Just then, the waiter finished serving a bowl of wine and was about to bring it in when Bai Yun, quick as a flash, snatched it away and splashed it all over Su Ruanruan's face.
"I'll ask you one more time, Brother Mu Bai..."
"Ah...a ghost!" Bai Yun saw that Su Ruanruan's face was visibly distorted.
Not only her, but others saw it too.
The strong liquor, mixed with something unknown, dripped down Su Ruanruan's cheeks.
Some parts of her face were sallow and dark, while most of it was as white and tender as a peeled egg.
Huo Yan strode forward, took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, and wiped her face clean in a few quick strokes.
Looking at the beautiful woman before him, whose face was exquisite and whose beauty was beyond compare, many images flashed through his mind.
After a long pause, he exclaimed in disbelief, "It's you!"
Looking at the amazed expressions on everyone's faces, Su Ruanruan knew that she could no longer pretend.
With all pretense removed, she knew the gears of fate were about to turn, and without a family background, her fate would only be more tragic.
As Eileen Chang wrote, "Being poor but beautiful is like fleeing with gold; you can't eat or wear it, and you'll attract the covetousness of evil people."
She slapped Baiyun across the face with her backhand.
"You! Dare! Hit! Me!" Bai Yun was stunned by the slap, and only reacted when the burning pain on her cheek returned.
Everyone sighed in disbelief. They had just been amazed by Su Ruanruan's beauty, but they never expected her to...
They even dared to hit Lord Bai's daughter.
Su Ruanruan shook her aching right hand. "So what if I hit you? Do you even know what you're doing?"
"The reason why Lord Bai locked you up must be because he can't control you and is afraid that you will cause trouble when you go out."
"Now that he's not in the county office, you've managed to sneak out on your own."
“It’s none of my business that you snuck out, but you keep provoking me, and I can’t swallow this.”
"My relationship with Officer Huo, and what happened between Mu Bai, are my own business. Why should I tell you? And who are you to me?"
"Alright, Su Ruanruan! You really didn't pretend! All that gentleness and consideration was fake, this is your true nature!"
Su Ruanruan smiled, "Yes, that's my true nature. After losing Mu Bai and my brother, I really can't think of anyone to give my gentleness to."
Bai Yun really wanted to have a big fight with Su Ruanruan, but seeing Huo Yan standing beside her like a guardian deity, she could only grit her teeth and swallow her resentment at being beaten.
Where did Mu Bai go?
Su Ruanruan touched the string of love beans on her wrist, her thoughts drifting back to the day she parted ways with Mu Bai.
He called her name softly again and again, but she didn't turn her head.
The final, mournful cry was carried away by the wind, and all that remained was the sound of himself crouching under the tree, weeping bitterly.
As for where Mu Bai and his wife went after leaving Lingzhou, Su Ruanruan did not ask.
She was afraid that if she knew his whereabouts, she wouldn't be able to resist going to find him.
Whatever the reason, he's already married, so she shouldn't bother him anymore.
"I'll say it one last time: I have nothing to do with him anymore. Where he went... I don't know."
Bai Yun pointed at Huo Yan behind Su Ruanruan, "Is it because of him that Brother Mu Bai lost heart and left for another place, unwilling to come back?"
Su Ruanruan was unwilling to say much about Mu Bai.
She wouldn't tell anyone that he was forced to marry someone else. Nor would she publicize their affair.
The girl did the right thing by saving him, and Mu Bai did the right thing by taking responsibility for her.
"You wretched girl, what nonsense are you spouting now?" Bai Bai suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
His gaze fell on Su Ruanruan, and he felt a little dazed. He had just returned from his business and hadn't even stepped into the county government office when his servant rushed over to tell him that his troublesome girl had run away again.
Not only did he run away, but he also started making a scene with Su Ruanruan in the street.
The servant told him that Su Ruanruan's appearance was a disguise, and that she was extremely beautiful in real life.
He didn't believe it until he saw it with his own eyes.
This, this, this...
Where did Su Ruanruan, who looked so much like his deceased wife, go?
Although the person in front of him was stunningly beautiful, he only wanted to see the Su Ruanruan of the past.
Baiyun grabbed his father's sleeve and said aggrievedly, "Dad, she hit me."
"Lord Bai, I was just in a moment of impatience and offended Miss Bai. I will bear all the consequences."
Bai Bai heard the familiar voice, but when he looked at the person in front of him, it was no longer the same person he knew.
Everything was like a dream, a bubble.
"That's enough. In the end, it's my son's mischievousness that caused this mess. I'm not confused."
"Master, Miss is still your own daughter, how can you bear to let her be beaten?" Xiao Yuan pouted, she didn't expect that the master would not hold it against her.
"That's right, Dad, look at my face." Baiyun pointed to the red handprint on her face. "Dad, you always said I bullied her, but did you see it today? She hit me first!"
Wei Zheng appeared beside Huo Yan at some point, clicking his tongue in admiration and whispering, "You're quite the lucky guy, aren't you? Su Ruanruan actually..."
"You knew she was so beautiful, didn't you?" Wei Zheng nudged Huo Yan's arm.
"She's far more beautiful than Su Qingyu and some other people. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her the most beautiful woman in our Great Shun."
Wei Zheng scrutinized Su Ruanruan closely again, "Why do I feel like she looks a bit like...?"
Huo Yan kicked him back, "Shut up."
Wei Zheng nodded and stopped talking.
Niu Mang was too preoccupied to eat; he had left when Bai Yun arrived. Seeing the maid Xiao Yuan's angry expression, he quickly went up to persuade her, "Your master has said he won't pursue the matter, so you should quickly take your young lady back home and not add fuel to the fire."
Xiao Yuan glared with wide eyes, "Hmph, even you're criticizing me?"
Niu Mang sighed, Su Ruanruan was his elder brother's woman, and he couldn't afford to mess with her.
It was wrong of her to hit someone, but Baiyun provoked her first.
Bai Bai was about to scold Bai Yun when he caught sight of Wei Zheng and Huo Yan chatting and laughing. He was a little confused. When did their relationship become so good?
Wei Zheng is a very important figure from the capital!
He lost all face when this important person saw his daughter's disgraceful behavior.
He quickly waved his hand, "You two, take the young lady back quickly."
Two servants came up and dragged Baiyun away. Seeing this, Xiaoyuan pushed Niu Mang and shoved him.
They followed the group and left.
Bai Bai gave a smile that looked more like a grimace, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and left.
In such a dry place as the Northwest, the appearance of such a beautiful girl was irresistible. No one wanted to leave, and they even forgot about the delicious aroma of meat, all staring intently at Su Ruanruan.
Su Ruanruan turned around and went back into the shop, disappearing into the kitchen and refusing to come out.
Seeing that there was no excitement to watch, everyone turned their attention back to eating.
Even Niu Mang went back to eat his meals.
Jin Yu, Huo Yan, and Wei Zheng stood on the street, looking at the bustling braised meat shop.
"Aren't you going to see your little beauty?" Wei Zheng asked teasingly, his peach blossom eyes gleaming.
Huo Yan glared at him again, but this time Wei Zheng didn't shut up. He tilted his head and looked at Zhao Sheng in the distance, "There are quite a few people who have their eyes on your little beauty."
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