Beside her, Xiao Jingxuan watched her undisguised greedy expression and felt amused inside.
Just as his younger sister had said—she was a complete foodie through and through!
"Come along, little follower. This master will show you the world!" Xiao Jingxuan waved his hand grandly, full of bravado. "Whatever you want to eat, just say it. This young master is treating!"
Su Xiaoyu could hardly believe her ears. She looked up at Xiao Jingxuan, her eyes filled with doubt and a flicker of longing.
"R-really? Second Young Master?" She unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"Nonsense! When this young master gives his word, even four horses couldn't drag it back!"
As he spoke, he walked over to a stall selling oil cakes and bought two steaming, golden-brown pastries, stuffing one into her hand.
"Here, fill your stomach first."
Su Xiaoyu held the fragrant, flaky pastry, feeling as if she were dreaming.
She carefully took a bite—the crust was crispy, the inside soft, and the filling generous, leaving a delightful aroma in her mouth.
[This is absolutely delicious!]
She squinted her eyes in bliss.
This was her first time visiting an ancient market since transmigrating into the book. All the food here was organic and pollution-free, unlike modern pre-made dishes or various questionable creations loaded with "technology and ruthless ingredients."
Xiao Jingxuan led her from one end of the street to the other, eating their way through. Seeing Su Xiaoyu thoroughly satisfied, he felt their relationship had warmed up enough and began his "probing."
He guided her into a relatively quiet street with more refined shops.
"Come, I'll take you to a good place."
With that, Xiao Jingxuan strode into a shop selling rouge and cosmetics.
The shop was filled with a rich fragrance, displaying an array of exquisite porcelain boxes and glass bottles.
It was Su Xiaoyu's first time in such a place, and she couldn't help feeling a bit reserved, though her eyes wandered curiously over the dazzling array of items.
So this was a high-end cosmetics store in ancient times? The packaging was so beautiful!
But! Why did Xiao Jingxuan bring her here?
Was he planning to pick a gift for the female lead he fancied?
Xiao Jingxuan observed her reaction out of the corner of his eye. Noticing only curiosity and unease—none of the excitement or eagerness typical of other women—he began to form some conclusions.
He casually picked up a box of rouge, opened it, and asked Su Xiaoyu, "Hey, Xiaoyu, what do you think of this color? Does it suit this young master?"
Su Xiaoyu glanced at the bright red paste and her lips twitched uncontrollably.
Second Young Master, are you confused about your gender?
But she answered honestly, "Second Young Master, this is for ladies, isn't it?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Xiao Jingxuan pretended to have just realized it and picked up a box of lip balm, offering it to her.
"Then what about this color? Do you like it? If you do, this young master will give you a box."
If a woman with ambitions to climb the social ladder received such a hint from her master, she would likely accept it with shyness and coyness.
Unexpectedly, Su Xiaoyu shook her head like a rattle-drum.
"No need, Second Young Master. This maid works all day and has no use for this. It would be a waste!"
Rather than giving me this, you might as well get me two roast chickens. This stuff isn't edible, and I'd have to take care of it carefully. What a hassle.
Xiao Jingxuan: …
This reaction wasn't quite what he had imagined.
Not giving up, he took Su Xiaoyu to a jewelry shop and a silk fabric store. Picking up exquisite hairpins and gorgeous, respectable fabrics, he offered them to Su Xiaoyu.
"This hairpin suits you quite well—just right for a young lady like you. Shall I give it to you?"
"And this moonlight gauze is perfect for making a dress. You'd surely look beautiful wearing it."
Su Xiaoyu jumped back in alarm, nearly bumping into a shelf.
"Second Young Master, this won't do! This humble maid is of low status and cannot wear such things."
Besides, as a maid with her hair tied in a bun, she couldn't even wear a hairpin.
As for the fabric, it was even more inappropriate for someone of her status to wear.
Su Xiaoyu rejected the offer decisively without a moment's hesitation.
Xiao Jingxuan watched her avoidant demeanor and was utterly speechless.
That Lingxi must have been talking nonsense.
This Su Xiaoyu was clearly still an unenlightened girl, her mind probably filled with nothing but food.
Where was even a hint of cunning?
Finding this investigation utterly pointless, he was about to head back when two familiar voices called out from behind:
"Well, if it isn't Xiao the Second! When did you return? Why didn't you let us know?"
