GTB Chapter 31

Chapter 31: How Should One View Repaying Kindness with One’s Body?

In the Crabapple Courtyard, Jiang Jiuchu was sitting on a swing, swaying slowly, her small face raised, squinting at the sun in the southeast, as if waiting for something.

Today, although she wore no makeup as usual, her hair and appearance were more exquisite than usual. A pomegranate red dress set off her captivating beauty, making her eye-catching at first glance.

Suddenly, Yu Qin ran quickly from outside the courtyard, excitedly shouting, “Miss, Miss, Master Fu is here.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu immediately stood up from the swing and ran out of the courtyard with a delighted expression.

In the main hall, everyone looked at Song Fuge with some surprise. They hadn’t expected that Master Fu, who had saved their Jiuchu, would be so handsome, extraordinary, gentle, and refined, completely different from what they had imagined.

After the family solemnly expressed their gratitude, Jiang Yuan and Song Fuge chatted about famous calligraphy and paintings while drinking tea.

Suddenly, a clear voice came from the doorway, “Father, Mother, Brother, Sister-in-law.”

Jiang Jiuchu stepped into the hall and greeted everyone, then looked at Song Fuge, who was sitting next to Jiang Yuan, and stepped forward to pay her respects: “Hello, Brother Fu.”

Song Fuge concealed the amazement in his eyes and smiled and nodded at Jiang Jiuchu, then continued chatting with Jiang Yuan.

His respectful but not overly familiar demeanor caused Jiang Jiuchu to pause for a moment, then she walked to Madam Ye and Shí Qingya and sat down beside them.

Shí Qingya looked at Jiang Jiuchu and felt that her little sister-in-law’s attire today seemed more exquisite and eye-catching than usual, especially the pearl hairpin on her bun, which was much more gorgeous and beautiful than before.

Soon, noon arrived, and the maids and servants brought in plates of sumptuous dishes. Madam Ye hurriedly invited Song Fuge to sit down.

At the dinner table, the Jiang family members offered toasts to Song Fuge, expressing their gratitude. Throughout the lunch, Jiang Jiuchu hardly had a chance to say a few words.

After lunch, Madam Ye asked Jiang Jiuche to take Song Fuge for a stroll around the residence.

Seeing this, Jiang Jiuchu immediately took Shí Qingya’s hand and said, “Sister-in-law, let’s take a walk together too, to digest our food.”

Shí Qingya nodded, “Alright.”

Hearing the voices behind him, Song Fuge’s lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

As they walked, Jiang Jiuche chatted casually, “It is said that Mo Feng Pavilion has been open in Kyoto for over a year, so did Master Fu come to Kyoto a year ago?”

Song Fuge replied, “Yes, about that, less than two years.”

Jiang Jiuche nodded, a little curious as to how a businessman like him was able to save his daughter? After all, even with the dark guards, he couldn’t find his younger sister in time.

But after thinking about it, he swallowed the words back. Nevermind, they weren’t close yet.

After a while, after passing through the garden, Jiang Jiuche pointed to a yard next to them and asked, “Master Fu, this is my courtyard, would you like to come in and have a seat?”

Upon hearing this, Song Fuge did not answer, but looked at a small courtyard on the west side leaning against the high wall of the residence and asked, “Is that small courtyard full of crabapple blossoms the residence’s flower garden? Why doesn’t Brother Jiuche take me there to sit and admire the crabapples?”

“Brother Fu, that’s not a flower garden, that’s my courtyard. Come, I’ll take you in to take a look.”

Listening to his younger sister’s preemptive response, Jiang Jiuche felt somewhat helpless, but it wasn’t good to say anything.

He thought, nevermind, since they were all here, accompanying Master Fu to sit in Jiuchu’s courtyard wouldn’t be a problem.

Just as he was about to lead everyone forward, he heard Song Fuge suddenly say, “Oh, right! I just remembered I have something to do this afternoon, Brother Jiuche, I must take my leave first.”

Jiang Jiuche paused, then said, “Since Brother Fu has business, I won’t insist on keeping you. We’ll meet again next time.”

As he said this, he gestured to Song Fuge, “I’ll see Master Fu out.”

“Alright, thank you, Brother Jiuche.”

Song Fuge turned to Shí Qingya and Jiang Jiuchu, bowed his hands, and then turned and left with Jiang Jiuche.

Jiang Jiuchu looked at the departing figure, pursed her lips, and thought, Brother Fu came to her residence for the first time, and he’s leaving already? She hasn’t even had a chance to say much!

Shí Qingya noticed the expression on Jiang Jiuchu’s face. She wasn’t sure if her little sister-in-law felt this way because Master Fu was her savior, or because of something else…

She hoped it wasn’t what she thought, otherwise it might be a fruitless crush. After all, the difference in their statuses was too great, and they knew nothing else about this Master Fu besides that he was the owner of Mo Feng Pavilion.

