CHAPTER 272: CHAPTER 272: SETTING A TRAP!

"It’s late at night, aren’t you going home? Your husband might be worried!"

Yun Jin looked at the hurried Long Yue and teased her lightly.

Long Yue panted slightly and said, "Shifu’s wife, I have something to ask you guys."

"What’s the matter?"

"Do you have human skin masks here? The kind that can disguise someone?"

"What a coincidence, your shifu’s wife is an expert in making human skin masks, go find her!"

Duanmu Nan came out from inside, and when he saw Long Yue, his smile became even more pronounced, with a hint of emotional fluctuation in his normally flat tone.

"Is that so? That’s great, Shifu’s wife, could you give me a human skin mask?"

"Yue’er, why do you need that?"

"Uh..." Long Yue was at a loss for words; she couldn’t say she was going to trick someone, so she just said, "Don’t ask, Shifu’s wife, I definitely have an important use for it, otherwise, I wouldn’t trouble you both."

"You brat, who are you calling old?"

Yun Jin gently chided, tapping Long Yue’s forehead, and laughed while scolding her.

"Shimei, go fetch one for her. This girl is probably up to some mischief again; it’ll be troublesome if she gets caught."

Duanmu Nan looked at Long Yue’s lovely and charming appearance, unable to hide the doting affection in his eyes, motioning Yun Jin to fetch one.

"Yue’er, how did you know we have these here?"

Yun Jin asked while fetching a wooden box. After opening it, there was a human skin mask inside, which felt just like real skin, absolutely undetectable.

"Master and Shifu’s wife used to roam the rivers and lakes. I guessed you’d have things like this, hehe, and I was right!"

"Indeed, my Yue’er is smart!" Duanmu Nan responded with a smile. Seeing her about to leave, he asked, "Won’t you stay a bit longer?"

He even surprised himself after saying that.

He had never said such things before.

What’s gotten into him?

"No, Shifu, I won’t disturb your rest. I’m leaving now. I’ll bring you some treats another day!"

Long Yue dashed off after saying that.

"That child, really is..."

"Playful, it’s good; young people should have that kind of spirit, right?"

"Elder brother, you..."

"Hmm, what about me?"

Duanmu Nan glanced over slowly, his pitch-black eyes like stars, carrying such an intimidating presence.

Yun Jin opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

...

Long Yue returned home to find Li Qingmu had been waiting for some time.

Long Yue saw his face didn’t look good, all dark and cloudy, and realized she had come back late, and this man was upset.

Oh dear, can men be so petty? She quickly explained, "Sorry, I just detoured to my Shifu’s to get something, so I’m late!"

"What thing?"

The man’s tone wasn’t pleasant.

"This, a human skin mask!"

Long Yue carefully handed the wooden box to Li Qingmu and opened it sycophantically.

Li Qingmu looked at the human skin mask lying quietly inside. Recalling the gossip he’d heard on his way back and some descriptions by the servants, he couldn’t help but say, "You’re planning to trick Xu Jinji?"

"Oh?" Long Yue looked at him with an expression as if he’d seen a ghost, admiring him greatly, "You guessed it? We truly have a telepathic connection as husband and wife!"

This was the time to flatter him so she wouldn’t be tormented tonight, alas!

Sure enough, Li Qingmu’s expression improved a lot. He picked up the human skin mask and examined it carefully, saying, "It’s a good item, fine quality. I didn’t expect your Shifu to have such treasures. I’ll get one myself next time."

Uh...

"Hmm? What?"

"Ah, alright, alright, I’ll get one for you next time!"

"Mm!"

The man showed a satisfied smile, and Long Yue escaped trouble for the night.

Afterward, Long Yue didn’t go to Xu Jinji the next day but waited three days to go, significantly reducing her suspicion.

During those three days, Long Yue busied herself in the kitchen, creating and tinkering, though nobody knew what she was up to, and Li Qingmu didn’t care.

Three days later.

She disguised herself as an ordinary woman, with unremarkable looks but decently dressed, covered in a small brocade vest that suggested her family was well off.

She slowly walked into the doors of Xu Jinji.

This shop’s frontage was quite large, twice the size of the Su Jinxiu Workshop, filled with a dazzling array of goods, from silk fabrics to fine cotton and ready-made clothes, all available.

Truly a big family and business!

Long Yue smirked; it had to be a big family business, so wrecking it would feel more satisfying!

"Oh, a distinguished guest, please come in!"

Before entering, a young waiter hurriedly came up to greet her diligently.

New faces received special attention so they’d return, and once a new face became familiar, their business would keep growing.

"Can you show me your mid-high-grade fabrics?"

Lower-grade fabrics were for ordinary folks, and any trouble there wouldn’t stir much, but mid-high-grade fabrics were bought by wealthy ladies, and if trouble arose, it’s a big deal!

"Oh, mid-high-grade? Yes, yes, we do, madam, please follow me!"

Long Yue was led to a shelf neatly arranged with various colorful fabrics that dazzled the eyes.

"Madam, which one do you like? I can wrap it up for you?"

"Oh, you have so many things here, I’m seeing stars since it’s my first visit?"

"Hehe, madam, with many things, you have more choices. Getting dazzled is inevitable, need me to introduce some?"

This young waiter was very attentive!

Long Yue smiled, shook her head, and said, "No, I’ll look around by myself; you got your work, I prefer picking things quietly on my own!"

"Sure, sure, madam, you’re welcome to it!"

With a woman, the waiter wasn’t worried she’d do anything sneaky and boldly let her select on her own while he attended to other customers.

Long Yue, finding a moment, looked around and, once sure nobody was watching, began feeling the fabrics.

Touching the materials at a fabric shop was allowed; otherwise, without checking the texture, how would anyone know if the fabrics were good?

There were other women nearby feeling fabrics, chatting and laughing.

Long Yue smiled lightly, saying nothing, flipping left and right, soon feeling over ten pieces of fabric.

These materials sell best because they are reasonably priced, feel good, and have pretty colors, favored by many women.

Once Long Yue felt she’d done enough, she moved next to a group of young women choosing fabrics and said with a smile, "You all have such great taste; these materials must be top-notch and will definitely highlight your beauty!"

She then casually touched them.

The women, pleased with the praise, started chatting eagerly, "Yeah, this is the new material from Xu Jinji, a bit pricey, but the fabric...it’s irresistible!"

"Exactly, it’s so smooth...ah—"

One young woman touched the fabric inside and suddenly let out a sharp scream.