Zhao Renshu and Ping'an refused to stay at the Fang's mansion. Master Fang didn't want to go against his saviors' wishes, so he decided to pay for the inn cost and gave them one thousand silver ingots. Master Fang instructed the Innkeeper to care for his honorable guests until they decided to leave. The Innkeeper himself even came out to greet Zhao Renshu and Ping'an at the door. He led them to their private suite. Master Fang had booked a very luxurious room for them. The enormous bed could accommodate five people. It had its own private bathroom.
"If you need anything, just pull the rope. Our waiter will come," the Innkeeper explained.
"Thank you," Ping'an replied.
"Do you want to have lunch here in your room or in the main hall?" the Innkeeper asked.
"We haven't decided yet," Ping'an said. "We might go out to the market first."
"Very well, just let us know," the Innkeeper bowed and closed the door.
"Finally," Zhao Renshu sighed, stretching. "I have never seen such an annoying person."
"Let's take a bath first," Ping'an suggested.
After the two finished bathing, they decided to tour Capital City for some souvenirs. Ping'an knew that Zhao Renshu always loved to eat street food instead of dining inside an inn. She didn't mind which place Zhao Renshu chose to eat, because as long as Zhao Renshu liked it, she would eat with him. When they came to a noodle shop, Zhao Renshu stopped and sniffed like a hungry dog.
"Let's eat noodles here," Zhao Renshu declared.
Zhao Renshu and Ping'an were sitting at a small table, waiting for their noodles.
"You should buy more new clothes," Ping'an suggested.
"For...?" Zhao Renshu asked, confused.
"Just for a change," Ping'an clarified.
"The more clothes I have, the more laundry you have," Zhao Renshu joked, smiling at her. "Are you sure you want me to have more clothes?"
"You could keep some and only wear some," Ping'an replied, chuckling.
Zhao Renshu smiled and accidentally looked to his left. He saw a deformed teenager staring at Ping'an. Then he looked directly at the teenager with a ferocious expression. The deformed teen bowed her head and walked to the back alley.
Ping'an raised her head and asked, "What? What's the matter?"
Zhao Renshu brushed it off with a scoff, "Nothing."
After eating, they went to a clothing store. Zhao Renshu bought some new clothes for himself and for Ping'an. Then he realized that the deformed teen was standing at the door, staring at Ping'an again.
Zhao Renshu stared at the deformed teen. Ping'an followed his eyes. He signaled to Ping'an with his eyes. Zhao Renshu and Ping'an walked towards the deformed teen.
"What do you want, kid?" Zhao Renshu asked, approaching the deformed teen. "Why do you follow us?"
The deformed, crooked-mouthed teen uttered, "He... He... misses you a lot." She then turned and walked away.
"Do you understand her?" Zhao Renshu asked Ping'an.
"She said something about missing?" Ping'an mused, trying to decipher the words.
After a whole day of eating and shopping, Zhao Renshu and Ping'an returned to the inn. Hidden behind a stone statue of a tiger was the deformed teen, Xiao Mei.
Guo Baiyu was sitting under the cherry tree, painting a picture of a fishing pond. He heard footsteps.
"What is it, Xiao Mei?" Guo Baiyu asked, not looking up.
"Young master, the two Wu ladies are here," Xiao Mei said. "Master wants the young master and second young master to take the two ladies out for a walk in the market."
Guo Baiyu sighed. "Xiao Mei, thank you."
"Can I go with you today?" Xiao Mei asked, a rare request.
Guo Baiyu was surprised. He turned around. "You always refuse to go. What's the occasion?"
"I want Miss Meixiang to get used to me," Xiao Mei explained. "One day, unless young master decides to kick me out, she will be the young mistress."
"Ridiculous," Guo Baiyu chuckled, smiling at her. "As long as I still live in this house, you will always have a home here."
"Then... can I?" Xiao Mei prompted, a hopeful glint in her eyes.
Guo Baiyu nodded and smiled at Xiao Mei.
After the two couples and their eight maids walked down to the market, they decided to eat.
"Where do you think we should have lunch?" Guo Yingyu asked, smiling at Wu Meirong.
