Chapter 308: 168 Tricky Little Couple (Second Update)_2
Xiao Liulang was entranced by her unabashed gaze, his eyes somewhat lowered. He first placed the food on the table, then went to fetch the small desk he usually used for homework on his bed.
He placed the table before her and arranged the bowl, chopsticks, and soup.
Her diet was quite bland as she was on the mend.
Looking at the colorless food, Xiao Liulang hesitated momentarily. “If it’s too bland, I can get you some pickled vegetables,” he suggested.
Gu Jiao didn’t respond, just keeping her eyes wide open, watching him intently.
“What’s wrong?” Xiao Liulang asked.
“Aren’t you scared?” Gu Jiao enquired.
“Scared of what?” Xiao Liulang was puzzled.
Gu Jiao fixed her gaze on him silently: “Weren’t you afraid of being trapped under there, never to come out?”
The situation at that moment was indeed dire.
Not dire in the sense of her being victimized, but the imminent danger of the place collapsing at any moment.
Yet, he jumped in unhesitatingly.
And navigated towards her in the darkness and peril.
Xiao Liulang hadn’t given it much thought at the time.
He didn’t dwell on it either after he rescued her.
It felt like something he was naturally supposed to do, and he wasn’t aware of anything particularly significant about it.
Confronted with her question, however, he found himself at a loss for words.
Gu Jiao flashed a smile. “You looked so handsome when you jumped in,” she said.
She used to find him attractive, his looks, and his physique; everything about him was appealing.
But the split second he jumped in, he became a brave man.
Her little lord had grown up.
Xiao Liulang, his ears slightly pink from the compliment, handed her the spoon and soup bowl, “Eat while it’s still hot, it will get cold soon.”
“Hm.” Gu Jiao took the spoon and started sipping the soup slowly.
Suddenly remembering something, Xiao Liulang told Gu Jiao, “The scene was chaotic, your basket was crushed, and some items were lost.”
Gu Jiao didn’t seem to care, “No worries, I can buy more sugarcoated haws if the ones in the basket were lost.”
“It’s not the sugarcoated haws, it’s…” Xiao Liulang stopped mid-sentence upon seeing the first aid kit lying by her side. He grunted and furrowed his brow, puzzled.
Perhaps, he had remembered it wrong.
“My Lord!” Chang Jing had returned to the Marquis Residence.
“Why did you take so long? Is it that difficult to rescue someone?” The Marquis of Xuanping was playing chess with Steward Liu.
Steward Liu was a poor player, the Marquis was basically playing on his own.
“Rescuing isn’t hard, but getting information on their identities is.” replied Chang Jing.
People who were saved left immediately, and the Yamen office workers couldn’t even record their statements.
Nevertheless, the Yamen was the Yamen, and Chang Jing was Chang Jing.
The chaotic crowd hadn’t noticed Xiao Liulang, but a tea egg seller across the Guozijian had.
“He’s a student at the Guozijian academy.” Chang Jing said.
“Name?” asked the Marquis of Xuanping.
“I didn’t find out.” Chang Jing shook his head.
The tea egg seller had merely seen Xiao Liulang, he had never talked with him.
Steward Liu, who had been listening, suddenly furrowed his brows.
A student at the Guozijian academy?
Could it be their young master?
No, no, no, that wouldn’t be possible; that would be too ridiculous!
It must be someone else!
For the next couple of days, Gu Jiao recuperated at home.
New Year’s Eve was soon approaching; not only had the Academy and the Guozijian been given leave, but shops on the streets were also gradually closing down. The day before New Year’s Eve, all major Yamen offices and other government departments also started the New Year break.
Marquis Gu, filled with happiness, left for his superior’s office to collect this year’s performance evaluation.
“After all those generous gifts, achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating is a sure thing, isn’t it?” Marquis Gu was enthusiastic about it.
Chancellor Zhao coldly threw the documents in front of him.
Upon seeing the contents, Marquis Gu was certain he’d misread them, so he read them again carefully. “Your honor, Chancellor Zhao, have you made a mistake? Did you accidentally mix up my performance evaluation with somebody else’s?”
He had given such precious gifts only to receive a ‘Poor’ evaluation?
If this made it to the Emperor’s knowledge, he would definitely face reprimand!
Chancellor Zhao appeared cold to the bone, if it were not for the kindness of the previous Marquis Gu, Chancellor Zhao would have punished him on the spot!
Did he dare to provoke his daughter to beat his son?
Marquis Gu was baffled: “I am at a loss as to what I could have possibly done wrong?”
Chancellor Zhao: Oh, you haven’t done anything, but your daughter almost beat my son to meet our ancestors!
Marquis Gu, totally unaware that he had been scammed again by Gu Jiao, thought it was because his gifts weren’t good enough: “Chancellor Zhao, whatever the issue, we can talk it over!”
“Talk about what!” Chancellor Zhao snapped and kicked Marquis Gu out.
Holding the first ‘Poor’ rating of his career, Marquis Gu felt bitter and aggrieved!