Chapter 567 - 0335 Small Matters in the Rain (Combined Edition)_2

"Miss, a visitor has arrived."

"Hmm."

Yun Qian nodded and said, "She has been here for a while."

"I can see that." Xu Chang’an sighed, "It’s just that my attention was all drawn to Miss’s neck earlier, making Miss Lu wait there for so long."

Xu Chang’an didn’t ask Yun Qian why she didn’t remind him, because Miss Yun didn’t need logic for her actions.

"It’s just..." Xu Chang’an picked up the water Yun Qian poured for him, drank it in one go, and then stood up, helplessly saying, "The way I was just now, lecherous and useless, was seen by outsiders. Shouldn’t Miss compensate me?"

"Eh?" Yun Qian blinked, "Is that so?"

Compensate?

How should she compensate?

"She can’t see it?" Yun Qian didn’t quite understand. She felt it wasn’t like that because her husband’s eyes didn’t have the slightest panic, only openness.

"There’s nothing that can’t be seen." Xu Chang’an smiled as he tidied Yun Qian’s slightly messy clothes to meet the guest.

He didn’t feel ashamed or that their intimacy was something unspeakable. With his wife... he was open and aboveboard.

On the contrary, Xu Chang’an was thinking that since Miss Lu was a steward at Flower Moon Building, seeing such a scene might make the women’s gazes at Flower Moon Building more normal towards him?

There was no rule against being liked; it was just that Xu Chang’an was afraid being watched by women would make Miss Yun uneasy—although the possibility was zero, he would still think about it.

"Not minding being seen, then why ask for compensation?" Yun Qian looked at him curiously.

"Want to bully you?" Xu Chang’an said.

"..."

Yun Qian fell silent, looking at the rouge box on the table filled with delicate items.

Should she say that she needed Miss Zhu’s help right now?

Whether it was learning from Zhu Pingniang how to seduce men, or practicing under the cultivation techniques she chose to make her physical strength undergo a qualitative leap...

These were all urgent tasks.

Seeing Yun Qian fall silent, Xu Chang’an finished tidying her clothes and gently patted her lower back.

"Alright, let’s go. I don’t know why Miss Lu came... Could it be to deliver ingredients?" Xu Chang’an said casually, "Is she here to bring the ingredients for the dinner we are preparing for Zhu Pingniang?"

Up to now, nothing has been brought.

Even a skillful woman cannot cook without rice.

Of course, Xu Chang’an thought if it was just him and Miss Yun, then ingredients were not necessary.

He could treat Miss Yun as an ingredient and savor her.

"Cough."

Xu Chang’an, under Yun Qian’s strange gaze, walked over and opened the door.

——

Under the eaves, Miss Lu stood there with a folded umbrella.

Perhaps she had hurried along the way, as Miss Lu’s clothes were already wet from the rain, and just by standing there, a small puddle formed beneath her.

Once Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian opened the door, Miss Lu’s gaze immediately fell on Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian’s interlocking fingers.

She smiled knowingly, then raised her head and bowed slightly.

"Young Master Xu, Miss Yun."

"Miss Lu, please come in and speak." Xu Chang’an stepped aside to make way.

This was very convenient.

Everyone in Beisang City knew Yun Qian’s "introverted" nature, so Miss Yun didn’t need to greet, nor would it be considered impolite.

"I won’t, I won’t disturb you." Miss Lu blushed slightly, taking a small step back as if there was something frightening inside the room.

She only said, "Ms. Zhu asked me to inform you that tonight’s banquet has been moved to the painted boat on the Inner Lake. The ingredients have already been sent over... As for the specifics, once you arrive, there will be maids to guide you."

"Painted boat?" Xu Chang’an was slightly taken aback, looking at the vast curtain of rain outside, confirming, "You mean the boats on the lake?"

"Yes, yes." Miss Lu nodded helplessly. She also found Zhu Pingniang’s idea peculiar, but there was no choice.

"Alright, I understand." Xu Chang’an turned to glance at Yun Qian, then earnestly said to Miss Lu, "Thank you, Miss. I will head there now."