"What do you think, jiejie?" Wu Meirong asked her sister.
"What about you, Baiyu, what do you think?" Wu Meixiang asked, turning to Guo Baiyu.
"How about Brightness Inn?" Xiao Mei suggested.
Wu Meixiang gave Xiao Mei a disgusted expression.
"Then, Brightness Inn it is," Guo Baiyu stated, making the decision.
The private dining area was located on the second floor. Each section was separated by a light curtain. Zhao Renshu and Ping'an, who were sitting in their private dining area, noticed that there were already three other groups of people there. One group consisted of all six people drinking and reciting poems. The other group appeared to be a family gathering. The last group was a group of friends.
"I told you not to eat too much," Ping'an groaned, frowning at Zhao Renshu.
"But the food tasted so good!" Zhao Renshu protested. He complained, "Now I feel nauseous. I don't think I can get up. I think I'm going to vomit."
Ping'an sighed. "Don't throw up here; it will be embarrassing if you do. Do you feel sorry for the waiter?" She gave him a frustrated expression.
"What do you want me to do?" Zhao Renshu whined.
"Wait right here. I will go get you a bucket or something for you to vomit in instead of on the floor." Ping'an looked back at him. "Wait for me. Don't vomit yet." She pushed the curtain aside and froze.
Guo Baiyu sat quietly, listening to a woman's voice that came from across the room. The sound of her voice was so familiar. He still lied to himself, telling himself that people did have similar voices, but his heart told him to get up and go. This was not his first disappointment. There had been many occasions in the past that he thought Ping'an had come to visit him. He sometimes thought he saw Ping'an on the street.
Guo Baiyu stood up. "Please excuse me," he murmured.
He pulled the curtain aside. When he stared into Ping'an's beautiful eyes, he froze. The one he had been missing all this time. He smiled at her. She smiled back. She bowed her head and walked away.
Guo Baiyu still stood there, unable to move. All kinds of impulses ran through him. The feelings of longing, happiness, and sadness hovered in his mind at the same time.
After a while, Ping'an and a waiter came back with a small bucket of water and an empty bucket. The waiter went in first.
Ping'an and Guo Baiyu still stared at each other without mentioning a word.
The waiter came out with a bucket of vomit. The curtain was pushed aside, and Zhao Renshu walked out.
"Baiyu!" Zhao Renshu shouted happily, walking over to hug him. "I miss you, man!"
Suddenly, a hand was about to punch Zhao Renshu's back, but Ping'an grabbed his shoulder and pulled the man back.
The other private dinner guests came out.
"Hey, what's your problem?" Zhao Renshu demanded, turning to the man.
"What is your relationship with him?" Fang Yaoting asked angrily.
Fang Yaoting was a very handsome man, as handsome as Guo Baiyu. His complexion was fairer, and his jet-black hair was very black. He was about the same height as Zhao Renshu and was wearing red clothes.
"It doesn't matter what my relationship to him is," Zhao Renshu scoffed. "It's none of your business. Piss off."
Fang Yaoting was very annoyed. "Why are you hugging him?"
"I can embrace everyone I want," Zhao Renshu declared, putting his right arm on Guo Baiyu's shoulder and pulling him closer. Guo Baiyu did not resist.
Everyone who knew Guo Baiyu knew that he didn't like being touched or standing close to others. He always maintained his dignified attitude, and when he allowed Zhao Renshu to fool around him so easily, it surprised everyone who knew him.
"Over the years, you have not changed," Guo Baiyu remarked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Zhao Renshu turned to Guo Baiyu with a smile. "If one day, I come to you as a changed man, then that would not be the real me." He blew an air kiss to Guo Baiyu, deliberately arousing Fang Yaoting's anger.
Guo Baiyu chuckled and shook his head.
The Wu sisters, Guo Yingyu, and their maids came out of another private room.
"Fang Yaoting, don't push too far!" Guo Yingyu snapped, his face reddened.
"Fang... The surname Fang..." Zhao Renshu mused, curiosity piqued despite the tension. "Are you related to Fang Chinmao?"
Fang Yaoting was still very angry. "He is my father," he bit out.
