Chapter 1 will definitely find you a good home.
The temperature at the beginning of summer is not yet unbearably hot, but the air is already filled with wisps of heat, making it unbearably hot.
The treetops at the corner of the courtyard wall swayed slightly under the warm air.
In the back garden, Ruan Xingzhu was dressed in a light pink shirt, the color of which resembled the first blooming lotus flowers in summer, soft and delicate.
She kept waving a pale purple fan in her hand, the fan opening and closing rapidly with her hurried movements, almost as if it were about to ignite flames. All she did was try to cool down Gu Qingsu, who was being forced to kneel under the sun as punishment.
The small figure stood under the bright sun, shifting left and right, trying her best to shield Gu Qingxu from most of the sun.
Ruan Xingzhu's forehead was covered with tiny beads of sweat, and even fanning herself was a bit of a struggle. Although she was standing, she was no less relaxed than Gu Qingsu, who was kneeling.
She frowned slightly, raised her hand and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead with her slender fingers, and couldn't help but offer some words of advice.
"If Fifth Sister doesn't go and apologize to Madam, then..."
Before she could finish speaking, she felt a warning look from Gu Qingsu, sharp as an arrow.
His gaze held a hint of doubt, stubbornness, and persistence, as if silently commanding her to shut up. Ruan Xingzhu's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately obediently shut her mouth.
Gu Qingxu gritted her teeth and said in a complaining tone, "If I give in this time, she'll bring me some old-fashioned people to meet the next day. Will I ever have any freedom left?!"
Gu Qingxu knelt on the ground, exuding arrogance, her back ramrod straight, as if she wanted to show Madam Gu her unwavering stubbornness through this posture.
Her voice was measured and deliberate, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth, revealing her extreme resistance to the potential partners she had been meeting recently.
Hearing Gu Qingxu's dissatisfied voice, Ruan Xingzhu couldn't help but recall all the potential husbands that Madam Gu had found for Gu Qingxu.
In Ruan Xingzhu's opinion, those people were not the rigid old-fashioned people Gu Qingxu described. On the contrary, they were all polite and courteous, and their words and actions exuded an elegant temperament.
He came from a very wealthy family, a prominent family in the capital, and was also considered handsome. Such a man was the dream of countless young ladies.
Thinking of this, Ruan Xingzhu couldn't help but glance at herself, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes. She was an orphan, utterly alone in this world, and naturally, no one would care about her marriage prospects.
Compared to Gu Qingxu, who was being forced to find a husband, she felt a pang of envy. She wished that one of the men Gu Qingxu didn't like could be given to her instead.
It is said that the Gu family is a prestigious and powerful clan, one of the most influential families in the capital. The eldest daughter married into the palace and became the most favored Consort Ming, while the second daughter is the mistress of the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion. With such a family aura, the daughters of the Gu family naturally have no trouble finding good marriages.
However, Ruan Xingzhu knew in her heart that she could not be considered a proper young lady in the Gu family. Strictly speaking, she was not even a distant relative.
Before entering the Gu family mansion, she was just a starving beggar on the street, living a life of hardship and having to travel far and wide for food.
It was Gu Yun'an, the fourth young master of the Gu family, who took her in on a bitterly cold winter day and brought her back to the Gu family mansion. From then on, she lived a carefree life as a young lady in her boudoir.
Speaking of Gu Yun'an, he was a favored son of heaven, a gentle and refined nobleman, a high-and-mighty beauty in the capital, admired by all.
Her eyes suddenly lit up. Gu Yun'an had a wide circle of acquaintances and knew quite a few eligible men. If she could get him to keep an eye out for potential suitors, given his status as a classmate and friend, it would certainly be better than her desperately seeking any solution.
Gu Yun'an was a member of the Censorate, and his daily work kept him very busy. He only had rare free time in the evenings.
After much deliberation, Ruan Xingzhu finally made up her mind. After finishing her dinner, she hurriedly went to Huaiju to wait for Gu Yun'an's return.
Huaiju was the residence of Gu Yun'an. As the only legitimate son of the main branch of the Gu family, his residence was second only to Madam Gu's Yutang Courtyard in terms of scale and prestige.
There is a clear pond directly outside Huaiju, with ripples in the water. A waterwheel turns slowly under the propulsion of the water flow, making a pleasant gurgling sound.
When the water warms up, Ruan Xingzhu loves to put a few colorful fish into the pond. The fish complement the surrounding scenery and look pleasing to the eye.
As she dipped her hand into the water and felt the cool current gently caressing her fingertips, the sensation seemed to seep into her very soul.
"Xingzhu." A gentle voice came from behind.
Upon hearing the sound, Ruan Xingzhu's eyes lit up instantly. She hurriedly wiped her wet hands on her skirt, leaving a faint water stain on the hem.
Her voice was filled with uncontrollable joy as she called out in a clear, crisp voice, "Fourth Brother!"
Gu Yun'an was dressed in a white brocade robe with gold accents. The robe was made of soft and smooth material, and it shimmered in the sunlight, as if the moonlight was shining on him.
A light-colored belt around his waist perfectly accentuated his slender figure, highlighting his upright and tall stature.
Beneath his sword-like eyebrows were a pair of jet-black eyes, always carrying a gentle smile, which made him appear extremely gentle and refined.
Seeing Ruan Xingzhu always walking so cheerfully, his handsome eyebrows twitched slightly, his eyes filled with worry.
He quickly reached out his large hand and firmly supported her slender arm, pretending to be angry and scolding her, "Walk properly, or I won't help you if you fall."
Although his tone carried a hint of reproach, it was also full of undisguised doting affection.
