Chapter 33: Are clothes important to you?
In just a few days, the uproar between Gu Qingxu and Feng Rongrong faded away like smoke blown away by a gust of wind, gradually diminishing until it disappeared without a trace, and no one dared to talk about it anymore.
Ruan Xingzhu naturally understood that Gu Yun'an was behind this in secret. However, she really didn't expect Gu Yun'an's methods to be so powerful, and that things could be resolved so quickly.
Thinking that Ruan Xingzhu had folded Gu Yun'an's robes neatly, she immediately took them to Huaiju and delivered them to Gu Yun'an.
As she tidied her clothes, her thoughts drifted away, and she remembered Liang Yejing's outer robe. She searched the room for a long time, but couldn't find it. Actually, it wasn't that she cared so much about the garment, but Liang Yejing was the only one who had helped her that day, and since he acted out of kindness, she felt she should return it.
Shaking off her thoughts, Ruan Xingzhu had just stepped into Huaiju when she heard Gu Yun'an's returning footsteps. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly put down the robe in her hand, calling out joyfully, "Fourth Brother!"
Gu Yun'an looked up and saw Ruan Xingzhu wearing a light green blouse and skirt. The blouse looked particularly fresh in the sunlight, but it also made her figure appear even more slender. He couldn't help but frown slightly, and there was some displeasure in his eyes.
She couldn't help but scold him, "Why are you wearing so little again?"
Ruan Xingzhu paused, looked down at her clothes, then looked up at the blazing sun overhead. Her voice unconsciously softened as she said softly, "It's hot today; wearing too much will make you feel hot."
As soon as she said it, she quickly realized that Gu Yun'an was worried that her previous injuries had not yet healed, so she hurriedly added, "Besides, I have already healed."
To convince Gu Yun'an, she acted like a child, eagerly taking Gu Yun'an's large hand, gently placing it on her forehead, tilting her head up, and smiling with her eyes crinkling.
"If you don't believe me, Fourth Brother can touch it."
His hand was pulled upwards by Ruan Xingzhu's small hand, and he quickly felt a warm touch in his palm. He looked down and saw Ruan Xingzhu looking at him questioningly.
A ripple of emotion welled up in his eyes, and a touch touched his heart. He let Ruan Xingzhu hold his hand, then chuckled softly and said gently, "It's really healed."
"I knew it!" Ruan Xingzhu said with a hint of joy on her face.
Seeing her with that girlishly proud look, Gu Yun'an couldn't help but rub her head.
"Xingzhu, have you come here to see me?"
Seeing her like this, Gu Yun'an assumed she was waiting for him and had something to say to him, so he couldn't help but ask.
Ruan Xingzhu gently removed Gu Yun'an's hand from her forehead and shook her head: "It's nothing, I just brought Fourth Brother's robe over and left it there."
After saying that, Ruan Xingzhu remembered Liang Yejing's missing coat and hesitated before asking, "By the way, Fourth Brother, did you see a dark blue coat in my room the other day?"
She had already asked Mu Tao before, and only Gu Yun'an had entered her courtyard that day, so she thought she would ask him, maybe Gu Yun'an would know.
He paused, recalling the eyesore of the dress. His gaze fell upon her searching eyes, and he couldn't help but scoff. He had seen more than just that.
Seeing how attentive Ruan Xingzhu was, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a hint of danger inadvertently appeared in them.
He had previously assumed that the dress was casually draped over her by a stranger at a banquet, but now, hearing Ruan Xingzhu mention it, he suspected she knew who the dress belonged to. Otherwise, why would she be so eager to ask about it so soon after recovering from her illness?
His eyes were fixed on her, as if trying to see through her thoughts, but he didn't show it on his face, calmly uttering a few words: "Didn't see it."
Ruan Xingzhu nodded, not particularly surprised. Gu Yun'an was usually very busy, so it was normal that he wouldn't care about a piece of clothing.
Thinking this, she was about to turn back to her own courtyard when, just then, Gu Yun'an suddenly reached out and took the small hand that had just held hers. Ruan Xingzhu looked up in confusion, wondering if it was just her imagination, but she felt that there seemed to be a hint of restraint in Gu Yun'an's eyes, no longer as clear and bright as before.
Before she could even ask why Gu Yun'an was pulling her, she heard Gu Yun'an speak.
"Why is Xingzhu asking about a piece of clothing?" His low voice seemed to be asking a trivial question, but upon closer listening, one could detect a subtle tension.
As he spoke, Gu Yun'an stared straight into her eyes and said in a deep voice, "Is that dress very important to you?"
Ruan Xingzhu was slightly taken aback, not expecting Gu Yun'an to ask this. She wondered if she was mistaken, but she sensed a hint of displeasure in his eyes.
Without thinking too much, she quickly waved her hand and denied it, saying, "Of course not, I just wanted to return the clothes to that kind person, so I was looking for them."
Her voice was somewhat urgent, as if she was afraid that if she was a step too slow, Gu Yun'an would be dissatisfied.
Seeing Ruan Xingzhu's hurried rebuttal, unable to even say the other person's name, Gu Yun'an's wariness subsided slightly, and his eyes softened again. He gently comforted her.
