Gu Liyue didn't bother to explain. With a smile, she said, "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Feng. I'm doing well."
Feng Sui added, "Are you out shopping for food with the mistress today?"
Gu Liyue paused for a moment and answered honestly, "No. I just want to buy some for myself."
Feng Sui was overjoyed. He stepped forward quickly and said, "You're buying it for yourself? Let me pay. Let me pay."
He was about to take out his money to buy the maltose for Gu Liyue.
Gu Liyue waved her hand. "It's not appropriate, Young Master Feng. I want this for myself. I'll buy it."
Feng Sui insisted, "Liyue, keep your monthly allowance for yourself. I can afford such a small thing. If you don't accept it, are you still mad at me and my mother?"
Gu Liyue paused again. "I've never blamed Madam Feng. But, Young Master Feng, we're just acquaintances. I can't and won't accept your gift."
Feng Sui was stunned. He looked at Gu Liyue in surprise.
Gu Liyue continued, "When I came to the capital, although there was no written contract between me and Master and Madam Feng, the intention was clear. To the Feng family, I'm just like an item. By sending me to Madam Jiang, I can have a better life and more money, while the Feng family can gain a firmer foothold in the capital. Am I right?"
Feng Sui murmured, "An item? No, Liyue, I've never regarded you as an item. In my heart..."
"Young Master Feng," Gu Liyue interrupted him. "We're not meant to be together. What I want is different from what you need."
"You still blame me, don't you?" Feng Sui said. "You blame me for not protecting you in front of my mother. If I had insisted on keeping you back then, maybe, maybe..."
He felt guilty. The Feng family had risen to a higher level. They had become imperial merchants within half a year, supplying many things to the royal family. The Jiang family had surely contributed a lot to this, and Gu Liyue was the link.
His parents wanted to strengthen their connection with the Jiang family through Gu Liyue. Could he refuse? As the eldest son of the family, for the long - term interests, he certainly couldn't. He was even happy that Liyue had won the favor of the Jiang family and that she always remembered the kindness of the Feng family.
Summoning up his courage, Feng Sui said again, "But, Liyue, believe me. In some time, I'll surely find a way to ask my mother to propose marriage to the Jiang family. Okay?"
Gu Liyue frowned. "Young Master Feng, can't you understand what I'm saying? We're not really familiar with each other. I don't like you. Why should I agree to you?"
Feng Sui asked, "You don't like me? Have you climbed up the social ladder and now you despise me because I'm from a merchant family? How can you be so snobbish?"
Gu Liyue was displeased and was about to speak when she heard Lu Jinchen's voice.
"What kind of person she is has nothing to do with you!"
Lu Jinchen and Gu Chengzhi had seen this scene from the upstairs. They immediately came downstairs.
Gu Chengzhi stood in front of Gu Liyue and sized up Feng Sui from head to toe. "Who are you? Why are you pestering my sister?"
Feng Sui didn't recognize Gu Chengzhi. Hearing him claim to be Gu Liyue's elder brother, he thought he was a young master from the Jiang family. He quickly clasped his hands and said with a smile, "It's a misunderstanding. I'm from the Feng family. I used to be close to Miss Liyue. It's just a pity that she entered your Jiang family and we haven't seen each other since. It's such a coincidence that we met on the street today, so we talked a bit more."
Close to each other?
Before Gu Liyue could say anything, Lu Jinchen sneered. "Feng Sui, the eldest son of the Feng family. It's said that Liyue was with your Feng family from Cangyun County all the way to the capital. Including the time she stayed in the capital, it's less than two months. In just over a month, you claim to be close to each other. Is this the etiquette of your Feng family?"
Feng Sui's face flushed red. He defended himself, "No... no. Miss Liyue and I were affectionate but behaved properly... There's nothing improper about us..."
Lu Jinchen continued, "Since that's the case, in just two months, you, Feng Sui, have fallen deeply in love with Miss Liyue even though you're not very close?"
Feng Sui said, "Yes, that's right. And don't misunderstand. Miss Liyue and I are truly in love. When Madam Jiang is convenient in a while, I'll ask my parents to propose marriage to her."
Lu Jinchen raised his eyebrows and asked sarcastically, "Propose marriage to her? If you were really sincere, why didn't you propose marriage before? And now, what makes you think she'll surely agree to your marriage proposal?"
Feng Sui calmed down from his previous excitement. He felt suspicious. Why were these two young masters in front of him so mean - spoken? He looked at Gu Liyue. Compared to when she was in the Feng family, Gu Liyue had grown taller and plumper. Her cheeks were no longer sunken, and she was no longer as pale as paper.
She had the charm of a young girl just blossoming.
No wonder these two young masters from the Jiang family were like this. Maybe they saw Liyue's beauty and knew that she would surely be a great beauty in the future.
Feng Sui felt a bit unhappy. Liyue used to be skinny and at most could be praised as being delicate - looking. He was the first one to see her beauty. She should be his.
He looked up and said, "Before, Liyue was just a village girl. I... I didn't want her to be a concubine, so I had to send her to the Jiang family first. It was just a temporary measure. Now, she surely matches me. And, Young Masters, although I'm a merchant and you're from noble families, Liyue has her own mind. Her status doesn't allow her to be a legal wife. Whether she'll be a concubine to you or a wife to me, I think she can figure it out..."
Gu Chengzhi was furious. "What did you say? In your mind, my sister is only fit to be a concubine?"
Feng Sui shook his head. "I don't mean that. In your noble families, when you marry a wife, you need to match in social status. It's the same for us merchants. Although Liyue is extraordinary, after all..."
Gu Chengzhi raised his hand and punched Feng Sui on the nose. He sneered and said, "It's the first time I've heard that the legitimate daughter of the Gu family is only fit to be a concubine in the eyes of a small merchant's son! Your name is Feng Sui, right? Let me tell you, my sister is not someone others can covet. If you dare to talk nonsense again, it won't be just this one punch."
He was very strong. When this punch landed on Feng Sui's nose, blood immediately flowed out. Feng Sui was in so much pain that stars danced before his eyes.
Feng Sui didn't even care about himself. He just stared blankly at Gu Liyue. "What... what legitimate daughter?"
Seeing Feng Sui still staring at Gu Liyue, Gu Chengzhi got even angrier. He raised his hand and was about to punch again.
"Fourth brother, don't do this," Gu Liyue said. As more and more passers - by gathered, although the guards from the Lu and Gu families had blocked the crowd, many people were still craning their necks to look this way.
She said in a deep voice, "Young Master Feng, I'm grateful for the help of your shopkeeper and the recommendation of Master and Madam Feng. But we've only met a few times. Why do you keep smearing my reputation?"
Feng Sui covered his nose. Blood was flowing out between his fingers. He was so dazed that he didn't know how to react at all.
Gu Liyue added, "Young Master Feng, you're not the one I like. No matter what my status is, I won't associate with you. Please be more careful with your words and actions in the future."