Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 321: Candlelight Dinner

"Not only that."

The four maids couldn’t wait to detail every single wrongdoing of the Young Madam.

"There was also a time when the Young Master brought back a rare item from outside, presenting it to the Young Madam like a treasure. Yet, the Young Madam just gave it a quick glance and then got back to her work, eventually accidentally knocking it over and breaking it. The Young Master didn’t say anything and even told you that it was he who accidentally knocked over the cup, telling you not to mind. If the Young Master were to treat the Young Madam in such a way, how would she react?"

Qu Fulan thought about it, the more she thought, the more guilty she felt, "Is there more?"

"There is, of course, but since the Young Master doesn’t mind these two major issues, he surely wouldn’t care about the minor ones. Even though the Young Master might not care, the Young Madam should not remain indifferent. Besides, saying too much now won’t help; the Young Madam should think about how to properly make it up to the Young Master."

How else to make it up? Qu Fulan didn’t need to think to know; she had to be sincere and genuine. For this, she carefully devised a plan.

She first found out whether Pei Ji’an would return in the evening. Once she got a definite answer, she began her preparations.

The four maids knew their mistress intended to make up to the Young Master, so they naturally cooperated wholeheartedly. Finally, as the Young Master was about to return, they enacted the Young Madam’s plan.

When Pei Ji’an walked into Lixiang Courtyard, he saw her two maids standing at the door, "Welcome home, Young Master."

Whenever he went out on business, Pei Ji’an wore snug-sleeved attire. As he entered, unfastening his sleeves, he paused for a moment and then asked, "Where is the Young Madam?"

"Young Master, please do not inquire now. First, return to your room to bathe, and then we will lead you to meet the Young Madam."

These words sounded novel. Pei Ji’an didn’t know what she was up to but was happy to go along.

After not being favored by her for several days, he was secretly excited and expectant at this sudden change.

Fully cooperative, he retreated to bathe and changed into clean clothes, even ones she had preselected—a formal set befitting a palace banquet.

After dressing, Pei Ji’an followed the two maids to a pavilion.

From afar, he saw a long red carpet laid on the ground, extending from the pavilion to the courtyard gate.

"The Young Madam is waiting inside; please go in, Young Master."

After the two maids spoke, they withdrew.

Pei Ji’an stepped onto the red carpet, walking inside step by step.

The pavilion had evidently been transformed; before even entering, one could feel the difference.

Inside, he first saw her dressed as grandly as he was, matching in color, her hair adorned with a gold hairpin, her face with makeup, seated at a square table. On the table lay a white cloth, with candles alight and two servings of steak, accompanied by a red beverage?

Heir Pei was witnessing this arrangement for the first time, sensing a faint hint of romance amidst the novelty.

Admittedly, his instinct was quite accurate.

Qu Fulan had put significant effort into recreating a modern couple’s candlelit dinner; unfortunately, limited by ancient conditions, it was a hybrid of Eastern attire and Western meals.

The steak and noodles were doable, but wine was another matter; she ended up mixing red fruit juice with a touch of alcohol to pass as wine.

Qu Fulan decided that in the future, she would make her own grape wine. She also planned to select a suit, red dress, and heels for an authentic candlelight dinner.

For tonight, this would suffice.

"What is this?" he asked, puzzled by her actions.

Qu Fulan invited him to sit and said, "This is our candlelight dinner, also known as a date. Didn’t I tell you I once had a dream? In my dream, we dined together on a candlelit dinner, and now I want to make that dream a reality."

This explanation was quite well-put, and Pei Ji’an accepted it gladly. Whether in a dream or in life, it was him, how could he refuse?

Thus, their private candlelight dinner began.

Qu Fulan cut a piece of steak and fed it to him. Pei Ji’an, who had originally been cutting his own steak, was surprised and touched, proceeding to eat from her hand.

"Is it good?"

"Delicious."

"Cheers."

Their glasses clinked in the air.

What followed was more steak, conversation, and relaxation.

Sadly, there was no violin to accompany them; next time, she would prepare that too, along with a dance.

For now, there were no such luxuries, and the simple romantic dinner in an ancient setting couldn’t last too long. After the meal, they took a brief walk to aid digestion before she led him into the already-prepared room and blindfolded him with a cloth.

"Tonight, I take charge..."

As it turned out, the first half of the night was hers to command, but by the latter half, the roles had reversed.

The next day, Qu Fulan felt as if her waist were about to give out, but her guilt had long vanished into thin air. She believed this form of compensation was quite adequate, for she could tell he genuinely enjoyed it.

Indeed, he did. Previously, the Heir Pei was the initiator; now, with her taking the lead, such proactivity could drive a person mad.

What an enchantress!

The Heir Pei utterly understood the saying "Heroes fall for beauties"; when facing someone like her, he stood no chance.

"Why the sudden passion?" He couldn’t help but ask for the reason.

Qu Fulan, embarrassed to admit it was compensatory, simply said, "Just a bit of occasional romance, don’t you like it?"

"I like it, so much that it’s killing me."

On this day, the Heir Pei went out in high spirits, and the four maids beside Qu Fulan all noticed the Young Master’s exceptionally good mood.

"The Young Madam is amazing!"

Qu Fulan: I’m truly humbled by her excellence.

Even though last night was taxing, today she still had to go out to check on the bookstore’s event progress and guests’ reviews of the iron-grilled duck at "Flower Garden Ode."

Ten Thousand Books Bookstore.

Many stood by the bookstore entrance, reading the rules.

"Is this event for real? Are Mr. Zhang and Mr. Xu really going to judge?"

"The rules are clearly written, and there’s an official seal; it should be legit."

"The first prize is actually a hundred taels, and although the tenth doesn’t compare, it’s still seven taels."

The rules were very clear: the first place gets a hundred taels, the second fifty, the third forty, and so forth: thirty, twenty, fifteen, ten, nine, eight, and seven for tenth place.

All clearly noted.

"Isn’t the gap between first and second too big?"

"Otherwise, how can it entice people to strive for first place? This arrangement further ignites the pursuit for the top prize."

"Moreover, including Mr. Xu, Mr. Zhang, and several scholars, there are ten judges in total; this event is grand indeed."

"I want to enter!"

"Me too!"

"And me—"

...

The bookstore’s shopkeeper and attendants were bustling, "One at a time, no rush, there’s no participant limit, everyone can join."

One attendant took the opportunity to say, "Those waiting can browse inside, buying a book to pass the time is a good idea. Our shop has every kind of book."

With so many attending for the event, would they not purchase a book to study further?

Business was surely coming their way.