Ji Xinhe stayed up late tying knots even though it was a skill she initially lacked. Fortunately, the former home owner had this expertise, and so after a bit of practice Xinhe got the hang of it.
They worked through the afternoon, getting quite a bit done.
Hong Qin and Ji Xinhe lived close to each other, so they walked home together. As Hong Qin headed to her house, Xinhe was about to enter hers when she suddenly noticed a figure lurking in the shadows. đŻđ§đđđŹđđđŁđ¤đđŽđľ.đđ¤đ˘
"Whoâs there?" Xinhe called out alertly.
Gao Zhiru emerged from behind a large pagoda tree, "Xinhe, donât be afraid, itâs me."
Xinheâs eyes hardened, and she coldly asked, "What are you here for?"
Gao Zhiru admired Xinheâs pretty face, her demeanor seemed to have improved a lot since they last met. She was no longer the stiff and awkward girl she used to be, making her very likable.
"I was waiting here for you. When I approached you this afternoon, you must have felt embarrassed because there were so many people around. Youâre shy, arenât you? So here I am, waiting for you for the whole afternoon, in the cold wind."
Xinhe glanced at Gao Zhiru. Was he too full of himself? She was clearly just not interested in talking to him at all!
If she were a girl naive to the ways of the world, she might have been moved and confused by Zhiruâs earnestness.
Thereâs no doubt that Gao Zhiru has a way with words.
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
Gao Zhiru sighed softly, "I have seen the predicament you are in. When your families separated, you were left with almost nothing. Winter is approaching and I guess you must be feeling quite helpless. Itâs heartbreaking that a girl like you has to endure all these hardships."
Internally, Xinhe raised an eyebrow. Was Gao Zhiru forgetting that he had berated her cutthroat stance on Sister Xiulan before? It takes some nerve for this guy to flip-flop so quickly.
His sudden shift made Xinhe curious about his intentions, and with a sigh, she echoed Zhiruâs sentiment, "Indeed. It is quite challenging to make ends meet in the upcoming winter."
Seeing that his words were leaving an impact, Zhiru was pleased. He pressed on, "Donât worry too much. Now that Iâve seen your situation, I canât just stand by and do nothing. I was blind to Xiulanâs true nature before, but now that I see how vicious she is and the troubles she has brought upon you, I deeply regret ever siding with her."
Xinhe inwardly scoffed, but kept up the veneer of sorrow. "How would you help me? You canât possibly offer me money for free, right?"
She was curious about Zhiruâs real intentions amidst all of his talk. He surely couldnât be planning to just give her money.
Zhiru moved closer to her, his voice gentler than ever, "Xinhe, as long as Iâm here, you wonât have to worry. Once I pass the provincial examination and become a scholar, I will naturally take care of you with the silver I earn. I wonât let you suffer any longer. I hold you dear in my heart."
Xinhe widened her eyes in disbelief. Had this despicable man taken a fancy to her?!
If she hadnât known about his ties with Wang Er Ya and Sister Xiulan, she mightâve believed his act.
All of a sudden, Xinhe noticed a figure darting behind a fence in the courtyard.
A glint of mischief flickered in her eyes. She lowered her head shyly, "You, you, you... how could you..."
Gao Zhiru moved to embrace her, "Now that you know how I feel, Iâm content. Just wait for me to succeed in the examination and I promise, you wonât have to suffer anymore."
Internally, Xinhe scoffed. The idea of relying on this incompetent man was a nightmare in itself.
Xinhe shifted slightly away from him, "But, donât you already have Sister Xiulan? How did you end up liking me?"
"Her? I have to find her pleasing on my eyes," Zhiru scoffed. "Sheâs messing around with that Zhu Rou San, showing what an unrestrained woman she is. Compared to you, sheâs nowhere close."
"So you also loathed her deep down? No wonder... why else would you willingly wear a cuckoldâs hat?"
Xinhe hadnât even finished her sentence when they heard a loud bang. Sister Xiulan kicked the door of the courtyard wide open, her face pale and trembling with rage as she pointed at Gao Zhiru, "You...you...you dare!"
Gao Zhiruâs face went white. He never expected Sister Xiulan to overhear their conversation. "Xiulan, thatâs not what I mean..."
Xinhe snorted and ignored the two bickering. She leisurely strolled back into her courtyard.
"What do you mean not meant like that?! I have wholeheartedly followed you, but this is how you repay me? And you and...and that lowlife are together!" Xiulan was enraged and nearly flew into a fit of curses.
Zhiru didnât dare let her continue their public spat. His image as an educated man was at stake. He quickly covered Xiulanâs mouth and tried to soothe her, "Xiulan, listen, thatâs not what I meant."
Meanwhile, Xinhe couldnât care less about the couple. She headed straight to her room, "Little Bei, sister is back."
No one responded. It seemed he had gone to gather firewood on the mountain with Ji Dong.
To prepare for winter, they obviously needed to stock up on firewood.
Xinhe was unflustered, her steps light as she entered her house, intending to drink some water before preparing dinnerâthey should be back soon.
However, just as she reached out for a glass of water, she sensed something off inside the house. She turned around sharply to see Mu Houchu standing behind her, watching her indifferently.
"When did you come in?" Xinhe asked, her eyes wide.
Each encounter confirmed to Xinhe just how formidable this man was. She had always been sensitive to the presence of others, but he managed to effectively conceal his presence. This was terrifying.
Whenever she thought about it, Xinhe couldnât help but feel a nagging headache. What kind of devil had she tangled with?
"I came in before you started flirting with Gao Zhiru," said Mu Houchu, his tone icy.
What heâd witnessed was flirting?
"None of your business!" snapped Xinhe, "We are certainly not close enough that I need to report my every move to you, right?"
"Doesnât sleeping together count as being close?" Mu Houchu raised an eyebrow.
Xinhe: "..."
"I heard youâre looking for a husband."
"So what if I am!" This guy had a serious case of meddling syndrome!
"Well, then, letâs just settle our own affair as well."
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