Chapter 546 - 0325 The girl likes people who are warm-faced but cold-hearted (two-in-one)_2

Having a man you like, and becoming true "sisters" with Li Zhibai, is naturally double the happiness.

"I actually think you only say such open-minded things because you believe Miss Bai could never like a man." Miss Lu scoffed.

"That’s part of the reason." Zhu Pingniang spread her hands: "A man that could catch her eye is hard to find in this world, and with her always cooped up at home, it’s even more impossible."

"Hmm... Young Master Xu?" Miss Lu suddenly said.

"?"

Zhu Pingniang’s fingers twitched at these words, followed by a thoughtful expression.

She went silent.

Miss Lu seized the moment: "You said you would like the person Miss Bai likes, so on the flip side, would Miss Bai like the gentleman you like?"

Zhu Pingniang: "..."

Hmm.

She had actually considered that.

Li Zhibai and Xu Chang’an really matched well, extremely well.

If Xu Chang’an were a man of the same era as them, it’s possible Ah Bai might really fall for him, but as it is now, it’s merely a joke.

After all, he’s a junior and already married, not a threat at all, right?

Thank goodness for Miss Yun taking care of him.

Thank goodness for Miss Yun eradicating a menace for the people.

"You little rascal, I’ll tear your mouth off." Zhu Pingniang sighed in relief, then got up to tickle Miss Lu, filling the room with laughter.

"I was just joking!" Miss Lu pleaded.

As Miss Lu begged for mercy, Zhu Pingniang’s gaze shifted, spotting Xu Chang’an passing below with a straw hat trying to cover his face.

She frowned.

"Chang’an?"

Why is he here?

Wasn’t he supposed to cook for me?

But seeing Xu Chang’an heading towards Rouge Street, Zhu Pingniang sniffed the air, then frowned deeper.

Covered in the scent of rouge, where did he come from?

Piluo Residence?

Thinking about Xu Chang’an’s usual habits, Zhu Pingniang assumed he must have bought a gift for that Miss Yun.

"Chang’an? What Chang’an." Miss Lu, still chuckling, followed Zhu Pingniang’s gaze but saw nothing.

"Nothing, I’m just used to it." Zhu Pingniang gritted her teeth: "Always thinking about his Miss Yun, not rushing back to prepare dinner for me."

"?" Miss Lu blinked at the empty corner, squinting as if guessing something: "Ms. Zhu, isn’t it wrong if the gentleman isn’t always thinking about Miss Yun and instead is always thinking about you?"

"Haven’t you heard women are unreasonable?" Zhu Pingniang retorted.

Miss Lu clicked her tongue: "You’ve just been too idle lately."

Her tone paused a bit, becoming more serious.

"Besides, don’t you think you’re too concerned about the gentleman?"

"Am I?" Zhu Pingniang blinked, then said, "Ah Bai’s student, of course, I’m concerned."

"Just that?"

"What else could it be? Do you mean I’ve taken a liking to him?"

"I didn’t say that."

"If you dare say it, I’ll really tear your mouth apart."

Some jokes she could say herself, but didn’t want to hear from her close maid.

"Lu’Er, do you like him?" Zhu Pingniang suddenly asked.

"I’ve said many times I like him. So what?" Miss Lu didn’t hide it: "I didn’t like him as much before, but this time... you could say it was love at first sight, after all, the gentleman is just too good-looking."

She was all about appearances.

As long as one looked good, she’d like them.

"Ms. Zhu, I’m different from you. I’m a lustful woman." Miss Lu looked at the empty street corner, her tone truly seductive to the core.

Her gaze made Zhu Pingniang’s face twitch.

"Ni Zi, your affection is really cheap."

"A girl from the brothel is supposed to be fickle, right? Even if I’m your close attendant, it’s the same." Miss Lu stretched, then asked: "You keep asking me about this, does it mean... I shouldn’t like the gentleman?"

"So what if it does?" Zhu Pingniang spread her hands: "You’re different from Qingluo. She fell deeply and can’t get out... but you’re just a lustful girl, don’t get too sincere."

"You’re biased." Miss Lu grumbled.

"My heart isn’t centered; it’s normal to be biased, isn’t it?" Zhu Pingniang waved her hand, "What do you think of Chang’an?"

