Chapter 59: Aren't You the One to Blame for This Good Deed

It was unknown how much time had passed.

The intense heat fading from Su Ying'er's body allowed her consciousness to return to normal, yet the two did not stop, instead continuing to sink deeper into the embrace.

Only when both were utterly exhausted did they finally come to a halt.

Su Ying'er lowered her head to adjust her clothing, her flushed face radiating the warmth of spring, while her peach-blossom eyes were filled with bashful shyness.

Fan Xiu also dressed himself and said, "Miss Ying'er, I am sorry."

"This is not your fault."

Su Ying'er looked at Fan Xiu, though after a mere glance, she hurriedly averted her eyes in embarrassment and said, "I should even thank you. If not for you, I would likely have fallen into Xie Tangfeng's clutches. Since he was bound to benefit, I would rather it be you. At the very least, I do not despise you."

"Is it merely not despising?" Fan Xiu asked.

With a face full of shyness, Su Ying'er gazed at Fan Xiu and retorted, "What? This is only our second time meeting, yet you have taken my innocence—should I be deeply in love with you?"

"Ahem."

Fan Xiu coughed softly in embarrassment.

He had never expected that Su Ying'er, living amidst the pleasure quarters and reigning as the top courtesan of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, remained a maiden.

Yet, Fan Xiu still muttered softly, "Just now, you were quite proactive yourself."

Earlier, he had clearly sensed when Su Ying'er's consciousness had returned.

At the very beginning, when the aphrodisiac's effects were at their peak, Su Ying'er had been wildly passionate; later on, shame began to creep in, though she never stopped.

Su Ying'er shot Fan Xiu a sideways glance, ignoring his remark, and asked instead, "How did you come to be here?"

Fan Xiu explained to Su Ying'er about his wager with Liu Wenyang and Xie Tangfeng, as well as how he had uncovered Liu Wenyang's scheme.

Tying the silk ribbon around her waist, Su Ying'er remarked, "Liu Wenyang has always been calculating; I am certain he never imagined his plot would be undone by your hands. You saved me today, but you also took my purity, so we are even. I hope you will not speak of this to anyone else."

Fan Xiu immediately raised a hand and vowed, "I swear, a third person shall never know of what transpired here!"

"I hope you keep your word."

Su Ying'er said, then attempted to stand, only to let out a soft gasp as her legs turned weak and she began to fall.

Fan Xiu hastily rose, caught her by the waist, and asked with concern, "What is wrong?"

Giving him an annoyed glare, Su Ying'er snapped, "Whose fault do you think it is? You had no mercy whatsoever on a tender flower!"

Fan Xiu rubbed his nose and muttered, "You were the one on top for the most part; I was only up there for a little while at the end."

Suddenly, Su Ying'er produced a dagger from her robes, the blade pointing straight at Fan Xiu's cheek.

Fan Xiu's expression changed, and he cried out in alarm, "Su Ying'er, what are you doing?"

With her face burning with embarrassment and anger, she hissed, "Say another word and I will kill you!"

However, no sooner had she spoken than—

"Hiss!"

Su Ying'er let out a sharp gasp of pain, her body once again losing control as she swayed to the side.

Fan Xiu quickly caught her again, speaking with a helpless tone, "Stop trying to push yourself. I admit I was wrong, all right?"

Normally, if it were anyone else, he would have continued arguing.

But facing Su Ying'er, especially having just taken her innocence, it was wiser to hold his tongue.

Su Ying'er glared fiercely at Fan Xiu.

"What should we do next?"

Fan Xiu asked, "Shall I take you back to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion now, or go straight to the Savor Pavilion?"

"In the state I am in, how can you have the heart to make me go to the Savor Pavilion?" Su Ying'er glared at him furiously.

Right now, her entire body felt entirely sapped of strength; merely standing up had triggered waves of tearing pain.

Fan Xiu awkwardly replied, "Didn't we say earlier that if you don't go to the Savor Pavilion, my scholar's title will be forfeit, and I'll end up forced into the Xie family?"

"Say no more, I will go," Su Ying'er said with a tightly furrowed brow. "I don't care about your scholar's title. If worst comes to worst, I can introduce you to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion as a privileged attendant, which would be enough to ensure you food and clothing for a lifetime! But going to the Xie family is completely out of the question. However, you must first take me back to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion; in my current state, I cannot be seen by anyone."

Fan Xiu glanced at Su Ying'er, whose eyes still carried traces of lingering passion and whose hair was in disarray. She certainly was not in a condition to be seen by others.

Otherwise, it would undoubtedly cause everyone's jaws to drop.

"Very well. By the way, Ying'er,"

Fan Xiu said as he took off his outer robe and draped it over Su Ying'er's shoulders, "This way, no one will recognize you."

Su Ying'er nodded, offering no refusal.

A surge of joy welled up in Fan Xiu's heart.

He had addressed her by name, and Su Ying'er had not rejected it, nor had she shown anger.

This indicated that the distance between their hearts had closed just a little bit more.

Shortly after, Fan Xiu supported Su Ying'er, guiding her through the alleyways toward the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Though they encountered a few passersby along the way, no one paid them excessive attention; people merely glanced briefly, finding the scene slightly peculiar, but quickly losing interest.

After all, strange sights were commonplace.

Along the path, Fan Xiu hesitated constantly over whether or not to tell Su Ying'er about Xiao He.

Although Xiao He had been unaware of the full plot, she had still been implicated in it.

Yet, Song Yi was already dead.

After turning the matter over in his mind, Fan Xiu probed cautiously, "Ying'er, how is your relationship with Xiao He?"

"Hmm?"

Su Ying'er looked at him in confusion and asked, "Why do you suddenly ask about this? You aren't harboring any designs on Xiao He, are you? If you are interested, I can put in a word at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion."

Fan Xiu shook his head immediately. "Not at all, I was simply curious."

Su Ying'er bit her lower lip softly and said, "Ever since I entered the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Xiao He has been the one accompanying me. Throughout the entire pavilion, apart from Guo Xiulan, my relationship with Xiao He is the closest."

A contemplative look crossed Fan Xiu's face.

That being the case,

it was best not to tell Su Ying'er about how Xiao He had betrayed her. Song Yi was already dead, and once he gave Xiao He a stern warning, she would likely never dare to betray Su Ying'er again.

As they neared the back door of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, Su Ying'er's strength had recovered sufficiently for her to manage a barely normal walk.

Though a discerning observer might still have noticed a slight awkwardness in her stride.

Even so, such a recovery rate was already extraordinary compared to ordinary people.

"You do not need to escort me inside."

Su Ying'er said, "I can return by myself. If anyone sees you, Xie Tangfeng will surely trace it back to you."

With that, she gently pushed Fan Xiu away and walked toward the entrance alone.

Knowing the validity of her concerns, Fan Xiu did not follow further.

After taking a few steps, Su Ying'er paused, turned her head to look back at Fan Xiu, and after a moment of hesitation, said, "Fan Xiu, if one day you achieve the standing to appear before me openly, I might just consider you."

Then, she vanished through the doorway.

From afar, Fan Xiu watched her slender, gentle retreating figure, his fists slowly tightening.

At present, he was simply far too weak.

Su Ying'er had the backing of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, and since Xie Tangfeng was in the wrong, he dared not harm her.

But Fan Xiu lacked such protection.

He could not even reveal his face in public, let alone take Su Ying'er away with him.