Drunken Flower Room - Chapter 61

Su Rong could see that Zhou Gu was truly angry now. Uh-oh. Turns out his tolerance had limits. Still, she held onto his arm, trying to reason with him. 

“Zhou Gu, look, you were fine with the first two places. Now that we’re here, the only difference is that it’s men instead of women. Why can’t you handle it?” 

Zhou Gu’s face was as dark as the night sky. “Are you leaving or not?” 

Su Rong didn’t want to leave, but seeing that not only was his face black, but his eyes were even darker, she quickly nodded. “Alright, alright, we’re leaving!” 

As she followed him out, she hesitantly asked, “But what about Moonlit Drunk…?” 

“We’re not drinking it,” Zhou Gu said firmly, pulling her away from Moonlight Hall. 

At the entrance, they ran into Feng Yue. That’s when Zhou Gu finally realized why this place had a male proprietor, this wasn’t just any establishment; it was a pure companion house. And to think he had assumed it was the same as the previous two! His face darkened further as he yanked Su Rong along without a word. 

Su Rong shot Feng Yue a glare. Normally, when she came here, the performers played instruments and danced while dressed respectably. But tonight? Tonight, they were practically draped in sheer fabric! Clearly, Feng Yue had done this on purpose. No wonder he had given her that knowing look earlier. 

That scoundrel! 

Su Rong would remember this. 

As soon as they left Moonlight Pavilion, Zhou Gu immediately let go of her wrist and stalked off toward the lord’s mansion, his face even darker than the night. 

Su Rong followed behind, quietly rubbing her wrist. With the strength he had used, there was no doubt she’d have a bruise by morning. In a small voice, she tried again, “Zhou Gu, was it really that bad? It was still just music and wine, after all…” 

Zhou Gu suddenly turned and glared at her. “How is it the same? Did you see what they were wearing? Was that something you should be looking at?” 

At Drunken Jade and Rouge Pavilion, the women had all been dressed elegantly, with nothing inappropriate. But here? The men’s clothing was nearly transparent. One of them had even been half-naked, seductively flaunting himself. It was utterly indecent! 

Su Rong had no retort. “Well… you have a point.” 

Zhou Gu narrowed his eyes. “Do you go there often?” 

“No, no, not often!” Su Rong quickly clarified. “Only once or twice.” But when Zhou Gu’s expression showed obvious disbelief, she hesitated before correcting herself, “Alright, maybe once or twice a year…” 

His face darkened even further. 

Su Rong hurriedly added, “Look, this time I brought you along, so Feng Yue must have misunderstood. That’s why he arranged it like that! Normally when I go, they wear normal clothes, if anything, they layer up to the point that you can barely see their faces.” 

She wasn’t lying. Feng Yue always said she was a freeloader, coming just for the music and wine without paying for companionship. He wouldn’t even let her get a free glimpse beyond the performances. 

Zhou Gu ignored her and kept walking toward the magistrate’s mansion. 

Su Rong sighed and followed a step behind, mumbling, “Come on, Zhou Gu, don’t be mad. I got tricked by Feng Yue too! And you didn’t even get to try Moonlit Drunk, that’s the real tragedy! We got to drink and listen to music for free, you know…” 

Zhou Gu let out a sharp laugh, both exasperated and amused. “Su Rong, you’re unbelievable!” 

Su Rong spread her hands helplessly. “But Moonlit Drunk really is delicious.” 

“Enough!” Zhou Gu cut her off. Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see were those barely dressed men and Su Rong staring at them in shock. He didn’t want to picture it anymore. “Just shut up!” 

Su Rong obediently shut her mouth. 

When they arrived outside the magistrate’s mansion, Su Rong handed Zhou Gu a climbing hook. “You go up first.” 

Zhou Gu took the hook and climbed up. But just as he reached the top, he seemed to spot something on the other side. His body stiffened, and in his moment of distraction, he lost his balance and fell. 

Su Rong gasped and rushed forward to catch him. But before she could reach him, Zhou Gu came to his senses mid-fall, grabbed onto the climbing rope, and barely managed to land back outside the wall. 

Su Rong quickly withdrew her hand and asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you drank too much? That’s impossible, you have great tolerance. Or… were you so angry at me that you lost your footing and fell?” 

Zhou Gu, still shaken, lowered his voice and muttered, “Your brother.” 

Su Rong: “……” 

Yep. Caught red-handed. 

She immediately leaned in close to Zhou Gu’s ear and whispered, “Stick to the story that we went to the night market. No matter what, do not admit to anything else. If we slip, we’re both doomed.” 

Zhou Gu took a deep breath and nodded stiffly. 

“Don’t look guilty. I believe in you.” Su Rong continued encouraging him, “Just act like you did back in the capital. You must have gotten into trouble back then too, right? And no matter who questioned you, you kept a straight face, didn’t you?” 

Zhou Gu thought back to those times—yeah, that was true. He felt a little more confident. 

From inside the wall, Su Xingze’s voice rang out, cold as ice. “Not coming in?” 

Zhou Gu quickly shoved the climbing hook back into Su Rong’s hands, signaling for her to go first. He deeply regretted ever accepting it in the first place. The dignified Fourth Young Master of the Duke Protector’s Manor, scared into falling off a wall? Absolutely humiliating. And now, in front of Su Xingze, he had lost all dignity. The frustration in his heart was unbearable. 

Su Rong swiftly climbed up, perched herself on the wall, and spotted her brother standing below, his face expressionless. She grinned and greeted him, “Big Brother, why are you still up so late? Are you also planning to sneak out for some fun?” 

Su Xingze stared at her coldly, saying nothing. 

Su Rong sighed, tossed the climbing hook back to Zhou Gu, and jumped down. 

Zhou Gu, still standing outside, hesitated for a long moment, staring at the tall wall and mentally preparing himself before climbing up again. Then, he jumped down, retrieved the climbing hook, and handed it back to Su Rong. Bowing slightly, he greeted, “Brother Su.” 

Su Xingze gave him a nod and said, “It’s late. You should return and rest, Young Master Zhou.” 

Zhou Gu froze. Su Xingze didn’t reprimand him, didn’t ask questions, just sent him straight to bed. That made him even more uncomfortable. He wanted to say something, but after glancing at Su Rong, he decided to keep his mouth shut. Instead, he nodded and silently walked back to his guest courtyard. 

It wasn’t that he was disloyal, he was just too guilty to argue. 

Once he was gone, Su Rong forced an awkward smile. “Big Brother, I was just taking Zhou Gu to the night market.” 

“The night market?” Su Xingze’s expression remained unreadable. 

“Uh-huh.” 

“Then why do you reek of Hundred Brews and Rouge Smile?” His gaze locked onto her. “And why are you covered in the scent of powdered perfume?” 

Su Rong: “……” 

Was she the fool, or was her brother just freakishly sharp? He could even tell exactly what wine she had been drinking?! 

She eyed him warily. “Well, uh, Big Brother, we really did go to the night market.” 

She was confident she had covered her tracks perfectly. No one had been tailing them, and the three establishments were all under her control, there was no way anyone had ratted her out. And while Su Xingze had been waiting here, it didn’t seem like he had been here for long. 

Su Xingze smirked. “Mr. Xie returned and informed me that you took Zhou Gu into Moonlight Pavilion.” 

Boom. 

Su Rong was speechless. 

So that was it. 

Her brother’s trusted aide had snitched. 

Su Xingze looked her up and down and scoffed, “Su Rong, you really are something.” 

Taking your fiancé on a tour of brothels? Only she could pull off something like that.