The gatekeeper almost burst into tears looking at Xu Maozhi's debauched and unrestrained appearance.
Those who knew him would say that he had been exhausted, staying up all night to solve cases with single - minded dedication. But those who didn't know would surely think wrongly, especially after seeing those two women just come out of there. It was hard not to misunderstand.
Sure enough, when Ran Ran saw his state, a mist immediately covered her eyes. She stamped her foot hard and turned around to run.
"Hey, Ran Ran, don't run!" Xu Maozhi got anxious. He chased after her in his disheveled clothes.
Ran Ran ran, and Xu Maozhi chased. They ran for about two li, from the quiet front of Xu's Mansion to the bustling and lively street.
The on - lookers were all excited at this scene. "The moral values are declining. In broad daylight, he dares to abduct a civilian girl!"
What was even more infuriating was that such a weakling dared to do such a thing. Didn't this encourage everyone to act bravely for a just cause?
So, Xu Maozhi was quickly subdued. Ran Ran ran a long way before she found that he had been knocked to the ground and couldn't move.
Ran Ran: "..."
She wanted to harden her heart and leave, but in the end, she just couldn't. She came back and braved the strange looks of the crowd. "It's a misunderstanding. We're just playing around."
Xu Maozhi was lying on the ground. Hearing her voice, he looked up at her with a smile like a husky, not even aware of the dust on his face.
"Ran..."
"Shut up!" Ran Ran snapped. "Get up and come with me. If you dare to say another word, I'll never talk to you again!"
Xu Maozhi: "Burp... No no no, Ran Ran, I didn't say anything. This doesn't count."
"Shut up!" Ran Ran pulled him up and, under the mocking or accusing looks of the crowd, dragged him back like the wind.
Finally, they were back in a secluded place, both out of breath.
Xu Maozhi looked at their clasped hands. It was as if he had eaten a ginseng fruit, and every pore on his body felt comfortable.
Ran Ran saw his look and shook off his hand forcefully, then turned around to leave.
"Don't, Ran Ran, don't go." Xu Maozhi was almost crying. He quickly chased after her.
"Don't come near me!"
"Don't go!"
They were in a stalemate for a while. Then Ran Ran said, "Since you already have someone else, why are you still pestering me?"
Xu Maozhi was completely confused. "When did I ever have someone else? Are you angry that I haven't visited you these days? I really couldn't get away. I've been investigating a case by imperial order! Didn't I send someone from the mansion to tell you?"
"No."
"How could there be no such thing? I gave the order. Could it be that Xi Mo, that brat, forgot about it right away? Come on, Ran Ran, I'll take you to confront him!"
Ran Ran: "..." "Confronting a servant. You're really something."
Xu Maozhi was so anxious that his face turned red. "But I really sent someone to tell you. I'm more wronged than Dou E. It wasn't me who made you angry... But does your anger mean you care about me?"
"Of course not." Ran Ran refused to admit it. "Don't daydream!"
Xu Maozhi didn't dare to refute her words, but he was smiling. Obviously, he did think so.
This fool still didn't understand what she was angry about.
Ran Ran couldn't help but wonder if it was him or herself who was the fool for getting angry with him.
"The two women who came out of your mansion don't look like decent women," Ran Ran stared at him intently, as if trying to see through him. "And you came out in your disheveled clothes. Don't tell me they're witnesses."
"Um..."
He never expected it was because of this.
"Ran Ran, are you jealous?"
"I asked you to answer the question, not to ask one." Ran Ran's words were as sharp as a knife.
"Well... If I tell you, you'll definitely get angry."
Ran Ran turned around to leave.
A young girl in love. All her deep affection had been misplaced. She was blind.
She originally thought that Xu Maozhi was at least an honest and reliable man she could rely on for life.
In the future, whether they were rich or poor, whether his personality could help him succeed in the officialdom, as long as they were harmonious and happy, that would be better than anything.
But now it seemed that she was too naive.
Ran Ran's eyes were hot, but she stubbornly refused to let the tears flow.
She was going to find Yi Qing and scold this heartless and ungrateful scoundrel with her sister - in - law!
"Don't, Ran Ran, don't go." Xu Maozhi panicked and quickly grabbed her sleeve. "You don't let me lie, but you've already guessed the truth and still don't let me say it. I'm really in a dilemma!"
"Speak properly. You only have one chance. Don't beat around the bush. I'm just a girl from the countryside. I don't understand all these twists and turns." Ran Ran said fiercely.
"Those two women are really helping me with the case. No matter how much I think about women, you're the only one in my mind..."
Ran Ran blushed slightly and slapped him on the head. "Who told you to think such things!"
Xu Maozhi covered his head, looking as aggrieved as a child. "Didn't you tell me to tell the truth? But when I do, you get angry and hit me. Ran Ran, can we make a deal? Don't hit my head in the future. Hit somewhere else. If you hit me stupid, I'm afraid I'll drool and chase after you all day, annoying you."
Ran Ran finally burst out laughing at the situation he described.
"She's laughing, she's laughing. Finally laughing. It's good that she's laughing."
"Shut up. Give me a full account!"
Perhaps this was what love was like. No matter how angry one got, one couldn't help but soften the heart towards the other person.
But if he really had someone else outside, Ran Ran decided that she must cut her losses no matter what.
"This matter is of great importance. There may be spies here. Come back to the mansion with me and I'll tell you." Xu Maozhi said. "I also bought you a hairpin. I haven't had the chance to give it to you. It's not very precious. It's just made of peach wood, but I think the craftsmanship is very good."
Ran Ran sighed. "Fool."
If he really just wanted to trick her into going to his mansion, he should only have mentioned the important matter and not added the part about the gift.
How could she not suspect that his motives were impure?
But he was a fool, a sincere fool.
Ran Ran said, "If my mother knew that I went to your mansion by myself, she would surely break my legs."
"Ah!" Xu Maozhi exclaimed and looked around blankly. "Then where should we talk?"
Ran Ran: "..." "Let's go. To your mansion."
"But didn't you say..."
"I also told you to shut up. Did you listen?" Ran Ran said impatiently.
Xu Maozhi immediately dared not say a word. He took her back to the mansion and then instructed the gatekeeper, "Never mention that Miss Cao has been here. Don't tell anyone."
The gatekeeper nodded repeatedly. He thought to himself that fools had their own blessings. Their master was able to coax his lover back. It seemed that he really didn't need to worry about his own son not being able to marry a wife in the future.
"The study is messy. Don't mind it!" Xu Maozhi held a cup of tea for Ran Ran. Seeing her looking around the messy study, he said embarrassedly.