CHAPTER 395: CHAPTER 326: ANOTHER SIDE OF HUANG QIN_2

Meanwhile, the maid deftly moved around, promptly serving tea and water.

Li Jing leaned comfortably on the sofa, his gaze fixed on the stage, watching the performance nearing its end.

Feeling the attentive service and looking at the lavish stage outside the window, he half-closed his eyes, filled with emotion:

"Indeed, only the wealthy truly know how to enjoy life."

...

On the third day, after the main stage concert ended, there were performances on various smaller stages.

Li Jing followed the butler and took a look around, finding the setup largely unchanged from before.

During this, he hadn’t expected to see Huang Qin again, but as he was leaving the island, he unexpectedly spotted her.

What surprised him was that Huang Qin’s outfit was completely different from before; she wore a loose T-shirt with ripped jeans, and her makeup was exceptionally heavy, like a professional rock singer.

Had it not been for Li Jing’s sharp eyesight, he might not have recognized Huang Qin.

Seeing Li Jing’s surprised gaze towards the group in the distance, the butler smiled and explained: "That’s the Black Butterfly Band, they just finished performing at the small venue on the west side and should be leaving the island soon."

"Black Butterfly Band?"

Li Jing was taken aback. He had been doubting if he mistook someone else, but hearing the butler’s words, he was sure the figure was Huang Qin.

He thought the Black Butterfly story about escaping the Butterfly Kingdom was her way of relaxing at the concert, but he hadn’t expected that she was actually a singer and a rock singer at that.

"The Black Butterfly Band only performs on the last day of the concert each year, and their show is quite brief, held at remote locations. Yet, some fans still seek them out specially."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing’s expression shifted slightly, and he asked: "Do you know the members of this band?"

"Sorry, I really don’t know."

The butler apologized: "Our concert has designated leaders who manage bands, so they should be in the know."

Li Jing nodded, realizing this butler probably didn’t know their concert guests became band members.

Li Jing guessed either Huang Qin did it unbeknownst to the concert, or she had connections with the concert’s management.

But no matter how she managed to get into the concert to perform, Li Jing didn’t mind; his astonishment lay with Huang Qin.

Who knew she had this side to her.

Recalling the story of Black Butterfly, Li Jing mused to himself: Huang Qin, this Black Butterfly, is indeed vastly different from her Butterfly Kingdom...

No wonder she’s skilled at hiding her true feelings and disguising her emotions; probably it’s due to her environment.

Thinking so, he picked up his phone and sent Huang Qin a text:

"Just saw the real Black Butterfly, impressive."

Meanwhile.

Huang Qin, who was with her team members returning to the studio to change clothes, picked up her phone and saw the message from Li Jing. She was slightly stunned, immediately turning around to look in all directions, but didn’t see Li Jing’s figure.

Then, after hesitating for a moment, she replied: "No one around me knows about this. Please keep it secret, President Li, and I’ll treat you next time as thanks."

Receiving Li Jing’s OK response, Huang Qin sighed in relief and quickly caught up with her team ahead.

...

The day after returning from the concert, Li Jing received a message from Shi Yang.

She said that her grandfather had recovered quite a bit and sincerely invited Li Jing to Qianshi Manor for lunch as a token of gratitude.

Li Jing didn’t care much about the Shi Family’s thanks.

Although the Shi Family had some influence in Hai City, the capital of Hai Province, economically, they couldn’t compare to Li Jing, who could readily pull out over a billion in cash.

However, the Shi Family had extensive connections and relationships in Hai City, and it would do no harm for Li Jing to interact with them.

After all, while traveling on their turf, he might need their help in the future.

At least at the previous concert, if not for Chen Wenwu and Huang Qin’s connections, Li Jing might not have been able to get tickets.

Building connections with these people, Li Jing would have more opportunities for experiences beyond the reach of ordinary people.

As for the mentioned Qianshi Manor, Li Jing happened to have come across it online.

Perhaps it was due to his increased spending power; lately, whether on short videos or public accounts, the data pushed to Li Jing was mostly related to high-end consumption.

Among them, he had seen an article about Hai City’s Qianshi Manor.

