C19 The 19th Chapter

Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door.

Inside, a young woman sat at a desk, holding a book. She wore a green dress, her eyes bright and her smile radiant.

Yan Xiuchuan, with a hint of a smile, said, "Should I call you U Zixu or Su Luo?"

Su Luo looked up, tilting her head slightly, and chuckled, "U Zixu, a figment of imagination. I told you before, it's not my fault if you couldn't figure it out."

Yan Xiuchuan, born into privilege and accustomed to flattery, wasn't used to being tricked. Naturally, he felt a bit annoyed, but seeing Su Luo's cheerful smile, his irritation quickly vanished. "Whatever you say goes. I can never win an argument with you."

Su Luo cheerfully offered him a cup of tea. "It's a simple place, just a cup of plain tea. Please, enjoy."

Parched, Yan Xiuchuan accepted and drank it in one go.

Su Luo smirked.

Yan Xiuchuan asked, "What's so funny?" After a moment, he realized, "You're laughing at how I drink tea like a bull."

Su Luo bowed slightly. "Sanlang said that, not me. You asked for my help with something, and I've done it. Is there any cricket in the world more formidable than the snake cricket?"

Yan Xiuchuan nodded. "Indeed, it was the snake cricket. You're right, but I'm here today for another reason."

Su Luo noticed his calm demeanor, clearly confident and prepared. Growing more curious, she asked, "What is it?"

Yan Xiuchuan glanced around the room. "You live here? It's so simple, it doesn't suit someone like you."

Su Luo chuckled, "You're joking, Sanlang. I'm just a maid; this place is perfectly fitting for me. What status are you talking about?"

Yan Xiuchuan looked into her eyes. "I may not be the sharpest, but I know someone with your talents, looks, and courage couldn't possibly be an ordinary maid. You must have an important reason for staying here."

Su Luo touched her face, feeling nothing unusual, and thought to herself: Could this seemingly carefree Third Young Master Yan really see through my disguise?

Yan Xiuchuan smiled. "From the moment I stepped in and saw you, I knew you were hiding your true appearance. Eyes as captivating as yours couldn't belong to an ordinary face. That night, you covered your face with a scarf to conceal your real identity, didn't you?"

Hearing his certainty, Su Luo didn't deny it and admitted, "You're not as clueless as you seem."

Yan Xiuchuan continued, "Since you have to stay at the Yan Mansion, why not find a more comfortable place? How about becoming a top maid by my side? My Rain Listening Pavilion is quiet, with only a few servants around. While I don't have much influence in the mansion, I am still the Third Young Master. If you ask, I can help."

These words were heartfelt, showing genuine concern for her. Su Luo pondered for a moment and couldn't find anything wrong with them. She had already agreed in her heart but teased him, "I'm comfortable here. What's so great about your Rain Listening Pavilion? I refuse to go. What can you do about it?"

Yan Xiuchuan remained calm and unbothered, saying, "I'm the master, and you're the servant. What do you think I can do?"

Su Luo was used to having the upper hand and didn't expect him to talk back. Her temper flared, and she thought about using her agility to leave. But if she left now, who knows when she'd find the real culprit? She was momentarily stunned and couldn't think of a retort.

Seeing it was time to wrap things up, Yan Xiuchuan gracefully stood up. "I'll head back first. Tomorrow, someone will bring you to the Rain Listening Pavilion. It's a wonderful place, and you'll surely love it."

Yan Xiuchuan acted swiftly, charming Xue Junxuan with a bit of sweet talk, and everything was settled. When Feng Biyin finally freed herself from the Fourth Madam and returned to the room, she found it empty. She was worried sick, fearing something had happened to Su Luo. If not for someone nearby telling her that Su Luo had been taken to the Rain Listening Pavilion, she would have gone to confront Yan Xiuchuan immediately.

The Rain Listening Pavilion was a small, private courtyard located in the southeast corner of the Yan Mansion. Unlike other courtyards with only one entrance, this one had two. One gate opened to the street, and the other to the mansion. By keeping the mansion gate closed, it became its own secluded space, allowing for easy and independent access without having to pass through the main entrance, offering a great deal of freedom.

Some people had their reservations, but Xue Junxuan was deeply favored by the patriarch, and Yan Xiuchuan, though lacking ambition, was a well-mannered young man. Over time, others stopped commenting.

Yan Xiuchuan was particularly attentive to his little courtyard. He took an interest in every plant, every building, and even the placement of each stone in the pond. He enjoyed wearing luxurious robes, yet his courtyard was tastefully arranged. He collected river stones and interspersed them with slate to create winding paths. Bamboo shadows lined the paths, fresh and gentle in their greenery, rustling softly in the breeze, inviting one to linger.

Around a bend in the path stood three rooms, three stories deep, forming a harmonious whole when viewed from above. Unlike the expansive and airy spaces elsewhere in the mansion, these rooms were compact and exquisite, with intricate eaves and brackets. Nestled in the lush greenery, they appeared even more charming.

Behind the house, the path ended at a small gap in the rock, where a stream flowed, winding around the building, under the bamboo, and into a small pond below.

The pond and its surroundings were adorned with flowers that bloomed year-round, their fragrance ever-present, creating an eternal spring. When it rained, droplets danced on the pond's surface, forming clusters of delicate white blooms. Rain tapped on the bamboo leaves, echoing like a melody played on a lute. From the window, the scene appeared like a masterful ink painting, shrouded in mist.

Rain Listening Pavilion got its name from this very feature.