L'hibiscus comme peinture

Chapitre 74

Just as Ao Jun was about to leave with the old woman in his arms, someone suddenly blocked his way and said politely, "Young master, my master invites you in."

Ao Jun didn't even glance at the person, and said indifferently, "I'm not going." With that, she started to walk past the person.

The man flashed to Ao Jun's side again and said patiently, "Young master, my master has no ill intentions. He just wants to befriend you."

"Not interested." The voice remained cold, and seemed somewhat impatient.

The man, seemingly determined to get to the bottom of things, glanced at the old woman and said, "This old woman's injury can't be delayed any longer. My master has the best medicine to treat her."

Seeing that the old woman seemed to be really dying, Ao Jun simply nodded in agreement and followed the man into the restaurant.

The old woman was taken away for treatment. Ao Jun wanted to leave, but the man blocked her way again, saying respectfully, "Young master, my master is waiting for you in the side room." Before Ao Jun could speak, he embraced her and led her into the side room, then left.

"Why is this person like this? And who is his master?" Ao Jun muttered to himself as soon as he entered the room, without even looking at it.

"Young master, please have a seat." Suddenly, a pleasant and clear voice rang out from inside the room.

Ao Jun then noticed that there was another person in the room. Following the sound, she saw a handsome man in a light blue robe sitting by the window, looking at her with a half-smile. He was tapping his left hand with a folding fan, his beautiful peach blossom eyes flashing with an inexplicable light, and his sexy thin lips pursed with a charming smile. Overall, he looked quite pleasing to the eye.

“Young master, my name is Dongfang Junhao. I was deeply impressed by your courageous act just now, so I took the liberty of inviting you here for a gathering. I apologize for my abruptness.” Dongfang Junhao bowed elegantly to Ao Jun, who had just sat down, his every gesture exuding charm and elegance.

"Young Master Dongfang, you're too kind," Ao Jun replied calmly. That's probably how the ancients would have said it! This person seems quite polite; my first impression of him is not bad.

"Haha...no, no, I'm telling the truth." Dongfang Junhao laughed heartily, her voice soft and pleasant, even more pleasant than those women's.

Ao Jun didn't respond, but simply sat elegantly, and the only sound in the room was Dongfang Junhao's hearty laughter.

"Young Master... Ah! By the way, I still don't know how to address you?" Dongfang Junhao laughed heartily at Ao Jun's indifference. He was quite interested in this taciturn young man in white. This was the first man, besides women, who could arouse his interest. He didn't understand why; perhaps it was the way she had just brushed the dust off the old beggar that had deeply impressed him!

As the master of the number one manor in the world, he had seen the hypocrisy of the world and the treachery of human nature since childhood. The feeling he got from this white-clad youth was like the pure white robe she wore, so pure, like an immortal who did not eat the food of the mortal world.

"His surname is Ling." She had a rather good impression of this handsome man.

"Oh, so it's Young Master Ling! Hehe... May I be so bold as to ask you for a favor?" Dongfang Junhao stared at Ao Jun's bamboo hat and said sincerely.

"What is it?" Ao Jun's tone seemed less cold, which was quite unusual. She seemed to be chatting casually with a friend when meeting someone for the first time, and her tone had unconsciously softened.

"I would very much like to make friends with Young Master Ling. Would I have the honor?" Dongfang Junhao seemed to notice the change in the man's tone and became even more delighted. He didn't understand what made him so happy, he just knew he was very happy. From the moment she appeared on the street, his gaze had been unconsciously drawn to her. Watching her look at this and that in front of one stall after another, he couldn't take his eyes off her. Later, her every move captivated him, as did her strange martial arts moves, which he had never seen before in his travels. They seemed to lack internal energy, yet were very practical.

"Mm." Ao Jun didn't say anything, just nodded slightly. She also had a good impression of Dongfang Junhao, just like what she had told Li Cang before: 'Friendship doesn't depend on how long you've known each other. Making friends is just a feeling in your heart. If the feeling is right, even people you've just met can become good friends.' She thought this must be the situation she was in now!

"Haha... That's great, Brother Ling, from now on you can just call me Junhao, haha..." When Dongfang Junhao saw Aojun nod, he happily slapped the table with his fan, which was really funny.

Looking at Dongfang Junhao, who was acting like a child, a smile slowly appeared on the expressionless face under the bamboo hat, and her tone became a little more relaxed as she said, "Alright, Junhao, don't call me Brother Ling. My name is Ling Aojun, just call me Aojun!" Brother Ling? She looks younger than him!

"Ling Aojun, Ling Aojun... What a beautiful name." Dongfang Junhao seemed to be in a daze, repeating the name over and over with a silly smile, as if he wanted to imprint the name deeply in his heart.

This made Ao Jun's smile deepen. How could this person be so amusing! (Deep down, she was still a child at heart.)

Dongfang Junhao seemed to sense the faint smile on the face under the bamboo hat, and he was even more delighted. He really wanted to see the true face under the bamboo hat, but would Ao Jun be unhappy if he did so?

"Haha... Aojun, may I... um... take a look at you..." Dongfang Junhao stammered, looking a little embarrassed. She was really curious about what was under the bamboo hat. Someone with such an aura must be quite good-looking! Actually, given his usual style, he would never be so polite to anyone. If he wanted to see her face, he would have just lifted the hat. But for some reason, he just didn't want to upset the person in front of him.

