Chapter 89

Feng Dasha was quite troubled by Sima Ruyu's relentless and persistent questioning. He sighed inwardly, wondering why he had to be so unlucky as to fall into the hands of this girl. He frowned and stared at Sima Ruyu's beautiful face, truly wanting to tell her the story of "curiosity killed the cat."

"Sima Miss, did you send someone from afar to summon me just to investigate my background? As far as I know, even matchmakers in Tiansouth don't work as diligently as you. Miss, are you perhaps interested in me? That wouldn't do, you know. No matter what, I am already engaged. Your enthusiasm is too much for me to handle..."

Since Sima Ruyu was determined to get to the bottom of things, Feng Jueyu decided not to be polite. He thought, let's see who has more perseverance, this girl or me. Let's chat, who's afraid of whom...

In this era, young girls viewed chastity as their life. Such jokes were not to be taken lightly. Sima Ruyu, who was in the middle of her questioning, was suddenly interrupted. Hearing Feng Jueyu's teasing, her face turned red instantly. If it weren't for her concern for propriety, she would have spat at Feng Dasha.

"Big Brother Feng, although I am not very capable, I do understand the importance of maintaining one's principles. How could I be as shallow as you say? I merely admire your poetry and wanted to understand you better. I didn't expect..."

Sima Ruyu's face turned red with anger, and her chest heaved with her breaths. Although not overly large, her bosom still had a grand presence, complementing her soft and plump figure.

Feng Jueyu found this amusing. So, you now realize I'm a rogue? What were you doing just now? Trying to outsmart me? I'll be a rogue to the end.

"What didn't you expect?" Feng Jueyu gave Sima Ruyu a hard look, thinking, damn, I came all this way, I need to enjoy the view. He then stared intently at Sima Ruyu and said, "Didn't you expect me to be crude? I already told you, those poems were copied. Sima Miss, you still don't believe me and insist on getting to the bottom of things. How am I supposed to answer? Besides, don't you think these questions are private? You ask so many detailed questions, how do you expect me to feel?"

Sima Ruyu was taken aback by Feng Jueyu's counter-question. She thought, you're right, I did ask too many questions. Everyone has secrets they don't want to reveal. I must have annoyed him. I would be upset too.

Thinking this, Sima Ruyu lowered her head in shame. Then, as she glanced at Feng Jueyu, she suddenly realized: No, I invited him here to understand him, the one who could silence Xiruiyun. How did he end up lecturing me? This rogue is indeed as rumored, a shameless and crude person. His words are vulgar. I must have misjudged him. Those poems might have been copied from someone else.

Seeing Feng Jueyu's brazen gaze, Sima Ruyu's face turned red, and she bit her lip. This man is too shameless, staring at me like that.

She deliberately twisted her body and stood up. Her upbringing and the rules of her sect told her to maintain composure at all times, so even though she was furious, she didn't lose control.

Suppressing the urge to look at Feng Jueyu, Sima Ruyu said, "If Big Brother Feng doesn't like me asking, then I won't ask. I invited you here because I have a request."

I knew you had something. Feng Jueyu put down his teacup and smiled smugly, "That's better. Being straightforward is much better. Suspicion doesn't help build a relationship."

Sima Ruyu grew angrier the more she listened. She spat inwardly, who wants to build a relationship with you? She glanced at Feng Jueyu and said sarcastically, "Is this how Big Brother Feng usually interacts with people? You are indeed very direct."

Feng Jueyu, of course, heard the sarcasm in Sima Ruyu's words, but he was thick-skinned and showed no sign of shame. Instead, he said, "What's the problem? We can only have a good conversation if we are honest with each other, right?"

Sima Ruyu knew Feng Jueyu was being evasive, but she couldn't find fault with his words. She realized Feng Jueyu was not easy to deal with. This guy was a master of sharp-tongued remarks.

Sighing inwardly, Sima Ruyu realized that her composure had been nearly broken several times by Feng Jueyu. Talking to him was more exhausting than doing anything else.

Sima Ruyu said, "Big Brother Feng, I invited you here today because I want you to teach me the art of sketching. Will you agree?"

"Learning to draw? I thought it was something big." Feng Jueyu was relieved. It seemed the art of sketching had already spread among the upper class in Tiansouth. Otherwise, someone as cold and beautiful as Sima Ruyu wouldn't have sought him out.

"So, Big Brother Feng, you agree?" Sima Ruyu asked, half-surprised and half-delighted.

