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Chapter 181: Chapter 181 Hooking Up
Zhan Lan, bored out of her mind, perused other fabrics in the store, thinking it was time to make some new night attires for the people of the Dark Night Organization.
The shopkeeper got Mu Yan to write down the delivery address.
As Mu Yan put down the writing brush and turned around, Cui Ying passed by, pretending to accidentally step on Mu Yan’s trailing robe.
Cui Ying dirtied Mu Yan’s robe lying on the ground, and as she slipped, expecting to fall right onto Mu Yan according to plan.
However, Mu Yan dodged aside, and Cui Ying ended up face-planting in a most embarrassing fashion.
"Ah!" Cui Ying was helped up by her maid, looking flustered as she bowed in apology to Mu Yan, "I’m sorry, it was careless of me to step on your robe. I’ll compensate you..."
As long as Mu Yan asked her for compensation, she would stay up all night to make him an identical robe, and moreover, she could use the opportunity of returning the robe to see him again.
Mu Yan glanced at Cui Ying, who was clearly trying to flirt with him to get his attention.
What sort of young lady would still look at him affectionately after taking a tumble?
Zhan Lan put down the fabric she was holding, and seeing that it was Cui Ying across the shop, she gestured to Mu Yan towards the outside, "I’ll step out first."
She wouldn’t stick around to call out Cui Ying’s little scheme.
With her presence, Cui Ying would probably have trouble continuing her act.
Just as Zhan Lan turned to leave, she felt her wrist gripped tightly, and with Mu Yan’s voice cold as ice: "Let’s leave together."
"I haven’t compensated for your robe!" Cui Ying, seldom this close to Mu Yan, and rarely with such a chance, wanted to arrange the next time to meet him.
But Mu Yan left her with only four icy words, "Overacting and affectation!"
Without looking back, Mu Yan took hold of Zhan Lan’s wrist and led her away.
Cui Ying stood frozen in place, Mu Yan had turned her down...
Zhan Lan was pulled into her own carriage by Mu Yan, who glared at her furiously, and tentatively, she asked, "Why are you angry again?"
Mu Yan simply refused to look at her and closed his eyes; after all, Zhan Lan had watched another woman throw herself at him and had no reaction, she even seemed to want to give them an opportunity to be alone together.
It seemed, between them, he was the only one with feelings, how could he not be angry?
Zhan Lan’s lips twitched, this man really was exceptionally quirky. But with his eyes closed, head tilted back in sleep, his jawline and the slight movement of his Adam’s apple were quite alluring.
Mu Yan was indeed enchantingly handsome! No wonder women were attracted to him, even Cui Ying would risk getting close to him.
Stepping off the carriage, they didn’t exchange a word, Zhan Lan went straight home.
Mu Yan did the same, only opening his eyes after Zhan Lan had disembarked, then he returned to his own home through a nearby side gate.
Shortly after the two of them returned home, Cui Ying stepped down from the carriage that had been following them, frowning as she looked towards Zhan Lan’s house.
Not far away was Mu Yan’s house; it turned out the two of them lived so close to each other.
Cui Ying’s chest felt tight—could it be that Zhan Lan intentionally chose to live so close to Mu Yan, taking advantage of her proximity?
Otherwise, how could Mu Yan possibly accompany her to the Jinxiu Inn, and why would Zhan Lan take the same ride home with him in Mu Yan’s carriage?
Cui Ying clenched her fists, envious of Zhan Lan’s seemingly good fortune!
...
Before sunset, Xiao Chen appeared at Zhan Lan’s home.
Zhan Lan handed him a warm cup of wine, "Sit down and warm up."
Xiao Chen took the cup, drank it in one gulp, and put the cup down, "Miss, Cui Ying followed you and seemed very upset after leaving; she went to drink alone and our people have followed her."
"Good, go get it done! Make it clean," Zhan Lan, discarding her previously relaxed demeanor, suddenly became sharp-eyed.
Today’s trip to buy rouge was a deliberate "encounter" with Cui Ying; it was also to assess how many Protectors were guarding her.
Just a couple of Protectors and a maid, easy to deal with.
With no one following now, it was even more convenient.
This time, Cui Ying might actually do her a big favor!
Soon after Xiao Chen left, Zhan Lan heard Xiao Tao running up the stairs, "Miss, the Shopkeeper from Jinxiu Inn personally delivered several carts of fabrics!"
Zhan Lan put down her cup, her brow furrowed. Wasn’t Mu Yan supposed to select some fabrics?