"It's just a piece of clothing. If it's gone, so be it. I'm sure the person doesn't even remember it." He gently rubbed Ruan Xingzhu's small hand and continued speaking without looking up.
Ruan Xingzhu felt her hands getting warm from Gu Yun'an's rubbing, her face flushed slightly, and she obediently nodded, no longer mentioning the clothes.
The willow branches of Huaiju swayed gently in the breeze, swaying against the surface of the pond and creating beautiful ripples on the calm water. Ruan Xingzhu returned to her own courtyard after finishing her lunch at Huaiju.
After finishing his meal, Gu Yun'an was about to leave the mansion when he inadvertently noticed a man looking around furtively outside the gate.
"Who is he?" Gu Yun'an's expression hardened, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he stopped walking.
Sheng Que quickly followed Gu Yun'an's gaze and recognized the person at a glance, saying, "That's Yi Mingyu, the young master of the Yi family."
After a pause, Sheng Que couldn't help but add, "They're probably here to see the Fifth Miss."
Upon hearing that he wasn't some unknown person, Gu Yun'an's brows relaxed slightly, and he strode out.
When Yi Mingyu saw Gu Yun'an, his expression immediately tightened, and he hurriedly stepped forward, respectfully saying, "Fourth Young Master."
Gu Yun'an did not respond, but simply lowered his head slightly and looked at him with a faint gaze, as if silently asking him what his purpose was in coming here.
Yi Mingyu felt uneasy under Gu Yun'an's gaze, his hands unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes. He hesitated for a while before speaking, "I, I came here... to find Miss Gu."
His final words were spoken in an exceptionally low voice; if it weren't for the complete silence around him, his whispered words would likely have been inaudible.
A hint of disdain flashed in Gu Yun'an's eyes as he secretly wondered why Gu Qingsu had chosen such a simpleton as a business partner.
"Young Master Yi can't even handle his own private affairs, so what are you doing here looking for my fifth sister?"
Gu Yun'an raised his eyes, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. If his investigation was correct, the discord between Feng Rongrong and Gu Qingsu seemed to have originated from Yi Mingyu.
Yi Mingyu was taken aback by Gu Yun'an's words and paused for a moment. He had come today to discuss this matter, but after Gu Yun'an's suggestion, he realized he should indeed settle his personal affairs first before seeking out Gu Qingxu. Otherwise, it wouldn't be good to implicate Gu Qingxu because of him.
After leaving the Gu residence, Yi Mingyu went straight to the Feng residence. Feng Rongrong had been staying at home these past few days and hadn't gone out. Hearing that Yi Mingyu had come looking for her, she was somewhat surprised, and a look of astonishment appeared on her face.
Could it be that he heard she was in love with him and that he was interested in her too, so he came to find her? Thinking about it this way, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing for Gu Qingxu to reveal her feelings.
A surge of joy welled up within her, and she quickly rose to her feet, carefully dressing herself. She had specially chosen a light pink silk dress embroidered with butterflies, a style befitting a young woman, with a unique design at the hem that made her appear even more charming.
After getting dressed, she originally wanted someone to invite Yi Mingyu in, but Yi Mingyu refused. So she thought he was shy and didn't think too much about it and came out to see him.
Upon seeing Yi Mingyu, a shy blush unconsciously appeared on her face, and she softly called out, "Young Master Yi."
Previously, Yi Mingyu was unaware that Feng Rongrong loved him, and he didn't think much of it when he saw her. But ever since Gu Qingsu declared that Feng Rongrong loved him, his first reaction was to worry that Gu Qingsu might misunderstand him.
"Miss Feng," Yi Mingyu said calmly, merely lifting his eyelids slightly, "I have come here today to discuss something with you."
Hearing that Yi Mingyu indeed had something to say to her, Feng Rongrong couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. She lowered her head slightly, her eyes filled with anticipation.
“I want to tell Miss Feng that I am aware of your feelings, but I have no feelings for you. So I ask that you take back your affections.”
Yi Mingyu felt it was better to make things clearer to avoid delaying the girl.
He didn't notice that Feng Rongrong's eyes instantly dimmed, and the smugness in them vanished because of Yi Mingyu's words. She never expected that the first time Yi Mingyu took the initiative to find her, he would say such things.
He has no feelings for her, yet he expects her to take back her affections? Feng Rongrong felt a sharp pain in her heart and looked at Yi Mingyu in disbelief.
A chill ran through her, and Feng Rongrong took a step forward somewhat hastily, asking, "Then who do you have feelings for? Is it Gu Qingxu?"
Upon hearing Gu Qingxu's name, Yi Mingyu's previously calm heartstrings were suddenly touched for some reason. His expression was no longer as indifferent as before, and a hint of impatience was faintly revealed.
Faced with Feng Rongrong's approach, Yi Mingyu subconsciously took a step back and said bluntly, "My affair with Miss Gu is none of your business, and I don't need to tell you."
He paused, still not wanting to involve Gu Qingxu in this matter, and added, "So please, Miss Feng, don't make things difficult for Miss Gu in the future."
"Don't make things difficult for Gu Qingsu?" Feng Rongrong was filled with grievance and anger. She was the one who was bullied and humiliated by Gu Qingsu, but in the end, it was her who made things difficult for Gu Qingsu.
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