Chapter 222: Chapter 222

"What are you even saying? Wanhua is also my classmate, of course, I need to go!"

With this, Gu Chengyu and his group went to the inn where Huang Ming was staying, but the shopkeeper said Huang Ming hadn’t returned to the inn either. Gu Chengyu was also upset; the two went out to have fun and didn’t return for the night. Couldn’t they at least leave a message? Not a single word—isn’t it obvious he’d be worried?

"Did the shopkeeper know where they went?" Gu Chengyu asked the shopkeeper, holding back his frustration.

"That I don’t know, but in this Prefecture, if someone doesn’t return to the inn at night, they’re likely to have gone to that place, right?" The shopkeeper smiled suggestively at both of them, then realized they were just kids and might not understand such things, quickly reining in his smile.

"Does the shopkeeper know of a place with someone named Yan Bi?" Actually, Gu Chengyu felt a bit embarrassed asking this; someone ignorant might think he was interested in these places at such a young age.

"Never heard of it, but generally, the girls in brothels don’t have names like that!" This shopkeeper had also heard from others that brothel girls usually had names like Cui Liu, and those who perform but don’t sell themselves usually take elegant names like Su Qing. Such names weren’t often heard, but maybe he just hadn’t heard of them.

Gu Chengyu was a bit helpless; he couldn’t possibly run to every brothel in the Prefecture to find someone, right? Forget it, Gu Wanhua is an adult. Would he really go missing?

"Thank you, shopkeeper!" Gu Chengyu expressed his gratitude and then took Ye Zhiqiu out of the inn.

"Let’s head back! It’s late, where can we look? Let’s leave it for tomorrow!" Gu Chengyu, after a whole day’s running around, was a bit tired. He’d also thought of asking Yu Tuanzi to search, but Yu Tuanzi hadn’t brought anyone with him to the Prefecture, so where could he search?

Gu Chengyu still suspected that Gu Wanhua and the others went to the brothel, so in that case, they’d talk to him the next day when they saw him.

"Once he returns, I’ll have him go back with you first. Ming Mo should arrive tomorrow, so I’ll send you two back first. I still have matters to attend here in the Prefecture and will need a couple more days before returning." Gu Chengyu thought that if he could see Gu Wanhua now, he’d want to send him back immediately. These past two days, he had been too busy to keep a proper eye on Gu Wanhua.

"Alright then! Junior Brother Gu Wanhua is an adult already; he shouldn’t go missing. We’ll plan again tomorrow!" Ye Zhiqiu could understand Gu Chengyu’s difficulties; no one could keep an eye on an adult all the time.

Gu Chengyu and the others returned to the inn and instructed Manager Niu, once Gu Wanhua came back, to go find Gu Chengyu.

The dawn came early. By the time Gu Chengyu put down his pen, a hint of morning glow had appeared in the east. He stood up, and his view just so happened to look out the open window, where he saw that girl opening the door again. After the scholar stayed overnight twice, he hadn’t come over again, yet today, the girl opened the door once more. Who was it this time?

He curiously glanced over; after the girl opened the door, a man came out from inside. Gu Chengyu found the figure very familiar, and upon a closer look of the face, he was shocked—wasn’t that Gu Wanhua?

Gu Chengyu went around the desk and stood by the window. He watched as Gu Wanhua came out from the house, yet unlike the previous scholar who left in a hurry, Gu Wanhua was holding the girl’s hand, seemingly saying something in a low voice, too far for Gu Chengyu to hear.

After a few words, Gu Wanhua reluctantly let go of the girl’s hand and turned to walk outside the courtyard gate while the girl looked out before closing it.

She walked back into the courtyard, standing there as if pondering something, and then glanced at the window in Gu Wanhua’s direction. Gu Chengyu guessed she might want to see if Gu Wanhua returned to the inn. That girl’s gaze shifted, and she suddenly noticed someone standing in front of a window directly facing her courtyard.

She often saw that window open, but never saw who lived inside. Today was a surprise—someone was standing by the window. She couldn’t make out the person, who seemed short in stature and wearing silk clothing. She paused her steps, not caring if the person could see clearly, and smiled towards them.

Gu Chengyu saw the girl smile at him and then turned away. No doubt this was that Yan Bi. Just the other day, she was all affectionate with another scholar, eyes full of love, and today, she gave that to Gu Wanhua. Though girls in her profession lived on these skills, her acting was undeniably impressive!

Gu Chengyu only saw Gu Wanhua, but didn’t see Huang Ming. It seemed they weren’t together.

Gu Chengyu exited the room and stood by Gu Wanhua’s door. After a while, he heard footsteps approaching, perhaps Gu Wanhua had returned!

The moment Gu Wanhua appeared before Gu Chengyu, Gu Chengyu immediately called out, "Hua!"

Gu Wanhua, walking along and happily remembering the events of last night, was startled by Gu Chengyu’s voice.

"Little Uncle! Didn’t you know that you could frighten someone to death by scaring them like that? So early in the morning, are you trying to scare me?"

"You didn’t come home last night. Didn’t you know I’d be worried?" Gu Chengyu took a deep breath. At that moment, he felt that Uncle Gu’s instructions before leaving were truly testing his patience. Had he known, he would have brought Uncle Gu along.

"I..." Gu Wanhua stammered, last night he and Senior Brother Huang drank late, and after parting ways, he went directly to Yan Bi’s place. He hadn’t expected to sleep there last night.

"I, uh, went to Senior Brother Huang’s place to sleep. I drank too much last night!" Gu Wanhua feared Gu Chengyu would tell his grandfather, which might result in a beating.

"Is that so? But last night, Ye Zhiqiu and I went to find you at Senior Brother Huang’s, and the innkeeper said you weren’t there." Gu Chengyu sighed. He didn’t want to say more; he wasn’t Gu Wanhua’s parent—how could he be so controlling? But he couldn’t let him stay in the Prefecture any longer.

Gu Wanhua felt a bit guilty upon hearing this, unable to think of a plausible excuse just then.

"I don’t care where you’ve been these days. Just wait for Ming Mo to arrive today, and you’ll return with Ye Zhiqiu! We’ve been out for some days, and Uncle must be worried about you!"

"I’m not going back!" Gu Wanhua strongly protested at the mention of returning; he and Yan Bi were at their most lovey-dovey phase. How could he bear to leave?

"You’re not going back? Planning to stay in the Prefecture forever? Do you have enough money on you?" Gu Chengyu simply couldn’t understand. The expenses in the Prefecture were high, and that girl’s nightly fee wouldn’t be cheap, right? Before leaving, Uncle gave him only dozens of silver taels—how long could that last?

In fact, Gu Chengyu guessed correctly; Gu Wanhua had almost run out of money and hadn’t paid the rent yet! Earlier, he thought about borrowing some from Gu Chengyu on his way back, but now, looking at this situation, Gu Chengyu surely wouldn’t lend it to him.

Gu Wanhua was worried, but then he remembered that Yan Bi wasn’t after his money. She was kind and sincere to him, even expressed a genuine intention to stay with him. Yet, suddenly, Yang’s face flashed in his mind, and he felt a pang of guilt!