Chapter 50 Love Story

"Who is Master Frequent Urination?"

Luo Zijun suddenly returned and asked from the doorway.

The air instantly grew quiet.

Bi'er's face flushed crimson at once, and she stammered, "It's... it's..."

It's over... It's all over...

Liu Chujian hurriedly walked over with an awkward expression, preparing to help explain.

Unexpectedly, Luo Zijun suddenly added, "I'll bet he must be a dashing, elegant, exceptionally wealthy, and extraordinarily talented young master. Otherwise, how could he have such a unique and imposing nickname?"

Liu Chujian: "..."

"Miss Chujian, wouldn't you say so?"

Luo Zijun asked.

Liu Chujian's cheeks flushed, not knowing how to respond.

Bi'er hurriedly nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, yes, Master Luo is right! What this maid meant was..."

"What kind of young master was it? Repeat it."

Luo Zijun looked at her and said.

Bi'er: "...It was, it was..."

"Dashing and elegant, romantic and suave, exceptionally wealthy, extraordinarily talented, unique, and imposing. Repeat it."

Luo Zijun taught her once more, instructing her to repeat it.

His tone carried the air of a command.

Helpless, Bi'er had to lower her head, her face glowing red as she followed along, "Da... dashing and elegant, romantic and suave..."

In her heart, however, she was secretly thinking: Heavens, this guy is so narcissistic.

Withholding a smile, Liu Chujian asked, "Master Luo, didn't you leave already? Why have you come back? Did you leave something behind?"

Luo Zijun stopped teasing the little maid and handed the manuscript in his hand forward.

"I was too focused on taking the money earlier and forgot all about the new manuscript. This is something I newly wrote. Miss Chujian can take a look at it first. If you think it's suitable, you can go to the bookstore and ask about the price for me."

He paused for a moment.

Then he added, "As for this time's price, I expect it to be at least tripled."

"A new manuscript?"

Hearing this, Liu Chujian's eyes instantly brightened.

She then eagerly took it and asked, "What kind of story has Master Luo written this time?"

"A love story, I suppose."

Luo Zijun said indifferently, "Just some casual fabrication. I hope Miss Chujian won't laugh when she reads it."

Liu Chujian raised her gaze from the manuscript to look at him. "People who write love stories usually have experienced a lot of love themselves. Master Luo, you..."

"I have indeed experienced it."

Luo Zijun maintained a carefree expression. "Just a short while ago, I was cruelly abandoned by a matchmaking partner who despised me for being poor and ugly."

Liu Chujian was slightly startled, then smiled. "That cannot be called love. Besides, what kind of woman would ever look down on Master Luo? Furthermore, Master Luo is not ugly at all."

"I also think I am not ugly."

Luo Zijun said with utter seriousness.

He then added, "Very well, I shall not disturb you further. Miss Chujian, please rest early. You can read the manuscript whenever you have time tomorrow; there is no rush."

With that, he cupped his fists in salute and took his leave.

Liu Chujian watched dazedly as his figure disappeared beyond the doorway.

Bi'er pursed her little lips, just about to make a sarcastic remark, when she suddenly recalled the terrifying scene from moments earlier. She hurriedly rushed to the door, stretched out her neck, and peeked outside.

"Miss, the ur... Master Luo, it seems he really has gone..."

Liu Chujian softly murmured an "en," lowered her head, and looked down at the manuscript in her hands.

"A love story?"

She muttered to herself.

She then walked into her room, sat down at the table, unfolded the manuscript, and lowered her head to read.

Half an hour later...

"Miss, it's getting late, you should..."

"Quiet."

"Oh..."

One hour later...

"Miss, it's time to rest. You can read it again tomor... Oh my, Miss, why... why are you crying?"

At this moment, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and the red candles wept wax.

Even on the day when her family estate was confiscated by the officials and she was reduced to selling her arts in a brothel to earn money to pay off debts, the eldest miss of the Liu family had not shed a single tear. Yet at this moment, her face was covered in tears.

Crystal-clear tears, like broken strings of pearls, fell ceaselessly.

Panicked, Bi'er hurriedly picked up a handkerchief to wipe them away.

"Miss, please don't cry... Seeing you cry makes this maid want to cry too..."

With eyes brimming with tears, Liu Chujian looked at the manuscript on the table and softly said, "I'm fine... It's just that this story is far too moving..."

Pursing her lips in heartache, Bi'er said, "That man is truly hateful, always bullying Miss. Bullying you to your face wasn't enough; he even writes stories to bully you. Next time, let's just ignore him."

With a dazed expression, Liu Chujian gave a slight shake of her head and murmured, "We must certainly not ignore him... Because..."

"Because of what?"

Bi'er looked up at her mistress.

Liu Chujian paused. Her gaze fell upon the words on the paper, and she couldn't help but recall that fellow's narcissistic words from earlier. A smile involuntarily bloomed at the corners of her lips as she softly said, "Because that man is... dashing, elegant, exceptionally... wealthy, and extraordinarily..."

She didn't finish, suddenly letting out a giggle.

At that instant, illuminated by the candlelight and tears, her already exquisite and flower-like countenance possessed an astonishing, peerless beauty!

Dazed by the sight, Bi'er worriedly asked, "Miss, you couldn't possibly..."

"Nonsense."

Liu Chujian cut her off.

"This maid hasn't even said anything yet..."

Observing the expression on her mistress's face, Bi'er grew increasingly worried.

Meanwhile.

