The evening wind blew fiercely, and the cool moonlight filled the corridor.
Lingyu and several other maids stood at the other end of the corridor, holding lanterns.
They were surprised to see Lu Yun, the third young master, walking up from the direction of the lake behind the bushes.
He approached the young lady whose sleeves fluttered in the wind.
Luo Lingyu stood at the edge of the wind, her eyes still glistening with tears. But now, she was fully focused on the handsome young man walking toward her.
Why did she always run into Lu Yun? Lu Yun had been indifferent to her, even outright hostile. She had taken the initiative before, but after being teased by Lu Yun in the flower forest last time, she still managed to encounter him twice in one evening.
Why?
Why, why?
—
If she explained it as him secretly admiring her, the logic would almost make sense.
Her cousin, Lu Yun, the third young master of the Lu family, was not swayed by beauty.
He had never admired any young lady.
But Luo Lingyu was different. The Luo family’s daughter was excessively beautiful.
Lu Yun didn’t know how to win a lady’s favor, so he used some clumsy hot-and-cold tactics to repeatedly cross paths with her…
Perhaps while Luo Lingyu privately eyed Lu Yun’s family background, Lu Yun also had his eye on her beauty.
He liked her, so he gifted her a painting by Xunmei Jushi.
He was jealous, warning her not to get too close to the other young men in the household.
He cared for her, secretly checking on her twice in one evening after learning that Lady Lu had given her a hard time…
The person peeking through her window in the “Snow Trace Courtyard” wasn’t a figment of her imagination—it must have been Lu Yun.
Thinking this, Luo Lingyu was pleasantly surprised.
Her gaze softened as she looked at Lu Yun: People truly couldn’t be judged by appearances.
Who would have thought that Lu Yun, the third young master, would pursue a lady in such a clumsy manner?
Her eyes misted over, filled with affection.
Lu Yun, however, was always wary of her advances: “Whatever you’re thinking, it’s wrong. Don’t flatter yourself.”
Luo Lingyu didn’t believe him.
Once she thought Lu Yun might like her, a weight lifted from her heart, and she felt as light as a cloud.
The one who is loved always holds more power.
Luo Lingyu took a step forward, confident: “Third Cousin, I remember now. When we first met, you asked me if I remembered you. At the time, I was too scared and said I didn’t. But now that I think about it…”
She lowered her head, her phoenix eyes slightly raised, a shy smile playing on her lips: “Could it be that you… dreamed of me and couldn’t forget me since then?”
The relaxed smile on Lu Yun’s lips froze completely: “…”
—
He had asked if she remembered him because they had actually met before!
She was truly insane. Her shamelessness left him speechless.
Lu Yun asked sincerely: “Are you a reincarnated opera singer, with so much drama in you?”
Luo Lingyu was stunned, her beautiful eyes widening as she prepared to retort.
But in the next moment, Lu Yun reverted to his usual cold, disdainful self.
He stared at her face: “Also… Cousin Luo, do you remember you were crying just now?”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
She had never met someone so annoying!
Perhaps Lu Yun’s mockery was too effective.
Luo Lingyu began to doubt herself again. Could she have been wrong? It didn’t make sense.
Just as she was feeling confused, her eyes lit up. She saw a young man walking out from behind Lu Yun. This young man had delicate features and an elegant, scholarly demeanor.
Unlike Lu Yun, who oscillated between coldness and charm, this young man was as steady and reserved as a pine tree in the mountains. Among the many handsome young men of noble families, this one stood out the moment he appeared.
Luo Lingyu couldn’t help but stare at… the hem of his robe.
The fabric of his clothing exuded understated luxury.
Nobles loved to flaunt their wealth, and among the many young men and women of prominent families, someone who could afford such material was certainly no ordinary person.
Luo Lingyu tried to hide her excitement: “This young master… I didn’t see you at the evening banquet. Are you a friend of Third Cousin?”
She looked at Lu Yun.
Prince Chen Liu Shu also looked at Lu Yun.
Naturally, they waited for Lu Yun to introduce them.
Lu Yun’s lips twitched.
He glanced at Luo Lingyu and knew exactly what she was thinking. Disgusted, he casually pointed: “This is my cousin, Luo.”
Then he pointed at Liu Shu: “This is… my friend.”
Liu Shu: “…”
Luo Lingyu: “…”
Was that it?
Was that all the introduction she was going to get?
Luo Lingyu looked at Lu Yun, who innocently looked back.
His face was so handsome that he perfectly embodied the clueless, naive young master. Staring at such a handsome man, Luo Lingyu’s cheeks flushed, and her heart raced. She quickly averted her gaze.
Since Lu Yun wasn’t cooperating, Luo Lingyu decided to take matters into her own hands: “Young master, may I ask how I should address you?”
Liu Shu: “…”
Due to his stutter, he disliked speaking in front of strangers.
He naturally looked at Lu Yun for help.
Lu Yun simply smiled and remained silent.
Luo Lingyu was puzzled: “Young master, why won’t you speak? Have I offended you unintentionally?”