She looked at Jiang Jiuchu, “Sister-in-law is going back to take a nap. Since becoming pregnant, I’ve been feeling especially sleepy.”

“Okay, Sister-in-law, go and rest! I’ll go back too.”

Jiang Jiuchu returned to her courtyard and lay directly on the lounge chair under the crabapple tree, instructing Yu Qin, “Yu Qin, go into the house and bring me the picture book from my table.”

“Yes, Miss.” Yu Qin turned and went back into the house, quickly bringing out the picture book she had been reading.

Jiang Jiuchu opened it to the page she had last read and continued reading.

The warm spring sunshine shone on Jiang Jiuchu, making her feel sleepy after only a few pages, but just as her eyes were about to close, she heard Yu Qin’s exclamation, “Master Fu!” Yu Qin looked at the suddenly appearing Song Fuge, her eyes widened in surprise, then she looked at her own Miss.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu’s eyes instantly widened, and she turned her head to see Song Fuge appearing beside her. She immediately got up from the lounge chair and asked in surprise, “Brother Fu? How did you get in?”

Song Fuge looked at the high wall not far behind her, “I climbed over the wall.”

Hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu looked towards the courtyard gate in a panic, then grabbed Song Fuge’s hand and walked towards her room.

“Quick, quick, hurry and get inside, if my brother sees you climbing into my courtyard, you’re done for.”

Yu Qin, who was standing to the side, was stunned. Her Miss was actually… pulling Master Fu into her boudoir in broad daylight?

After she reacted, she quickly ran to guard under the eaves of the house, thinking, the madam and master must not see this, otherwise… sigh! She didn’t dare to think about it.

Song Fuge looked at Jiang Jiuchu, who had bolted the door, and asked, “So scared?”

Jiang Jiuchu nodded her small head straight, “Mmhmm, if my brother finds out, it’ll be terrible.”

Song Fuge smiled, took out a peach blossom hairpin from his chest, “I just remembered, I forgot to give you this hairpin, so I specially came to deliver it to you.”

Jiang Jiuchu’s eyes lit up, and she immediately took the hairpin, “Thank you, Brother Fu.”

“You’re welcome, but… since Jiuchu is so hospitable, and has invited Brother Fu into the house to sit, then pour Brother Fu a cup of tea to drink.”

Song Fuge looked around Jiang Jiuchu’s boudoir. The girl’s room was fresh and elegant, with a faint floral fragrance.

He walked to the round table in the middle and sat down, looking at Jiang Jiuchu, waiting for her to pour him tea.

Looking at Song Fuge sitting so blatantly in her room, Jiang Jiuchu suddenly regretted pulling him in. She was really worried about being seen just now, but now… she felt that this seemed even more inappropriate.

She paused, walked to the table, picked up a cup, poured a cup of tea, and handed it over, thinking, she’ll let Brother Fu leave after he finishes the tea.

“Brother Fu, please drink.”

Song Fuge watched Jiang Jiuchu’s guilty-looking face, unhurriedly took the cup, took a few sips, then his eyes fell on the picture book on the table, “What book is Jiuchu reading?”

“Just an ordinary picture book.” As Jiang Jiuchu spoke, she wanted to take the picture book away, but Song Fuge snatched it up first.

“Let Brother Fu see what type of picture books Jiuchu likes. I have quite a few in my Mo Feng Pavilion. I’ll find some for you to bring over another day.”

Song Fuge flipped through the picture book with one hand and sipped slowly with the other, his unhurried manner suggesting that he would only leave after finishing reading it.

Seeing this, Jiang Jiuchu felt restless. She glanced at the open window, worried about being seen by the servants, and immediately went over to close the window sill.

Song Fuge glanced at Jiang Jiuchu closing the window and said with some amusement, “It’s broad daylight, and you’re closing the door and closing the windows. People who don’t know would think we’re doing something in the room.”

Jiang Jiuchu was a little embarrassed by what was said. She walked to Song Fuge and said softly, “Then… why don’t… Brother Fu quickly finish drinking and leave quickly! Didn’t you say you had something to do?”

She remembered that Song Fuge had said he had something to do before he left, why didn’t he look anxious at all now?

“I’ve already sent someone to take care of it.” Song Fuge said, putting down the teacup and focusing on the picture book in his hand.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Jiuchu didn’t want to continue chasing him away. She walked to the dressing table and sat down, putting the hairpin into the drawer.

After flipping through a few pages, Song Fuge’s eyes turned, and he looked at Jiang Jiuchu, who was sitting in front of the dressing table, and asked as if casually:

“Does Jiuchu think that the way the woman in this picture book repays her life-saving grace is inappropriate?”

Hearing Song Fuge’s question, Jiang Jiuchu paused and turned her head back, looking at Song Fuge who was looking at her. After a long while, she stuttered:

“According to the situation of the woman and the man in the book, it’s also… also not inappropriate, right? It depends on the person.”

