The attendants of Jinxiu Hall had only been recruited recently. While their backgrounds had been vetted and deemed clean, who could guarantee that they wouldn’t gossip in private? If this incident were to spread, Lanyin dared not even think about the consequences…
The footsteps grew closer.
She could even see the attendant’s shadow appearing at the corner of the staircase.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heart pounded violently, and Lanyin couldn’t help but wonder if, in the next moment, it would leap out of her throat.
Just as she turned deathly pale, believing they were about to be caught, a firm hand grasped her wrist once more. Before she could react, an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her in. In the blink of an eye, Qi Yubai had whisked her into the nearest private room.
The door opened and closed.
At the same moment, the attendant stepped onto the landing.
“Hm?”
Hearing the faint sound of movement, the attendant glanced up the corridor, but finding nothing unusual, she murmured to herself, “Did I mishear?” Without giving it much thought, she carefully balanced the tray in her hands and continued walking toward the room where the Qi family’s old madam and the others were gathered.
Behind the thin paper-covered door, Lanyin watched as the attendant passed by and the sound of footsteps faded into the distance. Only then did she finally let out a breath of relief.
Fortunately, they hadn’t been seen.
As the weight in her chest lifted, Lanyin became aware of her current predicament.
Because Qi Yubai’s arm was still around her waist, she had practically fallen into his embrace. Earlier, in her panic, she hadn’t noticed. But now, surrounded by the rich scent of ebony wood, feeling the warm breath he exhaled against her ear due to their close proximity, and even hearing the steady, powerful rhythm of his heartbeat—
Lanyin’s face turned pale, then red.
She hurriedly pushed Qi Yubai away and staggered back a few steps. Only after putting some distance between them did she brace herself against the nearest table, steadying her breathing.
The repeated physical contact today had left her mind in complete disarray. She opened her mouth, knowing she ought to say something.
Yet, looking at that familiar face, the words she had wanted to say became stuck in her throat.
In the end, she said nothing at all.
The room was eerily quiet.
Realizing that she was now alone with Qi Yubai, Lanyin’s expression shifted slightly. Fearing that if someone saw them together, there would be no way to explain, how could she dare to stay here any longer? Avoiding his gaze, she quickly stepped toward the door. But just as her hand touched the handle, before she could push it open, her wrist was seized once again.
This was the third time.
Even Lanyin couldn’t help but feel a flicker of irritation. She turned her head, her beautiful eyes filled with grievance, but before she could speak, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside the door.
It was the same attendant from before, the one who had brought tea, now exiting the private room.
Lanyin stiffened slightly, suddenly understanding the reason behind Qi Yubai’s action. She wanted to apologize but couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
Yet, Qi Yubai didn’t explain himself.
As soon as the attendant walked away, he released her wrist of his own accord. Meeting Lanyin’s startled gaze, he took a step toward her—but before he could do anything more, she instinctively stepped back in a panic.
When she realized what she had done, she saw the subtle shift in his expression—the way his eyes darkened with a hint of hurt.
Lanyin parted her lips, wanting to explain, but then she thought—perhaps it was better this way.
If they were destined never to be together, why let him hold onto hope?
So she pressed her lips together and said nothing.
She looked at Qi Yubai, her expression cold as snow, detached and distant. Yet, hidden within her sleeves, her hands clenched tightly, betraying the turmoil in her heart.
Qi Yubai gazed at her with his dark eyes, silent for a long time. Finally, he pressed his dry lips together, lowered his gaze, and said softly,
“…Don’t be afraid of me.”
As if he was truly afraid she might fear him, even his words were spoken with the utmost care.
Lanyin’s heart trembled.
She couldn’t bear to see him like this. The coldness she had barely managed to maintain began to waver. She wanted to explain—wanted to tell him she had never feared him. If she was afraid of anything, it was being discovered, of ruining his reputation. But just as she was about to speak, Qi Yubai’s hoarse voice interrupted her.
“I was just too happy.”
Such a simple sentence, yet it struck her so hard that the words she had been about to say caught in her throat.
She stared at him, dazed.
She had already suspected as much, but hearing it from his own lips still left her utterly shaken.
“…Qi Yubai,” she murmured, her voice hoarse.
