Shen Qingyao deeply felt that she should never speak ill of others behind their backs in her entire life. Not only shouldn’t she speak, but it was also best not to listen to others talking behind their backs.
She stiffly turned her head, only to see a tall and slim teenager standing at the entrance of the stairs. He wore a golden crown on his head, had fair skin, and his clothes were embroidered with intricate patterns using golden threads. Even his shoes were inset with several large gemstones. With such extravagance, he could only be the young master of the Gu family, who governed over the gold mine.
He threw out a jade pendant that was glistening with water droplets. Fortunately, the floor of the teahouse was soft wood, and the jade pendant didn’t shatter. It lay there lonely on the ground, causing the waiter who had been chatting away just moments ago to feel a chill down his spine.
Trembling, the waiter approached and picked up the jade pendant from the ground. He walked respectfully to the teenager’s side, smiling apologetically, “Oh! Young Master Gu! I didn’t mean to gossip! How could I dare!”
Seeing that the teenager didn’t take what he offered, the waiter sweated even more. He gritted his teeth, suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself twice, while muttering angrily, “Look at my mouth! I’m so foolish! I spoke nonsense! I’ve angered Young Master Gu! Young Master Gu is magnanimous; I shouldn’t argue with him!”
In just a few slaps, the waiter’s face was already red from his own hand.
The teenager’s eyes flickered when he saw this, then he lifted his proud head slightly and spared him. Then, his exceptionally attractive peach blossom eyes turned to Shen Qingyao.
Shen Qingyao felt guilty for inadvertently causing trouble for the waiter. Suddenly meeting the gaze of the teenager, not only she, but even her mind felt a tingling sensation. The teenager was young, and his peach blossom eyes were charming, making him very attractive. At this moment, his gaze was somewhat cold, which made Shen Qingyao feel a hint of pressure. Could someone with such eyes really be the dissolute person rumored?
Another reason that made her scalp tingle was that the teenager in front of her was clearly the ‘big shot forcing a woman’ she and Lu Zhao encountered on the day they entered the city!
…
The world is so vast, yet why is Ning City so small…
Shen Qingyao couldn’t help feeling a bit speechless. Indeed, it really was a novel world. There would be follow up for every incident encountered.
“Were you inquiring about me just now?” The teenager squinted his eyes, looking somewhat malicious. However, by now, the coldness in his eyes had completely disappeared, as if the pressure just now was just an illusion. But Shen Qingyao still couldn’t help but shrink back.
Please don’t come closer; I’m a married woman.
Despite her wild thoughts, it was understandable given what she witnessed and the bad reputation of this young master. But under the teenager’s gaze, Shen Qingyao couldn’t afford to show too much obviousness. She could only smile awkwardly and suppress the cautiousness behind her, saying, “Just chatting casually, out of curiosity.”
The teenager, Gu Ziyuan, was the son of Gu Hui, the governor of Ning State. He raised his eyebrows upon hearing what Shen Qingyao said, seemingly interested. He walked over in a very frivolous manner and asked, “Oh? Curious about what? Do you also think I’m the dissolute rascal that people talk about?”
His provocative demeanor made Shen Qingyao feel a headache.
No, I just think you’re a lustful womanizer who judges people by their looks. Now that I think about it, the kick that girl gave you outside the city gate wasn’t unjustified.
“How could that be!” Shen Qingyao maintained her fake smile, racking her brain to make up nonsense, “Isn’t it normal for young people to be a bit flamboyant? Young Master Gu is bold and unrestrained, which is a good thing. He will surely achieve great things in the future!”
After a pause, Shen Qingyao remembered another rumor about this Young Master being idle and incompetent. She couldn’t risk praising him too much, lest she stepped on a landmine. So she added awkwardly, “Even if he doesn’t like studying, Young Master Gu is exceptionally skilled in martial arts. With his sense of chivalry, he will surely rise above others!”
After saying this, she covered her heart, feeling like crying. She whimpered to the system, “Mom, I lied, I’m a bad kid…”
[…] System: [It’s okay, Mom doesn’t blame you.]
Shen Qingyao : “Get lost.”
“Do you really think so?” Gu Ziyuan’s eyes lit up and he leaned closer, excitedly reaching out to grab her. But Shen Qingyao didn’t like any man touching her except for Lu Zhao, so she jerked away and moved back, still nodding, “Of course.”
Of course not, you pervert who wants to touch my hand!
Gu Ziyan smiled in satisfaction, then he finally sat back with manners, and there was a hint of youthful appearance between his eyebrows. “You really have insight! If Wan’er could think like you, it would be great!”
He looked around, and those who met his eyes tactically avoided them one after another. Gu Ziyan scorned and said with a worse tone, “Unfortunately, she, like these people, just thinks I’m a jerk! And they think I don’t know!”
“…” He’s quite self-aware. Shen Qingyao thought to herself. The girl stopped by him at the city gate that day was named Wan’er. It’s probably the same person.
Before she could ask who Wan’er was, footsteps sounded at the staircase, and Shen Qingyao turned her head to see Lu Zhao coming to her after finishing his business.
Seeing him, Shen Qingyao immediately relaxed, hurriedly stood up to greet him, and even before Lu Zhao could speak, she took Lu Zhao’s arm, softly and tenderly calling out, “Husband! You finally came! I’ve been waiting for so long!”
Her tone was coquettish, with a hint of complaint, but that ‘husband’ was heard clearly by everyone present.
Lu Zhao was taken aback, thinking, Weren’t you out here playing on your own? When did I make you wait here?
