Chapter 2646 — Recognized
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"He's here—I saw him just a moment ago!" As he spoke, You Panhu pulled up a photograph on his phone and sent it to Zhao Qibing. "This is the one. Go in and look for this mask—the man wearing it is Wei Zhao."
You Panhu had already gotten the image of the mask Wei Zhao had worn from You Laosan, and standing at the entrance as he was, he had naturally spotted Wei Zhao the moment he came in. So he could tell Zhao Qibing with absolute certainty that Wei Zhao was inside.
"Oh, good. Then I'll head in. Are you coming?" Zhao Qibing asked.
"I'll wait and see." You Panhu was waiting for Han Jingyi—to see whether she had come to the masquerade. If she had, he could pick her out, and use that to demand the alchemist's notes from her.
He had already stationed Huang Mao to keep watch outside Han Jingyi's villa. If she left the house, he would know at once, along with exactly what she was wearing. Unfortunately, Huang Mao had just called to say Han Jingyi's car was still parked outside the villa: Wei Zhao had come, and so had Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu, but Han Jingyi had not. The conclusion was obvious—Han Jingyi had no interest in attending the masquerade.
As for picking out Wei Zhao himself, You Panhu had no interest in that. True, he could also have demanded Han Jingyi's alchemist's notes from Wei Zhao, but Wei Zhao could simply say offhandedly that the things belonged to Han Jingyi, not to him, and that he could not hand them over—and then You Panhu would have wasted his effort for nothing. Better to leave the opportunity to Zhao Qibing.
After waiting a while longer with still no word from Huang Mao, You Panhu left the masquerade. There was no point in staying any longer.
Zhong Yongliang had come too, bringing Gao Xiaofu along, but he had only one admission ticket in hand and could not bring a guest inside. He was hoping to find someone at the door who was not going in, or who was selling a ticket, and it just so happened that he ran into You Panhu, who was on his way out.
"You Panhu, what are you up to?" Zhong Yongliang called out, stopping him.
"Oh, Young Master Zhong. Is something the matter?" You Panhu put on a smiling face. He had little use for Zhong Yongliang, but the name of the Tomorrow and Tomorrow Sect was set squarely before him, and he did not dare offend it.
"Aren't you going to the masquerade?" Zhong Yongliang asked.
"Me? No. I've got a bit of other business," You Panhu said with a shake of his head, though he did not explain the real reason.
"Then what about your ticket?" Zhong Yongliang asked at once.
"Right here. What do you want with it?" You Panhu blinked, fished out the ticket, and asked.
"If you're not using it, give it to me. I'm short one," Zhong Yongliang said.
"Oh, sure. Here, take it." You Panhu did not much care, and casually handed his ticket over to Zhong Yongliang.
Zhong Yongliang thanked him, and he and Gao Xiaofu went smoothly into the masquerade.
Zhong Yongliang's target this time was Gu Mengyao. At the auction he had been played for a fool by Shen Yushu and had failed to get close to her; this time at the masquerade he certainly could not let the chance slip by. Of course, he would not make any improper demands of Gu Mengyao—that was unrealistic. He only wanted her to agree to a single date with him. Such a request broke neither law nor morality, and would not put Gu Mengyao in a difficult position; it would leave her no grounds for refusal.
"Wow! You're Wang Xinyan—I've recognized you!" The moment the dance began, Shen Yushu dragged Gu Mengyao eagerly over to stand before the "Pleasant Goat" and pointed at her.
"Xiaoshu, stop making trouble. Wei Zhao is cultivating..." Wang Xinyan was caught between laughter and tears. They had come together, and had prepared their masks together; of course Shen Yushu could recognize her.