Noticing the arms around her waist tighten, Lingmiao asked in confusion, “Ayu, are you angry?”
“Angry? Me? Why would I be angry over something like this?” Su Yu paused, then leaned close to the girl’s ear. “Xue A-Miao, I forgot to tell you: it has always been Su Yu who bullies others. If you want to bully me, hmph, you’re still far too green.”
“When did I ever want to bully you?” The girl retorted with little conviction. Even if she wanted to, Ayu was hardly an easy target.
“Whether you do or not, you know best.”
“But Ayu, you’re falsely accusing me of hiding tricks. If I didn’t, how could I admit to it?”
The topic felt a little too suggestive either way. Su Yu had no intention of continuing this discussion on the open street. Holding her close, she shifted the subject:
“Enough. Once we get to Jiaoyue Pavilion, stay by my side. If I catch you wandering off, you won’t need to come back. And another thing: no causing trouble, and no ruining my mood to enjoy myself.”
Even without the reminder, the girl knew to stick to her like glue; as for the rest, she would deal with it when they arrived.
After a brief hesitation, she tilted her head down and murmured softly, “Ayu, why are you holding me so tightly?”
“Nonsense!” Su Yu’s ears flushed pink, and she snapped in a hushed voice, “I’m not holding you tightly at all—your waist is just too slender!”
Fine. The considerate girl fell silent. Having an unreasonable rogue for a fiancée was a novel, thrilling sensation, and undeniably fun in a way she couldn’t quite name. Suppressing a smile, she whispered, “Su Yu, you’re so duplicitous.” It’s not like I mind if you want to hold me.
Caught red-handed, the duplicitous Su Yu flew into an embarrassed rage. “Quiet! Say another word and you can walk to Jiaoyue Pavilion!”
Jiaoyue Pavilion was the largest pleasure house in the border city, hosting patrons from across the realm every day, including high officials, nobility, and wealthy scions.
The seven-story tower housed almost every indulgence and amusement known to man. The silver Su Yu threw into Jiaoyue Pavilion each year was enough to build a modest academy.
Of course, a good portion of her earnings came from here as well. Strictly speaking, she and Jiaoyue Pavilion shared a mutually beneficial arrangement.
In such a den of worldly pleasure, when the notoriously arrogant rogue strolled in leading a girl with white silk over her eyes, the revelers seeking romance and artifice all froze.
If nothing else, the pairing was astonishing. Miss Su, who had always detested physical contact with others, was holding the girl’s hand with fingers tightly intertwined, walking shoulder to shoulder.
One was sharp and dazzling, the other as delicate as a willow in the spring breeze. Both were stunning to behold, making for a striking sight.
Seeing a regular customer arrive, the voluptuous female manager glided over enthusiastically, her smile broadening as she closed the distance. “Miss Su hasn’t visited in quite some time. Were you tied down by other matters?”
With that, she cast a covert, admiring glance at the young girl. Her thoughts fell into place: anyone capable of tying down the person before her—even if she was blind—was no ordinary figure.
Su Yu rested a hand on her hip and laughed softly. “If you want to look, look openly. Is my A-Miao unfit to be seen?”
Yet a heartbeat later, the smile vanished from her face as she swept a sharp, chilling glare across the surrounding young masters who were craning their necks. Her message was crystal clear: Xue A-Miao was upright, proper, and a genuine beauty—but not just anyone had the right to ogle Su Yu’s person.
Preaching one thing while enforcing another, maintaining an ironclad deterrence—this was her signature rogue style.
Compared to the arrival of a breathtaking beauty in the border city, the fact that Su Yu was showing interest in someone outside her usual pastimes was far more extraordinary. The more one knew the local hierarchy, the less one dared to cross her line.
How ruthless was Su Yu? She was someone who would stake life and limb over a petty spat without a second thought. She was not to be crossed.
The lively atmosphere inside Jiaoyue Pavilion resumed, and no one dared to steal another look. Free from irritating stares, Su Yu was in good spirits. “A-Miao, let’s head upstairs.”
