Pan Shulin's eyes showed a hint of melancholy: "It's alright, we can take our time. There's no need to rush this matter."
"Don't say it's not urgent, young master. You have long passed the marriageable age. If this Young Master Cheng makes you wait another three to five years... even if you are willing, the master will not agree."
"..." Pan Shulin let out a long sigh: "Father cannot force me."
"Young master... it's not a question of forcing. If you delay too long, people will gossip. Look at Zhao Xiang, he's only two years older than you, and see what people say about him." The servant said.
Pan Shulin pressed his lips together displeased: "Don't compare me to Zhao Xiang. That person is ugly, dirty, truly unwanted. He is different from me."
"Yes, young master is certainly different." The servant said: "I was just giving an example... meaning this matter cannot be delayed... Achieving a happy outcome with Young Master Cheng sooner would work to our advantage. Once things are settled, the city lord, Young Master Cheng, and Xi Yao won't be able to remain so fixated on past memories."
Pan Shulin naturally knew this was true... but...
Pan Shulin said angrily: "...Right now Brother Bai's thoughts are not on me at all. What can I do? Could it be I should force it?"
"Force..."
Pan Shulin muttered in a low voice, suddenly remembering something, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
The servant, having angered Pan Shulin, was obediently lowering his head, not daring to say more. Hearing that mutter, he slightly raised his eyes and saw Pan Shulin's mouth curved into a sinister hook, carrying a very strange smile.
"I think... I have a way."
"?" The servant was puzzled.
Pan Shulin said: "Brother Bai will definitely be mine tomorrow."
After saying this, he walked ahead first, his happy appearance as if he were getting married the next day.
The next day.
When Wang Jin got up, he saw the heated breakfast and morning tea on the table, but when he went to the man's room to look, he found Yuan Heng was not there.
He went to take another look at the small workshop—the door was closed again, and sounds of clinking and clattering came from inside.
Wang Jin pursed his lips, but ultimately did not knock on the door, just left dejectedly. After picking at his breakfast without much appetite, he tried to draw for a while, but the man's image kept intruding upon his thoughts.
The man slept later than him and got up earlier than him. He hadn't seen the man for many days. That person had said earlier that for some days he wouldn't be able to attend to him... and he really hadn't...
He also felt at ease leaving him alone in this Ning'an City...
Although he was indeed doing quite well himself...
Wang Jin sighed. The image of the man constantly appearing in his mind left him in no mood to draw.
This 'one day apart feels like three seasons', he had experienced many such 'three seasons', his hair was about to turn white.
Wang Jin simply put down his brush and went to stroll in the shop's backyard. A new batch of fabric had arrived. The color of this batch was indigo blue, the hue was pure, the fabric felt extremely smooth to the touch, and most rare was that it had a subtle pattern. The indigo blue color was very deep, and such a deep color is originally not easy to print with a subtle pattern, but this one contrary to expectations had a subtle pattern. Moreover, the pattern was like cloud motifs, shimmering slightly under sunlight, extremely gorgeous.
This batch of fabric had only this one bolt like this. Wang Jin liked it very much at first sight. He took the bolt down and said: "Xiao Pei, keep this bolt of fabric for me. I want to design a piece of clothing for Brother Heng."
"..." Xiao Pei stepped forward, looked at the fabric bolt, a strange flicker in his eyes, and said softly: "Young master, this fabric... isn't... isn't ours."
"?" Wang Jin looked at Xiao Pei puzzled.
Xiao Pei said: "This fabric bolt was sent over by Young Master Cheng, for us to make clothes for him. This subtle pattern, throughout the entire Ning'an City, only his cloth shop can produce it. And, judging by this quality, it should be that one-bolt-a-year fabric from his shop."
"One bolt a year?"
"He has a master craftsman who makes only one bolt of cloth a year. This bolt of cloth is bid up to a sky-high price every year. Looking at this one, it should be this year's bolt."
One bolt a year... truly a rare item.
Wang Jin thought about it and said: "It's fine, put it aside separately for now. Later I will go see Cheng Bai and see if I can get him to sell it to me."
"Yes." Xiao Pei acknowledged.
Wang Jin saw that it was still early, and Cheng Bai had arranged for dinner, so he returned to the courtyard to design Yuan Heng's clothes.
He had an idea in his mind for a piece of clothing particularly suitable for Yuan Heng. If it could be made and paired with that fabric just now... his Brother Heng would definitely be the most handsome man in the world, and he would rank second.
He drew until evening, when Uncle Shan reminded him it was time to keep his appointment.
Only then did Wang Jin put down his brush and go out.
Lately, everyone in the pavilion was busy, including Uncle Shan who had to manage the pavilion, so he didn't bring any attendants.
But only after he stepped out did he remember that he didn't know where Jiu Yuan was.
He had heard of Jiu Yuan before, but he had never learned its exact location.
Although he could ask for directions along the way, or take a beastman-pulled cart...
Wang Jin looked at the sky. Uncle Shan said it was Youshi (5-7 pm), but judging by the sky, it should have just passed Shenshi (3-5 pm)... still early to go to Jiu Yuan...
Cheng Bai probably hadn't gone over yet either.
He thought about it and decided to go to Cheng Bai's house to find Cheng Bai so they could go together.
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