Hiring courtesans to accompany drinking was very common, especially for someone like Fan Yilin, a frivolous young master of wine and pleasure.
Chang Yuncheng wasn’t particularly disgusted, just frowned with some impatience and drank by himself.
The courtesan beside him wanted to please him but didn’t dare approach after reading his expression, so she could only dutifully pour wine for him.
Over there, Fan Yilin did something that made the woman cry out in alarm.
“Don’t!” the woman twisted and laughed as she dodged.
Fan Yilin held on and wouldn’t let go, whispering something in her ear that made the woman give another coquettish cry.
Chang Yuncheng coughed heavily.
“Lord, did you see that?” Fan Yilin said hurriedly, embracing the woman while leaning over to give her a heavy kiss.
“Oh stop it, don’t!” the woman laughed coquettishly as she pushed at him.
Fan Yilin laughed heartily and gave her another heavy kiss.
Chang Yuncheng looked away.
“Lord, did you see that?” Fan Yilin said again. “I told you, women equal the word ‘unreasonable,’ and there’s another point – women also equal ‘saying the opposite of what they mean.’ So when they say no, you absolutely must not take it seriously…”
As he spoke, he pounced like a hungry tiger, pressing the courtesan beneath him, making the woman’s giggles even louder.
What nonsense. Chang Yuncheng frowned and stood up.
“Also, this kind of thing must be gentle, must be persistent enough. Women care about face, so you must give them enough face for them to feel respected…” Fan Yilin didn’t forget to lift his head and speak despite being busy.
The word “respect” made Chang Yuncheng pause. That’s what that woman always said she wanted.
Gentle enough… persistent enough… giving enough face… is that respect?
When he stood up, the courtesan beside him felt both shy and expectant, looking at this tall man with budding desire. If this man pounced on her like a fierce tiger, it would definitely be… very comfortable.
Chang Yuncheng turned around, opened the door, and left.
When Chang Yuncheng returned home, Qi Yue was nowhere to be seen.
“Lord, the Young Madam went to Qianjin Hall. Someone came to request her, saying there was a serious case… ah… injury,” Qiu Xiang said carefully.
Chang Yuncheng hummed acknowledgment and waved his hand.
“Prepare a late-night meal,” he added.
Qiu Xiang breathed a sigh of relief and happily agreed.
“Also, when the Young Madam left, she said for you to eat dinner first, Lord, and not wait for her,” she said, rolling her eyes before adding this.
Chang Yuncheng twitched the corner of his mouth and glanced at this maid.
Qiu Xiang felt guilty under his gaze and lowered her head.
“What’s so good about her that you all protect her like this?” Chang Yuncheng said.
His tone carried some teasing, and Qiu Xiang checked his expression.
“Doesn’t the Lord also protect the Young Madam like this?” she said boldly.
So everyone could see it. Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but smile.
That woman probably could see it too, otherwise she wouldn’t have said she liked him.
Thinking of those words she spoke, Chang Yuncheng couldn’t suppress his smile, and that tingling feeling all over his body came again.
He waved his hand.
Qiu Xiang happily withdrew.
Coming out of the room, Qiu Xiang was radiant, hurrying the maids to quickly ask the kitchen to prepare a good late-night meal.
“Dinner hasn’t even been eaten yet, and you’re preparing late-night meals so early. Miss is too hasty,” a woman servant joked.
“Hasty? This isn’t hasty at all. I wish I could prepare tomorrow’s meals too,” Qiu Xiang laughed.
This was the first relaxed expression Qiu Xiang had shown in days, and the maids in the courtyard couldn’t help but feel cheerful too. Everyone scattered with laughter and chatter.
This cheerful atmosphere continued, so much so that Chang Yuncheng, eating dinner alone, had a rare smile on his face and ate one more bowl of rice than usual at Madam Xie’s place.
At this time in the restaurant, Fan Yilin, wrapped only in a sheet, was far from happy – he was dumbfounded.
“…What? The Lord didn’t pay…” he stammered.
The two servants in the room nodded with terrified expressions.
“Not only didn’t he pay for the courtesans… he didn’t pay for the restaurant’s food and drinks either…” they stammered.
“How inhumane!” Fan Yilin cried out in shock and grief.
How could this Lord be such a person!
“Young master, quickly decide what to do. It’s getting late, and if we don’t go back, it’ll be hard to explain at home,” the servants said as they got dressed.
What to do?
“You, how much money did you bring?” Fan Yilin asked them with a bitter face.
The two servants turned out their pockets and purses.