rm to take a good look at her.
Chen Rong pried her hand away and asked, “Where’s Old Shang?”
“Lying in bed.”
Chen Rong exhaled in relief. She broke into a smile and said, “I’m glad he’s home. When did he come back?”
“Early this morning,” Nurse Ping answered. She glanced outside, leaned into Chen Rong’s ear and whispered, “The moment the gate opened at dawn, Old Shang had appeared at the store on South Street.” Her voice took an anxious turn: “He passed out as soon as he saw someone coming out. After he woke up, he kept crying for you.”
Chen Rong pressed her lips together, whispering, “Is he staying at one of the stores on South Street?”
“Aye.”
Nurse Ping looked up at Chen Rong, stammering a long time before asking: “Miss, last night, you…”
Chen Rong could hear the worry in her voice. She immediately glared and snapped, “I’m still chaste!”
“Aye, aye, aye, you’re chaste, you’re chaste.” Despite saying so, the anxiety in her voice was evident.
At this time, it got clamorous outside.
Lady Li’s shrill voice rose amid the noises: “Is Ah Rong home?”
Chen Rong hadn’t reacted but her nurse had already paled and muttered: “I knew it, I knew it. They came last night asking for you twice. Then this morning at dawn, they came again to say your aunt has called for you. Now you’re barely home and already they’ve followed you here. I knew they wouldn’t let you off!”
Chen Rong’s heart sank upon hearing this. She thought of the invitation that had brought her into peril.
“She is home, ma’am,” she heard a maid reply.
“Oh is she?” Lady Li laughed