C47 Wasn't He Just a Man?

Before going to sleep, Shen Geyao made up her mind to only rest for a short while. She had to make sure Chenyu returned to his room before dawn. Otherwise, if anyone saw them together in the morning, their relationship would become impossible to explain. It would upset the matriarch, involve Xiaoping, and even affect the kids at the orphanage. Really, just a little nap would do.

But she didn't expect to sleep right through to mid-morning! It was almost nine when Shen Geyao woke up from her dream.

"Ninth Master, hurry up and go!" In her dream, she was holding Chenyu's hand, urging him forward. The pursuers were all from the Liang family, waiting to catch them in the act, to find them together. So they ran and ran, as if reaching Chenyu's room and safely tucking him back in would free her.

Upon waking, Shen Geyao realized she was alone in bed. Chenyu was gone, and even the shirt and pants he had tossed on the floor last night were missing. That devil had finally decided to leave. She wondered if anyone saw him leaving her room. The room still carried the faint scent of alcohol and his presence, suggesting he hadn't been gone long.

The air was filled with his scent, a strong, intoxicating aroma that momentarily left Shen Geyao in a daze. Even when the devil himself wasn’t present, his lingering essence could still captivate.

Quickly regaining her composure, she hurried to the floor-to-ceiling windows and flung them open. A gentle breeze swept in, finally dispersing the alcohol and his lingering scent. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, there was a knock at the door.

After confirming that Liang Chenyu wasn’t in the room or the bathroom, Shen Geyao went to open the door.

“Young Master Hao, up so early?” she greeted Liang Xinghao, feeling a bit guilty. It wasn’t because she felt she had betrayed him; after all, their relationship wasn’t real. But they did have an agreement, and during this period, she wasn’t supposed to get involved with other men. Was she breaking the agreement now? If Liang Xinghao found out, the consequences could be dire.

His gaze fell on her neckline, and his eyes darkened. Shen Geyao didn’t know what he was looking at and instinctively glanced down—only to almost scream the next second. In a panic, she slammed the door shut!

Oh my gosh, when did her collar get unbuttoned? It had to be that devil, Chenyu! Who else would be such a jerk?

She grabbed her clothes and rushed into the bathroom, locking the door tightly behind her. Although Xinghao didn't see everything, a large part of her neckline was exposed, along with a hint of cleavage.

Outside the door, Xinghao rubbed his nose, which had almost been hit by the door. It felt itchy and a bit warm. What had he just seen? Not much, really—just a flash of pale skin. His nose felt even itchier.

He raised his hand to rub it, and when he lowered his hand, he noticed a smear of red on the back of it. Damn! A nosebleed! The esteemed Young Master Hao, getting a nosebleed just from seeing a woman's open collar! If word got out, how embarrassing would that be?

When Geyao came out again, Xinghao was no longer outside the door. She tidied herself up and hurried downstairs. She had gotten up a bit late today; the old man and lady had already had breakfast and were strolling in the backyard.

Meanwhile, the front yard was bustling with girls eager to join the family’s young masters and mistresses on a boat trip. However, there was a hint of disappointment on everyone's faces because there was news that the Ninth Master might not be attending.

Shen Geyao had a quick breakfast and, as she headed out, she could hear the girls surrounding the Liang family's granddaughters, pleading persistently.

"Yueyin, you're the best! Could you please talk to your uncle and get him to join us?"

"Yeah, Yueyin, your uncle seems to adore you the most!"

"Exactly! Last night, when Ninth Master was choosing people to dance, he picked someone from your side."

"Right, Yueyin, whatever you want, I'll have it sent to you right away. Just please ask Ninth Master for us."

Meanwhile, Liang Yuqi and Liang Yulu's friends weren't backing down either.

"Yulu, are you really going to let yourself be outshined by Liang Yueyin?"

"Seriously, last night was just a fluke. Everyone thinking Ninth Master prefers hanging out with Liang Yueyin's friends is ridiculous!"

"Exactly, Yulu, you're the niece Ninth Master dotes on the most. Could you please ask him?"

Shen Geyao could only describe her feelings about the girls' behavior with one word: speechless.

It's just a guy, after all. Is it necessary to go this crazy?

Sure, that jerk is really handsome, but they haven't seen his wicked side. They're all fooled by his charming facade!

He's just a beast!

"Isn't that the girl who got hit in the face with a napkin by Ninth Master?" someone with sharp eyes noticed Shen Geyao.

Geyao turned to leave. Xinghao had asked her to wait in the yard, but where was he? The other girls weren't about to miss the chance to mock Shen Geyao.

"It's the first time I've seen someone get hit with a napkin by the Ninth Master. What do you think, Yueyin?"

"Yeah, Yuqi, has your uncle ever treated a girl like that before?"

"No way. My uncle's always been so refined. That lowly girl must have done something to upset him."

Yuqi never had a kind word for Shen Geyao. The last time they clashed, Yuqi got hurt, and the wound still ached. She couldn't even swim when they went out to sea later. Just thinking about it made Yuqi want to tear Geyao apart. A few sarcastic remarks seemed mild in comparison, but Geyao was genuinely worried about what this spoiled, entitled girl might do next.

One of Yuqi's friends couldn't help but be curious, though mostly she just wanted to join in on the teasing.

"Yuqi, isn't she Young Master Hao's girlfriend? Why do you call her lowly?"

Such questions were rude and inappropriate, but now they were just fodder for the rich girls' amusement.

Politeness should be reserved for those who deserve it, like the wealthy and the elders. Why be polite to people who don't matter?

Yuqi scoffed, glaring disdainfully at Geyao's retreating figure. "I heard her mom used to be a lady of the night. You know what that means, right? The kind any man could have, ha!"