Chapter 62: The Young Master Has Found a Confidante?

Looking over again, the magpie-like attendant also noticed that half of Luo Qianfan's body was draped over a man. Disregarding the sudden turn of events, she limped her way toward them.

Startled by that piercing voice, Luo Qianfan guessed who the newcomer was within a mere second.

With such a terrifying pair of lungs, who else could it be besides Lu Xuanxuan! Good heavens! How on earth had she managed to follow her here as well?

She had originally thought this trip out would be a relaxing one, but she never expected to run into Dongfang Yuyue first thing, only to become entangled in a whole mountain of troublesome matters afterward.

Now, even Lu Xuanxuan had tracked her down. She really had to wonder if she had failed to consult the lunar calendar before setting out—why was everyone who should and shouldn't be here colliding all at once?

What on earth was Luo Mo doing?

Meanwhile, Luo Qianfan's small hand slid past Dongfang Yuyue's shoulder, inching its way toward his chest.

Initially, Dongfang Yuyue thought Luo Qianfan was merely trying to flirt with him, but he never expected...

"Hiss...!"

Luo Qianfan's seemingly soft little hand launched an unmerciful attack right at Dongfang Yuyue's chest. The intense pain at that exact moment told him without the slightest exaggeration that she had definitely left a rather deep mark upon his chest.

Hiss!

To think this lass struck with such genuine ruthlessness! Dongfang Yuyue sighed. Luo Qianfan was then steadily set down. The moment her feet touched the ground, she felt a fleeting sense of security.

By this time, Lu Xuanxuan had already drawn near. Seething with anger, she was ready to vent every bit of unhappiness she had accumulated over the past few days.

"Why didn't you tell me when you came to the Tianlin Kingdom? Why couldn't I find you? Why were you hiding from me? Why, why, why...?"

She had a whole mountain of whys! She simply could not understand why Luo Qianfan was avoiding her.

Fine, perhaps in the past their family backgrounds prevented them from forming any deeper friendship, but by now she had already severed ties with the Luo Estate, hadn't she? So why on earth was she still hiding from her? A wave of fear welled up in Lu Xuanxuan's heart.

Could it be that Luo Qianfan still minded the conflicts they used to have?

In the past, they had always been bitter enemies; anyone who saw them would have thought so without a doubt.

Yet no one could possibly know that the sole reason Lu Xuanxuan had opposed Luo Qianfan at every turn was simply because she wanted to attract her attention.

To draw Luo Qianfan's gaze, she had not hesitated to turn into the domineering and willful aristocratic maiden in the eyes of others, nor did she fear being paired alongside her as the "Southern Lu and Northern Luo." She did it all simply because she hoped to share some connection with this stunning and exceptionally talented woman.

Yet if Luo Qianfan herself had no desire to play along with her, what meaning was there left in anything she had done?

Having just stepped down from Dongfang Yuyue, Luo Qianfan found herself inexplicably bombarded by a barrage of questions from Lu Xuanxuan.

She had originally assumed Lu Xuanxuan's sudden goodwill was merely temporary, and that she was dodging her simply to avoid entanglements. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine this young girl would chase all the way here—what truly relentless perseverance!

Startled by Lu Xuanxuan's outburst, the surrounding onlookers began to piece things together.

Just moments ago, this young lady had been entangled in some ambiguous behavior with this young master, and now how was she once again involved with another young woman...?!

Lu Xuanxuan's previous string of remarks had genuinely led those unaware of the situation into a complete misunderstanding. At present, everyone assumed Luo Qianfan had first provoked Dongfang Yuyue before hooking up with Lu Xuanxuan, and their impression of Luo Qianfan took a sharp, unfavorable plunge.

"Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover!"

"......"

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Eldest Miss Lu, it seems to me we aren't all that familiar with one another? Since we aren't close, why on earth should I inform you when I come to the Tianlin Kingdom?" Luo Qianfan was left completely bewildered by their antics.

