Xie Jiang did not want to know Su Yang's pursuit, but Su Yang insisted she should know. "He Zhifei is too busy to be free, because He Zhifei's pursuit is power and status, while I only seek the favor of the Young Master."
This was the difference between him and He Zhifei. He wouldn't pretend to be reserved, waiting for the Young Master to notice him someday. He would actively pursue what he wanted.
If he wanted the Young Master to see him, he would stand before the Young Master. If he wanted the Young Master's favor, he would tell the Young Master loudly.
Otherwise, could he expect the Young Master to guess? With so many admirers buzzing around the Young Master, constantly dazed and confused, where would the Young Master find the extra energy for this?
Wait until he was old and faded to beg for the Young Master's sympathy? By then, how many new people would have joined the Young Master's side? Newcomers were already flocking in!
Did he think that working tirelessly like an ox would get the Young Master's attention? Little did he know, someone had already taken the lead and fallen into the Young Master's embrace!
Before, they all thought the Young Master was still young, and that filling his harem would have to wait. Who knew that waiting would bring such dire news!
The Young Master was so carefree. Just by visiting Da Yu, his mind was already captivated!
They were too careless! It was also the Young Master's youth. If the Young Master were just two years older, what business would anyone named Yi have here!
With so few wolves and so much meat, to have an outsider seize the advantage could make one wake up in a cold sweat at midnight!
"You are so ambitious." Xie Jiang was unfazed, having known Su Yang's ambition to become a consort all along.
Su Yang was displeased with the Young Master's indifferent reaction. It was bad enough that he couldn't even get a proper glance, but the perfunctory tone in his words was audible to a deaf person!
Receiving the Young Master's favor was enough to bring glory to his ancestors, so how could that not be considered ambitious!
"The Young Master can arrange for me to serve him at any time. I will be there whenever called, and all my time belongs to the Young Master."
Su Yang seized the opportunity to recommend himself.
"Okay."
"What does 'okay' mean?" Could he be any more perfunctory!
Xie Jiang strode into the Fuyun Pavilion, saying impatiently, "I heard everything you said."
Buzzing like a fly, so annoying.
Su Yang followed closely. With Da Chui absent today, no one could stop him. "Then when does the Young Master plan to arrange it? Isn't the Young Master going to stay in seclusion for ten days? Then I'll take on some hardship during these ten days?"
If He Zhifei wanted to showcase his exceptional abilities, all matters could be handed over to He Zhifei. Serving the Young Master was enough for him alone.
Xie Jiang suddenly stopped. Su Yang's heart skipped a beat. In that instant, many thoughts flashed through his mind, such as working diligently day and night for the next ten days.
"Do you have too much energy and nowhere to release it?" Xie Jiang looked him up and down.
"I will definitely satisfy the Young Master." Su Yang had been preparing for this day and was very confident. Gazing at the Young Master's naturally captivating eyes, his heart was about to stop.
Xie Jiang stood still, looking around as if searching for something. She had only just moved into this courtyard and was not yet familiar with it.
"If the Young Master is somewhat satisfied with me, can you reward me with a few more days?" Su Yang seized the opportunity to push his luck.
Xie Jiang finally deigned to look at him properly, gazing at him deeply and saying, "Such a simple wish, it must be fulfilled."
Su Yang was overjoyed. His beaming face was radiant, not hiding his current happiness at all.
He knew that actively pursuing it was the right thing to do! He was already looking forward to tomorrow morning, when the entire household would learn of his service, and the annoyed and jealous expression on He Zhifei's face!
Xie Jiang glanced at the tree in the courtyard, her eyes dim. "I'm afraid my request might be a bit excessive."
Tian Kangtai, who was silently following behind, slightly raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
Su Yang, immersed in the immense joy of his impending wish coming true, did not notice the subtle shift in Xie Jiang's tone. However, Tian Kangtai, as an observer, remained clear-headed. He hoped Su Yang would still be smiling later.
Su Yang eagerly promised, "I am the Young Master's person. No matter how excessive the Young Master's request, I will do it willingly."
He wasn't afraid of the Young Master being excessive towards him, but afraid of the Young Master *not* being excessive!
Aunt He, with Yueyue, came forward. Seeing Su Yang's determined and shy demeanor, she thought Su Yang would finally gain status.
Xie Jiang said to Su Yang, "First, take off your upper garment."
Aunt He was startled. "Right here in the courtyard?"
Saying this, she was about to call all the servants in the courtyard to withdraw. She herself prepared to pull Yueyue away. Seeing Tian Kangtai standing still, she wondered when Tian Kangtai had become so unobservant.
Su Yang didn't care if it was day or night, or if it was in broad daylight. As long as it was what the Young Master liked, there was nothing he wouldn't do.
Su Yang quickly shed his remaining clothes, his movements as swift as if he had practiced them countless times beforehand.
His bronzed skin and every abdominal muscle showcased his abundant charm.
Yueyue let out a soft cry and covered her eyes, turning away.
Aunt He was considering whether to remind Young Master Su Yang to take a bath first. Her Young Master was delicate and precious; how could he not be taken care of meticulously? It was already autumn, and if he caught a cold from such reckless behavior, what then?
However, she saw Xie Jiang pointing at the old tree in the courtyard, which was at least a hundred years old, and instructed Su Yang, who was preparing to unbuckle his belt, "Go over and hug it tightly and shake it."
Su Yang followed the direction of Xie Jiang's finger, looking at the large tree whose canopy covered half the sky. Then he turned back and looked at Xie Jiang with a bewildered expression.
"Wh-what?"
Xie Jiang nodded seriously. "Your physique is very well-maintained. It must be a beautiful sight to behold when you shake it. What do you think, Aunt He?"
Aunt He: "..."
Shouldn't he be hugging the Young Master and shaking him vigorously? Making Young Master Su Yang take off his clothes and shake a tree here?
Where did her Young Master, the smartest in heaven, earth, and the universe, get such a whimsical idea?
However, with Young Master Su Yang's physique, it would be a beautiful sight to behold even if he shook a rock, let alone a tree.
"If you don't shake down more than ten catties of leaves, you're not allowed to leave."
Saying this, Xie Jiang yawned again, a hint of moisture welling up in the corner of her eye. She was truly exhausted and turned to walk towards the living quarters on the second floor.
"Shake, shake a tree?!"
"You want me to shake a tree!"
Watching Xie Jiang's heartless retreating back, Su Yang was completely stunned. Realizing he had been tricked, all the blood in his body rushed to his head!
Xie Jiang did not look back, already ascending the steps. "Is this request excessive? Aren't you willing?"
Su Yang: "I..."
He wanted to shake the tree, not the tree! He wanted to shake *her*!
Xie Jiang's voice continued to drift from above. "Tian Kangtai, you watch him shake it. If you're busy, go call Da Chui and have Da Chui watch him shake it."
Tian Kangtai had no more matters to report. He should have withdrawn after escorting Xie Jiang back to the Fuyun Pavilion. He had stayed until now just to deal with Su Yang.
He knew that with Su Yang clinging to the Young Master, he would eventually be useful.
"Young Master Su Yang, please," Tian Kangtai extended his hand, making a gesture of invitation.