Pan Yucheng grinned. "Relax. I did everything just the way you told me."

Ning Chen rolled his eyes. "I never told you to run across half the city."

Pan Yucheng gave an awkward laugh. "I was just trying to make the act convincing."

Ning Chen said, "Let's hope Brother Xie grabs his chance this time.

It's late, Old Pan. Go get some rest."

Pan Yucheng grunted and left.

Early the next morning!

Crash!

Ning Chen's door flew open as if someone had kicked it in. He jumped out of bed in fright and grabbed his sword on instinct.

Then he saw it was Xie Siyu. His face darkened, and he put the sword down. "Brother Xie," he said irritably, "what did that door ever do to you?"

Xie Siyu shook his head. "Nothing!"

Ning Chen: "..."

"Why aren't you with Heroine Hua? What do you want?"

Xie Siyu said coolly, "A proposal!"

Ning Chen blinked. "A proposal? What proposal?"

Xie Siyu said, "Linglong told me to go to Mirror Moon Fort and ask for her hand."

Ning Chen's jaw dropped. "Holy shit... You two are moving that fast?

Guess playing the hero for a pretty face is a little corny, but it sure works."

Xie Siyu looked at him. "How do you know I saved Linglong last night?"

Ning Chen froze. He couldn't let this get out. If Hua Linglong ever learned the flower-plucking bandit last night was Old Pan in disguise, that would count as toying with her feelings, and the marriage would fall through.

Ning Chen shot back, the picture of righteous indignation, "Didn't you just tell me yourself?"

Xie Siyu thought for a while, puzzled. "Did I?"

"You did. How else would I know? What's wrong with your brain?"

Xie Siyu nodded. "Then I guess I did.

By the way, the flower-plucking bandit Bao Tianzong has turned up in Chongzhou. That lowlife has to be taken out, or some woman here is going to get hurt."

Pan Yucheng walked in just in time to hear it. His face twitched.

Ning Chen glanced at him with a wicked…