Chapter 328: Willing to Be Used by You

Xiao Yu stopped in his tracks and snorted. "I never take back a gift I’ve given. If you don’t want it, just throw it away."

Gu Fei said helplessly, "Young Master Heir, one shouldn’t be rewarded without merit. I’m always on the receiving end of your generosity, and it feels... it feels like I’m taking advantage of you."

Xiao Yu looked deeply at Gu Fei. "Then take advantage of me all you want. I’m willing."

She hadn’t expected him to say something so sudden. Her heart skipped a beat, and she didn’t dare to ponder the meaning behind his words. Instead, her cheeks flushed a faint red, and she flusteredly avoided his gaze.

Xiao Yu’s gaze lingered on her flushed cheeks before moving down to her slender neck, which had also turned a faint, pinkish hue against her fair skin. His Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. He leaned forward, then abruptly pulled back, clenched his fists, and strode quickly out the door.

Watching his retreating back, Gu Fei let out a long sigh of relief. For some reason, Xiao Yu’s presence felt intensely overwhelming today, and she had found herself on edge several times.

After a busy day, as evening fell and the city gates were about to close, a carriage stopped at the shop’s entrance. Gu Fei saw Mr. Huang get out and turn to help a woman down.

It was Que’er, who had been missing for days.

Gu Fei stood up, pleasantly surprised. "Mr. Huang, congratulations!"

Mr. Huang supported Que’er as they walked in. Que’er was wearing a filthy, coarse cloth dress, and her hair was a tangled mess.

As soon as they entered, Que’er knelt before Gu Fei. Old Huang said from the side, "She said on the way here that she had to kowtow to you as soon as she returned, to thank you for your immense kindness."

Gu Fei quickly came out from behind the counter. "Please, don’t! You’re with child, you shouldn’t be doing this."

The moment she said it, she realized her slip of the tongue; she had no idea if Que’er was even still pregnant.

Old Huang helped Que’er to her feet. "I’ll take her back to bathe first. I’ll come speak with you later, Shopkeeper."

Gu Fei called out, "Tie Niu, fetch a few buckets of hot water and send them to Mr. Huang’s room."

A short while later, after settling Que’er in, Mr. Huang came out.

Gu Fei brewed a cup of tea and served it to him. "Did Que’er suffer much while she was away?"

Mr. Huang shook his head. "You couldn’t say she suffered."

"That day, she was at the entrance buying sour apricots. A carriage pulled up, someone covered her mouth, and they forced her inside."

"Then she was taken to the countryside, over a hundred li away, and sold for two taels of Silver to a family to be a wife."

Gu Fei’s heart clenched. ’Doesn’t that mean Que’er was...?’

Old Huang said frankly, "Que’er’s body is no longer ’pure,’ but I don’t care about that. She was smart. She never told them she was pregnant. In any case, she’s not far along, so it isn’t noticeable."

"So, thankfully, the child is safe."

"Today, after much difficulty, I finally found the place. It cost me ten taels of silver to buy her back."

Gu Fei nodded. "As long as she’s back, that’s what matters. It’s good that you don’t care about such things. It shows you’re a wise man."

Old Huang laughed heartily. "I’ve lived to my age and seen so much. What is there left not to understand?"

As he spoke, he took a deed from his robes. "I wrote this up last night. All you need to do is press your thumbprint, Miss. Tomorrow, I’ll have a Ya Zi take it to the government office to be stamped."

Gu Fei thought for a moment. She had poured a great deal of effort into renovating and decorating this inn. It would be wonderful to get the deed; otherwise, she would always worry that the owner might one day decide not to let her operate the business anymore.

She nodded and readily pressed her thumbprint.

Mr. Huang carefully put the deed away, then took a silver note from his robes, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Gu Fei.