The lovers lay side by side on the bed. Zhao Renshu lay on the edge of the bed, Ping'an in the middle, and Guo Baiyu by the wall. Ping'an turned to look at Guo Baiyu's handsome and flawless face. Due to Zhao Renshu's punch and their passionate kissing and sucking, the corners of Guo Baiyu's mouth were a little bruised, and his lips were swollen.
Ping'an reached out her hand and stroked his injured lips. "Does it hurt?"
Guo Baiyu held her hand and slid it to his left chest. "This, it hurts more," he said, smiling at her faintly.
"I'm sorry, but I don't regret beating you," Zhao Renshu interjected, his voice still holding a hint of annoyance.
"This makes no sense," Ping'an frowned.
"It does," Zhao Renshu insisted.
"How?" Ping'an prompted.
"I'm sorry for bruising his fair and flawless skin," Zhao Renshu explained. "I don't regret punching him."
"That still doesn't explain why you punched him," Ping'an pointed out.
"I punched him because I felt he was lying to me," Zhao Renshu clarified. "Before you chose one of us, we made a promise that the other wouldn't take advantage of you."
"You have done an excellent job for two and a half years," Ping'an said, turning and kissing his cheek.
"I'm sorry, I have never visited you two," Guo Baiyu interjected, his voice soft. "I was thinking if I never visited you two, I would slowly forget."
"Then the longer you stayed away, the more you missed us," Zhao Renshu countered.
"I don't miss you. I only miss her," Guo Baiyu stated firmly.
"Brother, don't lie to me. You miss me too. I can feel it," Zhao Renshu protested.
"Don't talk nonsense," Guo Baiyu scoffed.
"No, I am not talking nonsense," Zhao Renshu insisted, his voice sincere. "I am being completely honest. I miss you, but not like Ping'an misses you. I miss you as a family member. I think this is because I don't have a family... To me, you and Ping'an are my family."
"What he wants to say is that he loves you, but not sexually," Ping'an clarified, a small smile playing on her lips.
Ping'an, Guo Baiyu, and Zhao Renshu all laughed.
"I feel the same way," Guo Baiyu admitted.
"Are you really going to marry that woman?" Zhao Renshu asked, his tone suddenly serious.
Guo Baiyu exhaled. "I don't want to marry her because I don't love her. She will eventually be hurt because of me, but if I don't... my father will be angry and may possibly disown me. I really don't know what to do. I wholeheartedly want to be like this for the rest of my life." He reached out and held Ping'an's hand. "I hope they can accept this, but it is a desperate hope."
"There are still two months away," Zhao Renshu mused. "We will think of some plans."
Shan suddenly walked in through the front door. He stood motionless by the table. "Renshu," he said coldly, his voice making the lovers sit up and stare at the door.
Zhao Renshu was taken aback. "Lao Shan...!" he exclaimed angrily. "You scared the hell out of me!"
Shan looked at the lovers and shook his head. "Children nowadays... remember, wear clothes when you sleep. Just in case of a fire, you don't want to escape naked."
"Oh... Lao Shan can also make a joke," Zhao Renshu chuckled, smiling at Ping'an and Guo Baiyu. "What is it?"
"Go west. It is a two days' walk from here," Shan said. "There is a small town that needs your help."
"How much is it?" Zhao Renshu asked, already thinking of the reward.
"Zero," Shan said coldly.
Zhao Renshu couldn't believe it. He complained, "I think I have been working for free recently."
"You just got paid ten thousand silver ingots, and your treasure cave is full of silver and gold," Shan replied with a blank face. "You are as rich as any upper-class individual, or perhaps richer, but you choose to peacefully live inside Peach Blossom Valley. Besides, I want to remind you, Master Zhao..."
Zhao Renshu interrupted Shan. "Alright... Alright.... You can stop... I will take a good rest and leave tomorrow."
Shan disappeared before their eyes.
"Baiyu, I need to tell you something," Zhao Renshu said, turning to Guo Baiyu.
"What?" Guo Baiyu prompted.
Zhao Renshu yawned. "I have never had a real good friend or brother. Everyone who knows me either wants me to die or wants something from me. I do regard you as my best friend and my good brother."
"Me too," Guo Baiyu replied, his voice soft. "That's why it's hard for me to let you two go."
