After a moment's hesitation, she feigned reluctance and said, "Actually, we have important matters to attend to outside the city today. Since the young master has a need, and we both live in the capital, we might meet again someday. To avoid any awkwardness, let's set our own affairs aside and prioritize yours."
The man was overjoyed. He couldn't help but look up to express his gratitude, but upon seeing her, he was struck by her beauty and was lost in admiration.
Gao Xuejuan, having been married before, knew exactly what that gaze signified. While feeling a bit shy, she also felt a surge of pride. She hadn't expected her charm to still be so potent, captivating this elegant gentleman the moment she appeared.
After satisfying her vanity, she slowly lowered the curtain, secretly resolving to investigate his background thoroughly before deciding on the next step of her plan.
Disappointed that he could no longer see her face, the man, however, was ecstatic at the thought of sharing a carriage with her soon.
Inside the carriage, neither spoke to the other. The man would occasionally steal glances, his admiration growing with each look. Gao Xuejuan, of course, felt his furtive glances and lowered her head, a secret smile playing on her lips.
When the carriage stopped again, the man respectfully bid her farewell. Gao Xuejuan lifted the curtain and gazed at the grand mansion before her, its nameplate bearing the imposing characters "An Guo Hou Fu." Her heart fluttered with excitement.
She could even hear the servants at the gate respectfully addressing him as "Young Master..." from a distance. This further solidified her determination to continue their acquaintance.
Simply being from the An Guo Hou Fu, whether a legitimate or illegitimate son, he was someone far beyond her reach. Even if she hadn't been married, marrying into their family would have been difficult. Now, being divorced, and recalling the way the man had looked at her, she felt there was ample room for manipulation. This time, to gain respect and prove her worth, she was determined to win him over.
A few days later, while Gao Xuejuan was on the swing in her courtyard, the steward reported, "Madam, there is a gentleman at the gate claiming to be a young master from the An Guo Hou Fu, requesting an audience."
Gao Xuejuan sprang to her feet, almost losing her balance due to her haste. After steadying herself, she exclaimed in surprise, "Who did you say? A young master from the An Guo Hou Fu?"
The steward nodded, bewildered, wondering what connection his madam had with such a person. He himself had been surprised when he first heard the visitor's name.
Upon hearing this, Gao Xuejuan's face lit up with joy. She quickly asked her maid to check her appearance and then hurried towards the front.
As she stepped through the front gate, she assumed an air of dignified elegance. With her heart pounding, she entered the drawing-room and saw the young master from the An Guo Hou Fu seated there, sipping tea gracefully.
As soon as they met her gaze, the man immediately stood up. Upon seeing her, a smile involuntarily spread across his face. "Miss Gao, I am deeply grateful for your help last time. I have prepared a generous gift today to express my thanks."
"You are too kind. It was merely a small matter, hardly worth mentioning," Gao Xuejuan replied, her eyes widening in astonishment at the sight of the gifts piled in the room. She had only helped him with a minor favor, and now she had received so many presents. The Lou family was truly wealthy.
"It is worth it. Miss, you are intelligent and witty, and even if all the treasures in the world were laid before you, it would still be deserved," Lou Qinshu gazed at her tenderly.
Gao Xuejuan immediately lowered her head shyly, stammering, "I... I don't understand what Master Lou means."
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am the eldest son of the third branch of the Lou family, over twenty years old, and unmarried. I fell in love with Miss Gao at first sight. Please consider me," Lou Qinshu said sincerely.
She hadn't expected happiness to arrive so quickly. Gao Xuejuan secretly pinched her thigh, the pain almost making her wince, but her heart was bursting with joy. She wasn't dreaming; this was real.
"We've only met once. Isn't it too soon to talk about these things?" Although Gao Xuejuan longed to accept immediately, feminine propriety dictated that she should play hard to get.
"I must correct you; this is our second meeting. However, you are right, it is indeed rather hasty. I have thought it through. It is rare to meet someone I fall in love with at first sight, and I refuse to let this chance slip away." The man seemed ready to swear an oath, and honestly, Gao Xuejuan was touched.
Although she greatly liked Liu Moran, she had always been the one pursuing him. This Lou Qinshu was different. His family background was superior, he was handsome, and he looked at her with such devoted eyes. For a moment, she felt a pang of guilt, believing she wasn't good enough for him.
"I need to make one thing clear to Master Lou: I have been married before..." she began, but Lou Qinshu interrupted her, "I already know everything that has happened to you. After all, you are the woman I adore, and I must care about you. What I want to say is, I don't care."
Gao Xuejuan was even more moved. She even felt she shouldn't have met Liu Moran. If she had met this man at the beginning, perhaps she wouldn't have suffered so much. However, fate had been kind to her. At her lowest and most desperate point, she had met him, a beacon of light guiding her path forward.
"I fear your family may not accept me, as being with you is a step up for me." This was Gao Xuejuan's greatest concern. Lou Qinshu was easy to deal with; from the very beginning, his gaze towards her had been unusual. She believed it was a look of infatuation.
"You can rest assured about that. My parents will not object. After all, they have been urging me to marry since I grew up. But every woman I've met through matchmaking, I've politely refused for various reasons, and so I've remained unmarried into my twenties. They fear I will be alone for life. As long as I am willing to marry, they will only be overjoyed, not opposed," Lou Qinshu said with conviction.
Listening to his words, Gao Xuejuan imagined a touching story of a devoted man earnestly seeking the woman of his dreams. The more she thought about it, the happier and more triumphant she felt. She was determined to have a good relationship with him, and then she would prove those who looked down on her wrong.
Once she became the wife of the An Guo Hou Fu, she would dress impeccably, command respect, and flaunt her status before them, perhaps even seeking out opportunities to trouble them. The thought of that scenario brought an involuntary smile to her face.
Unseen by her, Lou Qinshu watched her daydreaming with a faint curl of his lips.