Why were they delivered here?
She descended the stairs and saw the shopkeeper, who said with a beaming smile, "Madam, it was your husband who asked me to deliver these to you."
"That’s not my husband, just a friend who loves to joke around." Zhan Lan still felt compelled to clarify.
The shopkeeper didn’t believe her; the outstandingly handsome man looked at this lady with eyes that were both intensely passionate and restrained; he must be very fond of her.
With a grin, he said, "My apologies for the misunderstanding."
The weather was chilly, and the faces of the shopkeeper and the drivers were all reddened by the cold; Zhan Lan could only ask people to swiftly unload the goods, urging them to return quickly.
Zhan Lan looked at the warehouse full of fabric, uncertain about Mu Yan’s intentions.
Let’s wait for better weather before sending them back!
As dusk fell, Zhan Lan remembered that the imperial edict was still with the Vermilion Bird.
Since Mu Yan hadn’t asked for it to be sent back, Zhan Lan went upstairs and called out to Lord Mu a few times towards the room where the light was on.
No one responded to her, so Zhan Lan took a leap, using her qinggong to get across.
Mu Yan’s window was shut tight. Zhan Lan knocked gently on it twice and called, "Lord Mu, are you there?"
Still receiving no reply, Zhan Lan breathed in some cold air and coughed twice, ready to return.
Unexpectedly, the window was then opened by someone, and warmth accompanied by the scent of alcohol rushed towards her face; Zhan Lan looked up to see Mu Yan’s handsome visage.
"I’m here to pick up the impe..." before Zhan Lan could finish, she felt a tight grip around her waist, her feet lifted off the ground, and she found herself swept sideways into his arms. Her balance upset, she hooked her arm around his neck.
When they landed on the floor, they were already inside his room.
With one hand, Mu Yan closed the window and then, tilting his head, looked at Zhan Lan and teased, "What’s the rush? Eager to find your husband?"
Zhan Lan rolled her eyes and stretched out her hand, "Stop talking nonsense, I’m here to get the imperial edict."
Mu Yan turned around, and a wine cup appeared in Zhan Lan’s hand, "First, have a drink with me. I’ll have Vermilion Bird bring the imperial edict over later."
With the warm liquor between her fingers, Zhan Lan mulled to herself: In Baoxiang House, she threw down a generous amount of silver, and Mu Yan wouldn’t let her drink.
Now, he was urging her to.
"You said you wanted a drink to get some good sleep," Mu Yan seemed to catch onto her doubts.
Zhan Lan took a sip of the wine, and the warmth of the liquid quickly soothed the chill she had caught from the cold air.
Mu Yan clinked his cup with hers, asking, "Why does a lady like you enjoy drinking so much?"
"Because when I drink, I can sleep soundly," Zhan Lan’s eyes fell to the wine in her cup, and a touch of sadness was glimpsed by Mu Yan.
He remembered that Zhan Lan could fall asleep against a wall on the battlefield, but she would wake instantly at the slightest noise.
In truth, she was someone with high alertness and light sleep.
What could be troubling her so deeply that she couldn’t sleep peacefully?
Zhan Lan noticed Mu Yan’s furrowed brow and countered, "Why does a man like Lord Mu enjoy candied fruits?"
Mu Yan’s gaze drifted into the distance, his thoughts trailing back to the bitter memories of his childhood.
Back then, life was tough, and he developed a fondness for sweet candied fruits.
As a child, he would eat a candied fruit to mask his emotions whenever he felt tense, sad, or scared.
After meeting Zhan Lan, he would also eat one when feeling happy, excited, or unable to hide his feelings.
He gave a wry smile, changing the subject, "About those fabrics, have a look and help me choose. Have them made quickly; the coldest days of winter are approaching."
Zhan Lan nodded, "Don’t worry, it’s just making a winter garment, that’s not going to beat me!"
She swirled the wine in her cup, "What is this wine? It’s aromatic, sweet, and smooth!"
Mu Yan nodded, "It’s a rare find; the liquor is strong, so don’t overindulge."
Zhan Lan’s eyes glazed over, "Don’t worry, I can hold my liquor very well, Lord Mu!"
Besides, her home was just across the way; if need be, Tie Chui could simply carry her back.
Mu Yan glanced at Zhan Lan, his gaze sweeping over her flushed cheeks, thinking that the young miss had already drunk quite a bit.
So much for her claiming to have good tolerance!
Little liar!
