The next day, Chu Hongluan slept until the sun was high in the sky. She hadn't had such a good night's sleep in a long time.
She walked out of the house and stretched without any regard for etiquette.
Hmm? Chu Hongluan's ears twitched slightly. She vaguely heard rustling sounds coming from the bushes outside the courtyard and behind the peach tree by the gate. Scanning the area with her divine sense, she discovered that there were quite a few people hiding nearby.
"Is that the girl that Senior Brother brought back yesterday?"
"She's so beautiful, like a mountain spirit..."
Shh—keep your voice down. Don't scare her!
"Is the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion going to have a young mistress?"
"Hehe, I think so."
"Great! The iron tree has blossomed, and the withered tree has come back to life!"
Chu Hongluan's lips twitched. What on earth was all this about?
So, are these people lying in ambush in this area early in the morning just to see her, the legendary "senior brother's rumored girlfriend"?
"Well, you little brats! Skipping your morning classes to come here and look at girls! All of you, go stand in the Discipline Hall as punishment!"
There was a commotion outside the courtyard, and Chu Hongluan didn't even need to look to imagine what it was like.
Did you get caught skipping class?
Hahahahahahahaha!
Chu Hongluan recalled how, back in her school days, she had been caught by the headmaster for skipping class to visit a handsome upperclassman. She raised an eyebrow, quickly walked to the courtyard fence, and greeted the teaching elder.
"Thank you so much. I got up to cultivate at dawn today, but these young fellow cultivators made it impossible for me to concentrate, and I wasted a whole afternoon. Thanks to the elder for making this trip, I can finally focus on my cultivation. I am very grateful for your hard work, elder."
?
The dusty, disheveled disciples stared at her in disbelief.
Getting up to cultivate at dawn? Too noisy to concentrate?
Didn't you just wake up?
The teaching elders favored polite and diligent children the most, and their eyes were filled with satisfaction when they looked at Chu Hongluan. But when they turned to look at their own mischievous disciples, they became angrier and angrier!
"Look at them! How hard they work! And look at you! You don't even go to morning classes! You're always causing trouble and disturbing others' cultivation!"
The elder instructor was so angry that his beard trembled. He roared, "After you're done standing in the corner, you're all going to clean the training ground!"
The boys and girls followed the teaching elder back listlessly, turning their heads to cast several resentful glances at Chu Hongluan.
Upon receiving the message, Chu Hongluan smiled and winked at them.
This is what they mean by: getting soaked in the rain and then tearing up someone else's umbrella.
Chu Hongluan was in a good mood and planned to go down the mountain for breakfast.
Good morning, Miss Chu.
It was Liu Jinghong.
"Hey, good morning. Want to go down the mountain for breakfast together?"
Liu Jinghong wanted to mention that their sect had a dining hall, since many of their fellow disciples couldn't abstain from grains. But after thinking about it, Liu Jinghong decided to keep quiet.
Let's go have breakfast together.
"Okay, okay."
So the two walked down the mountain side by side.
The disciples were all in class at this time, and they didn't encounter anyone along the way.
Chu Hongluan asked Liu Jinghong, "What a coincidence! I just happened to be looking for a meal buddy, and here you are."
Liu Jinghong had never heard of the term "dinner buddy" before, but he could vaguely understand it. He smiled demurely and said, "I heard from the teaching elder that some fellow disciples went to disturb your peace this morning, so I came to check on you."
Chu Hongluan burst out laughing. "Actually, no." She tried her best to suppress her laughter, but recalling the way those disciples looked at her back then, she couldn't help herself. "I had just gotten up, and they were sneaking around peeking from behind the bushes, whispering and talking, thinking I couldn't hear them. Just then, the teaching elder came to arrest them, and I showed them what it means to be wicked, hahahahaha..."
Another series of crisp laughs followed, making her eyes glisten with tears.
Liu Jinghong hesitated for a few seconds, feeling sorry for her fellow disciples, before taking out a handkerchief from her sleeve and handing it over.
Chu Hongluan took the handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes, her eyes still glistening with tears. She joked, "In my hometown, it's a big plus for a boy to carry a handkerchief with him."
Toilet paper and handkerchiefs are the same thing.
Liu Jinghong's lips curled up slightly, and a secret joy welled up in her heart.
They chatted casually along the way, and soon reached the foot of the mountain.
A handsome man and a beautiful woman always attract attention when they walk down the street. Especially Liu Jinghong's face, which they all recognized.
"Oh, Young Master Liu!"
"Young Master, are you out for a meal? My restaurant has some new dishes..."
"Rouge! The finest rouge! Young Master, would you like to buy some rouge? The ladies all love it!"
The merchants and vendors along the way were very enthusiastic in their calls. Firstly, Liu Jinghong was always generous and would spend a lot of money at the drop of a hat. Secondly, it was the first time that everyone had seen a woman with Liu Jinghong, so they all gathered around to make jokes.
Chu Hongluan hadn't expected Liu Jinghong to be so popular. Just as she was about to turn around and tease him, she saw his slightly embarrassed expression, so she chuckled, grabbed his wrist, and quickly walked out of the bustling city center.
"Looks like I'll have to put a veil on you next time we go out," Chu Hongluan said with a smile. "The main street is too noisy, so let's just find a small stall to eat at. Hmm? I think I smell wontons."
Following the aroma of wontons, Chu Hongluan accurately located the wonton stall that Liu Jinghong often ate at.
"Want some wontons?" Chu Hongluan asked Liu Jinghong. Seeing Liu Jinghong nod, she called out, "Boss! Two bowls of wontons!"
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com