Chapter 7: Countering Every Move

Hearing this, his spine stiffened beneath her.

"Because you're stupid!" Liu Xiahui's words earned him a flick on the forehead from Gu Man.

"You're the stupid one! How dare you call me stupid!!"

The two of them, playing to their heart's content, failed to notice that Gu Chengfeng, having received a report from a servant, was already waiting at the main gate of the Prime Minister's Manor.

His eyes stared coldly at the two approaching figures. The initial shock in his gaze had completely transformed into a dark, dangerous coldness, and even the air around his entire body erupted with a powerful, violent aura.

Liu Xiahui was the first to sense the change in the surrounding atmosphere. Seeing Gu Chengfeng's livid face, he hurriedly stripped Gu Man off and placed her on the ground.

Gu Man also noticed Gu Chengfeng's unusual behavior and quickly stood up straight, calling out timidly, "Father."

Gu Chengfeng's gaze swept back and forth between them before finally locking onto Liu Xiahui.

"Come to my study for a moment!" After saying this, he left everyone with a cold silhouette and a grim expression.

"It's over. You aren't going to be torn into pieces by my father, are you?" It was all her fault; she still remembered him saying that it was because he had unauthorizedly breached the Prime Minister's Manor's barrier that he had taken her out to play.

"Silly girl, how could anything happen? I am frequently invited by the Prime Minister to drink tea."

As he spoke, he affectionately rubbed Gu Man's head, then turned and followed Gu Chengfeng through the main gate.

The slight flicker in the depths of his eyes did not escape Gu Man's shrewd gaze. Her eyes darted around, and she crouched low, quietly following behind him.

Liu Xiahui shook his head helplessly and quickened his pace. The moment he stepped into the study, he turned around and immediately cast a barrier over the entire room.

Gu Chengfeng sat seriously in his chair, his gaze never leaving Liu Xiahui from the moment he entered.

After mentally "lingchi-ing" him with his eyes, he finally spoke slowly: "Your father and I are old family friends. This old uncle is very grateful for the care you have given Xiaoman over these years. However, Xiaoman has only just reached the age of fifteen. If you two spend all day running wild outside, how will you let her marry in the future?"

So it was about this, Liu Xiahui's lips curled slightly.

"What Uncle says is correct. Your nephew will certainly pay more attention in the future." After saying this, he kept his head lowered so that no one could see the expression in his eyes.

Gu Chengfeng had originally intended to imply something else, but he hadn't expected Liu Xiahui not to take the bait. He simply spoke directly: "You and Xiaoman have been childhood sweethearts with a good relationship since you were young, and your father and I are old family friends. If the two families were to become in-laws, it would surely be a cause for everyone's joy."

...

What on earth are they talking about?

Father's face just looked like he wanted to swallow someone alive, but now his eyes were shining with interest. It was just a pity she couldn't see Liu Xiahui's expression.

Gu Man crouched low, stretching her ears in an attempt to hear something. So focused was she that she didn't notice a water-blue figure quietly approaching from behind, delivering a palm strike to her shoulder with lightning speed.

In the next second, Gu Man fell face-first into the entrance of the living room in an extremely ungraceful manner.

Immediately, two inquisitive gazes shot toward her burningly. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"Uh, I was just passing by, please continue..."

"Xiaoman, you are the Third Young Lady of the Prime Minister's Manor. What kind of decorum is it to be so reckless all day long?"

Gu Man hurriedly scrambled up and brushed the dust off her clothes, her pretty face flushing red like a boiled shrimp.

Today was truly unlucky to the extreme. Not knowing how to respond, she simply resorted to acting like a delicate, shy woman. When she looked up again, her eyes were already brimming with aggrieved tears, looking as if they would spill over the moment she opened her mouth.

Even Liu Xiahui, seeing her pitiful expression, couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart, as a deep-seated throb accelerated in a certain place.

"Father, it was I who insisted that Cousin take me out to play. Please, do not punish him..."

Gu Chengfeng, meanwhile, was in a state of total petrification. His daughter actually had such a tender side; could this be the so-called magic of love?

"Good, good, good..."

After saying "good" three times in a row, Gu Chengfeng stood up, walked to Gu Man, and continued: "The one Father dotes on most is Xiaoman. How could Father blame the person Xiaoman likes?" As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance toward Liu Xiahui.