Outside, the weather was bright and clear, with boats occasionally gliding across the Bian River, sending ripples across the water. Under the brilliant sky, Qi Yubai cupped her face in his hands. Bending slightly, he gazed directly into her tearful apricot eyes and slowly said—
“Lanyin, you think I am perfect because you love me. But I feel the same way. I love you, and in my eyes, even your flaws are endearing.”
“And besides, you’re not incapable of expressing yourself. Didn’t you just do so beautifully?”
Lanyin’s expression was dazed. This… counts as good? But she hadn’t really said much.
“This is already very good.”
Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Qi Yubai chuckled and said, “Expression is simply about voicing your thoughts. Anytime, anywhere, you just need to tell me whatever is on your mind.”
“You don’t need to worry about making me angry. On the contrary, I’m happy—I love it when you vent to me, when you throw tantrums at me, when you call my name, when you talk to me about these things. It makes me feel like I hold a special place in your heart.”
“Lanyin, you have no idea how happy I am that you’re telling me these things.”
His thumb traced over her face with tenderness and affection, just like the emotions in his eyes. “I’ve never liked anyone before either, so I don’t know the right way to love someone. But don’t be afraid, don’t worry—when it comes to love, we’re both just a pair of clueless fools.”
He grasped her hand.
“Let’s figure it out together. Let’s accept and discover each other’s imperfections, together. Alright?”
His gentle voice rang softly in her ears.
And suddenly, her tears fell like broken pearls, one after another.
Lanyin had never cried like this in front of anyone before.
She thought she must look terribly ugly right now, like a child who had finally been accepted and couldn’t stop sobbing.
But she wasn’t afraid at all.
Because she knew—this man in front of her would accept all of her imperfections.
She didn’t have to pretend in front of him.
He wouldn’t dislike her.
And he would never abandon her.
Just like a weary bird returning to its nest, Lanyin threw herself into Qi Yubai’s embrace.
If not for his firm grip around her waist, Qi Yubai might have been knocked backward by her sudden force. Fortunately, he was never a frail scholar. As a noble son of an aristocratic family, he had been trained in the Six Arts since childhood, and he was no exception.
He held her securely, keeping her steady in his arms as she remained perched on the window sill.
A damp sensation touched his neck. Qi Yubai sighed helplessly, a trace of distress in his voice. “Crying again? When you do this, it makes me feel like I’m bullying you.”
“I can’t help it…”
Lanyin also felt that she must look quite disgraceful, but she truly couldn’t control herself.
His tenderness, his words—they had completely shattered the hardest shell within her heart.
From this moment on, she had a weakness once more.
She knew that this wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Once a person had a weakness, they had a vulnerability. From now on, all of her emotions would rise and fall because of him. She would start to fear many things. She would become fragile…
If one day, Qi Yubai betrayed her, it would be an overwhelming disaster for her.
If that time ever came, she knew she wouldn’t be able to leave him as calmly and decisively as she had left Xiao Ye. She might go mad, might do terrible things, might become someone even she wouldn’t recognize.
She knew that the future was uncertain. She knew that many things could go wrong.
But even so…
For the first time, she had the urge to take a gamble.
Not for anyone else, just for herself.
She wanted to try.
As long as the person beside her was him, no matter the outcome, that would be enough.
“Qi Yubai,” she called him softly.
“Mm?”
Qi Yubai lowered his eyes to look at her.
Seeing his gaze meet hers, Lanyin gently lifted her face from his shoulder. She met his eyes directly, those warm, clear phoenix eyes, and suddenly, she smiled.
Her voice was soft as she responded to his earlier words.
“Alright, let’s learn together.”
She had no idea how beautiful she looked when she smiled—like the endless peach blossoms blooming in the warmth of early spring, dazzling beyond measure.
The air around them was filled with a gentle warmth.
Qi Yubai gazed at this smiling Lanyin, and his hand, which rested on her waist, unconsciously tightened its hold. His gaze darkened slightly, deep and unfathomable as he lowered his eyes to look at her.
“…Don’t look at me like that.”
Lanyin’s face flushed under his intense gaze.
Both of her hands were still hooked around his neck, her entire body clinging to him like a vine. In the heat of the moment earlier, she hadn’t thought much of it, but now that she had calmed down, she felt a little embarrassed.
She didn’t regret it.
She was just a little shy, a little surprised.
So this was what it felt like.
So she wasn’t incapable after all.
She had just never met the right person before.
Under Qi Yubai’s gentle yet forceful care, filled with tenderness and indulgence, Lanyin felt as if she had turned into a coquettish girl. She pulled her hands back to the window sill, but her waist still remained in his hold. She turned her face away, too embarrassed to look at him, her feet instinctively kicking him lightly as she spoke in a shy tone, “Let go of me. There are still so many people outside. I need to go out and entertain the guests.”
Although she knew that with Qi Yubai’s meticulous nature, everything had been arranged perfectly, and no one inappropriate would come barging in, Lanyin still felt somewhat flustered. Especially since… the way he was looking at her now was as if he wanted to “devour” her.
She couldn’t help but feel a little scared, wondering what he would do next.
“Learning how to kick people now?”
Her kick had hardly any strength, so Qi Yubai didn’t feel any pain.
He still held her waist, fully aware that she was deeply embarrassed at this moment. Yet, he still didn’t let go. In fact, he leaned in closer to her, moving until they were barely half a finger’s width apart. Only then did he stop. At this close distance, he could almost see the fine peach fuzz on her flawless face under the sunlight. Outside, the willow branches swayed gently in the wind. Further off, the sound of a boatman singing a little tune as he rowed past echoed over the Bian River. Their breaths intertwined, making it impossible to tell if the fragrance in the air was from her plum blossom scent or his ebony wood. He could hear her heartbeat and his own breathing.
