When Lu Yunze found himself alone in the courtyard, what were the others doing?
As a social butterfly, Luo Yao quickly found a small circle suited to herself amidst this gathering and blended in with ease.
At first, everyone who saw her appeared a bit surprised by her friendly demeanor, but under Luo Yao’s open and natural attitude, these family daughters soon smiled and greeted her warmly, expressing their genuine welcome.
“I always thought Miss Luo was a rather aloof person, but it turns out you’re far more approachable than we imagined.”
One of them spoke half-jokingly, causing Luo Yao’s brow to arch with a smile, but she pretended not to notice and simply asked, “What do you mean by that?”
“In the past few days, we’ve all heard that Miss Luo is supposed to have a pretty strong personality.”
“She’s always scolding the servants.”
“There are even rumors that she mistreats the people around her.”
They all chimed in, each recounting the stories they’d heard, which made Luo Yao burn with anger inside, but for the sake of the Luo Family’s reputation, she forced herself to keep her composure.
“So now that you’ve met me in person, do you still think I’m unreasonable?”
The others exchanged glances, then all shook their heads in unison.
Seeing this outcome, Luo Yao’s mood finally improved a little.
Ever since the school anniversary, some slanderous rumors had spread out of nowhere, greatly damaging her reputation. At first, Luo Yao didn’t plan to do anything about them—those who were clear would remain so; after all, she hadn’t actually done anything wrong.
But rather than dying down, these rumors only multiplied and became even more exaggerated, almost making Luo Yao out to be the Demoness Luonao.
How could she tolerate this? She couldn’t!
Luo Yao couldn’t sit still any longer. Even if people might say she was being calculating, she had to step in and change the current situation, to turn around her image in the rumors.
This funeral was the perfect opportunity, allowing many people to meet the real her and effectively stem the spread of those slanders.
Heh, as expected of me.
Luo Yao maintained her graceful demeanor, sipping tea amidst the group’s praise.
“I heard Miss Luo also has a brother?” As the conversation continued, someone asked.
“You mean Lu Yunze?” Luo Yao looked at the speaker.
“I heard that Miss Luo treats him like a dog—oh, I mean, it seems you two are quite close?”
“Naturally. Lu Yunze and I are siblings in name,” Luo Yao said as she lightly touched her neck, “But our relationship is even more like childhood sweethearts.”
“Really, you two are childhood friends? That’s so nice, I wish I had a childhood sweetheart too.”
“Keep dreaming.”
“Since he’s Miss Luo’s childhood friend, how come we haven’t seen him here?”
At this question, Luo Yao glanced around but indeed didn’t see Lu Yunze’s figure. However, she didn’t appear worried and simply smiled.
“My brother enjoys a bit of quiet. Besides, he’s much more reliable than me—he can take care of himself just fine, even alone.”
“With a childhood sweetheart as dependable as that, Miss Luo, you’re really blessed.”
As they chatted and laughed, outside the courtyard, Lu Yunze—who had been ‘ganked’ by Li Zhiya—realized there was no other way out.
Well, it seemed fate had really led her here.
Lu Yunze simply kept his thoughts to himself, smiling as he greeted her: “What a coincidence, Miss Li, you’re out here enjoying the breeze as well?”
“What do you mean, ‘Miss’? Call me Xiao Pao. I’m not even thirty yet—calling me that makes me sound old!”
So, thirty isn’t old enough to be called ‘Miss’? Lu Yunze felt like his horizons had just been broadened.
Li Zhiya held a half-filled wine glass in her hand. As she strolled over, Lu Yunze caught the strong mixed scent of wine and perfume from her, to be honest, it was a little overwhelming.
With the distance closing, he could also clearly see the thick layers of makeup on her face—it seemed a single swipe could take off a chunk.
“Why aren’t you mingling with the others, instead of coming out to this courtyard?”
“Hmm… I just thought this courtyard’s atmosphere wasn’t bad.”
After all, this was a wealthy family’s garden, tended daily by servants, with no wild overgrowth.
The greenery was pleasing, but he wasn’t actually a fan of the courtyard’s decorative style. He figured it was all put together by someone older—the age gap created a totally different aesthetic.
From the moment he entered this courtyard, Lu Yunze could feel a distinct vibe from decades past—quaint and old-fashioned, hard to appreciate.
“What a coincidence, then. The old master managed this courtyard while alive. I like it a lot too. Who’d have thought we’d share such similar tastes.”
Ignoring her final remark, Lu Yunze changed the subject and asked, “About Old Master Jin’s death—did he really die of natural causes?”
At these words, Li Zhiya’s expression immediately darkened.
“There were a lot of complicated reasons inside the family. It’s not something I can talk about openly in front of everyone.”
“But it’s all in the past now.” Li Zhiya flashed another charming smile, “The old master left the estate for me to inherit, so now I’m the new Master of the Jin Family.”
“Mm, congratulations.”
“Mister, for the sake of all the times I’ve helped you in the past, would you mind giving this newly appointed family head a hand?”
Li Zhiya’s tone grew flirtatious.
