Chapter 397: Surrounded by a Crowd

Qin Ying nodded to her maid, who handed an envelope to Gu Fei.

Gu Fei opened it in front of her and took a look, confirming it was the acceptance letter. "Miss Qin, you truly are a woman of your word. Thank you."

Gu Fei turned to leave, but Qin Ying suddenly spoke up. "Miss Gu, you really hide your talents well. You’re just full of surprises. I’m truly curious, how did you become so exceptional?"

’It’s the nine-year compulsory education that made me so exceptional.’

Gu Fei only answered in her head. She smiled at Qin Ying, then turned to find Sister Dan. "I’m done with my painting, so I’m going to head back first. You should stay and enjoy yourself a while longer."

Sister Dan’s eyes were darting all over the place. As soon as she’d arrived, Gu Fei had made her sit down to be painted. She had barely gotten to see any handsome men, let alone give out any handkerchiefs.

Hearing that Gu Fei was leaving, she said, "Alright. It wasn’t easy for me to get here, so I’m going to enjoy myself a bit longer before I go back. Oh, right, Little Fei, that painting you did today... can I have it?"

Gu Fei smiled. "Of course. I was already planning on having it mounted for you."

Sister Dan beamed. "I’m taking this back to show that good-for-nothing husband of mine. I used to be a real beauty, you know. But after getting with him, I’ve practically turned into a frumpy old housewife."

Gu Fei laughed, covering her mouth. "That’s not true. Sister Dan, you’re still as beautiful as ever."

Sister Dan pinched Gu Fei’s cheek. "Compared to you? If you’re a pearl, I’m just a piece of gravel."

She suddenly leaned closer to Gu Fei. "That makeup on your face... it’s almost all gone."

Gu Fei quickly raised her fan to hide her face. The weather was hot, and while she was painting, Yan’er had wiped away her sweat countless times. Her foundation was probably long gone by now.

Just then, Su Chen walked over. "Miss Gu, you—"

Gu Fei lowered her round fan. ’It would be rude to speak to someone while covering my face.’

Su Chen stared at her face, momentarily stunned. He forgot what he had been about to say.

Gu Fei gave him a playful blink and a smile. "I really have you to thank for today, Young Master Su."

’If Su Chen hadn’t been keeping an eye out for me and given me that timely information, I wouldn’t have known to send Sister Dan over. Things today could have gone very differently.’

Su Chen snapped out of his daze and smiled faintly. "I didn’t do anything to help. It was all due to your own immense talent."

’He was happy for her. Gu Fei has earned the recognition of the Mountain Master and Master Yun. From now on, she’s sure to have a place in the art world of the Da Ying Dynasty.’

Gazing at Gu Fei’s ethereal beauty, like that of a fairy from the moon, Su Chen was suddenly struck by a feeling of his own unworthiness.

He suddenly clenched his fists. ’I had originally planned to wait until after I passed the autumn examination. Then I would write to my father and ask him to arrange a marriage proposal with the Gu Family.’

’But now, it seems I can’t wait any longer. I have to write to my father at once. She’s so radiant... if I hesitate for even a moment, someone else might sweep her off her feet.’

Gu Fei curtsied to Su Chen. "Young Master Su, it’s quite hot, so I won’t stay any longer."

Su Chen asked urgently, "You’re leaving?"

"Th-Then let me walk with you for a bit. It’s too crowded here."

It really was crowded.

Gu Fei was standing at the junction between two pavilions, and the area just outside was packed with people.

They were mostly young men, predominantly gentlemen in long robes, but there were also many who were clearly not scholars.

Several roguish, shifty-eyed individuals were mixed in with the crowd as well.

Gu Fei had just taken a step when she realized it would be impossible to get through that way.

Hiding her face with her fan, she looked from side to side. There were fewer people on the far side of the smaller pavilion, but it wouldn’t be proper for Su Chen to walk through a pavilion full of women.

She turned back to Su Chen and said, "There’s no need to see me out, Young Master. It’s too crowded; we’d just get sweaty in the crush. I’ll head over that way."