It’s getting late.

Not to mention, the candied fruit Yun Qian ate might not hold her over much longer. It’s time to prepare dinner.

As for whether it’s in the courtyard or on the painted boat... does it make any difference?

With Miss Yun by his side, there’s no difference.

Seeing Xu Chang’an respond so promptly, Miss Lu lowered her head, unable to resist pinching her knuckles.

She thought of that beautiful, loving scene in the room earlier and wondered what might have happened if she hadn’t interrupted... She truly felt like a sinner.

Miss Lu whispered, "Young Master, you..."

She initially wanted to say that Zhu Pingniang’s suggestion was really impolite, and if Xu Chang’an didn’t want to go, she would go back and clarify it to Zhu Pingniang, letting Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian do what they should do in the room.

However, before Miss Lu could speak, she saw Xu Chang’an chatting and laughing with Yun Qian.

"Miss, I’ve been wanting to take you for a ride on the painted boat on the lake not just for a day or two, but you’ve always had no interest in them... Today is a good opportunity."

"Hmm." Yun Qian looked at Xu Chang’an’s interest and nodded in approval.

Seeing this, Miss Lu decided to hold back the words she was about to say.

As long as Young Master feels it’s appropriate and he’s happy, it’s good.

After all, for the Immortal Sect, a trivial rain... is of no consequence.

"Then I’ll head back to inform Sister." Miss Lu smiled.

"Alright." Xu Chang’an nodded, "I still have some things to prepare here."

"No rush." After Miss Lu said all that needed to be said, she suddenly became less formal, slightly chiding, "It’s good to let Ms. Zhu starve a bit, serves her right for having no restraint when she was with you at noon."

"No restraint?" Xu Chang’an was startled, then shook his head, "I’m used to Senior Zhu’s way of doing things."

Miss Lu looked at Yun Qian, who, as usual, showed little expression and just stood quietly by.

If she hadn’t witnessed it herself earlier, it would be hard to imagine that the Yun Qian now and the blushing girl holding the rouge box were the same person.

Is this what the girls from Piluo Residence meant when they said they only have eyes for each other?

She kind of began to understand why the girls from Piluo Residence were so fascinated with Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian together.

"Cough." Miss Lu cleared her throat and said seriously, "But at least with Miss Yun at this banquet, Ms. Zhu won’t act out of line this time... Young Master can rest assured about that."

"I understand." Xu Chang’an nodded, albeit helplessly.

He was very aware that Zhu Pingniang was a good person, and usually teasing him was just a form of playful mischief, but with Yun Qian present, Senior Zhu would never make him lose face.

Listening to Xu Chang’an’s tone, Miss Lu paused momentarily, then said, "You really trust her."

"Don’t you trust her, Miss Lu?" Xu Chang’an lightly chuckled in response.

"Trust her, yes." Miss Lu shook her head, glanced at Yun Qian listening quietly on the side, paused, and then continued, "Young Master, Ms. Zhu can be a scheming woman. You should be a bit cautious with her."

Xu Chang’an: "..."

Hearing Miss Lu’s not-so-joking advice, Xu Chang’an was momentarily at a loss. He looked into the distant alleyway, giving Miss Lu a slight expression in her confused gaze.

Miss Lu: "?"

Xu Chang’an sighed. Should he nod or shake his head this time?

Neither seemed appropriate.

So, Xu Chang’an could only smile without responding.

"Hmm... Just something for you to think about." Miss Lu stepped back after saying what she needed to, curtsied to Yun Qian, then opened her umbrella and departed.

After she left, Yun Qian tilted her head.

"What did she just say..."

Miss Yun didn’t quite understand.

She felt that Miss Zhu wasn’t a bad woman, and not only that, she was quite remarkable, at least far more remarkable than herself.

"We’ll discuss it inside." Xu Chang’an withdrew his gaze from the distance.

——

In the alley, as Miss Lu walked back with her umbrella, she suddenly bumped into a soft barrier.

She surprisedly lifted her umbrella and saw Zhu Pingniang’s cold eyes with a faint smile.

"Little girl, talking bad about me, huh."