ATLAS TRANSLATES

The night was filled with the fragrance of flowers, intoxicating the world.

The same flower branch—Lu Xian thought about how to care for it and nurture it, so as not to disappoint his cousin’s intentions.

But Lu Yun casually tucked it into Luo Lingyu’s dark, cloud-like hair.

Her hair was jet black, and the flower branch trembled lightly, complementing her snow-like face as she slowly raised her head.

The wind blew from below, rustling the leaves of the apricot tree at the end of the corridor.

Lu Yun, the third young master, smiled as he rolled down his sleeves, changed into the black official shoes placed by the door, brushed past the young lady, and descended the stone steps.

Luo Lingyu’s heart, however, could no longer remain calm—Lu Yun had not accepted her flower, yet his actions were more captivating than Lu Xian, who had accepted it.

It was like some men were good and safe, while others, though perhaps not as good, were irresistibly attractive.

Behind her, Lu Xian was slow to realize what had happened. After a moment of confusion, Lu Xian glared at his younger brother: Didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t tease our cousin anymore? Lu Yun scoffed, ignoring his second brother, and simply walked away.

Afterward, Lu Xian also took his leave, leaving Luo Lingyu to enter her room in a daze and close the door behind her.

She leaned against the door, sitting with her knees drawn up, and touched the warmth on her cheeks with her sleeves.

Then she clasped her hands over her chest, trying to calm her wildly beating heart. Luo Lingyu bit her lip, her eyes filled with frustration—

Lu Yun, the third young master… Hmph!

She had already given up on him, already shifted her focus to others, but he had suddenly come back and stirred her emotions again.

Uncontrollably, she began to harbor wild thoughts once more, feeling that giving up on Lu Yun might have been too hasty.

Luo Lingyu was troubled: What did he even mean? He had said such harsh things to her before, and now he was teasing her again.

Luo Lingyu lowered her eyelids, silently recalling how she had been stunned when he leaned in close.

His breath had brushed lightly over her forehead, like a wisp of cloud, yet scorching like molten lava.

The slight upward curve of his lips, the cool aura around him, even the thick lashes that lowered slightly as he leaned in…

His eyes were deep and serene, his long lashes like fine needles pricking at her heart.

Luo Lingyu was a deeply practical person—if the man she married had a good family background and looked as handsome as her third cousin, that would be perfect.

She simply couldn’t let go!

After sitting for a while, her maid Lingyu knocked on the door, saying the flowers in the courtyard had been gathered and asking if the young lady wanted to see them.

Luo Lingyu snapped out of her thoughts, put away her worries, and opened the door.

Lingyu’s expression was calm, but Lingxi, hiding behind a wooden pillar, looked uneasy.

Years of living under someone else’s roof had made Luo Lingyu adept at reading people’s expressions.

She immediately called out, “Lingxi, come here.”

Seeing that she couldn’t hide it, Lingxi reluctantly came forward with a grimace: “Miss, it’s my fault. The young lady ran out to play. I don’t know where she went.”

Luo Lingyu composed herself and asked when Luo Yunhuan had left.

The maids in the courtyard also stammered, unable to give a clear answer.

Only then did Luo Lingyu grow anxious.

She looked up at the dimming sky, immediately picked up a lantern, and prepared to go out to search.

Luo Lingyu said urgently, “She hasn’t explored the Lu family’s courtyard, and she doesn’t know all the Lu family members. What if something happens?”

Leaving Lingyu to hold the lantern and wait, Luo Lingyu took a few maids who usually attended to her younger sister and set out into the night.

Afraid of causing gossip, she didn’t dare to ask for help from the servants outside the courtyard, hoping to quietly find Luo Yunhuan and bring her back.

While the “Snow Trace Courtyard” quietly set out to search, Lu Yun had just returned to the “Clear Courtyard.”

A few servants, guards, and maids had accompanied Lu Yun on his outing.

After returning to the courtyard and his quarters, only a few, such as Jinyue, remained to help him change and wash up.

The maids lowered the green gauze curtains, and incense was lit on the burner.

The shadows of the banners and curtains danced, and the silk bed curtains were drawn.

