Heart pounding and feeling stunned, Fan Zhu Xia's whole body froze as she listened to the masked man whisper lowly in her ear.
What under heaven's name did he mean by his words? What's the difference between knowing now or later?
He could just tell her that it was none of her business if he didn't want her to know!
What's with all his act of acting all ambigous and mysterious?!
Feeling flustered and somewhat aggrieved, Fan Zhu Xia couldn't decide what to do when thankfully the masked man retracted his arms from either side of her and took q step back as he straightened up while staring at her with an amused smirk on those enchanting lips of his.
"Go on now, hurry off. You wouldn't want to keep your lover waiting." the man drawled, his eyes flashing dangerously at the thought of the man who submitted the bid with her. Ho You, after all had already sent him a voice transmission just before he left earlier and what he told him incensed him to the bone.
How dare that man put his dirty paws around his little flower?!
Just who gave him the guts to do that?!
Unaware of his tumultous thoughts, to Fan Zhu Xia, only blatant confusion was showing on her face since even she missed the dangerous gleam reflecting on the man's eyes.
Since when did she have a lover?
"Uhhh... Lord Owner must be mistaken. This Young Miss has no ambigous relationship with anyone, let alone a lover!" Fan Zhu Xia hurriedly explained, wanting to clear up any misconceptions that this man in front of her had.
Hearing her words, the masked man felt an intense satisfaction fill him and this time, Fan Zhu Xia noticed since he didn't make any effort to hide it which made Fan Zhu Xia baffled as to why he would react that way just because of what she said.
Before she can say anything else, the man spoke in a deep voice, coupled with a small playful grin as he reached out to tilt her chin upwards until she had no choice but to meet his burning gaze.
"Well if you don't have one, then why not take this One as your lover instead?"
Dumbfounded, an expression of not knowing whether she should laugh or cry was written all over her face as she processed what he just said and just as soon as his meaning sank in, Fan Zhu Xia couldn't help but blush a deeper shade of red, that she even felt like her cheeks were heating up so much that steam must be coming out on top of her head.
The sight of her deeply flushed skin made her enticingly charming, as if just pinching her cheeks would squeeze out ruby-colored wine while her eyes glimmered like precious crystals. It truly tested a man's control even if the lower half of her face was covered by a thin silk veil.
Before he was able to do or say anything else, Fan Zhu Xia snapped back to her senses and despite her jumbled thoughts and blushing cheeks, she managed to react before him.
"Lord Owner must be joking! This Young Miss is not worthy. Now if you'll excuse me, I shall take my leave. Please feel free to send someone to inform me should you need me to fulfill my end of the bargain."
After talking, Fan Zhu Xia swiftly turned around and slid the door open and went out of the room, leaving no chance for the man to reply or say anything further.
Her rushing figure startled the two guards standing just outside the door and immediately drew the attention of Ho You, Min Sheng and Chun Hua who were casually conversing with each other as they waited.
Seeing her flushed and flustered, all of them couldn't help but feel startled especially Min Sheng and Chun Hua when Fan Zhu Xia didn't spare them any glances and just nodded to Ho You as she briskly made her way down the hall before she called out and said, "Min Sheng! Chun Hua! Come along, I wish to go and see father!"
"Right away Young Miss!"
"Yes Miss!"
Despite the surprise and curiosity in their hearts, the two immediately followed their young miss after they bade a quick goodbye to Ho You.
Meanwhile, inside the room, the masked man was sitting behind the desk in the hidden office with an amused yet satisfied look on his face. This was what Ho You saw when he came in and this cleared up some of his suspicions about Fan Zhu Xia's unusual behavior.
"My Lord, I take it that Miss Xia'er is the one that we've been looking for?"
"En. She is."
"Then that's great! Ho You must congratulate my lord for finally locating the young miss although I must ask, what did you do for her to rush out like her heels were on fire?"
Hearing Ho You's description and question, the man just laughed before gleefully replying with a grin on his face.
"Oh nothing, nothing. This One just asked her to be mine."
Nodding, Ho You bobbed his head approvingly before he froze as he realized what the man in front of him just said.
"What?! You did what?!"
Grinning, the man just waived off Ho You and said, "Old friend, calm down will you? This is nothing but a trivial matter."
Hearing his carefree response, Ho You felt a vein ticking dangerously, before taking several deep breaths to calm himself. It didn't help that the man in front of him was staring at him with pure amusement.
"Tell me what you said. Exact words!"
"You know Ho You, I really don't see what the big fuss is about."
"For heaven's sake Jun Qiao, just answer the damn question!" Ho You snapped as he stomped over and sat in one of the chairs.
Shaking his head, the masked young man who some people would actually recognize as the adopted son of Wu Zheng He; a respected general of Thunder Vale Country and also the older brother of the current empress; Wu Li Hua.
"You know, you're lucky you're my friend or you're head will already have flown off your shoulders."
"Please, spare me the details. Now tell me what you said to Miss Xia'er." Ho You sarcastically retorted while prompting the masked man named Jun Qiao to answer his question.
Sighing at Ho You's persistence, Wu Jun Qiao felt a bit helpless. It wasn't like he couldn't do anything to Ho You, but rather he didn't want to do anything! Ho You was after all, an old childhood friend of his that always remained loyal to him and worried about his welfare despite being separated for several years. This left him feeling resigned as he finally answered his question.
"I just told her what I've felt all those years ago."
"And that is?"
"I want to be hers and for her to be mine."
"Did you tell her who you are then?"
Looking sheepish all of a sudden, Wu Jun Qiao then said, "About that...
Realizing what he did, Ho You shot his friend an incredulous look as a thought emerged on his mind.
"You didn't!"
"I didn't." Wu Jun Qiao confirmed.
His answer made Ho You slump back on his chair and sigh out and exclaim, "Now what under heaven's name should we do now?!"
"Old friend, why are you so worried? There are still plenty of opportunities that I can introduce myself! Now just isn't the time yet. Meeting her today was just to confirm my suspicions about her."
"Then have you confirmed it?"
"I have."
"Then what do you plan on doing now?" Ho You queried.
Pausing for a moment, a devillish smile slowly etched itself in Wu Jun Qiao's lips as he said, "I'll be attending a banquet."