The Double
Chapter 199 - 199 95 Qiongzhi_2

199: Chapter 95 Qiongzhi_2 199: Chapter 95 Qiongzhi_2 After circumnavigating several corridors and ascending a few flights of stairs, the woman came to a stop, smiling as she said, “This is Miss Qiongzhi’s room.”

She paused in front of the room.

Jiang Li hesitated for a moment, then said, “Good.”

Once the woman had left, Jiang Li turned to her attendants and instructed, “Tonger, Bai Xue, wait for me outside the door.”

“Miss…” Tonger expressed with surprise, realizing Jiang Li didn’t plan to bring them inside.

She wasn’t upset that Jiang Li didn’t trust her or that she wasn’t sharing her secrets, but rather she was worried if Jiang Li truly planned to have an infatuation reversal with some Miss Qiongzhi.

Did her mistress harbor a hobby of polishing mirrors?

Tonger shuddered at the thought.

Jiang Li was unaware of the tumultuous thoughts going through Tonger’s mind; she simply pushed the door open, walked in, and gently closed it behind her.

In front of the dressing table sat a graceful figure with her back turned, the water-blue gauzy skirt on the verge of slipping down to her waist, exposing a large expanse of snowy white skin.

Her back was extremely elegant, making the woman’s silhouette indescribably enchanting.

“Miss Qiongzhi,” Jiang Li spoke softly.

The figure slowly turned around.

This woman, with a face small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, fine eyebrows, and long eyes, exuded a sharp allure.

However, her slightly plump chin gave her a sense of innocence and honesty, adding a unique flavor to her seductiveness.

She seemed very aware of her attractive mouth as she accentuated it with bright lip rouge, making her look even more luscious.

Her hair, likely just unfurled from an updo, was fluffy and disheveled, cascading messily behind her head, adding a lazy beauty to her appearance.

This was the famously known Miss Qiongzhi from Cherish Flower Tower.

To be fair, in terms of facial features, Qiongzhi wasn’t stunning; she had many imperfections, even less attractive than Jiang Yue.

Yet, there was an innate, naive charm about her that was unforgettable and made one linger.

Upon seeing Jiang Li, Qiongzhi also sized her up carefully.

After a moment, she inquired with a smile, “Miss, would you like a cup of tea?”

Despite not knowing Jiang Li’s intentions, the composed and unruffled demeanor indicated she was a woman of courage.

Jiang Li returned a smile, saying, “No need, I am here to ask Miss Qiongzhi about something.”

“But I don’t know you,” Qiongzhi smiled coyly, and teased, “Or should I say, perhaps, do I know the person in your heart?” Her tone was flirtatious, her smile enticing.

“That’s not the case,” Jiang Li sat down in a chair, countering Qiongzhi’s provocation with a calm and unhurried smile, “Perhaps, I know the person in your heart.”

Qiongzhi covered her mouth and said, “What do you mean by that…”

“Xue Zhao.” Jiang Li uttered the two words.

Qiongzhi’s smile froze.

The coquettish beauty finally stopped the flirtatious act she had been displaying from the start and scrutinized Jiang Li’s eyes meticulously.

Although she hid it well, a trace of panic was still discernible.

This made her appear more serious.

“Who are you?” Qiongzhi asked after a long pause.

“I am an old acquaintance of Xue Zhao,” Jiang Li looked down as she replied.

“How do you know that I know Xue Zhao?” Qiongzhi inquired.

“Xue Zhao mentioned you to me,” Jiang Li answered, “I took note of it.”

“He mentioned me…” Qiongzhi seemed a bit dazed.

Jiang Li observed the woman before her; Qiongzhi still had some feelings for Xue Zhao.

Back then, Xue Zhao, on a dare with his classmates and without Xue Huaiyuan’s knowledge, visited Cherish Flower Tower to partake in its wine, but he didn’t feel comfortable in such settings.

He planned to use this excuse to slip away, but on his way out, he encountered Qiongzhi being roughly handled by a brutish patron who seemed to be bullying her.

Xue Zhao was the kind to act heroically upon seeing injustice, and he immediately stopped to find out what was wrong.

Qiongzhi then tearfully told him a story about a lady who was forced into a life of dishonor.

Xue Zhao beat up the patron and then asked Qiongzhi how he could help her redeem herself.

She replied with an exorbitant amount, which left Xue Zhao helpless.

Lacking the silver, Xue Zhao told Qiongzhi that if she was willing, he could help her escape from Cherish Flower Tower.

However, he later learned that everything was a ruse by Qiongzhi to rid herself of the troublesome patron, using Xue Zhao as a pawn to gain her escape.

Qiongzhi never intended to leave the brothel; the pitiable story of her forced into prostitution was nothing but a fabrication.

Xue Zhao, having gone to great lengths to devise a plan to help Qiongzhi and having even involved Jiang Li in the scheming, was astonished and amused when she ultimately revealed the truth.

Feeling duped, Xue Zhao stormed off, swearing never to fall for a brothel woman’s lies again.

Xue Zhao, a young man with fire in his veins, was toyed with by a woman, and Jiang Li couldn’t stand by and watch.

She went to meet Qiongzhi at Cherish Flower Tower.

Learning that Xue Fangfei was Xue Zhao’s sister, Qiongzhi displayed a rare reserve.

Yet, her words conveyed deep concern for Xue Zhao, and she asked Xue Fangfei to apologize to him on her behalf.

Xue Fangfei could see that Qiongzhi might have fallen for Xue Zhao, but since Xue Zhao and Qiongzhi were from different worlds, she did not relay this to Xue Zhao.