Old Lady Lu felt a wave of bitterness in her eyes, her heart aching, "My poor young master..."
Her young master never had to worry about such things before, but now, at such a young age, he has to plan his spending like an adult.
"It’s such a sin, that little wretch Su Li really has lost her conscience."
Kuai Yangyang’s expression darkened as he said, "Grandma, let’s not speak ill of Aunt anymore. Our family situation is unclear, and we don’t know how our parents are doing. As a family, we must help each other."
Old Lady Lu was taken aback, not expecting the young master to say such things.
Just a few days ago, when she was resentful and spoke ill of the Fifth Madam, the young master would occasionally agree with her.
However, Old Lady Lu quickly understood.
The young master was right. After all, the Fifth Madam is still part of the Lv Family. If sothing really happened to the master and madam, she, as an elder, would be responsible for the two children.
"I was thinking too narrowly."
Kuai Yangyang clenched his fist, "Grandma, tomorrow besides going to the port, you should also look around for Aunt outside. Who knows if she, a woman alone, is being bullied... It’d be better if our family lived together, looking out for each other."
Kuai Yangyang explained it in detail to Old Lady Lu, then turned to the bewildered Kuai Ying, lecturing, "When Aunt cos back the day after tomorrow, Ying, you should properly apologize to her. We were wrong before; Aunt also has our best interests in mind."
Kuai Ying pouted, her fingers twirling the hem of her skirt, sowhat unwilling, but under her brother’s sowhat pressuring gaze, she nodded and softly said, "I understand, brother."
Kuai Yangyang sighed in relief, knowing that despite his sister’s stubbornness, she still listened to him.
What transpired between Old Lady Lu and the Kuai siblings, Su Li was completely oblivious to. After they parted ways, she had no further interest in them and naturally didn’t know that people she would soon have nothing to do with were preparing to latch on to her like leeches.
At this mont, Su Li was reclining in a chair, lost in the performance of the Flower Dan twirling their sleeves on stage.
Half a month had passed, yet she remained like a salted fish, spending her days in laziness and leisure.
When it ca to tutoring others, she found it botherso; translating foreign manuscripts for a newspaper, she found tedious... There were many ways to earn money, but Su Li felt none suited her.
Every job either felt tiring or annoying to Su Li.
The only thing that wasn’t tiring or annoying was lounging in a soft chair like this, sipping tea, listening to music, and letting an afternoon drift away.
Or perhaps going to the dance hall to dance a few songs, looking at the amazent and admiration in others’ eyes, feeling smug.
Indeed, she was vain and superficial in this way.
After listening to opera at Wenqu Building for half a month, Su Li beca a familiar face to several others who also ca to enjoy the music.
Just then, Su Li was montarily distracted when a tea cup clinked softly to her right, snapping her back to reality.
"Isn’t Mr. Yao’s performance of ’Mu Guiying Takes Command’ good enough today that Miss Su would beco absent-minded?"
The speaker on her right was a middle-aged man with a mustache, dressed in a Tang suit.
He spoke while still watching the stage, his head gently swaying with the Flower Dan’s movents.
Su Li smiled lightly, "Mr. Yao’s performance is excellent. It was my mind preoccupied with so worries. Thank you, Mr. Chen, for the reminder."
Just then, as the play on stage paused for a mont, Mr. Xu, who had been intently watching the performance, turned to join their conversation: "Mr. Yao’s singing has beco more refined."
Mr. Xu’s age was similar to Mr. Chen’s, and their temperants were quite alike.
Both had temples protruding slightly, with their clothes bulging and their exposed muscles and bones looking like steel walls, clearly practitioners.
"What do you think, young friend?"
Just as they were chatting, suddenly there was a loud commotion backstage followed by the bangs of tables being overturned.
Mr. Xu and Mr. Chen exchanged glances, both placing their palms on the small table, vaulting over several rows of tables and chairs to sprint backstage quickly.
Before leaving, Mr. Chen didn’t forget to advise Su Li: "You should leave, this place doesn’t seem safe today."
The original owner’s frail body had recovered to a healthy and rosy state under Su Li’s care, and her already striking looks beca even more radiant.
Since she spent most of her ti either in teahouses or at ho, with few initial visits to the dance hall, if it weren’t for this, her looks would have caused quite a stir in the city long ago.
Mr. Chen was also worried that Su Li’s striking appearance might bring trouble upon herself, hence the extra warning.
In just a short amount of ti, there were several more sharp cries from backstage.
"Sir...."
Su Li recognized it as the voice of Mr. Yao’s round-faced apprentice.
Among those who ca to listen to Mr. Yao’s singing at the teahouse, besides Su Li, everyone was considered an opera aficionado.
But except for Mr. Chen and Mr. Xu, no one dared to even look backstage. Of course, these people were also visibly anxious, hesitating and pacing in place, unwilling to leave.
Su Li stood up, taking elegant steps forward.
After taking only a few steps, soone reached out to stop her, "From the sounds, there are foreigners inside.... Miss Su is delicate and beautiful, it’s best not to show your face."
Another person whispered, "I heard there’s a high-ranking advisor from the governnt office who wanted to invite Mr. Yao to his ho to perform, but Mr. Yao declined...."
"Invite Mr. Yao? No, it’s harboring impure intentions. I’ve heard that advisor is fond of befriending delicate n and won."
The speaker was tactful, yet everyone present understood what was ant.
Su Li had the fortune to see Mr. Yao unmasked once; his male features resembled those of a woman, indeed befitting the term "delicate."
"Ah..." In just a mont, Mr. Chen was forced out with a gun to his head by a foreigner in a black suit.
anwhile, Mr. Xu was directly thrown out, a bloody hole in his leg.
"Today must be my lucky day to et another beautiful lady,"
The foreigner in the black suit eyed Su Li with renewed interest.
Mr. Chen raised his hands, making a gesture of surrender, subtly blocking the foreigner’s line of sight and hinting at Su Li to leave quickly with a slight movent of his fingers.
Su Li shook her head, displeased, "You are truly a rude gentleman; staring at a lady so impolitely is unbecoming of a gentleman."
The foreigner laughed exaggeratedly, "Hahaha, my apologies."
"Would I have the honor to invite the beautiful lady to dinner?"
Faced with sothing of interest, the foreigner displayed more patience.
"Enough, I’ll go with you, don’t trouble others." Mr. Yao struggled free from the two soldiers restraining him, tidying up his chaotic robe, and said with a grim expression.
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