CHAPTER 012
After leaving the lotus pond, Su Qingwan no longer followed her, but his fiery gaze remained glued to the gradually retreating figure.
Only when she disappeared from sight did he withdraw his gaze, thoughtfully staring at the fan in his hand.
Since that day, he had never been without this fan. If he hadn’t forgotten it this morning and Xiaoyuan hadn’t just brought it to him, he might not have encountered General Liu when she struck up a conversation.
Or perhaps… even if he had brought it with him today, judging by what she just said, even if she had seen the fan at the lotus pond this morning, she still wouldn't have mentioned saving him.
His father once told him that the world is full of all sorts of people—some seeking fame, some seeking profit, some seeking power—but there are also kind-hearted people who offer help without expecting anything in return.
At first, he was too young to understand, wondering how such people could exist in this world. People who seek nothing in return? But he believed that whatever his father said was true.
Because his father was that kind of person.
However, as he grew older, he found that "the bustling world is all for profit; the hustling world is all for gain"【1】—those who flattered and tried to please him were only doing so because of his status, seeking some advantage.
Now, he had finally met someone like his father described, and perhaps that was why he had been so determined to find her.
In the end, he got what he wanted and knew that she was safe and well, but his heart felt empty and unsettled.
Before learning the truth, he had imagined countless times in his dreams what it would be like to meet her again, only to be disappointed each time when he couldn't see her face clearly.
Until today, when he suddenly learned from General Liu that the person who had saved him was indeed her. For some reason, the joy he felt was much more intense than before, but he was also deeply ashamed of his earlier rudeness towards her.
As the spring sunshine brightened, a light breeze gently brushed through Su Qingwan's hair, stirring memories that overwhelmed him like a tidal wave. Every moment he had spent with Scholar Lu Yuner replayed vividly in his mind, becoming clear and bright.
His eager gaze fell on the fan in his hand, a faint glow in his eyes. After a moment, a new thought suddenly sprang to life.
Back in the empty Scholars' Hall, Lu Yuner placed the food box aside, pushed open the window by her desk, then lay on the desk, resting her head on her arm for a quick nap.
This had always been her habit. If she didn’t rest for a while, she’d feel sluggish in the afternoon. Even though it was getting late, even a short rest could relieve a lot of her fatigue.
Soon, her eyelashes fluttered lightly, her breathing became slow and steady, and she gradually fell into a deep sleep.
The warm and bright spring sunlight streamed through the window, casting a glow on her exquisitely beautiful profile. Her smooth, jade-like skin seemed to be bathed in a soft, radiant light, making her even more graceful and charming.
At that moment, a pair of slender hands gently draped a light white outer garment over her. Sheng Qingzi's eyes were filled with tender affection as he looked at her radiant face. He silently and gently gazed at her, his every movement exuding the warmth and consideration of a mature man.
Suddenly, the sleeping woman stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Seeing this, Sheng Qingzi immediately collected himself, standing by with a gentle smile and said, "You're awake."
"Mm, you're here."
Lu Yuner, still drowsy, had a faint blush on her fair face, and her voice was hoarse with a touch of laziness.
Ever since nightmares had plagued her a month ago, her sleep quality had worsened, leaving her with shallow sleep and a tendency to wake easily.
At that moment, Sheng Qingzi's eyes wavered as he became entranced by her freshly awakened and slightly dazed expression. She was like a beautiful and vibrant lotus, captivating in her allure and utterly intoxicating.
Lu Yuner's now fully awake gaze fell on the white outer garment covering her. She asked, "What's this?"
Sheng Qingzi snapped out of his reverie, his face flushing slightly with embarrassment. "When I arrived at the Scholars' Hall, I saw you resting on your desk with the window open. I was worried you might catch a cold."
"Thank you!" Lu Yuner smiled slightly, not thinking much of it, and politely returned the garment to Sheng Qingzi.
At this moment.
"Well, well! Looks like we came at the wrong time." Zhu Miaomiao walked in with a playful smile, followed by Wen Qing and Liu Bing.
Liu Bing returned to her place with a blank expression, while Wen Qing and Zhu Miaomiao approached them.
Zhu Miaomiao cast a mischievous glance back and forth between the two, then gave Sheng Qingzi a mysterious smile. "What were you two up to, sneaking around like that?" She then focused her gaze on Sheng Qingzi, winking at him playfully. "Qingzi, how are things now?"
Ever since Sheng Qingzi had deliberately sent them away, she had known what he was up to—trying to cultivate a relationship with Scholar Lu.
Even Wen Qing had a rare expression of curiosity on her face, her lips curled in a faint smile.
Faced with Zhu Miaomiao's teasing this time, Sheng Qingzi didn't resist as much as before. Instead, he lowered his gaze shyly, clearly embarrassed.
But to Lu Yuner, it seemed that Sheng Qingzi might be refraining out of courtesy. Initially, he tried to stop his good friends from joking, but eventually, he let them say whatever they wanted without restraint.
In interpersonal relationships, light-hearted teasing can create a lively atmosphere, but if it becomes uncomfortable or makes someone feel awkward, it should stop.
…If he really had feelings for her, she should make her stance clear and not lead him on.
In the year since she had transmigrated into this body, she had lived under the original owner’s identity, navigating the court with caution but enjoying a leisurely life. She would often socialize, listen to music, and generally live quite comfortably.
Having possibly experienced life and death, she found herself indifferent to matters of romance. Besides, there was that recurring nightmare...
Lu Yuner stood up, her expression serious and her tone solemn as she said, "Although I've only known Scholar Sheng for a few days, I consider him a good man." She looked at him, her gaze pure, filled with genuine appreciation.
