A Beauty Visits

In the backyard.

"..."

Lin Tianlu stood frozen in place, speechless.

He had intended to go to the kitchen to get some fruit to reward Miss Hua for her diligent practice, but as he passed the backyard, the water in the tub suddenly splashed and a dark shadow emerged, leaving him utterly bewildered.

Is there a water ghost in my own house?

"Hoo—"

Mao Ruoyu emerged from the water tank, pushing back her wet, lustrous hair. The moment she looked up and opened her eyes, she met Lin Tianlu's gaze and froze.

Lin Tianlu quickly rubbed his eyes, confirming he wasn't hallucinating.

He then walked forward with a look of astonishment, "Madam Mao?! How did you get out of the water tank..."

"P-p-please forgive me, sir. I accidentally dropped a piece of jewelry into the fish tank just now and was trying to retrieve it."

Mao Ruoyu's mind raced, and she quickly explained, "But I didn't expect the water vat to be so slippery, and I accidentally fell in."

"Madam... you were too reckless."

Lin Tianlu chuckled helplessly upon hearing this, "If you lost your jewelry, you could have just called me for help. You didn't need to risk it yourself."

He then naturally took her delicate hand and jade-like arm, helping Mao Ruoyu out of the bathtub, "Did you find your jewelry?"

"I already found it."

As Mao Ruoyu nodded, she blankly noticed she was completely soaked, her elegant light-colored ruqun clinging to her body, revealing her fair skin.

This scene instantly made her ears burn, and she felt dizzy with embarrassment.

"Th-this—"

"Madam, please hurry back to your room and change into dry clothes to warm up. It's getting late, and the autumn wind can easily make you catch a cold."

Lin Tianlu quickly averted his gaze, pretending not to notice, and took off his outer robe, carefully wrapping her delicate body, "It would be quite troublesome if you caught a cold and got sick."

"Thank you... Mister."

Mao Ruoyu whispered like a mosquito, clutching the robe wrapped around her, her face flushed as she quickly left.

Only when her silhouette disappeared did Lin Tianlu withdraw his gaze, clicking his tongue inwardly.

He hadn't expected Madam Mao's figure to be even more curvaceous than he imagined, her rounded curves almost overflowing, truly spectacular.

Fortunately, his composure was steady, and he didn't show any undignified expressions.

Why are women's undergarments in this era becoming more revealing one after another? Can they really hold everything in?

He tapped his forehead.

It's best not to overthink it. If I keep thinking, even the Ice Heart Art and those lewd pictures might not work anymore.

Night fell.

Hua Shuya, who was about to sit down for dinner, suddenly received a secret report from the authorities. She grabbed her weapon and rushed off to help, seemingly because another case had occurred in Changling County.

Mao Ruoyu placed two bowls of rice on the table and glanced at the young woman's departing back with some surprise.

"Is Miss Hua always this busy?"

"She comes from a wealthy background, yet she possesses such chivalrous spirit. That's already a great thing," Lin Tianlu casually picked up a pair of chopsticks, "Interacting more with others will also be beneficial for her future."

He was somewhat curious about how a "second-generation" rich girl from such a prominent family could be so chivalrous—just how good was the Hua family's upbringing?

How did they raise such an excellent child?

They really should be a role model for the "second-generation" youngsters in modern society.

Mao Ruoyu smoothed her skirt and sat down again, asking curiously, "Mister Lin, your relationship with Miss Hua seems to be quite good?"

"We're like teacher and friend. Being able to befriend such an upright and sensible woman is my good fortune," Lin Tianlu shook his head and chuckled.

If Hua Shuya hadn't climbed up the mountain back then, he might still be amusing himself counting beans on Taiyi Mountain.

Let alone after descending the mountain, he had also received much of her meticulous care. Calling her a benefactor would not be an exaggeration.

"Your relationship is truly enviable."

Having blurted it out subconsciously, Mao Ruoyu quickly coughed lightly, "Mister Lin, are tonight's dishes to your satisfaction?"

"The dishes made by Madam are, of course, beyond praise."

Lin Tianlu's chopsticks didn't stop moving; he found all the dishes on the table quite delicious.

Especially this crispy fried chicken, it was truly fragrant!

It was fried in plenty of oil, no less impressive than KFC!