In this intense atmosphere, he asked, his tone almost pleading, “May I kiss you?”
Her face immediately turned crimson.
Her hands, which had been gently resting on the window sill, suddenly gripped tightly.
Her heart raced uncontrollably. She knew she should refuse. She should say no. Not only were they not married yet, even if they were, it wouldn’t be appropriate in broad daylight… But deep down, she felt a warmth spreading, like a sweet expectation. She wanted him to kiss her.
“You’re not saying anything, so I’ll take it as a yes.”
His deep, pleasant voice sounded near her ear, and Lanyin could feel him getting even closer. The sunlight in front of her was blocked by his figure, and as she watched him lean in, Lanyin, perhaps out of fear, or perhaps discomfort, reached out to push him away. But before her hand could touch him, Qi Yubai easily caught her wrist. Though he barely applied any pressure, Lanyin felt utterly unable to pull away.
She could only watch as Qi Yubai inched closer and closer.
So close now that she could almost count his eyelashes.
When his breath, hot and rapid, brushed against her lips, Lanyin instinctively shut her eyes. Her heart pounded fast, and even her eyelids trembled slightly, her long, dark lashes quivering along with them. Yet her heart was filled with eager anticipation.
She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to be close to him.
Even though it was still daylight, and even though there were many people outside, she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him.
These were thoughts she had never had before, but now, with Qi Yubai, it seemed as if she wanted to experience them all.
But just as their lips were about to meet, the sound of Zhusheng’s voice interrupted. The once arrogant and willful voice now hesitated and carefully announced, “Master, the matriarchs of the Feng and Ji families are about to leave. The old matriarch is also looking for you.”
The intimate, ambiguous atmosphere in the room suddenly froze.
Lanyin opened her eyes. There was some regret in her heart, but as she looked at Qi Yubai’s frustrated expression, she couldn’t help but laugh. She thought the people who had said that pulling a celestial being down to the mortal world was a good idea were right. Watching him grow emotional, seeing him touched by love, desire, and longing, watching him become just an ordinary man—it really wasn’t so bad.
“Still daring to laugh at me?”
Qi Yubai suppressed the desire stirring within him as he gazed at Lanyin’s smiling face. His thin lips pressed tightly together, the corners of his mouth turned down, and he tightened his grip on her waist, causing her face to flush again as she collapsed softly into his embrace. He then lightly bit her earlobe, reluctantly pulling her off the window sill, and while adjusting her clothes and hair, he lowered his voice, hoarse with desire, and added, “I’ll deal with you tonight.”
Lanyin had no idea what Qi Yubai meant by “dealing with her,” but her face reddened again at his words.
However, there were still people outside, and the elderly ladies were about to leave. If it were anyone else, it wouldn’t matter, but these were the matriarchs—whether out of personal affection or for the sake of their status, she had to personally see them off. Reluctant to continue teasing with Qi Yubai, and not wanting to be led by the hand anymore, she walked over to the basin to check her reflection. She realized that the corners of her eyes and brows were still betraying the smile she couldn’t hide.
If she went out like this, anyone would see something was “off.”
Lanyin furrowed her brows, feeling a bit anxious. “What should I do?” She turned back to Qi Yubai, who was standing right behind her, and asked if he had any ideas.
But when Qi Yubai saw the lingering red at the corners of her eyes and the affectionate expression in her eyes that she couldn’t conceal, his gaze darkened. Even the usually resourceful Qi Shaoqing found himself at a loss, and he lowered his voice to say to her, “Don’t go out. I’ll handle things with Grandmother and the others.”
There were so many people outside, and he didn’t want anyone to see her like this.
Lanyin also didn’t want to go out, but she hesitated a little. “Is it really alright?”
“It’s fine.”
Qi Yubai understood her worries. He lowered his gaze to meet hers, seeing the affection in her eyes, and finally couldn’t resist. He gently rubbed his thumb against the corner of her eye. “We’re among our own people. They won’t blame you for this.”
He could feel her body shiver slightly as she looked at him with a spring-like expression, and such a Lanyin made him unwilling to leave her. He wanted to hold her forever, kiss her, but since today was the opening of her new business, he couldn’t bear to put her in a difficult position. Ultimately, he pulled his hand back, clasped it behind his back, and toyed with his prayer beads, lowering his voice as he said, “Make sure you come back tonight, alright?”
Lanyin didn’t refuse.
Since everything had been cleared up, she certainly wouldn’t avoid him anymore.
But when she thought of Grandma Qi, she hesitated again. Looking up at him, she stammered, “What about Grandma…”
She had prepared herself to spend her life with Qi Yubai, but to enter into another marriage so quickly still frightened her. She was also worried that doing so too soon would invite gossip. She wasn’t afraid of rumors, but with his current favor in the emperor’s eyes, she knew how many were watching him…
“Don’t be afraid.”
Qi Yubai understood her concerns. Seeing her hesitating like this, he gently lifted his hand and touched her head. “Whenever you’re ready to talk, we’ll speak to her. But there’s one thing—” He leaned down, close to her ear, and said softly, “You have to agree to me.”
Lanyin felt a vague sense of it being a trap, but after a moment of hesitation, she asked, “What?”
“Don’t resist my closeness.” Qi Yubai smiled as he looked into her eyes, watching the blush that had just faded from her face rise again. He couldn’t help but feel in a good mood and reached out to gently twist the red jade earring at her ear, before straightening up and turning to leave.
As he stepped out, Shi Yu and Song Yue stood to one side, while Tianqing and Zhusheng stood on the other. Compared to Zhusheng, who had a dejected look on his face, the other three immediately turned away, acting as though they were uninvolved.
Qi Yubai found it amusing but didn’t say anything. He adjusted his clothes and walked forward.