Li Mu Yang was caught between laughter and tears.
He had never expected that one careless remark would provoke a woman. If he had known, he would have followed Li Sinian's example and pretended to be foolish and well-behaved. Wouldn't that have been better?
But now, it was probably too late to back down.
Looking at the old woman's stubborn gaze, Li Mu Yang said, "Miss Hong Xiu, I really didn't notice any flaw in your makeup. I only heard Uncle Lu address you as 'Miss,' so I followed along and called you that too. My sister often taught me that when guessing a woman's age, I should always guess younger. If I would normally call her Aunt, then I should call her Sister. If I would normally call her Granny, then I should call her Aunt. What woman doesn't like being praised for looking young? Isn't that how it works?"
The old woman giggled coquettishly, her laughter crisp and clear, like a spirit bird singing.
Paired with her gray-white hair and deeply wrinkled face, it gave people goosebumps from head to toe.
The muddiness vanished from Hong Xiu's pupils. She gazed brightly at Li Mu Yang and said, "You just said you didn't notice any flaw in my makeup, which proves you knew it was a disguise. That only makes me even more interested in the Young Sir. If you don't answer me honestly, I won't help you today."
"How can you go back on your word? You just said that even if I couldn't explain it, with Uncle Lu pleading for me, you still wouldn't refuse."
"Because I'm a woman." Hong Xiu looked perfectly at ease. "What woman isn't fickle? Besides, my job is to keep changing from one appearance to another. Is there anything wrong with that?"