ATLAS TRANSLATES

Lu Yun held a small banquet for Luo Lingyu in his “Clear Courtyard,” with the doors closed. Though there were no elders present to perform her coming-of-age ceremony, this couldn’t be helped, and Luo Lingyu didn’t ask for it. Lu Yun was already under great pressure holding this banquet while Lu Xian’s whereabouts were unknown.

Moreover, looking around, Luo Lingyu saw that almost all the young lords and ladies she had seen at Zhou Young Master’s birthday earlier that day were present. This gave her a sense of pride — as if she wasn’t any less than Zhou Young Master.

Zhou Young Master had Prince Chen to protect him, and she had her difficult Minister brother.

Among the crowd of revelers, little sister Luo Yunhuan first waved to greet her sister, but her sister clearly had no time for her. The young lords enthusiastically welcomed Luo Lingyu, with the red-faced Qi Third Young Master being the most excited: “Sister Luo, come quickly! We didn’t know it was your birthday earlier today, we were remiss.”

The ladies also smiled: “We’ve prepared gifts for you.”

Luo Yunhuan: “Sister, sit over here!”

Her sister didn’t give her a glance, instead smiling gracefully and walking straight toward the group of lords and ladies.

Young Miss Luo Yunhuan sat down dejectedly: “…”

Well, her sister always liked being fawned over.

Sitting next to her was Lu Cheng, the fourth young master of the Lu family who had snuck over to attend his brother’s banquet. He carefully placed peeled shrimp in front of his little cousin.

Luo Yunhuan just snorted and turned away, unwilling to acknowledge him. This left young fourth master dejected and at a loss, feeling that his little cousin was particularly hard to please — among the children of the same age in the family, there was only this one young lady, and Lu Cheng naturally wanted to play with the pretty young lady.

Unfortunately, the young lady seemed to still be angry about the previous fighting incident and wouldn’t pay him any attention.

Leaving aside the conflicts between children, among the adults, the young lords’ gazes followed Luo Lingyu enthusiastically and boldly, while the ladies’ eyes often drifted toward Lu Yun who had entered the crowd of young lords.

The ladies were restless, as they hadn’t seen this most handsome lord of Jianye for half a month due to his eye injury and recovery at home.

?Among all the young lords, Lu Yun sat with his robe arranged casually, his demeanor relaxed and exceptionally refined, and some ladies had already gone over to him.

Luo Lingyu snorted, seeing how popular her Minister brother was. She turned her head to give the young lords a charming smile, walking gracefully into the crowd, thanking everyone for their gifts with a smile.

Zhou Yangling came to find her apologetically, bringing a small gift: “…Sister, I didn’t know we shared the same birthday. I’m sorry for hurting your feelings.”

Luo Lingyu smiled very humbly and magnanimously: “What are you saying, Zhou Young Master? It’s nothing, just a birthday, it’s ordinary, I never care about such small matters.”

In reality, she was dying of jealousy toward Zhou Yangling, green with envy.

But now she felt much more balanced after being comforted by Lu Yun.

Zhou Yangling looked down at her, the beautiful lady was consistently charming and delicate. When she looked up and smiled, the spirit and beauty in her features, mixed with cleverness, was incredibly captivating, yet hiding an insincere distance and falseness.

Zhou Yangling smiled slightly, sat down to comfort Luo Lingyu, hoping to dispel Sister Luo’s hostility toward himself.

In Zhou Yangling’s view, a beauty like Luo Lingyu having a bit of temper was harmless and just right. If she had no temper at all and was perfect, it would be boring instead.

When the two sat down to talk, Luo Lingyu would occasionally lift her sleeve to cover her mouth or adjust her skirt, the glass bracelet on her wrist, the bright moon earrings, and the gold-framed jeweled skirt decorations all sparkled like fireflies in the night, attracting the gazes of the surrounding ladies.

Zhou Yangling’s heart stirred, understanding dawning, and she drank tea with a faint smile without speaking. The ladies with bright eyes had already gathered around her and Luo Lingyu, asking in succession —

“Lady Luo, are these new accessories? Where did you get them? They look so beautiful, I want them too.”

