Xiao Fengxing suddenly froze, looking at Lin Qingqing in disbelief.
Lin Qingqing opened her eyes, her face flushed red, utterly embarrassed to face Xiao Fengxing.
How could she... how could she... fart in front of Xiao Fengxing!
"Pffft—"
Another sound came, louder and longer than the one before.
This time, there was also a more distinct smell.
"I... I..." Lin Qingqing, utterly embarrassed, covered her face and ran out of Xiao Fengxing's study crying.
Though Lin Qingqing left, the scent she left behind remained in the study.
No matter how beautiful Lin Qingqing was, Xiao Fengxing couldn't stand the stench, quickly covering his nose and mouth, frowning as he opened the windows to air out the room.
Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu returned to the garden from Xiao Yingyue's place, and Fu Mingzhu was thinking about finding Xiao Fengxing.
"Sister," Fu Shinian hurriedly grabbed Fu Mingzhu, "it's almost time for the banquet to start, there are many people around; if someone sees you, it could stir gossip. How about waiting until we're back home to send Master Xiao an invitation? As his fiancée, he has no reason not to come if you want to see him."
"Alright." Fu Mingzhu agreed but still gazed longingly in the direction of Xiao Fengxing's study.
Fu Shinian glanced around and didn't see Lin Qingqing, knowing that Lin Qingqing was probably meeting with Xiao Fengxing now.
In the original story, Fu Mingzhu discovered them alone, with no witnesses, so she couldn't do anything about them.
But now, what if she brought a group of people to see them?
She refused to believe that Fu Mingzhu and Xiao Fengxing wouldn't call off their engagement.
Fu Shinian pretended to look around before asking curiously, "Huh? Where's Lin Qingqing?"
Seeing how close Fu Shinian's sisters seemed with Xiao Yingyue, a servant nearby thought to curry favor and whispered, "Miss Lin said she wasn't feeling well and went home first."
Did she really leave, or was she meeting with Xiao Chengche?
Fu Shinian spoke at a moderate volume, "What a pity, Mr. Lin specifically sought an invitation for Miss Lin, and she left before attending any events."
Li Zhaohui chuckled, "Of course she'd rush off! Isn't she embarrassed enough already?"
"Exactly." Zheng Sulan covered her mouth but couldn't hide her entertaining grin, "When she came back just now, she let out a series of stinky farts, it was really..."
"She's lost so much face, how could she stay here any longer?"
Fu Shinian gaped, not expecting that Lin Qingqing actually left.
She just wondered if Lin Qingqing had met with Xiao Fengxing before leaving, and if she farted in front of him...
What a pity she didn't see it with her own eyes!
Is this the effect of a luck score of -1?
After the banquet ended, Fu Shinian and Fu Mingzhu left the marquis's mansion and had just boarded the carriage when Xiao Fengxing's voice came from outside, "Mingzhu."
Fu Mingzhu lifted the curtain and saw Xiao Fengxing standing by, "Mingzhu, I have something to tell you."
Xiao Fengxing glanced at Fu Shinian inside the carriage and said, "Mingzhu, come down; I need to speak with you alone."
"Okay." Fu Mingzhu agreed without a second thought and was about to get off the carriage when Fu Shinian pulled her back.
"Young Master Xiao, why not say whatever it is in front of me?" Fu Shinian held onto Fu Mingzhu's arm, "Even as an engaged couple, it's customary to have someone else present during conversations; otherwise, it could harm my sister's reputation."
Since they planned to break off the engagement later, Fu Shinian was determined to keep Fu Mingzhu's reputation spotless.
Fu Shinian smiled, "Master Xiao is renowned as a gentleman of the capital, surely he wouldn't subject my sister to idle gossip."
"Master Xiao, wouldn't you agree?" Fu Shinian asked Xiao Fengxing with a smile.
Xiao Fengxing reluctantly forced a smile, "The second young lady is right, I wasn't thinking it through."
