Gu Nianzhi advised from the side, “Cousin Xie, if it really hurts, don’t hold on. I know the pain of a sprained ankle. It’s like walking on a knife’s edge.”
Xie Qingying was embarrassed. If she continued to shirk, it would seem like she was being pretentious.
She nodded at Gu Nianzhi and said, “Thank you, Nianzhi. I won’t stand on ceremony then.”
She gently leaned against He Zhichu’s broad shoulders, narrow waist, and triangular back.
As she clung onto He Zhichu’s stiff shoulders, Xie Qingying thought to herself, she didn’t expect He Zhichu to have such a muscular body even though he looked skinny…
She blushed slightly and rested her head on He Zhichu’s neck. He carried her all the way to the door of Xiangxuehai.
Gu Nianzhi followed beside He Zhichu and Xie Qingying. She supported Xie Qingying as she looked around curiously.
No wonder this place was called “Xiangxuehai”– it was written on a large stone beside the entrance.
The house in the plum garden was built in an antique style.
The walls were a wooden fence painted with tung oil, and there was a wall facing the entrance that blocked the view of the courtyard.
After going around the wall, they saw an ancient-style mansion on the top of a hill.
It had green tiles and white walls, black pillars, front eaves, and back buildings. The windows were covered with snow-white paper, and there were a few lanterns hanging under the eaves of the corridor.
Gu Nianzhi couldn’t take her eyes off it. She didn’t pay attention to where she was going and almost tripped.
Although He Zhichu was looking ahead with Xie Qingying on his back, he watched Gu Nianzhi from the corners of his eye.
Gu Nianzhi’s body had just tilted to the side when He Zhichu immediately reached out and held her arm firmly.
“Thank you, Young Master He!” Gu Nianzhi thanked him with a smile and helped him carry Xie Qingying on his back.
Xie Qingying’s heart was beating wildly. All her attention was on He Zhichu and she didn’t notice what had just happened.
It was only when Gu Nianzhi held her back that she turned to look at her and asked with concern, “What’s wrong, Gu Nianzhi? Is something wrong?”
Gu Nianzhi smiled and pointed at the front door. “We’re almost there. Later, ask the people here if they have any medicinal wine. I think safflower oil is pretty good.”
Xie Qingying smiled and said, “Safflower oil is indeed pretty good, but the taste is pretty intense. If they don’t have it, I can put ice on it for now.”
Gu Nianzhi nodded and looked up to see the front door of the mansion open. A handsome young man in a ashy grey cashmere cardigan walked out and said in surprise, “Young Master He, you’re finally here!”
He Zhichu was carrying Xie Qingying on his back. The man immediately smiled mischievously and said, “What’s wrong with Miss Xie? Young Master He, did you lose a bet and have to carry Miss Xie in?”
Xie Qingying quickly said, “Xiao Li, don’t talk nonsense. I’ve sprained my ankle and can’t walk. By the way, do you have any medicinal wine? Like safflower oil?”
“Huh? You really sprained your ankle?” The young man named Xiao Li looked at He Zhichu in surprise and then quickly glanced at Xie Qingying’s leg, which was wearing high-heeled boots.
It indeed wasn’t easy to walk in such boots on a snowy day.
Xiao Li’s expression became serious. He said, “I’ll go find someone to get the medicinal wine. Do you want to call a doctor too?”
“No need to trouble yourself. I have a family doctor at home. I’ll just get him to take a look when I get back later tonight,” Xie Qingying, not wanting to trouble Xiao Li too much, quickly said with a smile.
Xiao Li had his own ideas. As for whether medicinal wine alone would suffice or the doctor had to be called, he would have to see Xie Qingying’s injuries before making the decision.
He turned around and opened the thick leather door curtain, allowing He Zhichu to carry Xie Qingying inside.
As soon as he opened the door curtain, the sound of music could be heard coming from inside.
It sounded like the mellifluous sound of a guzheng. It sounded exceptionally melodious and moving on this snowy day.
Gu Nianzhi listened to the pleasant music and followed him in.
Once inside, she realized that the mansion was truly a unique place.
This was a large living room that could be used as a ballroom. It had three rooms, one bright and two dark, that were connected to the ancient building.
The left and right sides of the room were divided into several small spaces that were connected to each other and were relatively independent.
Each small space had a simple and exquisite corner sofa in a postmodern style. The floor around the sofa was covered with geometric carpets.
In the north right corner, which was surrounded by green plants, there was a small garden.
There was an octagonal pavilion with a small bridge and flowing water. A beautiful girl in an ancient costume was sitting in the octagonal pavilion while playing the zither.
The living room was filled with young men and women dressed in low-key and luxurious clothes. They sat or stood in groups, forming small groups.
They held cocktail glasses and joked with each other. The atmosphere was very harmonious and friendly.
