There were several braziers placed inside the room. Although they weren’t the finest silver-thread charcoal, they didn’t produce smoke that stung the nose. Combined with the warm soybean milk, Gu Wuyou took several bites in succession. Whether it was her stomach or her face, both became warm and cozy.
Hearing footsteps, she didn’t even look up. While eating a bun, she sipped her soybean milk.
The salty soybean milk, with added dried shrimp and fried dough sticks, was especially flavorful.
If her stomach wasn’t already full, she would have wanted to order another bowl.
She took another sip of soybean milk.
Gu Wuyou suddenly felt that something was off. The person who just walked in was way too quiet. She gripped her spoon and looked up. The moment she saw the visitor, she froze like a dazed little kitten, first stunned, then abruptly widening her eyes.
G-Great General?
“You—you, why are you here?” She stood up and asked dumbfoundedly.
Didn’t Uncle Zhang say that the Great General always came at a fixed time? And that once that time passed, he wouldn’t appear again? Then why had the Great General shown up today?
Li Qinyuan stood with his arms crossed, raising an eyebrow at her words. “I can’t come?”
As soon as he finished speaking, his gaze fell on Gu Wuyou’s lips. Suddenly, he couldn’t hold back a light chuckle—just like a little tabby cat, especially with those round, wide eyes. She really did resemble the civet cat he used to raise.
“I didn’t say you couldn’t come.” Gu Wuyou’s small face turned red as she hurriedly waved her hands in denial. She was too happy to see him!
But—
Why was the Great General looking at her like that?
Gu Wuyou stared at Li Qinyuan in confusion. Then, under his gaze, she belatedly wiped the corner of her mouth with her hand. Wet? She looked down at her fingers in a daze. The water stain was clearly the color of soybean milk. She quickly put down her spoon, turned around, and rummaged through her small bag, pulling out a portable mirror that her third brother had bought for her from overseas.
In the tiny mirror, no bigger than her palm, was a face that looked exactly like a little tabby cat.
Everything else was fine—
Except for the layer of salty soybean milk smeared across her upper lip.
Realizing that her embarrassing appearance had been completely seen by the Great General, Gu Wuyou was utterly mortified. She hurriedly took out a handkerchief and wiped her lips, her small face turning even redder than the potted cactus in her room.
Wuwuwu, this was so humiliating. Why did the Great General always catch her at her most embarrassing moments?
Seeing the little girl turn her back and her shoulders trembling slightly, Li Qinyuan assumed she was crying from shame. After all, she was still a young lady…
He cleared his throat lightly, suppressing his amusement, and walked over. Standing behind her, he said, “Not eating breakfast anymore? It’s getting cold.”
The little girl still didn’t turn around.
He let out a soft “hmm,” debating whether he should coax this little girl. After all, young ladies cared a lot about their appearance.
What should he say?
Not ugly, very cute?
Hmm, though that was the truth, saying it outright would sound too tactless.
Then what should he say?
Li Qinyuan was troubled.
“You—”
Gu Wuyou clutched the small mirror and turned around. Her face was still flushed, and her pair of clear, almond-shaped eyes were as bright as the sky after a rain, captivating just at a glance.
Li Qinyuan was momentarily entranced and absentmindedly responded, “What?”
“You’re not allowed to tell anyone.”
Gu Wuyou lowered her head, her face still red, and softly said, “What just happened… don’t tell anyone.”
Seeing her delicate and charming expression, Li Qinyuan unknowingly blurted out his thoughts, “Actually, it was quite cute.”
By the time he realized what he had said, the little girl in front of him had already looked up at him. Fortunately, he had spoken lightly, so she hadn’t heard clearly. Tilting her head in confusion, she asked, “What did you say?”
He quickly turned his head to the side, his face turning serious as he replied coldly, “Nothing.” However, the faint redness at the tips of his ears betrayed his unsteady emotions.
Although Gu Wuyou found it odd, she didn’t press further.
Just then, Old Zhang came in carrying breakfast, and she sat back down.
Seeing the two together, Old Zhang naturally placed Li Qinyuan’s breakfast on Gu Wuyou’s table as well. While setting the dishes down, he spoke to Gu Wuyou with some embarrassment, “I’ve already entrusted someone to take the things home. I really don’t know how to thank you. I wanted to give you money, but Young Master Li said it was priceless.”
“I… I’m just a simple man who only knows how to cook.”
“I made some fried pastries and scrambled eggs outside just now. Please give them a try?” He looked at Gu Wuyou expectantly as he spoke.
