"Miss Su, you must be joking. How could I possibly let you go? You'll have to stay here until I've brought down Gu Ruobai," Kang Zeyan said straightforwardly without any beating around the bush.
"Miss Su, you can tell me now how you knew there was a mechanism in my ring."
This ring of Kang Zeyan's was crafted by his own hands. He had added a poisoned needle mechanism to it, but he had never used it. It was just an ordinary-looking thing. How on earth did Su Mingyu spot the problem?
He had thought the ring was inconspicuous enough to serve as a perfect hidden weapon.
Su Mingyu found a normal-looking stool, sat down, and crossed her legs. "It's just a matter of logical reasoning. As a mechanism enthusiast, you've set up so many traps even in the main hall. It shows that you're quite skilled in the art of mechanisms. A person who loves mechanisms so much wouldn't wear an unassuming ring on his hand for no reason, would he?"
After hearing Su Mingyu's words, Kang Zeyan actually thought there was some truth to it. "But you still haven't told me how you knew there were so many traps here."
Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow. "I only promised to tell you how I found out about the problem with the ring. I never said I'd tell you other things. Since you're not after me, I'm not interested in your affairs either. Please have someone take me to the side room. I'm tired."
"You... are tired?" Kang Zeyan seemed a bit taken aback for a moment. "Miss Su, do you realize you've been captured by me? Do you really dare to sleep in the side room if I let you?"
Su Mingyu raised her head defiantly. "Why wouldn't I be able to sleep? As long as you let me."
"Fine, fine, fine. I'll arrange it." After saying that, Kang Zeyan called out to someone outside.
A maid walked in gracefully. "Master, what can I do for you?"
"Prepare my previous room and take Miss Su there to rest." Kang Zeyan stood up as he spoke. Before leaving, he gave Su Mingyu an intrigued look. "If you weren't Gu Ruobai's woman, I'd really like to have a longer chat with you."
Su Mingyu curled her lips. "Even if I weren't Gu Ruobai's woman, I might not want to chat with you."
Kang Zeyan looked at Su Mingyu, a hint of amusement in the corner of his eyes. "Don't you think your words are a bit hurtful, Miss Su?"
Su Mingyu looked nonchalant. "I don't like to associate with insincere people. Maybe we'll become friends when you're willing to tell me everything."
After saying that, Su Mingyu tilted her head towards the maid. "Let's go. Take me to the side room. I'm going to rest."
This mansion was indeed built on water. There were quite a few viewing lakes of all sizes. Su Mingyu looked at the fish in the clear water and curled her lips. "Your master has some peculiar tastes. These fish are clearly not for decoration."
The maid nodded. "You're very smart, miss. These fish are raised by the master for eating. He doesn't have any other hobbies but likes to eat fish."
Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow. "What a coincidence. I have the same hobby."
The walls of the side room were adorned with the mottled light reflected by the water, adding a touch of artistic conception.
Su Mingyu looked around the side room and nodded. "Alright, I'm going to rest. Don't call me for dinner."
Saying that, Su Mingyu pushed the maid out and then closed the door.
Not long after, a figure jumped in through the window. Su Mingyu looked at Gu Ruobai, who was soaking wet but with his disguise intact. She couldn't help but exclaim, "What happened to you? Did you fall into the water?"
As she spoke, Su Mingyu rummaged through the room and found a towel to dry Gu Ruobai's hair.
"I went to check if the lake in this mansion is connected to the outside water," Gu Ruobai said as he started to take off his clothes.
Su Mingyu instinctively covered her eyes. "What... what are you doing?"
Even though they were a married couple, Su Mingyu's ears still turned red. Gu Ruobai found her shy look quite amusing. "I'm just changing my clothes. Do you want me to catch a cold on someone else's territory?"
The teasing in Gu Ruobai's tone was obvious. If Su Mingyu couldn't tell, she would be a fool.
She turned around angrily without looking at Gu Ruobai. "You should ask me before you jump in next time."
Gu Ruobai looked puzzled. "Why should I ask you?"
"If you had asked me, you wouldn't have had to jump into the lake," Su Mingyu shrugged. "Think about it. Kang Zeyan is a master of mechanism art. Since he had the confidence to build his mansion on water, he must have a very comprehensive defense system."
Hearing the rustling sound behind her, Su Mingyu continued, "Moreover, look at all the traps he set up even in the main hall. Do you think the bottom of the water, which is the most vulnerable part, would be free of traps?"
"Can't I think of that if you can?" Gu Ruobai had already changed his clothes within Su Mingyu's few words.
He hugged Su Mingyu from behind and let out a long sigh. "I knew there were traps underwater, but if we want to escape from here, the underwater route is a good choice. This place is surrounded by water on all sides. Even Mu Yi, with his excellent lightness skills, wouldn't be able to fly out easily. So if we can escape through the water, it would be the best."
Su Mingyu nodded. "Indeed. So you wanted to go underwater to see if there was a way out?"
Gu Ruobai hummed in agreement. "To be more precise, considering Kang Zeyan's calculating nature, I think he should have left himself an escape route at the bottom of the water. So I wanted to find it. It might come in handy when necessary."
So that's how it was. Su Mingyu curled her lips. "You do think more than I do."
"By the way," Su Mingyu turned around to look at Gu Ruobai. "Do you know this Kang Zeyan? What on earth did you do to provoke him? He clearly told me that he captured me because of you."
Gu Ruobai narrowed his dark eyes. "I have no impression of him at all. Kang Zeyan might not be his real name."
Su Mingyu sighed. "I thought we had finally found the mastermind behind all this and could catch all the spies around you. But now it seems I was too naive back then."
Hearing what Su Mingyu said, Gu Ruobai reached out and pinched her nose. "Do you regret it now? I told you not to take risks, but you insisted on coming. Now that we can't go back, it's too late to regret!"