7th Break: Stupid

"I say, boss is really the worst... ehem, the best when damaging one's reputation!" Qiu Shisi said and helplessly smiled.

"That is because our boss is petty... ehem, a gentleman who can count the scores (grievances)!" Qiu Qi said, then burst out laughing.

Qiu Shisi shook his head. "Lin Ze's reputation really took a big hit today." He said and looked outside the window to see the women buying books with tears in their eyes.

The books, nonetheless, are about their boss and his white moonlight practitioner.

"The boss not only knows the best methods to spread the word but also knows who to influence first." Qiu Qi grinned.

This new gossip, naturally, no one would easily believe, especially the men since they know Lin Ze way better than they know Meng Ruyan, who they never has seen even his shadow. So, why would they believe that not only Meng Ruyan is a beauty, but also his white moonlight is better than Lin Ze?

So, Meng Xing targeted women, who are not only fickle-minded but also soft-hearted. Even if the women like Lin Ze, who is their dream man, the women of this era love to fantasize so much. So, not only they would feel curious instead of doubting the gossip, but they would definitely sympathize with the weak. Adding to them reading the novels, which is a great source of influence since they would substitute themselves as the protagonist of the novel, the women would then begin to waver, until they finally believe the gossip.

Qiu Shisi shuddered in fear. "He is really terrifying!" He said. Don't look at their boss's beautiful face. You don't know how black-bellied he is! Their boss is truly deceptive! Especially that face!

"Yeah. I can still remember how the boss cut ties with his family." Qiu Qi said.

Hearing this, Qiu Shisi frowned. "They deserved it." He said.

Qiu Qi nodded in agreement. Before, the Meng family was indifferent to Meng Ruyan because of his mediocrity. Despite Meng Ruyan having that beautiful face, his face becomes useless due to his dull personality and poor attitude. Who would feel pleased when you see someone always shut their self in their room? (A/N: ouch. That hurt! *I am a homebody XD, obviously)

And so, when the day that Meng Ruyan announced that he was a cut sleeve, for who knows what the reason, the entire family was really disgusted. Even though cut sleeves were accepted in this era, they are the minority. So, not only because Meng Ruyan would waste his bloodline for not going to have a son, but they also felt disgusted with Meng Ruyan because such a good marriage partner was gone!

And so, they hated him more.

"Yet now that they find out that the boss has a connection with the imperial family for some reason, they want to cling to the boss now." Qiu Qi said and rolled her eyes in disgust.

Qiu Shisi nodded. "Fortunately, they don't know that the boss owns Huichen. Or else…" he sneered.

Qiu Qi grinned. "Their intestines would definitely turn green (deeply regret)." She chuckled.

Qiu Shisi hummed in agreement before they resumed watching Lin Ze, who asked a waiter for something.

"What do you think he is doing?" Qiu Qi asked as she played with her cup.

"Hmm.. I have observed lately…" Qiu Shisi muttered and hesitated.

"What is it?" Qiu Qi asked.

Qiu Shisi looked at her. "Don't you also think that this second young master Lin is stupid?" He asked.

"... huh?" Qiu Qi looked at him blankly.

Qiu Shisi pursed his lips. "Although he is very gentlemanly, he readily agreed to be engaged five years ago with a stranger." He spoke. "Then, when his family, who is very suspicious of his fiancee wanted to find out more about this fiancee, he stopped them." He said. "Then, even though he has a fiancee, he never went even just once to see who is the other. And now - " he looked at Qiu Qi who fell silent. " - he broke the engagement when it was only a week before the set wedding date for them two." He said.

Qiu Qi. "... well…" she pursed her lips, agreeing with what Qiu Shisi said.

"Not only did he not give his fiancee a head's up that he would break the engagement, which caused our boss to create this new gossip - " Qiu Shisi continued. " - but Lin Ze just had to break the engagement when the wedding day was near." He said. "And boss still hasn't settled this one yet with Lin Ze, as this made boss even more of a laughingstock." He added and grinned.

Qiu Qi's eyes narrowed and flashed. She is obviously excited to see how their boss will settle this grievance with Lin Ze since this grievance is really too much! Knowing how petty their boss is… Lin Ze will definitely suffer greatly in the future.

"He is really stupid." She nodded in agreement.

"Who is what?" A voice asked behind them.

"Qiu Liu. Finally, you are here." Qiu Qi smiled.

Qiu Liu nodded. "Lin Ze asked for a paper earlier." He told them. Yes, he was the waiter who went to Lin Ze earlier.

"A paper? What does he want it for?" Qiu Shisi asked.

"Probably going to list down the suspicious points on Merchant Wen's case." Qiu Liu shrugged.

"But, it was already closed…" they looked at each other. Then, Qiu Shisi and Qiu Qi laughed.

"What are you laughing for?" Qiu Liu asked.

"Of how stupid Lin Ze is." They answered.

"Well, he really is stupid, since he missed a great man such as boss." Qiu Liu said.

"No. We mean the case." They clarified.

"Ah. I don't think he is stupid, though." Qiu Liu said.

"Oh?" Qiu Shisi and Qiu Qi smiled.

"If he is stupid, then he won't be the strongest in jianghu." Qiu Liu said.

Qiu Shisi and Qiu Qi, who were expecting Qiu Liu to give a moving speech. "..." Well, it was us who were stupid for expecting too much from this blockhead. They thought and sighed.

"Lin Ze might really be not that stupid." Qiu Shisi spoke as they watched Lin Ze tap on the table with his finger but the paper beside him was still clean. "He should already know that someone wanted to suppress the death case of Merchant Wen. Though, since Lin Ze is known for his great sense of justice - " he smiled. " - I want to see whether he will solve this case, maybe in the future." He said.

Qiu Qi nodded in agreement while Qiu Liu scratched his head, not understanding what they were talking about.