Chapter 146 On Fire

After having afternoon tea, Gu Jiayue continued teaching for a while, and when she saw that the sun was not so high, she said goodbye.

Jiang Luli looked at Gu Jiayue with a smile. "Master Gu, I've worked so hard teaching you today. Why don't you stay for dinner?"

Gu Jiayue was shocked. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to swallow even a single bite if she were to eat at the same table with such a distinguished boss.

Thinking of this, she sincerely refused, "Jiang Shanchang, I appreciate your kindness. But before I left, I promised my grandmother that I would go back for dinner."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Luli's originally relaxed brows furrowed slightly, and a barely perceptible sense of loss flashed in his eyes.

This was the first time he'd sincerely invited someone to dinner, only to be rejected. He felt a momentary embarrassment. A slight embarrassment crossed his face, but he quickly regained his usual composure. "Since that's the case, then I won't force you to stay, Principal Gu."

Then he added, "It's still this time seven days from now. I wonder if Shanzhang Gu has time?"

Gu Jiayue nodded quickly. "Of course." As long as she doesn't eat with the boss.

Jiang Luli raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes flickering as he regained his gentle demeanor. "Let me escort Headmaster Gu out, and show you the place I've chosen for the house."

This is indeed an irresistible reason.

Jiang Luli had been staying here for some time, and it was indeed inconvenient to always live in his own courtyard. "Okay, then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Jiang."

Then she thought of Master Du, who was also going to live here permanently, and she couldn't help but wonder. "By the way, does Master Du need to build a house? Has he picked a location yet?"

Jiang Luli took the umbrella from the guard, opened it, and gently held it above Gu Jiayue's head. His movements were natural and gentlemanly. "Master Du has already chosen it. It's in the open space behind the library. He said it's convenient for him to read anytime."

Gu Jiayue nodded slightly, this was indeed in line with Mr. Du's personality.

He was a book lover. Ever since he discovered the precious books he had never seen before on the second floor of the library, he would dive into them whenever he had free time, and was obsessed with them.

If sleeping in the library was not so inappropriate, he probably wouldn't even want the courtyard. He would just live in it and be accompanied by books day and night. That would be exactly what he wanted and it would be wonderful.

Looking at the umbrella above her head blocking the sunlight, Gu Jiayue felt a sense of panic.

How can I let the boss hold an umbrella for me? This is a taboo in the officialdom and workplace!

She hurriedly reached out to take it. "Mr. Jiangshan, you're too polite. How can I trouble you to hold an umbrella for me? I'd better do it myself."

Her movements were too hasty and Jiang Luli didn't react for a moment, so their hands were tightly clasped together.

Jiang Luli felt a shock all over his body, as if he was bitten lightly by an invisible little ant, and a tingling sensation instantly spread throughout his body.

His ears quickly turned red uncontrollably and became so hot that even he could feel the heat.

Gu Jiayue also immediately realized that something was wrong and let go of her hand as if she had been electrocuted.

Jiang Luli looked at the hand that had been released, and a sense of loss inexplicably welled up in his heart.

This feeling made him feel a little overwhelmed. He didn't understand why he felt this way, but he felt empty and uncomfortable. "Let me do it. You're so much shorter than me. If you hold the umbrella, won't I have to bend over and walk?"

Gu Jiayue couldn't help but think of Jiang Luli walking with a bent back, and couldn't help laughing.

But when she looked up and saw that Jiang Luli's face was not looking good, her heart tightened and she said quickly, "Then I'll trouble you, Jiang Shanchang."

Every big boss of noble status has his own hidden illness, such as fear of the dark or aversion to physical contact with others.

Could this Jiangshanchang be the latter?

Thinking of this, her heart was filled with regret. What a sin! What a sin! I really didn't mean it.

The two of them walked forward in silence. The atmosphere was strange and awkward.

Fortunately, the place chosen by Jiang Luli was not far from the courtyard, only about a hundred meters away.

"This is the place I chose." Jiang Luli raised his hand and pointed at a tall and straight sycamore tree not far away, his eyes full of love and pride. "The first time I saw this sycamore tree, I fell in love with this place."

Gu Jiayue wore a polite smile on her face, but in her heart she was secretly groaning and almost crying.

She lamented, "I've long admired this sycamore tree! I've been planning to create a recreational lawn here, with swings and hammocks. It would be so pleasant to relax here during my free time."

It’s all my fault for being too busy on weekdays and never having the time to do it, but now he has chosen it first.

But now that things have come to this, what can we do?

After all, it was I who said it in the first place, he can choose any place he wants.