"And are you close with His Highness the Prince Yu then? Why did you bring him along and not me?" Upon walking closer, Lu Xuanxuan naturally spotted Dongfang Yuyue and blurted out the question directly.

Her words struck right at the core of the matter, yet Dongfang Yuyue merely looked on like a disinterested bystander as Luo Qianfan scratched her head in utter exasperation.

This time, let's see how you talk your way out of this!

Although the whole affair was fundamentally a misunderstanding, getting to watch this clever lass strain her wits to such an extent was well worth it!

Luo Qianfan glanced sidelong at Dongfang Yuyue. She had nearly forgotten about this towering immovable Buddha, though she figured no one would believe her even if she claimed Dongfang Yuyue had tagged along of his own accord.

Who would ever believe that His Highness the Prince Yu, who usually projected an image of icy detachment and tyrannical cruelty, was in private nothing more than a clingy tail that couldn't be shaken off no matter how hard one tried?

Who would ever believe that the dignified Prince Yu would eagerly trot along behind a petty, powerless, and arrogant young woman who had just broken ties with her family?

That was entirely impossible!

Even so, Luo Qianfan felt compelled to put up a stubborn resistance for a little longer.

"If I told you this was just a chance encounter, would you believe me?" The moment the words left her mouth, Luo Qianfan wanted to slap herself across the face.

A chance encounter? Then how could she possibly explain the current situation?

Sure enough, everyone cast derisive gazes at Luo Qianfan, treating her words as nothing more than a final, futile struggle.

Not a single person believed what Luo Qianfan said.

Unexpectedly, however, a flash of hesitation crossed Lu Xuanxuan's eyes. Just as Luo Qianfan was preparing to rack her brains for a fresh excuse, a violent wave of nodding greeted her.

Luo Qianfan watched as Lu Xuanxuan nodded vigorously while muttering under her breath: I believe you!

Until this very day, Luo Qianfan had never imagined a person could be adorable to quite this degree.

Luo Qianfan: "..."

The surrounding onlookers wore looks of profound astonishment as well: "..."

She believed such a crude pretense just like that? To think this young lady, who looked so imposing and domineering, was actually this innocent beneath the surface!

Alas! The public sentiment flipped in an instant, and everyone began to feel a sense of injustice on Lu Xuanxuan's behalf.

Yet, was Lu Xuanxuan truly innocent?! Was she really?

Lu Xuanxuan: "——" Am I innocent? I simply refuse to lose Luo Qianfan ever again.

Even if she had just said those words on a whim.

Standing to the side, Dongfang Yuyue gazed at Luo Qianfan's flower-like countenance and let out a deep sigh: "She really knows how to give a man no peace of mind!"

When disguised in men's clothing, she caught people's eyes; disguised as a woman, she was not the least bit inferior!

She truly had quite the knack for stirring things up!

"Gurgle~ Gurgle~~"

Luo Qianfan's traitorous stomach began to rumble loudly.

Dongfang Yuyue cupped his chin in his hand, casting an amused look at the deflated little creature beside him: "Well now, are you hungry?"

"You're asking the obvious!" Luo Qianfan let out a noncommittal huff. Of course she was hungry! She had been dragged away by a certain someone bright and early this morning, and hadn't even managed a single sip of water since—how could she not be hungry? Did they really take her for someone forged out of iron?

The moment Lu Xuanxuan saw Luo Qianfan's flat belly sink inward, she suddenly recalled the delicious food she had tasted earlier. Without another word, she grabbed Luo Qianfan by the hand and pulled her forward.

Seeing this, a layer of stifled frustration welled up in Dongfang Yuyue's heart. He hadn't even given the word yet!

Helplessly watching the two figures hurry ahead, no matter how displeased he felt, he had no choice but to follow after them.

Meanwhile, this entire scene had fallen squarely into the eyes of a person standing not far away.

"Luo Qianfan! So it was you all along!"

The youth possessed a striking pair of blue eyes; he was elegant, extraordinary, and carried an imposing aura, while the small attendant trailing behind him looked rather adorable.