"Ha... Ha... Ha..." Zhao Renshu clapped his hands, a triumphant grin on his face. "Well, I am your family's savior. My stay here is funded by your father."
"Savior is savior," Fang Yaoting's voice was deep and menacing. "Baiyu belongs to me."
"Young Master Baiyu is not yours, he is the fiancé of my lady," a maid of Wu Meixiang interjected, stepping forward.
Zhao Renshu's arm pulled away from Guo Baiyu's shoulder, and he faced Guo Baiyu directly.
"Little sister, what did you just say?" Zhao Renshu asked angrily, turning to look at the maid.
Wu Meixiang's Maid said, "Young Master Baiyu is betrothed to my lady. The wedding will take place within two months. This will be a double wedding between the Guo and the Wu families."
"It will never happen," Fang Yaoting stated confidently.
Zhao Renshu gritted his teeth frantically. "Are you going to marry someone in two months?"
"Yes," Guo Baiyu confirmed.
"Are you absolutely sure that you want to get married within two months?" Zhao Renshu pressed, his voice tight.
"Yes," Guo Baiyu repeated, his gaze unwavering.
Zhao Renshu turned around and glanced at Ping'an. He was cheated. He was also deceived. His heart beat faster. His blood boiled through his whole body. He clenched his fists tightly. "You bastard!" Zhao Renshu shouted angrily. He let go of his fist and hit Guo Baiyu's left jaw directly. He grabbed Ping'an's left hand. "Let's go."
Everyone was stunned, because with Guo Baiyu's skills, he could easily have prevented the punch, but he chose to be hit. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. Wu Meixiang took out a handkerchief and was about to wipe off the blood, but Guo Baiyu refused.
"Yingyu, you take them home first. Excuse me," Guo Baiyu instructed, then followed Zhao Renshu and Ping'an.
Ping'an sat at the table in their private bedroom, watching Zhao Renshu angrily collect their belongings.
"Renshu," Ping'an called softly. He ignored her. "Renshu..."
Zhao Renshu turned around. "What?" he shouted angrily at her.
"What are you doing?" Ping'an asked, her voice steady.
"Picking up and leaving," Zhao Renshu answered angrily.
"The sun will set in the next few hours," Ping'an reasoned. "If we leave now, by the time we leave the city, it will be dark. We will eventually sleep on the side of the road."
"I would rather sleep on the road than knowing that... that bastard knows where we are," Zhao Renshu snapped, looking at her angrily.
"Even if he knows where we are, that won't change anything," Ping'an countered calmly.
"Why are you so calm?" Zhao Renshu demanded, his anger flaring. "Shouldn't you be all upset and storm out of here in anger?"
"I am being reasonable here," Ping'an replied simply.
Zhao Renshu was even angrier. "Do you still want him?" He gave her a disgusted expression. "Did you hear that? He will get married in two months." Zhao Renshu moved closer to Ping'an. "A grand double wedding, by the way, Miss, you are not the bride." His face was so close to hers, she could taste his anger.
"Should you be happy because I am not the bride?" Ping'an asked, her voice quiet.
"Yes, I am!" Zhao Renshu laughed hysterically. "I am very happy you are not the bride!"
"Then... Why are you upset?" Ping'an pressed.
Zhao Renshu calmed down a bit. "I am upset that he cheated me on our promise." He violently put the two bags he had packed back on the floor.
Ping'an pulled him to sit next to her.
Ping'an held his hands. "He once said he is not like you. He envied you very much." She put her hands on each side of his face and kissed him on his forehead. "He is not like us. He has a family and has the responsibility of being the eldest son."
"Let's go home," Zhao Renshu sighed deeply.
"Let's go home," Ping'an smiled at him, a sense of peace in her voice.
"I mean now," Zhao Renshu clarified.
"Now, we will sleep under some tree somewhere on the road," Ping'an chuckled.
Zhao Renshu chuckled disappointedly.
"I prefer the positive Zhao Renshu, not the angry Zhao Renshu," Ping'an teased.
"I prefer the Ping'an who could take away my anger with just a smile," Zhao Renshu replied, smiling back at her.