“Since Sister Luo is also here, why don’t we all go visit Third Brother together? I heard from the old madam that Third Brother is injured. I wonder how it happened. It’s really worrying,” suggested one of the Wang sisters among the cousins.
The girls, already captivated by the idea, eagerly agreed.
Some lowered their heads, some smiled shyly, while others were bolder.
They thought to themselves: Third Brother Lu is usually hard to see and doesn’t spend time with them. But if so many cousins go together to visit him, surely he wouldn’t refuse, right?
The girls walked out of Hualin Garden, heading down a moss-covered path. After walking for a while, they realized someone was missing. Turning back, they saw Luo Lingyu standing still, not following them.
Luo Lingyu bowed slightly.
The wind blew from behind, lifting her hair ribbon from her cloak to the front. She hadn’t dressed up carefully before leaving, so her hair was slightly messy, and her cheeks were flushed.
Standing before the trees of varying shades of green and red, she looked as radiant as the blooming flowers behind her.
The girls were stunned. They saw her smile gently and say, “I won’t be going. I’m not here to see Third Cousin.”
She added sincerely, “I’m really here to collect flower dew.”
The girls were momentarily speechless.
Seeing her slightly disheveled yet strikingly beautiful appearance, they felt a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, as if their intentions had been exposed and she was mocking them. “Are you saying we’re shameless for chasing after Brother Yun? If you’re not here to see Third Brother, why are you collecting dew here of all places? Is it for Second Brother instead?”
Luo Lingyu remained calm under their accusations. “Second Cousin is dignified and reserved, while Third Cousin is charming and noble. Both have their merits. I’m new here and not very familiar with them. But I don’t recommend that you all go visit him like this—Third Brother often goes out to play. There are many banquets, gambling dens, and women outside. He’s seen and experienced everything. If you try to win his favor like this, it might not be easy.”
Her words made the girls pause and think. They started discussing among themselves, “She has a point.”
“There are so many girls who admire Third Brother…”
Their voices faded as Luo Lingyu bowed and turned to leave.
The sky had brightened, and the mist in the forest was dissipating.
The girls watched her retreating figure, her graceful posture, her flowing clothes, and her ethereal beauty. After a while, one of them sighed softly, and a faint sense of melancholy settled over the group.
Once she was out of sight, Luo Lingyu quickened her pace, holding her flower basket.
She ventured deeper into the forest, stepping on fallen leaves and petals, but she had no intention of collecting dew.
She guessed she had gone far enough that the girls wouldn’t see her. Stopping behind an ancient tree, she peeked around it to check if anyone had followed. Seeing that they were still gathered and chatting, she patted her chest and smiled smugly.
She hadn’t gone to “accidentally” meet Third Brother because she thought it would be too obvious in a crowd.
But she also didn’t like the idea of the other girls going to see him. However, what she said wasn’t entirely wrong—if Third Brother had any interest in these cousins, he would have shown it by now.
Feeling relieved, Luo Lingyu turned around, planning to find a way back to her courtyard without being noticed by Lingyu, the maid sent by the old madam.
But as she turned, she gasped.
Under a blooming peach tree, petals fluttered in the air.
A stone table with four small stools stood nearby. On the table was a teapot and a small teacup. The cup was held by a hand as elegant as jade, its fingers long and clean. The owner of the hand sat at the table, his eyelashes casting shadows under the sunlight. Beneath those lashes, his eyes held a mocking, almost disdainful gaze as he looked at her.
Luo Lingyu was stunned.
“Greetings, Miss Luo,” a gentle voice brought her back to reality. Luo Lingyu looked over and saw a slender, fair-skinned maid in a green dress standing behind Lu Yun.
The maid, with almond-shaped eyes, had prepared the tea on the table and was now smiling at Luo Lingyu. Her demeanor was refined, clearly Lu Yun’s personal maid.
The maid was beautiful, but Luo Lingyu hadn’t noticed her at first because Lu Yun was too dazzling. He sat there, elegant and radiant, overshadowing everyone around him. Anyone standing next to him would feel inferior.
Luo Lingyu composed herself and curtsied, saying softly, “Third Cousin.”
Lu Yun replied indifferently, “Hmm.”
Luo Lingyu was speechless.
Accustomed to being admired by men, Luo Lingyu had never encountered such a cold response. She straightened her hair and adjusted her clothes. Instead of retreating in embarrassment, she took a few steps forward and continued softly, “Cousin, I’m here to collect flower dew. I didn’t know you were here… What are you doing here?”
