Gateway to Happiness - Chapter 73
Chapter 73: Becoming Allies
If he wanted someone to flatter him, he should look for Cricket. Just anyone else but her!
“But—” Zhou Yuan suddenly grew nervous.
“We’ll talk next time! That will be it for today. I’ll be heading back now!” Lu Xiao Shu interrupted Zhou Yuan.
At first, Zhou Yuan still wanted to pester her, but when he heard her saying “next time”, his worries eased. A smile appeared on his face as he nodded, “Alright! Next time, then! Next time, I—”
“We will meet when the time comes!” Lu Xiao Shu did not wait for him to finish his question.
“Oh,” Zhou Yuan tactfully shut up as he thought: It would be better if we don’t set a date. That way, I can come over anytime I want. Finally, I’ll have a good reason to be here and if I’m lucky, I might even get to see Miss Lu.
Lu Xiao Shu turned and sped off after she finished speaking.
“Xiao Shu! Xiao Shu!” Lin Fang chased after her and called, “Xiao Shu, wait for me!”
Lu Xiao Shu felt that he would most probably chase her all the way home, so she had no choice but to stop and asked with chagrin, “What is it?”
“Xiao Shu!” Lin Fang smiled, “We haven’t seen each other for such a long time.”
Lu Xiao Shu thought: And you’ve got the cheek to say that! You disappeared without any explanation and you are here now all of a sudden! Do I look like your pastime activity?
Yet, she faked a smile, “I know, right? What’s up?”
“The weather’s good. I want to invite you for horseback riding! What do you think? Let’s go?” Lin Fang explained with a grin.
“Horseback riding?” Lu Xiao Shu grew more sullen when she heard that. Do I look like a materialistic person? Don’t think that you can lure me with this! She snapped, “No! I don’t think I want to go! I’m heading home, you should too!”
“Xiao Shu…” Lin Fang was baffled, “Did I offend you somehow?”
“Oh? No, you didn’t!” Lu Xiao Shu grinned, “That wasn’t what I meant. I’m going home, so I won’t explain anymore.”
Lin Fang hastily chased after her.
Lu Xiao Shu grew angry and glared at him, snapping, “Stay where you are and stop following me! Or else, I’ll hit you!”
Sure enough, Lin Fang was suddenly intimidated by her words as he stood in confusion.
Lu Xiao Shu felt that it was pointless to be mad at him without a proper reason. After all, he had the freedom to do whatever he wanted, so why should he give her an explanation? She said in a gentler tone, “You should head back and don’t follow me.”
“Then, I’ll come again tomorrow—”
“No!”
“Then the day after tomorrow?”
“No!” Lu Xiao Shu snapped again, “Just stay at your manor! I’m not in the mood these days, so you better not irritate me!”
With that, she was gone! She left Lin Fang behind, feeling completely lost as he stared blankly.
Lin Fang was confused and gloomy as he watched her disappearing silhouette, not understanding what had just happened!
Because of the cockfight, his third brother ruthlessly complained to their father with exaggeration. Somehow, the Old Master listened and agreed to punish him. So, he had been under house arrest since then until now.
When the Old Master got serious, he would have no chance of slipping away at all. The only thing he could do was to stay obediently at home until his father felt that his “progress” was good. Only then was he allowed to leave.
Once he got out, he hurriedly rushed to Feng Ye Village to see his beloved girl. Unexpectedly, he came with joy but left with sadness. Anyone would be upset if they were in his shoes.
Zhou Yuan was watching from the side, and he could make a rough guess of what happened. He could not help shaking his head in disapproval.
He thought to himself: How could he fall for a girl so crude and bold? His taste in women is truly— haha, extraordinary!
However, the girl— her name sounded like Xiao Shu? Yes, it’s Xiao Shu. I must remember it and ask around about her… It seems like she won’t be easy to handle! He’s such an unlucky bloke!
She’s no match for Xiao Xue. Gentle, quiet, beautiful, and kind…
Zhou Yuan was silently comparing the two girls and sympathizing with Lin Fang, but he seemed to not realize that he was in a bit of a situation as well!
However, his happiness came when he compared their situations. At that moment, Zhou Yuan felt that Miss Xiao Shu was being quite nice to him already.
He gladly fixed his clothes and prepared to leave.
Lin Fang only realized Zhou Yuan’s presence when he heard his footsteps, and his expression turned dark.
“Hey!” Lin Fang yelled rudely.
Why was Xiao Shu here with this guy? They’re both single and unmarried. Don’t tell me that she’s not even bothered to avoid arousing suspicion with this guy at all! It’s important to take care of the reputation of a girl’s family. Didn’t she know that?
Could it be that while I was away all this time, this fatso managed to deceive Xiao Shu? Hmm, it must be it! Otherwise, why would Xiao Shu ignore me?
The more he thought about it, the more sense it made, and he grew angry with the possibility.
“Are you talking to me?” Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. He did not like Lin Fang’s attitude at all. In the beginning, he wanted to ignore him, but he could not help retorting.
Lin Fang rolled his eyes, “Is there anyone else here besides you?”
“I don’t think I know you.” Zhou Yuan stated.
