"Miss Zheng, you..." Gu Yi struggled to utter each word, his cheeks burning like fire.
"No, no, I'm sorry, I might have had a momentary lapse in judgment. Please don't take it to heart," Zheng Yu quickly interrupted Gu Yi, forcing a smile. "Um, did you come out by yourself?"
Zheng Yu was mortified, wishing the ground would swallow her whole. kanδん
To quickly end the awkwardness, Zheng Yu hastily changed the subject.
Reminded by Zheng Yu that he had come out alone, Gu Yi suddenly remembered his purpose. "Miss Zheng, I came to find you. Miss Lu said..."
"No problem! I'll find someone to go to the Shen Manor entrance this afternoon. When the common people see everyone gathered there, they'll naturally follow," Zheng Yu understood Gu Yi's meaning and clapped her hands, agreeing immediately.
"I'll return to the manor now to arrange for people," Zheng Yu turned to leave, but after a few steps, she came back, her expression still a little unnatural. "Young Master Gu, it's too dangerous for you to be on the streets alone. Come back to the manor with me."
Recalling the earlier incident, Gu Yi felt a lingering unease and nodded in agreement, following silently beside Zheng Yu.
Gu Yi was handsome and beautiful, always possessing an air of coolness and mystery, making him hard to read or fathom. Yet, when interacting with others, he was at ease, considerate, gentle, and confident.
Such a person naturally drew others in, making them want to approach him, understand his true thoughts, and pull him down from his pedestal into the mundane world.
"Young Master Gu, please wait for me here," Zheng Yu said politely after settling Gu Yi in her study.
She then turned and instructed A Yi, "A Yi, take good care of Young Master Gu for me."
"Yes," A Yi bowed respectfully and replied solemnly.
"Miss Zheng," Gu Yi called out as Zheng Yu was about to leave, as if he had just remembered something. "Please send word to my sister that I am here with you. I'm afraid she'll worry."
Hearing this, Zheng Yu couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Alright, I'll send someone to tell her right away. You're quite like her brother, always thinking of her."
At Zheng Yu's teasing, Gu Yi blushed again and couldn't help but quietly defend himself. "I promised her I'd be back soon. If I don't let her know, my sister will worry."
"Alright, I know you're worried about your sister. Don't be reserved here; tell A Yi if you need anything." Zheng Yu herself didn't realize how doting her tone had become.
"Okay, you go ahead. I'll wait for you here." Gu Yi also didn't realize how much his words sounded like a husband waiting for his wife to return.
"Young Master Gu, this is the finest Biluochun tea. My mistress instructed me to give it to you," A Yi said respectfully as she served the tea.
"Thank you," Gu Yi habitually thanked A Yi.
"Please don't thank me. You will be our master in the future, and this is what I should do," A Yi said, waving her hands anxiously. She dared not let the future master of the household thank her.
"Ah?"
Gu Yi was stunned by A Yi's words. After a long pause, realizing she must have misunderstood, he said with a mix of urgency and shyness, his face red, "You've misunderstood. It's not what you think. I came to see Miss Zheng about something."
A Yi then realized her mistake and apologized profusely, "I'm sorry, Young Master Gu. I misunderstood."
Seeing that A Yi understood, Gu Yi let out a sigh of relief.
"But no outsider has ever been allowed into this study before. You are the first, which is why I misunderstood. Young Master Gu, I am truly sorry," A Yi explained her actions from the side.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yi's unreleased breath was held back again.
So, he was the only person allowed into her study? Did it mean something special?
Gu Yi's face flushed, his heart pounding as if it would leap out of his chest.
"Young Master Gu, these are all books our mistress usually reads. Feel free to look around if you're interested."
Seeing Gu Yi standing there in a daze, A Yi assumed she had made him feel reserved and discreetly withdrew.
Could it really be as I think? Gu Yi murmured to himself, gazing at the books in the study.
What am I thinking? She is the town mayor, with such distinguished reputation and status. How could she possibly fancy me, a man who performs in a brothel?
Then, Gu Yi shook his head, dismissing the thought.
She deserves a better man, not a man like me, a man from the lower strata of society who works in the entertainment district.
Since I've figured this out, I should interact with her less in the future. At least, I shouldn't harbor any improper thoughts.
Every word Gu Yi thought to himself was self-deprecating, believing that after living in a brothel for so many years, he was no longer worthy of Zheng Yu.
But he forgot that he was once a young master from Qianhe Town. His knowledge and etiquette were no less than Zheng Yu's.
As Zheng Yu pondered these thoughts, she suddenly felt a pang of sadness. Staying in the dim study made her feel somewhat suffocated, so she walked towards the window, basking in the warm, bright sunlight.
"Creak."
With the sound of a door opening, Gu Yi turned towards the entrance. Had she returned so quickly?
Gu Yi composed his expression and instinctively walked towards the door to greet Zheng Yu.
"How..." Shen Xuan had just begun to speak when he saw that it wasn't Zheng Yu entering, but an uncle nearing forty.
The man also froze upon seeing Gu Yi, surprised to find him there.
"You?" Gu Yi asked the man with confusion.
The man quickly regained his composure. "I'm here to clean. Who are you?"
"I'm a friend of Miss Zheng. She asked me to wait for her here," Gu Yi gestured for the uncle to sit.
This must be a servant responsible for cleaning her manor, but wasn't outsiders forbidden from entering this room?
"I'll just sit next to you," the uncle said, very approachable. He pulled Gu Yi to sit on a chair and, as if sensing Gu Yi's confusion, explained, "I'm specifically here to clean the study."
"Normally, the town mayor doesn't allow outsiders into her study, but the study still needs to be cleaned," the uncle said, as if explaining, or perhaps deliberately for Gu Yi to hear.
Hearing again that Zheng Yu didn't allow outsiders into her study, Gu Yi's face still felt a little warm.
But it couldn't be that absolute, could it? Like this old uncle and A Yi, they could freely enter this study, couldn't they?
Gu Yi tried to reassure himself, forcing himself not to overthink.