“Excuse me a moment everyone, I’m going to get some water and wash your feet. Please come in one by one.” Zhou Qianlin turned and motioned Lan Jue over. It was the first time she’d acknowledged him in the half hour they’d been there.
Lan Jue was still surprised with the scene, but managed to make his way towards her.
As he did, he felt all eyes on him.
“Ey, Linlin, is this your boyfriend hm?” Granny Meng’s eyes lit up mischievously with this new piece of potential gossip.
Zhou Qianlin’s face grew red, and she quickly shook her head. “Not at all, he’s a friend of mine.” She spoke then to Lan Jue. “Come and help me with the water.”
She gripped his sleeve and pulled him away through another door on the opposite side of the garden.
They found themselves in a long corridor beset on each side with scores of doors, a number above each one.
“What are you yanking me for,” Lan Jue inquired as he was pulled along.