Originally, his lady was so fierce that she solved half of the matter before he even started to act. And the rest, why would anyone want to compete for it?
Does everyone really think he’s a soft persimmon?
With a forced smile, he spoke, "Thank you, Brother Gu, for your kind intentions! But these trivial matters are not worth mentioning, so let’s not trouble Brother Gu or Ninth Master Lee—"
Ninth Master Lee was deeply immersed in his persona as a man who accomplished great things, so he casually replied, "Alright then, handle these small matters yourself. If there’s anything you can’t resolve, come find me. Rest assured, as long as I speak, forget doing business in Qingzhou Prefecture for the Tian Family!"
Song Chongjin was infuriated.
He gritted his teeth and said, "It’s getting late, shouldn’t you both be heading back?" He was directly asking them to leave.
Ninth Master Lee initially wanted to say, "Since we’re already here, aren’t we going to stay for a meal?" But the cup of hot tea, though it wasn’t scorching now, stuck damply to his thigh when the wind blew, making him uncomfortable.
He had a cleanliness fetish, so despite wanting to stay at the Song Family a bit longer, he couldn’t resist standing up to bid farewell.
Moreover, he grabbed Gu Zikai and lifted him up, "Then let’s take our leave. If anything comes up, let us know!"
Gu Zikai’s usual gentle and elegant smile almost faltered. He silently repeated three times, "This is a fool!" before managing to squeeze out another polite and amiable farewell smile.
Once out of the courtyard gate, Ninth Master Lee jumped up and gritted his teeth, "Ow, it scalded me to death, quick, quick, let me see—"
He lifted his robe for Gu Zikai to examine the burnt area.
Gu Zikai, filled with exasperation, said, "Enough! I’m not your nursemaid. Look at it yourself!"
Ninth Master Lee wasn’t angry, instead, he came closer with a teasing smile, "What, did I ruin your plans by dragging you out? Let me tell you, what I can’t have, you won’t get either! Not just today, but tomorrow, and after—I’ll keep an eye on you—"
At that moment, the usual gentle demeanor disappeared from Gu Zikai, revealing a trace of sharpness, ready to speak.
Ninth Master Lee, showing great awareness, said, "Come on, we’re brothers with a bond of more than ten years. You’re really going to hold this against me? Take me to your place; I need to change my clothes. This dampness is killing me—"
Gu Zikai glared at Ninth Master Lee before reluctantly turning to lead the way.
He took Ninth Master Lee back to his room, found a robe from the cabinet, and tossed it to him, "Put it on. This is this year’s new clothes just sent from the Capital City, and I haven’t worn them yet."
Knowing Ninth Master Lee’s cleanliness fetish and dislike of using things others have used, he specially added a few explanations.
Ninth Master Lee then took the clothes, removed his robe, and saw that the hot tea indeed had scalded his leg red.
Gu Zikai had no other choice. Could he really just stand by idly?
So he had to go out to find Old Lady Li, Lang Hao’s mother, for some burn ointment.
When he returned with the ointment, he saw Ninth Master Lee sitting on the kang, head lowered, staring at something.
Throwing the ointment onto the kang, he said, "Here’s the ointment, apply it yourself. I’ve already told Wang Cai; someone will come to pick you up soon!"
As he said this, he walked over to grab a scroll of a book to read.
Just as he sat down, he heard Ninth Master Lee’s voice, unusually peculiar, "What’s this?"
Gu Zikai’s heart skipped a beat. Turning, he saw Ninth Master Lee’s face filled with disbelief and anger, pointing at a small hole exposed in the kang wall.
Gu Zikai remained silent, tightening his grip on the scroll.
Ninth Master Lee lowered his voice, "What’s the meaning of this hole? Are you spying? Gu Zikai, how could you, a scholar, do such a disgraceful thing? Who exactly are you spying on? Lady Wang? Gu Zikai, you dare call yourself a gentleman? You can’t stoop to such a vile act, can you? You... You..."
Gu Zikai looked at Ninth Master Lee calmly, "Are you finished?"
Ninth Master Lee instantly burst out, "I’ve found this out, with both evidence and witness, and you still act like it’s nothing? Gu Zikai, how have you become ?"
Instead, Gu Zikai seemed more composed. He lifted his robe, sat down, and mocked, "Can you stop filling your head with those trivial romantic affairs? Is it that your brain can’t hold anything else?"
Ninth Master Lee didn’t back down, immediately sensing something wrong, "What do you mean? Are you suspecting Song Chongjin? Are you spying on them—"
Gu Zikai nodded and shook his head, "Initially, I did suspect them, but now—"
Ninth Master Lee’s face darkened, "They’re still not letting you go?"
Gu Zikai sneered, "If they’d let me go, why would I hide in Jing County? But they wouldn’t dare go too far. It’s clear, it’s just their usual tactics, placing a few people around me. If they could lead me astray, it would be best. It’s my own lack of ambition, having nothing to do with them—"
Ninth Master Lee suddenly slapped the kang edge, "So your apparent affection for Lady Wang was all an act? You just used that as an excuse to spy on the Song Family, didn’t you?"
Gu Zikai did not deny nor confirm.
He came from a complicated family, seeking peace and avoiding involvement, which led him to hide in Jing County, miles away.
Fearing others arranging people around him, he had his mentor find a trustworthy middleman, who rented him this small courtyard, supposedly once owned by a wealthy merchant, later bought and broken down by a couple who rented out the front yard, keeping the backyard for themselves.
Later inquiries revealed that the middleman said the couple came from surrounding townships, not overly wealthy, with just some savings.
Nothing seemed amiss, so he rented it.
Life was peaceful and quiet until the courtyard’s owners moved in. Seeing Song Chongjin, he immediately felt a hint of suspicion as scholars are known for being gentle and elegant.
Yet Song Chongjin, with muscles all over and a perpetually stern face, didn’t look scholar-like, more like a martial man.
Thus, he became vigilant.
Especially upon meeting Wang Yongzhu, she appeared familiar, instantly sparking uncontainable affection.
Never did he experience such feelings for a stranger, unable to control his gaze towards Wang Yongzhu while internally warning himself that these two could be dangerous, possibly here for him.
Thereafter, naturally, he and Song Chongjin became classmates, going to the academy and returning daily, projecting good relations publicly while internally remaining guarded.