Chapter 13 – Xie Nanxi Comes Online

In the afternoon class, all the students of Lexin Hall were present. As promised, the young master Su also followed the rules of the school, and the entire class went smoothly.

As a heavy bell rang, her first class ended, and the school began to buzz with activity. The male students packed up their book boxes and chatted happily with each other, occasionally laughing out loud.

“Zhen Keke, shall we go to Jixian Street later? A new jewelry shop has recently opened there!” a male student carrying a book box walked over.

After packing his book box, Zhen Keke glanced at the lectern and said, “Wait a moment, let me ask An Caihe if he wants to go.”

Lu Yuner felt that the day had gone well, and the teacher-student atmosphere was very harmonious, especially the young master Su, whose attitude had changed for the better. He listened to her lecture very earnestly, without even blinking his eyes, which showed that her teaching was effective.

She was about to leave with the textbook in hand.

“Dr. Lu, wait!”

“Dr. Lu, wait!”

Suddenly, two voices with the same words but obviously different tones spoke.

Upon hearing this, An Caihe and Su Qingwan looked at each other in surprise, each with a hint of complexity flashing in their eyes.

Lu Yuner turned around and saw that it was Su Qingwan and An Caihe. A brief hint of surprise flashed in her eyes before she asked gently, “What is it, students?”

An Caihe politely said, “Young Master Su, please go first.”

Su Qingwan courteously replied, “Director An, please go first.”

Seeing the two of them yielding to each other, Lu Yuner smiled and interrupted, “Director An, you speak first.”

As she spoke, Su Qingwan’s dark eyes suddenly became gloomy.

At the same time, the corners of An Caihe’s mouth visibly curled up as he responded, “Dr. Lu, the student would like to ask if you are currently living in the mansion?”

He explained, “In case the school… or the students need to find Dr. Lu in the future, besides the Doctor’s Hall, where else should we look for you?”

“Well,” Lu Yuner thought for a moment and continued, “I am temporarily staying in the mansion for now, but in a few days, I will move into the East Court of the Imperial College.”

Upon hearing this, Su Qingwan’s originally quiet and thick lashes trembled imperceptibly.

An Caihe nodded thoughtfully and said, “The student understands.” Then he quietly left.

Lu Yuner turned her gaze to the other person. It was rare for this young master Su to be so attentive in class, and she couldn’t discourage his enthusiasm for learning.

With a smile on her lips, she said, “What about you? What does Young Master Su need?”

“I had something earlier, but now it’s nothing,” Su Qingwan said innocently.

Lu Yuner’s eyes flashed with confusion. This young boy’s thoughts were really strange, but she still said dutifully, “Alright, but if you do encounter any difficulties, you must tell me in time.”

After leaving the school, Lu Yuner returned to the Doctor’s Hall. Just as she came out of the Doctor’s Hall, she ran into the student she had saved in the dining hall. They chatted briefly, mostly words of gratitude.

Outside the Jixian Gate, she saw Qiu Yi standing by the carriage. Lu Yuner walked over.

“My lady, this is an invitation sent by Mr. Xie from the Quyue Mansion just now,” Qiu Yi handed over the plain-colored invitation, and a faint, pleasant scent of cosmetics wafted from the tip of her nose.

This Mr. Xie, also known as Xie Nanxi, was the top male courtesan of the Quyue Mansion. Originally, the Quyue Mansion was a place for pleasure-seeking, but it was later taken over by Major General Liu and somehow became an elegant place for listening to music and watching dances, without selling bodies.

When my lady had time, she would come to the Quyue Mansion to listen to music and watch dances.

However, since the Quyue Mansion was originally a place for seeking pleasure, once it was changed to a plain and simple place, business at the Quyue Mansion became very dull.

Although Major General Liu was not short of money, my lady still came up with an idea. She composed a lingering and affectionate song called “Long Lovesickness.” It was played and sung by Xie Nanxi, who was unknown at the time, at the lantern festival during the Mid-Autumn Festival that year. As a result, it was a great success, and Xie Nanxi became famous because of it. Since then, the Quyue Mansion had been bustling with guests.

Xie Nanxi and my lady also had a delightful conversation and could be considered my lady’s bosom friend!

Lu Yuner took it with one hand, opened it, read the contents of the invitation, and said with a smile, “So today is his birthday. Let’s go to the market and choose a gift for him first.”

In the distance, under a tree, a carriage was parked for a long time.

Xiao Yuan watched the carriage gradually driving away, lowered the curtain, and said, “Young Master, I have seen the person who came to deliver the invitation just now. Judging from his attire, he is a servant specially serving the Quyue Mansion.”

