li Feng unceremoniously sat before Qin Keqing, beckoning a waiter and ordering a set meal. Then, with a beaming smile at Qin Keqing, he said, “Yong State is so vast, yet we meet in this restaurant. It seems our fates are quite intertwined.”
Qin Keqing said, “Nonsense, we have no such fate…”
Li Feng smiled faintly. “Miss Qin, you do not know, but since our parting at Tian Shang Ren Jian last time, I have missed you dearly. These many days, I have thought of you constantly, longing to rekindle our connection.”
“You jest, Young Master Li. That day, I had simply drunk too much.” Qin Keqing shook her head. Though she had been compelled that day, she now regretted it deeply. She had no desire to entangle with Li Feng again. After leaving the police station that time, Qin Keqing had thought she would never see him again, yet here they were, less than a month later.
“Truly just too much drink? Last time, it was Miss Qin who took the initiative…” Li Feng smiled meaningfully.
“…” Facing Li Feng, Qin Keqing truly did not know what to say. She knew the full circumstances of that prior incident clearly. Had it not been unavoidable, how could she have done such a thing? But before Li Feng, she could not speak plainly.
“Miss Qin, why do we not find a place and time to engage in some deeper exchange?” Li Feng said with a sly grin.
“Young Master Li, you are vice president of Fengyuan Group. Do you truly think only of such matters?” Qin Keqing looked at Li Feng coldly and said.
“Haha, I never expected Miss Qin to know me so well. That truly surprises me.” Li Feng laughed heartily, giving Qin Keqing a meaningful glance. His heated gaze lingered until she could scarcely bear it, then he said, “For Miss Qin to know me so thoroughly, does that not mean you have feelings for me? I understand, women and men are much the same, both needing fulfilment. Should Miss Qin require it, I am available anytime.”
“You…” Qin Keqing’s face flushed crimson, glaring at Li Feng without daring to speak. She could not endure his directness, as if he regarded her as some nightclub hostess.
“Haha, no more jesting.” Seeing the waiter approach, Li Feng smiled at Qin Keqing and said, “Miss Qin, I never imagined you were a flight attendant. Had I not chanced upon you today, I would have taken you for some company’s white-collar worker!”
Upon hearing this, a flicker of gloom passed through Qin Keqing’s eyes, though she quickly regained composure. “Does Young Master Li look down on flight attendants?”
“No, no, there are three hundred and sixty-five trades, and in each, a top talent emerges. Why would I look down on flight attendants? On the contrary, I greatly admire the profession.” Li Feng shook his head and said.
Qin Keqing glanced at Li Feng but said nothing. In her view, Li Feng was spouting nonsense. How could a young master like him truly respect the occupation of flight attendant?
After chatting a while, Li Feng suddenly asked, “Miss Qin, you come to Yong State often. Have you heard of Kunyang Town?”
