The Underwear Tycoon’s Early Days Chapter 21: A Gentleman’s Open Heart

Ye Mingyue softly repeated the words, a trace of sarcasm flickering in her eyes. Then, in a calm voice, she said, “Perhaps it is disrespectful of me to say this about my royal father, but, Senior Luo, your poem is indeed quite fitting.”

Luo Xingchen smiled. “Actually, I have another special and wonderful little poem, written just for you, Mingyue. Would you like to hear it?”

Though he posed it as a question, Luo Xingchen didn’t wait for Ye Mingyue’s reply. He began to recite at once.

“Before my bed, the bright moonlight gleams,
I suspect it’s frost on the ground.”

As he recited, his gaze remained fixed on Ye Mingyue, making her turn her face away, unable to meet his eyes.

“I lift my head and gaze at the bright moon,
I lower it, longing for my distant home.”

The special, wonderful little poem had come to its end.

Whether or not Tie Pipi understood the meaning, she was the first to applaud.

Clapping enthusiastically, she called out, “Senior, you’re amazing!”

Li Minghao added with admiration, “Immortal Luo, your talent knows no bounds. I am utterly in awe of you!”

A peculiar glint appeared in Ye Mingyue’s eyes as well.

Wang Zhengyu, however, blushed crimson and spat, “Senior Brother Luo, you’re being much too vulgar! How can you describe Princess Mingyue like that?”

“What’s this about the bright moon before the bed, the princess undressed, her body as pale as snow and frost? That’s far too indecent!”

Everyone’s expressions grew rather odd.

Luo Xingchen looked at Wang Zhengyu in surprise, though his face remained impassive. “What nonsense are you spouting? As I said before, ignorance truly is terrifying!”

“A poem depicting Princess Mingyue, with a touch of homesickness, brimming with poetic imagery and beauty—how could you twist it into something so crude?”

He shook his head in regret. “I fear you’re beyond hope, truly beyond hope. Since you’ve already suffered the consequences of ignorance, you’d do well to keep your mouth shut in the future.”

Wang Zhengyu, hearing Luo Xingchen’s words and seeing the strange looks on the others’ faces, immediately realized she’d made a fool of herself. Face burning, she lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone.

This time, her blush was from embarrassment.

Though all had at first grasped the poem’s intended meaning, after Wang Zhengyu’s words, neither Ye Mingyue nor Li Minghao could look at that poem the same way again.

Especially Ye Mingyue.

Thinking of the things Luo Xingchen had said to her before, her usually icy face began to flush with heat, her heart a tangle of shame and anger. Yet, there was nothing she could do about Luo Xingchen.

Thus, everyone fell silent.

As they walked on, Luo Xingchen suddenly stopped.

He turned to look at a three-story building nearby. Over the main entrance hung a plaque, its large calligraphic characters reading: “Spring Abode!”

Pointing up at the sign, Luo Xingchen asked Ye Mingyue, “That woman who’s so skilled with her mouth she bewitched your royal father—is she from here?”

Ye Mingyue nodded.

Luo Xingchen said at once, “Alright, let’s go in and broaden our horizons. I want to see what kind of place can cultivate such outstanding women.”

Ye Mingyue frowned slightly, reluctant. “But, Senior Luo, our main task right now is to exorcise demons.”

“That’s exactly what I’m doing now!” Luo Xingchen replied with a grave expression, taking a deep breath. “Can’t you smell it? The scent of a demon!”

“It’s coming from inside—far too strong! I have to go in and subdue it right now!”

With that, he strode toward the entrance.

He had taken only a few steps before he stopped again and turned to Ye Mingyue. “You’re welcome to follow if you want, but remember—come by yourself, don’t bring too many people, or you’ll alert the demon.”

With those words, he marched through the doors of Spring Abode.

Tie Pipi tried to follow, but Wang Zhengyu stopped her. “Don’t go in, Junior Sister Pipi!”

Tie Pipi asked in confusion, “Why not? Aren’t we supposed to follow Senior? Besides, it looks really fun in there.”

Wang Zhengyu warned her sternly, “Don’t even think about it. Not only is it not fun in there—it’s terrifying! There are people inside who’ll eat you alive!”

“Ah?” Tie Pipi was so frightened, she took two steps back.

Clearly, with her limited understanding, she couldn’t fathom how people who only ate others could end up being eaten themselves. Could it be, as the senior said, that there really were demons inside? How frightening!

...

Spring Abode truly lived up to its name as the capital’s most famous, largest pleasure house.

Once inside, it was a world of its own.

The first floor was a spacious hall—almost like a small courtyard—complete with rockeries, flowers, trees, and babbling brooks. Everything one could imagine was there.

It was no exaggeration to say that every step revealed a new scene.

Amid the winding streams stood a few small pavilions, where veiled women danced gracefully.

The place bustled with guests—some strolling about, others seated on benches along the corridors, while some made their way upstairs.

The first floor was for viewing and learning. The second and third floors, with their private rooms, were reserved for the real business—anyone with sense understood that much.

Not long after Luo Xingchen entered, Li Minghao and Ye Mingyue followed as well.

Those two could not afford to treat Luo Xingchen with the same casualness as Wang Zhengyu and Tie Pipi. To put it bluntly, if Luo Xingchen decided to jump into a cesspit, they would have to follow.

They trailed behind him, one to the left and one to the right—a pair of little attendants.

Li Minghao glanced at Ye Mingyue and couldn’t help but say, “Princess Mingyue, you’re a woman, and a princess at that. Isn’t it highly inappropriate for you to enter a place like this?”

Ye Mingyue shot him a cold look. “You’re aware I’m a princess. As such, what’s wrong with inspecting the businesses of my subjects?”

“But you, the renowned gentleman of the Empire, Li the Virtuous, known for your abstinence—what are you doing in a place like this? Is your supposed chastity and virtue just a façade?”

Li Minghao was about to defend himself when Luo Xingchen patted him on the shoulder.

“As the saying goes, ‘A true gentleman bares it all, while a petty man hides his rooster.’”

“It’s a good saying, and it fits you perfectly, Li the Virtuous.”

“A true gentleman must bare all when the time comes. And where are we now? The land of romance and pleasure! And what are you? A man!”

“Unless you’re incapable, or have a taste for the backdoor, what man doesn’t long for a place like this?”

“I see you’ve got plenty of masculine energy—surely you’re not impotent, nor do you fancy such unorthodox tastes, right?”

Li Minghao wanted to argue, but found Luo Xingchen’s words unassailable. Crude as they were, there was logic in them.

“You see? That’s more like it.” Luo Xingchen spread his hands.

“And since we’re already here, might as well relax and enjoy ourselves. It’s only natural for a man to have needs.”

“As for you, Princess Mingyue...” His gaze shifted to Ye Mingyue, and he grinned.

Ye Mingyue immediately said, “I’m a woman; I don’t need to relax here. I’ll just stay by your side, Senior.”

Luo Xingchen replied, “Precisely because you’re a woman, you should spend more time in places like this. Not to relax, of course, but to learn!”