"This is..."
Zhang Dage sized up Su Pan’er, feeling that the person in front of him was sowhat familiar. However, looking at Su Pan’er’s face, which was clearly disguised as a man, he couldn’t recall where he had seen her before.
"Brother, this is Brother Ruan Qi! It’s only been two days, how could you not recognize Brother Ruan Qi?"
Zhang i, like a drowning person clutching at the last piece of driftwood, hurried forward and grabbed her elder brother’s hand.
Zhang Dage was also sowhat indecisive.
To say that the person in front of him did resemble Ruan Qi quite a bit, there were still many differences. Ruan Qi’s physique was obviously taller and more solid than this person’s. His skeletal fra was also sturdier, and his facial features were more rugged...
He stared at Su Pan’er for a good while before shaking his head decisively, "She is not Ruan Qi..."
"How can he not be Brother Ruan Qi? He is Brother Ruan Qi! Brother Ruan Qi is a snob who prefers the rich and loses interest as soon as he sees another woman..."
"Don’t talk nonsense!"
Before Zhang i could finish, Zhang Dage scolded her.
He quickly put the large sack down from his shoulder and then turned to Su Pan’er, apologizing with a clasped fist, "My apologies, madam. My younger sister mistook you for soone else, which caused this amusing situation. Please don’t take it to heart. I apologize here on her behalf."
"It’s alright, just keep your sister in check. As a woman, today’s incident didn’t bother much. If it had been soone else... it might not have been so easy to talk down!"
Su Pan’er was not interested in further entanglent and thus clasped her fist, "I have other matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."
"Very well."
Zhang Dage, filled with embarrassnt, naturally was not going to stop them from leaving.
Yet Zhang i obviously wasn’t giving up. She wanted to continue clinging on but was stopped by Zhang Dage. As they walked away, the brother and sister’s argunt could still faintly be heard.
"Sister, I didn’t mistake the person; he is Brother Ruan Qi..."
"I don’t believe it! Brother Ruan Qi is Brother Ruan Qi, how could he be a woman..."
"Brother, don’t try to stop ! I’ve set my heart on Brother Ruan Qi for this lifeti, and I will not marry anyone else!"
Su Pan’er almost stumbled and fell.
Fortunately, Xiren supported her, but could not help snickering.
Seeing the Zhang siblings, particularly the helpless expression the elder brother wore in front of his sister, Su Pan’er felt especially poignant.
"Keep an eye on Zhang Dage surreptitiously. That man owes a favor, but his sister really is quite annoying."
Most importantly, she, Su Pan’er, was also a woman.
Being entangled by another woman, especially with an attitude of not marrying anyone else, really left her sowhat bemused.
However, it must be said, Zhang i had keen eyes! Su had disguised herself so many tis, yet she could still recognize her in a crowd, a truly incredible skill!
"Your servant will be cautious, Empress. Rest assured."
Xiren whispered in response.
The two continued walking without stopping, and soon they rode the carriage straight to the Lui Family’s house.
The Lui Family’s house was no longer the one of years past. The current manor was much better than what Su Pan’er had seen when she first stepped into the Lui Family’s house.
In fact, just a while ago, Su Pan’er had visited this house. However, it was a secret visit, and it was at night, quite different from what she saw during the day.
As soon as the servants saw Xiren, even before Xiren could get off the carriage, they had already entered the house to report.
Suddenly, a slim figure appeared at the gate.
Su Xian’er, dressed in plain clothes, stepped out of the gate to greet her.
Su Pan’er looked at Su Xian’er, who was greeting her with a formal bow, and hesitated for a mont but finally stepped into the Lui Family’s house.
Once inside the parlor, she had Su Pan’er sit at the high seat and offered her refreshnts, then Su Xian’er calmly introduced herself.
"At present, Father-in-law is in Shengjing—his whereabouts are uncertain as he travels from place to place. I found the house comfortable to live in, so after returning to Changze County, I’ve been residing here. If you’re here to see him today, I’m afraid you’ve made a wasted trip."
Her voice lacked any fluctuation, as if she were discussing soone else’s affairs.
"No, I ca to see you."
Su Pan’er didn’t drink the tea; instead, she scrutinized Su Xian’er’s expression, "Have you seen Ke’er recently? Or better put—before Ke’er disappeared, had he co to see you?"
"I did see him."
Su Xian’er answered tersely.
"When did you see him?"
"It was the third day after I returned to Luoyan Village."
"What did he talk to you about?"
"He asked about his matters, and then he talked about you. I asked him if there was anything wrong, but he said I could not decide, and in the end, he told nothing at all. He didn’t even stay for lunch and hurriedly left."
Su Xian’er addressed Su Pan’er with a deanor suggesting she was hiding nothing.
Su Pan’er frowned, "He didn’t say anything else?"
"Ha!"
Su Xian’er suddenly laughed and finally raised her head to look closely at Su Pan’er, "Sister, what do you think he would say to ? What can a woman, who hasn’t been involved in affairs for years, be asked? And of what use would it be?"
Su Pan’er was at a loss for words.
After a long while, she lowered her stance, "As you know, Ke’er... he’s gone missing, so..."
"So, here I am, sitting and answering your questions."
Su Xian’er laughed even louder, "Su Pan’er, what exactly do you want to do? Just say it! Yes, I did sothing wrong in the past. But I’ve paid for that mistake for so many years. My life is already ruined, what more do you want?"
Su Pan’er didn’t answer.
After a long silence, she stood up, "I ca here today only about Ke’er’s disappearance. If you want to linger on past events, suit yourself. Xiren, let’s go!"
Words were of no avail anymore!
Had it not been for the need to find out about Ke’er’s whereabouts, she wouldn’t have had the patience to sit here and talk. Leading Xiren, she quickly left the parlor.
"Go! Everyone leave, just go... all of you get out of here!"
Su Xian’er suddenly flipped out, sweeping her hand and sending the tea cup crashing to the floor, where it shattered with a snap. Then she cried and laughed, "It’s just a life, who cares! After all these years, everyone is still clinging onto it. I did so much for you back then, and just because I made one mistake, everything is negated? Don’t worry! When the ti cos, I’ll give back her life, and nobody will owe anybody anything!"
The noise behind her made Su Pan’er close her eyes wearily, and then she swiftly left the Lui Family’s house.
Over the years, her hatred for Su Xian’er had diminished considerably. Yet Su Pan’er couldn’t just forget the suffering that Little Yanyan had endured. However, she also rembered how hard that little girl had tried to learn, and how she had protected her with her tiny body...
Enough!
In the future, it’s best if we live apart and seldom et!
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