Chapter 791 - 15.10

"You shouldn't think much about it. If I have something to tell you, then I will tell you. Just focus on what you're doing right now and eat well," Bai Shijue said. 

Han Shun put the rice cakes on the tray. He looked at Bai Gege for a moment before walking to the customers for the rice cake. He felt useless when he saw Bai Gege looking troubled.

He wanted to do more for Bai Gege. He wanted to be useful. Since he knew there was no free lunch in this world, he had to be useful. That was why he worked everything in Bai Gege's residence and teahouse alone.

Still, even after working to the bone, he felt that his deed wasn't enough to repay Bai Gege.

But now, Bai Gege refused to tell him what was in his mind, and he couldn't force Bai Gege to say it. 

It made him feel pretty useless as well.

"Here is the rice cakes, wise gentlemen," Han Shun said as he bowed his head politely to excuse himself.

"Wait, kid," one old man called him, and he turned around, waiting for an order. The old man lowered his voice to talk with Han Shun, "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, Sir."

"About your boss, his name is Bai Shijue, right?" 

"Yes," Han Shun nodded. He still didn't know the direction of this conversation was. "Is there something I can help, Sir?"

"Hmm… can you tell me whether your boss has been married or is still single?" 

"Ah…" Han Shun didn't expect the question. He tried to remember whether Bai Gege ever had an affair with any man or woman before. Or whether he had shown any interest with anyone.

But for the past two months, Bai Gege never seemed to meet with anyone other than him. All Bai Gege did was reading many scrolls, sip tea, and play with his guqin in his free time. 

When he was working, all he did was brew tea for the small number of customers in the teahouse. Han Shun didn't even know how Bai Gege could get money.

Bai Gege showed no interest in anyone, so he assumed that Bai Gege had nobody in his heart right now.

Han Shun shook his head, "I never see anyone around him, Sir."

"Oh, that's great!" The old man was pleased. He took something from his sleeve and sneaked it to Han Shun's hand.

"This is a wooden tally of my house. I am Master Fu from Fu's house. We're a noble family in this region. I've seen your Master, Bai Shijue, and I find him objectively gorgeous. One of my granddaughters is at the age of marriage. Give the tally to him and tell him to show the tally in front of the guard in my house. That means he is ready to discuss marriage with my granddaughter."

"Ask him about his family background as well. It seems that he comes from a noble family of another region, or maybe a distinguished scholar," the old man said.

Han Shun was dazed when he got the wooden tally of Fu House. Of course, he knew about Fu House. They were one of the richest families in the city. Although he never saw the Fu Patriarch, Han Shun often saw the grandson and daughters buying stuff from the market. They always wore beautiful dresses that were probably worth more than his life.

Turned out the old man in front of him was the old patriarch of the Fu family. 

"I… I will give it to him, Sir. Please excuse me," Han Shun said as he bowed his head for the second time.

He returned to the kitchen, but he quickly hid the wooden tally inside his robe. He was still unsure whether he should give it to Bai Gege or not.

"What took you so long? Did they give you trouble?" Bai Shijue asked Han Shun. 

"No, Bai Gege," Han Shun shook his head. His hand instinctively grabbed the wooden tally inside his robe, but he had no intention of telling Bai Gege.

"Ah, I thought they were giving you trouble. The one talking to you is the old patriarch of the Fu Family. They are a very distinguished family. I don't want you to get bullied," Bai Shijue said.

"Mm…" Han Shun lowered his head for a moment. "I have to clean the cup, Gege…."

Han Shun quickly returned to the kitchen to hide the shame in his heart. He was ashamed that he kept something from Bai Gege.

**

Late at night, Han Shun was rolling around his bed, left and right, as he couldn't sleep at all no matter how many times he tried to close his eyes.

Han Shun took out the wooden tally inside his pocket. He should've given this to Bai Gege because it was his right to know about this.

But he was scared that Bai Gege would say yes to the old patriarch from Fu House. 

"If Bai Gege married someone, would that mean I will be thrown again on the street?" Han Shun pondered.

Bai Gege was fond of him, or at least, he always tolerated Han Shun's presence around him. For the past two months, Bai Gege never showed any displeasure, even when Han Shun accidentally did something wrong. 

But that didn't guarantee Bai Gege to act the same when he finally had a wife. Who knew, maybe the wife would be controlling, or all the affection Bai Gege had would be given to the wife, and he would kick Han Shun from his life because he was a nuisance. 

Han Shun knew that Bai Gege wasn't so cruel, but at the same time, the fear in his heart made him hesitate. 

"But Bai Gege trusts me. If I don't deliver this wooden tally to him, that means I am the one who doesn't know gratitude. He has helped me in any way, so I have to tell him about this wooden tally.

It took a while until Han Shun made up his mind. It was Bai Gege's right to know. So he got up from the bed and left his room. 

He walked to the other courtyard where Bai Gege stayed. The moment he entered the courtyard, he could hear the beautiful music of a guqin being played. 

He looked in the direction of the sound, and he saw Bai Gege plucking the guqin string. He played it in perfection while sitting under the plum blossom tree. 

Maybe it was his illusion, but he saw the plum blossom also danced through the song's rhythm played by Bai Gege. 

He shook his head and rubbed his eyes, and he saw the plum blossom tree return back normal. 

'So it's my illusion….' Han Shun thought.

Bai Shijue stopped playing the guqin and looked in Han Shun's direction. 

"Why are you still awake? This is in the middle of the night. It's not good for your health," Bai Shijue scolded lightly. 

Han Shun gulped and slowly walked towards Bai Gege's direction. He sat beside Bai Gege under the Plum blossom tree.

"Bai Gege, there is something I want to tell…."