Miss Truth
Chapter 313 - 197 Gratitude_2

Chapter 313: Chapter 197 Gratitude_2

Ran Meiyu’s heart fluttered like a frightened deer, her cheeks flushed red. Ran Yan rose slowly from her seat, expressionless, her eyes downcast, waiting for Ran Pingyu to speak.

"Please, take a seat," Ran Pingyu said, then turned to Xiao Song and added, "It is already noon, might Assistant Minister Xiao do us the honor of joining the Ran residence for lunch?"

Xiao Song’s gaze lightly swept over Ran Yan, and with a smile, he replied, "Then I shall impose on your hospitality."

Ran Pingyu was secretly surprised. He wasn’t very familiar with Xiao Song, but he had heard that Xiao Song generally didn’t accept meal invitations at someone’s home. Yet today, he had so readily agreed... Ran Pingyu glanced at Ran Yan, who sat still as a statue, then at Ran Meiyu, whose eyes sparkled and cheeks were tinged like peach blossoms. He thought to himself that indeed, Ran Meiyu looked more captivating. But Chang’an City was in no shortage of stunning and charismatic women.

For a moment, Ran Pingyu couldn’t be sure, as Xiao Song’s pretense was too convincing. He hadn’t even taken a second glance at anyone.

However, Xiao Song was beginning to regret it. Such a legitimate visit left him no opportunity to speak to Ran Yan or even afford her a second glance.

That brief glimpse earlier was not even enough to discern whether she had lost or gained weight these past few days...

This feeling made Xiao Song extremely uncomfortable. Alas, it was better not to have looked at all.

"Yan, you were in grave danger, and Assistant Minister Xiao came to your rescue. Why haven’t you come forward to thank him yet?" reminded Ran Pingyu.

Xiao Song immediately felt that Ran Pingyu was very understanding and considerate, and so he sat up straighter.

Ran Yan rose from her seat across from him, walked in front of Xiao Song, weighing in her heart that for a debt of saving one’s life, she ought to offer a formal bow—at least a more strictly solemn kowtow. Ran Yan, having lived for many years, had received kowtows of gratitude from people she had cleared of charges posthumously. Aside from kowtowing to her elders during the New Year’s celebrations when she was a child, she truly had never kowtowed to anyone.

Standing before Xiao Song’s mat, she cast a deep look upon the top of his head, thinking he wouldn’t look up, only to meet a pair of eyes as bright as stars, brimming with a thick sense of mirth.

Ran Yan glared at him, then gritted her teeth and knelt down before him.

Yet before her knees touched the ground, her arms were caught by a pair of strong hands, and Xiao Song’s pleasant voice came from above, "Miss Shiqi is such a beauty, and which man, upon seeing her, would stand idly by? Xiao is but a common man in that regard."

Xiao Song’s words were laced with blatant flirtation.

Ran Pingyu was startled for a moment, but then he laughed and said, "If that’s the case, further formality would only spoil Assistant Minister Xiao’s easygoing spirit. Yan, go back and sit down. Later on, you should toast Assistant Minister Xiao a few more drinks—that is the proper gesture!"

Ran Yan only felt that the hands holding her arms were scorchingly hot, which alarmed her and made her somewhat restrained. She softly replied with a "Yes," then stepped back a few paces and returned to her spot.

Ran Meiyu glared fiercely at Ran Yan, but deep down, she was also somewhat astonished. She had seen Xiao Song remain as steady as a mountain on any occasion; this was the first time she had witnessed him behaving so frivolously! Thus, she was certain that it must have been Ran Shiqi throwing amorous glances at Xiao Song just now; otherwise, how could a mere exchange of looks lead to such ambiguously intimate words and actions. Also, when had Xiao Song saved Ran Shiqi?

The more she thought about it, the more Ran Meiyu found Ran Yan’s expressionless face irksome.

Before lunch, Xiao Song suggested that someone take him for a walk around the estate.

Ran Pingyu naturally would not refuse, so he had Ran Yunsheng show Xiao Song around, admiring the landscape and literature in places like the front courtyard garden and the study. Both Ran Yunsheng and Xiao Song were learned men who were also adept at dealing with social relations, so they did not find it dull.

However, Ran Yunsheng ultimately was not as skilled and ruthless as Xiao Song, nor as hardhearted, so in less than a quarter of an hour, the layout and defenses of the estate were almost entirely unraveled by Xiao Song’s probing.

Nobody could blame Ran Yunsheng for his carelessness, for Xiao Song came across as exceedingly sincere! There was not the slightest hint of affectation in his behavior. Every word he spoke, every move he made seemed to come from the heart, as if all his emotions were written on his face. Even though one knew beforehand that this man was no simple character, it was still easy to let one’s guard down unwittingly.

"That place does seem rather hidden..." Xiao Song stood on the loft of the warm pavilion, looking out at a delicate and exquisite building opposite him, nestled among the green trees, with high-flying corners and carved beams and painted rafters. Most importantly, one could see that the color of the curtain by the second-story lattice window was a warm pea green—a color that most men wouldn’t use. Moreover, one could faintly see the pale aquamarine beaded curtain behind the drapes.

Ran Yunsheng had not noticed anything about the curtain, so he didn’t give it much thought, assuming Xiao Song was interested in the evergreen trees, which indeed had required quite an effort to cultivate, "That is He Ya Inn, which used to accommodate distinguished guests. Now it is where Ayan resides."

"The evergreen is certainly valuable indeed!" Xiao Song, with a pleased smile, accepted a cup of steaming hot tea handed to him by Ran Yunsheng.

The two men took their seats, with Ran Yunsheng initiating the conversation, discussing some interesting recent events in Chang’an.

Xiao Song usually would not enjoy such gossip, but given his exceedingly good mood at the moment, he found himself not only willing but occasionally joining in the banter.

"With Master Sui Yuan returning to Chang’an, I fear he might stir up quite a commotion in the literary world, which has been calm for too long. Indeed, it’s something to look forward to!" sighed Ran Yunsheng.

Xiao Song leaned against the lattice window, occasionally glancing at He Ya Loft, seemingly observing the movement of someone inside. Although he could not discern who it was, he preferred to imagine it was Ran Yan. Ran Yunsheng’s words brought him back to reality, "Indeed, it has been quite a while since there have been sentences that dazzle the young talents."

Ran Yunsheng was slightly surprised; while in Jushui County, he had distinctly felt that Xiao Song was very fond of Ayan... With that thought, he candidly asked, "Doesn’t Master Xiao find Master Sui Yuan to be so learned and talented, with an ethereally handsome appearance, that few women could resist liking him?"

Xiao Song certainly understood the underlying meaning of his words, his brows slightly raised, "In terms of appearance, he’s not really that remarkable; at the very least, you are several times more handsome than he is. As for being learned..." He sipped his hot tea while narrowing his eyes, continuing leisurely, "Whether a belly full of talents can be converted into a meal depends on each person’s tactics."

(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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