Liu Shu looked at Lu Yun again, but Lu Yun remained unmoved, showing no intention of helping him.
Under the young lady’s unwavering gaze and his friend’s deliberate silence, Prince Chen Liu Shu grew increasingly frustrated.
His face turned red as if burned by fire. He didn’t want to speak. He didn’t want to embarrass himself. He didn’t want his first conversation with this young lady to reveal his stutter and earn him her pitying looks.
After a long struggle, Liu Shu glared at Lu Yun in anger.
He stiffly said: “I have matters to attend to. Farewell!”
With that, he turned and left.
But as he stepped onto the corridor, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Lu Yun.
Lu Yun raised an eyebrow and said to the maids at the other end of the corridor: “He doesn’t know the way. Escort him.”
The maids, feeling awkward, led Liu Shu away. Only Lu Yun and Luo Lingyu remained. Luo Lingyu watched Liu Shu’s retreating figure with regret. Another young man from a good family, likely missed.
She felt a pang of loss, wondering if she had unintentionally offended him…
First Lady Lu, then this stranger.
Being disliked twice in one evening was a heavy blow to Luo Lingyu.
Lu Yun watched his cousin’s despondent expression with a cold smile.
In the distance, a line of lanterns slowly approached. Luo Lingyu heard faint voices—several young men talking. They were likely the cousins who lived far from the “Snow Trace Courtyard,” finally arriving.
They were the ones Luo Lingyu had been waiting for.
The main guests were late, while the non-main guest, Lu Yun, had been wandering around aimlessly.
Feeling conflicted, Luo Lingyu glanced at Lu Yun and secretly glared at him. Lu Yun’s heart stirred.
He looked in the direction of the approaching voices and instantly guessed why Luo Lingyu was here.
At first, he had suspected that Luo Lingyu might have been eavesdropping on his conversation with Liu Shu, perhaps even a spy.
But now, he realized he had overestimated her.
This cousin of his was solely focused on how to seduce men…
As a member of the Lu family, how could he stand by and watch his brothers fall for such a woman?
Lu Yun glanced at Luo Lingyu: “Are you sure you want to wait here?”
Luo Lingyu was confused.
Lu Yun said calmly: “Your makeup is smudged.”
Luo Lingyu blurted out: “Impossible…”
Lu Yun: “You really don’t remember you were crying just now, do you?”
Luo Lingyu’s expression turned vivid.
She immediately raised her sleeve to cover her face.
It was almost instinctive…
Lu Yun had used the “your makeup is smudged” excuse to tease her before, and she no longer believed him.
But… what if it was true this time?
Luo Lingyu whispered anxiously, “I-I-I can’t let anyone see me like this, Third Cousin. What should I do? What should I do?”
Lu Yun’s lips curled mischievously, almost as if he were enjoying her distress.
He extended his sleeve, as if condescending, and said, “Follow me.”
In Luo Lingyu’s lowered gaze, she saw the young man’s fluttering sleeve and his outstretched, slender fingers.
The sound of footsteps grew closer.
Without hesitation, Luo Lingyu reached out and nervously took his hand.
When their hands touched, both of them trembled slightly.
Luo Lingyu’s heart was about to leap out of her throat.
Lu Yun led her down the slope.
Before the other young men arrived, he guided the stumbling Luo Lingyu down the bushes and onto a boat.
He untied the rope from the shore, and the boat drifted leisurely into the lake, under the shadow of the pine trees by the corridor.
The lake water was dark, and the figures of the man and woman in the boat were hidden within.
Luo Lingyu knelt uneasily on the wooden boat.
She quietly lowered her sleeve and saw Lu Yun with his back to her, looking up as if listening to the voices of the young men above the water.
The shadows of the trees and flowers passed over their heads.
As Luo Lingyu clumsily sat down, her foot hit something.
She looked down and found a wine jar at the bow of the boat.
Luo Lingyu leaned over to smell it. The aroma was rich, and there was still half a jar of wine left. Feeling depressed and unable to find a wine cup, she picked up the jar, raised it high, and took a sip.
The taste was fragrant.
She took another sip.
And another…
Lu Yun didn’t notice at all.
With his back to Luo Lingyu, he listened to the voices of the young men above—
“Have you heard? Prince Hengyang has arrived in Jianye. The situation for the other princes might not be good.”
“A few commoners have come to Jianye to study. How ridiculous. Lowly commoners, daring to enter our noble circles? Prince Chen Liu Shu seems interested in associating with them… I hope it doesn’t involve the Lu family.”
“But this has nothing to do with us… Right now, I’m just looking forward to next month’s Flower Festival. I wonder which young lady will be crowned the ‘Flower Goddess’ this year, haha.”
The voices above faded as the group moved away.
It was safe to leave now.
Lu Yun pondered deeply, then turned around.
He took a deep breath and saw Luo Lingyu sitting at the bow of the boat, her eyes glistening.
She clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face: “My life is so bitter…”
Lu Yun: “…Is she drunk?”
“Or is she acting up again?”
—
Author’s Note: Two drama queens in action (???)
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