Neun Lieder

Kapitel 27

With his heart finally at ease, Chu Xuyao's gaze inadvertently fell on Rongyue's fair and jade-like arms, and he unconsciously swallowed hard: "Brother Luo, you really do seem like a woman..."

Seeing Chu Xuyao's fiery gaze fixed on her exposed skin, Rongyue's anger surged. She wished she could gouge out his lustful eyes and stomp on them like light bulbs!

With a heavy cough, Rongyue's voice was somewhat cold: "Yes, it's because of my skin, which is even better than a woman's, that I was sold into prostitution by my lustful father when I was very young, to serve men with homosexual tendencies! If I hadn't met my master and learned martial arts, I probably would have been a male prostitute until my death! Because of that nightmare, Brother Luo still can't escape the pain brought on by those dark days! Brother Chu, you are the person I, Murong Luo, admire and respect the most in my life, yet you look at me with those eyes. Do you know how much pain I feel..." Her lying was getting smoother and smoother, almost to the point of flowing effortlessly and vividly! Amen, forgive her, she really doesn't like to lie, it's just that in this world, how can you not tell a little white lie?

"Luo Di, don't say anymore! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." Heartbroken, Chu Xuyao hugged her tightly, a wave of sorrow and self-reproach washing over him. He was truly inhuman; how could he have treated him like this? No wonder his reaction was so intense—it turned out... He never imagined Luo Di had such a past, stirring up his painful memories and causing Luo Di grief. It was all his fault!

"Forget it, Brother Chu, I'm not blaming you." I'm just afraid that when you find out the truth, you'll be chasing her all over the streets with that terrifying Snow Willow Sword, determined to kill her! Hmm, this is a serious problem. I'd better go back and coordinate with my father and the others to avoid letting anything slip.

Slightly pulling away from his embrace, Rongyue didn't notice the fleeting disappointment in Chu Xuyao's eyes. She continued, "It's getting late, Brother Chu, I should go back! It's too late, if I don't go back soon, Yuyan will worry."

"You like her?" Chu Xuyao asked with a sullen face, his expression unreadable.

His ambiguous remark made Rongyue's heart start to pound: Could it be that this damned man still hasn't given up on Yuyan?

"Brother Chu, there's a saying: One should never covet one's brother's wife!"

Chu Xuyao was stunned for a moment, then realized, and then became angry! He really protected his wife like that? What was so good about that delicate, crybaby woman? How could she be worthy of him!

A lump formed in his throat, making him speak abruptly: "Brother Luo, Brother Chu has also heard a saying: 'Brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes!'"

Women like clothes?! Rongyue almost ground her teeth to powder before stopping her fist from hitting his face! Damn man, she cursed that his clothes should all go on strike, leaving him naked for the rest of his life!

"Brother Chu, everyone has their own way of living. The life you desire is simply to live freely and unrestrained, without any emotional burdens. To pass through a hundred flowers without a single petal clinging to you, to play in the world, to laugh at the mortal realm, to bury your true heart deep within, protecting it perfectly. To give your heart is to receive a heart in return, but it may also leave you utterly heartbroken; to lock your heart away is to protect yourself, but it also condemns you to eternal loneliness. Brother Chu has chosen the latter, while I, Luo, am not as carefree as you, and therefore have chosen the former. In my view, only by giving your heart can you receive love! Love is sweet and beautiful. 'In life and death, we are bound by our vows. Holding your hand, we will grow old together.' To grow old slowly with the one you love, walking hand in hand through thick and thin, supporting each other, no matter what dangers we face, there will always be someone silently supporting us—what a beautiful thing that is..." At this point, Rongyue couldn't help but think of her brother Yao, and her expression immediately darkened.

"Does such a feeling really exist..." Chu Xuyao murmured absentmindedly. Undeniably, Rong Yue was absolutely right. He was incredibly selfish, never giving a single ounce of emotion to a woman. So many years had passed, and he had almost everything: money, status, power, women... Yes, this chosen one of heaven possessed almost everything the world envied and admired. What more could he possibly want? But why, why did he feel increasingly empty and lonely? Was it really as Luo Di said, because he lacked love? Was that truly the case...?

Lost in her longing for her beloved Yao-gege, Rongyue answered Chu Xuyao's question, which wasn't really a question, in a daze: "Yes, of course there are. And they've existed since ancient times..."

What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for it?

Flying across the north and south, their old wings have weathered many winters and summers.

Joyful moments, bitter partings, and among them, foolish lovers.

You should have words to say, across ten thousand miles of layered clouds, a thousand miles of evening snow, a lone figure, to whom does it turn?

"Whether it's bitter or sweet, only with both can human emotions be complete, and only then does life have meaning..." Rongyue abruptly stopped talking. Good heavens, what a foolish thing she was doing! She was completely insane! She was actually lecturing this rotten flower about love! How ridiculous! Could a summer insect possibly understand ice? Of course not!

"Ahem! Brother Chu, Brother Luo will be heading back now! Until we meet again!" With a fist salute, Rong Yue, to the waiter's astonishment, swaggered out of Ke Lai Ju with her bare, fair arms. Behind her stood Chu Xuyao, his expression complex and unreadable...