Seeing him eat with such satisfaction, Mao Ruoyu's red lips curved unconsciously, and she felt a sense of emotion in her heart.

Days ago, she never imagined that she, a Ghost术者 hidden in the shadows, would have the chance to sit with a living person and enjoy a home-cooked meal. The peerless expert who should have terrified her was now no different from an ordinary person, sitting beside her, eating the same food, laughing and joking from time to time.

This feeling...

Wasn't bad.

But at this moment, wisps of strange, eerie winds blew into the hall, dispelling the warm atmosphere.

Mao Ruoyu's pupils suddenly constricted, as if all her hairs stood on end. She looked outside the courtyard with a face full of fear.

"This, this is—"

"Madam Mao, please calm down," Lin Tianlu quickly got up and said to comfort her. "It's not an evil spirit at the door, but an acquaintance of mine. Please continue eating here with peace of mind. I'll go out and meet them."

"Acquaintance?"

Mao Ruoyu's face turned pale, and she worriedly clutched his sleeve. "Mister Lin, this aura is very cold. Be careful, they might have malicious intentions!"

"Rest assured, she means no harm."

Lin Tianlu gently patted her shoulder.

Then, he quickly walked out of the hall under Mao Ruoyu's anxious gaze.

Creak--

As the courtyard gate opened, a charming figure gracefully entered, bathed in the starlight and moonlight.

"--Good evening, Mister Lin."

Cheng Yishi was dressed in a brocade robe and gauze skirt, her silvery hair as white as snow gently flowing. She exuded the demeanor of a lady from a prominent family.

As their eyes met, she offered a gentle smile and bowed gracefully, "I hope you can forgive my unannounced visit."

Lin Tianlu looked her up and down and couldn't help but chuckle, "It seems Miss Cheng has calmed her state of mind these past two days. Compared to when I first saw you, you are indeed much more composed."

"All of this is thanks to your patient guidance and enlightenment, sir, which allowed me to find the will to live again."

Cheng Yishi clasped her hands in front of her abdomen, her pretty face serious. She bent her knees and bowed, "No matter what, I must express my gratitude to you, sir. If you hadn't shown mercy and compassion that day, I fear I would have long since become a corpse in the wilderness, reduced to a pile of forgotten white bones."

"Saving a life is a matter of course. There's no need for such a grand gesture," Lin Tianlu cupped his hands and smiled, gesturing to the side. "Since Miss Cheng has come from afar, why not come into my mansion for a sit?"

"That would be wonderful." Cheng Yishi's smile deepened, her beautiful eyes shimmering softly.

But as she stepped into the courtyard, she seemed to sense something and looked towards the side courtyard, exclaiming softly, "Is there someone else in your house, sir? Is it that Miss Hua?"

"Miss Hua went to the government office to help. The person in the hall now is Madam Mao from next door, who takes care of me often."

"She is indeed a kind-hearted woman."

Cheng Yishi's eyes flickered slightly.

As they exchanged pleasantries, the two soon arrived at the reception hall.

As the candlelight flickered to life, Lin Tianlu poured a cup of warm tea and handed it to the young woman.

"Thank you for your hospitality, sir."

"Since we know each other, why be so formal?" Lin Tianlu asked curiously, "How have you been these past few days, Miss Cheng?"

Cheng Yishi gracefully bent her knees to sit and pondered for a moment before replying:

"Cheng Yanghua... my father is dead, and naturally, the Cheng family has fallen into considerable disarray. These past few days have been mostly spent on the funeral and handling various business matters."

"And what about this Cheng Manor..."

"I am currently taking over its management."

Lin Tianlu was somewhat surprised.

It was rather unexpected for a woman to manage finances and hold power in this era.

Cheng Yishi seemed to sense his thoughts and shook her head with a wry smile. "It's just that my younger siblings are all idle, only knowing calligraphy and poetry. How could they understand accounting, managing people, or procurement?

Besides, I've always helped manage the family's businesses. Now that it's handed over to me, no one in the family has complained."

Lin Tianlu listened with sincere respect, cupping his hands in a bow. "Miss Cheng, you are truly independent and self-reliant, truly admirable."

"You flatter me, sir. How could I be..."

Cheng Yishi's face turned slightly red.

But she quickly cleared her throat and reached into her clothes:

"Let's put aside these trivial matters for now. I've come specifically to give you some important items."