Lanyin walked a few steps before her emotions finally settled down.
Just now, caught up in the heat of the moment, she hadn’t realized how fast she was walking. Now that she had stopped, she noticed that the person who should have been by her side had not kept up… Her body suddenly stiffened. Clenching her fingers, she hesitated for a long time before stiffly turning her head back, only to see Shi Yu looking at her in shock and Qi Yubai standing still, quietly gazing at her from afar—both of them had been left far behind.
“I…”
Lanyin didn’t know what to say.
She wanted to explain but didn’t know how. Was she supposed to tell Qi Yubai that her loss of composure just now was because she had recalled the rumors circulating outside about him? That not only had she thought of them, but she had also been so distracted by them that she even wanted to see for herself…
Absolutely ridiculous.
She had lived by the rules for more than ten years. In the past, she wouldn’t have even entertained such thoughts—she would have avoided such words the moment she heard them. Yet now, she was actually thinking about those scandalous rumors regarding the man who had saved her life.
She must be crazy.
She hesitated, not knowing how to explain her moment of indiscretion.
But Qi Yubai was already walking toward her.
Unexpectedly, just as he drew near, the woman before him suddenly took a step back. Qi Yubai halted in his steps. He didn’t speak, but his dark gaze silently rested on her.
Lanyin noticed it too.
She had just agreed to walk with him, and yet now… She had always been calm and rational, but at this moment, a clear trace of frustration flashed across her face.
She was frustrated with her own lapse, and she was also torn about how to explain it.
Fortunately, Qi Yubai did not press her for answers. He simply looked at her and said in a low voice, “Let’s go.” Then, he withdrew his gaze, not putting any pressure on her at this moment.
His consideration made Lanyin quietly sigh in relief.
She had been truly afraid that Qi Yubai would question her.
Seeing him take the first step forward, she hesitated for a moment before quickly following.
In truth, she didn’t really want to walk alongside Qi Yubai. Just the scent of him earlier had been enough to remind her of those disgraceful words spoken at the banquets in the past. But if she didn’t follow him, she worried that he would turn back and look at her with those deep, pitch-black phoenix eyes.
She absolutely did not dare to meet his gaze right now.
Besides, she didn’t want him to be scolded by Grandmother Qi again because of her.
With that in mind, Lanyin ultimately chose to keep pace with him.
It wasn’t difficult at all.
Though the man was tall with long legs, he walked at an unhurried pace, just like the first time she had followed him to the Qi Residence. His steps always matched hers perfectly, making it effortless for her to keep up.
Neither of them was talkative.
Previously, Lanyin could still exchange a few words with him, but now, with the unease in her heart, she didn’t even dare to glance at Qi Yubai, let alone speak.
Qi Yubai, on the other hand, had intended to talk, but seeing how tense she was, he grew curious—just what had she been thinking about earlier to make her lose her composure like that?
Even so, he chose not to ask.
Thus, the two of them walked in silence all the way to Songzhi Courtyard.
Only when she saw the familiar scene and familiar people did Lanyin finally feel the tension in her heart ease slightly.
### “Young Master, Miss.”
The maid at the door saw them approaching and greeted them with a smile. After bowing, she lifted the embroidered curtain to invite them inside, still smiling as she said, “The Old Madam has been waiting for you for a while.”
“It was my delay on the way.”
Lanyin, now feeling a bit more at ease, smiled and responded to the maid. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that Qi Yubai was still waiting for her. Remembering what he had said earlier—about fearing that Grandmother Qi might blame him if she fell behind—she dared not linger and quickly followed him inside.
She failed to notice the surprised expression that flashed across the maid’s face as she observed the scene.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
Hearing the commotion outside, the Old Madam of the Qi family turned toward them with a smile. But as soon as she caught sight of the two walking in side by side, her gaze faltered.
The doorway was only so wide, and with the two of them walking together, there was hardly any space between them. In fact, Grandmother Qi could even see their sleeves occasionally brushing against each other as they walked.
She stared for a moment.
This distance wasn’t particularly close—if others saw it, they wouldn’t read too much into it. But she knew her grandson well. He had never liked being in such close proximity to others.
Especially not with women.
In the past, there had been young ladies who admired him and intentionally “tripped” in front of him, hoping he would extend a hand to help. Yet, all he ever did was lower his gaze indifferently, at most instructing Tianqing and Zhusheng behind him to assist. He had never actively or passively made physical contact with a woman.
But now…
Once the two finished their greetings, Grandmother Qi observed that their expressions remained as composed as ever, no different from before. She then dismissed her earlier thoughts, figuring she must have been overthinking. Perhaps neither of them had noticed anything at all.
She always prided herself on being open-minded, yet now she found herself overanalyzing such trivial matters. She shook her head with a chuckle, pushing the thought aside before saying, “You came just in time. I was just discussing the Dragon Boat Festival with Mama Wei and the others.”
