There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 57 Brother Xiao is a Guest

Then Li Lingxiao knocked on the door and came in, saying, "Sister, the yard is so beautiful!"

Li Shuchen: "Yes, it's finished today. You can invite Brother Xiao over as a guest tomorrow."

Li Lingxiao was very happy and said, "Okay, thank you for your hard work, sister. I'll go make dinner."

Li Shuchen nodded: "Go."

After Li Lingxiao left, Li Shuchen continued practicing calligraphy.

"A pavilion stands by the bamboo grove; I walk alone, needing no one to accompany me."

She wants to be beautiful on her own.

After finishing his meal, Li Shuchen closed his eyes and went to sleep.

When I opened my eyes, it was already the fifth day of the sixth lunar month, the day Xiao'er was on her day off and invited Brother Xiao to come over as a guest.

Li Shuchen was drinking tea and waiting for someone inside the house. Instead of Xiao'er's brother, her Ziying arrived first.

Gu Ziying entered Li Shuchen's room without saying a word, first looking around the room.

Then he sat down next to Li Shuchen and asked with a smile, "When was the house renovated?"

Li Shuchen: "It was just completed yesterday."

Gu Ziying: "Truly elegant and childlike."

After saying that, he took out a beautiful invitation and handed it to Li Shuchen.

Li Shuchen asked, "What is this?"

This is the first time she has received this item; it's very beautiful.

Gu Ziying: "The invitation was handwritten by me."

Li Shuchen opened the page and read: "On the eighth day of the sixth lunar month, coinciding with Gu Ziying's birthday, I sincerely invite Li Shuchen to grace us with his presence. I will do my utmost to show you hospitality and look forward to our meeting."

After reading the message, Li Shuchen realized it was Ziying's birthday and said to Gu Ziying, "Don't worry, Ziying, I will definitely be there as scheduled."

Gu Ziying: "Okay"

Li Lingxiao knocked on the door and said, "Sister, may I come in?"

Li Shuchen: "Xiao'er, come in."

Li Lingxiao bowed to Gu Ziying as she entered, saying, "Hello, Sister Gu."

Li Lingxiao then said to Li Shuchen, "Sister, Brother Xiao has arrived. He's already waiting in the hall."

Li Shuchen nodded and smiled at Gu Ziying, saying, "Xiao'er is off today and said she's inviting a friend home for lunch. Perfect timing, why don't you join us for lunch?"

Gu Ziying readily agreed: "Okay."

Li Shuchen led Gu Ziying to the hall, where a man stood with his back to them, looking at the paintings on the wall.

"Brother Xiao," Li Lingxiao called him.

Xiao Xiuyuan turned around

What a handsome man! With sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a wheatish complexion, and an upright posture, he was unlike other scholars; he seemed quite robust and also possessed a deep and calculating air.

Li Lingxiao introduced them to Xiao Xiuyuan: "Brother Xiao, this is my elder sister, and that is Miss Gu."

Xiao Xiuyuan turned around and saw Gu Ziying, then froze, not hearing Li Lingxiao call him.

Li Lingxiao tugged at his sleeve: "Brother Xiao, Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Xiuyuan snapped out of his reverie and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Miss Li; greetings, Miss Gu."

Li Shuchen and Gu Ziying returned the greeting: "Greetings, Young Master Xiao."

Li Shuchen: "Serve tea to Young Master Xiao with grapes."

Grape: "Yes"

After a short while, Grape served tea to everyone.

Li Shuchen took a sip of tea and said to Xiao Xiuyuan, "I heard from Xiao'er that Young Master Xiao has taken good care of him at the academy. I, Li Shuchen, would like to express my gratitude to Young Master Xiao for his kindness to Xiao'er."

Xiao Xiuyuan: "Miss Li, you're too kind. We were just discussing things."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Li Shuchen stood up: "Excuse me, Young Master Xiao, I'll go to the kitchen to check on the food. Xiao'er, please keep Young Master Xiao company."

Li Lingxiao: "Don't worry, sister, I understand."

Li Shuchen nodded and left.

After Li Shuchen left, Gu Ziying chatted casually with Young Master Xiao on Li Shuchen's behalf.

The two had a very pleasant conversation.

The food was almost ready and had been simmering on the stove. Li Shuchen only needed to check if it was cooked properly.

