I'm just a little chubby, but my foundation is still great

The shop owner naturally saw the five books clearly. In an instant, his face filled with helplessness, bordering on a breakdown and despair.

Having taken in such an entitled burden, his already struggling small shop was becoming increasingly strapped for cash!

Furious, the owner grabbed all five books, wanting to ruthlessly throw them into the fire, but...

After raising his hand, he had to lower it again.

He didn't dare!

So many people in Huai'an City had joined the Alliance of Shared Hearts, and the Alliance held an extraordinary status in Yunjing. If he dared to touch these books today, disaster would soon fall upon his head.

"Sigh!"

Ultimately, the shop owner could only let out a helpless sigh, muttering under his breath to vent his dissatisfaction with Xu Qin.

"The things written in here are clearly just a mess of fabricated nonsense, yet so many people actually take them seriously."

"Just because they bear the seal of the Alliance of Shared Hearts?"

"Just because they are officially published by Yunjing?"

As he spoke, the owner felt increasingly out of place in Yunjing. He had heard that the Duke from the imperial court was about to attack the city, and he was actually quite looking forward to the Duke's arrival.

Even though the Alliance had long claimed that the people from the imperial court were heartless, loveless, and natural-born executioners... wasn't the place he was in right now also a living hell?

Perhaps moving to another hell might at least offer a different scenery.

Grumbling, the boss got to work himself. His first priority was naturally the fine steed brought by the military officer, followed by the other horses boarded in the shop by various people, all of which required his careful attention.

Unfortunately,

With the great war imminent, many who had boarded their horses here hadn't come to take them away. This left him with an immense amount of work. Before long, his old back couldn't take it anymore.

He was left panting heavily.

Just as he struggled to stand up, massaging his back to ease the pain, he looked up and saw Xu Qin walking out of her room, clearly having dressed up.

The dark circles under her eyes from staying up all night reading had been concealed by rouge and powder, giving her a heavily made-up appearance.

The shop owner originally hadn't wanted to say anything, but his body was giving out, and he couldn't help but say, "Xu Qin, can't you see I'm busy?"

"With so much work in the shop, you're just going to stand there and watch?"

"I pay you a salary every month, and it's not a small amount. You can't just refuse to do a single shred of work just because you joined the Alliance, can you?"

"Where in the world is there such logic?"

Having read books all night, Xu Qin was full of energy and felt refreshed, without a trace of fatigue from staying up. Coupled with the thought of the good things awaiting her shortly, she had been in a pretty good mood.

But the shop owner's accusation was like a basin of cold water poured over her head, instantly making her displeased.

"Did I say I wouldn't work?"

"But I have something to do right now."

"I have to go out."

"I'll work for you after I get back. I won't take your salary for nothing."

Suppressing his anger, the shop owner said, "How many times have you gone out this month? There are only thirty days in a month, and you haven't lifted a finger for half of them."

"Is this how you work?"

Xu Qin immediately let out a cold snort. "I have a valid reason for going out."

"What do you think I'm going out to do?"

"This time, I'm going out for a blind date, you know?"

"I'm going on a matchmaking date!"

"I have to go out for the sake of love. What, you're just a horse breeder, and you dare to stand in the way of my romance?"

"Have you forgotten that in our Yunjing, love is an absolute right!"

"Nothing in this vast world is greater than love!"

The shop owner was instantly rendered speechless by her retort. A breath of stifled anger swelled in his chest, making him almost cough up blood.

Xu Qin, however, was very smug.

Not only was she proud of telling off the shop owner, but she also wanted to add more fuel to the fire.

"Hmph, let me tell you, the matchmaker taking me on this date arrived in Yunjing not too long ago. I heard she used to be the best matchmaker around. This time, I am bound to meet the man of my dreams."

"Elegant, immensely wealthy, doting, and loving, allowing me to enjoy the sweetness of happiness for the rest of my life!"

"And when that happens, I'll ask you for a leave of absence!"

"The Yunjing government has a regulation: those in the honeymoon phase of love get a nine-month vacation, and you still have to pay my salary."

"Hmph, you better hurry up and have my salary ready. Otherwise, if you can't pay it when the time comes, I'll go to the authorities and sue you!"

The shop owner had originally gritted his teeth and swallowed his pride, but upon hearing this, he instantly exploded.

It was the roar of someone pushed to the absolute limit, surrounded by darkness with no hope in sight: "You?"

"The man of your dreams?"

"Why don't you take a piss and look at your own reflection?"

"You're already thirty years old. Calling you an aging beauty would be an insult to aging beauties! With your looks, you still expect to find a wealthy, elegant suitor?"

"Keep dreaming!"

It had to be said that the shop owner's counterattack was quite powerful. Xu Qin, who had just been calm, arrogant, and in control of the situation, suddenly jumped up.

She leaped three feet into the air!

She shrieked, "Do you have any eyes at all?"

"I'm not pretty?"

"I'm just a little chubby, but my foundation is excellent."

"As long as I lose a little weight, I'll be a great beauty. Who knows how many princes and nobles will beg to marry me."

"Hmph, you old bachelor, you don't understand love at all. No wonder you can only do the rough work of breeding horses. If you ask me, the Yunjing government is too lenient, allowing a person like you who doesn't understand love to stay in Yunjing."

"They should kick you out of Yunjing!"

Having read all the books published by the Alliance of Shared Hearts, Xu Qin possessed a sharp tongue. Her curses were cold, ruthless, and arrogant, making the shop owner's face pale a few shades.

Only then did she let out another cold snort, turn around, and leave. She called for a sedan chair, elevating her own status, and soon arrived at a storefront.

The storefront was quite new, perfectly matching the information Xu Qin had gathered about the matchmaker arriving in Yunjing half a year ago, which added a bit more anticipation to her heart.

She had already met all the matchmakers in Huai'an City, and they hadn't recommended a single suitable blind date for her, which had made her quite miserable.

This newcomer matchmaker would definitely bring her a good result.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

She reached out and knocked on the door.

After quite a while, the door opened, revealing the face of a middle-aged woman, filled with astonishment. "Miss Xu, why... why are you here?"

"We agreed to help me with my blind date today, how could I not come?"

The matchmaker quickly pulled Xu Qin into the shop as she spoke, saying, "Didn't you know? Last night, Huai'an City was a bloodbath. Some say soldiers were fighting in the streets, and it was in total chaos."

"We don't even know what's happening in Huai'an City right now, and you actually dared to come out. You really have a lot of nerve!"

Xu Qin immediately raised her head like a proud little hen. "Pursuing love is always fraught with difficulties and dangers. Besides, the good man I want must be domineering and doting. It's harder than it is for others, so naturally, I must have more determination."

"It's just a little commotion in Huai'an City, what is there to be afraid of? Even if the sky falls, it won't stop me from pursuing my love!"

...