Wen Ruo treated everyone
"Brother Guanlan, it's been a long time."
Qi Guanlan immediately looked up at the beautiful scenery by the lake, but the newcomer was still persistent and reached out to block his view. He slowly turned his face away and said sternly, "You spoil the fun, you're disturbing my view."
Glancing to the side, he saw the woman looking dejected, while Qi Guanlan's eyes remained fixed on her.
Sun Yueyou, what is she doing here?
"You've met Wen Ruo?"
Sun Yueyou looked up in surprise, "How did Young Master Qi know?"
Qi Guanlan narrowed his eyes, wondering if he should say that Wen Ruo acted very quickly, not even forgetting her mother while enjoying the scenery. What kind of filial piety was that? "What did she say to you?"
Sun Xuerong gently clenched her teeth. When the two met for the first time after returning to Beijing, he stared straight at Sun Yueyou, not even giving her a glance. Even if Sun Yueyou was prettier than her, they still had a childhood friendship.
I thought Wen Ruo would be a stumbling block, but unexpectedly, a Cheng Yaojin appeared out of nowhere.
Sun Yueyou's eyes flickered slightly, filled with disbelief. He actually interfered in such matters; wasn't he meddling a bit too much?
"Brother Guanlan, why are you asking so many questions about a girl's private matters?"
Qi Guanlan pouted, "Why are you back?"
"Father's term outside the capital has ended and he has been transferred back to the capital. Brother Guanlan, it's been so long since we last met. How about we get together with Sister Caoxi sometime? I really miss you both."
"If Zhao Heng goes, I'll go."
He hasn't settled accounts with Zhao Heng yet, but her information is way behind the times.
Qi Guanlan looked into the distance and saw Wen Ruo and the scholar walking side by side. Judging from their direction, they seemed to be heading to the observation deck. The observation deck had three floors, and the view from the top was the most beautiful. From there, one could see half of the capital city to the east, and one could also gather around a stove to cook snow. He had tried it before.
Sun Yueyou glanced at Qi Guanlan and cautiously tugged at Sun Xuerong's sleeve, "I heard Cao Xi went to the academy."
Sun Xuerong was annoyed, but still smiled. "Sister Cao Xi is the closest to me. I wrote to her, and she will definitely be willing to come. Wen Ruo was introduced to me by her. Speaking of which, she also helped with your matter."
Qi Guanlan snorted coldly, it's uncertain who she's closest to now.
Mentioning Wen Ruo, Sun Yueyou looked at the two people in the distance, then glanced at Qi Guanlan, and lowered her head helplessly. If it weren't for Cao Xi, Wen Ruo wouldn't have known Fu Jingjiang.
Although Fu Jingjiang is not the type to curry favor with the powerful, Wen Ruo now has the advantage of being close to his aunt and has Qi Guanlan as her powerful backer, so she has no chance of winning.
If only she hadn't witnessed Fu Jingjiang's heroic rescue, she wouldn't be so heartbroken now.
"Brother Guanlan, can you hear me?"
Of the three people present, Qi Guanlan's gaze fell on Sun Yueyou, his eyes filled with complex emotions. Sun Yueyou, oblivious to his feelings, continued to grieve.
Sun Xuerong was furious, resenting that she was putting on a one-woman show.
She gently bit her cheek, causing the silk handkerchief to crumple and her rosy nails to show white edges.
Ren, she knew from childhood that her relationship with Qi Guanlan and Zhao Heng was not as deep as Cao Xi's. But now that Cao Xi was gone, the two of them were still childhood sweethearts. As long as she could appease Princess Rongjing, things would eventually get better.
However, we need to get rid of Sun Yueyou, who's like a Cheng Yaojin, first.
"Little Yueyou, don't be sad. Someone beat you to it this time. Just be more careful next time. How about I take you out for a walk to cheer you up?"
