However, Ranran noticed that Xu Maozhi, who had been constantly hovering around her, didn't show up for two or three days this time. She stamped her feet in anger and couldn't help scolding, "It'd be better if you never come again!"
This guy even asked for leave from the academy's classes. Could something have happened to him?
Could it be that he was heart - broken because of her father's refusal?
This latter thought made Ranran a bit sad.
At this age, she was naturally prone to overthinking. Coupled with her quick mind, she even imagined scenarios where Xu Maozhi was fickle - minded and irresponsible.
She didn't blame her father. After all, when a family has a daughter, there are many suitors. It was only natural to hold oneself in high regard.
She only hated Xu Maozhi. He pretended to be at a loss and claimed his love was as firm as gold in front of her, but in the end, he ran away faster than anyone else.
Ranran even couldn't help thinking whether the change in Xu Maozhi's attitude had something to do with Yi Qing's incident.
Did he think that Yi Qing's abduction was such a serious matter that he would also look down on her?
Thinking of this, Ranran felt really bad.
If that was really the case, then he could just get as far away as possible and never come back. She looked down on such a person.
But why was she feeling so sad?
Cao Ranran, you're not allowed to be so spineless!
No, she must ask him face - to - face about this. If Xu Maozhi was really a petty scumbag, she would surely slap him and then tell him that he was out!
So Ranran asked for half a day's leave without telling her parents and secretly went straight to the Xu Mansion.
The gatekeeper didn't recognize her. Seeing that her dressing was just that of an ordinary young lady, he said, "My master won't see any outsiders these days. If you have something to say, leave a visiting card. After he's done with his business and sees it, if he wants to meet you, he'll send someone to your mansion with a reply."
Did he mean not seeing outsiders or just not seeing her? Ranran couldn't help thinking.
Just then, someone else also came to seek an audience, and the gatekeeper gave the same answer. This somewhat dispelled her doubts.
Could it be that Xu Maozhi had some important business to attend to at the Supreme Court these days?
He was the vice - minister of the Supreme Court and the backbone of it. It seemed that he couldn't always be idle.
Thinking like this, Ranran said, "Please help me leave a message. Just say that Cao Ranran has come to see him."
The gatekeeper casually agreed, but then he seemed to be electrocuted. "What? Could you please say that again? Your surname is...?"
"My surname is Cao."
"Oh dear," the gatekeeper's attitude immediately did a 180 - degree turn. "You're Miss Cao!"
Everyone in the mansion knew that their master had recently been crazy about a young lady from the Cao family.
"You know me?" Ranran asked suspiciously.
The gatekeeper said, "Not only me, but everyone in the mansion knows you!"
She was the future mistress of the mansion.
They just didn't expect her to look so young; an old man chasing a young girl, tut - tut.
But anyway, the gatekeeper wanted to curry favor with Ranran, so he even changed his self - reference.
Ranran blushed slightly, showing a bit of shyness.
This stupid Xu. Their relationship hadn't even started properly, and he had already told the people in the mansion?
She knew she should be angry, but she just couldn't control the sweet feeling in her heart.
"How did you know?"
"Because the master has been causing a ruckus in the mansion!" the gatekeeper complained bitterly. "There are only a few servants in our mansion, and each of us has to do the work of several people. Although there's only one master in the mansion, the place is big! These days, the master has been constantly changing the plaques everywhere, saying that he wants to inlay both your name and his on them. We all said it wasn't a good idea, but he just wouldn't listen. As soon as they were hung up, he said you would be angry, and then he took them all down huffily and chopped them up for firewood. Whose silver comes easily..."
Listening to the gatekeeper constantly pouring out his grievances and complaints, Ranran found it both annoying and funny.
But Xu Maozhi's emphasis on her became beyond doubt.
It seemed that she had wrongly blamed him. There must have been some major cases recently.
Thinking of this, Ranran originally wanted to ask, but then she thought that it might be confidential and she shouldn't ask. So she said, "Don't mention that I've been here. After your master is done with his work, he will naturally go to the academy. Don't disturb him while he's on duty."
The gatekeeper nodded repeatedly and praised Ranran highly, "Miss Cao is really understanding."
Ranran was a bit embarrassed by his praise. Just as she was about to leave, the gate was opened, and two charming women came out.
Both women were about fifteen or sixteen years old, with outstanding looks, bright eyes, and skin as smooth as coagulated fat. Even their hands holding the round fans were fair and delicate, not to mention the large expanse of cleavage squeezed out by their high - waisted ruffled skirts.
These two were obviously women from the entertainment industry at a glance.
They were chatting and laughing, acting as if no one else was around, and ignoring both the gatekeeper and Ranran.
The gatekeeper knew something was wrong as soon as he saw Ranran's face. He quickly said, "Hey, you two. The master invited you here to assist in the investigation. After you've answered the questions, get out of here quickly. Stop making so much noise!"
"This doorkeeper is so fierce. Lord Xu was so kind to us sisters," said the woman in green.
As women who had been through the entertainment world, they had sharp tongues.
The other woman in red covered her lips and laughed, "Lord Xu is really excellent. He must be a considerate man in bed too."
Ranran couldn't bear it any longer. She spat and scolded, "What a dirty thing you are! How dare you covet Xu Maozhi!"
The red - dressed woman looked at her in surprise, then gave her a sideways glance. "I don't dare. Who do you think you are? Tut - tut. Judging from your dressing, you must be from the countryside."
The green - dressed woman giggled, "Maybe you're a poor relative who came here to ask for handouts. Do you want big sister to give you some alms?"
"You two get out of here quickly!" Seeing that Ranran was so angry that her face was red, the gatekeeper quickly said, "This is the future mistress of Lord Xu. If you keep barking nonsense, we'll revoke your entertainment licenses later and let your parents starve!"
Only then did the two women stop talking and slink away.
Ranran turned around and was about to leave too.
How could the gatekeeper let her go like this? He quickly said, "Wait, hey, Miss Cao, wait. There's really a misunderstanding about this. These two really came here just to assist in the investigation."
He felt that if this misunderstanding continued, his master's future wife would fly away.
Ranran also knew that what he said was probably true, but there was an inexplicable fire in her heart, and she felt very aggrieved.
But she managed to hold back. She forced a smile and said to the gatekeeper, "I know. I just suddenly remembered that I had something to do at home, so I'll leave first."
She could quarrel with Xu Maozhi as much as she wanted, but she didn't want to make a fool of herself in public.
The gatekeeper said, "Hey, this is really a misunderstanding!"
As he was speaking, the gate was opened again.
"Lao Peng, who are you talking to?" Xu Maozhi popped his head out.
His hair was messy, and his eye - circles were dark. Seeing Ranran, he rubbed his eyes. "Am I seeing things? Ranran, you're here?"
Then he came out from inside.
He was only wearing an inner robe, which was loose, and the buttons were even fastened wrong.
The gatekeeper: "..."
Now it was really impossible to clear one's name!