The summer sun was scorching. Gradually, the chirping of cicadas came from the trees outside the window. It was probably getting dark. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the eaves red, and everything in sight seemed to be veiled in a light mist. Meng Ruyi thought it was about time and planned to take Song Huaizhi to pick up Zhang Yunyun. Unexpectedly, just as they stepped out of the door, the door next door opened too. Meng Ruyi locked eyes with Gu Ling, who was sneaking out quietly. For a moment, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Hey!" Gu Ling, who had deliberately kept a straight face, broke into a smile the moment he saw them. He said loudly, "Let's go! Judging from how you look now, you're about to do something big. Take me with you! It'll be easier to handle things!"
After saying that, he patted his chest and said to the inside, "Steward, I saw you. Don't worry. I'm going out with Young Master Song and Sister Ruyi now!"
Meng Ruyi was in awe of Gu Ling's audacity. Before she could say anything, she saw the steward, looking a bit embarrassed, following Gu Ling out. When he saw the two of them, he said respectfully, "Miss Meng, Young Master Song. I'll leave our young master in your care."
Sure enough, he was a proper steward!
Gu Ling looked at the steward's words to Meng Ruyi and Song Huaizhi with satisfaction and gave him an appreciative look. Then he continued, "Let's go! Don't let me hold up the show!"
As he said that, in his eagerness, he almost reached out to tug at Song Huaizhi's sleeve. But halfway through, he suddenly remembered who was in front of him. So his outstretched hand froze and he quickly retracted it, smiling awkwardly as if to cover it up.
Meng Ruyi could tell that he was in a hurry to get rid of the steward and go out. So she nodded and said, "Let's go."
Gu Ling's status was indeed useful. Taking him along might even bring unexpected gains. Since the steward had spoken, it meant that Gu Ling could go out with them without upsetting his parents.
It would be a waste not to use his help!
Hearing this, Gu Ling raised his eyebrows triumphantly at the steward and then followed the two of them, unable to hide the smile on his face.
"Does Mrs. Gu not allow you to go out?" Meng Ruyi asked uneasily. "What's going on?"
"It's okay, it's okay." Gu Ling waved his hand and said, "My mother and the others are worried that I might accidentally attract some romantic entanglements. A few officials had their eyes on me a few days ago and sent me maidens."
Gu Ling talked about this matter in a relaxed tone, looking completely gloating. "Hahaha, you guys didn't see it. My father's face turned as black as coal. Hahaha, I've never seen my father that angry!"
"So my mother and the others have been worried that someone might scheme against me recently and don't let me go out." After Gu Ling finished speaking, he added, "But it's okay to go out with you guys. My mother trusts you."
Meng Ruyi watched as the bullet comments burst into laughter and couldn't help but give Song Huaizhi a knowing look.
[I'm dying of laughter. Hahaha, Gu Ling is such a naive young man. It's like throwing a flirtatious look at a fool.]
[This silly boy... (hesitating) Forget it. It's better than being a playboy. (sighing)]
[I really like Gu Ling, this cute and naive young man. He always gives me the feeling that he's easy to deceive.]
Song Huaizhi had been silent all this time. Seeing the look Meng Ruyi gave him, he couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
Gu Ling was still giggling foolishly. Hearing the soft laugh, he looked at Song Huaizhi and lowered his voice to ask, "I'm still young, and my marriage will have to wait until I get back to the capital. What about you, Brother Song?"
As he said this, Gu Ling glanced at Meng Ruyi and then leaned over to her ear curiously and said, "Sister Ruyi, does Brother Song have a sweetheart?"
Meng Ruyi instinctively tried to keep a distance from Gu Ling when he leaned in. But she was stunned on the spot by his words.
Thousands of thoughts flashed through her mind, and countless images passed before her eyes. But on the surface, she remained calm and simply said lightly, "How would I know? I'm not Brother Song."
"You can't say that!" Gu Ling pouted disapprovingly and said to Meng Ruyi, "Everyone knows that Brother Song dotes on you, his little cousin, the most. If you don't know, who else would?"
[... Hesitating. I...]
[This, this! Is Gu Ling being stupid?!]
[Me: Gu Ling, please use your brain!
Gu Ling: Brain? What brain?]
[Hahaha, the sister above is killing me. Has Gu Ling noticed that he always seems so redundant when he shows up and is like a light bulb blinding people's eyes?]
Meng Ruyi was successfully taken aback by Gu Ling. The look in her eyes when she looked at Gu Ling was a bit complicated. Somehow, she felt that Gu Ling was also quite cute.
Over the years, this guy had grown up quickly. Meng Ruyi had also heard that he occasionally helped General Gu and the others deal with things. But in some aspects, Gu Ling seemed to have never grown up at all. Everything he said was filled with his characteristic recklessness.
Which older brother would tell his younger sister every little thought of his in detail!
As soon as the words were out, Gu Ling saw Meng Ruyi's hesitant expression and immediately realized that there seemed to be something wrong with what he had said. But he couldn't figure out what it was for a moment. So he smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.
"Cough cough cough, I was just talking nonsense." Gu Ling could feel Song Huaizhi's knife-like gaze on him again. So he quickly explained to the two of them, "I'm just curious."
After saying this, Gu Ling still seemed a bit dissatisfied and mumbled softly, "I'm just curious. Brother Song is like a being from another world. He doesn't seem to be touched by the mundane world. I'm just curious about what kind of fairy could capture his heart."
Hearing this, Meng Ruyi paused slightly in her steps and then casually glanced at Song Huaizhi.
Unexpectedly, Song Huaizhi was looking at her. His eyes were deep, as if gathering some faint clouds, like a wild beast eyeing its prey.
When Song Huaizhi saw Meng Ruyi looking at him, he was also startled. Then he adjusted his expression and gave the young girl a gentle smile.
Meng Ruyi nodded, thinking that she must have been mistaken.
...
The atmosphere became a bit subtle after that. Gu Ling belatedly realized that he might have brought up an inappropriate topic. So he couldn't help but suppress his smile and silently followed the two of them towards Zhang Yunyun's uncle's house.
Now the sky was gradually getting dark. Looking up into the distance, one could see that the evening glow on the horizon had dyed the clouds purple.
Gu Ling looked at the sky for a while and didn't notice his feet. He almost tripped himself up. A stumble attracted the attention of the two of them.
He came back to his senses awkwardly and then tried hard to start a conversation. "Where are you going, Sister Ruyi?"
"To pick up Yunyun."
"Zhang Yunyun?" Gu Ling raised his eyebrows and asked curiously, "What happened to her?"
"The situation is a bit complicated." After Meng Ruyi finished speaking, she explained the whole thing to Gu Ling.
As Gu Ling listened, his face became increasingly ugly. In the end, he even looked indignant. "This! Her father is really a scoundrel!"