Chapter 65

65 If you wanted to say harsh words, at least took off the mask! Part I

“Mister...would you like an eyeliner?”

“Ai-Lai-Ne?” A slight frown appeared on the oval face for a brief moment before it was quickly smoothed out. He lifted his chin as he took an arrogant stance toward her. He slowly waved his feather fan. “What is it?”

“It is something that will make your eyes rounder.”

“Can...can it really do that?” His monolid eyes widened.

“It can make your eyes look sharper as well if you want to.”

“Wonderful!” His light grey eyes looked at her with excitement. Arrogance dissipated from the beautiful face at the mention of an eyeliner. Bai Yu laughed.

“Tell me, where can I find that ailaine?”

“I know the place.”

“And where is it?”

.....

“I’ll tell you when you tell me how to sew your exquisite dresses.”

“I’m not sure I follow.” The dandy man acted innocent.

Bai Yu smiled. “I mean the techniques you used on these clothes that we’re both wearing.”

“You...”

“Would you like to also make another deal with me...anonymous master?”

Enthusiasm disappeared from the man called anonymous master. He assumed his haughtiness once again. His left hand was held behind his back, his right slowly waved his fan at chest level. He raised his chin and regarded her with a downward glance.

“Recognizing my identity on the first meeting...I really can’t underestimate Miss Bai.”

So this man was the anonymous master, just as she had predicted!

“Master, you are praising me too much.” Bai Yu humbled herself first. “It’s your attire that clued me in. Men normally do not wear clothes of mixed colors, yet you are confident enough to wear a black robe with bright yellow embroidery. On top of that, the strange design of your coat, the overall design, the needlework...these made me certain that it was you.”

At first, Bai Yu was not sure if he was the anonymous master or not. But after considering that his clothes were similar to the ones she had designed and given only to him, her presumption was essentially confirmed. This man could only be the anonymous master.

The monolid eyes studied Bai Yu for a small while. ‘Xu Luanle’ abruptly folded his fan and changed his pose to crossing his arms. The fan’s soft feathers caressed along his jawline. He slightly shuffled in his place as his beautifully painted face showed a difficult expression.

Bai Yu burst out laughing for the second time. And the man promptly glared at her.

“What are you laughing at?”

Originally, she intentionally mentioned eyeliner to verify her own guess of the anonymous master’s character. Unexpectedly, he was openly conscious of his appearance. Bai Yu had never thought she would cross over to this life and meet a friend like this!

“You are an interesting person.”

“How?” Xu Luanle straightened his back as he stifled a smile in an attempt to hide his satisfaction at Bai Yu’s words.

“You are more beautiful than any man I’ve met.” Though still lost to Ouyang Feilong for quite a bit.

“And you’re an agreeable woman.” The fan was unfolded again to cover his ruddy lips that could not hold back a smile anymore. Not after he was given a direct compliment like this. “You seem smart. More affable than what Pei-er has described.”

“She talked to you about me?” This man and Xu Peipei must be quite close.

“Um...” He turned up his chin for another time. This time, he allowed his smile to show, inclining his head slightly. “My name is Xu Luanle. Your dear friend Pei-er’s big brother.”

Bai Yu wanted to just ask him squarely ‘Where did you learn how to act like that?’, but in the end, she could only return him with a smile as she curtsied. “Greetings from Bai Yu to Master Xu.”

“What greetings? Nonsense.” The first master of the Xu family waved his fan flippantly. “Come here. I want to talk to you more about that ailaine.” He looped his arm around hers and took her toward the way that he had said was the wrong way.

Bai Yu tried to maintain her composure. Is it this easy?

“Master...”

“You’re too formal. I don’t mind that you’re younger since we’re now business partners. Talk normally when you’re with me.” Though he was a son of a major family with a rank no lower than her or Bai He, he was not at all snobbish.

“Very few people understand my beauty. I feel like we can be fast friends!” Now that she thought about it again, it seemed like he was vain more than anything else...

“So you’ve accepted that you’re the anonymous master?” Bai Yu already gave up on being respectful with him after he considered her a friend.

“I don’t hide it anyway. I just never tell others about it.” Xu Luanle shrugged. “How’s that? I’m a mysterious enigma, right? Hah.” He turned his face up and laughed with his feather fan over his mouth.

Bai Yu watched him as she sighed. She followed his tug until they reached his residence building. She knew that coming here would negatively affect her reputation, but this man seemed entirely unconcerned about it. He did not look like he was interested in women, even. Bai Yu was the number one beauty, yet the only thing he cared about was the eyeliner.

“Don’t you know? Men and women should not be together in private?”

Bai Yu spoke up as the man in front of her was gracefully brewing tea. Its fragrance spread over the parlor room. The servants were flabbergasted to see their master, a person who rarely met with women, invite Bai Yu in and converse with her in a friendly manner.

“Of course, I know.” He carefully put down the teacups. “...But I don’t consider you a woman.”

Bai Yu nodded, serious. “Me too. I also don’t consider you a man.”

The elaborate tea-brewing procedure was instantly interrupted as soon as Bai Yu said those words aloud.

The white, oval face lifted. Xu Luanle stared straight at the woman who he had just declared that he did not see her as a woman. His facial expression was so empty that Bai Yu felt her heart drop.

“I’m sor-”

“Thank you!”

Huh? Bai Yu could not even get her apology out. Though she had genuinely meant what she said, such a claim in an era like this would be inappropriate.

Bai Yu’s hands were held in Xu Luanle’s. The grey gaze reflected only gratitude. “Ever since I was born, everyone tells me I’m a man. They keep repeating it, over and over, like no one else had ever said it before!”

There was a hint of water in Xu Luanle’s eyes.

“Even dear Pei-er likes to take my cosmetics. She often comes in and says...” He forced his voice into a high-pitched tone. “...Brother is a man! Is there really a need for you to use cosmetics? Let me have this instead!”

Bai Yu nodded, agreeing with him. Because she, too, could not share her beauty with anyone else!

“I’m tired of the word ‘man’!”

“Aww, queeeen!” Bai Yu dragged out her words in a sympathizing tone. She nodded along with her new friend, returning to her old habit of being close to her co-workers who were also in the same predicament. She could not help herself not to give her pitiful new friend a comforting hug,

“What’s ‘queen’?” After they hugged. Bai Yu watched Xu Luanle use the corner of his sleeves to daintily wipe his tears before turning to ask her.

“It’s a secret name between you and me.”

“Great. Then I’ll call you queen!”

Bai Yu was momentarily stunned. “Please call me ‘sis’ instead.” This should be more appropriate for her.

“Alright! You always impress me with your unique ideas, sis!” Xu Luanle laughed with his mouth behind the feather fan. Servants who were sitting with their heads bowed low sneaked a surprise glance toward each other. Apart from when he was fooling the young miss Peipei, their first master was rarely this joyful.

“Is benwang interrupting someone’s conversation here?”