CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: THE HIDDEN MASTER IN DISGUISE (CHILDREN’S DAY BONUS)

Tang Xiaobai furrowed her brows and also glanced at Qin Xiao, only to see the young boy looking back indifferently.

He was inherently good-looking, and his aloof demeanor even gave him the aura of a noble gentleman, which made Tang Xiaobai’s heart flutter with delight.

Great, he didn’t embarrass her!

Yao He chuckled, shifted his gaze back to Tang Xiaobai, and said, "I heard Second Miss is now studying at the Gu Family Academy? Indeed, after reading, a person changes."

Having said that, he cupped his hand in farewell and swaggered away.

"This person seems clever in appearance; I’m afraid he harbors schemes. Xiao Bai, it’s best not to associate closely with him, to avoid being plotted against," said Gu Hui with a frown.

Yesterday, due to a fall into the water, she rested for a day. Today, she went to school as usual, still escorted by Gu Hui.

On the way home at noon, she happened to see Yao He wandering idly in the street, so she stopped the carriage to personally thank Yao He for his rescue during the fall into the water that day.

"He saved me; expressing personal thanks is the right thing to do. Besides this, there will be no further dealings," Tang Xiaobai said.

Not to mention, Yao He’s gaze was piercing. When it landed on Little Qin, it made her feel uneasy, so she wanted no involvement with him.

On hearing what she said, Gu Hui not only didn’t look relieved but rather became more melancholic, which intrigued her.

Could it be that he’s entering adolescence?

Speaking of which, her young master and Gu Hui are of the same age. Is it possible that he’s entering adolescence too?

Perhaps it really is! Otherwise, why such a moody personality?

Just as Tang Xiaobai was seriously pondering how to deal with the second and third matters of teenage boys during puberty, she arrived home.

As she was escorted daily, the Gu family cousins usually dropped her off at the door and left, unless, like last time, they had business with the Gu Family and went inside with Tang Xiaobai.

But today, even after Tang Xiaobai bade farewell with a courtesy, Gu Hui neither suggested going in nor showed any intention of leaving. He just looked at her with a frown, his eyes melancholic as if he had something to say but didn’t.

Tang Xiaobai had no choice but to inquire, "Does Cousin Hui have any other matters?"

Gu Hui sighed deeply, bowed deeply to her, and scared Tang Xiaobai into a leap back.

"Regarding the incident the day before, Hui apologizes to Cousin!" Gu Hui said in a grave tone.

Tang Xiaobai was startled, and then she felt a heaviness in her heart as she pulled him into the house to a secluded spot, asking in a low voice, "Did you push me into the water?"

Gu Hui was also stunned and hastily shook his head, "No, no, how could I harm you?"

"Then did you accidentally knock me in?"

Gu Hui was both crying and laughing, "No, when you fell into the water, I was still twenty or thirty paces away."

Tang Xiaobai breathed a sigh of relief, "Then why did you make it sound so scary?"

Gu Hui immediately became melancholic again, "It’s because I didn’t take good care of Xiao Bai..."

His eyes held unspoken meaning.

Tang Xiaobai met his gaze for a moment and then knowingly nodded.

In fact, she had realized what was going on just when she arrived at Diligence Academy today.

Those who were with her that day were all kids from the Gu Family Academy, so the matter of her falling into the water was left entirely to the Eldest Aunt Gu to handle.

The handling results came quickly.

Just a day later, Gu Yulan disappeared.

She couldn’t resist asking Gu Qinglan about it, only to be told that she was frightened into illness—

Listen to this! She, the one who fell into the water, didn’t fall ill, but Gu Yulan was frightened sick?

Everyone knew what was going on, so Tang Xiaobai didn’t pursue it further.

But thinking about Gu Yulan’s sharpness during her time at the academy, she felt a sense of loss.

Since the Gu family had already punished Gu Yulan, the matter was over, especially since it had absolutely nothing to do with the gentle and handsome good brother Gu Hui.

"You were twenty or thirty paces away, of course, you couldn’t have taken care of me," Tang Xiaobai comforted, "Besides, can you swim?"

Gu Hui was stunned, "Swim? You mean swimming?"

Tang Xiaobai nodded eagerly.

No wonder he is a scholar god, he can infer the meaning on his own!

Even the usually confident and modest Gu Xueshen had his face flush a little, revealing an expression of shame: "I-I will definitely learn soon. Next time we go to the water side, I will ensure my younger sisters can enjoy without worry!"

"Uh... I didn’t mean to—" force you to learn to swim!

"Does Xiao Bai have any instructions?" Cousin Gu’s eyes shone with a clear and sincere light, "These days, whenever I think of failing to protect Xiao Bai, I find it hard to rest and eat peacefully. I always wish to do something good to atone a bit!"

Tang Xiaobai didn’t have any instructions.

She shook her head while trying to scour her brain for some useful words to comfort her kind and lovely little cousin.

Halfway through shaking her head, she suddenly remembered something.

"Stay for lunch, Cousin Hui!" Tang Xiaobai suddenly grabbed his wrist and leaned in to whisper, "I have something urgent I want to ask Cousin Hui to help with!"

...

Li Mu stood a few paces away. He didn’t hear the last line the young lady said, only saw her bright black eyes shining, holding onto Gu Hui’s wrist tightly, as if afraid he would run away.

What did Gu Hui say before this?

Learn to swim soon, to protect her?

"You all go back first!" The young lady waved towards him and tugged her cousin into the main house.

Li Mu returned to his dwelling silently, picked up the meal box already placed at the front door, and as usual, entered, and closed the door.

Mo Ji flashed in and, within moments, had the fine dishes that had already been replaced from the meal box neatly arranged.

Li Mu picked up the chopsticks, but couldn’t start for a long while.

Mo Ji, usually hasty by nature, couldn’t help urging, "Why isn’t the Young Master eating?"

Li Mu ignored him and called "Mo Huan."

After a moment, he heard someone answering slowly.

Li Mu couldn’t help but hide a light cough behind his hand and said with a calm expression, "I... need to learn to swim..."

...

Keeping Gu Hui had nothing to do with swimming.

In the afternoon, she sent Tao Zi, Ah Xiao, and the others to the small pavilion in the bamboo forest to do their homework, while she pulled Cousin Hui aside into the Water Pavilion, ostensibly to guide studies.

On the desk, the paper and ink were neatly arranged, but the young lady furtively pulled out another roll of paper filled with writing, "Cousin Hui, take a look at this for me..."

Gu Hui took it with skepticism and, after a glance, his eyes flashed with surprise: "This is—"

"Don’t mind who wrote it, just help me see how it’s written?" Tang Xiaobai interrupted him.

What she handed to Gu Hui were the essays Qin Xiao had written in the past few days.

Previously, it was just a few particularly beautiful characters, and she dared not expose them casually, let alone such an essay.

But her young master wrote so earnestly and so diligently, yet he wasn’t getting effective guidance, which was quite worrisome.

It happened that Gu Hui came to the door.

Tang Xiaobai thought that if there wasn’t a famous teacher, having a high-achieving student give feedback would be good too.

Moreover, Cousin Hui seemed to follow the path of a gentleman, honest and reliable.

Sure enough, when she said not to ask, Gu Hui kept his mouth shut and seriously began to read through the essay.

The more he read, the deeper his surprise grew, and he glanced at Tang Xiaobai from time to time.

Tang Xiaobai had the vague feeling that his gaze was becoming more and more like that of looking at a hidden expert of the world?