The most foolish in the world

Chapter 34

Only Qingmofang, a place inhabited by all sorts of people from all walks of life, could accommodate such an unconventional person as her.

The term "frivolous girl" has become a compliment here. The neighbors proudly say that girls from Qingmofang should be like this and that... Who can say that this is not indulging her willfulness and encouraging her whims?

He seemed to understand why she could laugh off all the gossip and rumors.

The scholar was clear-headed at that moment. He stood in the empty alley and bowed deeply to each of the four directions.

"I will keep your instructions in mind and thank you."

Having said that, he turned and strode towards the Painting Alley. He felt an inexplicable urgency, an eagerness to see her. So he walked faster and faster, until he was practically flying. In no time at all, he returned to the Painting Alley.

From afar, I saw a person sitting at the entrance of the Fan family's house at the end of the alley.

"Miss Fan?"

Fan Qingbo looked up, his face somewhat grim, but he grinned and said, "You didn't let those gossipy old women tear it apart, did you?"

He didn't speak, but squatted down in front of her, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took her hand. He felt its coldness and tightened his grip. After a long pause, she finally spoke.

"His illness seems to have disappeared. I brought back his favorite fish tofu, but I couldn't find him. He didn't cook dinner, nor did he boil water for my bath. There's a pile of bird droppings in front of the yard that no one has cleaned up. I suddenly realize that I seem to be unable to do anything..."

Her voice was calm, yet it carried a heart-wrenching sense of suppressed pain. The scholar felt a tightness in his chest and pulled her into his arms.

Fan Qingbo, nestled in his arms, glanced at him and slowly reached out to hug him back tightly. Then, she looked up and asked with a somewhat weak expression, "Scholar, you've fallen ill and left. You're all I have left. Will you take care of me like you did when you fell ill?"

The scholar was startled by her pitiful eyes, his soul almost leaving his body. He felt a surge of tenderness and pity for her, wishing he could offer his heart and promise to take care of her for the rest of his life.

He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by two angry roars.

"You beast! Let go of my master!"

"You beast! Let go of my son, Shulang!"

Author's Note: I've realized I'm seriously behind schedule (￣.￣)+ I need to think carefully about the direction of the next chapter and get them to consummate their marriage as soon as possible.

twenty three

23. The Jealousy Incident (Part Two)...

Two unexpected obstacles appeared out of nowhere, and the scholar's overflowing tender feelings were completely choked back.

Not only that, the woman in his arms, who had been so delicate and pitiful just a moment ago, suddenly changed her expression, jumped out, grabbed the newcomer's ear, and cursed, "I told you not to run away from home! I told you not to run away from home! If you've got the guts, then don't come back!"

The one being pinched cried out in pain, but his face was clearly beaming with a joyful and satisfied smile—this is probably what is known as a masochist.

Just as the scholar beside him was feeling melancholy and frustrated because his pockets were empty, a pair of plump hands landed on his arm.

"Shulang...are you alright?"

A soft sentence, yet it seemed to possess a magical power, freezing the entire space. Whether they were the one who had struck or the one who had been struck, both froze, their voices choked. Despite it being summer, they all felt a chilling autumn wind blowing through them.

“Shu… Lang?” This was Fan Qingbo’s hesitant voice.

"Shulang." This was Fan Bing's voice, both affirmative and tinged with nausea.

"Ah!" This was the scholar's soft exclamation as he realized what was happening.

Qiu Yi felt a force gently push her away. By the time she came to her senses, the scholar had already jumped five steps away and was standing next to Fan Qingbo. A panic gripped her heart, "Scholar..."

Faced with the strange looks from the Fan family, the scholar instinctively raised his hand: "It has nothing to do with me!"

The Fan family, mistress and servant, turned their heads and scoffed. The scholar grew anxious and turned to Qiu Yi, saying, "Miss Qiu, my name is Shusheng, courtesy name Qinzhi. We are not related by blood or marriage. Please address me properly to avoid any misunderstandings."

Seeing him cautiously glancing at Fan Qingbo beside him as he spoke, the "other person" he mentioned was obvious. Qiu Yi's face paled. "Could the rumors be true? You, you and this frivolous woman..." Her gaze turned away resentfully. "Fan Qingbo! You! What did you promise me!"

"Uh..." Suddenly being called out, Fan Qingbo hadn't quite figured out what was going on. "Did I promise you anything?" Oh dear, had she inadvertently toyed with and hurt a young girl's heart?

A perfect follower must be his master's notebook; it's time for Fan Bing to come into play.

He leaned over and whispered a reminder: "I guess the meaning of 'spring, summer, autumn and winter' refers to the prohibition against seducing scholars. Of course, I'm pretty sure you didn't agree back then and even stuck your tongue out at her provocatively."

"Received." Fan Qingbo gave Fan Bing an approving look, then turned to Qiu Yi with a calm smile, "Let's not even talk about how I never agreed, and in fact, I never seduced him..." Suddenly remembering the time the coffin shook, he paused at the end of his sentence, "Ahem, let's not talk about seduction or not, a scholar is still a scholar. If you like him, instead of stopping other women, why not just tell him directly?"

The scholar was shocked upon hearing this, "Miss Fan, you mean, Miss Qiuqiu, she..."

Fan Qingbo slapped away the face that was leaning towards him and raised his chin at Qiu Yi, "See, this guy wouldn't have known if you hadn't told him."

At this moment, Qiu Yi wouldn't listen to her advice. She was preoccupied with the fact that this frivolous woman had seduced and bewitched the scholar, and then publicly exposed her secrets, embarrassing her. Her words were clearly an act of arrogance! With tears in her eyes, she said angrily, "Young Master, don't be bewitched by this woman! Her character is not worthy of you at all! You heard it yourself just now, she's just playing with you!"

Hey, she was just encouraging a brave young woman to create miracles, not saying she was toying with a scholar!

“Playing, toying with…” Although the time and place were inappropriate, the scholar couldn’t help but blush. He recalled what she had done to him in the coffin… It did indeed seem like toying with him… But if it was this kind of toying with, he thought he would accept it willingly…

"Stop! Stop!"

Hearing Fan Qingbo's reprimand, he lowered his head in shame, feeling utterly humiliated. He silently recited the Diamond Sutra, desperately trying to suppress his burgeoning fantasies. When he raised his head again, his eyes were clear as water, but upon seeing her equally flushed cheeks, his composure crumbled, and all sorts of fantasies surged back, overwhelming him...

The two locked eyes, and in a flash, they were completely absorbed in each other's presence.

"Hey, you two, have some self-respect!"

A chilling, ghostly voice drifted over, mercilessly shattering the pink bubble in the air.

Fan Qingbo broke free from the scholar's lingering gaze, awkwardly turning her head away. She met Fan Bing's mournful gaze, coughed twice, and sheepishly touched her nose. "Eh, where's Qiuyi?"