Bairan leaned back, looking straight at Dongpo. "Now tell me, what did your master want to say to me?"
Dongpo straightened his back, remembering his task. In a more serious tone, "My master asked me to tell you we plan to search Master Mo's place more carefully, hoping to find more information about Baian's past and family. But we'll need Baian's help — he used to work in Master Mo's teahouse and knows the place well. I hope you don't mind letting him come with us."
Bairan cast her eyes downward, thinking for a moment.
"Taking Baian…" she murmured. "Why is Master Pei asking me for permission? Does he take me as Baian's owner?"
Baian quickly spoke up, "Bairan-jie, please let me go with them. I'll come back soon!"
Bairan looked at him — the bowl of fruit was already empty, every piece gone. He looked at her with two big, shiny eyes.
Her expression softened. She took her handkerchief and wiped the bit of fruit left at the corner of his mouth, chuckling.
"Looks like your eating habits have improved. Why didn't you try to eat the bowl too?"
Baian blushed and mumbled, "Bairan-jie… didn't you put it in front of me to eat?"
Bairan's smile grew wider. "No, I wanted to ask you to count them."
Baian's eyes widened, his mouth opening slightly in shock.
Seeing his stunned face, Bairan burst into laughter. She gently patted his head and said jokingly,
"I'm just teasing you. Of course, I wanted you to eat them. I counted them before anyway."
Baian beamed back at her, called out pleadingly, "Bairan-jie!!"
Bairan, giving him the winning grin, then turned to Dongpo; he had just started laughing as well.
Bairan said, "Baian isn't a servant here. You don't need my permission to do anything or go anywhere. If he wants to go with you, that's his choice."
Baian nodded happily. He had always lived under orders, waiting for others to tell him what to do — but his Bairan-jie had just told him he was free to choose.
He wishes to go with Master Pei's man aiming to find news about his family with them.
His eyes turned misty. "Thank you, Bairan-jie."
Bairan nodded and gently touched his head. "As long as you're happy."
Just then, Dongyan's voice came from outside, calling out his goodbye — loud enough for Dongpo to hear.
Dongpo stood up and walked toward the window but paused; "Miss Lin, there's one more thing my master asked me to tell you."
Bairan smiled faintly. "One more thing? What is it?"
Dongpo leaped lightly out the window. Turning back with a polite smile, answered;
"He said, if you can, please visit his residence this afternoon. He has something to ask you — about your father."
Bairan raised an eyebrow and smirked. "If I can? Or I must."
Dongpo only smiled in response, not answering her question.
Bairan smiled lightly. "Tell your master I'll be there."
After Dongpo left, Baian also bade her farewell. Bairan accompanied him to the door.
Outside, Dongyan was waiting for him, and Bao'er stood beside him — her cheeks still faintly red, whether from Bairan's earlier teasing or for some other reason, it was hard to tell.
Bairan nodded slightly to Dongyan and said warmly, "Tell your master I'll come to thank him myself."
Not far away, at the corner of the courtyard wall, someone had been watching her—it was none other than Young Master Lu.
A servant accompanied him, and when his eyes caught Dongyan's figure leaving, his expression darkened instantly. His fingers clenched tightly.
The servant noticed the change in his master's face and said cautiously, "Young Master, that seems to be one of Master Pei's servants..."
Lu Yichen's eyes grew colder. He cut him off; "I can see that."
He thought to himself, He's not blind—these nobles from the capital think they can snatch someone else's fiancé with their money and power.
He turned slightly toward his servant. In a low, harsh tone, he said, "Did you bring what I told you?"
The servant lowered his head quickly. "Yes, Second Young Master, I did."
Yichen gritted his teeth. He said icily, "Good. Give it to Miss Ruoyu. Tell her to use it tonight, the way I told her before."
The servant bowed and left quietly.
Yichen stood there a moment longer, his gaze fixed coldly on Bairan, who had returned to her room, before finally turning away.
"Let's see," he muttered to himself, "if your reputation gets stained—did they even look at you, let alone send you gifts to please you?"
Bairan had both breakfast and dinner with the Lin family. During the meals, Master Lin seemed absent-minded — Madam Luo had to repeat her words twice before he responded.
Ruomei was in a foul mood, rolling her eyes at Bairan from time to time. Now and then, she would glance at Bairan's clothes, carefully examining the style and how she matched her earrings. Each time, her expression twisted slightly, as if the sight displeased her.
Young Master Lu was present as well; he had barely touched his food. His face remained calm, yet his hand on the chopsticks would occasionally tighten, then relax a moment later. His eyes occasionally lifted toward Bairan, but every time she met his gaze, she only smiled faintly and turned away.
After the meal, Bairan turned to Master Lin and said with a gentle smile,
"Father, could you please have the servants prepare the best tea leaves? I wish to visit Master Pei personally and thank him for sending me those herbs."
When Master Lin heard Master Pei's name, a hint of nervousness went through his eyes, but his daughter's words seemed to relieve some of his worries.
Master Lin nodded approvingly. "That's good," then turned to the steward. "Prepare some other gifts as well. Send them with her."
He turned toward Bairan and said, "It's proper to show gratitude in person. Please apologize for me because of my business; I can't visit them myself."
Bairan smiled and bowed slightly. "Yes, Father, don't worry. I will make sure they see our gratitude."
Master Lin nodded warmly; "Good child."
With this small affection between the father and his elder daughter.
Yet it made Ruomei's face stiffen, and Madam Luo lowered her gaze, sighing quietly.
Bairan simply smiled, but her eyes were as the eyes of a hunter setting for many prey at the same time.