After a long pause, Zhao Renshu asked, "Then are we good?"
"I wasn't mad at you anyway," Guo Baiyu replied with a slight smile.
"Good... I need to sleep because tomorrow I am heading out," Zhao Renshu said.
"You mean we are going out," Guo Baiyu corrected.
"Are you going to go with us? What about your wedding?" Zhao Renshu asked, surprised.
"I have two months left," Guo Baiyu smiled. "When we cross the bridge, we will talk about it."
"Right..... Good night, dear," Zhao Renshu said, kissing Ping'an's right temple. "Good night, brother." He patted Guo Baiyu's left hand and held Ping'an close.
"Good night," Guo Baiyu replied, kissing Ping'an's left temple.
"Good night," Ping'an whispered, nestled between them.
The two men turned around and embraced Ping'an in their arms.
Early the next morning, a few knocks on the door woke up Zhao Renshu.
"Young master," Xiao Mei's voice called softly from outside.
Zhao Renshu closed his eyes, yawned, and murmured, "Stupid little sister." He turned to the left to embrace Ping'an, but the bed was empty. He sat up quickly in a panic and lifted the blanket. He almost walked to the door, but he realized that he was still naked. Shaking his head at his own stupidity, he recalled Shan's words: "Remember, wear clothes when you sleep, just in case of a fire, you don't want to escape naked." He looked at the table where the clothes were neatly folded. He quickly got dressed.
Xiao Mei knocked again. "Young master."
Zhao Renshu opened the door. "Where are they?"
"Master Zhao, they are waiting for you in the dining hall," Xiao Mei replied.
"They didn't wake me up," Zhao Renshu muttered, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"Sister Ping'an said that you are tired lately, so they let you sleep," Xiao Mei explained gently.
Zhao Renshu put his arm around Xiao Mei. "Little sister, please don't call me young master. Call me Brother Renshu or Brother Zhao." He shook his head. "But it's definitely not Young Master Zhao."
Xiao Mei's face turned red. "Brother Renshu, are you not disgusted by my appearance?"
"There is nothing wrong with you. Why should I be disgusted?" Zhao Renshu replied genuinely.
Xiao Mei smiled sadly. "No one treats me well except my young master. When people see me, they will spit at me or throw stones at me. I was a nameless child until I met my young master."
"Hey... Hey..." Zhao Renshu comforted her, his arm still around her. He patted her on the head with his other hand. "It doesn't matter where your beginning started, kid. From now on, you must live your life to the fullest, because that is the most important part of life. If anyone dares to spit at you or throw stones at you, I will hit them very hard." He clenched his fist and showed it to her. They walked into the dining hall.
"Brother Renshu..." Xiao Mei said shyly. "May I ask?"
"Ask?" Zhao Renshu prompted.
"Do you and my young master both like Sister Ping'an?" Xiao Mei ventured.
"Why do you want to know?" Zhao Renshu teased. "You are still a child. Stay in the children's world."
"I'm at the door..." Xiao Mei began.
Zhao Renshu quickly covered her crooked mouth with his left hand.
"It's very complicated..." Zhao Renshu whispered. "Now you know, are you disgusted at us?"
"No," Xiao Mei replied immediately. "I think Sister Ping'an is very lucky."
"You know that your sister Ping'an was a lot like you growing up," Zhao Renshu encouraged Xiao Mei. "Remember this, kid, never judge books by their title, okay..."
Xiao Mei nodded. Zhao Renshu smiled at her.
"I am fourteen, and I am no longer a child," Xiao Mei stated, a touch of defiance in her voice.
"You are much younger than me, so you are still a child," Zhao Renshu laughed.
Guo Baiyu and Ping'an sat at the dining table, watching people enter and leave the inn while drinking tea. Ping'an saw Zhao Renshu and Xiao Mei walk towards them, his arm around Xiao Mei.
Zhao Renshu sat beside Ping'an, opposite Guo Baiyu. Guo Baiyu poured him a cup of tea. Xiao Mei stood behind Guo Baiyu.
"Little sister, why are you standing?" Zhao Renshu looked up at her.
"I am a maid," Xiao Mei replied. "According to the rules of the Guo family, a maid must not sit at the same table as the master."