The pavilion was seven stories high, and everything around the girl was completely unfamiliar. She followed closely in Su Yu’s footsteps, not daring to slacken for a second.
The staircase was long. Su Yu kept glancing down to make sure she wouldn’t trip, but watching her rigid caution eventually made her chuckle. Teasingly, she said, “A-Miao, relax. I’m taking you to listen to ballads, not to a slaughterhouse.”
How infuriating. Who’s going to a slaughterhouse? The girl’s cheeks burned crimson. “I didn’t.”
“If not, why are you trembling?” Su Yu mercilessly poked through her defense, gently tapping her slender finger against the girl’s cheek, which was smoother than egg white.
“Following me means you’ll see a lot more in the future. Don’t embarrass me, straighten your back! Whether the path ahead is bright or dark, just follow me and you’ll be fine.”
With a charming grin, she added, “With me here, what is there to fear?”
The words carried an imposing, protective swagger. Xue Lingmiao’s ears twitched, her heart blooming with bursts of tiny fireworks at the phrasing of ‘my person’.
Warmed by an overwhelming sense of security, she replied in a gentle voice, “I’m just not used to places like this. Of course I trust you. Look, my back is straight now, isn’t it?”
Su Yu actually took a proper look. The girl’s back was straight and slender, framed by cascading dark hair that made her delicate frame stand out all the more. Su Yu smiled. “Yes, you’re right.”
“Then, shall we keep walking?”
Seeing her swing between timid and bold was thoroughly entertaining. Taking her arm, Su Yu led her into the Tian-1 Private Chamber.
The chamber was decorated in an antique style, the air filled with the pleasant aroma of fine incense. Crystal platters were piled high with seasonal fruits, and the zither courtesan had been waiting by the performance dais for some time.
Seeing them enter, she rose and curtsied gracefully. “Honglian greets Miss Su.”
“Why is it you? Where is Miss Mowan?”
“Mowan, she has fallen ill.” The woman named Honglian wore an alluring crimson robe over a plain white bustier. Every gesture she made carried an unmistakable air of the demimonde.
Aside from games and entertainment, Jiaoyue Pavilion naturally dealt in high-end pleasure. In all her years, Su Yu had encountered more vixens than a child had caught crickets; a single glance was all it took to see through someone’s intentions.
In this pavilion, she preferred listening to Miss Mowan’s zither the most, and usually, Miss Mowan attended to her as a matter of course. When it came to the pavilion’s customs, courtesans—whether zitherists, dancers, or singers—were assigned by the manager based on the silver spent, unless specifically requested.
Otherwise, the women who wished to serve would draw lots.
Su Yu was famous in Xiushui City for being generous and fond of revelry; combined with her striking looks, she was the courtesans’ absolute favorite. Honglian had spent considerable effort securing this assignment today. Possessing a voluptuous charm, she was confident that no one could slip through her fingers.
Noticing the woman’s provocative allure and seductive gaze, Su Yu had an inkling that the music wouldn’t be particularly refined today. Toying with the jade cat at her waist, her playful side flared up.
“Miss Su, may I begin?”
“Go ahead.”
Everyone took their seats. As the strings were plucked, decadent, languid notes rippled through the air. The mocking smirk on Su Yu’s lips faded into an amused smile: she had expected a routine seductress, not a pleasant surprise in skill.
She didn’t care about the performer’s character; she had come to listen to music, and only to listen. If the tune was played well, it was worth lingering for a spell.
As the tempo shifted, the young girl frowned in distaste. Gifted in music, she could immediately tell how wanton and frivolous the melody was. Biting into a fruit, the juice burst across her tongue—not sweet in the least, but biting and sour.
Listening closely to the lyrics of the first stanza, she was certain this woman was far from decent.
What troubled her was: how could Ayu stand listening to this?
Cross-legged, Miss Su paid no attention to the girl’s inner turmoil. The melody was undeniably sultry, like a thousand-year-old fox spirit whispering sweet nothings right into one’s ear. Such mastery couldn’t be achieved without nearly a decade of grueling practice; more importantly, the union of performer and melody was seamless—it was bold, provocative, and brazen.
