Chapter 3 Don't you believe your brother?
Seeing that Ruan Xingzhu didn't seem to suspect anything, Gu Yun'an felt a little uneasy.
Ruan Xingzhu nodded knowingly, but instead of leaving, she kept fidgeting, unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes with her hands, her eyes darting around, looking as if she had something difficult to say.
Gu Yun'an took in everything and, not wanting to play games with her, asked directly, "Xingzhu, you want to know how the matchmaking is progressing, right?"
When her thoughts were exposed, Ruan Xingzhu became a little flustered. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head, neither nodding nor shaking her head. Her two small hands nervously clutched the hem of her skirt, making her look just like a bewildered little rabbit.
Seeing this, Gu Yun'an suddenly felt a mischievous urge and deliberately drawled out his words, "Isn't that right?"
The tone conveyed a sense of resolute determination that she would be forced to leave if not for this.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Xingzhu felt a surge of anxiety and quickly nodded like a chick pecking at rice, her voice tinged with urgency as she hurriedly said, "I suppose so..."
She paused for a moment, finding it difficult to continue asking the question.
As soon as he finished speaking, his enormous figure suddenly enveloped her small frame, and in the flickering candlelight, it seemed as if she were being held in his arms.
Gu Yun'an leaned down slightly, extending his long, slender hand with distinct knuckles to gently tuck the stray strands of hair that fell across her face behind her ear. For a moment, Ruan Xingzhu felt a ticklish sensation on her earlobe, like a feather lightly brushing against it, causing her to involuntarily flinch slightly.
The tickling sensation near her ear made her instinctively want to back away, but a seductive voice slowly came down from above her head.
Gu Yun'an lowered his head slightly, his warm breath brushing against the top of her head, and said softly, "Since brother has promised Xingzhu, then Xingzhu should just wait patiently..."
Changing the subject, Gu Yun'an lowered his eyes slightly, his gaze deep and focused on Ruan Xingzhu, who looked like a little rabbit he could devour in one bite. A slight smile played on his lips as he asked, "Or is it that Xingzhu... doesn't trust her brother?"
For some reason, Gu Yun'an gave Ruan Xingzhu a different feeling today, as if he were more intimate and unpredictable. But how could she not trust him? In this vast Gu mansion, he was the only one she could rely on.
Afraid of upsetting Gu Yun'an, Ruan Xingzhu quickly raised her head, a sweet smile on her face, and said in a coquettish voice, "How could that be? Xingzhu trusts Fourth Brother the most."
His fingers, hovering near her ear, slid gently to her cheek, touching her soft, smooth skin, giving Gu Yun'an an urge to caress it. However, he restrained himself, slowly releasing her with a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
Watching Ruan Xingzhu leave, Gu Yun'an finally let out a heavy sigh. As Ruan Xingzhu grew older, his desires became increasingly uncontrollable. He was afraid—afraid that Ruan Xingzhu would run away if she knew of his possessiveness…
But he probably won't give her that chance...
When he entered the bathhouse, the pristine white handkerchief was hanging nearby, though it was completely dry. The bath was filled with steam and moisture, enveloping Gu Yun'an's body.
Whether from the heat or something else, a few tiny beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, glistening in the flickering candlelight.
The sound of flowing water gurgled down his outstretched arm as he smoothly reached out and precisely grabbed the handkerchief.
A moment later, the once-dry handkerchief, now stained with something, was casually tossed aside...
The night was quiet. The temperature dropped slightly, and the treetops that had been bent over by the wind in the courtyard straightened up, casting dappled shadows in the moonlight.
As the days passed, the time came for him to meet the young master of the Yi family.
Gu Qingxu accepted the task and insisted on taking Ruan Xingzhu with her, saying that she would feel uncomfortable going alone.
When the news reached Yutang, Cheng didn't pay much attention, since the two of them often hung out together. Moreover, Ruan Xingzhu was gentle and obedient, and Cheng hoped that having her go along would temper Gu Qingsu's impetuous nature.
The two arrived at Wan Tea House, but the agreed time had passed and the other party had not yet arrived. Ruan Xingzhu was a little worried that Gu Qingxu would become impatient and leave directly, but Gu Qingxu did not show any impatience. On the contrary, she wished that the other party would not come.
She and Ruan Xingzhu had just sat down at the agreed location when she saw that the other party was late.
Young Master Yi seemed somewhat anxious, and was slightly out of breath. He wore a moon-white robe, stood tall and straight, and had a fair complexion, exuding an air of refinement.
As soon as he stood still, he quickly apologized.
"My name is Yi Mingyu. I was delayed on my way here. Please forgive me, ladies."
He spoke as sincerely as possible.
This young master of the Yi family is fair-skinned and handsome, and he is a head taller than Gu Qingsu, probably about the same height as Gu Yun'an.
However, her words came out in a very literary style, and Ruan Xingzhu couldn't help but look at Gu Qingxu's reaction with some concern.
As expected, Gu Qingxu's face had lost its previous liveliness. Her bright eyes narrowed slightly, and she bit her lower lip tightly, turning her rosy lips white, as if she was trying her best to endure something.
Ruan Xingzhu was afraid that she might lose her composure and do something impulsive that would backfire, so she quickly responded to Yi Mingyu's voice.