"Teaching you to draw? It's not a big deal. Of course, I can." Feng Jueyu smiled, genuinely agreeing.

Sima Ruyu felt a surge of joy. When she returned from Zhang Changling's birthday, her father, Sima Wen, had told her about the power of sketching, making her regret not staying to observe. After a night of deep thought, she finally couldn't resist writing to Feng Jueyu.

On one hand, she wanted to understand the person who had written so many famous poems. On the other hand, she wanted to learn sketching from him.

As the first talented woman of Tiansouth, Sima Ruyu deserved the title. She wanted to learn all the skills related to music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. This was her ultimate goal in seeking out Feng Jueyu.

So when she saw Feng Jueyu agree without hesitation, she felt a bit of goodwill towards him. Just as she was about to thank him, she heard Feng Jueyu say, "Let's do it this way. Since you want to learn, we should have a proper apprenticeship ceremony. It doesn't have to be complicated, just serve some tea and bow three times..."

"An apprenticeship ceremony?" Sima Ruyu was stunned, "How old are you? You want me to be your disciple?"

Sima Ruyu's face turned purple with anger. This shameless man, how dare he ask her to be his disciple...

Feng Jueyu looked at Sima Ruyu with a knowing smile and said, "Learning has no age. The one who knows more should lead. If you want to learn, you should be my disciple. It doesn't matter that we are about the same age. Even if I were a three-year-old, I would still be the only one who knows sketching. If you want to learn, you must be my disciple. What's the problem? If Miss Sima feels it's unfair, you don't have to..."

"You... you are taking advantage of me..." The usually composed and elegant Miss Sima finally lost her cool. This was the first time she had been helpless in front of a peer. She knew Feng Jueyu was taking advantage of her and retaliating, but his words were unassailable.

Sketching was a skill known only to Feng Jueyu in all of Tiansouth. If she wanted to learn, she had to learn from him.

If you want to learn from someone, you must be their disciple. Not only that, but you also have to see if they are willing to teach.

But it was hard for Sima Ruyu to accept a boy her age as her teacher. Calling him "teacher" every time they met would be too awkward. What if she met Shangguan Ruomeng? Would she have to call her "teacher's wife"?

This was unacceptable...

Sima Ruyu was on the verge of tears, but she had no words to counter Feng Jueyu...

Seeing her state, Feng Jueyu couldn't help but laugh. He suppressed his laughter and thought, girl, this is your own doing, not my fault. I'm a busy man, I don't have time to teach you.

In fact, Feng Jueyu had no intention of teaching her. Sketching was simple in theory but difficult to master. It would take at least a year or two of practice to get good at it. Feng Jueyu didn't have time to teach her every day. So he came up with a plan to make Sima Ruyu give up.

Feng Jueyu said sternly, "Miss Sima, you don't seem sincere. Think it over. I'll leave now. Thank you for the tea."

With that, Feng Jueyu turned to leave.

But at that moment, Sima Ruyu called out, "Wait."

Feng Jueyu stopped, puzzled, what's going on?

Sima Ruyu, gritting her teeth, stared at Feng Jueyu for a while, then shouted, "Xiaobi, Xiaolian..."

The two maids, who were in the front yard, ran over quickly, "Miss..."

Sima Ruyu said, "Prepare a new pot of tea. I want to become a disciple."

"What?"

All three were shocked. Xiaobi and Xiaolian looked at their mistress in confusion. Become a disciple? Of whom? Not of Feng Gongzi, right? He's so young. There's no one else here, is there? How could Miss, such a distinguished person, become a disciple of someone her age?

It's no wonder Xiaobi and Xiaolian were puzzled. Who was Sima Ruyu? They knew very well. In Tiansouth, she was the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, a noble lady and the first talented woman. In Tianjian Mountain, she was a legitimate disciple, whose master even the emperor would show respect to. How could she casually decide to become Feng Jueyu's disciple?

Who was Feng Jueyu?

A playboy from Tiansouth, the son-in-law of the Shangguan family. This was too absurd...

"Go and prepare it quickly," Sima Ruyu said, seeing the maids hesitate.

The two maids, despite their doubts, dared not disobey and hurried to the kitchen to prepare the tea...

Feng Jueyu stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay. He looked at Sima Ruyu in a daze, thinking, damn, is she serious? No way.

To the readers:

PS: I got home at 11 and quickly wrote this chapter. Here it is...