As Jiang Jiuchu spoke, she turned back uneasily, organizing the already tidy items on the dressing table.

However, her panic was all reflected in the mirror, falling into Song Fuge’s eyes.

“Oh, is that so? Why doesn’t Jiuchu explain how it depends on the person?”

Listening to the question behind her, Jiang Jiuchu’s whole body trembled. She quietly raised her eyes and looked at the bronze mirror, seeing Song Fuge behind her looking at the book with a focused expression, making her unable to tell whether the question was intentional or unintentional for a moment.

She thought for a while, then slowly opened her mouth: “Um… then if the one who saved her was an old man, or already had a family, or… they had no interest in each other, then it wouldn’t be appropriate to repay with her body.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Song Fuge suddenly looking up, their eyes meeting for a moment.

Song Fuge looked at Jiang Jiuchu in the mirror, “Then if none of these exist, just like in this book, the man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried?”

In the bronze mirror, Jiang Jiuchu’s eyes widened, then she immediately lowered her head, her small hands nervously turning the rouge box in front of her, her small face a little flushed, “Then it depends on whether they are willing or not.”

Hearing this, Song Fuge put down the book, “Alright, the tea is finished.”

Looking at Song Fuge walking towards her, Jiang Jiuchu was a little nervous, and quickly stood up, “I’ll help you open the door.”

Looking at Jiang Jiuchu who ran to open the door in a puff of smoke, Song Fuge couldn’t help but chuckle, and helplessly walked to the door and said to her:

“If Jiuchu is free tomorrow, meet me on the Magpie Bridge at the beginning of the si hour. Brother Fu will take you on a lake tour.”

As he spoke, he stepped out of the room, and with a leap, jumped over the high wall.

“Miss.” Yu Qin quickly walked into the room upon seeing this.

Looking at Yu Qin’s hesitant expression, Jiang Jiuchu explained, “It’s nothing, Brother Fu just talked to me about something.”

Then she turned and walked into the room, reopened the window she had closed earlier, and then lay down on the beauty couch next to her.

A spring breeze blew through, causing the crabapple trees outside the window to sway gently, dropping a few petals.

Jiang Jiuchu quietly watched the falling petals in the air, her gaze began to wander.

Was Brother Fu hinting at her just now? Could it be… that he wants her to repay with her body?

As Jiang Jiuchu thought about it, she suddenly remembered that the woman in the book didn’t seek a title in the early stages, and directly gave herself to the man who saved her.

It wasn’t until the grand finale that the man sent betrothal gifts in ten miles of red makeup, and the two were able to have a happy ending.

Because she liked to watch picture books with happy endings, she would always look at the ending first before watching.

But Brother Fu definitely didn’t see the end, so what he said about repaying with her body couldn’t be…

Jiang Jiuchu shook her head, no, even if Brother Fu saved her twice and was very kind to her, she couldn’t just give away her purity like in the book, absolutely not.

Humph! She was going to talk to Brother Fu tomorrow. It’s okay for her to repay his kindness, but if he wanted her to repay with her body like this, humph, absolutely not. If that’s the case, what’s the difference between Brother Fu and that flower thief.

The more Jiang Jiuchu thought about it, the more angry she became, and the more she felt that Song Fuge meant that, otherwise why would he subtly remind her? He definitely wanted her to take the initiative and throw herself into his arms like in the book.

The next day.

Jiang Jiuchu, dressed in men’s clothing, arrived on the Magpie Bridge as agreed, and at a glance saw Song Fuge standing on the other end of the Magpie Bridge. Her footsteps paused slightly, and a hint of amazement flashed in her eyes.

Today’s Song Fuge, in a purple dress, was charming and unrestrained, a gentleman like jade, handsome and extraordinary, especially his smile towards Jiang Jiuchu, like the sparkling lake under the Magpie Bridge, dazzling and gentle.

Jiang Jiuchu lowered her head and looked at her men’s attire, suppressing a hint of guilt that rose in her heart, and walked over.

It couldn’t be blamed on her for not respecting Brother Fu’s invitation, who told Brother Fu to covet her beauty.

Looking at Jiang Jiuchu dressed in men’s clothing, Song Fuge didn’t think much, just casually asked, “Why are you wearing men’s clothing again?”

Jiang Jiuchu said casually, “It’s more convenient to go out like this.”

Song Fuge looked at Yu Qin behind her and smiled to remind Jiang Jiuchu in front of her, “Then I suggest that you also dress this little girl as a man next time, otherwise, your face and figure, which are already not like a man, will be even less like a man if you are followed by such a little girl.”

Jiang Jiuchu turned back and glanced at Yu Qin, thinking, that’s right, she would buy two sets of men’s clothing for Yu Qin on her way back.

“Let’s go, get on the boat.” Song Fuge said, turning and walking down the steps towards a small painted boat parked on the shore.