Volume One: Pear Blossom Courtyard Under the Melting Moon, Chapter Thirty-Four: A Personal Visit

Yesterday, Rongyue swore to the heavens that from now on she would listen to her father and be a good son-in-law, and would no longer provoke his wrath. Therefore, in order not to be punished by heaven, she obediently fulfilled her vow. This morning, under her father's astonished gaze, she followed him obediently into the accounting room.

Why has this brat (now that her father completely treats her as a boy) changed his ways today? It's so strange that he's being so obedient! Could it be that he's planning some kind of trick again? Master Murong glanced suspiciously at Rongyue, who was looking around in the accounting room, his eyes like torches, trying to find a clue on her face.

A table, a chair, an abacus, a stack of accounts, four walls, a roof, and two windows—that made up an accounting room. Sitting in this sparsely furnished room for a day would probably feel no different from spending a day in prison! This old man really wanted people to be completely focused on accounting, nothing but accounting! It was truly a test of willpower and a boost to work efficiency!

Finding a comfortable position, Rongyue lazily leaned back in the armchair, ignoring her father's probing gaze. She waved her hand and said languidly, "Father, is your son-in-law all smiles? Is he really that handsome? Let's get started, the sooner we finish, the sooner we're done!"

"Look at the state you're in!" Old Master Murong slammed his jujube wood cane against the floor several times, his snow-white beard twitching rapidly. "You're so cocky, just like those spoiled brats on the street! Look at you, you don't look like a young master at all! Sit up straight for your old man, and stop slouching like that!"

"Dad, why do we have to be so rigid in our lives? Isn't that too tiring? We only live for a few decades, and who knows when we'll just close our eyes and be gone. Life is unpredictable, so we should enjoy ourselves while we can! Live however you want, however you want! That's how you make the most of your life! Don't you think so, Dad?" With her legs crossed, Rongyue glanced at Master Murong and began to instill her hedonistic ideas.

"You can't make a living off a piece of wood!" He knew that brat wouldn't listen to him obediently! But oh well, the fact that he came to the accounting office with him is already a big improvement. He'll deal with the rest later! He refused to believe that with his decades of experience, he couldn't subdue this greenhorn!

Turning his gaze to the accounts on the table, the old man tried his best to avoid looking at Rongyue's unsightly sitting posture: "See this? This pile of accounts on the table is your task for today! If you can't finish it in one day, then two days; if you can't finish it in two days, then three days. Until you finish them, you're not going anywhere! Three meals a day will be delivered on time. Alright, start calculating. I'll come and check the results later..."

"Wait!" Rongyue hurriedly called out to Old Master Murong, who was about to turn around and leave: "Father, you have to be honest! Tell me the truth, how many days' worth of accounts are these?"

That brat is quite shrewd! Today, he deliberately brought over an excessive amount of money to dampen the boy's arrogance, so he wouldn't be so presumptuous and ignorant all the time! Incidentally, he also harbored a small selfish desire for revenge, to vent his frustration, because this brat always did things behind his back, which often made him furious!

With a cool glance at the mountain of accounts, Master Murong coughed lightly, "About three days' worth!" He thought to himself, "The best accountant in the manor could finish it in three days without eating, drinking, or sleeping."

“Three days…” Rongyue frowned and pondered. After a while, she raised her eyes and smiled faintly: “Father, does that mean that after I finish the calculation, I won’t have anything to do for these three days?”

"How could you possibly finish it in three days? Absolutely impossible!"

Oh? Such a decisive and certain answer? Heh, something's fishy!

"Father, this debt probably amounts to more than just three days' worth of expenses, doesn't it?"

Uncomfortably bringing his fist to his lips, Master Murong coughed a few times to avoid Rongyue's questioning: "If you can really calculate it within three days, your father will agree to give you a month's leave!"

"Really?" Rongyue's eyes burned brightly, constantly spewing out scorching flames!

"Of course! But if you can't finish calculating in three days... Hmph, then you're not allowed to disobey your father from now on! You must obey every arrangement your father makes!"

Seeing her father's eyes gleaming with shrewdness, Rongyue's lips curled into a wicked smile: "Father, rest assured, your son-in-law will absolutely not allow this to happen! Ade, read the accounts!" She casually tossed an account to the new butler, Ade, and leaned back in her chair.

Hastily accepting the account book from Rongyue, Ade respectfully responded, cleared his throat, and began to read aloud: "Luxiang Pavilion, 1,363 taels, 6 strings, and 8 mace..."

"stop!"

"stop!"

Rongyue smiled and gestured for him to speak first: "Father, please speak first."

Looking suspiciously at Rongyue, whose eyes were smiling, Master Murong asked, full of questions, "Why don't you use an abacus when you're doing your accounts?"

Pushing the stray strands of hair behind her ear, Rongyue said with disdain, "That kind of outdated calculating tool is worse than not using it at all! By the way, Ade, when you're reading it, don't say 'Ge' or anything, just say the amount of money, it'll save you time."

"Oh. One thousand three hundred and sixty..."

"Too slow! Read it faster!"

"One thousand three hundred and sixty-three taels..."