“I’ve seen this hairpin before, made by a master craftsman from the northern countries. I wanted it, but my brother wouldn’t buy it for me. Did you buy it, Lady Luo?”

The ladies chattered away, discussing Luo Lingyu’s new clothes, new hair ornaments, and new silver, gold, and glass accessories.

Luo Lingyu’s eyes seemed to have starlight wandering and flowing within them, incredibly gorgeous. Surrounded by the ladies, she showed no sign of annoyance, her voice as sweet as an oriole’s as she spoke. Clearly, the ladies’ crowding and admiration gave her great satisfaction. In past banquets, more young lords would surround her, but this time unusually, there were many more ladies who liked her.

Luo Lingyu was self-satisfied in her heart, smiling as she answered everyone: “I bought the hairpin, the others I had people modify for me.”

The ladies praised in succession: “Lady Luo is truly ingenious.”

The ladies only played with rouge, powder, perfumes, clothes, and accessories, these common things made into new styles was always what these noble ladies pursued. Luo Lingyu usually had many clever ideas, and she even opened a cosmetics shop with Zhou Yangling using such ingenuity. Now that she had applied this ingenuity to her appearance, it naturally attracted attention.

Who wouldn’t like someone who knows how to dress, eat, and play?

This was the most enjoyable evening Luo Lingyu had experienced since her parents passed away. She could be even happier.

Halfway through the banquet, Luo Yunhuan couldn’t stay awake and was taken away by servants to sleep, but her sister remained in the “Clear Courtyard,” surrounded by people, unwilling to move even a step. Luo Lingyu’s vanity was evident. The ladies asked again: “This glass seems… why don’t you wear something of better quality? Should I give you a pair?”

Luo Lingyu touched the bracelet on her arm, smiling as she declined: “No need, this was given to me by my third cousin. Third cousin has a glass workshop that hasn’t even opened to the public yet, he just gave this to me to play with.”

After their quarreling and making up, during their street wandering today, Lu Yun had returned the glass bracelet he had taken from her. Luo Lingyu showed it off from time to time, feeling satisfied in her heart.

The ladies paused slightly, their expressions suddenly becoming strange. Due to Lu Yun’s status, he received quite a lot of admiration among the ladies. The ladies’ hearts immediately turned sour, and one lady said acidly: “Haven’t seen him give anything to other ladies… why would he give you something? What makes you so special?”

Luo Lingyu lowered her eyelids, shyly touching her jade-white wrist, her beautiful eyes flickering: “It’s just a normal birthday gift from a cousin. Just ordinary sibling affection, don’t think too much about it.”

The ladies: “…Oh.”

Disappointed, jealous, envious, indifferent. Yet who would believe her “ordinary sibling affection.”

After showing off among the sisters and then mingling among the young lords, Luo Lingyu received the most amazement tonight. She was surrounded by people talking and laughing non-stop. At the edge of the crowd, Chen Xiu’s noble and cold face was about to crack. The Chen family had all moved away from Jianye, leaving only Miss Chen. Chen Xiu had been listless for months, and didn’t want to come tonight, but when she heard Lu Yun was hosting the banquet, she came thick-skinned.

Who knew it would be a long time before Lu Yun returned.

Shortly after his return, just as Chen Xiu was about to approach, Lu Yun had disappeared somewhere.

She sulked while maintaining her dignity, listening for half a day to the surrounding ladies’ pursuit of Luo Lingyu, still maintaining her self-proclaimed noble aloofness and disdain for worldly matters. When she heard that many of the accessories Luo Lingyu wore were gifts from Lu Yun, she couldn’t help but turn her head to secretly look. The more she looked, the more uncomfortable she became — how could such a noble and elegant contemporary scholar like Lu Yun be attracted to such a vulgar and flashy woman?

Could Lu Yun not see how scheming his poor country cousin was?

After half a year, Lu Yun still hadn’t seen through it?

