Chapter 48: Find someone

In the Wang Family Study’s courtyard, embarrassment spread through the air.

Cough!

Liu Yao withdrew her hand, coughed awkwardly into it, and darted a glance at Wang Huaiyu, who was sitting on a chair in the study.

“Um… It’s just a misunderstanding.”

“Yes, yes, a misunderstanding! Just now… Young Master Liu Shan rushed out too quickly, and Master Lu simply steadied me!”

Xiao Hua also immediately caught on and chimed in, her cheeks still flushed with lingering redness, hurriedly defending the two.

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes, yes… That’s right! Miss, do you remember what I said when I came in to report just now?”

“Report?”

As if she couldn’t remember all of a sudden, Wang Huaiyu closed her eyes and frowned, trying to recall.

‘When Xiao Hua came in just now, she did say something about a guest. But I was so annoyed at the time that I told her to send that person away. Who was it again?’

Wang Huaiyu thought for a long while, and just as Liu Yao was about to interrupt, she finally remembered.

“I remember now, you’re the lackey my uncle sent.” Wang Huaiyu raised a finger and shook it, speaking with certainty.

“I’m not really a servant, though. Actually, I was hired by Second Master Wang…”

Seeing that the eldest Miss Wang had finally remembered his existence, Liu Yao breathed a sigh of relief. But as she was about to introduce herself, she heard Wang Huaiyu speak in a slightly cold tone:

“Hah, birds of a feather flock together. That old man’s lackey is exactly the same—can’t walk straight when he sees a woman.”

Wang Huaiyu’s lips curled into a sneer as she mocked him with a sarcastic tone.

She looked over the white-clad young man standing frozen in place, her disdain written all over her face. Then she turned to Xiao Hua, who was too nervous to chime in, her eyes full of reproach.

“Xiao Hua, I remember the steward taught you that servants aren’t supposed to have too much contact with outsiders. And here you are, getting this close to this guy.”

“Later, go to the steward and accept your punishment. Understood?”

“…Yes, Miss.”

“Miss Wang, I haven’t even stated my purpose yet, and you’re already making baseless accusations. Isn’t that a bit unfair?”

Hearing Wang Huaiyu’s indiscriminate accusations and her refusal to listen, Liu Yao, who had initially wanted to be polite, was immediately displeased.

‘This girl has a real foul temper. She won’t even give me a chance to explain. Yi An, your taste is really bad…’

The “young man” kept his expression unchanged, still with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, but his tone had clearly turned sour.

“If Miss Wang’s judgment is really so sharp, then how come you can’t find your husband? Is it that you don’t want to?”

Liu Yao, who never tolerated unfairness, immediately shot back, not even bothering with polite speech.

“You!”

And upon hearing Liu Yao’s razor-sharp retort, Wang Huaiyu instantly perked up, slammed her hand on the table, stood up, and glared at the other person.

Liu Yao refused to back down, staring straight back at her.

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Silent smoke rose, and the earlier embarrassment was swept away, replaced by a confrontation on the brink of eruption, as if they might come to blows at any moment.

Watching the two suddenly at odds, Xiao Hua quietly stepped back a few paces, feeling confused.

‘Miss is so fierce… She’s always like this, but right now she looks like a man-eating tiger. And Master Lu looks really angry too—he’s scary when he’s mad… What if they start fighting?”

“Miss definitely can’t beat Master Lu, who looks like he’s trained in martial arts. Maybe… I should go get someone?’

Just as Xiao Hua was backing toward the courtyard gate and getting lost in thought, Wang Huaiyu suddenly called out to stop her.

“…Xiao Hua, see this guest out.”

“This guest doesn’t seem to want to talk properly. Since that’s the case, please leave. I don’t have the energy to waste time chatting with a playboy.”

She stared coldly at Liu Yao, her tone full of impatience and irritation.

Xiao Hua hesitated for a moment, then finally walked over to Liu Yao and lowered her voice to persuade him:

“Master, maybe you should leave for now? You’ve seen Miss’s temper. She’s been a bit tired lately, so please bear with her harsh words…”

“Bear with her harsh words?” Liu Yao laughed scornfully at Xiao Hua’s words. “Ha, why should I bear with a spoiled young lady?”

“She’s the one being arrogant and looking down on people. What’s wrong with me snapping back? She slandered me first.”

“I won’t strike unless I’m struck.”

“Now I’ve seen what the so-called shrewd and capable Miss Wang they talk about outside is really like. Since Miss doesn’t want to treat guests with courtesy and insults people right from the first meeting, then I have no reason to stay.”

With that, Liu Yao clasped her hands in a farewell salute and turned to leave.

Wang Huaiyu was rendered speechless by his words, her face turning pale and then red.

As she watched Liu Yao truly about to step out of the courtyard, her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes, and the pride in her heart softened a bit.

After all, it was true that she had struck first without asking the reason. If word got out, it would make her look intolerant and lacking in hospitality.

“Wait.”

She finally called out to stop him.

Liu Yao paused in his steps, turned back to look at her, raising an eyebrow, still with a hint of impatience.

Wang Huaiyu averted her eyes, her tone stiff, as she lightly rubbed the edge of the table, but it was a rare concession:

“Just now… I spoke rudely and made accusations without asking. I’m sorry…”

Her words came out reluctantly, as if forced out.

Liu Yao initially wanted to snap back, but the corner of her eye caught sight of Xiao Hua, who was at a loss. After a moment of silence, she sighed inwardly.

‘Ah… forget it, forget it! It might feel good to argue with a stubborn young lady, but it would also drag poor Xiao Hua into trouble. I’ll be magnanimous and not hold a grudge against this one.’

“Hmph… Fine. Since you’ve apologized, let’s drop it.” Liu Yao said reluctantly.

Seeing that he was actually willing to let it go, Wang Huaiyu was slightly taken aback.

But before she could react, Liu Yao continued and directly stated his purpose.

“Also, I’m a bodyguard hired by your uncle, not his lackey. You’d better get that straight.”

“I came because your uncle spends money like water and is now completely broke. He sent me to collect the reward he promised earlier.”

“So, Miss Wang, strictly speaking, I’m here to collect a debt. Understand?”

Sigh…

Wang Huaiyu let out a long breath after hearing that.

“It seems I truly misunderstood you, Master. As for the money my uncle owes you, don’t worry. I’ll have someone bring it to you right now.”

“This is also a gesture of goodwill on my part. I hope you won’t hold my earlier rudeness against me.”

Seeing Miss Wang apologize again, Liu Yao felt much better, and her tone softened a little.

“Alright, Miss Wang. Since you’ve apologized, I also said some bad things just now. I should apologize too.”

“Thank you for understanding, Master.”

After saying that, Wang Huaiyu stood still as if she had thought of something, her expression hesitant.

Liu Yao noticed and raised an eyebrow. “Is there something else, Miss Wang?”

Wang Huaiyu bit her lip, finally looked up at him, and spoke with some hesitation:

“Since you’re a bodyguard hired by my uncle, your skills must be good. Actually, there’s a favor I’d like to ask of you…”

“Oh? What is it?”

“I want to ask you to help me find someone…”