Ao Jun smiled knowingly and said, "Why not?" With that, he slowly removed his bamboo hat...

Perhaps he hadn't expected Ao Jun to agree so readily! Dongfang Junhao abruptly looked up, just in time to see Ao Jun remove her bamboo hat. A gasp immediately filled the silent room, and time seemed to stand still for a moment...

To be continued

The Strategist and the Princess: Kyoto Chapter 57 - A Rendezvous at the Misty Rain Pavilion

Ao Jun smiled knowingly and said, "Why not?" With that, he slowly removed his bamboo hat...

Perhaps he hadn't expected Ao Jun to agree so readily! Dongfang Junhao suddenly looked up and saw Ao Jun taking off her bamboo hat. A gasp immediately filled the silent room, and time seemed to stand still for a moment...

My God! What a handsome man! He's more beautiful than any woman he's ever seen, even the most beautiful courtesan in the Misty Rain Pavilion couldn't match a tenth of her beauty. Could someone this beautiful really be a man? Yet, there's a heroic spirit, confidence, and pride in her brows that no other woman possesses. His heart pounded. He, who frequented brothels but never had a true love, felt his heart flutter for the first time—for this man he'd just met. But… is she really a man? He had serious doubts…

"Junhao... Junhao..." After Ao Jun took off her bamboo hat, she waited for a long time, but Dongfang Junhao did not react. She looked at him strangely and saw that he was staring at her blankly as if he were under a spell. She knew very well that she had not smiled at all. Why was he stunned? She couldn't help but call out.

"Uh... Ah!" Hearing Ao Jun's exclamation, Dongfang Junhao snapped out of his daze, blushed, and scratched himself embarrassedly, saying, "My apologies, Ao Jun is just too beautiful. I consider myself to have seen countless people, but I have never seen anyone as handsome as Ao Jun. I was momentarily stunned." Dongfang Junhao said very honestly, his dashing and handsome appearance completely disappearing in front of Ao Jun.

"Hehe..." Ao Jun chuckled softly, amused by Dongfang Junhao's blushing. He was already handsome and extraordinary, and this blushing did not diminish his good looks; on the contrary, it made him even more charming, with a touch of naivety in his handsomeness. Naïve? If someone who knew Dongfang Junhao heard this, they would definitely wonder if Ao Jun had something wrong with his head. How could the fox-like Lord Dongfang be associated with naïveness?

That smile stunned Dongfang Junhao, who had just come back to his senses. She was so beautiful that he increasingly doubted her identity as a man. Having always been a playboy, he had long since developed a keen sense for women. He had a feeling that she was not a man, but he couldn't be sure because he couldn't believe that a woman could be so casual and carefree, with such an arrogant and disdainful attitude. She was truly hard to understand!

"Ahem... Junhao, it's getting late, I should go back." Ao Jun coughed lightly, pulling Dongfang Junhao back to his senses. He glanced out the window and realized it was almost noon. Jin Xuan should have been back by now, so he should hurry back! He then said goodbye to Dongfang Junhao.

"Ah! Ao Jun is leaving so soon? I was hoping to chat with her a little longer!" Dongfang Junhao exclaimed, snapping back to reality. His face flushed red again, and he inwardly berated himself: Dongfang Junhao! Dongfang Junhao, you're the master of Dongfang Manor, the number one manor in the world, and you consider yourself clever and handsome, how come you keep making a fool of yourself in front of her today! Before he could finish berating himself, he heard Ao Jun say she was leaving, and he hurriedly said...

“I also want to talk to Junhao more, but I’ve been out for too long, it’s time to go back.” Ao Jun said lightly, but there was a hint of reluctance in her tone. She felt very happy chatting with this new friend; he always seemed to make her laugh. But if she didn’t go back for too long, Jin Xuan would probably come looking for her.

"Well... alright!" Seeing that Ao Jun really wanted to leave, Dongfang Junhao was reluctant but couldn't force her, so he had to agree. However, after today's parting, he didn't know when they would meet again, and he still didn't know if she was a man or a woman!

"Junhao, I'll be going now." Ao Jun left his seat, said to Junhao, and turned to leave.

Before she could even take a step, Dongfang Junhao strode up to her and shoved a fan into her hand, saying, "Aojun, take this. If you need anything in the future, you can come here to find me, or you can come to Dongfang Manor. I don't know where you live, so you'll have to come to see me often!" He was always the one begging to see him; when had he ever been so eager to have someone come to him? Heh… He'd really gone to great lengths for this Ling Aojun; he couldn't even believe this person was himself.

"Okay." Ao Jun took the fan that Dongfang Junhao handed her, nodded, and then walked past Dongfang Junhao and left.

As Ao Jun passed by Dongfang Junhao, Dongfang Junhao's sensitive nose immediately detected a faint, pleasant fragrance, making him increasingly suspicious that she was a woman. Perhaps there was a place where he could properly test her.

Dongfang Junhao's eyes suddenly filled with calculation, and a sly smile appeared on his lips. He turned around and caught up with Ao Jun.

Just as Ao Jun was about to leave the restaurant, she suddenly sensed someone behind her. Turning around, she saw Dongfang Junhao standing in front of her and asked in surprise, "Junhao, is there anything else?"