Chapter 24: His Cousin

Chapter 24

Huo Qiyan was clearly unfamiliar with her, a nobody, but still put on an elegant smile and greeted politely, “So it’s Miss Gu, what an honor.”

The doubts in her heart grew deeper, mixed with some awkward guilt.

Gu Ying's fine brows furrowed. After all, she had accidentally "defiled" this woman's husband once.

She forced a smile, awkward but not impolite as she bowed to Huo Qiyan, “I’ve heard of Miss Huo's reputation for a while. Meeting you today, you truly live up to it."

Such flattery was no doubt tiresome to hear.

Huo Qiyan gave a faint smile, quickly shifting her gaze away from Gu Ying. She took dainty steps towards the man, smiling gently as she said, “Cousin, I’ve picked a good saddle. Would you take a look for Qiyan?”

Zhao Changdu murmured in agreement and let Huo Qiyan pull him over to see the gold saddle she had chosen.

The two young men and women, talented and beautiful, well-matched in status and family, were naturally more intimate than her, an outsider.

Gu Ying now felt the situation was extremely awkward.

Her maid Bai Zhi also came over, tugging at her young mistress’ sleeve unhappily, pouting her lips, “Miss, we shouldn't have come. Don't you feel Miss Huo looks at us with some hostility?"

Gu Ying, now wiser, said lightly, “Hostility is normal.”

Bai Zhi mused, “It must be because Young Master is so handsome, Miss Huo probably likes him too?”

Gu Ying curled her fingers, feeling a sudden weightlessness in her heart. She paused, then laughed, “That’s probably it.”

She was no longer an innocent girl ignorant of the world.

A woman's liking for a man could not be hidden. The gaze Huo Qiyan had towards the Young Master was full of admiration.

As for the Young Master, his brows were long and eyes deep like an ancient well, making his emotions hard to discern.

But his lifelong devotion in his past life to a vicious woman like Gu Jia showed he must be a cultivated, graceful gentleman.

Since he was willing to accompany Huo Qiyan to buy a saddle even in the dead of winter, he was clearly no ordinary man.

Having been married, she knew what a couple without love looked like.

However, Huo Qiyan beside him was displeased.

It wasn't just because this unfamiliar Gu girl was even prettier than her.

More because her taciturn and aloof cousin who rarely spoke had avoided her all morning despite agreeing to accompany her out today. As soon as they entered the shop he said he was stepping out for some air, clearly wanting nothing to do with her.

Yet not only did he personally select a saddle for Gu Ying, he even spoke those many words to her, leaving Huo Qiyan very unhappy.

The usually obedient girl suddenly threw caution to the wind. Laughing brightly, she declared, "Cousin, I suddenly want this saddle too."

Gu Ying had just hugged the saddle, about to go pay, when she heard the crisp voice.

She stopped, somewhat awkward, "But...Miss Huo, this is...the one I picked."

Huo Qiyan laughed harmlessly and generously. "I can offer double, even buy out every saddle here except this one. Any other you want, just say it Miss Gu, and will you let me have this saddle instead?"

Well, the rich really were different.

Gu Ying tightened her hold on the saddle, hesitating slightly. "Thank you kindly for the offer, Miss Huo, but I can afford to buy it myself."

Seeing Gu Ying hesitate, Huo Qiyan was even more convinced of her petty bourgeois mentality.

Though unfamiliar with Gu Ying, she knew the Earl of Dongping's estate held little sway in Bianjing, much less his daughters who certainly had no standing.

That Gu Jia or Elder Miss Gu didn't even dare speak in her presence, let alone some unknown daughter of the Gu family.

Today, the saddle her cousin picked, she was determined to obtain. "But there's only one in the shop. Cousin—"

Huo Qiyan bit her lip, plucking up her courage to demand, "Won't you put in a good word and ask Miss Gu to give it to me?"

Gu Ying's brows furrowed.

Zhao Changdu was even more impatient, knitting his sword-like brows. He cast a cold glance over Huo Qiyan's girlish face, the charm on his handsome features freezing over. "Huo Qiyan, don't go too far."

"I—" Huo Qiyan hadn't expected her cousin to snap at her for a stranger. Her eyes instantly reddened with grievance as she complained, "Uncle said today cousin was to accompany me out to clear my head. Is cousin being so harsh to upset me?"

She was the honorable first daughter of the Huo family, undeserving of this saddle?