The wind blew with Ouyang Shaochen’s clear farewell. “We’re going back to our room, enjoy your dinner.”
As Ouyang Shaochen and Murong Xue went away, Gong Qianyu’s face turned sullen and his dark eyes glinted.
Duan Wuluo glanced over the empty seats and the three of them with different expressions before Duan slightly narrowed his eyes with a meaningful stare.
Outside the dining hall, Ouyang strode forward like wind while Murong could hardly catch up. She said breathlessly, “Why the rush? I need a break, right now.”
Ouyang slowed down to look down at her with a solemn look in his obsidian-like eyes. “I want you to stay away from Gong Qianyu from today.”
“Why? I think he’s nice and unsophisticated,” Murong said softly with confusion in her eyes. Ouyang turned sullen and dissuaded her word by word, “Don’t judge a person by his appearance. One can pretend to be unsophisticated on the outside when he’s totally different on the inside.” His clear voice was of much indignation.
“How much do you know about him?” Murong asked Ouyang with her eyebrows raised.
“Not much, but at least more than you do. Anyway, just stay away from him,” Ouyang replied casually as his dark eyes glinted.
Murong glowered at him with a pout as she said, “I never expected to know more about him. Plus, you were the one who insisted on coming here. If we didn’t come here, I wouldn’t even meet him.”
Ouyang had no idea that Gong was in the mansion either. Or else, in no way would Ouyang come here!
Ouyang’s eyes sparkled as he said calmly, “Sorry for being inconsiderate. I’ll never enter any official mansions in Nanjiang without a second thought. And you should stay away from Gong Qianyu.”
“Got it!” Murong replied unhappily and added, glowering at him, “Thanks to you, I haven’t had a bite of food and I’m so hungry. I’ll go buy some food.”
As she said calmly, she turned around to leave, but Ouyang reached out to stop her. He looked up at the starry dark sky and said blandly, “It’s late now. Nice food will probably be sold out before you get there. I have a plate of dessert. Would you like some?”
Ouyang took it out carefully on his jade-like palm. The golden-yellow dessert in pieces was as attractive as the refined plum blossom, which smelled good and looked mouth-watering.
Murong suddenly felt the hunger and said, pretending not to be attracted, “I guess.” She grabbed a piece and put it in her mouth, whose light sweetness filled her mouth in a second.
She kept praising with sparkling eyes, “It tastes really good!”
Looking at those eyes, Ouyang flashed a smile and walked into a refined guestroom with Murong.
Inside the room, candles filled it with warmth; furniture was clean and neat; and new quilts of different thicknesses smelled comforting.
Murong took a casual glance over the room, where they would spend the night. It was truly a nice place!
Out of the corner of her eye, she unconsciously caught sight of Ouyang when his jade-like fingers unhurriedly undid the robe buckles from the chest.
Knitting her eyebrows, Murong looked at him with confusion. “Ouyang Shaochen, what are you gonna do?”
“Take a bath and a rest,” Ouyang replied casually as he untied his waist belt and took off his robe.
Murong shifted her gaze from him unnaturally and asked in a hurry, “Heir Ouyang, which room do I stay in?”
“This one of course!” Ouyang replied casually.
Murong knitted her eyebrows tightly, feeling unhappy to share a room with him again. The first time she had to do so only because Ouyang was too mean to offer her a guestroom. But now she could ask for one because Duan Wuluo was in charge of the mansion.
“We’re in the prefect’s mansion in Nanjiang,” Ouyang suddenly added. “We have no idea whether there is hidden danger in here. We’ll be safer if we share a room.”
Murong held her steps immediately. He was right. It might be dangerous for them to live here. If they shared a room, they could take care of each other; if they didn’t and something terrible happened, they would be in great trouble.
It would be just one night anyway, so she decided to share the room with Ouyang, reluctantly though!
Murong heaved a sigh and stayed in the room. She looked at Ouyang as he hung up the robe and undid the buckles on the white underwear. His fair, strong chest was vaguely exposed underneath his inner clothing.
Murong flushed and ran out of the room. “Enjoy your bath. I’ll have some dessert outside.” She ran in a way as if she was escaping in panic.
Ouyang put a light smile on his face as his obsidian-like eyes sparkled brightly enough to enchant people.
After leaving the room, Murong strolled in the yard and had the dessert absentmindedly. Lanterns fluttered with the breeze in the corridor.
“Murong Xue!” The moment Murong heard the familiar voice, she looked up and saw Gong Qianyu at the entrance, who looked at her calmly with a barely visible smile.
With surprise in her eyes, Murong took a glance at the closed door before running to him. She pushed him to the corner outside the yard and said in a low voice, “Why are you here?”
“I saw you in the yard when I passed by,” Gong Qianyu said softly. Worried that she wouldn’t believe his words, he pointed at the front and said, “I live right over there.”
Murong followed his finger and saw a refined building, which was on the right side of hers. So if Gong went back to his room, he would pass the entrance of her yard.
“Murong Xue, how long are you gonna stay here?” he asked blandly, staring at her with his clear eyes.
“Just tonight. We’ll leave tomorrow morning,” Murong answered lightly.
“Why not stay here a little longer?” Gong said with a disappointed look in his eyes.
Murong smiled softly, “We came to Mingzhou for a visit. But it was too late for us to leave after the tour on Ming Lake. That’s why we stay here.”
“There are other places to go except Ming Lake. Why not stay here a few more days?” Gong lowered his head to look at her with anticipation.