Chapter 48: Playing Tricks

She had intended to try and pull out her other hand again, but he stubbornly held on tightly, refusing to let go. Having seen the young master Su’s persistence before, she could only resignedly allow him to hold onto it for now.

As Su Qingwan’s head was lifted, his snow-white face flushed with a tinge of shyness. Due to this abrupt movement, a hint of surprise appeared in his watery eyes.

Elder Sister Yuner had actually touched him on her own initiative, and was even wiping his wound.

He gazed intently at the gentle and beautiful face before him, especially those clear and bright peach blossom eyes, as pure as the moon in the sky, making it difficult to look away. He felt his little heart pounding uncontrollably again.

As if in a hazy, illusory dream, Su Qingwan’s gaze became distant and intoxicated, losing both speech and consciousness, yet the intense passion in the depths of his eyes grew increasingly uncontrollable.

Lu Yuner, instinctively wanting to help upon seeing someone injured and bleeding, paused as she was wiping, her fingers trembling slightly, suddenly realizing something wasn’t quite right.

What was she doing?

The young man before her had an exquisitely beautiful face, his attractive lips slightly parted. The blood staining them made them even more moistly red, inadvertently adding an extremely alluring charm, making one want to taste them and ravish them thoroughly.

Combined with his teary phoenix eyes, he looked pitiful and innocent, accentuating his breathtakingly handsome features even more.

Such a beautiful face, with an unknowingly seductive expression, somehow made one feel parched just looking at him.

He truly was a male version of Su Daji!

After a brief pause.

“Men and women should maintain propriety. Young Master Su, you should wipe it yourself!” Lu Yuner said, appearing calm, but her heart was beginning to ripple, her breathing carrying a slight pant as she withdrew her hand and passed the handkerchief to him.

Lu Yuner felt that the original owner’s body might have gone too long without release, causing the physiological reactions to grow stronger.

This was not a good sign for her.

She looked again at the hand he was holding, the restlessness in her heart deepening. “Young Master Su, could you please let go of my hand?”

Su Qingwan came to his senses and slowly, reluctantly released her hand. The warmth in his hand disappeared, and he unconsciously clutched the handkerchief tightly. Lowering his eyelashes, he obediently raised his hand to wipe away the remaining blood.

An indescribable sense of regret and loss spread through his heart, sour and bitter.

Lu Yuner composed herself and explained gently, “Young Master Su, you are of noble birth, well-educated, and possess an otherworldly aura. Anyone who sees you would treat you with extra respect. There’s no need to demean yourself in front of anyone, nor should you use words like ‘pity’. Now that I think about it, on the morning we first met when you stayed at Prince Yun’s mansion, Young Master Su seemed particularly bright and radiant then.”

Although she had no romantic feelings for him, she absolutely wouldn’t allow someone to demean themselves in front of her, desperately begging for her affection, to satisfy her sense of achievement among the opposite sex.

That was unnecessary.

The young man’s slender frame stiffened. He raised his eyes to look at Lu Yuner, his ink-black eyes brimming with misty tears, rippling like disturbed water.

“Since I agreed to give it a try with you, I will naturally keep my promise. I didn’t forget about our plan to go boating and sightseeing today. It’s just that I had some business at the An residence today, and it was just nightfall when I left there. I didn’t know you would come looking for me in a carriage ahead of time. When Qiu Yi asked, I thought something might have happened at the mansion. So, Young Master Su, do you understand my explanation?”

Faced with Lu Yuner’s explanation, Su Qingwan was naturally overjoyed, but didn’t know how to respond, so he just nodded slightly.

Lu Yuner gave Su Qingwan a gentle smile, as radiant as a lotus flower. “In that case, shall we go boating and sightseeing now?”

“Mm.”

Su Qingwan’s face flushed like the clouds at sunset, deeply moved by her words.

Among all the women he had met, Elder Sister Yuner was not only the most striking in appearance, but also spoke in an exceptionally gentle manner. When those peach blossom eyes smiled, they were particularly vivid and bright, like beacons of light.

Now that the issue was resolved, it was time to return to the mansion to pick up Mu Yang. Lu Yuner was about to speak.

Su Qingwan, with a somewhat unnatural tone, spoke first: “Elder Sister Yuner, this… Young Master Mu said… he ate too much today and feels too full to move, so he won’t be joining you for the outing tonight.”

“Ate too much?” Lu Yuner frowned, remembering that the young master Su had just come from the Lu residence and must have met with Mu Yang. But given Mu Yang’s personality, how could he give up the opportunity to go out and play just because of overeating, especially when she rarely accompanied him?

After some thought, she decided to let it go. If the plan fell through, so be it!

A moment later, Lu Yuner said, “Alright then!”

Then Lu Yuner lifted the curtain, called Qiu Yi back to give her a few instructions, and had her continue driving the carriage towards Liusu River.

The night market was bustling with people coming and going, lively and prosperous.

Various shops lined both sides of the street, while small merchants and peddlers on the street called out their wares energetically. Heavily made-up men could be seen everywhere inside and outside the brothels, with many pleasure-seekers flocking to them.

Of course, there was also an endless stream of customers attracted by the delicious food and wafting aromas from various restaurants with different signboards.

Xiangman Lou, the world-renowned top restaurant for fine cuisine.

The ground floor of Xiangman Lou was for ordinary people to dine, while the upper floors were for high-class guests.

However, business was particularly good tonight, with every seat filled. The waiters in the restaurant were constantly weaving between tables, working up a sweat. Just as they managed to see off one group of customers, another group would walk in through the door.

This time.

The young waiter saw a glamorous, elegantly dressed woman walk in, holding an expensive gold-trimmed folding fan, followed by a servant. His small eyes instantly widened, glittering with gold.

He immediately ran up to greet her, bowing slightly with a smiling face, “Oh! Miss Qin, your visit today truly brings glory to our humble establishment! Please, watch your step!” He gestured for her to enter, continuing with great enthusiasm, “We’ve reserved the best private room upstairs for you. Please, follow me.”

“Mm.” Qin Yaxue slightly raised her chin, looking proud and composed.

Meanwhile, the other customers on the first floor all turned to look at her simultaneously, with varying expressions but remaining silent. After she passed, they began to whisper among themselves.

Qin Yaxue arrived at the private room on the second floor, glancing around briefly before saying indifferently, “Not bad.”

The servant following her took out some silver to tip the waiter. The waiter accepted the tip with a grin, saying obsequiously, “Please wait a moment, I’ll bring your wine and dishes right away.”

Qin Yaxue went to the window and opened it, able to overlook the entire street and gaze upon the Liusu River, with its beautiful interplay of lights and reflections on the water’s surface.

Just as she was about to look away, she caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance by the banks of Liusu River. Qin Yaxue froze for a moment, then a vicious and malevolent light flashed in her eyes. A cold smile curled her lips as she raised her hand and beckoned, “Lüluo, come here.”

She whispered something in Lüluo’s ear, after which Lüluo left.