Chapter 196: Lan Zhi Left Alone

Perhaps the heavens were moved by Gu Fei’s prayers, as the sound of hooves didn’t linger and gradually faded away.

Lian’er watched until the horses were far in the distance before calling out to Gu Fei, "Miss, they’re gone."

Gu Fei clutched her chest. "Thank goodness. That scared me to death."

After they finished their sweet dumplings, Gu Fei and Lian’er had just gotten to their feet when Lian’er pointed across the street. "Isn’t that Lan Zhi?"

Gu Fei looked over and saw Lan Zhi standing under a lantern. Across from her stood a young gentleman.

The gentleman was dressed in a jade-colored robe. He was tall and slender with a fair complexion, and he was holding a handkerchief.

Lan Zhi’s head was bowed, her face flushed crimson as she said something to him.

Gu Fei quickly walked over with Lian’er.

Lan Zhi was growing frantic. When she looked up and saw Gu Fei, her eyes filled with delight. She pointed at the gentleman before her and stammered, "He... this gentleman picked up my handkerchief and refuses to give it back."

Gu Fei looked at the handkerchief in the gentleman’s hand. A white magnolia was embroidered on the pink silk—it was the very one Lan Zhi had finished embroidering just two days ago.

The gentleman sized Gu Fei up, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. He smiled and gave her a slight bow. "Greetings, miss."

Gu Fei gave a small smile. "That handkerchief does indeed belong to my sister. Would you be so kind as to return it, sir?"

The gentleman chuckled. "I had no intention of keeping the young lady’s handkerchief. I simply saw that the magnolia was embroidered with such life and couldn’t help but ask a question or two."

He held out the handkerchief to Lan Zhi, who quickly took it and tucked it into her sash.

Gu Fei gave the man a curtsy. "Thank you, sir."

Then she pulled Lan Zhi away.

After they had walked some distance, Gu Fei glanced back. The gentleman was still standing there, watching them from afar.

Gu Fei asked Lan Zhi, "How did you end up alone? Wasn’t Brother with you?"

Lan Zhi’s face reddened. "We were together, but he... he went into a shop to buy me something. I was waiting for him on the street."

"But then a lion dance troupe came by, followed by a huge crowd. I got swept along and pushed far away. The troupe just went that way, so I was about to go back to find Er Lang when I realized my handkerchief was missing. I was looking all over for it when I saw that man holding it."

Lan Zhi pouted. "I asked him for it, but he refused and just kept asking me all these questions."

Gu Fei’s lips twitched. ’Silly girl,’ she thought, ’he’s obviously taken a liking to you.’

"Then let’s go find Brother."

The three of them hadn’t gone far before they saw Gu Erlang standing by the side of the street, anxiously looking around.

Gu Fei called out, "Brother—!"

Gu Erlang glanced in their direction and immediately dashed over. He started chiding Lan Zhi, "Where did you run off to? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at the door? Do you have any idea how worried I was when I came out and you were gone?"

Gu Fei silently rolled her eyes. ’My brother really puts his love life before his own sister.’

’Here I am, a living, breathing person, and my brother acts like I’m invisible.’

’Right, best not to interrupt their date.’ Gu Fei tugged on Lian’er’s sleeve and whispered, "Let’s go."

The two of them wandered along, stopping here and there to watch the dragon and lion dances and all sorts of street performers. It wasn’t until the moon was high in the sky that they finally headed back to the inn.

As soon as they reached the inn, they saw Gu Zhang pacing back and forth by the main entrance.

The moment he saw Gu Fei, Gu Zhang let out a long sigh of relief. "You’re finally back!"

"You silly girl, why are you only just getting back? If you’d been any later, I was about to go search all over the streets for you."

Gu Fei stuck out her tongue playfully. "I lost track of the hour."

Gu Fei quickly followed Gu Zhang inside. As they reached the door of a room, she could hear Mrs. Chen’s low, angry voice from within. "Every last one of you thinks only of himself! I told you to look after your sister, and you—"