In just a few days, he had helped her a lot—showing her the dining hall, assisting with her teaching questions—he was indeed a very good man.
Sheng Qingzi's pupils seemed to be struck by a powerful force, his gaze reflecting Lu Yuner's sparkling peach-blossom eyes, a glimmer of joy flashing in his own.
But as she continued speaking, the smile on his face froze, then disappeared entirely, his dim eyes tinged with a trace of melancholy.
Lu Yuner continued, "I have no romantic feelings for Scholar Sheng, just as with everyone else here, I see him purely as a friend. Since he is a gentleman, I hope you won't make inappropriate jokes that could harm his reputation."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Miaomiao instinctively glanced at Sheng Qingzi's expression, while Wen Qing snapped out of her thoughts and eased the tension by saying, "Scholar Lu, don't worry, we won't joke about that again." She nudged Zhu Miaomiao with her elbow.
Zhu Miaomiao, realizing the situation, saw that this was clearly a case of unrequited affection. Realizing her words had caused trouble, she awkwardly scratched the back of her head and quickly broke into a foolish grin, "Haha! My bad, I won't joke about that anymore."
Lu Yuner also noticed the change in Sheng Qingzi's expression, but she still smiled politely at him and said, "Scholar Sheng, did I say anything inappropriate?"
It might have seemed harsh, but sometimes it's better to be straightforward in these matters.
"Yes."
Sheng Qingzi forced a bitter smile, though his voice betrayed no emotion. Beneath the white outer robe, his tightly clenched hand left deep red marks as his nails dug into his flesh.
Wen Qing, observing this, quickly attempted to change the subject, "I heard you saved a female student in the dining hall today."
"How did you find out?" Lu Yun'er’s surprise was fleeting as she regained her composure. She understood the rapidity with which news could spread.
Zhu Miaomiao, intrigued, excitedly asked, "It's already all over both the male and female academies! But hey, where did you learn that abdominal thrust technique? Did you study medicine?"
Lu Yun'er, of course, wouldn't reveal the truth. She smiled lightly and said, "I haven’t studied medicine. I learned it from an ancient book I came across years ago. It happened to describe a situation similar to what I encountered today, so I followed the book’s instructions."
“Clap, clap, clap—” Suddenly, the sound of loud applause rang out.
The group, confused, turned to look at Liu Bing.
"Defying the Master of the Kitchen in public, taking responsibility for the consequences, and using a method you found in an ancient book even though you're not a doctor—Scholar Lu, you truly are courageous!" Liu Bing's expression remained impassive as she gazed at Lu Yun'er with those deep, mysterious eyes, difficult to decipher.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Miaomiao and Wen Qing both looked at Lu Yun'er in disbelief. What initially seemed like a commendable deed was, in fact, fraught with risks, with potential for both success and failure.
If she had succeeded, all would be well. But if she hadn’t… Both Zhu Miaomiao and Wen Qing silently gasped at the thought; it indeed required great courage.
Even Sheng Qingzi seemed taken aback, his previously vacant gaze now filled with concern.
Lu Yun'er's eyes narrowed slightly, realizing that Liu Bing had such a detailed understanding. It seemed she had been present at the time.
What she hadn’t expected was Liu Bing initiating conversation with her for the first time. Or perhaps it wasn't that Liu Bing didn't want to speak, but rather that she would speak only when she had something to say, with a piercing insight that hit the mark every time.
After a brief reflection, Lu Yun'er responded calmly, "Though I'm not a doctor, something similar has happened in my household before, so I have some experience. And besides, a person's life is paramount; nothing else mattered at the time."
She wondered if this explanation would satisfy Liu Bing.
After a brief exchange of glances, Liu Bing suddenly smiled faintly, but the smile vanished almost as soon as it appeared, her expression quickly returning to its usual impassiveness as she looked away.
Lu Yun'er, recovering her composure, allowed a subtle smile to play at the corners of her lips, realizing that Liu Bing was not so easily fooled.
Zhu Miaomiao nodded as though having an epiphany and looked at Lu Yun'er with admiring eyes, drawing out her words, "So that's how it is."
Initially, Zhu Miaomiao had found Lu Yun'er to be an agreeable person—polite and refined. But now, she realized that Lu Yun'er was even more to her liking.
Without hesitation, Zhu Miaomiao patted Lu Yun'er on the shoulder, exclaiming, "If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know!"
A sudden idea sparked in Lu Yun'er’s mind. She lifted her long, curved eyelashes and smiled as she responded, "Actually, I do need something right now. The women's academy will be holding a polo match in a few days, and Lieutenant General Liu wants to compete with me. I could use your help."
"Huh?" Zhu Miaomiao frowned, muttering in displeasure, "Her again?" Then she hesitated, trying to back out, "I’m afraid… I might not be available that day, with matters at my estate..."
Before she could finish, Wen Qing, having seen through her immediately, exposed her excuse, "She’s just trying to dodge it!"
Sheng Qingzi, noticing her reluctance as well, gave her a cold glance and said with a hint of displeasure, "Scholar Lu represents our male academy in the polo match. No matter what, you must help."
"Fine!" Zhu Miaomiao replied meekly, regretting her earlier rash words.
"Scholar Lu, don't worry. I'll make sure the students from our male academy come to support you at the match!" Sheng Qingzi said with a bright smile.
By now, he had managed to adjust his emotions, though Lu Yun'er's words had stirred his heart, like a stone dropped into a still pond, creating ripples that shattered his cherished hopes.
But what could he do? As long as she wasn't married, he still had a chance.
Lu Yun'er smiled, her eyebrows curving gently, "Thank you!"
Comments
Post a Comment