Lu Yanzhou lowered his head, his shoulders trembling violently for a moment.
Shi Liaoliao thought he was having another episode and instinctively took a few steps forward. Just as Lu Yanzhou looked up, she unexpectedly found herself gazing into his eyes, which still held a lingering smile and seemed to shimmer like autumn waters.
The close proximity left both of them momentarily stunned.
Lu Yanzhou was the first to avert his gaze, his long lashes lowering slightly.
He had almost forgotten that the little manservant before him might have a crush on him.
“I’m feeling much better now. Let’s go,” he said softly.
He didn’t ask why Shi Liaoliao knew about his fear of the dark.
Shi Liaoliao glanced at him.
[How do we get out?]
“Has your strength returned?”
One more kick and that door would collapse.
Lu Yanzhou shook his head.
“This.”
He suddenly pulled something out of his pocket and waved it in front of Shi Liaoliao’s eyes.
On a silver strap, a small screen reflected the chaotic light from the glow stick. A watch-shaped device appeared before Shi Liaoliao’s eyes.
Her gaze fixed on it.
“iWatch?”
[You little rascal, why didn’t you say you had this earlier? What did you need my glow stick for?]
Lu Yanzhou nodded. “Yeah, I just remembered.”
Handing the watch over, he buried his head again. “Help me make a call. I’m exhausted.”
His tone, softened by fatigue, sounded almost like a whimper.
Shi Liaoliao felt goosebumps rise on her skin as she tapped a few times on the watch face.
“Young Master, who should I call?”
“Qingzhou.”
Then, worried the little manservant might not know which characters, he added, “Qingzhou has passed ten thousand mountains.”
Shi Liaoliao looked puzzled. “Who didn’t wear their pants?”
Lu Yanzhou: “…”
Meeting his faintly exasperated gaze, Shi Liaoliao realized she had misheard and calmly scratched her cheek. “Oh, Qingzhou from ‘Qingzhou has passed ten thousand mountains.'”
She then entered the contact, and a number popped up before she dialed.
“Hey~ sweetheart, what’s up?”
A cheerful male voice came from the other end.
Shi Liaoliao: “Hello, Pants. I’m not your sweetheart.”
The person on the other end: “…”
A clear smile tugged at the corner of Lu Yanzhou’s lips.
Shi Liaoliao: Oops, slip of the tongue.
“Hello, I’m Lu Yanzhou’s personal manservant. The Young Master and I are currently trapped in the old storage room next to Banquet Hall No. 1…”
“The old storage room,” Lu Yanzhou added.
Shi Liaoliao repeated, “In the old storage room.”
Hearing Lu Yanzhou’s voice, Yang Qingzhou exclaimed, “Whoa, you got ambushed, huh?”
“Yeah,” Lu Yanzhou replied.
“Hold on, I’ll be right there to rescue the damsel in distress~”
“Wait, remember to buy me fried chicken afterward—the one at the innermost shop on Third Street, no gloves!”
Lu Yanzhou replied dismissively, “Yeah.”
Shi Liaoliao couldn’t help but lower her head to hide her smile.
[Yanzi has such a lively friend. Quite adorable.]
Yang Qingzhou: “Oh, by the way, little manservant, while you’re at it, explain to me how the nickname ‘Pants’ came about.”
Shi Liaoliao: “…” This little guy sure holds a grudge.
Lu Yanzhou took back the watch.
Why aren’t you laughing? Is it just not in your nature to laugh?
By the time Yang Qingzhou arrived with tools, Lu Yanzhou had mostly recovered.
Truthfully, as long as there was even a sliver of light, he wouldn’t lose his ability to move. The problem was that this room had no windows—not even moonlight could seep in.
“Lu Yanzhou! I’m here! Step back a bit, you two, so I don’t accidentally hurt you!”
Yang Qingzhou shouted.
Confirming that Lu Yanzhou was standing steadily on his own, Shi Liaoliao turned and walked inside to avoid being hit by the door.
