“You… you two…?”
Ruan Qingli gave him a polite curtsy, then quietly turned and went into the kitchen, leaving the two men alone.
The moment she was gone, Su Mingyuan lowered his voice and pressed Han Sheng for an explanation.
“Come on, tell me. What’s really going on here?”
Han Sheng answered calmly,
“She was divorced by her husband’s family and had nowhere to go, so I took her in.”
“That’s it?”
“What else would there be?”
Su Mingyuan didn’t believe a word of it.
He had known Han Sheng for years. The man had always kept women at arm’s length. If he didn’t have feelings for Ruan Qingli, there was no way he would have allowed her to move into his home.
Pacing back and forth across the room, Su Mingyuan finally said,
“A’Sheng, don’t be ridiculous. So many women have wanted to marry you, and you’ve turned every one of them down. Yet now you’ve set your sights on a woman who’s already been married… Fine, let’s put that aside. The bigger issue is that everyone says she ran away with another man.”
“She never ran away with anyone,” Han Sheng said coldly. “Fang Shubai wanted to divorce her and framed her. Other people may not see it, but can’t you?”
Su Mingyuan slapped his forehead.
“Fine, fine. Let’s say she never eloped. Even so, keeping her in your house like this isn’t appropriate. If your reputation is damaged, how am I supposed to explain it to your third sister?”
Han Sheng snorted.
“What do you need to explain to my third sister for? The two of you have nothing to do with each other. After how badly you upset her, you still think she’ll marry you?”
Su Mingyuan immediately cried out in protest.
“That’s a misunderstanding! I was framed! I’ve never even met that singing girl. Who knows how she ended up in my bed? And I’m telling you, I was completely innocent—I never even touched her!”
Han Sheng let out another dismissive snort.
“If your conscience was really clear, why have you been avoiding my third sister all this time?”
“Because she’s been trying to kill me every time she sees me! Of course I had to stay out of her way until she cooled down. We’re supposed to be talking about you. How did this suddenly become my problem?”
Han Sheng looked at him.
“What problem do I have?”
“You’re an unmarried man living under the same roof as a divorced woman. If your father finds out, he’ll break your legs.”
Han Sheng corrected him.
“First, Miss Ruan and I are completely innocent. Second, we’re only living under the same roof—we’re not living together as husband and wife.”
“So you admit it,” Su Mingyuan said triumphantly. “You do have feelings for her.”
Han Sheng merely shot him an annoyed glance and remained silent.
Su Mingyuan sighed and continued earnestly,
“A’Sheng, your social standings are worlds apart. Since ancient times, matches like that have never ended well. If you truly care about that girl, send her away as soon as possible. Otherwise, you’re only hurting her.”
Han Sheng replied,
“I’m nothing more than the chief constable of a small town. How is there some enormous gap in our status? Besides, there’s nothing between Miss Ruan and me. You’re worrying far too early.”
Just then, Ruan Qingli walked back in, and both men immediately fell silent.
“Lord Su, please have some water. We don’t have any tea at home, so plain water is all I can offer. I hope you won’t mind.”
Su Mingyuan accepted the cup and took the opportunity to study her.
Although they had met before, it had been dark that night, and they’d been standing far apart. He had only vaguely remembered her as a rather pretty young woman.
Now that he saw her up close, he realized she was stunning.
Her willow-shaped brows framed gentle almond eyes filled with quiet grace. Though she wore no makeup at all, she was so naturally beautiful that it was difficult to look away.
No wonder Han Sheng…
For some reason, she also gave Su Mingyuan a strange sense of familiarity.
He couldn’t place where it came from, but he felt as though he had seen her somewhere before.
Especially her eyes…
They reminded him of someone from his memories.
Clearing his throat, he accepted the cup and said,
“Miss Ruan, may I have a word with you in private?”
Han Sheng knew exactly what he intended to say.
He immediately stood up and stepped between them.
“Mingyuan, didn’t you just say there was business at the yamen? Then you’d better get going.”
Seeing how protectively Han Sheng stood in front of her, Su Mingyuan was left speechless.
In the end, he could only throw out one sentence.
“You’ll regret this.”
Then he got up and left.
After seeing the unexpected visitor out, Han Sheng returned to find Ruan Qingli standing there with a vegetable basket, apparently about to head to the market.
She looked surprised to see him come back.
“Master Han, why are you back again? Aren’t you going to the yamen today?”
Han Sheng replied,
“There aren’t usually any major cases in town. Fights in the street or quarrels between husband and wife can be handled by the deputies below me. I don’t have to be there every day.”
He glanced at the basket in her hand.
“Going to buy vegetables?”
Ruan Qingli smiled sweetly.
“Yes. The produce is freshest in the morning. A lot of farmers from the nearby villages come to sell their autumn vegetables too, and the prices are cheaper.”
“I’ll go with you.”
She hesitated for a moment.
“Aren’t you afraid people will gossip if they see us together?”
Han Sheng looked at her.
“Are you?”
She shook her head.
“What do I have to be afraid of? An honest person fears no rumors. Besides, I’m already the talk of the town. Is there a single day I walk through the streets without people gossiping about me?”
She shrugged helplessly.
“Though, to be honest, they repeat the same few lines every day. They never come up with anything new. I’m tired of listening to them.”
Her carefree attitude made Han Sheng laugh.
It was true.
If Ruan Qingli had been the kind of person to take every rumor to heart, she might have ended up like that woman a few days ago, driven to throw herself into the river over a few cruel words.
Han Sheng took the basket from her hands.
“If you’re not afraid, why would I be? Besides, I’m the man here. It’s not like I’m the one at a disadvantage.”
“Then let’s go together. If we’re any later, all the good produce will be gone.”
The morning market stretched along East Street from one end to the other.
It was Han Sheng’s first time visiting, and the countless stalls left him dazzled.
A vendor called out to him,
“Young master! Fresh cabbage! Just cut from the fields this morning—still covered in dew! Only one copper coin per jin!”
Hearing the sales pitch, Ruan Qingli walked over for a closer look.
The cabbages were indeed fresh.
With winter just around the corner, cabbage was a valuable staple. It kept well and could be stored for a long time.
She immediately began bargaining.
“One copper coin per jin? Isn’t that a little too expensive?”
Han Sheng stared at her in disbelief.
Too expensive?
One copper coin per jin?
To his surprise, she actually managed to haggle the price down.
“Ten copper coins for thirteen jin! Young lady, take a look—I’m giving you a generous deal!”
Ruan Qingli checked the scale carefully before nodding.
“All right, pack them up.”
She bent down to lift the bundle herself.
Han Sheng was faster.
“I’ll carry it.”
Watching the two of them, the farmer selling the cabbages grinned broadly.
“You really spoil your wife, young master. Young lady, you’re truly blessed!”