Gu Wuyou was already too full to eat, but under Old Zhang’s sincere gaze, she pressed her lips together and still picked up her chopsticks to take a fried pastry.
It was actually just a small dough ball made of flour, filled with red bean paste, rolled in sesame seeds, and deep-fried. She had often eaten these at home before and liked them quite a bit.
But today, she had already eaten too much and was feeling stuffed.
Li Qinyuan had already sat down.
Old Zhang eagerly watched Gu Wuyou. “How is it?”
“It’s delicious.” Gu Wuyou’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she nodded. “Very delicious.”
Hearing this, Old Zhang finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly pushed the plate of fried pastries closer to her and urged, “Then eat more. These are best eaten hot—once they cool down, they won’t taste as good.”
“And this scrambled egg—it’s especially flavorful when eaten with buns.”
Gu Wuyou’s little face was on the verge of collapsing. She really, truly, couldn’t eat another bite. If she did, her stomach might actually burst. But facing Old Zhang’s eager expression, she couldn’t bear to refuse him outright. So, with great effort, she slowly chewed and swallowed another fried pastry.
Fortunately—
Someone outside soon called for Old Zhang. As he left, Gu Wuyou discreetly let out a sigh of relief, but then, looking at the two plates of food in front of her, her brows drooped again.
What should she do now?
She couldn’t just throw them away—it was his heartfelt kindness.
But if she ate them…
She really had no room left.
Her thoughts were clearly written all over her face. Even without saying a word, Li Qinyuan, who was sitting across from her, could see everything.
Li Qinyuan wasn’t one to meddle in other people’s affairs, but seeing the little girl looking so troubled, her brows furrowed and her face scrunched up, he paused slightly while holding his chopsticks. After a moment, he still asked, “Can’t eat anymore?”
“…Mm.”
Gu Wuyou looked at Li Qinyuan across from her. She always forgot that the Li Qinyuan before her was not the same Great General who had once shared her bed. Speaking to him like this, she couldn’t help but act as she used to, her little face filled with distress, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness. “My stomach is about to burst. If I eat any more, I really won’t be able to walk.”
Did she not have even the slightest sense of propriety between men and women?
No wonder people outside thought they were an engaged couple. Sometimes, even Li Qinyuan himself would be stunned by the familiarity and intimacy in her words.
He silently glanced at her.
It was a long moment before he finally spoke, and even then, his tone was far from pleasant. “If you can’t eat anymore, then just leave it. No one is forcing you.”
“That wouldn’t be right.” Gu Wuyou shook her head. She didn’t like dealing with social niceties, but that didn’t mean she was entirely oblivious. She glanced at the fabric curtain, then lowered her voice. “This is Uncle Zhang’s goodwill. If I don’t finish it, he’ll surely remember it in his heart.”
“I don’t like that.”
After speaking, she looked at the plate of fried pastries in front of her with a frown, as if engaged in an internal struggle. Finally, she reached for her chopsticks, but just as the tips were about to touch the pastries, the plate was moved away.
Huh?
Gu Wuyou stared blankly at Li Qinyuan, watching as he calmly ate the fried pastries and scrambled eggs. In no time at all, he had finished off both plates.
Uh…
Gu Wuyou gripped her chopsticks and hesitantly asked, “You… are you okay?”
Li Qinyuan glanced at her, clearly not in the mood to talk. It was a long while before he finally responded, “What?”
“Those fried pastries… don’t you find them too greasy?” Gu Wuyou whispered. “I can usually only eat three or four before they get too rich.” The Great General had actually eaten the whole plate! That was incredible!
If she hadn’t mentioned it, it might have been fine. But now that she had, Li Qinyuan suddenly felt queasy.
It had been a long time since he had eaten anything so sweet and greasy, and now he had downed so many in one go. Seeing the little girl’s expression—half admiration, half amazement—Li Qinyuan thought that not only had his past self been a fool, but his present self was even more idiotic!
What kind of spell had he been under to think he needed to help her with this?
Just then, Old Zhang came in. Seeing the empty plates, he exclaimed in surprise, “Oh! You finished everything?”
Gu Wuyou was about to explain, but before she could, Li Qinyuan, suppressing the discomfort in his stomach, simply said, “Mm, finished.” He didn’t clarify who had eaten them.
Then he stood up.
“What, you’re not eating anymore?” Old Zhang asked, glancing at the untouched buns with confusion.
Li Qinyuan gritted his teeth. “…No.” He was about to throw up.
He was just about to pay when Gu Wuyou quickly followed him. Before he could take out his money, she had already pulled out a few copper coins from her small pouch and handed them to Old Zhang. Last night, she had specifically asked Hong Shuang to exchange some money for her.
