He only felt embarrassment, extreme embarrassment.
The costumes worn in performances at brothels were always revealing, unlike the everyday clothes of ordinary families. Although his current garment had fabric covering his arms, large patches of skin could still be seen faintly through it.
He could stand on stage and perform for everyone wearing this outfit as if nothing were wrong, but he could not bear to stand before her looking like this.
He would rather Wu Shao leave in anger due to his rudeness than have her see him in such a state up close.
Watching Zi Su's hurried retreating back, Wu Shao subtly shifted her gaze and turned to sit on a stool, showing no impatience whatsoever.
Zi Su, having changed his clothes, did not go out immediately. Instead, he sat alone in the room, looking at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes felt a little hot, and he blinked several times, trying to conceal the unusual sensation.
The clothes he wore now were normal, the kind worn by good families' men. He was completely covered from head to toe, showing none of his previous appearance. Yet, even so, it could not erase the fact that he had worn that outfit and been in a brothel.
After the performance concluded, just as the brothel was about to close its doors to guests, Zi Su emerged from the room, ready to leave. By this time, Wu Shao should have long gone.
Descending to the first floor, Zi Su saw the inconspicuous small corner by the entrance empty. He blinked, quickly averted his gaze, and walked out as if nothing were amiss. Yet, a feeling he couldn't quite describe, a sour fullness, filled his heart.
"Young Master Zi Su."
A voice, extremely soft yet distinct, came from behind him, as if afraid of startling him.
Hearing this familiar voice, his heart skipped a beat, and the sour fullness surged into his chest again, welling up to his eyes.
"Miss Wu." Zi Su did not turn around, lowering his head slightly as if adjusting his attire.
"I saw the young gentlemen inside were about to clean up, and I didn't want to sit there and hinder them, so I came out first."
This sentence seemed to be an explanation for why she hadn't stayed inside, an explanation directed at him.
"Why hasn't Miss Wu left?" Sensing Wu Shao walking to his side, Zi Su finally looked up and turned to face her.
"It's getting late, and I want to escort Young Master Zi Su home." Wu Shao replied truthfully.
In the night, illuminated by the light spilling from the brothel, Wu Shao quietly watched Zi Su's profile.
Under the dim, yellow candlelight, he slightly bowed his head, a few strands of hair by his ear naturally falling to the side of his face. His delicate jawline was faintly visible beneath the veil of hair, making him appear demure and well-behaved.
Sensing the gaze upon his face, Zi Su awkwardly tucked his hair behind his ear, revealing his delicate profile completely. His voice was slightly cold, "Thank you, Miss Wu."
Wu Shao walked beside him, half a step behind, her footsteps light, barely noticeable on the quiet street.
Silence accompanied them all the way.
"Young Master Zi Su."
"Miss Wu."
They both spoke at the same time as they reached the alley entrance, looking up and meeting each other's eyes.
Zi Su's eyelashes fluttered rapidly as he quickly averted his gaze, too restrained to speak.
"Young Master Zi Su, you first." Wu Shao spoke softly, her gaze involuntarily falling upon his thick, clearly defined long eyelashes. Perhaps due to his nervousness, his lashes trembled slightly.
Zi Su did not decline. He spoke the words he had been organizing in his mind for a long time: "My father said he can help Husband Li look after the children. Please trouble Miss Wu to tell Husband Li that he can bring the children tomorrow during the lantern festival."
Wu Shao was slightly surprised that Zi Su wanted to say this. She nodded with a smile, "I thank Uncle on behalf of my brother."
The air fell silent again.
"When I came just now, I passed by a makeup shop. I saw the color of this box was quite pretty, so I bought it back, thinking... to give it to you." Wu Shao's eyes were fixed on Zi Su, her eyebrows furrowed in tension, unable to relax for a moment. "Take a look, do you like it?"
Zi Su's gaze followed her outstretched arm to the rouge box in front of him. Wu Shao's hand clutched the rouge box tightly, her fingertips turning white. Her arm was held stiffly straight, and she kept swallowing nervously.
Zi Su slowly raised his arm and took the small lipstick case from her hand. He gently opened it a crack in front of her, their gazes meeting over the rouge box.
The lid was slowly closed, and Zi Su held the lipstick case tightly in his palm. "I like it very much. Thank you, Miss Wu."
Upon returning home, Zi Su sat dazed before his dressing table, the lipstick case clutched tightly in his hand, his lips pressed together until they turned pale.
On the route from the clinic to the brothel, there was only one rouge shop that Wu Shao could have passed by: Linglong Rouge Shop.
But he had clearly seen a small line of text beneath the rouge box: Qimu Rouge Shop.
That was located east of the clinic, the opposite direction of the brothel, and even further from her home.
She wouldn't have passed by there for no reason. There was only one possibility: she had gone to buy this rouge specifically.
Each rouge shop had a different way of marking their boxes. Linglong Rouge Shop's name was engraved on the side of the box, while Qimu Rouge Shop's name was engraved on the bottom, a small, inconspicuous line.
For someone like Wu Shao, who knew nothing about rouge, it would be impossible to discover.
Qimu Rouge Shop was the best rouge shop in Qimu Town, renowned particularly for its lipsticks. And this color was precisely their most popular shade.
It was said that this color was extremely difficult to mix, and only a few boxes could be made at a time. Countless men in Qimu Town desired to buy it. He had once been among them, but as he grew older, he gradually let go of such things. Seeing it again today, his past desire for beauty was rekindled.
This lipstick was extremely rare, extremely beautiful, and highly sought after. He liked it immensely.
He suddenly had a thought he had never dared to entertain: he wanted to wear this lipstick to see her tomorrow.
Not for any other reason than to see her, to show her that the lipstick she sold him was now on his lips.
This year's lantern festival was exceptionally beautiful, more so than in previous years.
Husband Li accepted Zi Su's invitation and, along with Li Yan, brought the children to Zi Su's home.
After returning from the clinic, Wu Shao also came to Zi Su's home, using the excuse of looking for Husband Li.
"You can leave these two children with me. You can go and enjoy the lantern festival with peace of mind." Zi Su's father, looking at the two sleeping children on the bed, smiled and sat between them.
"Then we'll trouble Uncle." Husband Li felt a little apologetic.
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ps: The next side story for Zi Su and Wu Shao will feature Gu Yi and Zheng Yu, concerning Gu Yi's fear of childbirth. I would like to solicit your opinions: do you wish for Gu Yi and Zheng Yu to have children, or not?
For those who wish Gu Yi to overcome his fear and become pregnant, please comment '1' in the comment section. For those who wish Zheng Yu to counsel Gu Yi, leading them to decide not to have children and to live their lives as a couple forever, please comment '2'.
Their final side story ending will be decided by you.