Gu Yue took Xiao Chen by the hand and stepped through the estate's main gate, looking around at its scenery.
A winding path paved with bluestone slabs ran between rockeries and flowing water, swaying green bamboo, and artfully arranged pavilions and towers.
The two made their way through the estate, bypassing the unused side halls and towers and heading straight toward a lady's courtyard at its center.
Before long, they arrived in front of an elegant, understated house. This was Gu Yue's room.
Gu Yue raised her hand and pushed open the wooden door. The interior was neat and clean, with a young woman's refined air in every corner.
She walked straight inside, but Xiao Chen paused behind her, stopping at the doorway rather than following her in immediately.
Xiao Chen glanced over the furnishings of her boudoir and asked:
"Is it all right for me to come into your room?"
Seeing how slightly reserved Xiao Chen looked, Gu Yue could not help chuckling. She turned back toward him, her expression gentle:
"Come on in. Just make yourself at home."
With Gu Yue's permission, Xiao Chen hesitated no longer. He stepped inside and gently pulled the door shut behind him.
"Wait here for a little while. I'll go get my father, and then we can discuss business," Gu Yue turned around and told Xiao Chen sweetly.
"All right, go ahead." Xiao Chen nodded, his expression calm.
Seeing this, Gu Yue said nothing more. She turned and hurried out of the room, closing the door behind her.
The room instantly fell silent, leaving Xiao Chen all alone.
At first, Xiao Chen sat patiently and waited, but as the seconds and minutes passed without Gu Yue returning, the dull wait gradually grew tiresome.
After waiting a while, Xiao Chen really could not