Chapter 150 - Invitation
"W-why didn't you tell me first that there's something more important going on!" Gu Yan recomposed himself but because he had already heard what was going on inside the courtyard, his face was still a bit red.
"That's why we're blocking you." One of the men said. Like Gu Yan, he was blushing hard and having a hard time accepting the truth.
All of the men gathered there were all experts and under Qu Xing Xu. They vowed to be loyal to him and protect him with their lives.
However, they certainly didn't sign up for the embarrassment that comes after that. They didn't even expect that their master would find someone who could be his equal and someone who would stay with him since Qu Xing Xu never showed any genuine affection to anyone.
Perhaps, he had shown his interests towards someone or something but those things never really got far and it didn't stay longer than a few days before he got bored.
"Blocking me won't be enough!" Gu Yan scolded them.. "I could have killed all of you! I don't even understand why you all have mouths in your faces buy don't know how to use it!"
The men felt ashamed as they didn't think of that. They were too caught up with the fact that something was happening inside the courtyard.
They were men trained to kill and not trained to handle things like this. They were more suited in battle and never really encountered a situation like this.
Sighing, Gu Yan decided to shoo away the men that gathered around him. They still have to do their duty to protect the courtyard and the people living inside it.
"Don't let anyone hear any of this!" He reminded them.
Although he was glad that his master was finally opening the gates to 'that' world, he couldn't risk having the reputation of his young madam plunging downward because of his master. Lin Xiaomeng will certainly not like it if this event were to come to his ears.
Not only that, the Qu elders would go crazy and visit first thing in the morning once they hear of this, which was not impossible since they have several ears planted around the residence. Of course, not to spy on his master and get in his way but rather, they would use this to gossip like married wives who had nothing better to do.
Pinching his nose, Gu Yan was thinking of the numerous problems that he might come across because of the event that night.
Walking towards the courtyard, he stood by the door. He contemplated whether he should knock and risk losing his head for disturbing his master and the young madam, or he should stop it and remind them that the wedding night was still a few nights away and they could wait until that day.
Although Gu Yan was just a servant of Qu Xing Xu, he, nevertheless acted as his elder. He treated Qu Xing Xu as his son despite the difference in their status and looked out for him since the Duke was young.
That is why he couldn't let things escalate like this and let Qu Xing Xu act according to his desire when he's still unmarried.
"Master, Gu Yan has come to report some urgent matters." Gu Yan finally said after a few seconds of difficulty speaking. He seems to find it hard to utter a sound.
And when he finally could, his voice was strained and he stuttered at the end.
Qu Xing Xu blinked once he heard Gu Yan from outside of the door. His body turned rigid and that's when Lin Xiaofei found a chance to slip from underneath him and quickly dressed.
She didn't even wait for him as she stepped towards the secret passage joining their rooms and went back to her room, leaving him alone in the bed.
Releasing a long sigh, Qu Xing Xu combed back his hair with a hand and sat up on the bed. His feet were folded so he could put his chin on top of his knee and the other was hanging on the edge of the bed.
He was totally played.
Qu Xing Xu had to admit it. Lin Xiaofei could have gone through the secret passage joining their rooms but she intentionally tried the front door to mess with him. The purpose was probably to teach him a lesson or perhaps, she enjoyed teasing him as he also enjoyed making her feel something for him.
Either way was no good for him or his heart. The more she spent time with him, the more he was falling hard.
"Ha…" he sighed once again before calling out, "You can come in, Gu Yan."
Gu Yan cleared his throat as he was supposed to announce his presence known once more when he heard Qu Xing Xu calling him in.
He wondered whether he was successful in his duty or will he see something embarrassing inside.
Steeling his nerves as an elderly man, Gu Yan pushed the door and went in.
Soon the room was hushed as the two of them talked about the events that took place that night. The longer Gu Yan stayed inside his room, the more Qu Xing Xu's mood fluctuated before it got worsen.
Once Gu Yan left the room after he was done with his reports, Qu Xing Xu stood up and slipped through the secret door.
He saw a figure sleeping in the bed and walked towards it. He didn't expect her to retire for the night after what happened today but he was still glad that Lin Xiaofei was not scared away from what happened and she could still sleep peacefully.
He raised his hand and was about to touch her hair when Lin Xiaofei opened her eyes.
"You're awake," he said.
Lin Xiaofei met his eyes and replied, "I can't really sleep with you watching me sleep. Has anyone ever told you it's rude to watch other people sleep?"
Qu Xing Xu smiled and shook his head. "Unfortunately, no one told me that as everyone wanted to be looked at by me."
"Then, everyone's stupid." She paused and looked at him before she scooted over to the side, "But I might be the stupidest of them all for inviting the beast to stay for the night and sleep beside me."
"Why?"
"Because you look like something's eating you up and you needed some sleep." Lin Xiaofei observed how drunk he was earlier. She could tell that something happened or he remembered something but she didn't know what it was.
She saw his face looking so forlorn when he carried her away from the forest and the fact that he got drunk, Lin Xiaofei found it quite strange. He was so out of his character that she couldn't help but believe that something was bothering him. It wasn't because of the assassination that happened that night.
It was something deeper and something hurtful. That face he wore that night was the same face she wore whenever she thought of everything that was lost.
But what did he lose? Was it something or someone precious to him?
Lin Xiaofei didn't try to know the answer as it wasn't her right to know. She has her secrets to keep and Qu Xing Xu also has some of his own.
Nevertheless, she at least could repay him for saving her twice that night by letting him sleep beside her.