CHAPTER 472: CHAPTER 408: THE VIRTUOUS SCHOLAR UNDER THE MOON_2

He really shouldn’t be doing this at this moment—

Thinking of this, he lowered his head to look again at Shang Ruyi, who was blushing and panting in his arms, and gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the heat in his heart, and finally let go of her.

Meanwhile, the footsteps had reached the doorway.

Yu Wenye immediately said: "Who is it!"

The footsteps suddenly stopped, and then Chang Wan’s voice came from outside. She probably didn’t expect that before she could speak, someone in the room would question her first. She replied cautiously: "Second Young Master, the hot water for bathing is ready. You can go anytime—"

Yu Wenye’s expression darkened for a moment, and he said in a low voice: "Got it."

At this point, Shang Ruyi had reluctantly put her clothes back on, yet even though she covered the ambiguous marks left by their entanglement, there were still some left visible, on her blushing cheeks and misty eyes. Looking at her nearly helpless appearance, Yu Wenquan took a deep breath again and moved closer to her ear, saying in a low voice: "Go change your clothes."

"...!"

Shang Ruyi glared at him forcefully with reddened eyes.

Yu Wenye, however, seemed afraid to look at her any longer and got up to leave. Chang Wan stood outside the door, seemingly aware of something, and dared not look inside. She hurriedly followed him to attend to him.

Once they both left, Shang Ruyi exhaled a breath of relief.

She reached out to pick up the copper mirror that had fallen to the ground. Reflected in it was her face, still slightly flushed, her breath still somewhat irregular, seemingly calm now. Yet thinking of the image just now of herself at the mercy of others, even somewhat dazed with desire, she felt an unstoppable shame and placed the mirror face down on the table, her face red.

At that moment, Tushere walked in.

She had just assisted Shang Ruyi with her bath, stayed behind to tidy up the clothes and bathing utensils, and returned at that time. Stepping inside, she saw Shang Ruyi’s flushed cheeks facing the copper mirror placed upside down on the dressing table and couldn’t help but curiously ask: "Miss, why did you turn the mirror upside down?"

Shang Ruyi turned around to see it was her and, fearing her discovery, awkwardly uprighted the mirror again.

Tushere came over and saw her hair still damp and somewhat messy for some unknown reason, then gently helped dry her hair while combing it, softly saying: "Miss, you can’t leave your hair damp; it’s easy to catch a cold. Look at you, your face is all red now, and your ears too..."

Shang Ruyi couldn’t even speak.

Luckily, the girl didn’t think too much of it and soon finished combing her hair and helped her change her clothes.

Only when she picked up Shang Ruyi’s changed clothes, she suddenly noticed a corner seemed torn, exclaiming: "Eh, this is—"

Shang Ruyi’s expression changed, intending to interrupt her, fortunately interrupted just then by someone outside inviting them, as the dining hall had already set up the meal, inviting the Second Young Master and Young Madam to dine.

Tushere immediately ignored the clothes and said: "But the young master hasn’t returned from bathing yet."

Shang Ruyi thought for a moment, saying: "Alright, I’ll go over first. You stay in the room, and when he returns, quickly assist him in getting dressed and come over."

Tushere could only nod as she watched Shang Ruyi leave.

Actually, at this point, dusk was just setting in, but because lanterns were hung early everywhere in Yuwen Mansion, it was almost like daylight, without feeling the darkness. However, Shang Ruyi had only arrived at this residence on the second day and was unfamiliar, so after walking some distance out of the courtyard, she felt as if she was lost.

She hesitated to look around, wanting to find a servant to ask for directions, but it happened that there was no one around at this time.

Just as she was feeling uncertain, a light sigh came from ahead.

The sound made her heart sink.

She looked up and realized she had unknowingly walked to a pond nearby—the Duke Mansion in Daxing City might be large and well-designed, but the only flaw was that there wasn’t much water, walking half a day only to reach this one pond. Luckily, the pond was not small, with a tall rockery standing in the water; at this moment, dusk had just fallen, the bright moon was rising, and its clear light shone on the tranquil pool, reflecting a glow.

And that glow also cast upon the face of a tall person standing by the pond.

Seeing that person’s back, Shang Ruyi’s footsteps immediately stopped, intending to turn around and leave.

Because that person was Yu Wenqian!

But just as she turned, a gentle, seemingly smiling voice came from behind, leisurely saying: "Sister-in-law."

"...!"

These two words were like an arrow, piercing her foot.

And they pinned Shang Ruyi to the spot.

At this time, she couldn’t leave nor stay, couldn’t turn back nor ignore him.

She hadn’t expected to encounter Yu Wenqian here, let alone expect that though she was already trying to avoid him, Yu Wenqian would still call out to her.

Couldn’t he perceive that facing each other alone like this would be awkward, uncomfortable?

Though conflicted inside, since he had already spoken, Shang Ruyi couldn’t just walk away. Thinking of this, she took a deep breath and turned halfway around.

In the moonlight, Yu Wenqian wore an azure long robe, his demeanor leisurely, eyes serene; especially with the moonlight reflected from the pond, lending him a detached elegance, like a high scholar under the moon, independent of the world.

Shang Ruyi said: "Elder brother, I’m busy, I should—"

Before she could finish, without managing to take a step, she saw a slight smile appear on his handsome face.

Yu Wenqian raised his eyebrows slightly, speaking leisurely: "Sister-in-law, if you leave just now, our interactions in the following years will only become more awkward and uncomfortable than they are now."