Luo Zijun had already returned home, his pockets laden with a vast sum of money.

Luo Jiaorong, Li Zhengshan, and the maid Xiaohuan had long since come to the entrance of the alley, craning their necks in eager anticipation until they finally caught sight of him.

Seeing that he had returned safely, Luo Jiaorong hurried forward to greet him.

"Sister, this is thirty taels of silver. Take it."

Luo Zijun separated thirty taels from the silver he had just received and handed it over to her.

He couldn't give her too much all at once; otherwise, it would frighten his elder sister and brother-in-law.

The reason he hadn't given her money earlier was because those previous silver pieces weren't entirely clean.

He could use them himself, but he couldn't let them stain the hands of his sister and brother-in-law.

"Thirty taels! Zhengshan, look! There really are thirty taels! I told you so, our Zijun is bound to amount to something in the future! He's much more capable than you!"

Taking the silver, Luo Jiaorong's face flushed with excitement and pride as she gloated in front of Li Zhengshan. Then, glancing left and right to ensure no one was watching, she quickly tucked it into her bosom.

Beaming, Li Zhengshan said, "Of course Zijun is more capable than me. Come, let's go back inside and talk."

The three of them clustered around Luo Zijun, returning home with beaming smiles.

"Sister, Brother-in-law, feel free to use this silver however you like. Don't be thrifty; I'll be able to earn even more in the future."

Luo Zijun said this because he feared they would be reluctant to spend it.

Luo Jiaorong hastily replied, "That simply won't do! Your sister will save all of this silver up for you. We'll need it to get you a wife when the time comes!"

She continued, "Just think about it—the betrothal gifts, the jewelry, the wedding banquet, and the two of you will probably need to buy a house, furniture, and so on. Everything costs money!"

Luo Zijun chuckled. "Who knows, perhaps when your younger brother gets married, not only will he not spend money, but he might even make a profit?"

"How could that be?"

Luo Jiaorong remained unconvinced.

Luo Zijun said, "By marrying into a wealthy family as a matrilocal husband. Finding the daughter of a wealthy family who happens to be an only child means not only spending no money, but also inheriting her family's vast fortunes."

"Thwack!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Luo Jiaorong delivered a sharp slap across his back. Glaring at him with furious eyes, she demanded, "What nonsense are you spouting, you brat? Luo Zijun! If you ever dare harbor any thoughts of marrying into a family, I'll beat you to death!"

From the side, Li Zhengshan chimed in, "Marrying into a family means changing your surname, betraying your ancestors, acting subservient and inferior in someone else's household, and being ridiculed and looked down upon by outsiders. Zijun, don't even think about such things. Your brother-in-law won't approve of it either."

"I was only joking."

Luo Zijun rubbed his back; he hadn't expected his sister's slap to pack quite so much force.

"You can't joke about that either!"

Luo Jiaorong stared at him with a stern face. "When has anyone living a good life ever wanted to marry into another family? You don't want to be a master, and instead want to be a servant to others?"

Luo Zijun couldn't help arguing, "Who says marrying in means becoming a servant? I read a book once where the protagonist married into a family, and not only did he not become a servant, but he became the master of the entire household! The eldest miss, the second miss, the cousin miss, and all sorts of pretty little maids, and even the mother-in-law, all became the protagonist's—ahem! All of them became utterly submissive to the protagonist! Oh, and there were also honorable princesses and empresses, as well as powerful female demons!"

"Pure nonsense! Can you take what's written in books seriously?"

Luo Jiaorong glared at him. "Stop daydreaming!"

Suddenly, Li Zhengshan asked, "What book was that?"

"My Wife Is Strange."

"Tsk, just the title sounds..."

"Hmm?"

Luo Jiaorong turned her gaze toward him.

"Ahem... I was just asking casually. I don't even know how to read anyway."

Li Zhengshan quickly corrected himself.

Luo Jiaorong shot him a dangerous look and was just about to speak when Xiaohuan, who was walking behind them, suddenly asked with a puzzled expression, "Young Master, how can there be a mother-in-law? Does the mother-in-law become submissive to the protagonist as well? Isn't she an elder?"

Luo Jiaorong froze. Then, her body gave a violent jerk as she grabbed someone's arm, flew into a rage, and demanded, "Luo Zijun! What did you just say? There's a mother-in-law too? What kind of book are you reading, you brat? Is that even a proper book? Confess to me at once!"

Luo Zijun: "..."

Deep in the night.

A full moon climbed to the center of the sky.

From within the dark room came the shy, pleading voice of the little maid.

"You... Young Master, this maid was wrong..."

"Stop... stop tickling..."

Meanwhile.

Several streets away, the Baoan Hall still glowed with dim, yellow light.

In the corner, herbs were bubbling away in a small medicine stove with "gurgling" sounds.

At the table sat a young maiden dressed in plain white robes, her head lowered as she quietly pounded medicinal herbs.

Her waterfall-like obsidian hair cascaded like black silk over her full bosom.

As she pounded the medicine, it rose and fell.

From time to time, fresh herbs were added to the mortar.

On the table before her, several packages of refined medicinal herbs were already neatly arranged.

"Snore... snore..."

In the inner room, Su Dafang had already fallen asleep in his chair, emitting loud, echoing snores.

Outside the window, the night grew deeper and absolute silence enveloped everything.

Only the gentle sound of pestle striking mortar continued inside the shop—*thump, thump, thump, thump*...

Lasting until dawn.