“Huh?”
When he called her by name, Su Qingran immediately realized this wasn’t a stranger.
Since the newcomer showed no intention of harming her, she simply kept her eyes closed and continued pretending to sleep.
She wanted to see exactly who it was.
After all, the original owner’s reputation as a “cursed lone star” was well known.
Very few people had ever interacted closely with her.
The footsteps drew closer and closer to the bed.
Su Qingran’s grip on the pistol hidden beneath her blanket tightened slightly.
Yet after approaching her bedside, the person stopped.
No further.
“Su Qingran, since you’re awake, you might as well get up.”
The cool, pleasant voice sounded again.
Su Qingran felt slightly embarrassed.
Was my fake sleeping really that obvious?
She had been exposed almost immediately.
Opening her eyes, she quietly returned the pistol to her space.
Then she slowly sat up, stretched lazily, and even yawned, perfectly acting the part of someone who had just awakened.
Only afterward did she finally look toward the person standing beside her bed.
The room was dimly lit by moonlight.
Shadows flickered across the figure, making it difficult to see his face clearly.
But from his posture, clothing, and bearing alone, Su Qingran could tell he wasn’t an ordinary man.
Since when did the original owner know someone like this?
Even without seeing his face, she was already certain he was more handsome than that pretty-boy scholar Pei Xingzhou.
Then someone lit the candles.
The room brightened.
And the man’s appearance finally came into view.
The moment she saw him—
Holy shit.
It was him.
At that instant, Su Qingran mentally apologized for everything she had just thought about the original owner.
Because the original owner really had liked this man.
After all, among the noble daughters of the capital, who didn’t admire the aloof and unattainable heir of the Duke Protector’s household?
Whenever he appeared somewhere, young ladies flocked there hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
And perhaps—
Just perhaps—
If he noticed them…
Maybe they could marry into the Duke Protector’s Manor.
In the capital, marrying into that family was practically every noblewoman’s dream.
Not only because Gu Qingyan was devastatingly handsome.
But because the Duke Protector’s family was famously wealthy beyond measure.
The annual revenue from their territories was nearly equal to half of what the imperial court collected.
As local governments increasingly withheld taxes from the central government, court revenues declined year by year.
Within the Great Ming Dynasty, only the Regent and the Duke Protector’s family rivaled each other in wealth.
Su Qingran never would have imagined encountering Gu Qingyan here.
The original owner had fallen for him because years ago he had visited the Marquis Manor to see her grandfather.
At the time, when the Marquis wasn’t present, Gu Qingyan had been the only person willing to speak to her normally.
He didn’t look at her with disgust.
Nor pity.
Only calm indifference.
Perhaps that was simply how he treated everyone.
But for the original owner, who had spent her entire life being shunned, that small kindness had left a profound impression.
Like many young girls, she secretly paid attention to news about him afterward.
At one point, she had even begged her grandfather to let her marry Gu Qingyan.
She claimed she’d be willing to settle for becoming a secondary wife if necessary.
The request had earned her a severe scolding.
The Pingyang Marquis had made one thing very clear:
A legitimate daughter of the Marquis Manor would never become someone’s concubine or secondary wife.
His only granddaughter deserved to be the lawful mistress of her own household.
After that, the original owner gave up her unrealistic hopes.
Still, whenever she heard news of Gu Qingyan, she couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to exchange a few words with him.
What a miserable life.
Seriously, how pitiful was Su Qingran?
Thinking of this, Su Qingran’s gaze toward Gu Qingyan became complicated.
“What?”
Seeing her staring blankly at him, Gu Qingyan finally asked.
“N-Nothing.”
“I’m just surprised.”
“What are you doing here?”
Gu Qingyan shifted his gaze away.
“Passing through.”
Su Qingran: “…”
What a concise answer.
“Oh.”
“Anyway, thank you for earlier.”
She spoke sincerely.
After all, he really had helped her.
Though she could have handled the situation herself, gratitude cost nothing.
The original owner had experienced far too much hostility.
So Su Qingran never hesitated to return kindness when someone showed it.
“You’re traveling alone?”
Gu Qingyan suddenly asked.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She blinked.
For some reason, he looked slightly annoyed.
“Su Qingran.”
“Since when did you become brave enough to leave the capital by yourself?”
His tone carried unmistakable sarcasm.
She frowned.
“If I couldn’t stay in the capital anymore, wasn’t I supposed to leave?”
One sentence.
And Gu Qingyan was rendered speechless.
After staring at her for a moment, he turned toward the door.
Just before leaving, however, he stopped.
“A woman traveling alone should keep a lower profile.”
“The situation outside is chaotic.”
“You spend money too freely.”
“People will notice.”
With that, he left.
Su Qingran stared at the doorway.
Honestly…
How does this man manage to make concern sound so irritating?
Then she noticed another man still standing by the door.
After Gu Qingyan departed, the man immediately bowed.
“Miss Su.”
“You should get some rest.”
“The people who broke into your room have already been dealt with.”
Su Qingran: “…”
If she had really been the original owner, there was no way she would be sleeping peacefully after hearing that.
But now that she looked carefully—
This man seemed familiar.
Suddenly she remembered.
He was the martial artist who had intervened against the soldiers at the city gates.
So he’s Gu Qingyan’s subordinate.
Which meant Gu Qingyan had entered the city alongside her.
Yet she hadn’t noticed at all.
The man truly hid himself well.
Very well.
The next morning, Su Qingran did something unusual.
She got up early.
The morning market was busier, making it the perfect place to hunt for useful goods.
The moment she opened her door—
She ran into Gu Qingyan.
The two exchanged glances.
Su Qingran smiled politely.
Gu Qingyan gave a slight nod before heading downstairs first.
She wasn’t planning to eat breakfast at the inn.
A few meat buns from a street vendor would be enough.
As she passed through the dining area, she noticed Gu Qingyan and his companions seated quietly in a corner.
After a brief glance, she left the inn.
At the table, the black-clad subordinate watched her departure.
“Your Heirship.”
“Miss Su has gone out.”
“Mm.”
Gu Qingyan sounded completely unconcerned.
“Should we follow her?”
the subordinate asked.
Gu Qingyan looked up.
“Why would we follow her?”
The calmness in his eyes made them seem even deeper.
The subordinate hesitated.
“I simply find Miss Su strange.”
“She traveled all the way here from the capital alone.”
“And honestly…”
“If we hadn’t intervened yesterday, I believe she could have escaped on her own.”
He sounded remarkably certain.
Gu Qingyan merely lowered his gaze again.
“I don’t deal in hypotheticals.”
Then, after a brief pause, he added:
“Besides.”
“We are acquainted.”
And for Gu Qingyan, that alone had been reason enough to help her.