Chapter 25

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Chapter 25: Title

Gu Hengbo pulled out the nearly burnt wolf meat from the fire, holding it up to her nose to sniff. "This is still edible, right?"

Lian Rong watched her thoughtfully. "Didn’t you say you weren’t eating?"

Gu Hengbo patted the meat. "Being around someone like you is exhausting, alright? So, I’m hungry." It took effort to interact, which wasn’t easy at all. But speaking of that, "You really… cough, you know what I mean," Gu Hengbo said with a piece of meat in her mouth, gesturing at her own chest.

Lian Rong shot her a sideways glance. "Are you envious or something?"

Gu Hengbo swallowed the meat quickly and waved her hands. "No, no, no! I think I’m fine just the way I am. Haven’t you heard the saying: ‘Women with big chests are brainless.’"

"Really?"

"I’m not saying you’re silly. Someone like you must be a genetic mutation, a cosmic super invincible—like, the best in the world." Gu Hengbo stuffed more meat into her mouth, her eyes wide, looking rather funny.

Lian Rong raised an eyebrow. "Is that what Gu Xiangguo taught you?" Even if she had been silly before, she didn’t think it was that bad. If she hadn’t met her, she might have thought Gu Hengbo was a real madwoman.

"Don’t mention that old turtle to me. It’s rare that I’m in a good mood. Who knows if he actually taught me anything? Without Madam Dou, Gu Meisheng would have died countless times by now." After all those years of being around a fool in the Prime Minister’s residence and putting up with all that, no matter what happened next, she’d run away with Gu Hengbo, or if they couldn’t escape, they’d marry together. Either way, she wouldn’t leave her alone in the residence.

Lian Rong smiled slightly. After listening to her lengthy explanation, she picked up on something. Was it intentional or unintentional? It was impossible for her to trust Gu Hengbo so soon. So, there was only one possibility: This woman, acting like she had a few screws loose, might blurt out something unexpected.

"What are your plans for the future?" Lian Rong asked.

Gu Hengbo tossed the half-eaten meat aside. "I don’t know, we’ll take it one step at a time."

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell everyone about your plans to escape?"

Gu Hengbo picked up a bamboo tube filled with water and took a sip. "I don’t care. What good does it do you to tell?"

Lian Rong thought for a moment. Gu Hengbo had a point; it really wouldn’t benefit her at all.

“Hey, this is our third time meeting, and you still haven’t told me what you do or where you live?” Gu Hengbo suddenly asked.

Lian Rong smiled, “Are you unwilling to part with me, or are you just curious about my residence so you can come find me?”

“Well, I’ve seen self-absorbed people, but I’ve never met anyone as self-absorbed as you. I won’t ask anymore, and don’t say anything either, to avoid you asking if I would propose to your family next.”

Lian Rong laughed, “You are quite amusing.”

Gu Hengbo shot her a sideways glance, “You’re the amusing one; your whole family is amusing.” She wasn’t an animal.

Lian Rong shook her head and smiled, “I’m not teasing you anymore. My home is on Jiulong Mountain, where Jiulong Villa is. I live there.”

Gu Hengbo’s eyes lit up, “Jiulong Villa sounds impressive. It can’t be the place where the legendary martial arts masters live, right?” Given how easily they kill, who knows what kind of powerful family it could be?

Lian Rong nodded, “Sort of. It’s just me living there.”

“Ah, so you’re cleverly saying you’re a martial arts master?” Gu Hengbo teased.

“I never said that; you said it yourself,” Lian Rong chuckled.

Gu Hengbo yawned and wrapped her outer robe tighter around herself. “I won’t chat with you anymore; I’ll lean against this tree and take a nap.”

“Go ahead and sleep.”

“You can’t leave,” what if a wolf comes?

Lian Rong found it amusing to watch her close and then open her eyes. “I won’t leave; sleep peacefully.”

Only then did Gu Hengbo relax and close her eyes.

Lian Rong added some dry branches to the fire. She was truly bored, staying up late to accompany a girl sitting outdoors and feeding mosquitoes. Over the years, besides chatting with the woman surnamed Qin, she didn’t know who else she could talk to. Every time she entered the palace, the person either gave her a perfunctory smile or remained cold and distant.

Leaning against the tree, Gu Hengbo soon fell asleep, her mouth making soft noises. Lian Rong watched her for a while, the events of the day still fresh in her mind. Gu Cheng’s stubborn and somewhat extreme gaze, the dignified Eldest Son of the Prime Minister’s residence, had such thoughts about his sister. If rumors got out, oh no. In two days would be the joyous occasion of the Prime Minister’s residence and General Zhao’s family. If any trouble arose, these two families would not be able to bond.

One Gu Bailong and one Zhou Li were not enough; the old fox had quite an appetite. However, she was willing to join the excitement.

Gu Hengbo woke up the next day at noon, yawning as she sat up. “What time is it?”

Qingfeng put down the basin she was holding. “Miss, when did you come back? You didn’t even tell me.”

Gu Hengbo rubbed her eyes. “When did I come back? Huh?”

“Who knows? Luckily, neither the master nor the lady asked. The house is quite busy today, and our courtyard is the only quiet place.”

“When is Gu Cheng getting married?” Gu Hengbo looked at her clothes. She didn’t even know when that woman brought her back; her clothes had been changed, but they looked exactly the same as before.

“Ah? Miss, you usually don’t call Eldest Son by his name. If Madam Dou hears, she’ll have more to say.” Qingfeng corrected her.

Gu Hengbo sneered, “I can call him whatever I want.”

Qingfeng looked at her in confusion. “Miss, where did you go yesterday?”

Gu Hengbo adjusted her clothes and replied calmly, “Nowhere, just don’t ask.”

“Oh.”

Without responding to Qingfeng, Gu Hengbo walked outside. As she reached the door, she ran into Madam Dou. “Mother.”

Madam Dou pulled Gu Hengbo inside. “You should prepare a few brightly colored outfits for your brother’s big day the day after tomorrow.”

“What does his big day have to do with me? I’ll wear whatever I like; it’s not my wedding,” Gu Hengbo said coldly.

Madam Dou glared at her. “Look at your attitude. You usually get along well with your brother. He cares for you so much. On his wedding day, don’t cause your mother any more trouble.”

"Don’t worry, Mother. I promise I won’t even step out of this room that day."

Madam Dou sighed, "I know you care about your older brother, but you’re both grown now. Getting married and starting a family is a necessary part of life. As long as you don’t marry too far away, you can still come home and visit."

Gu Hengbo scoffed. If she told Madam Dou about what Gu Cheng did to her, she wondered what her reaction would be. "Alright, isn’t the front courtyard busy? Mother, you should go now."

After Madam Dou left, Gu Hengbo turned and walked back into the room.