Chapter 105: Chapter 104: Rascal

Lin Youning was stunned by his question.

Her mind went blank for a moment.

Then all the questions flooded into her mind.

Yes, how could she call Xu Kuan by his name directly?

With Xu Kuan’s fearless personality, perhaps he had some concerns earlier; in his mind, she was still Gu Er’s fiancée.

But now that she called him by his name, it subtly leveled the seniority between them.

Lin Youning’s face turned pale. She turned aside, not looking at him, “How rude you are! Are you trying to ruin my reputation? I am just a foster daughter living in the Marquis Mansion. Don’t forget that General Xu might kindly let me off.”

Xu Kuan originally intended to tease her, but upon hearing her words, he couldn’t help but frown, “You little girl, rest assured, I, Xu Kuan, am not such an unreasonable person. If your reputation is truly ruined, so what? At worst, I’ll marry you. It would be your beauty that is wronged by marrying Gu Er, that pretty boy.”

“General Xu, please mind your words. Brother Er is my fiancé. If you say such things in front of me, others might think poorly of General Xu’s character if they hear it.”

Xu Kuan chuckled, “You’re right, I was indeed impolite.”

Look at that smirk on his face. It’s clear he’s not sincerely admitting fault; he simply doesn’t care, and it doesn’t bother him at all.

This is just his nature.

Just like in the previous life when he came to her boudoir at night, he had the same cheeky smile when she told him to leave, yet he wouldn’t go.

Despite Xu Kuan giving the impression of being cold and hard, given his experiences on the battlefield and the aura of killing he carries, being around him feels like standing next to an iceberg, making you feel cold.

Lin Youning also didn’t know why he always seemed like a rogue when facing her.

Reflecting on the previous life, had she been more decisive, she might have actually married Xu Kuan.

Lin Youning pondered, observing Xu Kuan, temporarily forgetting to be angry with him.

Xu Kuan sensed that the little girl in front of him was examining him, and inexplicably his ears felt a bit warm, cursing himself inwardly.

What a damned ghost, he’s fought in battles and killed people, so why does it feel so awkward being scrutinized by a little girl now?

Suddenly, neither of them spoke, and the noise outside the courtyard gradually died down.

Although Lin Youning felt relaxed around Xu Kuan, she knew she shouldn’t stay any longer, “The noise outside has lessened. Can we leave now?”

“Let me go check.” Xu Kuan also breathed a sigh of relief, took large strides to the door, opened a crack, and then called Lin Youning, “It’s okay now, let’s go, I’ll walk you back to the Marquis Mansion.”

“We agreed to meet by the river lanterns. General Xu should take me there instead,” Lin Youning said, unwilling to return so early, savoring her rare outing.

Moreover, if time permits, she’d like to visit the Lin Mansion.

Xu Kuan just felt the young girl was playful and didn’t think much of it, “Then let me take you there.”

Lin Youning knew Xu Kuan wouldn’t ask further, which is why she said so. Besides, she knew Xu Kuan well enough—he wouldn’t mind her playful outing today.

After the earlier chaos on lantern street, the streets were now deserted, with the stalls on both sides in disarray, and few people to attend to them.

“Hungry?” Xu Kuan stopped in front of a small stall, ordering a bowl of soup-cooked dumplings from the vendor.

Lin Youning saw him stop and didn’t dare walk away, wanting to say she wasn’t hungry, but knowing how domineering he was, it didn’t really matter if she was hungry or not once he had stopped.

Though Lin Youning complained inwardly, when she took the food he handed over, a smile unknowingly curled her lips.

The dumplings were made with vegetables and meat, perfectly seasoned, fried and then cooked in soup, neither too greasy nor bland, rather fresh.

Despite living two lifetimes, this was the first time Lin Youning tried something bought from a street stall. She ate two straight away before remembering Xu Kuan. Looking up, she saw Xu Kuan watching her with a tender smile.

Feeling her ears grow warm, Lin Youning awkwardly turned her head away, hearing Xu Kuan’s hearty laughter above her.

Blushing, Lin Youning wished she could throw the dumplings in her hand at his face, embarrassed to continue eating.

“Alright, alright, eat quickly before it gets cold and doesn’t taste good.” Xu Kuan chuckled, realizing he had embarrassed the young girl, and promptly apologized.

Lin Youning ignored him, watching Xu Kuan walking ahead before she caught up in small steps. Holding the串 of dumplings, she hesitated, then decided she was already laughed at by Xu Kuan, so eating or not eating made no difference, and there was no need to wrong herself.

Xu Kuan walked ahead, actually keeping a listen for movements behind him. Only when the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a delighted little figure enjoying the food did his lips curl into a smile.

Xu Ya’an walked down the street with the big maid, grateful to be alive after the chaos. Many people were trampled underfoot, earlier they saw people being carried off, and some even trampled to death.

Though separated from the mansion’s guards, fortunately, she and the maid were unharmed, but she was unsure if Sister Wu had been separated from her brother.

Xu Ya’an worriedly made her way home, when she saw her father approaching, her face lit up with joy as she stepped forward to greet him.

“Father.” Xu Ya’an approached and paid her respects.

Lin Youning stood behind Xu Kuan, so Xu Ya’an didn’t see her from afar, only noticing Lin Youning’s head peeking out from behind her father after paying her respects.

“You… why are you here?” Xu Ya’an’s expression changed dramatically. How could Lin Youning be with her father?

What was their relationship?

Unlike Xu Ya’an, Lin Youning didn’t appear alarmed. She stepped out from behind and gave Xu Ya’an a slight curtsey in greeting.

“There was a riot on the street just now, and I happened to encounter General Xu, who thankfully saved me.” Lin Youning humbly bowed.

Xu Ya’an breathed a sigh of relief, “The two mansions are family friends; encountering Sister Lin in trouble, how could we not intervene?”

Though prone to willfulness, Xu Ya’an understood that some matters should not be exaggerated.

Like right now, even if there was something between her father and Lin Youning, she couldn’t acknowledge it publicly for the sake of the Xu Mansion.

Looking further ahead, if her father truly wished to remarry, she hoped it wouldn’t be Lin Youning.

Lin Youning was the Marquis Mansion’s child bride, and if her father had something with her, it would be said that he had taken someone else’s wife, tarnishing his reputation.

Xu Ya’an quickly grasped the gravity of the situation, “Father, since everything is fine now, let me escort Sister Lin.”

This way, misunderstandings or rumors would be averted, as it wasn’t appropriate for a man to be seen with a maiden, risking gossip.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep