Chapter 318 - 319: A Ladle of Cold Water

Gu Sanlang nodded. "Alright, I’ll listen to you, sis."

The family boarded the carriage, and Gu Fei once again gave detailed instructions on how to use the medicine pills and the golden sore medicine. Before long, they arrived at the meeting point outside the city.

A vast, open space teemed with people. Some were crying, some were laughing, and others were wiping away tears.

Mrs. Chen held onto Sanlang, fussing over him with last-minute instructions, while Gu Zhang and Gu Qing found Sanlang’s superior, Mr. Shangguan, and secretly slipped him a fifty-tael silver note.

The commotion lasted for a short while before the new recruits were assembled, and the families seeing them off had to leave.

The members of the Gu Family departed, looking back with every step. Little Cao watched her third uncle, crying so hard she could barely breathe.

After seeing Sanlang off, Mrs. Chen fell ill. For the next several days, Gu Fei ran back and forth between home and the city.

Gu Fei was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief once Mrs. Chen recovered.

That afternoon, Gu Fei was sitting behind the counter, the warm, early-summer breeze making her drowsy.

The sound of urgent hoofbeats startled Gu Fei awake. She looked up and out the door to see a magnificent black horse stopped at the entrance. A young man in armor sat astride it.

Xiao Yu’s gaze cut through the room like a beam of light in a dense fog, landing directly and intensely on Gu Fei’s face.

Her face was fairer and more delicate than the finest Mutton Fat Jade, making it impossible to look away.

Xiao Yu was mesmerized for a moment. ’It hasn’t even been that long,’ he thought, ’but she’s become even more beautiful.’

Stone reminded him from behind, "Young Master Heir, perhaps you should dismount first?"

The tips of Xiao Yu’s ears turned red, and he hastily dismounted.

Gu Fei had also come out from behind the counter by now. She slowly gave Xiao Yu a curtsy. "You’ve had a long journey, Young Master Heir."

Xiao Yu opened his mouth to speak, but looking at Gu Fei’s breathtakingly beautiful face, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Gu Fei took out the Token Xiao Yu had given her. "Since you have returned, Young Master Heir, I should give this Token back to you."

’She had figured things out since that day. In the future, she couldn’t rely on Xiao Yu as a powerful backer. It was a shame, but she never wanted to experience what happened at the Prince Qi Mansion again.’

Xiao Yu’s gaze finally fell to the Token. "You don’t need to return it. Since I gave it to you, it’s yours to keep."

Gu Fei lowered her gaze. "I cannot. Please, Young Master Heir, take the Token back."

Xiao Yu looked at Gu Fei, with her downcast eyes and placid expression, and a strange irritation welled up inside him. ’Every word she says is laced with such distance. She wasn’t like this when I left.’

Ignoring him, Gu Fei reached out and handed the Token to Stone.

Stone awkwardly accepted the Token, stealing a glance at Xiao Yu.

Gu Fei curtsied once more. "There is one other thing. Although you have saved me several times, Young Master Heir, and I am endlessly grateful for it, I must ask that you no longer come to my shop in the future."

Xiao Yu suspected he had misheard. "What did you say?"

"I am asking that you never come here again, Young Master Heir," Gu Fei said slowly and clearly.

A vein throbbed in Xiao Yu’s temple. He glared at Gu Fei. "Do you have any idea what you’re saying?"

Gu Fei kept her eyes downcast. "I do. Please forgive me, Young Master Heir. This humble girl—"

Before she could finish, Xiao Yu let out an infuriated laugh. "Well, aren’t you something, Gu Fei? Is there anywhere in this entire Ping’an City that I am not allowed to go?"

"You tell me not to come? Then I’ll make it a point to come!"

He slammed his palm down on the counter. "Get me a Heavenly Room, right now! I’m going to take a bath!"

"And another thing! Bring me a table of your most expensive dishes, and I want *you* to be the one to cook them!"

Gu Fei stood frozen in place. Lian’er watched from a distance, not daring to approach.