Su Yu picked up a fresh fruit from the platter, watching with detached amusement as the woman deliberately let the fabric slip halfway off her shoulder. The corner of Su Yu’s mouth curved; while listening, she didn’t forget to feed the visually impaired kitten beside her.
Before the fruit could reach its target, her finger was bitten. Surprised, Su Yu tilted her head, caught between anger and laughter. “I fed you out of kindness, why bite me?”
“This music is a complete mess!” With a stern face, she reached out blindly toward Su Yu.
Warm, soft little hands clamped firmly over Su Yu’s ears. Su Yu was caught between tears and laughter. “Calling her playing a mess? You certainly have a big mouth.”
“I, I play better than her.”
“Fine, you play the best. Put your hands down first.”
“I won’t! Neither the lyrics nor the tune are decent. You’ll be led astray if you listen!”
“You even understand what being led astray means?” Su Yu placed her palm over the back of the girl’s hand. “Even if you cover my ears, I can still hear it. Stop making a fuss. I came here to play, not to study classics and etiquette. Why pretend to be a paragon of virtue?”
“Still, you can’t.”
“Let go. Don’t forget what you promised before coming.”
Not wanting to anger her over this, Xue Lingmiao reluctantly withdrew her hands, sitting to the side in a bored daze.
From Honglian’s experience, no client took kindly to being interrupted when enjoying themselves. Seeing an opening, she flashed a triumphant smile and swept her delicate fingers across the strings, making the wanton music even more intense.
She had made up her mind to draw silver from the rogue’s purse. Everyone in the border city knew Su Yu was the one Miss Ning fancied, but everyone also knew that once Su Yu’s mood was struck, she was a generous patron who spent fortunes without hesitation.
Fortune favored the bold; if she didn’t try, how would she know?
With her garments intentionally disarrayed and her posture suggestive, Honglian reveled in her dazzling technique. Just then, a series of crisp, rhythmic taps rang out.
It was a famous tune from Jiangnan—specifically, a righteous ballad meant to guide people toward virtue.
The clinking blended and clashed with the zither’s notes, its noble, clear melody completely overwhelming the decadent atmosphere. Sitting poised before the table, the girl held a pair of silver chopsticks, her expression detached and serene as she tapped them against a silver bowl with unerring precision. The sound was like shattering jade—pure, upright, and soaring.
In that very instant, Su Yu was utterly captivated by her.
The zither melody grew increasingly frantic, completely collapsing within a few measures. In a fit of temper, Xie Honglian switched tunes, but in the blink of an eye, the girl shifted hers without the slightest hesitation.
This time, she played the Battle Array Formation.
Troops rallying on the field, dust clouds churning into the sky—the sharp, lethal intent crashing through the air was completely out of place in a den of gentle indulgence.
With her performance ruined repeatedly and her plan to seduce Su Yu thwarted, and having been thoroughly outplayed in her proudest craft, the courtesan snapped the zither string in a fit of rage. The music came to an abrupt halt.
On the other side, Lingmiao set down her silver chopsticks. “Thank you for yielding.”
This wasn’t coming to listen to music; this was outright crashing the venue! Losing to a blind girl felt like a humiliating defeat. Xie Honglian hurriedly made an excuse and withdrew, having no face left to look at Su Yu.
Now that she had fled, the young master stared at the surprisingly capable girl with a faint, half-amused smile. “A-Miao, you ruined my fun. How do you plan to compensate me? Together with the face you made me lose on the street earlier, that’s two accounts. You’d better think it through carefully.”
Pulling a banknote from her sleeve, Su Yu stood and led the girl out.
Stepping outside Jiaoyue Pavilion, Xue Lingmiao was filled with unease. Even after being lifted onto the horse, Su Yu remained silent. At a loss for what to do, she murmured a soft apology, “Ayu, don’t be angry. I know I was wrong.”
“Oh? And where were you wrong?”
“I shouldn’t have ruined your mood and driven her away.”
