บท 159: Love Rivals

I froze with the broom half-raised in the air. That sounded like Su Nian's voice. Why would she be here to look for Bai Ye? Shouldn't everyone know that he was on a retreat?

Dropping the broom, I dusted my sleeves and straightened my collar, making sure that I looked orderly and presentable before I opened the gate.

It was Su Nian indeed, and her perfect smile faltered when she saw it was me. Then a different smile returned to her face, with all the confidence and pride but none of the softness and warmth. "Is your master out of retreat today?" she asked.

Today? That wasn't like anything Bai Ye said to me when he left. Seeing no point in telling Su Nian those details though, I shook my head and replied simply, "Master isn't back yet, and he didn't tell me how long it would take."

Su Nian raised a delicate eyebrow. "He didn't tell you something this important?" She gave me a skeptical look. "How big of a breakthrough was he expecting?"