He knew he could not stop her, so he might as well be by her side to safeguard her.
Lin Fang was pleased with the idea that popped up in his mind. This implied both of them would have plenty of time to spend together along the journey.
The more he gave thought to the idea, the more he believed it was a good idea. He insisted, “I’ll go with you! My family’s carriage and coachman are reliable. Besides, it will be more convenient when you reach there with my company, right?”
Lu Xiao Shu was convinced, and she nodded, “Alright, come along with me!”
Lin Fang was over the moon. He turned around and commanded Cricket, “Go and prepare a carriage, prepare some refreshments and snacks in the carriage too!”
Cricket’s lips twitched and responded, “Yes, Young Master!” His Young Master treated him like a stranger ever since he had a crush on Lady Lu. Any absurd and ridiculous commands will turn normal if it was associated with her…
When Cricket was preparing the carriage, the two of them had a quick meal at an inn by the roadside. Once the carriage had arrived, they left the town in a hurry.
Shortly after they departed, the sun had set at the west side of the mountains, and the rays of sunlight had faded. The interior of the carriage was dimmer than the surroundings.
Lin Fang cautiously lit up a windproof lamp and hung it in the carriage. He gently kicked Cricket and ordered, “Go outside and sit with Old Wang. Both of you better be keeping an eye on the road, it’s dangerous to travel at night.”
“Okay, Young Master.” Cricket obediently went out. He was scornful of his Young Master. We are using an authorized pathway, and Old Wang has been serving our Lin Family as a coachman for more than ten years. With the moon round and bright tonight, what could be dangerous? Isn’t it Young Master, who doesn’t wish for my presence…
Lin Fang, in fact, didn’t want his presence. He finally earned the chance to be alone with Lu Xiao Shu, how would he welcome the presence of someone else?
“Xiao Shu, are you tired? You can have a nap!” Lin Fang gazed at her and said tenderly. Deep inside, he wished Lu Xiao Shu would lean against him to sleep…
He had never ever touched her before! Except when they practiced martial arts back in the day…
“I’m not tired. When will we reach?” Lu Xiao Shu shook her head.
“Soon, don’t worry! We’ll definitely reach before dawn!” Lin Fang giggled, “Why don’t we play chess?”
Lu Xiao Shu glared at him, “I don’t know how!”
Lin Fang was embarrassed: How foolish of me to forget this!
“Oh, you, you can have something to eat! There will be a store owned by my family at Qi Lin Lake. I’ll ask someone for help, we’ll certainly find Uncle Lu!” Lu Xiao Shu was seemingly out of her spirit. He couldn’t help but reassure her.
That managed to cheer her up. She blinked her twinkling eyes and gazed at him, “Really?”
He sensed her anticipation. He instinctively straightened his back and confirmed, “Yes, of course! By the time we reach, I will…”
Subsequently, they had a discussion about how they would rescue the people to shore.
Finally, he had found a mutual topic to have a conversation with her!
When the sun peeked through the mountains in the west, the carriage had finally arrived at a small town beside Qi Lin Lake.
Old Wang tugged the halter rope and nudged Cricket who was sleeping soundly on his shoulders. He asked, “We have arrived. Ask the Young Master what we should do next.”
“Ah?” Cricket opened his eyes and was clueless about the current situation. It took him a while to be fully awake. “Alright.” He replied and rolled up the blinds.
In the carriage, Lin Fang and Lu Xiao Shu also fell asleep. Lin Fang was leaning against the carriage, while Lu Xiao Shu was practically leaning against him and both of her hands were grasping on his clothes. The two of them were fast asleep.
“Oops!” Cricket vaguely exclaimed and covered his eyes. This should not be seen!
“Cricket, hurry up!” Old Wang was getting impatient.
Cricket had no choice but to approach his Young Master. He nudged Lin Fang and whispered, “Young Master! Young Master!”
“Hmm?” Lin Fang opened his eyes and was in a daze. He caught sight of Cricket’s face and scowled, “Why are you waking me up? Go away!”
When he was going to turn to his back, he suddenly froze. It was then he realized he was in a carriage, instead of his big comfortable bed at home.
His eyes fell on Lu Xiao Shu who was leaning against him, soundly asleep. Her long and thick eyelashes were drooping down and covering her eyes. She had a small pointy nose and her supple lips were gently pressed together. Her dainty oval-shaped face was calm.
He was dumbfounded. He waved at Cricket and lowered his voice in the fear of waking Lu Xiao Shu up, “Go out! Now!”
Cricket knew that his Young Master was in infatuation again. He thoughtfully reminded him, “Young Master, Lady Lu is here to search for Master Lu, if she…”
“Do I need you to remind me? Go out! I’ll wake her up!” He scowled at Cricket. Lin Fang would never admit his state of mind.
Cricket backed off and went out.
Lin Fang really wished to spend more time with his crush, however, Cricket enlightened him that this was not right. Xiao Shu came here anxiously to search for her father. If he did not wake her up when he was wide awake, she would certainly be angry at him.
I should just sacrifice this temporary ecstasy for the sake of their well-being in the long run!
