“Ah, I’m really sorry, it’s all my fault for not watching where I was going!” Before she could react, the young man hurriedly rushed forward, helping her up with both hands, his face full of embarrassment. “Miss, are you alright? Did you hurt yourself anywhere? By the way, there’s a pharmacy right nearby—do you want to go in and have a look?”

Seeing Eric Blake standing there in a daze without saying a word, he became even more flustered: “If you’re angry, you can hit me a couple of times, just take it as my apology.”

Noticing that the young lady still didn’t respond, he simply took out a brocade pouch from his chest. “Or, how about this? These are He Pu southern pearls I just bought. Miss, why don’t you pick a few to calm your nerves?”

If last time Eric Blake had thought this guy was a bit dull, then at this very moment, she was utterly speechless. The people she usually encountered were all shrewd, one after another; even the few foolish ones never hesitated when it came to their own interests. But this one—his way of apologizing was so honest, it was almost over the top!

Seeing that he truly didn’t recognize her, standing there with a face full of apology, suddenly, a phrase her father used to nag her with popped into her mind.

“Eric Blake, remember, bullying honest people will bring down heaven’s wrath!”

Chapter Seven: Bullying Honest People Will Bring Down Heaven’s Wrath

Eric Blake’s late father was an unfortunate man. Although his aunt had already become the empress ruling the world when he was young, compared to his brothers, he hardly benefited at all.

Others were either talented in literature, eloquent, handsome and charming, or skilled at maneuvering, but he had only one virtue—honesty. As Eric Blake’s mother would say in private, he was always just that ordinary little landlord, never destined to be someone important. And after his aunt became empress and bestowed titles upon her relatives, he was made a prince along with a crowd of cousins, but aside from the title, he didn’t get a single official post. So not only did he fail to learn shrewdness, he became even more honest.

Thus, the lesson Eric Blake received most from her father was nothing more than “Be an honest person, marry dutifully.” The second was, “Bullying honest people will bring down heaven’s wrath.”

She had thought that at least in Luoyang, honest people had long since disappeared. Yet today, she finally ran into a kid whose honesty could rival her late father’s! With this guy’s level of honesty, if he stayed in Luoyang a few more days, he’d probably be swindled out of everything—including his pants!

At this moment, Eric Blake was sitting together with this honest young man in the famous Qingfeng Restaurant in Luoyang’s southern market. Although that collision just now had left her dizzy and the fall was no light matter, it really wasn’t worth a trip to the pharmacy. As for hitting him a couple of times or taking a few pearls as compensation—first, she wasn’t in the mood, and second, it went against her principles. Since she happened to be hungry, she might as well let this sucker buy her a meal.

Tapping the table lightly with her knuckles, she curiously sized up the young man before her. True to his honest nature, he was definitely not some strikingly handsome youth. Compared to locals in Luoyang, his skin was a bit darker, making him look more like someone from beyond the frontier. His features were regular, his figure tall and slender, with no sign of bulging muscles—if anything, he seemed a bit thin. However, just from that collision, she knew that this so-called frailty was only on the surface.

Would a frail person feel like a block of iron to her? That would be truly bizarre!

After looking at him for a while, she suddenly realized that he was staring straight at her as well, as if he hadn’t looked away for a moment. Although she never minded being looked at, this direct, unblinking gaze was rather irritating. Without another word, she slapped the table hard: “Hey, what are you looking at?”

“You.”

The young man answered honestly with just one word, which made Eric Blake even more exasperated. This damn kid—even if he really was looking at her, did he have to be so blunt? At this moment, she was especially glad she’d asked for a private room; otherwise, if she’d slapped the table like that in public, she couldn’t guarantee how many people would have turned to stare.

Taking a deep breath, warning herself again and again in her heart, she finally changed to a calm tone and asked, “Tell me, a few days ago, were you at the intersection of Jianshunmen Street and Dingdingmen Street, and almost ran into someone on horseback?”

“Huh, how did you know!” The young man, who had just been so honest and quiet, suddenly became agitated. He pushed himself up from the table with both hands, his face full of anxiety. “I’ve been asking around these past few days, but couldn’t find that person! That day I got lost and didn’t notice it was getting late, nor did I hear the sound of hooves. If that person hadn’t been so skilled at riding, I’d probably be dead. But he leaped his horse in the street—he must have accidentally hurt the horse! Miss, if you know where that person is, please tell me. I must go and apologize in person!”

Her precious steed, Chuqing, might actually be injured!