The secluded courtyard of Flower Moon Building was usually quiet, but now it was surrounded by the girls in layers.

Ms. Lu, dressed lightly, stepped onto the stairs, leaving behind a trail of dust, yet her body remained clean, leaving only a faint musk scent where she passed.

She had prepared all sorts of ingredients that Zhu Pingniang loved according to her preferences, but upon returning, she couldn't find her. After asking around, she found out that Zhu Pingniang had gone to the park with Xu Chang'an.

Zhu Pingniang going on a park outing with a man?

This was a rare first.

"Where's Ms. Zhu?" Ms. Lu walked into the crowd.

As Zhu Pingniang's close attendant and steward at Flower Moon Building, second only to one, Ms. Lu held a position of authority, bringing instant silence upon her arrival.

"Over there, ma'am." A voice quietly pointed towards a distant chess pavilion, surrounded by curtains and completely silent, "Inside… Pingniang drew the curtains a while ago."

Ms. Lu: "..."

After a moment of silence, she pondered whether to pull Zhu Pingniang away, after all, since she was anticipating Xu Chang'an's meals, it would be best to eat sooner.

Besides, Ms. Lu didn't care about any Immortal Sect; today, if Zhu Pingniang didn't eat well...

A girl should never skip meals.

However, upon hearing from the nearby maids what had actually transpired, Ms. Lu's expression froze, a peculiar mix of embarrassment graced her face.

Pulled the curtains first, not allowing anyone to look inside?

Then threw a hairpin into the river, a girl, seeing a man with loose hair, what's that about?

What's more, she reportedly almost pushed the young master out of the pavilion.

My dear elder sister.

What on earth are you doing?

Did you say you wanted to eat the meal made by the young master, or take him as a delicacy? Besides... Miss Yun is still in Beisang City.

Why do things this way?

Ms. Lu listened carefully and found that everyone around was speaking ill of Zhu Pingniang, yet placing full trust in Xu Chang'an.

Everyone wanted Xu Chang'an to escape the "clutches".

Ms. Lu held her face.

Clearly, their own Ms. Zhu was also a rare beauty in this world, yet here… she was considered utterly unattractive, needing force to approach a young man like a bad woman.

Despite the dissatisfaction.

Ms. Lu also thought so.

She didn't believe that the young master would act inappropriately, such trust wasn't established in a day.

"Be mindful of the impact..." Ms. Lu murmured helplessly, "If Miss Yun got jealous, how would you handle it, sister… besides, what if word got out, aren't you afraid that the girl from the Immortal Sect would also get jealous?"

Accompanying Zhu Pingniang, she knew Zhu Pingniang cared deeply for a woman in the Immortal Sect, most likely related to "black and white".

"Oh, Young Master Xu… indeed." Ms. Lu nodded.

If he admired Zhu Pingniang and knew of her closeness with Xu Chang'an, he wouldn't be jealous either; this is the sense of security Xu Chang'an provides...

Strange.

Clearly, he is a man, yet why doesn't he come off as threatening?

Thinking it over, Ms. Lu suddenly felt Xu Chang'an perhaps doesn't quite seem like a man.

Thinking this way felt rude.

She settled down by the river near the chess pavilion, laid a mat down, and sat on a stone block.

"Ms. Lu, the pole you asked for." A maid approached.

"Yes." Ms. Lu took the fishing rod, put on some bait, and gently cast it.

The maid stood behind Ms. Lu, gently tidying the strands of hair around her ear, then asked, "Why did you suddenly want to fish?"

"Ms. Zhu likes fish, I'll catch one for her." Ms. Lu replied.

Market-bought, wouldn't compare to something from the heart.

"Really?" The maid blinked, then heard Ms. Lu's wistful tone.

"Ni Zi, tell me... can you fish up a golden hairpin?" Ms. Lu stared at the calmly flowing, not so deep river water.

"Probably not." The maid said.

Ms. Lu gazed at the water, watching the small fish swimming against the current.

She pondered if she should dive in to retrieve Zhu Pingniang's golden hairpin.

"That hairpin that Ms. Zhu really fancied, has been worn for days now." Ms. Lu said softly, "Yet it doesn't compare to the small white flower the young master gave her today, so she threw it away... but the flower can't be worn all the time, Ms. Zhu will regret it eventually."

The maid beside her paused slightly, knowing what she was thinking and gently pressed her shoulder.

"Ms. Lu, it's getting cold."

The women of Flower Moon Building had no cultivation, all were mere mortals; going into the water and coming back up could cause unbearable cold.

"Have a city guard fish it out." The maid suggested.

Ms. Lu turned to give her a glare, pouting, "Can a man's hand touch Ms. Zhu's hairpin?"

"…oh, true." The maid blinked, "Ask Young Master Xu for help?"

Ms. Lu nodded.

"That works."

A moment later, she exchanged a look with the maid, both smiling as they lowered their heads in sync.

They didn't mean to say Young Master Xu wasn't a man.

But that young man... was truly reassuring.

——

——

Gentleness was meant for someone particular, even Xu Chang'an realized greatly how well Zhu Pingniang treated him in stark contrast.

Yet soon, Xu Chang'an noticed something.

He heard the irritating sound of nails scratching against a ruler, looked up at Zhu Pingniang carving Gu Qiancheng's name there, and fell into silence.

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