Jiang Luli's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smug smile. "Since Shanzhang Gu also thinks this place is good, I'll ask Xiao Luzi to find someone to start the work."

"Okay, it's up to you, Chief Jiangshan." Gu Jiayue forced a smile.

As a prince, Jiang Luli would not simply build a couple of rooms in his courtyard. If he wanted to build a luxurious palace here, not to mention whether it would blend in with the academy, the remaining land alone would probably be far from enough.

Oh, I really brought a living ancestor to myself.

After looking at the land, the group headed back.

Jiang Luli remained silent all the way, quietly following behind Gu Jiayue. He walked out of the academy without any intention of stopping.

Gu Jiayue couldn't help but say, "Master Jiang, there's no need to see me off. I know the way home, and Fusheng is already waiting outside in his carriage."

Jiang Luli raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression calm, and said seriously: "I'm not sending you off. I just happen to have something to go out for, and I want to borrow your carriage."

Lu Yao, who was following behind, couldn't help but feel ashamed for his master after hearing this.

A noble prince actually wants to borrow someone else's carriage? Moreover, it's noon, the sun is high in the sky, what is the master going out for?

Gu Jiayue was also a little confused. She secretly glanced up at Jiang Luli, but seeing that he looked serious and didn't seem to be lying, she stopped asking questions and said, "Then let's go together. It's just that my carriage is simple, I hope Master Jiang won't mind."

Jiang Luli's mind was in a turmoil, and he himself didn't understand why he said that. His mouth was talking, but his mind was following suit.

The words were out of his mouth and there was no way to take them back. He could only bite the bullet and get on the carriage.

The road in Taohua Village was bumpy and uneven, and the carriage was shaking and swaying all the way. Although the two of them had deliberately sat far apart, the carriage was already narrow, and in this swaying situation, some physical contact was inevitable.

Jiang Luli's face flushed red. He tried very hard to control his body, but he couldn't help but fall towards Gu Jiayue.

He secretly groaned. "I can't let the girl misunderstand me as a pervert."

So he kept shrinking himself towards the car door, trying to keep his distance.

Gu Jiayue was thinking in her heart: It turns out that big guys all have the problem of not being able to have physical contact with others.

Judging from his reaction, he is definitely the male lead.

Having said that, Jiang Shanchang is already 22 years old this year. In this era where people can get married at the age of 15, he should have been married long ago and maybe even have children, right?

But why have I never heard him mention it?

Oh, I found a reason to keep him in this remote place for two years, leaving his wife alone in the empty house for so long, this...

Thinking of this, Gu Jiayue felt filled with guilt and felt that she had committed a heinous crime.

"Um, Chief Jiang..." Gu Jiayue was about to ask Jiang Luli if staying in the mountains for such a long time would have any impact on his family when she suddenly heard someone shouting, "Fire! Fire!"

"Master, there's a house on fire up ahead!" Lu Yao was driving the carriage and was the first to see the billowing smoke.

Jiang Luli and Gu Jiayue looked at each other, then they both lifted the car curtain and looked out.

I saw a house not far away emitting black smoke. A raging fire had already started and the fire was getting more and more intense.

"Oh, it's the village chief's house!" Gu Jiayue had been to the village chief's house several times and was very familiar with his house. She recognized it at a glance.

"Stop the car quickly." Gu Jiayue was extremely anxious and jumped off the carriage in a hurry.

Looking at the increasingly fierce fire, she looked panicked and said anxiously: "Fusheng, quickly unload the carriage and ride to the fields to notify the villagers to come back to put out the fire."

"Yes!" Fusheng was quick and efficient, and Lu Yao also hurried forward to help. Soon the carriage was unloaded on the roadside.

But Fusheng didn't know how to ride a horse, so he was a little troubled for a moment.

Jiang Luli nodded slightly towards Lu Yao, and Lu Yao immediately understood.

He jumped on the horse, squeezed his legs hard on the horse's belly, and the horse rushed out like an arrow, galloping along the road.

Gu Jiayue breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Let's go put out the fire first." Then she ran to the village chief's house.

Jiang Luli was quick to grab her and said, "It's such a big fire, why are you, a girl, going to join in the fun? You wait here, Fusheng and I will go."

After saying that, he didn't wait for Gu Jiayue's response and ran towards the direction of the fire.

Gu Jiayue turned pale with fright and wanted to reach out to stop him.

But Jiang Luli had long legs and was skilled in martial arts, so he disappeared in just a few steps.

She stamped her feet in anxiety and lamented in her heart: My ancestors, if anything happened to you here, all nine members of my family would be in trouble.