But he didn’t say anything, just naturally patted the hand of the young girl clinging to him and nodded gently, saying, “Hmm, my fault, made Yaoyao wait for long.”
“You’re married?!” Gu Ziyan suddenly exclaimed behind them, frowning. How could this girl, who seemed about the same age as Wan’er, already be married? Thinking of Wan’er, whom he had been unable to marry, Gu Ziyan’s mood worsened slightly.
Is it not obvious enough? Shen Qingyao glared, gripping Lu Zhao’s hand tightly. She thought, Now that my husband is here, you, a passerby, better not think of clinging to me again!
However, Gu Ziyan didn’t realize he had already created a rather undesirable image for himself. Just as he was about to approach again, Shen Qingyao, puzzled by his actions, was startled and quickly moved behind Lu Zhao.
Lu Zhao’s expression darkened, sensing the girl’s tension behind him. He raised his hand to push away Gu Ziyan who was rushing over, stepping back to shield Shen Qingyao, and said in a cold tone, “Master Gu, you’ve frightened my wife.”
It took Gu Ziyan quite some effort to steady himself, barely avoiding crashing into the table nearby. Hearing Lu Zhao’s voice, he finally took a good look at him and remembered after a moment, pointing at Lu Zhao in surprise, “It’s you? The one who’s been coming to my house looking for Old Man these days?”
Lu Zhao didn’t pay much attention to him. He felt the girl’s nervousness behind him, so he thought that Gu Ziyan was bullying her. His face became even more unsightly. “I will definitely report today’s matter truthfully to Master Gu.”
Hearing that Lu Zhao wanted to report, Gu Zitan widened his eyes, almost jumping in anger. With one hand on his waist and the other gesturing as if to punch, he shouted, “You! What did I do that you have to go tell my Dad?! Huh? I didn’t do anything at all!”
Clearly, he was the one slandered by rumors! Even after knowing it, he didn’t make things difficult for these people. Obviously, he was the victim, so why would someone want to report him to his Dad?
Gu Ziyan was utterly miserable. He felt so aggrieved.
Lu Zhao gave Gu Ziyan a cold glance, no longer bothering with him, gently pulling Shen Qingyao away.
As the two walked out of the teahouse, Shen Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief. Then she turned her head to look at Lu Zhao, “Elder Brother Lu Zhao, are you done with your work today?”
Surprisingly, he came back earlier than the past two days.
Lu Zhao nodded, but then frowned slightly. She was calling him ‘husband’ just a moment ago, but now she was calling him ‘Elder Brother Lu Zhao’ again?
“Didn’t Gu Ziyan bully you just now?” Lu Zhao asked.
Shen Qingyao shook her head. She hadn’t been bullied in any substantial way. Thinking carefully, Gu Ziyan didn’t seem as unbearable as the rumors suggested. He was just a mischievous youth who lacked restraint. It’s just that she had prejudged him and panicked.
Thinking like this, she couldn’t help but ask, “Elder Brother Lu Zhao, how do you know him?”
As she finished her sentence, she felt something was off. Lu Zhao wouldn’t be unaware of anything, right? Maybe he recognized Young Master Gu the moment he saw the teenager at the city gate the other day! So she changed her question, “About this Young Master Gu… Brother Lu Zhao, do you know something about him?”
Lu Zhao’s lips curled up, portraying a mysterious demeanor. He glanced over with a tilted gaze, “Does Yaoyao want to know?”
“Of course!” Shen Qingyao nodded eagerly, following the rule of transmigration: never underestimate anyone!
Lu Zhao teased her, taking a moment to ponder before saying with a hint of amusement, “Hmm, indeed there are some inside stories…”
“What?” Shen Qingyao leaned in, but Lu Zhao didn’t continue.
“Yaoyao,” Lu Zhao called out.
“Hmm?” Shen Qingyao looked at him puzzled.
Then, Lan Zhao’s beautiful eyes curved upwards, and he asked her very seriously, “What did Yaoyao just call me?”
“Elder Brother Lu Zhao.” What else could she call him?
[Sigh! Host, you are beyond help!] Even the system reacted, but Shen ‘Occasionally Straight Woman’ Qingyao remained clueless.
Lu Zhao’s eyes dimmed slightly, as if feeling a bit disappointed. He murmured softly, “I was misunderstood last time, and if Yaoyao calls me ‘Elder Brother’ again, it might lead to more misunderstandings.”
Somehow, Shen Qingyao sensed a hint of grievance in his words, as if she was a heartless woman playing with his feelings.
“Well then… what should I call you?” Shen Qingyao swallowed nervously, feeling unsure.
Lu Zhao smiled again, his eyes gentle, knowing that Shen Qingyao couldn’t resist him when he looked like this. He said, “When I just arrived, didn’t Yaoyao call me well?”
“Just arrived?” Shen Qingyao froze, how did she call him earlier? Wasn’t it… ‘Husband’?
Her face suddenly flushed. It wasn’t the first time she called him that, but every time before, including just now, wasn’t it because of some urgent situation? How could she call him that seriously?
“Hu… Husband?”
“Yeah, I’m here.” Lu Zhao took her hand, smiling warmly. “This way, there won’t be any misunderstandings.”
Shen Qingyao pursed her lips, wondering if he really was worried about others misunderstanding. But seeing him smile, she couldn’t help but smile back slightly, feeling a sweet sensation in her heart. She thought to herself, Oh, maybe it’s indeed not bad to avoid misunderstandings with others?
Thanks for the chapter!!!!