Chapter 116: The Makeup Pavilion

Shen Yuqin pursed her lips into a smile and said in a crisp voice, "It is no trouble at all. We were planning to go out anyway, and it makes no difference where we go, does it?"

"That is true." Yi An nodded in agreement and followed Shen Yuqin’s lead, heading toward the perfume and powder shop.

A moment later, they arrived at their destination. Looking up, the three large characters "Dian Zhuang Ge" came into view. Even from several yards away, Yi An could catch the faint, delicate fragrance of rouge.

The shop was quite large, standing out as a beautiful highlight along the entire street. Inside, a few customers were browsing, and the proprietor was greeting them with great enthusiasm.

"It seems Mu Lan is not here," Yi An said, a hint of disappointment crossing his face.

"It doesn't matter. Since we are here, why don't we go inside and take a look?" Shen Yuqin looked at the dazzling array of goods in the shop, her eyes shimmering with longing. She turned her gaze back to Yi An and said in a sweet, coaxing voice.

"Very well," Yi An replied readily.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuqin was overjoyed. She took Yi An’s hand and stepped into the shop.

Ever since the tragedy that befell her family, she had not set foot in a cosmetics shop. What woman does not love beauty? It was only the cruel reality that forced her to seal away her inner desires. It was not until Yi An appeared that her frozen heart showed the first signs of thawing.

Feeling the cool touch of her hand, Yi An was momentarily stunned. It was not until they were inside the shop that he snapped out of his reverie. This strange sensation was unprecedented; he felt his heart rate gradually quicken, especially when combined with the fragrant scent of the cosmetics, which nearly caused him to lose his composure.

Suddenly, Shen Yuqin turned back to him, holding a container of rouge. "Yi Lang, what do you think of this color?"

As she spoke, she unnoticeably let go of his hand.

For some reason, Yi An felt a sudden void in his heart, as if something were missing. However, he maintained his usual calm and did not reveal his inner turmoil. He smiled and said, "Yuqin, you are naturally beautiful; whatever you choose will look exceptional."

Hearing this, a blush crept up Shen Yuqin’s cheeks. She laughed, "You are only trying to comfort me."

"Oh, miss, you must not sell yourself short! This young master is absolutely right. You are naturally beautiful, and these shades of rouge will look particularly stunning on you."

The proprietor of "Dian Zhuang Ge" had appeared behind them at some point and spoke in a booming voice.

Yi An’s mouth twitched. Though the man was right, he sensed a sales pitch behind the flattery. Still, since they were here, he could not leave empty-handed. He said, "Proprietor, please pack one of each of these."

"Right away! You are a lucky lady to have such a doting gentleman by your side. And this young master has a truly discerning eye. If I may be so bold, if the cosmetics in my shop are considered second best, no one else would dare claim the top spot!" The proprietor beamed, his face lighting up with joy. He quickly gathered the items and handed them to Shen Yuqin.

"Yi Lang, there is no need for this. Just one will do; why spend money unnecessarily..." Shen Yuqin hesitated. She knew that the cosmetics here were quite expensive; these few items alone cost nearly as much as her living expenses for an entire year.

The rouge and powder at "Dian Zhuang Ge" were refined using special methods, which justified their high price. Long-term use was said to even strengthen one's soul, albeit in a negligible way. Even so, they remained the favorite of the noble ladies in the Ghost City.

The smile on the proprietor's face faltered for a moment, but he showed no sign of dissatisfaction. "The customer comes first" had been his business philosophy for years. It was no coincidence that his shop thrived throughout the Ghost City; while quality goods were one factor, his way of treating guests was far more important.

"It is fine. Just pack them all," Yi An said with a smile, casting a reassuring look at Shen Yuqin. To him, money was merely an external possession; if it was spent, so be it.

"Very well! Miss, please take these. Come back again, and I shall give you a discount." The proprietor’s smile widened even further as he handed the items to Shen Yuqin, as if afraid the customer might change their mind.

After settling the bill, Yi An and Shen Yuqin left the shop.

As they walked, Shen Yuqin said, "Yi Lang, you must not spend money so recklessly in the future."

"Understood, my little housekeeper," Yi An replied with a teasing smile.

"Hmph!" Shen Yuqin gave a light sniff, a strange feeling rising in her heart.

What young girl does not dream of romance? Although she was past the age of a maiden and her heart had been tempered by the frost of time, she did not know when it had begun, but the glacier within her was quietly melting.

Yi An smiled without saying anything. The two were in a delicate state; neither wished to break the silence, so they simply wandered aimlessly forward.

Shen Yuqin asked casually, "Yi Lang, you have never mentioned your past to me. How did you come to this Ghost City?"

She had no ulterior motive; she simply wanted to understand him better. Every person's life is a unique story—some magnificent, others tragic—but in the Ghost City, the latter was undoubtedly more common.

Yi An was taken aback, not expecting her to ask this. For a moment, he did not know where to begin.

"Yi Lang, you don't have to worry about it. I was just asking out of curiosity. If you have any unspeakable hardships, we can wait until you are ready to tell me." Seeing his reaction, she assumed he had a painful reason for his silence and added, "Actually, speaking it out loud is much more comforting than keeping it buried in your heart."

"No, Yuqin, you misunderstand. I just didn't know where to start. After all, my past is really not that extraordinary," Yi An explained quickly, realizing she had misread him.

"I see. Then perhaps you could tell me about your background, where you came from, and if there are any interesting places in your hometown?" Shen Yuqin asked with genuine interest.

"I am from Yingchuan. I was orphaned at a young age and raised by my nanny. Later, she was betrayed by villains and died an unjust death. After I took my revenge, I wandered through the Jiang-Zhe region, and then, through a series of coincidences, I ended up in this Ghost City." Yi An gave a rough outline of his past, omitting many details—it was not yet the time to reveal his true identity.