"It’s so hot." After stuffing the receiver into the little one’s hands, Gan Yuan turned and walked towards the stairs, "I’m going out for some air."
The little one hugged the receiver, stood in place shrugging his shoulders, watching as Gan Yuan’s figure disappeared at the top of the steps. Only then did he turn to look at Sherry.
"Teacher, if a woman blushes when she answers a man’s phone call, does that mean they’re in love?"
"I think..." Sherry lifted the corners of her mouth, "It’s more accurate to say they’re in deep love."
The little one lifted the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile.
Hands in her coat pockets, Gan Yuan casually strode across the grass, wandering aimlessly forward.
The wind blew in from a distance, taking away the heat on her face. Her emotions gradually settled. She raised her palm, staring at the undried bloodstain, her eyebrows slowly creasing.
She hoped this conflict with Nancy wouldn’t bring trouble to Huangfu Jue.
Thinking of that man, she first lifted the corners of her mouth, then her heart sank...
In the distance, she heard the sound of an engine.
Turning her face, she saw a black car driving in from the distant gate.
Assuming it was the man returning, she immediately quickened her pace toward the driveway, and as the car drew closer, she could clearly see the license plate. Gan Yuan recognized at a glance that it wasn’t Huangfu Jue’s car.
Her excitement quickly diminished.
The car stopped in the driveway in front of her, the door opened, and a man in a suit stepped out.
"You must be Miss Gan Yuan, right?"
Watching the unfamiliar Caucasian man in front of her, Gan Yuan spoke cautiously.
"May I ask who you are?!"
"I am the butler of the Locke Family." The man politely bowed to her and then handed her an invitation he was holding,
"This is from Miss Sakura, who instructed me to deliver it to you. She also said that she didn’t know the Duke would bring a guest home earlier, so she only sent one invitation. Please forgive her oversight."
Gan Yuan took the invitation, pulled out the card inside, and opened it.
It was an invitation to attend a dinner party at Duke Locke’s residence, stating the time and place.
"I apologize," Gan Yuan closed the invitation card, "Please tell Miss Sakura I’m very grateful for the invitation, but... I have something on tomorrow night, so I’m afraid I can’t attend."
It wasn’t hard to imagine that there would be many prominent families at the party, and she preferred to avoid such commotion.
The butler’s smile didn’t fade, "It’s such a pity, I will let the young lady know. Also, if you would honor us with your presence, it would be a great privilege for Duke Residence."
Gan Yuan nodded politely. After the butler bowed and said his goodbyes, she turned away.
Turning her face, watching the car drive off into the distance, Gan Yuan turned to head back to the main building, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glint from the nearby woods.
What was that... something shining?
A sense of foreboding rose in her heart. She quickly glanced around, clutched the invitation, and walked up the slope into the thicket. As soon as she was in cover of the bushes, she bent over and sped up, rushing into the woods.
Creeping cautiously, she arrived at the spot she had noticed earlier, finding no one there.
Looking around, she bent down by the side of a tree, bent over, and picked up an extinguished cigarette butt from the undergrowth.
The cigarette butt was still warm, clearly having been put out very recently.
She turned, peering through the gaps in the branches, and caught sight of the mansion’s main building. This angle perfectly overlooked Huangfu Jue’s master bedroom.