Lu Yunze and Jiang Sui took some drinks from the freezer in the Li Residence and returned to the living room, where Bo Yao was already waiting.
“Why did you make me wait so long?” Luo Kun hugged his drink to his chest and said, “Jiang Sui, your work efficiency still has room to improve. If Chen-ge hadn’t helped out, I’d probably be waiting until sundown for this drink.”
“Yes, yes, Miss Da.”
Jiang Sui responded like this while exchanging a glance with Ah Yun Zhu on the side.
The two of them tacitly communicated about what had just happened in the corridor.
But was that really the end of it?
If they were just coming to visit, it could be ignored, but the things they said—Jiang Sui couldn’t just pretend she hadn’t heard.
“Young Master, I remembered I still have some other work to do, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Alright, be safe on the way.”
After bidding Jiang Sui farewell, Ah Yun Zhu finished his drink in the living room, then prepared to head back to his own bedroom for a comfortable afternoon nap.
On such a scorching day, sipping on a chilled drink with the air conditioning blowing—what a wonderful feeling.
If there was even a summer rain outside, listening to the sound of the rain and thunder while drifting to sleep, it’d be perfect.
At that moment, a person in a white coat suddenly ran over, looking anxious.
“Excuse me, Young Master and Miss, may I trouble you to stay a moment?”
“What’s the matter?” Lu Yunze asked, and Luo Qi also looked up.
“Just now, Young Master Lu Yunze ordered us to dispose of all the contraband, but we found one Poisonous Potion missing, so I was sent to ask you.”
Poisonous Potion?
The two instantly recalled that official-looking object they’d seen earlier in the Secret Arts Workshop.
“Are you saying that thing is gone?”
“One is missing.”
No way, did something really happen?
Lu Yunze looked toward Zhu Yao, who also leaned in, indicating he had no idea either.
If the missing item was due to outsiders entering today, this could turn serious.
In Lu Yunze’s mind, Jiang Sui’s look before she left suddenly surfaced—her eyes full of something hard to pin down—and remembering the things she had encountered, a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Lu Residence—
“That Chen Yunze, what’s he being so tense about?”
“Exactly, we’re all here on Zhu Kun’s invitation, is he really going to throw me out?”
“If he dares, I’ll be sure to tell the others—let’s see how he likes the taste of ruining the family reputation!”
Having just been snubbed, the two men stood in the central courtyard grumbling to each other, their words increasingly malicious, but neither made any move to leave.
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared in their field of vision, seeming a bit anxious.
Jiang Sui carried two drinks into the Pavilion, her face showing clear reluctance as she spoke.
“I apologize for offending you two Young Masters earlier. This is our apology gift.”
“Huh?”
“As for Young Master Lu Yunze’s actions just now, they were rather improper. My lady has already reprimanded him thoroughly, and instructed me to offer you both a sincere apology.”
A faint fragrance lingered in the air as the two men exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Good job!”
“I told you, a toad like him could never taste the meat of a celestial crane!”
“Truly satisfying. Just a shame I didn’t get to witness it myself.”
One of the men reached for the drink Jiang Sui brought, but his companion stopped him, turning to question Jiang Sui.
“Was it Luo Yao who asked you to deliver these?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll try a sip.”
He raised the cup, taking a small drink.
Jiang Sui picked up the other cup and took a sip herself.
“See? I’m drinking it too.”
The man eyed her for a moment, then took a sip as well and placed the cup back on the tray.
They both observed Jiang Sui for several minutes. Seeing she showed no abnormal reaction and looked perfectly fine, they finally picked up their drinks again.
“Tastes great. Well done.”
“Seems today really does have something good in store.”
“Lu Yunze and Ah Yun Zhu, you two got what you deserved.”
The courtyard filled with a gleeful atmosphere. Jiang Sui was about to collect the empty cups and leave when they blocked her way.
“Hey, Maid Miss, it’s better if you get a clear picture of the current situation.”
“Sure, Chen Yun Zhu will protect you for now, but everyone can see he’s nothing but a nobody in the family. He only does as he pleases because of his good relationship with Zhu Yao.”
Jiang Sui put on a distressed look and said, “Is that so?”
“Of course. Once he’s kicked out of the Lu Family and ends up a stray dog on the streets, I’ll take you in as my personal slave.”
“Nice, you really know how to play. Ah Yun Zhu is yours, and Zhu Yao will be mine.”