Ruan Xingzhu raised her small face, her features as lively as a flower fairy in spring, her clear, doe-like eyes staring straight at Gu Yun'an.
With a mischievous glint in her eyes and a touch of arrogance, she said playfully, "Fourth Brother wouldn't do that! He's too busy picking me up to do that!"
Looking at her adorable appearance, Gu Yun'an couldn't help but smile. He reached out and affectionately pinched the bridge of her nose, his movements gentle and intimate.
Upon entering the house, one finds it simply yet elegantly furnished, exuding a subtle scholarly atmosphere.
Gu Yun'an walked to the table and took out the pastries he had brought for her from the food box next to him.
The pink pastries are enticing in color and exude a sweet aroma.
He handed her the pastries and said slowly, "I heard from Sheng Que that you were looking for me?"
Ruan Xingzhu quickly swallowed the pastry in her mouth and nodded. "Yes, I have something I want to say to Fourth Brother."
Gu Yun'an looked at her with amusement in his eyes. He reached out and gently wiped away the crumbs of cake from the corner of her mouth, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the crumbs together as he made a casual sound.
"What's up?"
Ruan Xingzhu let Gu Yun'an wipe her mouth clean, but just as she was about to speak, she suddenly hesitated. After all, what young lady is so eager to find a husband?
She felt a little shy and uneasy, her face flushed slightly. She put down the pastry she hadn't finished eating, pursed her lips, and looked away, subtly hinting at Gu Yun'an.
"Fourth brother, look at Xingzhu, she's getting old now. People her age are either married or waiting to be married."
After she finished speaking, she secretly glanced at Gu Yun'an, observing his reaction.
Gu Yun'an raised his cold eyebrows slightly, and the gentle warmth in his eyes was unconsciously replaced by a complex emotion.
He already understood; the young woman wanted to get married, and this was her way of hinting at him. He didn't interrupt her, but simply looked at her quietly, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry, waiting for her to finish speaking.
Seeing that Gu Yun'an didn't respond, Ruan Xingzhu became increasingly anxious, afraid that he wouldn't understand her hint. She steeled herself and mustered her courage to speak.
"Don't you think Xingzhu should find a husband?"
After saying that, she nervously clenched the hem of her clothes, her fingers turning slightly white from the force, her eyes filled with trepidation and anticipation as she stared intently at Gu Yun'an.
After waiting for a long time, he remained unmoved, sitting in his high position.
Ruan Xingzhu felt uneasy; she was afraid that Gu Yun'an wouldn't help her.
However, although Gu Yun'an appeared calm and composed on the surface, his heart was in turmoil. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed against each other, feeling somewhat hot.
A long-lost possessiveness flashed deep in his eyes, like a beast lurking in the darkness, instantly awakened upon hearing Ruan Xingzhu's words.
A subtle emotion flashed in Gu Yun'an's eyes, but unfortunately, Ruan Xingzhu was too preoccupied with whether he would help her to notice this subtle change.
After a long pause, Gu Yun'an slowly nodded, his expression complex and unreadable.
He reached out and gently stroked Ruan Xingzhu's face, his fingers lightly rubbing her delicate skin. The movement seemed gentle, but it carried a subtle kneading, as if he were kneading something through her skin.
Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was trying her best to suppress her inner emotions: "Yes, Xingzhu is of marriageable age."
Ruan Xingzhu's face lit up with joy, her eyes shining with delight. She obediently placed her face in his hands, like a docile kitten, and said in a coquettish tone, "Fourth Brother has many classmates and friends, could you please speak on my behalf?"
Gu Yun'an's palm gradually warmed up, and Ruan Xingzhu could also feel the burning heat of his palm, but she didn't dare to spoil his mood. She just quietly watched him and waited for his permission.
Gu Yun'an's voice was as gentle as ever, but beneath that gentle exterior lay a surging emotion: "Brother will definitely find you a good home."
Ruan Xingzhu was overjoyed and excitedly grasped Gu Yun'an's large, hot hand that was kneading her tender face. Her face beamed with a bright smile as she cheerfully said, "I knew Fourth Brother was the best!"
Gu Yun'an smiled faintly, but his gaze unconsciously fell on Ruan Xingzhu. The thin summer shirt was already light, and the neckline was slightly open, which coincidentally caught his eye, revealing a glimpse of her chest.
Ruan Xingzhu was petite, but she had just the right amount of curves in all the right places. At this moment, she was completely unaware of how alluring she looked and how irresistible it was for Gu Yun'an.
The little girl he had raised was now looking for a husband, yet Gu Yun'an wasn't angry. Instead, deep down, he felt a surge of excitement. In his eyes, this meant that Ruan Xingzhu was getting closer to the time when she would truly belong to him.
After receiving permission, Ruan Xingzhu happily turned and left Huaiju.
However, Gu Yun'an, whose heart had been stirred by her, slowly stood up, closing the door behind him, after she left. His gaze inadvertently swept to the spot where Ruan Xingzhu had been sitting, where a clean white handkerchief lay quietly.
Gu Yun'an knew that it was her usual handkerchief. He often saw her holding it, wiping her face, her delicate hands, and her full lips with it. Now, looking at this handkerchief, his lower abdomen tightened even more from Ruan Xingzhu's earlier provocation.
He slowly walked to the handkerchief, bent down to pick it up, and held it on his slender, well-defined fingers. The handkerchief swayed gently in his hand, as if carrying the scent of Ruan Xingzhu.
He turned and strode into the bathhouse with slightly hurried steps. A moment later, the handkerchief, stained with something that didn't belong to Ruan Xingzhu, was hung up in the bathhouse, exuding an ambiguous and subtle aura in the steamy atmosphere.
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