Gu Nianzhi was amazed: the city people know how to have fun.
As a country bumpkin, she should go back to the countryside.
He Zhichu and Xie Qingying were nowhere to be seen. Xiao Li, who had led them in earlier, walked over and said with a smile, “Miss Gu, is it? Young Master He took Sister Xie to check on her injuries. Have a seat.”
Gu Nianzhi also smiled and greeted him, “Sorry to trouble you, Mr. Li. Xie Qingying is my cousin. I also want to check on her injuries.”
“Sister Xie is your cousin? Oh, so you’re my cousin.” Xiao Li beamed. “My mother is Sister Xie’s father’s distant cousin.”
Gu Nianzhi had a headache because of this complicated relationship. She could only chuckle and say, “Where are they? I’ll go check.”
“Ah, Miss Gu, Let’s not be third wheels.” Xiao Li laughed and stopped her. “Is it not fun here? Shall I find a handsome man to talk to you?”
Gu Nianzhi quickly waved her hand. “No, no, I’m just worried about Cousin Xie. She sprained her ankle in those high heels, so it’s not a minor injury.”
“That’s why I’ve already sent someone to get a doctor…” Xiao Li said quietly. “Don’t let Cousin Xie know…”
His careful teasing relaxed Gu Nianzhi. She nodded and said, “Okay. “Then she asked him, “Are you close to Cousin Xie and Young Master He?”
“Yes, we’ve known each other since we were kids.” Xiao Li looked Gu Nianzhi up and down and said with a smile, “Actually, we used to play together when we were kids, but you definitely don’t remember me.”
Gu Nianzhi pointed at her own head and said with a smile, “Yes, I don’t remember things from before I was 12 years old that clearly. Some I remember, some I don’t.”
She didn’t remember anything at all, but because of the lawsuit with Qin Yaoguang and Lu Jin, she had to say she “remembered”some of the things that happened before she was 12 years old. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to keep Lu Jin’s identity a secret.
Gu Nianzhi was very cautious. She would never let anyone have something against her.
Xiao Li shook his head regretfully and said, “But you’re much prettier than when you were young. Are you single now? Can I pursue you?”
Gu Nianzhi was amused by Xiao Li’s serious expression. She changed the subject and said aloofly, “I’m still young, so I need to focus on my career now. But Mr. Li, you’re not being honest. You clearly like the girl who plays the guzheng over there, so why are you trying to flirt with me?”
Xiao Li touched his chin and asked in confusion, “Is it that obvious? I thought I covered it up very well…”
“When you were talking to me, you looked over there every five seconds on average. You call that a good cover?” Gu Nianzhi couldn’t help curling her lips in disdain.
Compared to Huo Shaoheng, who was an excellent actor, Xiao Li wouldn’t last more than three seconds in a TV show.
“Hehe, isn’t she beautiful? She plays the zither so beautifully… even though I don’t understand it…” Xiao Li whispered to her, making her very amused.
Not long after, Xiao Li’s phone suddenly rang.
He took it out and looked at it. He quickly stood up and said, “The Doctor I called has arrived. I’m going to pick him up. Miss Gu, please help yourself.”
Gu Nianzhi quickly waved her hand and said, “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Quickly take the doctor to check on Cousin Xie.”
Not long after Xiao Li left, he came in with his men.
Gu Nianzhi looked up at the door and saw that there were two men and a woman following Xiao Li in.
The man walking beside Xiao Li was tall and had a small medicine box in his hand. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He looked gentle and refined. He followed Xiao Li to a small door on the east side of the living room.
The other man and woman didn’t follow him in. They stood at the door and looked askance at the living room.
Gu Nianzhi glanced at the two of them curiously, then suddenly felt that they looked familiar.
The woman standing at the door had long, straight black hair, and her thick bangs covered her slender eyes. She looked very alluring.
Her skin was snow-white, her nose and mouth were small, and her face was as round as the full moon.
Gu Nianzhi’s heart skipped a beat. This woman looked a little like Wen Shouyi.
But she didn’t have Wen Shouyi’s scholarly air.
The man had handsome features, but his eyes were hazy and his gaze was perverted. Anyone who looked at him would feel uncomfortable.
Gu Nianzhi looked away and decided to take another look at the girl playing the zither in the octagonal pavilion.
At that moment, the man with the perverted gaze also saw the girl playing the zither in the octagonal pavilion. His eyes lit up and he wanted to rush over to talk to her, but he was held back by the woman beside him.
“Second brother, stop looking for that kind of woman. How many times have you played with this kind of woman? Aren’t you tired of women like her?” The girl who had followed the Doctor said impatiently, then she pointed in Gu Nianzhi’s direction. “Even if you want to find someone, you have to look for that one over there. If you marry her, you can spare yourself more than ten years of hard work.”