After washing up, Lu Yun returned to his bedroom, where Jinyue and the others had already tidied up.

Lu Yun picked up a book he had tossed on the bed the previous day and casually leaned against the lacquered table, flipping through a few pages.

As Jinyue cleared the clutter on the table, she spoke to the young master: “You were too reckless! Didn’t you say before that you didn’t like Miss Luo’s character? Why did you go out of your way to approach her again? What if she misunderstands?”

Lu Yun said sternly, “You’re just a maid. How dare you question my actions?”

Jinyue was stunned, immediately straightening up and turning around to chide him, “Young Master!”

She was no ordinary maid—she had returned to the Lu family with Lu Yun.

She had served Lu Yun since he was a child, so she naturally wouldn’t gossip… but this was about the future mistress of the second household!

Lady Lu didn’t manage their affairs, and Lu Yun had so many admirers… The maids were also filled with wild thoughts… Jinyue was extremely anxious.

Lu Yun covered his face with his sleeve, not actually scolding Jinyue. After a moment of silence, he said indifferently, “Perhaps I was bewitched.”

He was already filled with regret.

Why had he acted so impulsively? He shouldn’t have. But at that moment, seeing Luo Lingyu’s gaze fixed on his second brother, watching them chat and laugh so harmoniously… he couldn’t help but want to disrupt that perfect relationship.

When he saw his own actions reflected in Luo Lingyu’s beautiful eyes, he was filled with regret.

But it was too late.

He could only flee in embarrassment.

How could he possibly be interested in someone as scheming as Luo Lingyu? Impossible.

To make his stance clear, Lu Yun said, “She may be cunning, but she’s also foolish. She won’t last two days before revealing her true colors. I’m just worried that Second Brother, being so pure-hearted, might be deceived by her.”

Jinyue looked at the third young master with a knowing smile: Since when was the third young master so concerned about others? She had no idea.

Jinyue’s heart stirred, and she smiled, “Actually, Miss Luo doesn’t have any ill intentions. She just wants to make something of herself. She’s an orphan who’s been living under someone else’s roof for years. Her desires… you understand them at a glance, Young Master. Since you understand, you won’t be deceived. So why bother worrying about what Miss Luo is thinking?”

“Besides, Miss Luo is still young. Without elders to guide her, she’s had to figure things out on her own. It’s inevitable that she might take some wrong turns. But as long as her overall direction isn’t wrong, who doesn’t have a few flaws? You’re not perfect either, Young Master.”

Lu Yun lowered the sleeve covering his face and stared at Jinyue with his dark eyes, as if asking: What are you trying to say?

Jinyue tested him, “I see that Miss Luo is so beautiful and seems to have feelings for you, Young Master. And you’re not entirely indifferent… Why don’t you marry her?”

Lu Yun’s brow twitched.

He looked at Jinyue, “Do you know what you’re saying?”

Seeing his expression, Jinyue quickly stopped talking, surprised.

Lu Yun, “Marriage among noble families is about alliances between two families. It’s not something to be taken lightly. Luo Lingyu may not know this. She thinks that as long as she wins over a man, he will marry her. But among noble families, marriage is never just about whether one person likes another. Families consider resources, benefits… What would marrying Luo Lingyu bring? Especially for a family like the Lu family, with its deep roots and influence greater than the royal family… The Luo family is a fallen noble family. The Lu family would never consider it.”

Jinyue’s eyes widened.

Though she had served Lu Yun since childhood, she was still just a maid with limited perspective. She couldn’t see things from Lu Yun’s lofty position.

She exclaimed, “But… but I’ve only heard that nobles don’t marry commoners. I thought as long as both were from noble families, it would be fine.”

Lu Yun said gravely, “That’s exactly what Luo Lingyu thinks. Her parents died early, and no one in the Luo family properly taught her, so she ignores my warnings.”

He lowered his eyelids.

Softly, he said, “If a nobleman were willing to marry Luo Lingyu… how much would he have to love her to give up all those benefits?”

—

Author’s Note: Luo Lingyu: Then you must really, really like me~~~