Seeing Face Under the Rouge

Hearing the knock, Bai Yun immediately stands up, looking at the door with vigilance.

The knock sounds again, only this time it is accompanied by a man's voice, "Miss Su, are you willing to have a talk with me?"

Su Wan calmly squeezed Bai Yun's shoulder to calm her down, before opening the door to meet with an unknown man. Sure, it was scandalous when putting in that way, but since she was in the company of another female companion, added to the many people that were just a call's notice away, she decided to open the door.

"Ah… Sir, is it impolite to knock on a lady's room in the middle of the night." She spoke sternly to the young man who was on the other side of the door.

Guo Ning looked at the young woman who had spoken, beneath all that heavy powder and makeup he saw on the stage, she was actually quite beautiful, though the only eyesore being her lips that were of a pale shade. "I do not think it is so, after all, I have now seen your true face. It is exquisite." There was an urge to touch her soft skin, but he narrowly controlled those fingers that did not seem to want to listen to his commands.

"I've been told that you enquired my name." She said with a smile that could not be considered a smile.

"Ah, yes. That was my friend, you see, he saw that I was so entranced with your performance that I could not take my eyes off you. So he went to ask for your name." Guo Ning said innocently, a smile that was gentle as water appeared on his lips. The appearance reminded one of a flirtatious gentleman who was handsome, romantic as his smooth voice charmed the ladies.

Not seeming convinced, she asked, "Then why have you come to my room?" Emphasis on her own room that no one was supposed to know about.

"I am very good at finding people, am I, Wan Wan."

The nickname he had given her at that moment nearly startled her. For as long as she remembered, there was not a single person who dared to address her by Wan Wan. That nickname made her flinch as a murderous intent appeared in her calm eyes.

The intent quickly dispelled as she reminded herself that another mysterious death in the Blue Mountain Pavillion was the last thing she needed.

"Are you so sure it was your friend who asked?"

"Certainly, I saw him bribe a worker to get your name." He said with a mysterious smile. The smile bloomed playfully on his lips as spoke.

"Then why did he tell you?"

"We are friends, brothers if you will." Implying that they knew each other's secrets.

"In that case, why is he not present, to have the gall to ask for a name, yet to not have the courage to show up, that certainly is a first." Su Wan said thoughtfully, condemning the cowardly man.

By now, Guo Ning's smile had withered a bit, "I came in his place you see." He slightly bowed to her, the way a gentleman would upon meeting a lady.

Su Wan merely bowed back. Here was the very definition of an informal situation, yet the two people decided to treat it as something formal as a gentleman meeting a noble lady in a plum blossom courtyard. They knew that neither would look the part in this small yet spacious room. The young woman dressed in plain garments, while the man in coarse clothing.

After seeing her mannerism, the smile blooms once again as he said: "Miss Su knows the etiquette well, you can be mistaken as a noble lady if you were to dress the part."

"You are the same as well." Su Wan deflected his comment on her etiquette.

"Hm… " Guo Ning sniffed the air. The foul scent of copper and iron reached his nose, "Is miss Su hurt?" He ponders.

"What a good nose you have, such a waste it would be if you did not go hunting for treasure." Su Wan said with a sigh of deep regret.

Guo Ning chuckles before his smile disappears, his expression turns serious. "How terrible it would be if you were to get hurt."

"I assure you there is no need to worry, it is only my maidservant who cut herself on broken shards, I only helped her bandage it up." Su Wan said with all seriousness.

Maidservant? Guo Ning looked to see a young girl who had been sitting there. How did he not see another living being in the room and this little maidservant had heard every word he said. To say the least, this was embarrassing.

"Since that's the case, I will be going now." He said, turning away. Yet as he was about to leave, he turned back around again, "Miss Su, remember my name, I am Guo Ning." With that, he left as quickly as he had come.

"Miss, why do you entertain him?" Bai Yun asked, her tone was that of a spoiled little girl.

"Should I not? After all, I was the one who opened the door." Su Wan simply states. If it had not been her to open the door, then this conversation would not have taken place. By opening the door, she had allowed him to come into her room. It had not been her intention to let anyone in, but it was she who reciprocated the gesture.

The door closes and the room remained silent. Su Wan turns her eyes to Bai Yun, her beautiful eyes narrowing as though to enquire information.

The eyes that seemed to search her soul were very uncomfortable and Bai Yun turns away, "Miss, you said that you would never ask me anything when it came to revenge."

"Ahh… You've started? Right, the day you came under me, I had indeed promised you that." Su Wan nodded, and the conversation does not go any further. The day that that little girl came under her, she had indeed made such a promise. When that girl asked to study martial arts, she had allowed it. After allowing her to do as she pleased for so many years, she had gotten used to it. Yet, when that little girl got hurt, she could not help but want to know.

"Do what you wish, but remember that revenge is often not the best way to do things. There are many things that can be solved without using force. Just think for yourself, and do not let the feeling of vengeance consume you." Those words were the best thing Su Wan could offer her. Changing a person's mind was not an easy task, especially that of a child that had suffered such a great tragedy. But Su Wan did indeed hope her preachings would get to her… Just, someday.