Lu Yun’s gaze slowly turned to her face.
Her beauty was like a flower reflected in water, radiant and stunning under the blooming trees.
Lu Yun’s dark eyes met hers. “Guess.”
Luo Lingyu’s memory flashed back to their disastrous first meeting the previous night—Lu Yun’s “guess” had thoroughly annoyed her.
Her smile almost faltered. “Are you here to admire the flowers, Cousin?”
Lu Yun’s eyes showed a hint of surprise as he scrutinized her. Her heart skipped a beat, but then he said mockingly, “Guess again.”
Luo Lingyu was furious.
A soft laugh came from the maid, Jin Yue, who stepped forward to help. “Miss, please don’t mind him. Our young master likes to joke. He’s on leave from the academy and saw you ladies talking earlier. He didn’t want to join, so we stayed here to wait… It’s fate that you came this way. Would you like to sit and have some tea with our young master?”
But Lu Yun’s aloofness made the tea hard to enjoy.
After a few more awkward exchanges, Luo Lingyu stood there uncomfortably. A breeze blew, causing petals and tender buds to fall like snowflakes. The cold wind made Luo Lingyu shiver slightly, and she sneezed loudly. The sound echoed in the quiet forest, and she blushed deeply, feeling embarrassed. She lowered her head and called out pitifully, “Cousin…”
Her voice was soft and hoarse, like a kitten’s meow, or a feather brushing against one’s heart. Combined with her disheveled hair, damp eyes, and stunning beauty…
Lu Yun raised an eyebrow and set his teacup down with a sharp clink. This cousin of his was truly…
Jin Yue, being Lu Yun’s personal maid, understood his subtle emotions. Seeing his reaction, she stepped forward and kindly suggested, “The wind is strong here, Miss. You’re here to collect dew, but your clothes are too thin. You might catch a cold. Perhaps you should head back?”
Luo Lingyu nodded weakly, her phoenix eyes glistening. “I’m new here and don’t know the way well. Could you escort me back, Cousin?”
Jin Yue was speechless.
Just as she was about to politely decline, Lu Yun turned his head and stared at Luo Lingyu for a moment. His eyes showed a flicker of emotion, and he nodded. “Sure, I’ll take you back.”
Jin Yue was surprised. Had her master lost his mind?
But Lu Yun stood up, his movements graceful and elegant, though his expression remained cold. He left the teacup on the table and walked out of the forest, intending to escort Luo Lingyu back. Luo Lingyu, caught off guard, quickly followed. Jin Yue trailed behind them, maintaining a distance of five steps.
On one side of the forest, the cousins were still chatting animatedly. Lu Yun chose the other direction, walking at a leisurely pace that Luo Lingyu could keep up with. They passed through Hualin Garden, crossed a stone bridge, and walked along a covered corridor. Luo Lingyu, watching the elegant figure in front of her, quickened her steps and walked slightly ahead of Lu Yun.
Lu Yun slowed his pace slightly, his indifferent gaze falling on the girl walking a step ahead of him.
She remained exactly one step ahead.
From Lu Yun’s perspective, he could see her slender neck, the curve of her chest, her narrow waist, and the tips of her shoes peeking out from under her skirt. Her cloak trailed on the ground as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Lu Yun’s gaze lingered on her jade-like profile, her long lashes, and her watery eyes. Noticing his direct gaze, Luo Lingyu’s cheeks turned even redder.
She knew Lu Yun was watching her. Under the morning light, she was fully aware of her beauty and walked ahead of him, showcasing it to the fullest. She was like ripples on a lake, gently stirring his cold heart.
Lu Yun’s eyes darkened as he recalled the night before last—the icy water, the oars, and Luo Lingyu’s completely different demeanor.
She had hidden her face, her body language full of disgust and avoidance.
She had pleaded with him to jump into the water, threatening him if he refused.
Cold-blooded and heartless, she had left a deep impression on him.
The memory of her figure overlapped with the one before him. Lu Yun sneered inwardly: such a hypocritical cousin.
Unaware of his thoughts, Luo Lingyu suddenly heard Lu Yun’s cold voice behind her: “Your makeup is smudged. The lipstick is on your cheek.”
Author’s Note:
Luo Lingyu: This cousin is so annoying (T?T)
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