He lifted his gaze again. His dark, gentle eyes met hers, and he said softly, “Listen to me first, all right?”
There was a pleading tenderness in his tone, making it impossible for Lanyin to refuse. She could only remain silent.
Seeing her acquiescence, the tension in his expression eased slightly. He thought to himself—he had lived two lifetimes, experienced decades of emotions, yet none had ever felt as intense as today.
Looking at her, he said, “You should already know from Ting Yun—I like you.”
Lanyin’s long lashes trembled.
She looked at Qi Yubai, her red lips pressed tightly together. She said nothing, but beneath her sleeves, her fingers clenched even tighter. Her nails, left untrimmed for days, dug into her palm. The pain was sharp, but she dared not loosen her grip. She was afraid that if she did, she would lose control of her emotions.
She could only meet his gaze, stiff and silent.
“I know what you’re afraid of,” Qi Yubai said.
He didn’t ask if she liked him. Instead, he told her, “You’re afraid of the gossip, afraid that my reputation will be ruined, afraid that you’re not good enough for me. And…” His voice softened. “Afraid that because you can’t bear children, you can’t give me a complete family.”
The last sentence was spoken in an almost whisper.
Yet Lanyin’s eyes widened instantly.
She never expected him to understand her fears so clearly.
Finally, she couldn’t hold back anymore.
“If you know all this, then why—”
Her voice trembled, her back stiff and rigid. She was like a taut bowstring, stretched to its limit.
“Because I don’t care,” Qi Yubai said without hesitation.
There were still a few steps between them. He instinctively wanted to move closer, but remembering how she had retreated earlier, he forced himself to restrain.
This time, he stopped two steps away.
Standing beneath the sunlight filtering through the lattice windows, his tall figure was bathed in golden light. The sharp lines of his face appeared even more striking, deep yet gentle, devoid of his usual coldness.
At this moment, Qi Yubai was utterly soft, utterly tender.
He was careful, afraid of scaring her away.
“I don’t care what others say about me, and I’ve never thought you were unworthy of me. You are wonderful. In my heart, no woman in this world could compare to you.”
Seeing the dazed look in Lanyin’s eyes, Qi Yubai did not stop speaking.
“As for children…” He paused, then asked, “Do you remember what I told you that day at Duke Lu’s residence?”
Of course, Lanyin remembered.
Back then, she had even thought he was saying such things because he liked men.
She never expected…
Seeing that she recalled it, Qi Yubai continued, “I was serious about what I said. Children are not that important to me. If we have them, that’s fine. If we don’t, it doesn’t matter. If it’s just for the sake of continuing the family line, there are many children in the Qi family’s branch families. Adopting one is simple enough.”
“Of course,” he added as he looked at her, “that depends on whether you want it. If you don’t, then we won’t.”
Lanyin stared at Qi Yubai, stunned.
No one had ever said such things to her before.
During the years she was married to Xiao Ye, because she never conceived, she had endured countless taunts and gossip. She had drunk medicine after medicine, even personally sending other women to Xiao Ye’s chambers…
To pass on the family name, to continue the bloodline—how could such a thing be so easily dismissed by him, spoken about as if it were of no consequence?
If someone else had said this to her, Lanyin would never have believed them. She would have thought they were simply trying to deceive her.
But the one saying these words was Qi Yubai.
And she… she believed him.
She believed every word he said.
She believed that he truly liked her.
She believed that he truly didn’t care whether they had children or not.
Lanyin was not unmoved.
Who wouldn’t be touched by such pure and sincere affection? Even the coldest of hearts would waver before him.
But she still felt that he was thinking too simply.
The Qi family’s main lineage had only him. Even if he was willing, even if they both ignored the opinions of others—what about Grandmother Qi?
Even if she loved Lanyin now, being an elder and a granddaughter-in-law were two different things. If a junior in the family could not bear children, she would feel pity. But if her grandson’s wife could not bear children… how could she ever accept it?
Not to mention—Lanyin had been married before.
The flicker of warmth and hesitation that had just appeared in her heart was swiftly extinguished.
She clenched her hands tightly and lowered her gaze.