She had also asked about the general prices of food outside.
But this was the first time she was paying such a small amount, so she felt both nervous and strangely excited. “For the two of us, is this enough?”
“No, no, you already gave me such a valuable item. How could I take your money?” Old Zhang waved his hands, refusing to accept it.
Gu Wuyou didn’t take the coins back. Her stance was unusually firm. “Uncle Zhang, if you don’t take the money, I won’t dare to come here again in the future.”
“This…”
Li Qinyuan’s hand was still resting on his money pouch. He glanced at Gu Wuyou, then at Old Zhang, before withdrawing his hand and saying indifferently, “Just take it.”
Since he had spoken, Old Zhang hesitated for a moment but eventually accepted the money. He counted the copper coins and returned three to her, saying, “This much is enough.”
Gu Wuyou took back the change, carefully placing it into her pouch before following Li Qinyuan outside. As they left, she even remembered to wave at Old Zhang. “Uncle Zhang, see you tomorrow.”
Li Qinyuan’s steps faltered slightly, but he didn’t say anything. It was only after they had walked out that he spoke, “Hasn’t your family said anything about this? Running out so early every day.” He recalled Fu Xian mentioning that this girl was the treasured pearl of the Duke of Ding.
Yet she was coming to a place like this alleyway, and no one was worried?
“Ah…” Gu Wuyou was momentarily stunned, then softly said, “They don’t know I come here.”
Li Qinyuan glanced at her but said nothing.
For some reason, looking at this version of Li Qinyuan made Gu Wuyou feel a little flustered. She quickly reached out and tugged at his sleeve, speaking in a small voice, “Even if they knew, it wouldn’t matter. My father dotes on me. No matter what I ask for, he always agrees.”
Perhaps he had gotten used to it by now, because being pulled by the sleeve like this no longer felt strange. He merely cast her a glance and asked, “Why are you telling me this?”
Gu Wuyou didn’t really know either. She just instinctively wanted to explain herself to him.
She couldn’t bear to let go of his sleeve, and since he wasn’t scolding her at the moment, she grew a bit bolder and blinked up at him. “Then… will you come again tomorrow?”
Li Qinyuan opened his mouth to say “No,” but looking into the little girl’s bright, expectant eyes, he pressed his lips together. When he finally spoke, his answer had changed. “I don’t know.”
That meant there was still a chance he would come!
Gu Wuyou grinned broadly, her heart feeling light.
Seeing her smile like that made Li Qinyuan feel inexplicably uncomfortable. He turned his head away and muttered in a low voice, “Aren’t you going to let go?”
“Huh?”
Gu Wuyou didn’t react at first, but when she belatedly saw her own hand, her face turned red again. “I forgot.” There were still a lot of people in the alley. She was worried the Great General wouldn’t be pleased if people saw, so even though she was reluctant, she let go. Then she waved at him. “Well… I’ll be going first.”
“Mm.”
Gu Wuyou walked toward the alley’s entrance, but every few steps, she turned back to look at him. She had barely gone far when she heard him call out. Turning back, she beamed at him, “What is it?”
Just as she spoke, something was placed in her hand.
She blinked at him in confusion. “What’s this?” Opening the small pouch, she was stunned to see a few pearls inside. They looked very familiar. “This…” She lifted her head in a daze. Weren’t these the ones she had given to the servant earlier?
How had they ended up in the Great General’s hands?
“In the future, don’t give your things away so carelessly.” Li Qinyuan’s tone was indifferent. Seeing her still standing there, looking dumbfounded, he lost interest in explaining further and simply turned to leave.
Gu Wuyou clutched the pouch and ran after him, flashing him a bright smile. “Thank you!”
Li Qinyuan didn’t look at her and didn’t reply. He merely kept a straight face as he walked with her toward the alley’s entrance.
When they neared the main road, he finally stopped. “You go ahead.”
Thinking he was worried about being seen by acquaintances, Gu Wuyou didn’t question it.
Being able to have breakfast with the Great General and even walk together was already more than enough for her. She beamed at him, her eyes curved into crescents, and waved. “Then I’ll go first.” Then, as if afraid he wouldn’t hear, she softly added, “See you at the academy.”
She didn’t wait for a response and quickly ran toward her carriage, clutching the pouch of pearls tightly.
Li Qinyuan remained standing there. He watched as she and her carriage disappeared before leaning against a worn-out wall, his gaze shifting slightly as he spoke in a cool tone, “Come out.”