What a mess – he had been too preoccupied with wondering why A Si would come to visit the flower boats.
“There’s a case I need to investigate…”
Before he could explain further, Jiang Si merely nodded: “Ah.”
“I am investigating a case—” Her casual nod surely meant she didn’t believe him.
“If you’re investigating, I won’t delay your official business. Help me down, I should head back too.”
Yu Jin placed his hand on Jiang Si’s shoulder. “I truly am investigating. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Official Zhen…”
Jiang Si helplessly rubbed her forehead: “I do believe you.”
She knew Yu Qi well enough – earlier she had just wanted to tease him a little to prevent his endless explanations.
“You’re not just saying that?” Yu Jin examined her suspiciously.
“No, I really should go.”
Yu Jin breathed a sigh of relief: “Then I’ll escort you.”
He carried Jiang Si as he jumped down from the tree, landing silently.
Jiang Si lowered her head to adjust her clothes and slightly disheveled hair.
Yu Jin stood beside her watching, reaching out to pluck a leaf from her hair, then another…
Jiang Si sighed: “Never mind, I’ll clean up when I get back.”
Yu Jin, feeling guilty about his mischief, sheepishly walked toward the edge of the grove.
As they emerged from the small grove, the light suddenly brightened. The sounds of laughter and merriment from the Jin Shui River became clearer, and even the air carried a faint fragrance of powder and rouge.
Jiang Si stopped: “No need to escort me further, I can return on my own.”
Yu Jin frowned.
“Weren’t you investigating a case? Hurry back to your official business.”
Yu Jin remained silent, grabbing Jiang Si’s hand and walking, but she pulled away: “Really, there’s no need to escort me. With Old Qin and A Fei, I’ll be back shortly. Having you along would only draw attention.”
Seeing her insistence, Yu Jin had no choice but to give up.
They had just gotten closer, so he thought he should behave better.
Long Dan and Old Qin were waiting not far away.
Jiang Si walked over and nodded to Old Qin: “Let’s go.”
Yu Jin remained standing in place even after they had walked far away.
Long Dan approached: “Master, you and that young gentleman didn’t… didn’t do anything, did you?”
How unexpected that the master would have such preferences!
Long Dan felt goosebumps all over, thinking to himself how fortunate he was.
If the master didn’t separate personal matters from business and made certain demands of him, should he agree or refuse?
Just thinking about such a difficult question gave Long Dan’s headache.
Yu Jin gave Long Dan a surprised look: “Couldn’t you tell that was Miss Jiang?”
As if he would carry a man into the grove?
Long Dan was shocked, his voice changing pitch: “No! Miss Jiang doesn’t look like this in men’s clothes…”
He had seen Miss Jiang dressed as a man before, and she looked quite similar to Second Young Master Jiang, but not like tonight’s appearance.
“Do you only look at faces when identifying people? Fool!” Yu Jin knocked Long Dan’s head and strode forward.
Long Dan hurried to follow, walking in step with his master toward the Jin Shui River bank. His sharp eyes spotted a leaf in Yu Jin’s hair.
He reached out to pluck the leaf.
Yu Jin paused his steps and turned to look.
Long Dan held up the leaf, full of admiration: “Master, will our household soon have a mistress?”
The master had moved so quickly, and in a grove no less!
“Mind your tongue!” Yu Jin said sternly, though the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
It was a pity he couldn’t share such feelings freely with A Fei. If only Er Niu were here, at least he could ruffle that big head of his a few times.
“It’s not what you’re thinking. Let’s go to the next flower boat.”
Long Dan stumbled, asking incredulously: “Master, Miss Jiang didn’t say anything about you visiting flower boats?”
Yu Jin thought for a moment and said: “She told me to hurry and attend to my official business.”
Long Dan slapped his forehead: “Miss Jiang must have been speaking in anger!”
“She wasn’t angry.”
“If she’s not angry, then she must not care.”
“Doesn’t care?” Yu Jin’s voice turned cold.