The entire process was natural, as if the Qi family home were his own.
Qi Zhenzhen came back to her senses and eagerly asked Zhang Xiaoniu, "What's going on?"
Zhang Xiaoniu shook his head, "I don't know either. The Young Master brought us here without saying anything."
Hearing Zhang Xiaoniu's words, Qi Zhenzhen became even more perplexed. He arrived without a word, bringing a group of people, and brazenly settled into her home. What was this all about?
"Zhenzhen, since the Young Master is here, will you be making a good meal tonight? I'll go home and say hello, and come over to mooch a meal," Zhang Xiaoniu said cheerfully.
Qi Zhenzhen rolled her eyes and turned back into the house. She had no intention of preparing a special dinner. He wasn't someone she had eagerly invited, so why should she go out of her way to entertain him? She would just cook as usual; eat it if they liked, don't if they didn't. Qi Zhenzhen didn't realize she was being petulant, all because Gu Sinian had arrived without a word, and Gu Sinian had said nothing.
Now there were many people eating at the Qi family's house. Besides Qi Zhenzhen and her mother, there was Uncle Qian, Da Jiang, Xiao He, and Gu Chengyang. Uncle Qian and Gu Chengyang both enjoyed a little drink in the evening, and their favorite accompanying dishes were the braised delicacies Qi Zhenzhen made. Gu Chengyang preferred braised meats, while Uncle Qian favored vegetarian options like dried tofu and lotus root slices.
So, besides the braised dishes, dinner included a cold salad of mung bean sprouts, stir-fried bean curd sheets, a soup of oysters and tofu, and the main staple was plump, white steamed buns. Since Zhang Xiaoniu was also coming, plenty of buns were prepared.
Uncle Qian and Gu Chengyang both knew Gu Sinian. As soon as they sat down, they saw Gu Sinian stroll in and were stunned. After their initial shock, both men shot up from their seats.
Uncle Qian was from the Qian family, so knowing Gu Sinian was normal. But Gu Chengyang's reaction clearly indicated he also knew Gu Sinian's identity. Moreover, since they both shared the surname Gu, could there be a connection between them? Was Gu Chengyang's presence here premeditated? Was all of this orchestrated by Gu Sinian? What was Gu Sinian's intention? Many thoughts flashed through Qi Zhenzhen's mind, including what Gu Sinian had said that day in the county town: "I am unmarried, and you are unmarried." She had already refused him then...
Gu Sinian nodded to Uncle Qian and Gu Chengyang, signaling them to sit down. He didn't say much else.
The dinner table was quiet, with only Zhang Xiaoniu occasionally complaining that Qi Zhenzhen's cooking that evening was too perfunctory.
In contrast, Gu Sinian ate with great relish. Due to his status, Uncle Qian and Gu Chengyang were quite apprehensive throughout the meal, eating very little of their usual favorite braised dishes. Most of the dishes on the table ended up in Gu Sinian's stomach.
After the meal, Uncle Qian and Gu Chengyang informed them and returned to their rooms.
Da Jiang and Xiao He, along with Zhang Xiaoniu, cleared the dishes.
Gu Sinian did not return to his room but went directly to the main house to sit. Qi Zhenzhen brewed hot tea and brought it to him.
"Qi girl, you don't need to be so formal with me. This is your home, sit down," Gu Sinian said, accepting the tea bowl and gesturing for Qi Zhenzhen to sit.
Qi Zhenzhen did not refuse and obediently sat down.
One drank tea with concentration, as if it were a rare, top-grade leaf, while the other sat silently, with lowered eyes.
Gu Sinian slowly finished a bowl of tea, put down the cup, and looked intently at Qi Zhenzhen.
Although she didn't look up, Qi Zhenzhen could feel Gu Sinian's gaze fixed on her, as if he could see through her. Even she, usually the most composed, felt a little uneasy at this moment.
"Does the Young Master want another bowl?" Qi Zhenzhen spoke first.
Gu Sinian then withdrew his gaze, "No, it's not advisable to drink tea in the evening."
"Then does the Young Master want some snacks?"
"Qi girl's cooking suits my palate very well. I ate my fill just now, and eating more might lead to indigestion. How about, Qi girl, you accompany me for a stroll?" Gu Sinian said leisurely.
The sky had already darkened. While it wasn't pitch black, it was close. The countryside wasn't like the county town, where street lanterns were lit after dark. Those unfamiliar with the path might stumble.
Qi Zhenzhen found it difficult to refuse, and she was certain that Gu Sinian asking her to go for a walk wasn't just for a simple stroll. She had thought that after parting ways in the county town last time, given Gu Sinian's pride, there would be no further interaction between them in private. In fact, Qi Zhenzhen had even thought Gu Sinian wouldn't visit Xinghua Village again.
But how long had it been? He was here again.
Qi Zhenzhen was curious as to why.
"Since it is the Young Master's request, I shall respectfully comply," Qi Zhenzhen said, standing up.
Gu Sinian felt a sudden surge of pleasure. He stood up and walked out, with Qi Zhenzhen following him at a short distance.
After walking for a while, Gu Sinian suddenly stopped. Qi Zhenzhen, who had been lost in thought, didn't notice and bumped into Gu Sinian unexpectedly.
Her nose felt a sharp sting, and tears welled up uncontrollably. Qi Zhenzhen gasped, holding her nose.
Gu Sinian quickly turned around. Under the faint moonlight, he could vaguely make out Qi Zhenzhen's face. She was holding her nose, her eyes teary, and a hint of grievance in her expression.
"Are you alright?" Gu Sinian's voice held a trace of anxiety.
Pain? Qi Zhenzhen didn't care about pain of this degree. But the stinging sensation in her nose and the tears in her eyes were beyond her control; they were involuntary physical reactions.
"Why did the Young Master stop so abruptly while walking?" Qi Zhenzhen seized the opportunity to complain.
"Yes, yes, it's my fault. You, do you want to see a doctor? I remember there's a doctor in your village. You lead the way, and we'll go see him."
To see a doctor for a bumped nose? If others found out, they would surely laugh their heads off.
But seeing Gu Sinian so anxious and full of worry, Qi Zhenzhen felt an inexplicable sense of comfort.
"The Young Master still hasn't said why he suddenly stopped," Qi Zhenzhen said softly, rubbing her nose, her voice slightly nasal.
Gu Sinian heard this and detected a hint of coquettishness in her tone.
"I wanted to talk to you, but you were too far away. I stopped to wait for you," Gu Sinian said.
The stinging sensation had subsided. Qi Zhenzhen stopped rubbing her nose, "What did the Young Master want to say?"
Gu Sinian had so much he wanted to say. Looking at Qi Zhenzhen's dark, bright eyes, he was momentarily at a loss for words.
Qi Zhenzhen tilted her head, looking at Gu Sinian. Seeing the slight struggle on his face, she pursed her lips and smiled, not urging him, just watching him.
Gu Sinian became a little embarrassed under her gaze and turned his head, "It's not proper for a young lady to stare at a grown man like that."
"Earlier, in the house, the Young Master was also staring at me. Am I returning the favor now? Is it that only officials are allowed to set fires, but common people are forbidden to light lamps?" Qi Zhenzhen said playfully.
Gu Sinian was speechless. So she knew everything.
"I know your identity," Gu Sinian cleared his throat.