Sun Yueyou smiled bitterly, "If only there were a first-come, first-served rule, and if it were so easy to take back a heart that has been moved, there wouldn't be so many lovesick men and women."
Qi Guanlan was jolted back to his senses by her words, feeling dizzy and stunned for a long time. A certain string in his heart twitched slightly, and after a moment of restraint, he couldn't help but ask, "By whom?"
"Wen Ruo."
Qi Guanlan felt even more oppressed, his heart aching and numb, filled with anger, melancholy, and confusion.
He looked towards the observation deck, his handsome face, which had been expressionless, now clouded over. "One should know one's place. They are mutually in love, so why make things difficult for yourself?"
Sun Xuerong sneered and said quietly, "Forget it, you all have your eyes on the observation deck. Since that's the case, why don't we go and take a look together?"
Qi Guanlan said coldly, "There are too many people, and I've given you enough rewards. Please help yourselves."
Sun Yueyou's eyes changed slightly, and a bold guess came to her mind. She looked at the observation deck again.
The viewing platform is surrounded by the lake on three sides, and the doors and windows are always open. Sometimes, when scholars are inspired to write poetry, they might write on the wall and perhaps even meet a mentor while enjoying the view, thus forming a beautiful story of friendship.
Wen Ruo stood by the window and hugged her arms tightly. "I've experienced firsthand how lonely it is at the top. I'm afraid I can't do it in such a cold place, sitting around a stove and brewing tea."
Fu Jingjiang smiled slightly, picked up the cloak and draped it over her shoulders, "Miss Wen, you've been sweating from climbing the stairs. Put this on and rest for a while. Once you calm down, you'll understand its benefits."
Wen Ruo tied the ribbon, as if wrapped in a thin blanket, and began to stroll around the room. Fu Jingjiang nodded from time to time at the calligraphy on the wall, and looked at her expectantly.
She could only say that Fu Jingjiang's actions were like casting pearls before swine. If it were Sun Yueyou, the situation would probably be quite different. But for her, everything she saw was like a cow chewing on a peony.
Sun Yueyou probably won't give up, right? Wen Ruo went to another window and could vaguely see her and Sun Xuerong's figures. There was also a man standing next to them, whose clothes looked somewhat familiar.
The two figures became clearer and clearer as they walked towards them. Wen Ruo's lips curled up slightly. Miss Sun had indeed lived up to everyone's expectations.
Wen Ruo exclaimed in surprise, the icy snowflakes burning her palms. "Young Master Fu, I lost my wallet on the way back and need to go back to find it. Could you please make me a snowman as a souvenir?"
Fu Jingjiang stared blankly at the snowball in his hand. Wen Ruo had left without even giving him a chance to go with her.
After descending from the viewing platform, Fu Jingjiang was still standing by the window, seemingly looking at her. Wen Ru waved and looked at the painted boat in Shuimeng Lake. The light boats on the lake circled around it, and no one dared to ram this behemoth.
She walked around the lake, pretending to pick up her purse, and out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Fu Jingjiang had two more women with him.
The boatman had been watching her from the dock for a while, and now he walked towards her with a smile. "Take a rest here. Want to go boating? Twenty coins."
Wen Ruo: "Do I mean I should go wherever I say I want to go?"
The boatman smiled and nodded, "As long as we don't provoke the pleasure boat, I'll do whatever you say."
The boatman stood at the stern, using a bamboo pole. The boat's awning was covered in snow, and it had railings on both sides, providing an unobstructed view. Inside the boat was a square table with several jars of wine underneath, clearly prepared for the guests.
Wen Ruo paid the fare and sat inside the boat. The boatman didn't speak, and she was all alone. Compared to the ornately decorated pleasure boats next to her, her small boat was shabby and quiet.
Ordinary people cannot enter these kinds of pleasure boats.
She followed the painted boat with great interest, her gaze suddenly meeting a cool gaze. The dark pupils were deep and watery. Qi Guanlan was sitting by the window, his arm resting on his knee, holding a wine pot in his hand, looking somewhat dejected.
