Watching her departing back, Zhizhu stepped forward. "Miss, you mustn't be deceived by the Second Miss. When has the Second Miss ever been so self - reflective?"
Glancing at the worried Zhizhu, Su Mingyu said amusedly, "Since when do I need you to worry about me? Just take good care of yourself. I know what I'm doing."
She knew only too well what kind of person Su Yueyue was. "Remember, if anyone bullies you again, you must tell me. I'll surely make them pay. You were just too kind before, which was why you were bullied."
Zhizhu grinned foolishly. "Since that incident, no one in the mansion has ever bullied me again. So, Miss, you don't have to worry."
Seeing her carefree look, a glint of relief flashed in Su Mingyu's eyes. "If possible, I'd like you to always smile so beautifully."
Zhizhu was a bit confused but still nodded. "As long as Miss wants to see my smile, I'll smile for you anytime and anywhere."
Su Mingyu shook her head with a smile. "Silly girl, you're quite good at flattering."
Zhizhu scratched her nose. "What I said comes from the bottom of my heart. How can it be flattery?"
"Alright, alright, it's from the bottom of your heart." Su Mingyu didn't argue with her further. "Go outside and check if Su Yueyue and her people have left. If they have, come back and tell me. I'm going out with Xia Mian later."
Zhizhu nodded obediently. "I'll go check right away."
Not long after, Zhizhu came running back out of breath. "There's no one outside. Miss, where are you going this time?"
Su Mingyu called Xia Mian and pulled her out. "I have something to do. You just wait for me in the yard."
Seeing Su Mingyu leaving in a hurry, Zhizhu was about to tell her to be careful. But when she looked up again, Su Mingyu was already gone.
Zhizhu sighed silently. "Miss has been out of the mansion more and more recently. I wonder what she's so busy with."
After leaving the Su Mansion, Su Mingyu led Xia Mian through a series of winding alleys. Then she took out a silk scarf and tied it around her face before following Xia Mian out again.
"In the future, if there's an urgent matter, you can go to the Prince Ruixian's Mansion to find Gu Ruobai first. Don't come directly to my mansion like this next time. It might arouse Su Yueyue's suspicion."
Hearing Su Mingyu's words, Xia Mian suddenly realized that she had acted without due consideration. "I'm sorry, my lady. I just wanted to tell you this as soon as possible and didn't think much about it."
Su Mingyu nodded understandingly. "I know that."
"Alright, let's just let this matter go. Just be more careful next time. Let's go to the shop first."
Xia Mian nodded. The two of them walked around the street scenery and then entered the Sinan Pavilion through the back door.
Su Mingyu first checked the account books and then looked at Xia Mian's design sketches.
After several inspections and finding nothing wrong, Su Mingyu planned to go to the Prince Ruixian's Mansion to tell Gu Ruobai what Su Zhengyi had said to her last night.
Just as she was about to leave, she saw Xia Mian come up to her nervously. "My lady... The man I told you about before is here again."
Su Mingyu frowned. "He's here again. What does he want this time?"
Xia Mian's face looked very bad. "This time he's here to ask you to take him as your apprentice. He said he thinks the clothes you design are very beautiful."
Take an apprentice?
For a moment, Su Mingyu thought she had misheard. But when she saw Xia Mian's ugly face, she knew that the man was serious, which made her feel a bit of a headache.
If he was really a commercial spy sent by the enemy, it would be easy for her to deal with him. But if he was just such a senseless person, Su Mingyu felt really frustrated.
"Let me go down and take a look at this person."
As soon as she came downstairs, Su Mingyu saw a man leaning casually against the clothes rack beside the stairs.
He had a tall and slender figure, a relaxed attitude, and a nonchalant expression.
Some loose strands of hair made his already fair skin look even more delicate. His handsome features were as sharp as if carved by a knife. His long eyebrows were like swords, his eyes were like stars, his nose was straight, and his thin lips were slightly upturned, showing a lazy smile.
Su Mingyu hadn't expected that the trouble - maker would be such a good - looking man. She raised an eyebrow. "Are you the one who bought all my clothes and said you wanted to be my apprentice?"
As soon as the man saw Su Mingyu, his eyes lit up. His clear eyes were as clean as a spotless stream. "My name is Qiyue. You're the one running the cloth shop."
"I came to the capital for a visit today. I just passed by your shop and thought all the clothes in it were very exquisite. So I came to pay you a visit boldly."
His words seemed reasonable.
Su Mingyu lowered her eyes. "I don't take in apprentices here. But if you like my clothes and want to buy them, just talk to Xia Mian. We can cooperate to open a branch."
"No, no, no." Qiyue quickly stopped Su Mingyu who was about to leave and explained, "I don't want to open a branch with you. I want to learn from you. I believe that one day my shop will be bigger than yours."
Su Mingyu sized him up. He was really a motivated young man. "Although I appreciate your ambition, I don't want to take in an apprentice. I'm busy. Could you please not block my way?"
Saying that, Su Mingyu tried to push past him and go outside. But before her hand could touch him, Qiyue dodged to the side, avoiding her hand.
Su Mingyu paused, looked at her own hand, and then turned back to look at him in confusion. "Trained?"
Qiyue scratched his head shyly. "I've just learned a little. Please don't laugh at me."
Su Mingyu lowered her eyes again. "I don't care what you've learned. So can you let me go?"
After saying that, Su Mingyu tried to leave again, but Qiyue took a step forward with a feint and blocked her way again.
Su Mingyu looked into his eyes. Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to fly in the air.
Without thinking, Su Mingyu reached out to grab his neck. But Qiyue was very flexible. He dodged to the left, avoiding her hand, and then grabbed for her arm.
Just as he was about to grab Su Mingyu's neck in return, Su Mingyu dodged to the side, avoiding his hand.
Then she flipped her wrist and took out a small crossbow. With a raise of her hand, she pointed the crossbow directly at Qiyue's head.
Lowering her eyes, Su Mingyu's tone became cold and hard. "I don't have time to fool around with you. I'm busy. Either let me go or I'll blow your head off."