Su Qingwan now knew everything about Lu Yuner, knowing that she was not married. In the past, apart from going to court, she would only return to the mansion, but the only place she frequently visited was this Quyue Mansion.

Su Qingwan frowned and asked, “What is the Quyue Mansion?”

The young master was inexperienced and certainly did not know what the Quyue Mansion was for. Xiao Yuan explained, “The Quyue Mansion was originally a place where those women sought pleasure, but later it changed its rules to only sell art, not bodies. It is said that the top courtesan of the Quyue Mansion is beautiful and alluring, and can sing and dance well. Many women have spent a fortune on him just to win a smile from the beauty.”

“But…” Xiao Yuan hesitated, not knowing whether he should continue.

Su Qingwan lowered his eyes, in a bad mood, and said in a depressed tone, “But what?”

Xiao Yuan had no choice but to continue, “Since the Quyue Mansion personally sent someone to deliver an invitation to Dr. Lu, and judging from Dr. Lu’s expression just now, I’m afraid…”

He looked at the silent young master and gradually hid the rest of his words.

Lu Yuner knew that Xie Nanxi had always loved beauty, so she chose the latest and best rouge from the rouge shop for him. After selecting the gift, considering that she was still wearing the robe of the Imperial College, she went to a nearby clothing shop and bought a new white shirt to change into.

Once again riding in the carriage, she arrived at the back courtyard of the Quyue Mansion. Lu Yuner carried the gift and instructed Qiu Yi to pick her up later.

She had just knocked on the door when she was abruptly interrupted by a voice behind her.

“Dr. Lu, why are you here?”

Lu Yuner turned around and saw who had come. Her whole body stiffened, and her eyes were filled with disbelief. “Young Master Su, why are you here?”

“Why are you here?” Su Qingwan looked at her with moist eyes, asking in a very serious tone.

Along the way, he had been silently following her. She had carefully selected a gift for that man and even specially changed into a new dress. Paying so much attention to another person made his heart feel particularly upset and stuffy.

Lu Yuner thought carefully and found that something was wrong. Young Master Su had been raised in a wealthy family since childhood and certainly did not know what the Quyue Mansion was for. Moreover, the Quyue Mansion’s outer railings were tied with various bright-colored decorations, so he must have misunderstood something.

She sighed and said calmly, “Young Master Su, you misunderstood. This is not a brothel, this…”

Suddenly, the back door opened, and a seductive and sexy male voice came through.

“Oh! Sister Yuner, why are you so late? You kept me waiting…” Xie Nanxi’s words suddenly stopped after he fully pushed open the back door. He noticed a bright-eyed, fair-toothed, and strikingly beautiful young gentleman following behind Lu Yuner. He glanced at Lu Yuner thoughtfully and deliberately teased, “I didn’t expect Sister Yuner to bring a young husband this time!” He intentionally emphasized the words “young husband.”

He also let his gaze fall on Su Qingwan, seeing his shy, blushing, and coy appearance, clearly a young boy who had just started to experience love.

Xie Nanxi naturally knew that Sister Yuner was not married and was only deliberately testing her. However, the result was evident!

Lu Yuner helplessly explained, “Nanxi, you misunderstood. He is…”

She had just started to explain when she was interrupted by another voice.

“Young Master Su, why are you here?” Liu Lan followed and came out. Upon hearing this, Xie Nanxi instantly looked back and forth between the two of them again.

Liu Lan withdrew her gaze and raised her eyebrows slightly, asking Lu Yuner, “Sister Yuner, did you bring him?”

Lu Yuner suddenly found it a little troublesome to explain, “I didn’t bring him. I just ran into him here.”

“Ran into him here?” Liu Lan’s tone was filled with disbelief. Then, the corner of her mouth curled up, and a hint of a scheme flashed in her eyes. She laughed, “Since Young Master Su has come, would you like to come in for a drink?”

Lu Yuner knew about their alcohol and immediately interrupted, “No! He is still a student. How can he…”

“I can,” Su Qingwan suddenly spoke up and glanced at Lu Yuner.

Lu Yuner looked at him in confusion. This little fellow, she had gone to great lengths to stop him, but he settled it with one sentence. He indeed had not experienced the hardships of society and did not know the fearsome consequences.

“Since he agreed himself, why should Sister Yuner stop him? Besides, today is my birthday, and everyone has to listen to me.” Xie Nanxi enthusiastically pulled Su Qingwan inside.

Liu Lan smiled and reassured, “Don’t worry, nothing will happen to your student. Moreover, he is Young Master Su, so there won’t be any trouble.”

Based on previous experience, how could Lu Yuner believe her?