Lin Fang deeply sighed. His gaze fell upon her fair, tender, and smooth cheeks when he was going to wake Lu Xiao Shu up. As if he was casted by an enticement spell, his fingers unknowingly approached her cheeks.
His heart was racing. There was a voice in his mind saying: I’ll just slightly touch her cheeks, slightly, and quietly……
Nothing could seemingly stop his fingers to touch Lu Xiao Shu’s cheeks. Just when he was going to succeed, Lu Xiao Shu’s eyelashes fluttered and her eyes opened slowly. She was gazing blankly at Lin Fang with an innocent and cute expression.
Lin Fang became startled. His hand had made a sharp turn and landed on her shoulder, “Ahem, you woke up! I, I was going, going to wake you up!”
Lu Xiao Shu glanced at him and thought to herself: What’s wrong with him? Why is he stammering early in the morning?
“Ah!” She cried and sat up. She hurriedly pulled up the curtains and looked out the window, “Where are we? Are we there yet?
Lin Fang immediately reassured, “Yes! We have arrived! This is a small town beside Qi Lin Lake. The dock is outside the town and Yu District is right across the lake.”
“Let’s get off the carriage and have something to eat. The coachman and carriage can wait here. We’ll go to the lakeside and ask around!” Lu Xiao Shu suggested and stood up.
“Okay!” Lin Fang nodded.
After they had their breakfast, the coachman went to find a place to rest. The three of them asked around the people along the way to the lakeside.
Qi Lin Lake was a remarkably huge lake. The lake was abundant in various types of aquatic resources like fish and shrimps, lotus roots, water chestnut, gorgon fruits, and so on. Therefore, there were many villagers and families scattered along the lakeside.
The three of them arrived at the dock of Qi Lin Lake. The lake was shrouded with a veil of morning mist and the plants on the shore were dampened by the mist. Breezes of wind with a faint fishy smell blew from the lake, which sent chills up to their spine.
Small fishing boats could be seen departing and pulling up at the dock from time to time. The fishermen were ready to go fishing in the early morning.
Lu Xiao Shu stood at the dock and gazed across the endless vast lake. Tears were welling up in her eyes when she thought about the possibility of her father having his last breath in this lake.
“Xiao Shu, don’t be sad. Let’s ask around!” Lin Fang was also having a hard time seeing her being sad.
“Okay.” Lu Xiao Shu nodded. They began to ask around the people along the lake.
Most of the fishermen knew about the sunken boat from that day. They all shook their heads and sighed in sympathy. How could there be no big exotic fishes in this huge lake? Those who could find and get the corpse intact would be extremely lucky!
The more she knew, the more anxious Lu Xiao Shu was. She described the appearance of her father and asked the fishermen. However, this was making things difficult for them because none of them had seen her father.
Shortly after, someone kindly advised them, “The government office had sent someone to the town after that incident. Why don’t you visit the town and ask the people from the government?”
They were enlightened by the kind man. They hastily thanked the man and hurried towards the town.
The stores in the town were opened for business by the time they reached. Lin Fang found the Lin Family-owned-store and commanded the owner to follow him. The owner was surprised by the arrival of the Young Master. He dared not be negligent.
Lu Xiao Shu requested a calligraphy brush and ink to draw a portrait of her father. They then rushed towards the government office.
The owner clearly had a close relationship with the officers. The three of them went in without difficulties and met the officer who was in charge of the incident at the lake.
No one could accurately pinpoint the exact number of people on the boat. They estimated there were around twenty to thirty people according to the description of the people at the dock of Yu District. However, there were only seven salvaged victims and some clothes that were floating were found, the rest was still nowhere to be found.
Lu Xiao Shu was distressed, she hastily unfolded the portrait scroll painting for them.
The officer exclaimed when he saw the painting, “This portrait looks so real!”
Lu Xiao Shu’s heart skipped a beat, she anxiously asked, “Does, does that mean that the salvaged bodies in…include……”
The officer realized his choice of words had caused some misunderstanding. He shook his head and apologetically smiled, “No, no! None of them looked like this, absolutely none! Hey, who drew this? The portrait is so real, it looks just like a living human! I won’t be wrong……”
Lu Xiao Shu was relieved when she knew it was just a misunderstanding. She was so furious and was itching to beat the officer up. This bastard! Can’t you speak clearly?! You scared the hell out of me!
Lin Fang was also upset with the officer, and he secretly glared at him. Since they had asked all of their questions, they presumed that they could not get any extra information from the officer anymore. He advised Lu Xiao Shu: “Xiao Shu, don’t be upset. Look, at least Uncle Lu was not one of them, Uncle Lu will most probably be fine! Xiao Shu, let’s leave and think of another way!”
Lu Xiao Shu lifted her head up and gazed at him with a dismal expression.
Lin Fang held her arms and reassured softly: “Let’s go, there will be a way!”
Lu Xiao Shu kept silent and allowed him to pull herself out of the government office.
The owner was following behind them. He was secretly amused and thought to himself: This Young Master was rumored to be naively arrogant and outrageous because his father and brother doted on him. Apparently, this young man has such a gentle side. Hmm, you have a crush on this girl, don’t you……
“I want to go to Yu District by boat.” Lu Xiao Shu suddenly stopped and firmly uttered.