“Not so fast, she’s obviously the one I picked first.”
As the two bantered, their eyes lingered on Jiang Sui.
“Understand, Maid Miss? Staying in the Lu Family won’t get you anywhere. Why not follow us instead?”
“Drink up. I’m famous for loving beautiful women. You might not be a courtesan, but serve me well and I might even give you a proper title.”
“This is your only chance. Think carefully before you decide.”
Facing their flushed faces, Jiang Sui smiled faintly.
“My judgment is always spot on. I never misjudge people.”
Other than Lu Yunze, no one else here was worth a second glance.
“And by the way, the ones not seeing the situation clearly are you two, not me.”
“Hmm?”
As she spoke, Jiang Sui’s smile gradually turned colder, and the two men finally sensed something was wrong.
Their bodies suddenly felt hot, their minds clouded, and sweat poured uncontrollably.
In the eyes of the maid before them, everything around seemed tinged with a pinkish haze—everything appeared cute and lovable.
Even their own good buddy beside them was no exception.
When Lu Yunze and the others saw Jiang Sui entering the central courtyard with those two strangers, their faces turned white as sheets.
He rushed directly to the courtyard and saw the maid sitting on the ground. His heart clenched.
“Jiang Sui, are you alright?”
“Young Master…”
As he approached, Lu Yunze quickly checked her over. Other than looking like she’d seen a ghost, her clothes were intact.
“Were you hurt? No matter what happened, you must tell me.”
A flash of brightness flickered in Jiang Sui’s eyes as she trembled and pointed to the Pavilion, “Young Master, over there—”
Lu Yunze looked over and was immediately stunned.
Bo Yao, Lu Xian, and steward Kong Yang, who had arrived just then, also widened their eyes in shock.
Inside the Pavilion, the two men were shirtless, passionately embracing, their lips and limbs entwined, caught in a frenzy.
The scene was simply indescribable.
“My eyes! My beautiful vision!” Luo Fu shrieked.
“This… This is truly disgraceful.” Luo Chen turned away, blushing furiously, mentally erasing them from all future tea party guest lists.
“What on earth happened here?” Chen Yunze asked.
“It was like this,” Jiang Sui said, adopting a pitiful, sobbing expression, “They told me to bring them drinks, or they’d bully me. I did as they ordered, and as I was about to leave, they suddenly started acting strange, hugging each other, undoing each other’s buttons, pulling off their shirts—”
“Enough! You don’t need to describe it in detail.” Ah Yunze hurriedly interrupted her. “They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“No. I was so frightened I accidentally fell over.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Of course, it was all a lie!
Jiang Sui wasn’t that weak. Everything was part of her plan.
She’d been worried they’d suspect something about the drinks, so she didn’t add anything odd to them at all.
After stealing a Trial Tube filled with pink liquid from the Secret Arts Workshop, she used the items on her to make some quick modifications, turning it into a vaporized form.
To prevent the Potion from affecting herself, Jiang Sui had already used a protective antidote, so she was completely fine.
The two men, oblivious to all this, kept yelling at Jiang Sui for her “trickery.” The effect of the Potion was even more shocking than she’d imagined.
Ugh, disgusting. Man and man—yesterday’s breakfast is about to come up…
She complained inwardly, but on the outside kept up her act as everyone protected her.
Lu Xian had someone bring the antidote to relieve their current condition, and it took quite a while to separate the two of them and drag them away.
Once the antidote took effect, the two men, who had previously clung together, caught sight of each other’s bare chests and immediately let go, frantically pulling their clothes back on.
The memory of what had just happened was still fresh, and they almost vomited on the spot.
“So, do you have anything you want to say?” Ah Yunze asked coldly, staring them down.
“We… We…”
Under everyone’s cold glares, their faces turned ashen as they knelt on the ground.
When someone’s gaze landed on Jiang Sui, one of the men suddenly shouted:
“It was her! She—”
“Enough. No matter what, I will never invite you two to the Zhu Family again,” Luo Yao cut him off sharply. “To act so disgracefully, so rudely, you’ve shamed our household!”
But…
Lu Xian walked up to them, speaking earnestly.
“I only have one question. Were you the ones who stole my Potion?”
“It wasn’t us! It really wasn’t!”
At Bo Yao’s signal, Kong Yang nodded and began to search them. Sure enough, he found an empty Trial Tube and an unused Potion.
Now, the evidence was all there.