Cai Wei was surrounded by her parents, subjected to all sorts of relentless questions and accusations. She was at a loss, tormented beyond words.
"You child, you’re too bold. Such a big matter, how could you hide it from your parents? What if the man turns out to be a bad one, how would you deal with it?" Lady Du became more and more terrified as she thought about it and her tone became increasingly stern.
Although Mu Zhongqing did not lash out, he too wore a grave look. "Tomorrow when you go back, invite your master over to our house. Your dad will have a drink with him as thanks for his guidance," he said seriously.
Cai Wei felt like crying yet no tears came. Unable to say a word, she looked at her father. Surely, dad, you don’t just invite someone home for a drink, but to probe them out, right? Moreover, the most important question - where is she supposed to find a dependable outsider to accompany you for a drink?
"Don’t just stare at me, can you do it or not?" Mu Zhongqing pressed.
Wen’er was both envious and curious about her older sister’s ’adventure’. Seeing her sister remain silent, she hastily said, "Older sister, just agree, I also want to meet this dependable outsider. Oh! Yes, what has he taught you? Can you walk on rooftops and walls?"
"..." Cai Wei was utterly disoriented, and just when she was grappling with her mixed emotions, a man’s voice suddenly rang out from behind her.
"Oh? Miss Mu! What a coincidence!"
Cai Wei’s spirit lifted and her eyes brightened at once. She swiftly turned around, her eyes excitedly fixed on where the voice had come from.
At the edge of lamplight, Huo Yuan, cloaked in a black fox fur coat, was slowly making his way towards her, surrounded by a group of people.
Cai Wei, thrilled with excitement, broke away from her parents and rushed towards him, bubbling with enthusiasm.
"What a pleasant surprise, Young Master Huo, we meet again."
She was so eager it surprised Huo Yuan for a second but, soon he seemed pleasantly surprised and quickened his pace.
One of the young men behind him, tall and with sharp facial features, quietly laughed. "I always thought Huo had no interest in women. It turns out he’s already got a remarkably beautiful confidante. No wonder he looks down on those goods that Li Mou arranged for him."
Hearing these words, Huo Yuan visibly stalled and his gentle face hardened in an instant.
"Sir Li, be mindful of your words. A woman’s reputation is more important than anything else. Miss Mu is a maiden from a respectable family. If she were to lose her reputation because of a casual joke, wouldn’t that be my fault?" he warned.
Seeing Huo Yuan’s annoyance, Li Jingui quickly apologized, "My apologies, Master Huo. I spoke thoughtlessly. Please do not take my words to heart..."
Huo Yuan gave him a glance then ignored him. Miss Mu had arrived in front of him and he greeted her with a warm smile.
Li Jingui stealthily sneered after him, gritting his teeth in silence!
What the hell, he’s just an Imperial Merchant, not a prince or a royal member, what’s with the big act? When I kindly invited him to Flower Wine House for some drinks, even offering him my favorite Charles to accompany him, who would have thought he would be charmed by my Ying’er, discarding her behind. It was a complete humiliation.
After all, I am the legitimate son of a county magistrate, no one in Yushu County dares to offend me, but he didn’t leave any room for me. It was as if I owed him a big debt. Throughout the meal, he barely spoke, detached and aloof, didn’t even give he a smile, but as soon as he saw that maid in a pink dress, he is grinning from ear to ear. What the hell!
Li Jingui was seething in both frustration and annoyance. If not for the old man ordering him to accompany this Imperial Merchant, he could have avoided this trouble altogether. He could have used this time to be with Ying’er....