She did not look at him again, forcing herself to stay clear-headed by pressing her nails painfully into her palms. Then, in a hoarse voice, she answered him,
“Qi Yubai, marriage is a matter between two families. It’s not that simple. Have you considered Grandmother Qi? She—”
“She knows.”
Those two simple words made Lanyin abruptly lift her head.
She looked at Qi Yubai in disbelief, her lips slightly parted, as if she hadn’t heard clearly. Her voice trembled as she asked,
“What… what did you say?”
Qi Yubai smiled and repeated,
“She knows.”
“She has long been aware of my feelings for you. The idea of adoption—she was the one who suggested it.”
Under Lanyin’s stunned gaze, he took another step forward.
Looking at the sheer disbelief on her face, Qi Yubai wanted nothing more than to reach out and hold her.
But remembering how she had resisted before, he pressed his thin lips together. His hand lifted slightly, but in the end, he restrained himself, letting it fall back behind him.
Instead of touching her, he leaned forward slightly, lowering his gaze to meet hers.
In a gentle, reassuring voice, he said,
“So don’t be afraid. And don’t worry.”
“There is nothing between us that we cannot overcome.”
“All those concerns you have—they don’t exist. And even if they did, I would make them disappear.”
“Now—”
He lowered his eyes once more, his voice hushed as he asked her,
“Are you still going to refuse me?”
No one knew that as Qi Yubai spoke these words, his heart was also suspended in uncertainty.
Even though he already knew her feelings, he was still afraid that Lanyin would reject him.
But…
Qi Yubai thought again—
Even if she rejected him this time, it didn’t matter. He had waited for her for so long; he didn’t mind waiting a little longer.
With that thought, the lingering worry in his heart disappeared.
Lanyin was still caught in shock.
She had never expected that Grandmother Qi knew—not only did she know, but she had also agreed to it. How could this be…? She found it unbelievable, even absurd.
Qi Yubai seemed to see the doubt in her eyes and asked, “If you don’t believe me, why don’t I have Grandmother tell you personally?”
“No,”
Hearing this, Lanyin finally snapped out of her daze. She quickly stopped him. “That’s not necessary…”
How could she possibly go to Grandmother Qi to confirm such a thing?
But at this moment, she finally believed Qi Yubai’s words.
If he wasn’t completely certain, he wouldn’t have told her something like this.
Yet, questions still lingered in her mind. She lifted her head and asked,
“Why?”
When had Qi Yubai started liking her?
And why?
Before entering the Qi family, they had never met. Was it after she arrived? But… wasn’t that too short a time?
Qi Yubai, of course, understood the doubts swirling in her mind.
He smiled. “That’s a long story. If I start telling you now, I fear Grandmother will come looking for us.”
Only then did Lanyin snap back to reality.
She suddenly remembered—
The three grandmothers were sitting just a few rooms away from her!
Worried that they might send someone to find her, Lanyin quickly pushed aside her thoughts about Qi Yubai and urged, “Then let’s hurry over.”
As she spoke, she turned to leave, but once again, Qi Yubai grabbed her wrist.
Being held back yet again, Lanyin still felt a trace of panic in her heart, but now, embarrassment outweighed her initial frustration.
She didn’t struggle this time. Instead, she pressed her lips together and asked softly,
“…What do you want now?”
Qi Yubai naturally noticed the change in her demeanor.
His heart stirred, and a gentle light flickered in his dark eyes.
Watching her slightly awkward reaction, he leaned in and murmured, “Your eyes are still red.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the familiar panic flash across her face again.
Qi Yubai quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ll go first. You can come after you’ve calmed down.”
As he spoke, his lips pressed together briefly, then, with a touch of guilt, he added, “I was reckless just now.”
Lanyin had thought he was about to apologize. She hesitated, wondering whether she should tell him it wasn’t necessary.
But before she could say anything, she heard him continue—
“But Lanyin, you’ll have to get used to it. I like you. I want to be close to you. That is instinct. Even I can’t control it.”
Lanyin never expected him to say such words.
She tilted her head up, staring at Qi Yubai in complete shock.
A warm finger gently brushed across her forehead, tucking aside a stray strand of hair.
That simple touch sent a ripple through her heart.
She heard Qi Yubai say to her, “From now on, I won’t make you cry again. But don’t be afraid of me anymore, alright?”