How could it be the same?
Aunt Luo still wanted to fight for a chance for her pitiful young master, even if it was just for a farewell.
She mumbled, "Young Master will be very disappointed when he sees you gone, Miss Huo. There's no rush with this matter, could you please wait a moment?"
Huo Rou finally sensed something strange, and An An also felt a hint of crisis.
He patted Shen Feng, who was following behind him, signaling it to go find its dad. He himself looked at Aunt Luo with vigilance and apprehension, "Aunt Luo, why would Uncle Xiao Shan be disappointed? Is it because An An won't play with him?"
An An sensed that Aunt Luo might not be referring to himself, but he couldn't allow for any other situation.
"Uncle Xiao Shan isn't that petty." An An smiled innocently and radiantly, but Huo Rou had already noticed the nervousness in his eyes.
This child's perceptiveness was improving day by day. Even he had noticed the strangeness in Aunt Luo's words. However, they all seemed to have overthought it.
Huo Rou gently patted An An's head comfortingly, "Good boy."
She looked at Aunt Luo, and with a smile, she leaned in towards Aunt Luo's ear, "Do you perhaps think Xiao Shan likes me?"
Aunt Luo was stunned when Huo Rou spoke so directly. The young master had always said Huo Rou didn't know, but perhaps Huo Rou actually knew the young master's feelings?
Then what was she?
A sense of blame towards Huo Rou arose in Aunt Luo's heart.
Huo Rou chuckled.
This smile was breathtakingly beautiful to Qin Ningyi, who had just walked upstairs.
Then, his excellent hearing picked up what Huo Rou had whispered into Aunt Luo's ear, "Xiao Shan likes someone else. He probably came back this time because of her."
She found it difficult to explain the specifics to Aunt Luo. After all, she was an elderly person, and accepting new things could be a bit challenging. She didn't want to say anything that would keep Aunt Luo awake at night.
"So, please rest assured," Huo Rou patted Aunt Luo's shoulder, smiling with ease.
This confident and carefree demeanor made Aunt Luo momentarily dazed. She even began to doubt if she had misunderstood something.
But, her young master had indeed come to Daocheng Village after she called to tip him off. If not for Huo Rou, then who was it for?
Aunt Luo racked her brains but couldn't come up with any other answer.
After lunch, Aunt Luo, having finished cleaning the kitchen, walked out the door and saw Qiao Yushan pushing the gate open.
Although he looked tired, his eyes were bright and full of light. As soon as he entered, he looked up at the window above. Seeing the closed window, he then lowered his head and began searching around the yard and the entrance of the main hall.
Yao Jian was the first to come out to greet him, "Finished with your work?"
He walked up to Qiao Yushan and looked at the heavy-looking bag on his shoulder, naturally reaching out, "Need any help? Young Master Xiao Shan."
He often joked with Qiao Yushan like this. This man, who only knew about jade and jewels, and whose hands never touched manual labor, always made him, who lived in close proximity to the earth, want to tease him.
Qiao Yushan gave him a amused look and shifted his shoulder back, "No, thanks. This is a gift I'm bringing for my master."
While he was back handling matters, he had encountered this batch of good quality material. Thinking of his master's often melancholic expression, he brought it all back. It would be good for occasional practice to pass the time.
When Yao Jian heard him mention "master," a hint of melancholy flashed in his eyes, but he didn't immediately tell Qiao Yushan what had happened these past few days.
His light had dimmed, and it was good to let Qiao Yushan be happy for a little longer.
Yao Jian looked at Qiao Yushan with increasing sympathy. They were kindred spirits in misfortune!
He had previously thought that Qiao Yushan, who could get along with Huo Rou and An An, and amuse the mother and son, was a special existence. It wasn't until he met Qin Ningyi that he understood what special truly meant.
Alas, poor Qiao Yushan.
Yao Jian silently felt sorry for Qiao Yushan in his heart, completely changing his stance.
"Alright then, I won't touch it," Yao Jian shook his head, looking at him with pity.
Aunt Luo looked at Qiao Yushan, his eyes shining with enthusiasm, and then thought back to Huo Rou's confident words. From all appearances, her young master was indeed fond of Huo Rou...
As she was thinking, Aunt Luo's gaze fell on Yao Jian, who was standing beside Qiao Yushan.
Weren't Yao Jian's eyes a bit too adoring?
A bold, incredibly bold thought suddenly sprang into Aunt Luo's mind.
It was so bold that she didn't dare to look at Qiao Yushan's smile anymore.
"Aunt Luo!" Qiao Yushan arrived at the entrance of the house and softly called out to Aunt Luo, who was standing there in a daze.
"Ah?"
Seeing Aunt Luo's strange expression, Qiao Yushan didn't think too much of it. "Where's Master?"
He weighed his bag. With so many good things, what excuse could he use to give them to his master?
"Miss Huo..." Aunt Luo hesitated for a moment.
"What happened to Master?" Qiao Yushan looked at Aunt Luo's demeanor. "Is she in seclusion researching a new topic again?"
He had only been gone for a day, and Grandpa Nong's new findings had only been announced not long ago. It shouldn't be possible for his master to research something new so quickly, right?
"It's fine even if she's in seclusion. I'll go play with An An." Qiao Yushan felt Aunt Luo's expression was too serious. Although he acted particularly childish in front of Huo Rou, he was essentially an adult male and could figure things out.
"It's not that." Aunt Luo glanced at Yao Jian, who remained silent, and then looked at Qiao Yushan, who was unconcerned. "Miss Huo she..."
"She left with An An's dad."