On the school's sports field, two figures stood close together — one explaining earnestly, the other listening with quiet devotion.
"Did you follow all that?"
"Mm-hm, I did. You explain things so well."
"Good. Come on, then — my treat. There's a new milk tea shop at the school gate, supposed to be pretty good."
"Sure." Cui Yingying smiled with quiet happiness and walked side by side with Li Chengqian toward the gate.
The milk tea shop at the gate was a hit with the female students. A cup cost one yuan, and business was booming all the same — a small sign of just how much living standards had risen.
"One milk tea," Li Chengqian said.
"And one fruit tea for me." That was Cui Yingying.
Li Chengqian tried his best to hold it back, and failed — a smile of pure contentment spread across his face.
So this is what being in love feels like.
Father and Mother probably never had this, he thought. And if I were still who I used to be, I don't suppose I would either.
"That'll be one yuan fifty."
Li Chengqian quickly handed over the coins he'd already been holding ready.
"Too slow again. Next time you have to let me pay. You only get a hundred and eighty yuan a month — I make over a thousand."
She had been brought in from Longcheng, with a monthly subsidy of one thousand yuan. On top of that, she worked half-days at Jinxiu's bank and pulled in another hundred or so.
"That wouldn't be right, would it? A man letting a woman pick up the tab?"
"Oh? And what exactly do you mean by that — looking down on us women? Have you asked Mayor Jinyi? Have you asked Miss Jinxiu? Do they agree with you?"
"All right, all right — I can't argue with you. I give up."
"Drink up. I've got a shift at the public safety office after this, and you need to get to the bank."
"Fine. Time really does fly."
Li Chengqian smiled again and out of habit took a sip of the fruit tea. The taste was extraordinary — better than anything he'd had before, carrying some flavor he couldn't quite name or explain.
Smack!
His milk tea was knocked clean out of his hand. Before him loomed a fat, ugly face twisted with fury.
"You wretched little mongrel! Do you have any idea who you are? How dare you put your hooks into my lady — I'll rake that pretty face of yours to shreds, and let's see you chase women after that!"
A hand raked itself across Li Chengqian's face.
---
"Master, Master — something terrible has happened!"
At Jinyuan's shout, Zhao Baihui leapt straight up from his recliner.
"What is it, what is it? Speak!"
"That good-for-nothing cousin of mine — Cui Yingying's nanny scratched up his face! We should go and see!"
*Good lord.* Here I thought something serious had happened. Looking at how excited you are, I seriously question how deep your feeling for your cousin actually runs.
"Well, if it's that serious, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The two of them practically sprinted downstairs and drove straight to the municipal party committee's residential compound.
After all, this was a great man's family affair. Though word may have already spread across the entire city, not many people had the nerve to come and gawk.
Master and servant crept furtively up to the entrance. The door was open, and Li Xuanji was sitting on a sofa directly facing it.
He spotted the skulking pair at once and couldn't help the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
*This Master Zhao…*
Was he sneaking over to watch the drama?
Caught in the act, the two straightened up and strode inside with all the dignity they could muster.
Zhao Baihui furrowed his brow with solemn gravity. "I received word there'd been a small incident. What exactly is going on?"
"Master." Li Xuanji rose helplessly to offer a greeting.
Whatever was happening in the room, the moment Zhao Baihui appeared, everyone had no choice but to pay their respects first.
"Never mind that. Tell me what happened." He spoke while scanning the room.
Li Chengqian sat slumped on a side sofa, looking thoroughly dejected, while his mother, Empress Jiang, wiped her tears as she tended to the scratches on his face. When she had first seen them, she'd been half-convinced her son would be disfigured for life — it broke her heart.
Li Lingshu glared daggers at the people across the room with an expression that said: *I may be small, but I will kill you with my eyes.*
On the other side stood seven or eight women. Cui Yingying wept silently while her maids clustered around her, murmuring comfort. Two older nannies looked thoroughly unappeased, glowering at Li Chengqian and occasionally at anyone else who caught their eye.
But with Zhao Baihui's arrival, all the women went carefully blank-faced, sneaking glances at him from under their lashes.
*So this is the legendary Master Zhao? He doesn't look all that different from anyone else. Quite ordinary, really.*
Jinyuan, meanwhile, wore an expression of deep anguish, as if the whole unfortunate incident were a personal burden she bore on the Li family's behalf.
"Master, here's what happened." Li Xuanji could only step forward to explain.
It was a simple story, really: two young people met by accident, crossed paths again and again by coincidence, drew gradually closer, and quietly fell for each other.
One of the older nannies cut in with a venomous edge. "Master Zhao, you tell us — is this fair? Our young lady is a proper, virtuous girl. If someone fancies her, he ought to come to the door with betrothal gifts, following proper protocol. All this sneaking around — isn't that just ruining our young lady's reputation?"
"Master Zhao, our young lady was brought here at your invitation. You can't just take sides because the other party happens to be your prison warden!"
"Now, now — let's all talk this through calmly. No need to get so worked up."
"Besides, look at the scratches on Chengqian's face — he might well be scarred for life. Do you know how… how handsome this face is? What a shame."
*The Crown Prince's face, and you scratched it up. You'll be dining out on that story for the rest of your life.*
*Five years ago, that would have been a crime punishable by the extermination of your entire clan, do you realize that?*
Empress Jiang, hearing this, nearly burst into fresh tears.
*My son is so handsome. If his face is ruined, what then?*
Zhao Baihui fished around in his pocket and produced a small tin, which he passed over.
Yunnan Baiyao ointment — works wonders.
"Xuanji," he said, "what would you say to just letting Chengqian marry Cui Yingying?"
---
Cui Yingying and her household returned to their villa.
Her tears had stopped. She sat quietly in her bedroom, saying nothing.
The others stood in the middle of the room. With the young lady so silent, the atmosphere was taut and frightening, and no one knew what to say.
"Send Nanny Liu home."
The nanny who had scratched Li Chengqian's face dropped to her knees. "Miss, Miss — everything I did, I did for you!"
"I know. When you return, your allowance will be raised a grade. But remember — mind your tongue from now on."
"Thank you, Miss. This old woman understands."