Chen Xiu refused to acknowledge that Lu Yun would be attracted to Luo Lingyu, she felt that the lord she admired must have been deceived by that bad woman. Luo Lingyu’s appearance was so alluring, her words so sweet, indeed it was easy to deceive men. After Luo Lingyu finished showing off, tired from the display, she left the crowd and poured herself a drink alone.

As she happily lowered her head to drink, a proud and reserved female voice came from beside her: “What ordinary sibling affection? Do you take us for fools? Lu Yun has never given us such precious birthday gifts. What makes you so special?”

Luo Lingyu turned her head to see it was Chen Xiu, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time.

Chen Xiu glared at her with contempt in her eyes, her gaze accusing her of “putting on an act.”

Luo Lingyu touched the cool bracelet on her arm, and under Chen Xiu’s glare, she swallowed the wine in her mouth. Her eyes were flushed and full of emotion, and the lady didn’t defend herself, instead her lips curved upward. Involuntarily, secretly pleased, Luo Lingyu laughed out loud right in front of Chen Xiu.

Chen Xiu: “…!”

She actually laughed so smugly! The young lords should all come see Luo Lingyu’s two-faced expression!

Luo Lingyu pretended to be innocent and pure, but clearly understood what everyone was thinking. As soon as Chen Xiu spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh with satisfaction. Although she didn’t say “Lu Yun just likes me, what can you do about it,” her smug expression spoke volumes without words.

Chen Xiu probably hadn’t seen such a woman being so unrestrained in front of her before. She stuttered “you you you” for a while, but thinking of Luo Lingyu’s vicious expression, she still didn’t dare to provoke her further. Chen Xiu’s eyes reddened as she turned away to ponder, probably thinking “why has Lu Yun become blind.”

While the ladies understood more in their hearts, the young lords understood less. Men and women traditionally think differently — women easily notice the various gifts that young lords give to ladies, while men only realize when the other person acknowledges it. Thus, Luo Lingyu remained the focus of the young lords’ attention tonight. However, after Chen Xiu’s reminder, Luo Lingyu searched through the crowd, wanting to find her third cousin to offer him a toast of thanks.

Lu Yun had such a small heart. If she simply enjoyed his birthday gifts without showing any appreciation, Lu Yun would definitely turn against her.

But after searching around, she couldn’t find him.

Jin Yue said: “Third Young Master went out…”

Luo Lingyu belatedly remembered that everyone said Lu Yun hadn’t attended such banquets much in recent years. He had even hosted one for her… Luo Lingyu’s heart stirred, and after telling her maid, she followed Jin Yue’s directions and left the courtyard to look for him. Luo Lingyu searched all the way to the covered walkway above the Lu family’s great lake before she saw the young man leaning against the railing.

Not just Lu Yun alone.

The standing slender young lord was actually Lu Xian, the Second Young Master who was said to have been missing for several days.

Second Cousin had returned?!

And was talking with his third brother.

Luo Lingyu called out “Second Cousin,” and both young lords on the walkway, one standing and one sitting, looked over. Under the bright moonlight, of the two young lords looking over, Lu Xian was pale but friendly, while Lu Yun had his arm resting on the railing, giving her a faint glance, his eyes appearing quite “cold.”

Luo Lingyu secretly cursed Lu Yun for being “fake” — he had been so nice to her during the day, but in front of his second brother, he put on an act as if they weren’t very close.

But Lu Xian knew what relationship these two had.

Upon returning, he met with Lu Yun because Lu Yun’s servant had been waiting for him.

Since his younger cousin cared so much about him, Lu Xian naturally wanted to reassure his cousin’s mind, and at the same time see if his third brother and cousin were still quarreling, and how cousin’s birthday was going.

When Luo Lingyu came looking, she obviously couldn’t be looking for him. Lu Xian nodded and smiled at Lu Yun: “…You and cousin have fun, I’m a bit tired. We brothers can talk tomorrow just as well.”

Second Young Master Lu patted Lu Yun’s shoulder meaningfully, his hint obvious: beautiful scene, lovely person beside you, cherish it, third brother.