Xiao Fengxing could only stand by the carriage and tell Fu Mingzhu, "Mingzhu, I heard earlier at the flower-viewing banquet, you had an unpleasant encounter with Lin Qingqing?"
"How did you know?" Fu Mingzhu thought it wasn't exactly unpleasant, just realizing they weren't on the same page.
But how did Xiao Fengxing find out so quickly?
"Since it concerns you, of course I would pay attention." Xiao Fengxing's words made Fu Mingzhu blush, her lips could not help but smile, and her gaze at Xiao Fengxing was filled with admiration.
"However, Mr. Lin is my mentor," Xiao Fengxing said, "Mingzhu, I told you before to take care of Lin Qingqing, didn't I?"
"Mr. Lin specifically asked me, and I trusted you to look after Lin Qingqing. How could you let her lose face in front of so many people?" Xiao Fengxing frowned and reproached.
Initially, Fu Shinian didn't know the specific details of Fu Mingzhu and Xiao Fengxing's interactions.
She only knew Fu Mingzhu liked Xiao Fengxing a lot, and since their engagement, he's been on her mind. Most of the rare and exquisite items Cheng Yuanshan brought back were gifted to Xiao Fengxing.
Xiao Fengxing needed the best writing tools for his studies and exams, and they were all purchased by Fu Mingzhu.
But now Fu Mingzhu realized even the task of taking care of Lin Qingqing was at Xiao Fengxing's request.
She used to think Fu Mingzhu simply admired Lin Qingqing's talent.
Now it seemed Xiao Fengxing's influence in brainwashing Fu Mingzhu was more significant.
"I'm sorry, I..." Fu Mingzhu, seeing Xiao Fengxing was angry, apologized and softened.
But Fu Shinian didn't let her finish, "But, sister, you really didn't do anything."
"Lin Qingqing implied she had a good relationship with Xiao Yingyue, but Xiao Yingyue personally denied it. Lin Qingqing left in shame because she kept farting in front of everyone and couldn't bear to stay." Fu Shinian looked puzzled, "None of this had anything to do with my sister; why is Master Xiao blaming her?"
Fu Shinian looked at Xiao Fengxing with a face of reluctance, "Or does Master Xiao think my sister should have forced Xiao Yingyue to admit she was close friends with Lin Qingqing? Should she have stood up when Lin Qingqing farted and claimed it was her instead? But when Lin Qingqing farted, my sister wasn't even there."
"Enough!" Xiao Fengxing interrupted with a dark face.
Fu Shinian kept mentioning Lin Qingqing farting, making his mind filled with that scene.
The unpleasant smell from the study earlier rushed to his mind, and he felt as if the thick scent was still lingering in the surrounding air.
But then Fu Shinian, with red eyes, cowered fearfully behind Fu Mingzhu, trembling and saying in a tearful voice, "Sister, I'm so scared. Master Xiao is so intimidating..."
Xiao Fengxing: "..."
What did he do to be considered intimidating?
"Fu Shinian, you..."
Xiao Fengxing hadn't finished speaking when Fu Mingzhu, displeased, said, "Why are you being so harsh to Niannian?"
Xiao Fengxing: "!!!"
How was he being harsh!
Fu Shinian hid behind Fu Mingzhu, looking as if she feared Xiao Fengxing, clutching Fu Mingzhu's clothes tightly.
"Sister." Fu Shinian said softly and weakly, "I'm fine, don't argue with Master Xiao for my sake."
"I just feel sorry for my sister. Master Xiao is your fiancé; instead of protecting you, he wants you to sacrifice your reputation to defend some unrelated woman." Fu Shinian blinked, shedding a tear, "If it were me, I'd never bear to see my sister humiliated like this..."
"All it takes is for Mingzhu to protect Lin Qingqing, how does that become such a serious humiliation!" Xiao Fengxing exclaimed angrily.
Fu Shinian shrank further behind Fu Mingzhu, who could clearly feel the person behind her trembling against her back.