The next second, the iron door was struck from outside and collapsed with a loud crash.
Moonlight poured in, illuminating the room. Lu Yanzhou didn’t immediately look at Yang Qingzhou, who had struck a heroic pose for himself. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Shi Liaoliao.
The little manservant’s slender figure was huddled in the corner. His suit was wrinkled, his hair was disheveled, and his pant leg seemed torn, as if ripped by something.
Despite his disheveled appearance, the little manservant’s eyes were bright, like black pearls that seemed to retain their luster even when covered in dust.
Looking at his pants, Lu Yanzhou, who had already redefined the little manservant in his mind, frowned slightly.
“Are you hurt?”
Yang Qingzhou, who had walked over, chimed in, “Ouch~ How did you know? It hurts so much. I probably scraped my arm when I rammed the door just now. It hurts~ I need someone to blow on it—”
Before he could finish, he watched as his friend walked straight toward the corner without even glancing his way.
Yang Qingzhou: “…”
Shi Liaoliao hadn’t yet processed what injury or who was hurt.
Seeing Lu Yanzhou staring at his leg, he finally remembered that he had bumped it earlier.
Looking down, he was taken aback—his pants were torn. That earlier impact had been quite severe.
Recalling how Shi Liaoliao had rushed over the moment he was in distress and the sound of impact he had heard, Lu Yanzhou’s frown deepened.
“Can you walk?”
By now, Young Master Lu had shed his earlier disheveled and weak appearance. His refined face had regained its usual air of nobility and aloofness. He had returned to the image befitting Lu Yanzhou, as if the earlier scene had been nothing but an illusion.
Shi Liaoliao thought to himself, what’s such a minor injury?
“Yes, I can.”
Yang Qingzhou walked over and, seeing Shi Liaoliao’s torn pant leg, expressed concern, “Oh dear, that’s quite a tear. You might be bleeding. Let me help you.”
Only then did Shi Liaoliao take in the appearance of the person before him.
Contrary to the elegant name “Qingzhou,” Yang Qingzhou himself bore no resemblance to it. Instead, he was quite burly, like the fitness experts Shi Liaoliao had seen on TV, with bulging muscles in his arms, a face full of righteous vigor, and a rugged handsomeness.
At this height, didn’t he look at least two meters tall at a glance?
Glancing at the outstretched hand, Lu Yanzhou said disdainfully, “Your hands are dirty.”
Yang Qingzhou widened his eyes, “My dear friend, you’re wearing a dusty suit and calling me dirty? Want to take another look?”
Afraid the two might start arguing, Shi Liaoliao coughed.
“Young Master, I can walk on my own.”
[How is he supposed to help me with that height? Lift me up like a little chick??]
Yang Qingzhou was about to say something else when, before he could speak, the light above them flickered on with a snap.
It illuminated the three dusty figures.
It was only upon seeing this that they realized how disheveled they were. Aside from the dust on Lu Yanzhou and Shi Liaoliao’s clothes, their faces were also smudged with grime.
The two exchanged a glance, and a hint of amusement flickered in their eyes.
“Sit down first and check your leg,” Lu Yanzhou said, suppressing his emotions.
He wanted to confirm the injury and see if any bones were damaged, lest the wound worsen unknowingly.
Yang Qingzhou nodded in agreement, “Right, right.”
Shi Liaoliao kept a straight face, “No need.”
Seeing Yang Qingzhou step forward, she retreated again and repeated—
“Really, no need.”
Yang Qingzhou thought she was just being shy.
“Hey, what’s there to be shy about? Don’t be polite.”
Without waiting for Shi Liaoliao to speak again, he quickly pressed her down. Lu Yanzhou cooperated beside him, swiftly lifting her pants leg—
revealing the flashy pink leopard-patterned thermal pants inside.
The two: “”
Shi Liaoliao, wearing black trousers on the outside and pink leopard-patterned thermal pants inside, stared expressionlessly at Lu Yanzhou.
“I said no need.”
[Man, are you satisfied with what you see?]