Unexpectedly, just as Second Young Master Lu bid them farewell and walked a short distance away, he heard his third brother speaking to their cousin in that lackadaisical tone: “Aren’t you going to flirt with those young lords anymore?”

Lu Xian: “…?!”

Was this how his third brother usually spoke to Cousin Luo? So sarcastic, even less warm than how he himself usually spoke to their cousin!

Lu Xian really wanted to turn back and teach his third brother a lesson — with this attitude, no wonder you couldn’t win the beauty in your dreams!

Lu Xian resisted the urge to return with great willpower and left with a sense of regret.

Back at the walkway, moonlight, lake water, and tree shadows intermingled. Lu Yun still leaned on the railing watching the lake water, while Luo Lingyu stood beside him, excitedly and haltingly thanking him: “…Those are just outsiders, talking to them can’t compare to thanking Minister brother.”

Lu Yun turned his head, his cold snow-like eyes looking at the lady beside him, suddenly asking: “Your birthday was almost forgotten today, yet you’re still so happy. Haven’t you learned any lessons from this?”

Luo Lingyu rolled her eyes internally.

On the surface, she humbly asked: “Please instruct me, Minister brother.”

Lu Yun: “First, you must stand on your own, do your own things, never expect others to remember your matters.”

Luo Lingyu pouted slightly, not making a sound.

Lu Yun: “Second, men are the most heartless in the world. Many may like you, but none love you. Relying on men will never accomplish anything.”

Luo Lingyu snorted, her expression not looking too good anymore.

She was properly celebrating her birthday, politely coming to thank him, yet he started lecturing her, giving her grand principles. Whether what he said made sense or not, it certainly wasn’t what she wanted to hear right now.

Lu Yun was about to say “Third,” when suddenly the crackling sound of explosions rose into the sky, and fireworks blooming brilliantly in the sky reflected in the bright eyes of the two looking up. The sounds of men and women laughing came from below and outside, they were setting off fireworks. The fireworks lit up the walkway with alternating light and shadow, in brilliant colors.

Under the fireworks, Luo Lingyu argued: “…I don’t know if other men love me or not, but I know someone gets jealous when he sees me talking to other men, and tries to provoke me. Do you think he likes me or not?”

Luo Lingyu looked up at the fireworks in the sky.

Lu Yun turned his face to look at her.

She stood quietly beside him, ordinary among mortals, with exceptional grace. As the lady looked up at the fireworks, the light floated on her face, delicate as snow and porcelain, with flowing radiance. Her upturned long lashes, bright eyes, pressed lips, her slender neck, thin shoulders, full chest… Lu Yun propped his chin, quietly observing.

Luo Lingyu watched the fireworks, her lips curved upward.

Suddenly feeling that the person beside her hadn’t made a sound for so long, she turned her head suspiciously to look, but a dark shadow flashed before her eyes, and the young lord who had been sitting quietly suddenly stood up.

In one step, he was in front of her, his face bending down.

Luo Lingyu’s heart beat rapidly!

He embraced her waist, spun her around, and pressed her against the corridor pillar, bending down to kiss her. With her back against the pillar, as his lips touched hers, fireworks exploded in the sky again, illuminating his lowered, elegant eyebrows. Rich and dark, with straight nose and fine features, under the multicolored lights, how stirring to the heart.

In her daze, a trembling sensation climbed up from the base of her spine, making her slide down.

She let out a soft gasp, but he caught her hand, his fingernail gently grazing her hand’s back.

Her heart already lost, the young lord’s tongue had pried open her teeth, taking a taste.

He lifted his eyes to look.

His expression full of spring sentiment.

The flower fragrance was already intoxicating, the fireworks hazy. That almost-teasing manner, the tree shadows like water. The man and woman leaned against the corridor railing, embracing and kissing passionately.

…

In an instant, the world brightened.

Luo Lingyu suddenly realized she loved him.

Truly liked him.

Just like the lie she and Fan Young Master had made up. If Lu Yun loved her, she would do everything possible to marry him; if he didn’t love her, she wouldn’t mind marrying for power and wealth.