“What is your name?” Gong Yunxu countered.
When Gu Qingyun did not answer, Gong Yunxu chuckled lightly. “You do not even dare to give your name. Could you be a wanted criminal?”
Gu Qingyun’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Qingyun!”
“Qingyun—the Qing from ‘a beautiful lady,’ and the Yun from ‘clouds longing for her appearance’?”
Gu Qingyun corrected him expressionlessly. “Qingyun, as in blue skies and white clouds.”
“Qingyun, Qingyun. Like This Seat, your name also contains the character ‘Yun.’ The two of us are indeed fated.” Gong Yunxu smiled.
Gu Qingyun curled her lips sarcastically. There were countless people in the world whose names contained “Yun”; how shameless of him to force that into proof of fate.
Gong Yunxu rose gracefully, prompting Gu Qingyun to retreat two steps nervously.
His gaze paused, and his smile grew bright. “Little Qing’er is afraid of me? You already have a child, so why are you still being so distant with me?”
“Shut up! If you keep spouting nonsense, believe me, I will kill him!” Gu Qingyun’s face was filled with anger.
Could this fellow not be serious for once?
Knock, knock, knock!
The sudden knocking interrupted the conversation inside the room.
“Master, the porridge is ready. Shall it be served in the room or in the flower hall?”
“Bring it in. The young lady is shy.” Gong Yunxu cast a smiling glance at Gu Qingyun.
Shy my foot!
Holding Little Milk Bun, Gu Qingyun strode to the door and flung it open.
A group of people who had been poking their heads around outside suddenly saw the door open from within. They were all startled and fled in panic, leaving only Gong Jiu behind with the porridge.
Gu Qingyun’s gaze fell on the stone table in the courtyard. “Put the porridge there!”
Gong Jiu looked past Gu Qingyun’s shoulder toward Gong Yunxu inside the room.
“Do as she says.” Gong Yunxu smiled faintly.
Gong Jiu had no choice but to place the porridge on the stone table, his gaze intentionally or otherwise drifting toward Gong Yunxu’s chin.
After the slap, even master’s chin had honorably suffered an injury. Gong Yunxu’s cold, indifferent gaze swept over lightly, frightening him into quickly looking away.
Gu Qingyun had been desperately hungry after missing out on the roasted eggs the previous night. She sat beside the stone table, lifted a bowl, and immediately drank it down with her head tilted back.
Watching her bold movements, the Palace Guards hidden in the shadows stared dumbfoundedly, while Gong Jiu was likewise left stupefied.
Only Gong Yunxu remained as calm as ever.
“Eat slowly. If it is not enough, have Gong Jiu get more from the kitchen.” Sitting opposite her, he propped his chin on one hand and lazily appraised her.
She looked quite good, though she was a little too young.
But it did not matter. After raising her for a few years, she would develop everything she ought to have.
It was rare to encounter such an amusing Little Thing. How boring life would be if he did not keep her by his side to toy with.
Even someone as absent-minded as Gu Qingyun could feel the man’s unabashed appraisal, much less her, whose senses were far more sensitive than other people’s.
However, she temporarily had no way to deal with him and could only try her best to treat him as air.
After being hungry for too long, she could not eat much. One bowl of porridge filled her stomach.
“Eat a little more. You are too thin.” A slender, jade-like hand held half a bowl of porridge out to her.
Before Gu Qingyun could refuse, the man continued, “Put on a little more flesh. It will feel better to touch.”
Gu Qingyun’s expression changed abruptly. She picked up the half-bowl of porridge and hurled it at his face.
“Hiss!” Gasps sounded simultaneously from the people in the open and those hidden in the shadows.
Gong Yunxu caught the bowl swiftly, but the porcelain bowl unexpectedly shattered. Fragments flew everywhere, with several shooting straight toward his handsome face, beloved by all who saw it.
He raised a hand and swept the fragments to the ground.
The Palace Guards hidden in the corners surged out.
“Master, are you injured?”
Gong Jiu had already rushed to Gong Yunxu’s side ahead of them and anxiously examined him.
“It is nothing.” Gong Yunxu raised a hand, signaling them to withdraw.
Seeing that he was unharmed, the Palace Guards retreated to the corners.
Only Gong Jiu remained standing beside him, his gaze fixed coldly on Gu Qingyun.
✦✦✦