The dinner at the Japanese Consulate was being prepared in full swing, and the Gu family’s small banquet was also very thoughtfully prepared.
Although Yuan Ye’s visit was sudden, Gu Fangfei was extremely happy and even took out all the good wine that Gu Yueshan had hidden away.
“Yuan Ye, welcome.” Gu Fangfei has a good alcohol tolerance and a good drinking habit.
Yuan Ye remarked, “Had I known how thoughtful the Gu family was in their hospitality, I would have regretted not coming sooner.”
The two drank for a while, chatting as they did. Yuan Ye was open about his troubles, speaking freely. When Gu Fangfei had no advice to offer, she comforted him, and when she did have something to say, she shared it without hesitation.
Just as the two were chatting animatedly, the maid ran down from upstairs and shouted, “Aiya, Miss, the Little Young Master is playing tricks and ran out to play again!”
Upon hearing this, Gu Fangfei put down her wine glass, stood up, and said in a tone of regret, “What a naughty kid! Go find him quickly!”
So many servants hurried out to look for him in several groups.
Seeing this, Yuan Ye showed concern: “What’s wrong?”
Gu Fangfei explained with slight embarrassment, “Oh, it’s my younger brother. Kids these days are so clever! He finished his homework early just so he could sneak out to play. He told me he was going to review his lessons in his room, but instead, he slipped out through the window when we weren’t paying attention. His plan was to return, hand in his homework, and have us pretend we didn’t notice his little escape. This is already the third time he’s pulled this trick today!”
Yuan Ye couldn’t help laughing: “Your younger brother is a talented person, don’t scold him. Such a smart child must be trained well.”
“Let’s not talk about him anymore, let’s continue our conversation.”
The two people sat back at the table again, and when they picked up the wine glasses and clinked them together, it was like the sound of stones striking bells rang in his mind. Yuan Ye’s brain instantly triggered a point of enlightenment, and his whole body paused.
“Finish homework early…” He muttered this, his eyes a little dazed.
Seeing him suddenly lost in thought, Gu Fangfei waved her hand in front of his eyes in surprise: “Yuan Ye? Yuan Ye?”
“Oh… oh! Sorry, I suddenly thought of something.” Yuan Ye hurriedly drank the wine in his hand, then glanced around and asked, “By the way, last time you said Xu Hang helped you find a craftsman to repair the necklace, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then can you lend me that necklace?”
Coincidentally, she was wearing it today. Gu Fangfei took the necklace off her neck and held it in her palm: “Of course, but what are you…?”
Yuan Ye took it and examined it for a moment before saying, “I heard this company’s necklace is a limited edition. It’s probably unavailable now. My mother’s birthday is coming up, and if it looks good, I was thinking of having someone replicate it for her.”
After saying that, he lowered his head and looked at the necklace carefully. His serious look made Gu Fangfei laugh: “If you really like it, take it back and copy the same one. I’m not in a hurry to wear it anyway.”
Yuan Ye looked at it for a while before saying, “That’s not necessary. Actually, my mother prefers pearls, so it’s better to choose another one. I think this necklace looks better on you.”
He stepped forward and carefully fastened it for Gu Fangfei. As she gently lifted her hair at the nape of her neck, she felt Yuan Ye’s breath so close that it brushed against her skin, sending a wave of warmth to her face.
Because the clasp of the necklace was very small and Yuan Ye’s fingers were a bit clumsy, it took him a while to fasten it. When his fingertips touched Gu Fangfei’s skin, Gu Fangfei startled and turned her head, and the tip of her nose lightly touched Yuan Ye’s nose.
A wave of sweet-scented osmanthus perfume from Nanjing Golden Ballet filled Yuan Ye’s nostrils. It was elegant and refined, nothing like the overpowering, pretentious fragrance of a wealthy woman trying to claim the entire garden for herself. The sudden closeness made both of them stiffen and quickly pull apart.
Gu Fangfei lowered her head and took a deep breath to make herself look normal: “Thank… thank you.”
Yuan Ye actually felt a little embarrassed: “Cough, cough… it’s alright.”
Fortunately, the awkward moment didn’t last long, as the servants soon found the child. It turned out he had been sneaking through the dog hole and was caught in the act. Covered in mud, he looked utterly filthy.
“You ah, you, let me tell you something,” Gu Fangfei walked forward and pointed a finger at her younger brother’s forehead. “Listen! Don’t go out after 7pm!”
“Humph! Why, why?” The child was very unconvinced and jumped up and down. “Xiao Feng in our class accompanies his father to go out and cut bamboo shoots to sell wontons until three o’clock in the morning every day!”
“He’s sensible and works hard for the family, but you, on the other hand, are naughty.” Gu Fangfei gently pinched his little face before asking the maid to take the child back to his room. The little one whined and grumbled, but reluctantly left.
After taking care of the little one, she turned around to look at the older one and found Yuan Ye resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought again. Not only was he daydreaming, but he was also muttering to himself, rubbing his fingers over his lower lip as if he were trying to figure something out.
Gu Fangfei thought he was obsessed with the case again. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Yuan Ye slam the table and say, “I know now, it’s an obstacle!”
“What, what?!”
Yuan Ye didn’t respond to her. Instead, he eagerly walked up to her and took Gu Fangfei’s hands. “You truly are my morning star. I have something to verify now. Let’s save the drinking for another day.”
Gu Fangfei nodded, still puzzled, as Yuan Ye quickly walked out the door. Xiao Jing, sitting in the driver’s seat, spotted him from a distance. He straightened up and opened the door.
As soon as Yuan Ye got into the car, he stepped on the accelerator and drove very fast.
“Young Master, you look so excited. Have you thought of something?”
“I figured out the timing of that situation now.”
Before arriving at the Gu family’s house, Yuan Ye had reluctantly shared the details of the governor’s case with Xiao Jing due to his persistent questions. Xiao Jing had been quite interested. Now, hearing Yuan Ye’s words, his excitement flared up: “Really? Tell me quickly, I’ve been thinking about it for so long and still can’t figure it out!”
“It’s an obstacle!”
