"Shall we go have a look together?"

Qi Jingyu spoke casually, but inside he was a bundle of nerves, his heart pounding like it was about to leap out.

Would she agree? Would she, or wouldn’t she?

The surroundings fell into silence again.

She tipped her head up just a little and looked at him in surprise.

"You want to take me there?"

"Mm. If you’d like to, we can go and have a look!"

His voice was rich and magnetic, very pleasant to the ear, and Gao Mingyue’s little heart also started beating a bit faster.

People say affection between men and women is only human nature, but he’d already said he was engaged. If she still had dealings with him, wasn’t that inappropriate?

She felt a bit flustered and ill at ease. On the one hand she wanted to be close to him, to go to Ling’an City with him, but on the other, a voice in her subconscious told her this wasn’t right!

Unless... unless she got her parents’ approval!

Qi Jingyu saw how hesitant she was and felt a little disappointed. He knew she had many concerns. "You..."

"I... could I go and ask my parents?"

She spoke cautiously. Qi Jingyu froze for a moment, then nodded. "All right!"

Just as people say, only feelings that are blessed by others can last long. He didn’t want to make Gao Mingyue feel torn. After all, when you truly love someone, it’s not about possessing them, but about making them happy.

If loving her would only make her suffer, then it would be better not to love at all.

"Tomorrow at daybreak I’ll set off for Ling’an City. If your parents agree, come to the city gate. I’ll be waiting for you over there!"

Qi Jingyu said seriously.

"Mm."

Gao Mingyue answered softly. After parting ways with Qi Jingyu, she went home.

She told Old Master Gao and Mrs. Gao what had happened these past few days, then looked at them carefully.

"Father, Mother, he’s been really good to me. This time, thanks to him we managed to clear our name. Father, Mother... just think of it as me repaying his kindness for Sister, all right?"

Gao Mingyue came up with a very far-fetched excuse. She was sure her parents would never agree and might even scold her.

However, Mrs. Gao and Old Master Gao both fell silent.

They exchanged a look, feeling it was very strange. That young man actually had such abilities, able to calculate so many things?

"That young man... do you know what his name is?"

"He only said his surname was Qi. He didn’t say much else."

"Qi? Which Qi? Qi or Qi?"

Mrs. Gao’s eyes turned as she asked curiously.

Gao Mingyue was stunned for a moment, then finally understood that this pronunciation corresponded to several surnames. She thought for a bit, then said in shy annoyance, "Mother, what are you thinking? But from what he said, his family does seem to have some influence."

Mrs. Gao said, "Since he’s invited you to Ling’an City to have some fun, then go."

"Eh, Father, Mother, you agree?"

"What’s there to disagree with? Just as you said yourself, treat it as repaying a kindness. Go."

"All right, thank you, Father, thank you, Mother!"

Gao Mingyue was overjoyed and turned to her room to pack.

As soon as she left, Mrs. Gao looked at Old Master Gao. "Mr. Qi? Ling’an City again. I remember there are people from the Imperial Family in Ling’an City..."

"Enough. You women just love to let your imagination run wild. Those Imperial youngsters are all kept inside; how would they be let out casually? You’d better put your mind to the eldest girl’s marriage. We’re a merchant family; they’re an official’s family, so we’re already a head shorter. The dowry can’t fall short, or we’ll be laughed at, understand?"

"Aye, I know. You don’t need to tell me that."

Mrs. Gao snorted lightly and turned to busy herself.

At dawn the next day, Qi Jingyu slung a small bundle over his back and led a reddish-brown horse, waiting at the city gate of Jiangzhou City.

The sun had already risen, but it was still early. He didn’t know when she would come.

Even so, he would wait, all the way until dark!

He would give her a whole day!

"Candied hawthorn skewers! Sweet and tasty candied hawthorn!"

"Piping hot mutton buns, don’t miss it as you pass by!"

"..."

On both sides of the city gate, hawkers were already setting up their stalls and shouting. The common folk heading out of the city would buy some to eat on the road.

Qi Jingyu happened to be standing in front of a bun shop. Seeing the freshly steamed mutton buns, he thought for a moment, then went up and bought two.

He was a bit hungry. The mutton buns smelled very good, and when he gently broke one open and sniffed it carefully, there was hardly any gamey smell. Clearly the quality of the mutton was good.

Qi Jingyu quickly ate two mutton buns. He could still eat another, but he thought that if Gao Mingyue came later, they could eat together.

Better not to be too full; if he started burping, it would be embarrassing.

Time passed second by second. Qi Jingyu kept glancing toward the city gate, nervous and afraid, yet full of expectation.

"Ming Yue, don’t let me down..."

He chanted silently in his heart.

All of a sudden, a carriage appeared up ahead. It was simple and plain, with light pink curtains on the outside. The door curtain was made of gauze and silk, and when the wind blew, the fabric fluttered up, revealing a graceful figure inside.

When Qi Jingyu saw the person in the carriage, his heart started pounding wildly!

She... she’d come!

Qi Jingyu’s eyes lit up, and joy filled his heart. He’d thought she wouldn’t come so early, that he might have to wait until noon. Yet she’d come at daybreak?

Overjoyed, he hurried back to the mutton bun stall. "Five more buns!"

The stall owner froze, then beamed. "All right!"

Money was money once it was sold!

With five steaming hot mutton buns wrapped up, Qi Jingyu hurried over. "Miss Gao!"

"Whoa—"

The coachman called out softly, and the carriage gradually came to a stop. Gao Mingyue lifted the curtain, smiling sweetly. "Mr. Qi, my parents agreed!"

Her voice was laced with delight, like a lark chirping in joy.

"Good!"

Qi Jingyu was very happy, and deeply grateful to her parents as well.

Did this mean they’d tacitly approved of their seeing each other?

He’d thought most parents were as stubborn and unyielding as his own.

"Mm, do you like these mutton buns?"

Qi Jingyu handed the packet of buns to Gao Mingyue.

Gao Mingyue gently shook her head. "I don’t like mutton buns. They’re too gamey."

"These aren’t gamey." Qi Jingyu paused, then said, "Ah, if you don’t like them, don’t force yourself. You must be hungry, little brother. Have a few?"

The coachman said awkwardly, "Young Master, this humble one is under orders from the Master and Madam to drive the carriage for the young miss. To eat your buns like this doesn’t seem quite proper."

"What’s improper about it? I can’t finish them anyway. Can’t let them go to waste. Have two."

"Wang Er, just eat a few. You need a full stomach to have the strength to drive," Gao Mingyue said as well.

"Hehe, then I really must thank you, Young Master!"

The coachman was truly hungry. Seeing that the young miss nodded, it would be too pretentious not to eat.

Wang Er took a couple of bites, then exclaimed in surprise, "Oh! Miss, these mutton buns are really good, they’re not gamey at all!"

"Oh, really? Then... I’ll have one too?"

"Here!"

And so, the three of them—mistress and servants—happily ate mutton buns as they set out on the road.