028 Request for Help

"Qiqi, Mr. Du is a local innkeeper, and he also practices martial arts, so you can relax," Xiang Yuanyuan said after Du Ruo took his seat, continuing her conversation with Li Qiyao. Yet, the information hidden in her words made Du Ruo glance over in surprise.

He had simply come out for a drink to unwind, and even sharing a table with Xiang Yuanyuan hadn't been an attempt to strike up a conversation. But from her words, he detected that her invitation wasn't merely because there was nowhere else to sit.

"Mr. Du, we're going hiking tomorrow. What do you think? Would you like to join us?" Xiang Yuanyuan ignored Du Ruo's expression and extended the invitation, her eyes fixed on him with what seemed like genuine sincerity.

"No, thank you. I already have plans for tomorrow. You go ahead and enjoy yourselves." Du Ruo was not the sort to lose his head over a pretty face, especially when someone's intentions were so transparent. He had no desire to get involved in troublesome matters, so he waved a hand and refused directly.

He wasn't lying—he planned to go up the mountain early the next day, not just for a hike, but to test once more the changes brought about by his recent improvements in physical attributes and in his mastery of Xingyi Boxing.

"Alright then. Qiqi, what about you? Would you like to sleep with me tonight?" Xiang Yuanyuan didn't press Du Ruo further, and continued chatting with Li Qiyao.

It was clear that she got along very well with Li Qiyao. Though they hadn't known each other long, they'd spent the day together sightseeing, planned to go hiking the next day, and even seemed reluctant to part ways at night, as if there was an endless stream of conversation between them.

Women's friendships often arise inexplicably; sometimes, one meeting is all it takes to become lifelong confidantes.

"No, thanks. I'm a bit tired today, and I need to handle some matters for the art academy later," Li Qiyao replied with a smile, taking a sip of water.

There was something special about this woman—her every gesture carried an air of grace, yet a hint of melancholy lingered between her brows, somewhat diluting her charm.

"Art academy?" Du Ruo, frustrated by the design of the Coiling Dragon Thread, asked without thinking.

"Qiqi is quite the talented woman—a brilliant artist and, most importantly, still single. Mr. Du, haven't you considered pursuing her?" This time it was Xiang Yuanyuan who responded, unable to resist teasing at the end.

"It's not as impressive as she makes it sound. I'm just an art teacher who runs a small workshop for kids," Li Qiyao said, waving her hand and smiling softly at Du Ruo, offering a bit of explanation.

"An art teacher? Uh, could I trouble you to look at a drawing for me?" The moment Du Ruo heard she was an art teacher, he immediately took out a sheet of paper with the Coiling Dragon Thread design and handed it to Li Qiyao.

He was rather exasperated: though he didn't think much of his own drawing skills, he believed he had captured the essence of the Coiling Dragon Thread in his design. Yet, when he sent the scanned image to various online shops earlier, none of the staff understood what it was, which left him rather vexed. Now, seeing a professional, he couldn't care less about their level of acquaintance—he just wanted her opinion.

Having heard Xiang Yuanyuan call her Qiqi, he simply addressed her as "Miss" to be polite.

"You can just call me Qi," Li Qiyao said, accepting the paper and lowering her head to examine it.

"And what on earth is this? It's so abstract," Xiang Yuanyuan said, leaning over to look with Li Qiyao out of curiosity, but unable to make sense of it. She took a big gulp of liquor before asking Du Ruo.

"Is this jewelry? The Coiling Dragon Thread? Or is it some kind of tool?" Li Qiyao tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and asked Du Ruo.

"Yes, it's called the Coiling Dragon Thread; it's a design drawing. Look, this is a bracelet—it's hollow, with a small mechanism inside. These are the threads, which need to be stored inside the bracelet. On the outside, there's a coiling dragon—it can be separated into two segments..." Realizing she might understand his drawing, Du Ruo scooted his chair closer and began pointing out the details.

"Pfft... cough, cough, Mr. Du, you drew this?" Xiang Yuanyuan couldn't help but laugh when she heard Du Ruo call the four-legged lizard a coiling dragon. She tried to mask her amusement with a cough and then asked.

"Yes, I did. It's my first attempt, after all—I never learned to draw. I thought it wasn't too bad... maybe?" Du Ruo, embarrassed by her reaction, took a sip of his drink, feeling less confident now.

"For a first attempt, it's actually quite good. It's normal for the lines to be rough without practice, but your intention comes across clearly, and you have a talent for this," Li Qiyao said earnestly after listening to Du Ruo's explanation, giving him genuine encouragement. Still, she seemed slightly uncomfortable with him sitting so close, and subconsciously shifted toward Xiang Yuanyuan, though she did so subtly, as if she'd simply grown tired of her seat.

"No wonder you're a teacher—you spotted the strengths of this drawing right away." Du Ruo was pleased by her words, sat up straight, and gave her a thumbs-up, his impression of her improving further.

"So, Mr. Du, why did you show me this drawing?" Li Qiyao smiled, glanced at the design again, and then asked what he wanted from her.

"To be honest, this is a design for an ancient weapon. I want to have it recreated, but when I asked people online, they couldn't even understand the drawing. I was hoping you could help refine it or perhaps redraw it entirely," Du Ruo confessed. He wasn't worried about the blueprint being leaked. Such an object, even if made, would be worthless without someone trained to use it—it would be nothing more than an intricate bracelet.

"This looks rather complex, and I'm afraid I don't have the time to redraw it. I'm not a designer, and I'm only in Huangshan for three days. With hiking planned during the day, it's unlikely I could finish it in time," Li Qiyao said hesitantly. She had little interest in technical design, and her schedule was already full.