"Exactly! Hiding here picking jewelry with your little sweetheart, eh? Not bad taste—this attendant is quite fair-skinned!"
Two young masters in brocade robes, waving folding fans, approached with smirking faces, their attitude overly familiar.
They were the usual troublemakers Xiao Jingxuan used to hang out with.
One was Zhao Rui, the second son of the Vice Minister of Rites.
The other was Sun Wei, the third son of the Earl of Anyuan.
Xiao Jingxuan shot them an annoyed glare. "Shoo, shoo! Stop talking nonsense. This is… my newly hired attendant! Don't get any ideas about her."
He sized up the two. "What are you two doing here?"
Zhao Rui leaned in closer, winking and lowering his voice. "My father went to the office for roll call, and my mother left early to offer incense at the temple outside the city. I'm the only one left at home—if not now, when should I slip away?"
His tone was full of the smugness of "when the cat's away, the mice will play."
Sun Wei snapped his folding shut with a "swish," tapping it against his palm.
"This young master had rotten luck yesterday—lost fifty taels at the 'Thousand Gold Stage' and got an earful from my father half the night. Today, I must go to 'Ruyi House' to unwind and shake off the bad luck."
His every sentence was filled with references to gambling dens and brothels, clearly a regular patron.
Hearing "Ruyi House," Zhao Rui's eyes lit up, and he nudged Xiao Jingxuan with his elbow. "Right, right! Xiao the Second, I heard Ruyi House has a new batch of young ladies—top-notch in looks and figure. How about it? Shall we go check them out together?"
Ruyi House was a brothel, a place they had frequently visited before. But now, Su Xiaoyu was right beside him.
Hearing his friends mention "Ruyi House," Xiao Jingxuan's heart sank.
He instinctively glanced at Su Xiaoyu and found the girl blinking her big eyes, looking utterly clueless and ignorant, as if asking, "What's Ruyi House? Do they sell good food?"
Damn! If Su Xiaoyu found out he went to such places and accidentally let it slip in front of his elder brother…
Xiao Jingxuan instantly felt a chill run down his spine!
"Preposterous!"
Xiao Jingxuan straightened his posture, putting on a stern and righteous expression as he firmly refused:
"Such places—how could we possibly go there? They corrupt morals and decency! How could I, Xiao Jingxuan, be the kind of decadent nobleman who indulges in sensual pleasures?"
Zhao Rui and Sun Wei were completely baffled by his sudden display of "righteousness."
Exchanging a glance, the two of them burst into exaggerated laughter the next second.
"Hahaha! Xiao Jingxuan, what are you pretending to be all high and mighty for?"
"Who was it last month at 'Hundred Flowers Pavilion' who almost got into a fight with Young Master Liu from the Censor's family over the top courtesan?"
Sun Wei chimed in with a follow-up jab: "Exactly! And who was it shamelessly blocking the door of Little Peach Blossom's private room just to catch a glimpse of her? Tsk! Where's all that boldness and bravado now?"
Xiao Jingxuan's face instantly flushed crimson, and he wished he could clamp his hands over these two idiots' mouths!
He glanced nervously at Xiaoyu and, sure enough, saw her slightly agape with surprise, her eyes filled with shock that clearly read, "So this is the kind of second young master you are."
In truth, Su Xiaoyu's worldview had indeed been shaken.
She had originally thought that, as the second young master of Hou Manor, Xiao Jingxuan wouldn't be too outrageous. Little did she know she had overestimated him!
These ancient playboys really knew how to live it up!
"Xiaoyu, don't listen to their nonsense!" he explained to Su Xiaoyu.
"They're just jealous that I'm handsome, charming, and more popular with the ladies, so they're making up stories about me."
Turning around, Xiao Jingxuan shot a fierce glare at Sun Wei and forcefully cut them off:
"What's the point of going to Ruyi Gambling Den? How pathetic! So you lost fifty taels of silver at Thousand Gold Stage? Just wait—I'll go to Thousand Gold Stage right now and win back your money with interest!"
In reality, his mind was racing with calculations:
Going to a gambling den, while not exactly commendable, still sounded better than bringing a maid to a brothel!
Plus, this was the perfect chance to let Su Xiaoyu witness his dashing and brilliant prowess as he dominated the gambling tables!