“For example, in the matchmaking department—since I’m single again now…”
“About that, Young Master isn’t single,”
With a sudden voice, a lively figure slipped between them, inserting herself right in the middle and separating Lu Yunze and Li Zhiya.
It was none other than Jiang Sui.
“You… What are you doing here?” Li Zhiya almost choked on her words.
“I’m the Young Master’s maid. Wherever Young Master goes, I go too.” A polite, unruffled smile hung on Jiang Sui’s face, but in Li Zhiya’s eyes, that composure felt deeply unsettling.
Lu Yunze, who found himself protected behind her, was a little dumbfounded. After a couple of moments, he managed to explain, “That’s right, both Luo Yao and I dislike trouble, so we each keep a personal servant close by.”
Li Zhiya took a long, frustrated breath, then turned to Jiang Sui, “Even if you’re here with permission, do you not know the basic manners a servant should have? Interrupting your superiors’ conversation—how rude! Are all the Luo Family’s servants like you?”
Why are you, like her, so eager to stress such things in front of me?
Jiang Sui’s expression didn’t change, though she was quietly amused.
Li Zhiya thought that invoking the Luo Family would be enough to win the day, and perhaps even make some underhanded threats.
But she’d miscalculated one thing—Jiang Sui was, by nature, a free-spirited person, unconstrained by such things. Some matters here really meant nothing to her.
“Miss Li, you’re nearly thirty, yet you’re still like a little kid—do you think you can judge everyone just based on a few encounters with Luo Family servants?”
Jiang Sui spoke up before Lu Yunze could.
“My work as a maid is just that. Rather than saying I’m the Luo Family’s servant, it’s more accurate to say I serve Young Master Lu Yunze. Whoever pays my salary, I work for them—surely you understand something that simple?”
Having her logic turned back on her, Li Zhiya’s face reddened.
“Fine, then. I’ll pay you—come work for me.”
Jiang Sui simply smiled.
“Sorry, but I can’t.”
“You just said—”
“The Young Master can offer me more than just a salary.”
The little maid then leaned in a little closer, and right in front of Li Zhiya’s eyes, stroked her Young Master’s chin, even patting him on the cheek.
“Young Master is a man among men. When he gets fired up, even the ladies can’t handle him.”
“What?” Li Zhiya’s eyes widened, “Does Luo Yao know about you and him…” Her words were cut off.
“Why do you think only I can always stay by the Young Master’s side? That’s because, once the Young Master gets involved in those ‘happy things,’ he loses all reason—out of the whole Luo Family estate, I’m the only one who can take it. Anyone else would’ve been ruined already.”
Even though she was airing her grievances, Jiang Sui’s hand skillfully stroked Lu Yunze’s arm, her face showing no hint of desire—only complete enjoyment.
“What are you even talking about?” Not only Li Zhiya, even Lu Yunze couldn’t help but speak up.
“Am I wrong?”
Jiang Sui gazed up at him, completely unfazed.
“When I accompany Young Master in playing the piano, things get so tense I can barely manage, and yet Young Master won’t even let me sit down properly. I end up not being able to use my strength at all.”
“So you were talking about playing the piano? I thought you meant something else…”
Lu Yunze breathed a sigh of relief and admitted that last time was his fault, and it wouldn’t happen again.
An overly intense Young Master, a cunning socialite who can’t handle his pace, and a little maid who treats satisfying her Young Master as her job—plus, that same little maid seemed to be goading the socialite on purpose to drive her away…
What sort of tangled nonsense was this? Li Zhiya’s mind turned to mush.
Realizing their expressions, and feeling that Lu Yunze’s reaction didn’t seem fake, she could only give a cold snort and turn to leave.
Not until Li Zhiya’s figure had disappeared did the smile on Jiang Sui’s face fade. Instead, the corners of her mouth lifted slyly, as if she was about to flick her tongue.
“She’s gone now. You can let go of me, right?” Lu Yunze said.
“Young Master, are you really so eager to shake off the person who just helped you?” Jiang Sui slipped into her “good sister” mode again. “I just wanted to feel Young Master’s warmth. Can’t you grant me even this tiny wish? That’s too cruel.”
It’s not that I mind, but…
Jiang Sui had really saved him from Li Zhiya, and Lu Yunze was touched, but she was holding him so tightly…
The well-endowed little maid’s chest pressed his arm so snugly that, if she held on much longer, he was sure his whole hand would go numb.
Lu Yunze thought for a moment and decided to just go along with her.
“By the way, now that Li Zhiya’s the Master, do you really dare to provoke her? Aren’t you worried she’ll retaliate?”
“Don’t I have you, Young Master?”
Jiang Sui didn’t look concerned at all.
“I believe Young Master would never leave me in the lurch. And besides…”
At this point, her expression abruptly turned sly, as if a fox’s tail was poking out.
“Hmph, acting like she’s such a big shot, and now she’s trying to make a move on my Young Master.”
The words sounded good, but the tone was all wrong. Lu Yunze couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d claimed him as her own property.
He could only smile awkwardly, then found an excuse to slip away. He made sure Jiang Sui found a safe spot among the crowd, then hurried off.
So, the most fearsome hunter had been right by his side all along.