"Young Master, isn't it a bit too early to be buying clothes for the Young Miss the moment she's born?" Xiaobai asked, shouldering the heavy load behind him with a sullen expression.

"Who said I bought this for her!" The young man's blue eyes crinkled with a smile, clearly dwelling on some pleasant thought.

"Ah~ You didn't?" Xiaobai scratched his head, pouting as his imagination ran wild: "Could Young Master have found himself a confidante? Quick, tell me who it is!!" Xiaobai wore a cheeky, punch-me kind of grin.

After turning the thought over and over in his mind, he finally hit upon the most probable answer: "Could it be one of those two young ladies from just now?"

Xiaobai hadn't forgotten that his young master had stared in their direction for quite a while, and had even faintly caught the name Luo something-or-other.

It was rare indeed for his young master to show any stirring of mortal sentiment. They had been away from home for quite some time now, yet there wasn't even a single female who could get close to him, which had been a constant source of worry for him!

Although there was certainly no shortage of aristocratic maidens openly showing favor to his young master on ordinary days, the young master simply dismissed every single one of them without a second glance. On that account, it wouldn't be much of an exaggeration to call his young master pure-hearted and devoid of worldly desires.

And now look at where they were! Anyone with a pulse in the academy thought his young master's sexual inclinations were abnormal, and everyone suspected he preferred men over women.

Hearing Xiaobai's increasingly outrageous remarks, the young man fixed his ink-black gaze squarely on him and gave his lips a cold, hard pull:

"The instructors once mentioned that deep within the academy lies the Blood Mist Forest. I think you might want to try venturing inside for a stroll next time!" With that, the young man mounted his swift steed and rode off at a gallop.

Left behind in the dust, Xiaobai felt as though his entire world had turned grey.

"The Blood Mist Forest? Isn't that... Young Master~ Xiaobai will never ask again..." Xiaobai gasped in horror and scrambled to give chase.

The Blood Mist Forest, no less! That was a place even those on the elite rankings wouldn't dare approach casually. How could a cultivator like him, who didn't even possess a spiritual root, ever dare step foot in there? How could he possibly survive going there?

Young Master... please, no.........

Lie Xuanli remained completely unmoved by Xiaobai's miserable pleadings and tearful supplications. With wind at his heels, his horse pressed forward even faster.

That was his younger sister!

Indeed. He still remembered the letter sent from home a few days ago, stating that his mother had given birth to a baby girl of exceptional beauty. Even the normally austere and indifferent Lie Xuanli could not help feeling frantic with eagerness.

On this outing, Lie Xuanli's primary purpose was to return home to see his biological sister, as well as investigate this 'Luo Qianfan' mentioned in his mother's letter.

He did have a faint impression of Luo Qianfan; she seemed to be a woman with a thoroughly wretched reputation, rumored to be exceptionally arrogant and domineering—the sort whom everyone cursed on sight and even flowers withered around.

Yet, how on earth did she come to know his mother, and how did she manage to persuade his mother to take her in as a foster daughter?

These lingering mysteries were things Lie Xuanli intended to uncover one by one.

However, should he discover that this Luo Qianfan truly harbored ulterior motives toward the General's Estate, he would personally tear away her facade and make her regret every single thing she had done.

Even so, judging solely by the scene he had just witnessed, this Luo Qianfan was even more arrogant than his inquiries had led him to believe.

As for his purchase of that tassel-adorned dress, it had been nothing more than an accident. At the time, he happened to be lingering in the Tianlin Kingdom and bumped into this grand banquet, so he thought he would wander over just in case he could unearth some rare treasure.

For reasons unknown, he had ended up bidding on that dress. If the process hadn't been interrupted by Leng Qing'er, that rejuvenating elixir probably would have been his as well.

Girls generally tended to like such trinkets, didn't they? A strange, rosy blush unconsciously crept across Lie Xuanli's handsome face.

Trailing behind him, Xiaobai watched his young master's increasingly rapid pace and suddenly felt a twinge of regret for his earlier stunt. Why on earth did he have to go cracking useless jokes? Look where it had gotten him!