After traveling through the book, I conquered the male protagonist Long Aotian!

Gu Qingze looked at Song Jinnian quietly, his eyes full of inquiry, trying to find even the slightest clue from his face, but in the end, he gave up helplessly.

No matter how carefully one looked at it, Song Jinnian looked as if he was simply feeling aggrieved because his good intentions had been misunderstood. His expression was obviously filled with sadness, with almost no flaws at all.

Could it be that...I really am thinking too much...?

Gu Qingze's mind instantly flashed through every detail of his time with Song Jinnian over the past few days...

Brother Jinnian did help him a lot...

Most importantly, if he was deliberately pretending to be innocent, there was really no need to do so.

Neither he nor Ling Xiao had anything particularly precious on them. Considering the value, there was no need to be so deliberate. It couldn't be that it was just out of some kind of bad taste, right?

Like watching other people being manipulated or something...

Maybe...I'm really overthinking it.

Gu Qingze shook his head slightly and decided not to dwell on this matter too much. Instead, he slowly approached Song Jinnian, reached out his hand and gently touched his head, comforting him for a long time.

He continued speaking only after Song Jinnian seemed to have almost recovered.

"Brother Jinnian, although you said so, but...if possible, I still hope you can help me investigate it?"

Gu Qingze held his hand tightly, with a very serious look on his face.

"? Brother Qingze, I have already analyzed the pros and cons for you, why are you still so obsessed with this matter?"

Song Jinnian gave a faint smile, as if he was just out of pure curiosity.

"Can you give me an explanation that will convince me?"

Gu Qingze sighed deeply. In fact, he wanted to complain when Song Jinnian said that it was unreasonable for him to collect information while in the brothel.

But Song Jinnian suddenly became different from his usual self. At that time, his suspicion of Song Jinnian took precedence over this incident, and the test just now occupied a large part of his mind.

But...now...if Brother Jinnian must hear an opinion that is completely in line with his interests, he also has it.

"Brother Jinnian...My intention to collect information during my stay in the flower house is not in vain."

"After all....it's not like everything will be alright just because you meet the chief courtesan."

"Brother Qingze, what do you mean?"

"Let me ask you, if it was Brother Jinnian, could you ensure that the information she told you would not be adulterated and that she would tell you everything she knew?"

Gu Qingze stared into his eyes closely.

"I understand the plight of the chief courtesans of all generations, and I won't be like a 'saint' who saves all of them and changes their fate. I don't think I have that much ability."

"I was just thinking, if I could know the situation of other former top courtesans..."

Gu Qingze paused for a moment before continuing.

"I am just making an assumption. There is nothing else to it. I don't mean to curse them, nor do I mean to not wish them the best."

"Suppose... they are not doing well and are in a difficult situation. Can I... use this to make a deal with the current chief courtesan and promise her a good future? In this way... will she be more likely to tell the truth?"

"After all...if that's the case, she and I will become a community of interests, and we will become grasshoppers on the same rope. Even if it's to protect her future, she won't lie to harm me."

After Gu Qingze finished speaking, he let out a long sigh of relief.

He didn't want to make things sound so utilitarian. After all...a big part of his desire to understand this matter was out of emotional reasons.

It is too impersonal and cold to directly lay out the pros and cons of the matter.

He would not have said that if Song Jinnian had not insisted that he must be given a reason that was sufficient to convince him.