Rebirth: Contract Husband Falls in Love with Me-Chapter 526 - 269: Fire Erupts

"Young master..." the housekeeper looked somewhat troubled and glanced at Sang Wan as if seeking help.

Sang Wan knew Shi Fengju was intentionally making Shi Fengming suffer and cool his heels, so she said to the housekeeper with a smile, "Go on, just relay what the young master told you! And remember to have someone keep watch at the door on the second young master’s side, don’t let him stir up more trouble!"

"Yes." The housekeeper had no choice but to obey and leave.

Shi Fengju acted as if nothing had happened, ordering Liu Ya to brighten the lamp, and started organizing various documents under the light. Meanwhile, Shi Fengming had been eagerly waiting since evening for his elder brother to come and talk to him. Growing impatient and not seeing him, he finally couldn’t restrain himself and sent someone to invite him. All his expectant waiting yielded nothing but the appearance of the housekeeper.

"Where’s my elder brother? When is he coming over?" Shi Fengming leaned on the lattice window, standing on tiptoes and peering along the corridor behind the housekeeper.

Shi Fengming had a fiery temper, making the housekeeper instinctively step back two paces, and forced a grin, saying, "The servant will fetch some water for you to wash up first, second young master. Why not rest for tonight? The young master is busy at the moment, I’m afraid he might not have time to see the second young master."

"Busy?" A sharp light flashed in Shi Fengming’s eyes, "Did you really deliver the message?"

"Second young master!" The housekeeper was startled, "Even if this servant had the courage of a lion, I wouldn’t dare to deceive you! That’s really what the young master said!"

Shi Fengming felt both disappointed and dejected, pondering that it might indeed be true—how could he not be busy during the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce? After thinking a bit more, he then asked, "Then where’s my sister-in-law? Can you ask her to come here? That should be possible, right?"

The housekeeper flinched, thinking that another trip to the young master was bound to irritate him, and hurriedly smiled again, "The lady is by the young master’s side serving him, and she doesn’t have free time either!"

Shi Fengming became furious and bellowed, "Get lost!"

The housekeeper wiped his sweat and hastily retreated.

At Cuiliu Alley, Su Qing’er had Xiaolian buy several dishes from a nearby diner, and the master and servant ate casually. As the sky gradually darkened, recalling the landlord’s words, Su Qing’er felt a chill in her heart, hurriedly closed all the doors in the courtyard, and went to bed early.

Su Qing’er lay in bed unable to sleep, remembering how just last night she and Shi Fengming had been sweetly embracing, lovers entwined. Now, facing a cold and lonely bed, she felt even more desolate, sinking deeper into melancholy. Without a man in the house, it seemed immediately different, as if dangers lurked everywhere in the dark, making her too frightened to sleep.

After tossing and turning for half the night, Su Qing’er finally drifted off to sleep hazily. Suddenly, she was jolted awake by a terrifying shout: "Help! There’s a fire! Fire! Come put it out!"

Terrified, her heart nearly leaping from her chest, Su Qing’er sat up abruptly in bed. She saw a flickering firelight outside the window, screamed, and sat on the bed, shouting loudly, "Xiaolian! Xiaolian! Get up quickly, let’s go out and see!"

Xiaolian, rubbing her sleepy eyes, scrambled from the ground, hastily wrapped herself in a coat, and clattered out. Soon, she ran back in a state of panic, "Miss, it’s bad! It’s our place that’s burning, miss, we have to escape!"

Xiaolian was so scared that her teeth chattered, fumbling to dress and tie her skirt in haste.

"You’re not mistaken!" Su Qing’er felt a chill in her heart.

"Miss, no mistake! Let’s go quickly, it’ll be too late!" Xiaolian said with a cry in her voice.

Suddenly thinking of Shi Fengju, hate clenched Su Qing’er’s teeth as she nearly understood half of the situation; she hurriedly got out of bed to dress, packed the only jewelry left and a few clothes, and rushed out together with Xiaolian.

"Quick, put out the fire!" "It’s terrible!" Various chaotic voices filled the air. The courtyard door had been knocked open by someone from outside, countless people with buckets running back and forth, and a raging fire that started in the kitchen now spread to the west wing room and was quickly threatening to consume the main house, the flames dyeing half the sky red.

"Miss! Let’s quickly escape!" Xiaolian cried out pulling Su Qing’er to run outside.

"Wait!" Su Qing’er abruptly dragged her back, whispering, "Have you lost your mind? We can’t go out; we have to escape through the back door. If the landlord comes, we won’t be able to leave!"

Xiaolian paused, then understanding dawned on her. If the landlord saw this, they indeed would be asked for compensation. Her face went white as she hurriedly nodded, "You’re right, miss! The back door, let’s go through the back door!"

But just as the master and servant hadn’t gotten far, they heard a burst of hurried footsteps approaching fast, and a voice shouted loudly, "Keep a lookout everywhere, don’t let this wretch escape!"