Lin Fang huffed, “I don’t know you too! But I’m warning you, if you’re going anywhere, don’t ever come to Feng Ye Village, and never look for Xiao Shu again! Understood?”
“What’s that got to do with you?” Zhou Yuan asked indignantly.
How dare he talk back? Sure enough, he really is after Xiao Shu!
It got onto Lin Fang’s nerves as he scoffed coldly, “Don’t think that I don’t know what you’re up to. You better not deceive Xiao Shu! If you dare to bully her, I’ll see to the end of you!”
Zhou Yuan doubled over in laughter and replied, rather pleased, “You must have mistaken! Miss Xiao Shu said that you are the one who should never come back again— ouch! Why are you hitting me?”
Zhou Yuan cradled his face as he glared at Lin Fang in anger. He thought: What’s wrong with these people’s temper? Do they always pick a fight whenever they can? He’s just like that Xiao Shu girl, just as irrational and violent as her!
“You’ve got a problem with that?” Lin Fang rolled his eyes and said coldly, “Did you hear me? Never look for Xiao Shu again! If I see you again, pfft! I’ll throw you into the river as tortoise food!”
Zhou Yuan retorted in disdain, “It’s no wonder Miss Xiao Shu was ignoring you when you have such a terrible temper! Ouch! Why are you hitting me again?”
Lin Fang growled at him, “Did you not understand me? Scram! I don’t want to ever see you again!”
Zhou Yuan was baffled, he quickly explained when he saw that Lin Fang was serious, “I, I wasn’t here for Miss Xiao Shu. You’ve misunderstood!”
“Misunderstood?” Lin Fang said coldly, “You should stop putting up an act in front of me! Do you think I’m that easily fooled? You better be careful of what you say!”
“Do you like Miss Xiao Shu?” Zhou Yuan asked.
Lin Fang huffed indignantly, “Of course! She and I are two peas in a pod! But now she’s giving me the cold shoulder! Pfft! You should look at yourself in the mirror, look at your appearance, why would she ever fall for you? She must be using you to make me jealous! You better wake up from your dreams!”
Zhou Yuan blurted out, “But I don’t like her!”
“What? You don’t like her?” Lin Fang almost leapt at him as he angrily said, “If you don’t like her but you’re fooling around with her, what do you think she is? You bastard—”
“Don’t, don’t hit me!” This time, Zhou Yuan was quick enough to evade. He explained, “I like the eldest daughter of the Lu Family. I was just thinking of having Miss Xiao Shu to help me.”
Lin Fang was startled, and he only responded after a few moments of silence, “Who did you say?”
“The eldest daughter of the Lu Family!” Zhou Yuan said with pride. His eyes shined brightly and his expression turned warm.
“The eldest daughter… of the Lu Family?” Lin Fang looked at him from top to bottom, “Really?”
“Of course, it’s real!” Zhou Yuan nodded enthusiastically, “They say that the beautiful virtuous girl is a gentleman’s best match. Their eldest daughter is so gentle, beautiful, and elegant. Who wouldn’t fall for her when they see her?” What he implied was ‘Bro, why aren’t you into this type of girl?’
Unexpectedly, Lin Fang doubled over in laughter before calming down and saying, “If that’s the case, how did you end up with the second daughter of the Lu Family?”
“Their second daughter?” Now, it was Zhou Yuan’s turn to be confused.
Seeing his face, Lin Fang was even happier. It seemed that Xiao Shu really had nothing to do with him. She did not even tell him which family she belonged to.
“Didn’t you know?” Lin Fang chuckled complacently, “Xiao Shu’s surname is Lu. She’s the eldest daughter’s little sister! Oh, I see that she didn’t tell you that!”
Zhou Yuan was lost as he mumbled, “She’s Xiao Xue’s little sister?”
“Of course!” Lin Fang emphasized those words and raised his eyebrows in annoyance, “What do you mean by that?”
What’s with the tone? Does he think that Xiao Shu is not good enough to be Xiao Xue’s sister?
“Nothing!” Zhou Yuan hastily said, “It’s just that, it seems a little unimaginable… Err, are you— close with their family?”
“That goes without saying!” Lin Fang scoffed, “I grew up with them and her big brother. Lu Qi is my best buddy!”
“Really?” Zhou Yuan was so excited to hear that.
Yet, Lin Fang rolled his eyes, “What are you happy about? What’s that got to do with you?”
“Oh, I, hehe, what’s your name, Brother? I am Zhou Yuan! Brother, you’re outspoken and talented, no wonder Miss Xiao Shu likes you…” Zhou Yuan kept his praises coming until Lin Fang was happy with it.
The two exchanged formalities and soon, they were chatting enthusiastically. Besides, they both fell for the Lu Family’s girls and felt that it was fate. Who knew if they turned out to become brothers-in-law in the future? So, they got even closer because of that.
However, Lin Fang was still worried, so he kept asking why Zhou Yuan was meeting Xiao Shu alone out here.
Since they were meeting alone, he could not accept it.
Zhou Yuan was awkward about the question. He just promised Xiao Shu not to tell anyone, but seeing Lin Fang’s displeased expression, he changed his allegiance. He could not afford losing an ally that had the upper hand.
