A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Chen Wanxing's answer was polite and distant, revealing nothing about whether he had figured out the answer.

Wang Yanning looked at her serene profile. Under the flickering lamplight, she seemed detached from everything else, focusing intently on the riddles he had written. He suddenly had the illusion that the way she gazed at those verses was as if she were gazing at him.

Bathed in the dazzling light, his figure appeared strangely lonely. For some reason, his heartbeat seemed to overlap with the one he had heard behind the screen in the Ink Fragrance Studio that afternoon when he heard her words.

Thump, thump—

She can understand him; is she also trapped in... her own emotions?

This thought struck him without warning, making Wang Yanning's heart feel as if it had been gently pricked by a very fine needle, causing a strange ripple of tenderness.

Looking again at the woman who seemed to be trapped by the problem, a strange sense of resonance and pity quietly arose. Perhaps she liked the puzzle and could see the benefits in it, but she was just not up to the task.

If she were to miss out on this opportunity and fail to find the answers to these mysteries, would it become a regret she would feel tonight and in the future?

He felt a little reluctant.

This feeling of reluctance came suddenly, yet it was very clear. Wang Yanning thought that perhaps he could subtly offer some hints.

Although it can't help her much, at least tonight, it will allow her to have a meal in a private room upstairs and stop standing here so alone.

Thinking of this, he cleared his throat slightly, his gaze returning to the poem, his voice gentler than before, carrying a guiding patience.

"What the young lady said is absolutely right; the value of this riddle lies in its lingering charm."

The east wind may not be favorable, or there may be obstacles, but the rider still searches, showing that his resolve remains unchanged. This "searching" is perhaps the key.

He stopped short of saying more, only emphasizing the word "search," while watching Chen Wanxing's reaction, wanting to see if she could draw inferences from it.

Upon hearing this, Chen Wanxing's heart stirred slightly. She already had a good grasp of the answer to the riddle, and now that he had specifically mentioned the word "search," she found it even more intriguing.

It seems this young master not only understood the riddle, but also wanted to "help" her?

She looked up and was surprised to meet the faint concern and expectation in Wang Yanning's clear and bright eyes. There was no showing off or condescending guidance in them, but rather a kind of careful sharing, and even a bit of comfort for fear that she would be discouraged.

This discovery intrigued her. She hadn't come here to compete, and now she didn't mind going along with this act of kindness.

"Young master's advice is correct." Following his words, a more genuine smile appeared on her lips, which softened her usual calm and added a touch of liveliness.

"Searching for the past, for old traces, even for that faint promise of faith, but in my view, these are all obsessions. The mystery is that, after searching and searching, going around in circles, it finally comes down to the word 'no trace'."

The person who posed the riddle must be a very insightful and worldly-wise individual. But since things have changed, let's not dwell on the past. All that has happened is like fleeting smoke; only by living well in the present can we make the most of our youth.

As Wang Yanning listened to her words and saw the knowing smile in her eyes, the worry and pity in her heart slowly melted away like spring snow, replaced by a more surging tremor and joy of being understood.

He suddenly felt that his earlier attempt to subtly hint at something seemed clumsy in her presence, and perhaps unfair to others as well. He wondered...

However, Wang Yanning immediately realized that she didn't know that he was the one who came up with the answer. Thinking of this, the slight embarrassment in his heart subsided a little.

At this moment, Chen Wanxing shifted his gaze from the riddle to Wang Yanning, and politely asked, "Now that you have figured out the key to this riddle, would you like to go and find the steward to verify it, and ascend the Lan Yue Pavilion?"

She asked the question so naturally, as if it were just a casual suggestion after a normal discussion.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yanning shook her head, her gaze sweeping over the dazzling revolving lanterns and the eager crowd around her. Her tone was indifferent yet sincere: "Thank you for your inquiry, young lady."

However, I did not come here tonight for a banquet; I merely happened to be passing by and, seeing the ingenious riddle, paused to admire it for a moment. While the fine food in the private room is excellent, it cannot compare to the vibrant lights and lively sounds of the streets.

He paused, looked at Chen Wanxing, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. "The answer is in your heart, that is the reward. As for the banquet, let's leave it to those who are truly interested."

After saying this, he nodded slightly to Chen Wanxing: "The night is getting deeper, please make yourself at home, miss. Farewell." Then he really turned around without looking back, and his figure in brown quickly disappeared into the crowd of people with interlacing lights and shadows.

Chen Wanxing stared in the direction he had disappeared, stood still for a moment, then turned her gaze back to the brightest lantern, and the only red ribbon hanging beneath it, symbolizing the "Moon-Viewing Pavilion" and the free feast.

A practical calculation quietly formed in my mind: if I guessed the answer correctly, I could not only avoid paying for the meal, but also enjoy the best view. It seemed a bit of a waste not to take advantage of such a good deal.

However, as her gaze swept across the area under the lamp, she noticed that although there were fewer people gathered in the third row than in the outer row, they were all dressed smartly and had an extraordinary air about them. They were obviously from prominent families in the county or self-proclaimed scholars.

If she were to walk over now and remove the ribbon in public, she would undoubtedly become the center of attention in this small circle immediately.

Thinking of this, Chen Wanxing's desire to gain an advantage faded away. If the young master could say that the answer was in his heart, then why couldn't she do the same?

The ingenuity of the riddle, and the sudden enlightenment upon solving it, are the best reward for tonight. As for the food at Jufulou...

It's just a meal, not something that would make her feel bad. As for sightseeing, whether it's the lobby on the first floor, a regular booth on the second floor, or even a steaming food stall on the roadside, there's nowhere she can't enjoy the lights.

Having made up her mind, she stopped and continued walking forward, intending to go to the side, pass through the revolving lantern in front, and exit under the slightly dimmer eaves.

Just then, a clear, slightly annoyed female voice interrupted from the side, "Zhou Wenbo, stop spouting nonsense. If you're so capable, try guessing it yourself."

Upon hearing the voice, Chen Wanxing subconsciously turned her head and saw that the speaker was the girl in the pale yellow dress. At this moment, her pretty face was slightly red, her almond eyes were wide open, and she was glaring angrily at a boy in a royal blue brocade robe with cloud patterns who was some distance away from her.

She glanced in the direction of the boy. Oh, so this woman knows those two elegantly dressed boys.

The boy being glared at by the girl was quite tall and handsome, with an air of affluence about him. At this moment, he had a half-smile on his lips, clearly the Zhou Wenbo the girl had mentioned.