Just then, the dirt-faced man, carrying his 'mission', quietly passed the stables and headed towards the backyard. Unfortunately, things were not going as smoothly as he had imagined. Just as he was about to employ his crude method of searching for his target room by room, a maid blocked his path. He knew that any hint of panic would expose him, so he suppressed his inner tension and looked at the maid who had suddenly stopped in front of him with feigned calmness, remaining silent.
"Who are you?" The maid raised her lantern, illuminating the dirt-faced man from head to toe.
"I'm a friend of the General," the dirt-faced man was relieved that he had changed into clean clothes, otherwise, his words wouldn't make sense.
"Which one?" the maid asked again.
Which one?
However, the maid's question also stumped the dirt-faced man. He decided to stare at the maid's face, projecting an air of mystery.
"..."
The maid continued to look at the silent dirt-faced man with a confused expression, growing impatient. "I'm asking you, who are you?"
"I'm a friend of the General," the dirt-faced man emphasized.
The maid frowned. "I know you're a friend of the General. Then tell me," she lowered her lantern, adopting a dismissive expression, "which friend of the General are you?"
"You're just a maid in the General's mansion, aren't you?" the dirt-faced man said calmly.
After the dirt-faced man spoke, a trace of embarrassment appeared on the maid's face. "What's wrong with me being a maid? Why... do you look down on me?"
"I wouldn't dare," the dirt-faced man shook his head.
"Then you..." Before she could finish her sentence, the maid suddenly noticed the dirt smudges on the dirt-faced man's face. With a hint of suspicion, she said, "Strange, why is your face so dirty?" She then raised her lantern, looking more closely at the dirt-faced man's attire.
At this moment, the dirt-faced man sensed danger. "What are you trying to say?" He straightened his back, feigning toughness.
"Recently, houses in this area have been robbed," the maid stated directly.
"And then?" The dirt-faced man knew he had a mission, and more importantly, his mission was given by the General's 'trusted assistant.' Because of this, he felt no guilt; on the contrary, he felt proud of his current identity.
Seeing the smug look on the dirt-faced man's face, the maid's arrogant demeanor subsided considerably. "And then, you said you..." She paused abruptly mid-sentence.
"Why aren't you speaking?" the dirt-faced man retorted.
The maid glanced at the dirt-faced man's not-unattractive face and said, "Are you really a friend of the General?"
"Yes, why..." The dirt-faced man detected something else in the maid's expression and frowned slightly. "Do you think I'm a thief?" He deliberately widened his eyes, feigning anger.
The maid, startled, said, "I didn't mean that."
"You say you didn't," the dirt-faced man adopted an aggressive stance. "Your eyes just now, your questions, everything just now is enough to prove what you were thinking."
"I..."
"I am the General's best friend, and you dare to suspect me like this? Think about it," the dirt-faced man, blinded by his own lie, believed he had truly become the General's friend. "If I were to report this situation to the General, what would be your fate?"
"Don't," the maid pleaded, flustered.
"Now you're scared? You weren't this scared when you were suspecting me," the dirt-faced man said.
The maid was intimidated by the dirt-faced man's attitude. "There have been too many petty thieves outside lately, and the steward told us to be cautious. And you," she looked at the dirt-faced man cautiously, pursed her lips, and smiled, "you were acting so suspiciously just now, so naturally, I... got suspicious."
"Your sense of vigilance is quite impressive, girl."
"It's alright."
"Alright? You're truly too humble," the dirt-faced man felt a sense of relief as he saw the maid's guard drop. "Speaking of which, this way of yours is not good." He said earnestly.
The maid frowned slightly. "What's not good about it?"
"How is it not good? What if you really meet a bad person? What if... that bad person specializes in kidnapping girls? While you're taking care of the courtyard, you should also consider your own safety," the dirt-faced man advised earnestly.
Hearing the dirt-faced man's words, the maid couldn't help but blush. "Sir, thank you."
"Why are you thanking me?" The dirt-faced man was genuinely startled by the maid's sudden gratitude.
"To be honest, the steward who assigned me to guard duty never said anything caring to me. You," the maid smiled, "you're the first."
"The first?" The dirt-faced man found the maid's words somewhat exaggerated and felt awkward.
"Yes, you are the first..."
"Since you were little, haven't you had people who cared about you? Saying that," the dirt-faced man interrupted, taking a half-step back as if afraid of being misunderstood, "is too much."
"I'm an orphan," the maid added.
The dirt-faced man had drifted through the martial world for many years, witnessing all sorts of things and people. In that world, he most feared emotional entanglements. Therefore, whenever he encountered women, he habitually kept his distance. A Chu was the first woman he had truly liked, and the first woman he had genuinely wanted to approach.
He had never felt anything for other women. Now, listening to the maid's words, he suddenly didn't know what to say.
"..."
The maid looked up at the dirt-faced man who had suddenly fallen silent and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I have someone I like," the dirt-faced man stated directly.
As the dirt-faced man had expected, the maid had indeed developed 'feelings' for him. After he spoke, the maid's expression turned disappointed. "I didn't say I liked you, why are you so conceited?" She spoke the opposite of what she meant and averted her gaze.
"Miss."
"What?" The maid's attitude became stiff.
The dirt-faced man pursed his lips and said, "I don't think this is good for you." He felt the maid was too naive and suddenly had the urge to guide her.
"What's not good about me?" The maid became displeased.
"How is it not good? If you meet a man who treats you well, you fall for him. Aren't you afraid he might be a骗子 (piànzi - swindler)?"
"I don't like you."
"You..."
"Can you stop being so conceited? It's really sick." After the dirt-faced man said that, the maid suddenly felt her dignity was compromised.
Seeing this, the dirt-faced man realized... he was indeed a bit conceited. He then grinned and gave the maid a dry laugh. "Sorry, I..."
"Shut up," the maid interrupted sharply, and casually threw the lantern on the ground.