"The junior sister is a Fox Demon from Qiantang Mountain, and Ziyu saved you... Ah, another scholar and Fox Demon story that turned into a romantic love affair, truly worthy of Ziyu. This Confucian Scholar understands things much better than we do. Teng Ying, look at you, still pulling off group crimes... Ah, in the future, when facing these situations, think about what Ziyu would do."
At this moment, Zhao Rong did not know that certain feats of his had become glorious achievements in the eyes of his two friends, who regarded him as a role model.
About half an incense stick later, even though Fan Yushu tried his best to delay, the road still led to the gate of East Fence Small House.
"This... this is East Fence Small House, the place where Ziyu and Teng Ying live."
Fan Yushu looked at the quiet exterior but couldn’t help feeling a tingling sensation about what unknown terrifying things might be inside the courtyard, and said:
"Junior sister, Lady Lu, Ziyu has truly gone down the mountain. He’s not here. By the way, what exactly are you here for? If there is anything or any message you need to pass on, Teng Ying and I can help."
Su Xiaoxiao, curious about why Fan Yushu was whispering and slightly stammering, laughed and said, "It’s okay that he’s not here. I’ll go to his room to see what’s there, help him tidy up a bit, and, by the way, help Zhao Rong wash and air out his bedding. He’s so lazy; they must be close to molding by now."
Fan Yushu’s right eyelid twitched uncontrollably as he silently looked up at the brilliant sunlight overhead. The image of a virtuous woman who had washed and aired Zhao Rong’s clothes not long ago flashed through his mind.
Is this the retribution for having two good girls at the same time, even a sunny day could breed a battleground... how terrifying.
Just then, Lu Wan, who had been observing the courtyard gate, suddenly stepped forward.
Before Fan Yushu could make up an excuse to delay her,
she reached out and gently pushed the unlocked courtyard gate.
The gates swung wide open.
Fan Yushu’s expression froze.
Su Xiaoxiao looked on curiously.
Lu Wan looked inside quietly for a while, then slowly turned her head and said, "Come in, what are you waiting for... there’s no one inside."
With that, she walked inside.
Su Xiaoxiao followed gracefully, stepping over the threshold.
Fan Yushu stood there, stunned.
Jia Tengying, appearing silently behind him, gently nudged him and said:
"I dare say, the Fairy Zhao isn’t here anymore... probably, he went back right after we left..."
"So, that’s it." Fan Yushu sighed with great relief.
After calming down, he chuckled and said, "Ah, such a false alarm."
Only then did they enter the house.
Inside the courtyard now.
"Master Fan said, the northern room is Zhao Rong’s room... Oh, it’s not locked." Su Xiaoxiao muttered, pushing open the unlocked door of the northern room and darting inside, bouncing back out shortly.
When Jia Tengying and Fan Yushu entered, they saw Su Xiaoxiao now at the corner clothes rack, touching her lips with her index finger, and looking perplexed, she said:
"Master Jia, Master Fan... is this Zhao Rong’s bedding? I noticed the bedding in the north room is missing. Didn’t Zhao Rong go down the mountain? This is... who washed it?"
She squeezed the damp sheets and looked down.
Fan Yushu looked impassively at Jia Tengying.
The latter had no choice but to step forward and say, "It... it was me. I saw the weather was clear, so I just washed them for Ziyu."
Su Xiaoxiao frowned, "You also washed clothes for Ziyu?"
She pointed to the damp clothes hanging nearby.
Jia Tengying, putting on a brave face, nodded, "Yes, seeing them lying on the bed, I washed them together."
Fan Yushu smoothed things over and said, "Hey, we’re all classmates, Teng Ying and Ziyu are close friends. Sometimes when Ziyu is too busy, Teng Ying helps him out. He even helped me wash my clothes and bedding yesterday."
Su Xiaoxiao tilted her head in thought, then nodded, "Alright then, thank you, Master Jia."
Jia Tengying quickly waved his hand.
Soon after, Lu Wan took her leave.
But Su Xiaoxiao suddenly stopped and declared, "I’ll stay here tonight."
Fan Yushu and Jia Tengying were taken aback.