Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 34

But Chen Zhou just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. 

He turned to Zhou Gu and continued, “She’s been rebellious and willful since she was a kid. Stubborn as a mule and a complete troublemaker. She’s always thought of herself as clever and believed kids her age were all idiots, so she refused to play with them. Even now, her temper hasn’t improved much. For a young lady, if someone offends her, she can hurl insults without using a single curse word, hitting you right where it hurts. And if someone dares to get physical with her? Oh, she’d love that, she adores fighting!” 

He pointed at his face. “This face of mine? She did this. I thought I’d tease her after so many years apart. Who knew she couldn’t take a joke? She got mad and didn’t care about our past friendship. She didn’t hit anywhere else, just went straight for my face. I’ve used three bottles of ‘Nourishing Jade Cream,’ and some of the bruises still haven’t healed. I might have to get another bottle from the physician at Rejuvenation Hall to fully recover.” 

After finishing, he looked at Zhou Gu with an earnest expression and said, “I’ve been away from home for years, so I’m sure there’s plenty she’s done that I don’t even know about. But I guarantee they’re all outrageous. Brother Zhou, you’ve only just met her and don’t know what she’s really like. She seems all sweet and delicate, but she’s got a pitch-black heart and a heavy hand. Clearly, she hasn’t changed one bit over the years. What I’ve told you is the absolute truth. Now that you know, don’t you think she’s terrible? Surely, you won’t marry her now, right?” 

Su Rong was at her wit’s end. “Chen Zhou, ruining someone’s engagement is like killing their parents.” 

Chen Zhou shrank back slightly and muttered, “I-I’m just telling the truth.” 

Su Rong stood up, grabbed him by the collar, and hissed, “Do you believe I won’t throw you down the mountain right now?” 

Chen Zhou’s face changed. 

Zhou Gu reached out and hooked Su Rong’s wrist, attempting to press her pressure point like before. But having fallen for this trick once already, Su Rong was prepared this time. She raised her other hand to block him. Zhou Gu hadn’t expected her to dodge and struck again, but Su Rong pulled Chen Zhou aside and avoided him once more. Within moments, the two were exchanging moves with Chen Zhou caught between them. 

Zhou Gu was surprised. “You actually…” 

Su Rong paused, released Chen Zhou, and snapped at him, “Get lost before I bash your head in!” 

Seeing that Su Rong was truly angry, just like the time he’d pushed her, and she’d hit her head, Chen Zhou got genuinely scared. He immediately raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, don’t be mad. I-I’m leaving now.” 

With that, he bolted down the mountain. The guards from the Chen family estate heaved a collective sigh of relief and hurried after him. 

Once Chen Zhou left, peace returned to the area. Su Rong pressed her hand against her forehead, realizing she’d been wrong earlier. The unlucky one wasn’t Zhou Gu, it was her. 

She never imagined that Chen Zhou would have such a knack for ruining her plans. 

Zhou Gu, however, seemed to be in a good mood. He scrutinized Su Rong from head to toe, a faint smile forming as he finally said, “Well, well, my fiancée, full of surprises. I never expected you to hold your own against me in a fight. You’ve really broadened my horizons.” 

Su Rong kept her hand on her forehead, utterly speechless. 

“What’s the matter? Why won’t you speak? Won’t even look at me?” Zhou Gu raised an eyebrow. 

Su Rong lowered her hand, glanced at him, and sighed with an expression that was hard to describe. “What’s there to say? Haven’t you learned enough already?” 

Zhou Gu clicked his tongue. “You’ve truly opened my eyes. From childhood to now, all the jaw-dropping stories seem to revolve around you.” 

Su Rong wanted to retort with, Is that supposed to be an honor? but she held back. Feeling helpless, she couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated. 

Zhou Gu suddenly reached out and poked her cheek. “What’s with the long face? Are you really that upset about me learning your past?” 

Su Rong puffed her cheeks, deflated, and scuffed her shoe against the ground. “Who’s afraid of you knowing?” 

It wasn’t fear. It was just… regret. Regret that she might lose such a good fiancé because of her reckless past. If she’d known the heir of the Duke Protector’s household was such a catch, she might’ve behaved better, at least enough to prevent Chen Zhou from rattling off a litany of her misdeeds. 

Zhou Gu withdrew his hand, discreetly rubbing his fingers against his sleeve to get rid of the faintly slippery sensation and resumed climbing the mountain. “You, a little girl, were so bold from such a young age. Joining an escort caravan? Weren’t you afraid something might happen to you? Weren’t you scared of getting lost?” 

Su Rong touched her cheek where he’d poked her, hurried to keep up, and replied, “The caravan escorts were highly skilled, experienced, and reliable. They traveled by day, rested by night, and stuck to official roads. There was nothing to fear.” 

Zhou Gu considered her explanation, picturing her as a seven-year-old child. Even then, she must’ve been adorable, rosy and doll-like, drawing attention wherever she went. “How did you, looking the way, you do, manage to pass off as inconspicuous during that trip?” 

“I dressed as a boy, smeared my face with charcoal, and blackened any exposed skin. Who would take a second look at me?” Su Rong reminisced. “That trip went smoothly, but it scared my parents half to death. They were so worried they pressured the escort agency so hard it nearly shut down. After that, they never let me go anywhere again.” 

Zhou Gu remarked, “If every child were like you, their parents would be scared to death. Your poor parents, you’re lucky they didn’t keel over from the stress.” 

He suddenly grew curious. “The matriarch isn’t your biological mother, right? As the lady of the house, didn’t she try to discipline you? She seems… kind to you?” 

In his experience, stepmothers weren’t usually kind to illegitimate daughters. Yet, based on his observations of the Lord household, the family dynamics seemed unusually harmonious. 

“She did discipline me. I’ve been punished plenty, caned palms, copying scriptures, kneeling in the ancestral hall…” Su Rong began counting on her fingers. “But I had a great father who interceded for me, an amazing elder brother who shielded me, and the matriarch herself, though strict, was soft-hearted. Over time, she just couldn’t control me anymore.” 

“So, no one in the Lord’s household could handle you?” Zhou Gu found it hard to imagine that the petite, delicate-looking girl before him had caused so much chaos. 

“There’s someone who can.” Su Rong said, “My elder brother.”