Li Tong’er also felt that she had spoken too rashly, but not because she thought that he might be evil.
It was because she was a woman, and speaking like that made her seem rather immodest.
She shook her head and said firmly, “You’re not a bad person.”
Housekeeper Yu burst out laughing. “Bad people usually don’t look bad, you know.”
“But you’re not a bad person,” Li Tong’er insisted.
Housekeeper Yu smiled, but did not say anything more and continued on his way.
Li Tong’er scurried after him.
Seeing that she was following him, Housekeeper Yu furrowed his brow. “Aren’t you going back to your natal home?”
Li Tong’er shook her head. “I don’t feel like going back anymore.”
“Why?” asked Housekeeper Yu. He could tell that she was no commoner’s daughter. Since her natal home treated her well, why didn’t she want to go back?
Li Tong’er pursed her lips and did not answer.
If she returned home, her parents would do everything possible to marry her off.
Although they only wanted the best for her, she refused to get married so mindlessly anymore.
She had money, anyway, so it did not matter even if she remained single.
However, the premise was that she did not have to go to Wuhe.
Housekeeper Yu could somehow guess the truth from her reaction.
However, he did not understand how Miss Tong’er’s husband could bear to divorce a gorgeous woman like her.
She may be a divorced woman now, but there were probably plenty of people who would be willing to marry her if she wanted to.
A fragile and beautiful woman like her was not safe alone out here.
He could not help persuading her. “At least your family won’t harm you, but if you’re alone out here, you might run into danger anytime.”
He had worded it vaguely, but Li Tong’er knew what he meant.
After thinking for a moment, she suddenly crouched down, gathered a handful of dirt, and smeared it on her face without hesitation.
Housekeeper Yu was shocked.
There was gravel mixed in that clump of dirt, and rubbing it on her face could scrape her skin…
He grabbed her hand swiftly. “What’re you doing?”
Her face coated in dirt, Li Tong’er said, “This way, no one will notice me.”
So that was her idea?
Housekeeper Yu sighed. “Soil is dirty. Even if you wanted to hide your appearance, you didn’t have to do that.”
Li Tong’er looked at him in confusion. “Then do you have a better idea, Mr. Yu?”
Housekeeper Yu released his grip on her and smiled. “If you don’t mind, Miss Tong’er, you can call me Yu Qian.”
Li Tong’er nodded. “Then I’ll call you Big Brother Yu from now on. In that case, you can call me Tong’er instead of Miss Tong’er.”
Yu Qian’s eyes darkened. “An outsider shouldn’t call a lady by her maiden name.”
Li Tong’er was stunned for a moment before collecting herself.
She could not help feeling a little sheepish as she whispered, “Actually, I don’t mind. I’m a divorced woman, anyway. Reputation and integrity don’t matter to me anymore.”
Hesitating briefly, Yu Qian asked, “How old are you?”
“Twenty-eight,” Li Tong’er replied honestly.
Yu Qian’s gaze skimmed over her in astonishment, and after a while, he chuckled. “I couldn’t tell at all.” He had always thought that she was in her early twenties, so he was surprised to learn that she was already twenty-eight.
Remembering the Empress deliberately calling her Aunt Li by the lake in the imperial holiday home, Li Tong’er could not help laughing too. “I’m not that young anymore. Don’t be deceived by my appearance.”
Yu Qian gave her a wordless smile.
After walking for a while, Li Tong’er piped up, “Where are we going?”