“Shouldn’t have?” Su Yu snickered quietly as she held her. “Would you dare to do it next time?”
The question went straight to the point. Xue the kitten hesitated, muttering reluctantly, “I, I would still dare.”
Su Yu raised a brow, genuinely intrigued. “You know it was wrong, yet you’d still dare? I want the truth, don’t forget my first rule.”
The first rule: no lying. The girl could only speak frankly: “How could you act like that with a bad woman right in front of me?”
“Like that? Like what? What did I even do? Is listening to a tune a heinous crime now?”
“That song corrupts the mind and is thoroughly indecent, you cannot listen to it.”
Being a rebel by nature, Su Yu hated hearing such preaching more than anything. With a lazy drawl, she replied, “You flatter me with that kind of talk. Am I some upright, proper person? I brought you out to have fun, not to have you boss me around and tell me what to do. I suggest you get that straight.”
The girl kept her head lowered, falling silent. The clamor of the street filtered into her ears, including two lively voices eagerly discussing how to set a pitfall trap to lure and butcher a foolish roe deer.
A bizarre silence hung behind her as Su Yu ignored her. Lingmiao couldn’t help letting her imagination run wild: one moment thinking the hunters were terribly cunning, the next thinking the deer was truly foolish.
Yet looking at it from another angle, sulking and picking a fight with her fiancée was equally foolish. Of all the thousands of things she could have said, why did she have to preach? If her fiancée were the type to listen to reason, Uncle Su wouldn’t have spent all those years agonizing over his letters.
Tugging gently at Su Yu’s sleeve, she attempted to defend herself: “Don’t I need to defend my own dignity? As Ayu’s fiancée, how could I let an irrelevant woman act so brazenly right in front of me? She harbored sinister intentions, did you think I couldn’t hear it?”
Su Yu wasn’t genuinely angry to begin with. Seeing that she had thoroughly riled the cat, she suppressed her laughter and maintained her silence.
Receiving no response to her explanation, the innocent girl assumed Su Yu was too furious to speak to her. She racked her brain, desperately trying to figure out how to smooth her ruffled fur.
The white horse carried them across two streets. Meanwhile, seven or eight matchmakers arrived in the border city on a mission. The moment they entered, they began asking about the blind girl who had recently arrived in Xiushui, paying particular attention to inquiries regarding her looks. Upon learning that she was indeed an extraordinary beauty, the worry weighing on their minds finally settled.
Back home, having changed into clean robes, the young girl lingered outside the door, hesitating. She wanted to go in and coax her, but feared Su Yu’s temper would flare and give her the cold shoulder—or worse, that her attempts to soothe her would only add fuel to the fire.
The rhythmic tap-tap of the bamboo cane reached Su Yu’s ears. Through the open door, the sight of the little kitten pacing with her cane came into view. Having teased her for so long, a flicker of conscience stirred within the young master, and she finally couldn’t bear to keep it up.
Sipping the freshly pressed berry juice, she teased, “A-Miao, what are you hesitating for? Come inside.”
Her tone was a mountain apart from her previous cold detachment. Given the sudden shift, the sensitive, timid girl grew even more wary of making a move. “Ayu, are you not angry with me for ruining your fun anymore?”
“What a trivial thing. Am I really that petty?”
That excuse might fool a naive child, but Xue Lingmiao had grown up listening to stories of her antics and knew all too well that when her fiancée turned petty, her heart was narrower than the eye of a needle.
Seeing her remain rooted to the spot, Su Yu set her cup down, her voice turning impossibly gentle: “A-Miao, I don’t blame you. You didn’t ruin my fun either, even the casual rhythm you tapped with those silver chopsticks sounded wonderful. Come in quickly; I want to hear you sing a little tune.”
“Sing a tune?” The girl suddenly recalled the idle chatter she had overheard on the ride back. A shiver ran through her, and she took a wronged, pitiful half-step backward. “Ayu, the way you’re speaking is terrifying. I suspect singing a tune is just an excuse, you’re trying to lure the ‘cat’ inside just to ‘slaughter’ it.”