Chapter 31：Like a Criminal

Zhao Yan smiled faintly and replied back in greeting, "Yes, it has been a while, young master Luo."

Luo Qi frowned. His handsome features did not diminish despite this but he looked more like a refined scholar with an aloof temperament.

"That is too formal. I remember telling Miss Lin to call me by name. I don't want to sound distant with my savior because of too much formalities."

Zhao Yan felt uneasy at his request but she ended up agreeing to appease him.

"Yes... Luo Qi." The name sounded foreign from her mouth which increased her discomfort. Maybe because she rarely interacted with men that she was feeling this nervous?

Of course, Fu Yanqing was an exemption because his face was thick-skinned.

Luo Qi's lips curved into a smile and his eyes brightened. Though he was feeling very happy inside, he did not flaunt his feelings.

"Then can I call Miss Lin by her name?" He requested.

"My lady! This young master is stepping out of a line!" Jae Ha whispered to Zhao Yan, not liking how overly friendly the man was.

Jae Ha was not stupid. She could see the infatuated eyes of this young master while looking at her lady. How could she allow this gigolo to have his way when it was obvious that the lady was already pregnant! The lady is someone their Highness likes. It was Jae Ha's duty as a subordinate to prevent cheap people like this Luo Qi from snatching His Highness' woman away.

Luo Qi's eyes narrowed slightly while Luo Hanting wanted to tell his young master to get a grip of himself. How could he not have noticed it?

These past few weeks, the young master was always in a dazed and kept staying at the restaurant where he got poisoned after eating pufferfish soup. Luo Hanting could not understand his master's reason for buying the restaurant and for staying at the same place where he almost lost his life.

It was only now that he realized that his young master was lovestruck! For the first time in twenty years, this ice block of a scholar was interested in women. But, ah, how could the young master's tastes be so eccentric? This young lady was obviously pregnant which meant that she was married already and has a husband.

So why and what was the young master doing by coming here and bringing so many gifts? There were many bolts of silk and brocade in the chests. There were also a chest filled with accessories and jewelries worth more than five taels of silver each! The young master even brought some precious herbs over there.

This level of devotion and generosity was really remarkable but Luo Hanting could not help but be doubtful about his young master's plans. Was he really going to pursue this young lady when it was obvious that she was married?

Luo Hanting was prepared to haul his young master to a carriage and drive him back in the capital if this were to happen.

"I don't think there is any problem with that request so feel free to call me by my name." Zhao Yan did not plan on telling her real name. It wasn't like he knew who 'Li Zhao Yan' was since she never really saw Luo Qi before, not even a hair or a shadow.

She only knows so much about him and his family because of her grandfather, Li Hua. Other than that, she did not know him personally.

She relaxed after this.

"Then can I call you Yan'er?" Luo Qi asked in a hopeful tone.

.....

"Yan'er...?" Luo Hanting couldn't help but repeat after hearing this

Zhao Yan's eyes widened slightly but she quickly adjusted her expression to make it seem like she was not affected.

"I'm sorry but I think Qi-gege must've said my name wrong." She politely reminded that that was not her name but the man's dark eyes stared at her with intensity as if he wanted to say something further.

A flash of emotion glinted in his eyes but it quickly disappeared before Zhao Yan could tell what it was.

Luo Qi leaned on the chair in a comfortable manner. He did it in a way as if this was his abode and showed just how relaxed he was. "Qi-gege... sounds good," he said aloud. A tiny hint of a smile was on his face while looking at Zhao Yan.

That small smile instantly freshened the look on his face. He did not look as aloof or distant as he used to be after smiling like that, even though it was only a little.

"Young master." Luo Hanting felt like he should do something. He was starting to feel uncomfortable by how the young master was acting. This was not how someone of his status and station was supposed to act.

Being the only young master of the Grand Tutor's manor made him live a privileged and enviable life by many.

With so much expectations placed on his shoulders, Luo Qi was always pressured to act as someone befitting of his status.

And visiting a married woman who was pregnant, carrying gifts for said woman and asking that woman to be on a first name basis is not how a young master of the Grand Tutor's manor should act!

Luo Hanting felt inclined to send a letter to the Grand Tutor to report this matter but he also felt like it seemed hasty. He felt that he must observe and investigate further, whether the young master was really infatuated with his savior or was merely repaying his debt by showing up here.

Either way, Luo Hanting was concerned so his mind focused and his eyes watched all the people in the room like a hawk, especially his young master.

Jae Ha's eyes narrowed. Sensing her fellow maid's hostility, Chun Lan also felt like it was her duty to protect her lady's honor from being tarnished by unknown men. She looked at Luo Hanting with equal intensity, surprising the other party.

Luo Hanting thought, 'Why are these two maids looking at me like I am a criminal?'