Wen Ruo smiled slightly, and he immediately turned his face away. She withdrew her hand and muttered to herself, "Did I offend him?"
"You know her, young lady?"
Wen Ruo shook her head, "I misread it."
The boatman pushed off with a bamboo pole, saying, "Miss, hold on tight."
The wooden boat gradually drifted further and further away from the painted boat. After an incense stick's time, Wen Ruo got off the boat, jumped up and down a couple of times, and said, "It still feels better to be on solid ground."
"Really? You owe me a meal. When are you going to treat me?"
Qi Guanlan had disembarked at some point, his face as arrogant and domineering as when they first met, inspiring fear in everyone. Wen Ruo weighed her money pouch in her hand, opened it to show him, and asked, "Is this enough? How about tomorrow?"
Qi Guanlan glanced at him sideways and said casually, "I didn't eat much."
After finishing the meal, we parted ways.
Wen Ruo wondered how the viewing platform was doing. She glanced back and followed Qi Guanlan out of Shuimeng Lake. Young Master Qi seemed to have eyes in his feet and stopped at Yunjin Tower.
"Waiter, let's order."
Wen Ruo called out, and the waiter looked at the two of them in confusion. There was a private room for him on the second floor, but Qi Guanlan actually chose a place to sit on the first floor when he entered the store. "Young master, please order!"
At Yun Jin Lou, Wen Ruo sat in the restaurant for the first time. Qi Guanlan didn't hold back either, ordering ten dishes in one go. The waiter handed over tea and appetizers and then quickly ran to serve the dishes.
"This is what you call not eating much?" Wen Ru thought to herself, then cautiously asked, "Young Master, if I can't afford it, you won't leave me here as collateral, will you?"
Qi Guanlan: "I won't eat you out of house and home, don't worry, I'll always leave you some dowry."
Wen Ruo thought for a moment but couldn't figure out what it had to do with the dowry. However, Qi Guanlan was an expert, and she immediately looked at the kitchen with anticipation, "I'll listen to the young master."
Qi Guanlan's lips twitched slightly, but his face quickly fell again. Seeing this, Wen Ruo could only lower her head and pretend to drink her tea. She really didn't know what she had done to offend Qi Guanlan.
Fortunately, the food was served quickly. "One more dish!" Wen Ruo moved her seat, and nine plates were arranged in a fan shape around Qi Guanlan. The scene was somewhat funny. The last dish was served quickly.
"Young Master, your favorite chestnut chicken, please have a taste." Wen Ruo specially reserved a spot for it, right in front of Qi Guanlan, within easy reach, a truly brilliant touch.
The chestnut chicken has a reddish and glossy appearance. Although it is called a chicken, it is only the size of a pigeon, with four or five plump and sweet chestnuts. One serving costs one tael of silver. It is so expensive that Wen Ruo's heart is bleeding.
How did you know this was my favorite?
"We've eaten together a few times, and I noticed you tend to use more of the salty-sweet flavor."
Mr. Yi prefers spicy food, while he likes sweet tofu pudding. Sometimes he mixes sweet and spicy dishes into his rice. Wen Ru sometimes wonders if his sense of taste has been ruined by the herbs.
Qi Guanlan's complexion improved slightly, and Wen Ruo finally breathed a sigh of relief. She sat opposite him, casually picked up the nearest ham, took a bite, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Yun Jin Lou truly lives up to its reputation."
Qi Guanlan handed over a chicken leg, "Which one tastes better, the one from Chef Wang?"
Wen Ruo smiled and took a bite. As expected of the young master's choice, "Of course it's Chef Wang. Free things are always the best."
Are you saying I'm spending your money?
Qi Guanlan deliberately put on a stern face. Wen Ru shook her head, considered for a moment, and asked in return, "I've noticed that you've been accusing me a lot lately. Is it just my imagination?"
"It's your imagination."
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