As she spoke, she quickly introduced Gu Qingxu, "This is the fifth young lady of the Gu family, Gu Qingxu."
Yi Mingyu then turned his gaze to Gu Qingxu. Before coming, his mother had told him that the fifth young lady of the Gu family had a somewhat unusual personality, and asked him to be more tolerant of her. As for how unusual she was, his mother did not say.
Judging from Gu Qingxu's appearance, she was just an ordinary woman, except that her eyes and brows had a brighter, more vibrant look. He bowed politely and said in a gentle tone, "I have met Miss Gu."
As he spoke, his gaze turned to Ruan Xingzhu, as if to ask her how she should be addressed. Upon seeing this, Ruan Xingzhu quickly replied, "My surname is Ruan."
Yi Mingyu nodded in understanding and then said, "Greetings, Miss Ruan."
After saying this, he gently flicked his sleeve, looked at the two of them, and spoke politely.
"Miss Gu, Miss Ruan, please." He gestured to the seats behind them.
Seeing his politeness, Ruan Xingzhu was about to sit down when she noticed that Gu Qingsu beside her hadn't moved. Her expression shifted, and she quickly and gently tugged at his sleeve with her hand, signaling him to hold back.
Fortunately, Gu Qingxu sat down without saying a word, but once seated, she stared intently at Yi Mingyu. Her thoughts drifted away; hadn't it been said that these scholars always favored delicate and shy women? So, by doing the opposite, she was sure she could break this deadlock.
For a moment, the atmosphere was quiet and there was no conversation. Ruan Xingzhu sat to the side, feeling very uncomfortable. She placed her hands awkwardly on her lap, her eyes wandering, looking slightly embarrassed and uneasy.
As a scholar, Yi Mingyu was devoted to books and literature and had little contact with girls in his daily life. At this moment, noticing that Gu Qingxu's gaze was fixed on him without any attempt to hide it, he couldn't help but feel flustered, and a slight blush rose on his originally fair face.
He subconsciously clenched his fingers slightly, blinked rapidly, and asked cautiously with a hint of nervousness and doubt in his eyes, "Miss Gu, is there something on my face?"
"Huh?" Gu Qingxu didn't react for a moment, her small head filled with big confusion.
Gu Qingxu's voice wasn't low; it was exceptionally clear in the quiet teahouse, instantly attracting the attention of some bystanders.
Compared to Yi Mingyu, Yi Mingyu seemed like the shy girl, while she was the cheerful and unrestrained young man.
Gu Qingxu was unusually aware of her loss of composure. Noticing Yi Mingyu's somewhat surprised expression, she felt a slight tightness in her heart, pursed her lips, and then raised the corners of her mouth slightly, saying something that even Ruan Xingzhu dared not agree with.
"Young Master Yi's face is not affected, but I just thought he was handsome, so I kept staring at him."
Since women in the capital are generally reserved, she didn't believe he could resist her boldness.
Yi Mingyu's fair face suddenly flushed red at Gu Qingsu's words, the blush quickly spreading to his ears. He swallowed hard, his eyes darting around in a panic, somewhat afraid to look at Gu Qingsu.
He didn't have much contact with women, and they were all his cousins, but they were all gentle-spoken and polite.
However, Gu Qingsu's bold and straightforward manner was something he had never seen before. It was as if a stone had been thrown into his heart, causing ripples, but he still had to try his best to remain calm.
His silence delighted Gu Qingxu; this was exactly the effect she wanted. If this refined scholar had said he was afraid of this earlier, she wouldn't have been punished by Cheng Shi again and again.
Ruan Xingzhu was a little worried for Yi Mingyu, after all, the Gu family's reputation was such that it was difficult for Yi Mingyu to be treated lightly or harshly.
Just when they thought Yi Mingyu would keep quiet and ignore them, he suddenly raised his eyes, a resolute look flashing in them, and spoke out unexpectedly.
"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Gu."
Gu Qingxu paused, first taken aback, then burst out laughing at his unexpected response.
After speaking, Yi Mingyu quickly avoided Gu Qingsu's gaze, looking away as if his words had exhausted all his courage.
After drinking a cup of tea, it was almost time to leave. Yi Mingyu consciously called the waiter to pay the bill.
The young man quickly and deftly ordered the tea and pastries on the table, then said with a smile, "Young master, it will cost two taels of silver."
Upon hearing this, Yi Mingyu quickly reached for his waist, only to find it empty, and his expression changed slightly. He then hurriedly checked his sleeves, searching several times, but still couldn't find the money pouch.
Seeing this, the waiter's face flashed with a hint of anxiety. After all, those who could enjoy tea at Guanyue Tower were all wealthy and noble, and there was no way they couldn't afford to pay.
"Young master, take your time looking, I'm not busy right now," the waiter said with a smile.
Hearing the waiter's polite voice, Yi Mingyu suddenly felt a little flustered, his mind racing. In his anxiety, he suddenly remembered an old man who had fallen on the road.
He tried to get up several times but failed. Seeing that no one around was paying attention to him, he felt pity and went to help him up.
Could it be that his purse was stolen then? He couldn't think of any other way he could have lost it. As soon as he left, he rushed to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion without stopping.
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