This Qianshi Manor is extremely mysterious and low-key; ordinary people have no idea where it’s located.

Reportedly, its history dates back to the late Qing and early Republican era, built by a wealthy merchant returning home laden with wealth from the Southern Ocean, having spent a fortune to create the manor.

As a young man, the merchant worked in the Southern Ocean due to livelihood pressures, achieving great success in the rubber business. He later returned to Hai City, choosing this place with excellent feng shui, combining Southern Ocean architectural style with traditional Chinese elements to build this Qianshi Manor.

Later, due to wartime damage and neglect, a prominent family in Hai City took notice and purchased it, investing heavily in restoration to become the Qianshi Manor it is today.

Judging by now, Li Jing speculated that the family who bought the manor was the Shi Family.

The manor gets its name from over a thousand uniquely shaped rocks within the garden, resembling mythical beasts or celestial palaces, each worth a lot and collected from various places at great cost.

It’s said that only dignitaries can access this manor; ordinary people have no chance to come in contact with it.

So, for such a place, Li Jing was somewhat curious and agreed to Shi Yang.

As for Shi Yang, thinking about this woman with the perfect waist-to-hip ratio, Li Jing secretly shook his head:

The woman is beautiful, and her figure is exquisite, but her personality isn’t easy to deal with, not quite the likable type.

If they could get along, Li Jing wouldn’t mind interacting more with her, but as it stands, he doesn’t seem to get along well with that woman.

Around 11 a.m., Li Jing set off for Qianshi Manor by himself.

Qianshi Manor is in the nearby suburbs, about a 40 to 50-minute drive from the city, surrounded by dense vegetation and babbling streams, with an excellent environment.

Li Jing didn’t have Zeng Chao drive him; instead, he took a taxi.

Seeing the woods outside the car window and the driver increasingly distant from the city, the driver couldn’t help but ask Li Jing:

"Sir, are you sure this address is correct?"

Li Jing, looking at the location Shi Yang sent on his phone, nodded affirmatively: "It should be right, just keep following this road."

Upon hearing this, the driver still felt uncertain and asked again: "Sir, I mean no offense, just asking, what are you doing in such a remote place?"

"Lunch."

"Lunch?"

The driver looked incredulous, his gaze on the deserted road outside: "Where could you eat around here, not even a bird in sight."

Without knowing how to explain, Li Jing could only say: "A friend of mine lives here. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine."

Another ten minutes passed, and seeing the surroundings becoming more unfamiliar, the driver couldn’t help but mutter: "No, this place is too remote; I’m not going any further..."

"I’ll give you two hundred."

Seeing the driver ready to turn back, Li Jing didn’t hesitate and added money directly.

To dispel the driver’s doubts, he even scanned the QR code pasted in front and transferred two hundred.

Hearing the phone’s notification for receiving money, the driver’s face looked a bit better, but he still said: "Boss, I’ll drive for another twenty minutes at most, if we don’t reach by then, even if I have to refund you, I’m turning back."

"Alright, the navigation shows we’ll be there in ten minutes."

With Li Jing’s assurance, the driver stopped talking and drove on.

But his constant glances outside and sideways peeks at Li Jing betrayed his inner unease.

Finally, turning a corner, before Li Jing could indicate they’d arrived, the driver’s eyes widened with shock:

"Wow! There really is such a large house here?!"

As he spoke, an ancient and imposing manor stood at the road’s end ahead.

The thick surrounding walls stood solemnly, with vines tracing the marks of time. The dark gray iron gate was cold and majestic, with security pods on both sides, and beyond the wall, glimpses of red-tiled eaves of the villas loomed, the outer walls rugged and grandiose.

Even from a distance, it was awe-inspiring.

Clearly, such a place was not somewhere ordinary people could easily venture.

At the same time, upon seeing the stern, burly security at the entrance, the driver quickly comprehended and turned to Li Jing, alarmed at his identity, hurriedly saying:

"Boss, the fare isn’t necessary; the previous two hundred is more than enough."

As he spoke, he hastily unbuckled his seatbelt, swiftly opened the door, and said: "Sir, please wait; I’ll open the door for you!"