"I'm glad you think so. I'll have someone make arrangements later and surely find a good match for you."
Perhaps because the old lady felt she had sorted out Cheng Xiran's life events, she was in a good mood and ate a bit more for lunch.
After lunch, she planned to take a short nap and then start writing. However, Xue Lianyu and Chu Liyin showed up unexpectedly.
"Xiran, come boating with us! Look, the sun is shining brightly today. It would be a pity not to go out and have a stroll!"
Xue Lianyu kept winking at Chu Liyin, and she followed his cue. Stepping forward, she grabbed Cheng Xiran's hand and shook it, coquettishly saying, "Sister, just come out and play with us. Don't let this lovely early - autumn scenery go to waste."
"You know it's early autumn, right? The lake water has started to get cold. If someone falls in, it'll be a big problem."
Cheng Xiran was holding a scripture and reading it boredly, ignoring Chu Liyin who was constantly pestering her.
Chu Liyin tried every means, both soft and hard, but Cheng Xiran just wouldn't go.
"We finally got a chance to go out. They said they'd go fishing by the lake and then roast the fish. It sounds so delicious. And we've brought other ingredients. Aren't you really tempted, sister?"
However, Cheng Xiran calmly countered, "I remember you didn't get along well with Xiao Qi. Why do you want to go today? How about staying at home with me? I'll ask Zhuque to make something nice for you later, okay?"
Chu Liyin naturally shook her head repeatedly and declined, "She can go boating with the prince, and we'll just eat our own food. It has nothing to do with them. Besides, home and outside are different. You understand that, sister."
Just thinking about Helian Duo's behavior yesterday made her shiver.
Moreover, even if their group split into two, as long as Xiao Qi was around, she felt uncomfortable all over.
Seeing that their persuasion was fruitless, they were about to give up. Chu Liyin even seemed a bit dejected, which touched Cheng Xiran.
Just then, a servant reported that Liu Shi and Cheng Zhiyue were back, and Gu Yuanqing had also come. Maybe it was better to be with those who didn't get along well with Xiao Qi than to be bothered by these people at home... She could just stay away from Helian Duo.
Thinking of this, Cheng Xiran put down the scripture in her hand and suddenly stood up. "Okay, let's go. Right now."
They still ran into them. Cheng Xiran felt disgusted at the smug look on Cheng Zhiyue's face.
"Xiran, where are you going?"
Liu Shi showed false tenderness. Cheng Xiran disdained to play along with her act. After giving Cheng Zhiyue a cold look, she left with Xue Lianyu and the others.
"This girl is so rude," Liu Shi pretended to be sad. Gu Yuanqing naturally comforted her, "I had a few conversations with the eldest miss a few days ago. Her temper is indeed not very good. It's really hard for you to have taught her so carefully."
Liu Shi rubbed her forehead. "It's not entirely her fault. After all, she lost her mother when she was young. It's also my fault for spoiling her all along, which has made her so lawless and disrespectful. I must have amused you, Young Master Gu."
The two of them exchanged polite remarks at the door while Cheng Xiran and the others were already in the carriage.
Xue Lianyu asked about what had happened last night. Cheng Xiran didn't tell him every detail. She just said that she happened to meet Helian Duo when passing by Huayan Pavilion. Then she and Zhuque kindly sent him back, but couldn't get back home because of that. Finally, when she climbed back in, she was even pranked.