128. Chapter 128: Please Command This Lowly Maid to Withdraw First

"You lowly wench, how dare you be so insolent toward me? Who do you think you are?"

Seeing Zhang Xiaolan's "arrogant" demeanor, Fu Yan felt an urge to step forward and strike her. In Fu Yan's eyes, Zhang Xiaolan was nothing more than a lowly servant, and it was intolerable that she should dare to speak to her in such a manner.

Just as the atmosphere between the two reached a breaking point, Li Rui appeared in the nick of time, his voice cutting through the tension: "Miss Fu, what brings you to my manor?"

In truth, Li Rui had only just been informed by a servant that Fu Yan had arrived again. Despite their best efforts to dissuade her, she had been determined to force her way in. Unable to stop her without resorting to physical force, the staff had eventually been powerless to prevent her from barging through.

"Brother Rui, you’ve finally appeared!" Fu Yan beamed, her voice turning syrupy sweet. The speed of her transformation left even Zhang Xiaolan stunned.

Moments earlier, Fu Yan had been fuming, glaring at Zhang Xiaolan with an expression that clearly accused her of stealing her man. Zhang Xiaolan, for her part, had met her gaze with cold, fearless defiance. The two had been on the verge of a physical confrontation. Had Li Rui not intervened, Fu Yan likely would have discarded all pretense of decorum to put Zhang Xiaolan in her place and crush her perceived arrogance.

"What is it you want?" Li Rui's tone was far from gentle; in fact, he sounded rather displeased. He was well-acquainted with Miss Fu's temper. Although she often feigned grace and gentleness in his presence, her true nature always managed to slip through the cracks of her carefully crafted facade. No matter how softly she spoke, she could never truly hide the lack of a virtuous heart.

"Brother Rui, please tell this lowly wench to withdraw."

Fu Yan cast a haughty glance at Zhang Xiaolan, clearly uncomfortable discussing her business in front of an "outsider." She had come today to confess her feelings to Li Rui—the most direct attempt she had ever made. She was prepared; it had to be today. She could wait no longer.

"Lan'er is my honored guest."

Li Rui took great exception to the term Fu Yan had used; it was a sign of disrespect toward Zhang Xiaolan that he would not tolerate from anyone. He reiterated this to Fu Yan with solemn gravity, his protective intent plain for all to hear.

"Then let Brother Rui’s 'honored guest' step aside. I have something important to discuss with you."

Fu Yan made a "concession," gesturing for Zhang Xiaolan to leave, her tone softening considerably. Though the sight of Li Rui defending Zhang Xiaolan left a bitter taste in her mouth, she dared not lose her temper, especially after Li Rui had explicitly labeled her an honored guest of the manor.

"Lan'er, why don't you head back? I will come to find you in a little while."

Seeing the change in her demeanor, Li Rui turned to address Zhang Xiaolan gently. Zhang Xiaolan was not a woman to stir up trouble without cause; she lived by the principle of not offending those who did not offend her. With a slight nod to Li Rui, she turned and walked out of the study’s courtyard.

"Brother Rui, will you go to the Fu residence and ask for my hand in marriage?"

As soon as Zhang Xiaolan was out of sight, Fu Yan blurted out the request. Her expression was entirely sincere, not a hint of jest in her eyes, which caught the typically cold Li Rui completely off guard.

"Miss Fu, this is a heavy jest to make. If there is nothing else, please see yourself out."

Stunned by the suddenness of the request, Li Rui remained frozen for a few seconds. He glanced at Fu Yan, who was gazing at him with intense longing, before quickly turning his head to avoid her eyes, his voice tinged with a mix of shame and annoyance.