Miss Lu looked at Zhu Pingniang, who seemed to have a deeper meaning, and tilted her head: "So your relationship with the gentleman isn’t good?"

"Chang’an and I have a great relationship." Zhu Pingniang spat: "Stop stirring up trouble."

"I thought when women ask this, they want to criticize him together." Miss Lu said: "Isn’t gossip behind someone’s back what it is? Old sayings are true: don’t discuss right and wrong in front of others, and don’t talk behind their backs. That’s a gentleman."

Zhu Pingniang heard this and, feigning confusion, said: "I’m just a madam, not a gentleman."

"I’m just a courtesan, not a gentleman." Miss Lu laughed.

"So, what we love most is gossiping behind people’s backs; this is also our nature." Zhu Pingniang rubbed her hands and said: "So, Ni Zi, what kind of person do you think Chang’an is?"

"Why do you keep asking... alright, let me think." Miss Lu crossed her arms, recalling the bits and pieces.

After a long while, Miss Lu lightly said.

"The gentleman is... warm on the surface but cold at heart."

"..."

With a light drizzle caressing her face, Zhu Pingniang stared blankly at the girl she watched grow up, eventually sighing.

"Don’t you see it very clearly?"

Lu’Er clearly saw Xu Chang’an’s nature clearly yet still professed liking him.

"Knowing he is warm on the outside but cold within, you should know that a gentle person is gentle with everyone. If you peel him down... the inside might be extremely indifferent." Zhu Pingniang shook her head: "Such men are most likely to hurt people."

She had seen too many examples.

Liu Qingluo, who willingly fell in love, doesn’t count, but mentioning Wen Li’s master is an example: back then, she was utterly heartbroken by a gentle man.

"If Young Master Xu is indifferent, he’s also indifferent to you?" Miss Lu asked in return.

"Can you compare with me? At least I’m the one who sent him up the mountain." Zhu Pingniang considered herself still having some weight in Xu Chang’an’s heart.

But not the other maids, including Liu Qingluo; sooner or later, each would be hurt.

"I’m still your maid, and the gentleman can remember my name." Miss Lu smiled: "What’s wrong with being warm on the outside but cold within? At least such a man, even if he doesn’t like me, can still chat with me."

She said this, laughing with more joy.

"Ms. Zhu, unlike you, I don’t intend to seduce the gentleman. I’m just a lustful woman, not wanting his true heart, content with exchanging a few words and admiring him from up close."

Zhu Pingniang: "..."

Listening to Miss Lu’s words, she pinched her face a bit angrily: "Speak truthfully, no joking."

"Oh."

Miss Lu obediently sat upright and finally said seriously: "The way to endure is being warm outside but cold within; it can protect oneself."

Zhu Pingniang had mentioned Xu Chang’an’s situation in the Immortal Sect.

This display of being warm on the outside but cold inside was the best shield to protect oneself, in Miss Lu’s opinion, Xu Chang’an was correct.

"I’m not saying Chang’an is bad, only that... getting close to such a person will get you hurt, understand?" Zhu Pingniang said helplessly.

"Ms. Zhu." Miss Lu lowered her head, smiling: "If getting close to such a person will get you hurt, then I’m already battered and scarred."

"What do you mean?" Zhu Pingniang was slightly stunned.

Miss Lu raised her head and said word by word: "Sister, you are a person who is warm outside but cold inside."

Just like Xu Chang’an.

A gentle person is gentle to everyone.

In Flower Moon Building, Zhu Pingniang was the gentle one to all.

Zhu Pingniang: "..."

She wanted to refute but didn’t know what to say.

What kind of person was Zhu Tongjun? One could randomly ask someone with status in the Cultivation Realm, and they’d know. Zhu Pingniang herself was aware that she always cared about everyone, but internally... maybe she was just like Xu Chang’an.

She only cared about the people she was concerned about.

In terms of being "warm outside, but cold inside," she might even surpass Xu Chang’an.

Zhu Pingniang took a deep breath and then stood up.

She was anxious.

Zhu Pingniang angrily pointed at Miss Lu, shouting.

"I don’t care, anyhow you just can’t like him!"

This was for her own good, why couldn’t she understand?

Being like Liu Qingluo, was that fun?