After waiting a while, Li Shuchen saw that the food was ready and instructed Grape to serve it.

Cold beef salad, stir-fried chicken with chili peppers, sweet and sour pork ribs, stuffed green peppers, hot and sour shredded potatoes, stir-fried fresh bamboo shoots, stir-fried lettuce, and tomato beef brisket soup.

Rice, the main dish, a whole table full of food.

Everyone sat down

Li Shuchen: "Everyone, let's start eating!"

Gu Ziying smiled at Xiao Xiuyuan and said, "Young Master Xiao, please try it. Shu Chen's cooking is unforgettable once you've tasted it."

Xiao Xiuyuan: "In that case, I'll have to try it."

Xiao Xiuyuan picked up a piece of beef, put it in his mouth, and chewed it a few times.

He began by saying, "The beef is firm yet tender, with a refreshing and delicious flavor—it's excellent."

Li Shuchen: "Young Master Xiao, you flatter me."

Gu Ziying: "Young Master Xiao, please try this chicken and fresh bamboo shoots; they're both very good."

Xiao Xiuyuan: "Okay"

Li Lingxiao watched Xiao Xiuyuan pick up some chicken with his chopsticks and wondered to herself, "Brother Xiao usually doesn't listen to anyone's opinions, why is he so compliant today?"

Xiao Xiuyuan tasted a piece of both the chicken and the bamboo shoots, offering his comments: "The chicken is fresh, spicy, and tender; the bamboo shoots are crisp and bouncy—exquisite!"

Upon hearing this, Li Lingxiao thought that Brother Xiao must have made a fortune today, otherwise why would he be so patient in his comments, without the slightest impatience?

Normally, when classmates ask Brother Xiao a question, he gets incredibly annoyed and makes me explain it to them. But this time, he's showing remarkable patience.

The whole process was basically just Gu Ziying and Xiao Xiuyuan talking.

Li Shuchen and Li Lingxiao focused on eating.

After the meal, the three escorted Xiao Xiuyuan to the gate of the Li residence. After bidding farewell, Li Lingxiao saw Xiao Xiuyuan off out of Ankang Lane.

Gu Ziying asked Li Shuchen at the door, "What do you think of Young Master Xiao?"

Li Shuchen thought for a moment and replied, "He is good, courteous, cultured, and generous with his knowledge."

But Li Shuchen's answer didn't seem to resonate with Gu Ziying, so she asked again, "How does she look?"

Although Li Shuchen found it strange that Ziying would ask such a question, he still answered her, "Handsome and talented."

Gu Ziying blushed slightly and nodded, saying, "May I ask how old Young Master Xiao is?"

Hmm? Li Shuchen looked at Gu Ziying's slightly flushed cheeks. Could it be that she'd taken a liking to him? No wonder she'd sensed something was off about Ziying at the dinner table.

Li Shuchen replied, "I'll ask Xiao'er for you later."

Gu Ziying: "Mmm"

After seeing his brother Xiao off, Li Lingxiao headed home. Seeing him return, Li Shuchen asked, "Young Master Xiao's insights are so unique, you must be quite old."

After Li Shuchen finished asking his question, Gu Ziying listened attentively.

Li Lingxiao: "Brother Xiao is only six years older than me, just turned twenty."

Li Shuchen nodded: "Oh."

Then he glanced at Gu Ziying, who lowered her head and smiled, covering her lips, seemingly lost in thought.

Two breaths (4-5 seconds) later, Gu Ziying said, "Shu Chen, I'm going back too."

Li Shuchen: "Okay, be careful on the road."

After watching Gu Ziying leave, Li Shuchen and Li Lingxiao walked into the courtyard. Li Lingxiao muttered to himself as they walked.

Brother Xiao is acting very strangely today; he's not usually like this. If he's really made a fortune, he can't forget his brother!

Li Shuchen overheard everything. "Silly brother," he thought, "that's not about getting rich, it's about meeting the one you love. Of course, you treat your sweetheart differently than you treat anyone else."

But Li Shuchen didn't explain it to him. It was normal for Xiao'er to be young and not understand; he could figure it out himself.

It's likely that Young Master Xiao also has feelings for Ziying; if things go well, being together isn't out of the question.

However, Li Shuchen still needed to assess this Young Master Xiao; he absolutely couldn't let Ziying jump into a fire pit.