Old Master Hou ultimately didn't let Gu Yan foot the bill; instead, he drew a silver coin from his pouch, accidentally pulling out a pipa knot made from a red string along with it.
Gu Yan quickly picked up the knot. It looked rather worn and faded around the edges.
It was hard to imagine such an accessory inside the purse of such a stalwart man.
"Was it a gift from a special lady friend?" Gu Yan asked.
It was clearly something gifted by a woman. But it surely wasn't the old Madam from his residence. They were only a nominal couple. He wouldn't be carrying something she gave him.
"Cough, no, don't talk nonsense," Old Master Hou put the pipa knot back into his pouch.
Gu Yan didn't buy it, and asked curiously, "I can't believe, you have a secret admirer too? Where is she now?"
She definitely wasn't in the residence—the old Matron of the residence had been dealt with by the old Madam Hou long ago.