Chapter 195: You Can’t See Me

Gu Fei retreated a few steps, then spotted a small alley nearby. She grabbed Lian’er and dashed into it.

After running down the alley for a while without seeing anyone in pursuit, Gu Fei finally let out a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yu frowned at the young girl. "What are you doing out here? How could Mother have let you come out?"

Xiao Qing stuck out her tongue. "Second Brother, I snuck out. You can’t tell Mother, okay?"

Xiao Yu snorted. ’Only this silly girl would think she actually snuck out. How could she call it ’sneaking out’ when she’s followed by so many maids, nannies, and guards?’

’Mother is just turning a blind eye.’

Xiao Qing tilted her head. "What were you two doing just now?"

"Oh, and there was a pretty young lady standing here a moment ago. Where did she go?"

Xiao Yu quickly looked back. Gu Fei was nowhere to be seen!

Su Chen also turned around in a hurry. People came and went along the banks of the Jinshui River, but her lovely figure was gone.

Xiao Yu’s sharp brows furrowed. ’That girl... I take my eyes off her for one second, and she runs away!’

Xiao Qing blinked. "Did I scare the young lady away?"

Su Chen sneered from the side. "It wasn’t your fault. Brother Yu was the one who scared her off."

Xiao Yu’s brow twitched, but he said nothing. ’Maybe I really did scare her off. If I’d known, I shouldn’t have said I needed to talk to her about something.’

Suddenly, Xiao Qing’s eyes widened as she caught sight of the dough figurine in Stone’s hand. "Is that a dough figurine? It’s so cute! Let me see."

Stone hesitated, unsure if he should hand it over. He turned to look at Xiao Yu, but Xiao Yu, his face cold, snatched the dough figurine, vaulted onto his horse, and rode off without a word.

Su Chen watched Xiao Yu’s retreating figure, his eyes narrowing. ’Something’s off with my cousin. Something is very off.’

Zhang Ze approached and said in a low voice, "Sir, we should head back. We’ve been walking for over an hour today. I’m worried about your leg."

Su Chen agreed absently.

Zhang Ze waved to someone in the distance, and a moment later, a horse-drawn carriage pulled up.

The carriage had been following them from a distance the whole time, ready for Su Chen to rest whenever he needed.

Xiao Qing stood there, pouting. ’Am I some kind of jinx?’

’The moment I show up, the pretty young lady runs off, my second brother runs off, and now even my cousin is leaving.’

"Hmph! I’m done with all of you!" Xiao Qing stamped her foot and left with her maids and nannies in tow.

Su Chen boarded the carriage. A moment later, he lifted the curtain, held out his hand to Zhang Ze, and said, "Give it to me."

Zhang Ze handed him a small cloth pouch.

Su Chen took it, lowered the curtain, and carefully opened the pouch.

Inside was a dough figurine. He took it out and saw that it was identical to the one Gu Fei had earlier.

Su Chen had secretly sent Zhang Ze to have the old dough figurine maker create another one.

Su Chen held the figurine in his hand, gazing at it intently. After a long while, he carefully placed both his own figurine and this new one into the cloth pouch. He then set the pouch gently on his lap, his expression softening as he looked at it.

Meanwhile, Gu Fei and Lian’er had emerged from the alley, which opened onto another street.

After all that walking, the bowl of dumplings they had eaten earlier was long gone. Right at the mouth of the alley was a stall selling sweet rice balls, so Gu Fei ordered two bowls, and she and Lian’er sat down to eat.

The sweet rice balls were filled with black sesame, fragrant and delicious. Gu Fei had only taken a few bites when she suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching. She glanced up and saw that the rider was none other than the sharp-browed, bright-eyed gentleman whose name she didn’t know.

Gu Fei quickly ducked her head, chanting internally, ’He can’t see me, he can’t see me, he can’t see me.’