"Sit down," Zhao Renshu insisted. "We are not dining at Guo's residence, and their rules do not apply to us."
Xiao Mei firmly refused.
"Leave her be," Guo Baiyu interjected softly. "That is the only habit that I can't change."
"Little sister, if you respect me and treat me as a brother, please sit down," Zhao Renshu pleaded.
"Sit down, Xiao Mei," Guo Baiyu urged. "We are not at home."
"Xiao Mei, please sit down," Ping'an added, her voice gentle.
She still refused.
"You are really stubborn," Zhao Renshu frowned, shaking his head. "Little sister, look at me." Xiao Mei looked at Zhao Renshu. Zhao Renshu stared into her eyes. He blinked twice, then winked his left eye at her. "Sit here." He tapped the table three times. Xiao Mei walked over and sat down.
"Renshu, no forcing," Ping'an chided playfully.
"I didn't force it," Zhao Renshu retorted, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I was hungry. She was wasting my mealtime."
Xiao Mei couldn't believe it. She tried to get up but her butt was glued onto the chair. "I can't get up! How is this possible?" she exclaimed in disbelief.
"Little sister, I told you before, don't judge a book by its title, okay?" Zhao Renshu grinned.
Ping'an smiled. "He put a charm spell on you. It doesn't matter, just sit there and eat. Unless he releases the spell, you won't be able to go anywhere."
"Sorry, young master..." Xiao Mei murmured, "I broke the family rules."
Guo Baiyu smiled and shook his head. Ping'an picked up the two men's chopsticks with both hands at the same time. She picked a piece of chicken on each chopstick and placed it in their bowls. Then she handed the two pairs of chopsticks to the men. They both gave her a smile, and each picked a piece of chicken and put it in her bowl.
"Young master, this is the first time I see you so happy," Xiao Mei observed.
"Is he always grumpy?" Zhao Renshu asked, picking a piece of chicken and putting it in Xiao Mei's bowl.
"No, just not this kind of happiness," Xiao Mei clarified.
"Xiao Mei, I am heading out with them for a couple of days," Guo Baiyu said. "After breakfast, you will go home and let my father know."
"Then come back here to defend our room for us," Zhao Renshu chewed his food, already planning. "I have a lot of goodies there. I'm afraid the waiter will steal it or throw it away."
"Do as he say," Guo Baiyu instructed Xiao Mei.
Xiao Mei nodded.
Guo Yingyu and the Wu sisters were worried about Guo Baiyu because he had not returned home since last night. In the morning, the three of them and their maids decided to return to the inn and look for Guo Baiyu. They met Xiao Mei in the dining hall. She was sitting at the table.
"Brother Renshu, sitting for two hours is a very long time," Xiao Mei murmured to herself, still stuck.
Guo Yingyu and the Wu sisters entered the inn, and they saw Xiao Mei sitting at a table alone. Guo Yingyu and the Wu sisters walked to Xiao Mei.
"Xiao Mei, where is Baiyu?" Guo Yingyu asked.
"I'm sorry, Second Young Master, I can't stand up," Xiao Mei replied. "The young master has gone out. He said to tell you that he will be back in a few days."
"Where did he go?" Guo Yingyu pressed.
"He didn't tell me," Xiao Mei replied simply.
"What are we going to do?" Wu Meixiang asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Sister, don't worry," Wu Meirong reassured her.
"Where did they go?" Guo Yingyu asked again, his frustration growing.
"West," Xiao Mei replied.
"There is only one town from here to the west," Guo Yingyu deduced. "It is Sunshine Town. It is a two days' walk from here. Xiao Mei, how long has he been gone?"
"About an hour ago," Xiao Mei said.
"Go get me a horse," Wu Meixiang commanded one of her maids.
"Sister, are you chasing him?" Wu Meirong asked, surprised.
"I am worried that he may be in danger," Wu Meixiang stated firmly.
"Get me a horse too," Wu Meirong said.
"Me too," Guo Yingyu added.
When the horses and bags arrived, the spell cast on Xiao Mei disappeared. The three masters got on their horses.
"Xiao Mei, tell father that we are going after Baiyu," Guo Yingyu instructed.
The three masters rode their horses out of the city, a new pursuit beginning.