The Dragon Boat Festival was only a few days away.
Being someone who always enjoyed lively festivities—especially now with Lanyin around—Grandmother Qi naturally wanted to make the occasion even more cheerful. She had originally planned to go out to watch the dragon boat races and enjoy a spring outing. However, considering Lanyin’s current situation, stepping outside would inevitably invite gossip. Not wanting people to talk about her, she decided it would be just as nice to celebrate at home.
“Yinyin, do you have any plans for the Dragon Boat Festival?”
She smiled at Lanyin as she asked.
Noticing the expectation in the old woman’s eyes, Lanyin thought for a moment. The clothing shop’s progress was already on track, and all the embroiderers had been recruited. Since there was no need for her to oversee things every day, she responded gently, “I’m free.”
“How does Grandmother Qi plan to spend the day?” she asked.
“I’m getting old and don’t feel like going out to join the crowd. I’d rather have a lively time at home.”
Grandmother Qi smiled and reached out to her. When Lanyin walked over, she took her hand and pulled her down to sit beside her, then shared her idea enthusiastically.
“I remember you loved eating zongzi since you were little. How about we make some together in the morning, then in the afternoon, we set up a table in the courtyard and play Yezi cards? Oh, do you know how to play? If not, we can pick something else.”
Of course, Lanyin knew how.
She wasn’t particularly skilled in such pastimes, but when playing with an elder, the goal wasn’t to win—it was simply to keep them happy. There was no need to be an expert.
So, she smiled, nodded, and agreed.
“Then it’s settled!”
Grandmother Qi beamed, eyes crinkling with joy. It had been years since she had felt this delighted. She continued chatting with Lanyin for a while, but then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Qi Yubai sitting quietly beside them.
Only then did she ask, “Are you going out that day?”
Of course, she was hoping both Lanyin and Yubai would keep her company.
But more than that, she wanted to see her granddaughter-in-law—whoever and wherever she was.
Since the Dragon Boat Festival was a rare occasion of national celebration, it was customary for young, unmarried men and women to go out together for spring outings. She had assumed that her grandson would take the opportunity to meet with his “beloved.”
Yet, to her surprise, the man simply said, “I’ll stay with you.”
Grandmother Qi immediately frowned.
Stay with her? She wanted a granddaughter-in-law, not a grandson keeping her company!
If Lanyin weren’t here, she would have already started lecturing him again. But for now, she could only let it go.
Still, deep down, she grew even more suspicious about the true identity of this so-called “beloved” of his.
These past few days, she had noticed that her grandson was leaving early and returning on time every day. Compared to before, when he often had to work late at the government office and would sometimes return only at midnight, he now came back almost punctually every day. Yet, even with his free time, he never went out. He simply stayed home, ate meals with her, and then returned to his room to read.
Back then, his busy official duties had been understandable—even inviting a young lady out at night would have been improper. But now, even on these official rest days, he still wasn’t going anywhere.
Was this what he called liking someone?
At this rate, if his so-called beloved actually took a liking to him, that would be the real miracle!
Either there was no such “beloved” at all, and he had simply made up an excuse to placate her, or—more likely—he was just completely clueless about how to pursue a girl. But Grandmother Qi doubted he would lie to her just to set her mind at ease. That simply wasn’t the kind of person her grandson was.
So, in all likelihood, he had read himself into stupidity and had no idea how to court a woman.
Just like his grandfather…
Grandmother Qi felt a headache coming on.
Her grandson had never given her any trouble since childhood.
Yet, when it came to pursuing the one in his heart, he was utterly clueless. Now she, an old woman, had to step in. She sighed inwardly, thinking that once Yinyin left later, she would have to sit her grandson down for a serious talk.
A wife needed to be pursued.
Did he think staying home every day would somehow create an unspoken connection between them?
Despite these thoughts, she said nothing out loud. Instead, she simply reminded him, “Remember to send some gifts to your teacher and the officials who have helped you over the years. You wouldn’t be where you are today without their support.”
Qi Yubai acknowledged her instructions.
They chatted for a while longer before Yanhuan came in to announce that the meal was ready.
As always, Grandmother Qi allowed the two of them to support her on either side as they walked to the dining hall.
The table was filled with Jinling dishes that Lanyin liked—something Grandmother Qi had specifically ordered. While picking food for Lanyin, she casually asked, “I heard from Yanhuan that you’ve been sending late-night snacks these past few nights?”
Every time Lanyin sent something over, it was never a small amount.
Aside from Qi Yubai’s share, Grandmother Qi naturally had hers as well. However, as she usually slept early, she hadn’t had the chance to eat any. She had only learned about it this morning from Yanhuan. After asking her grandson, she quickly figured out why Lanyin was doing it.
Now, she turned to Lanyin and said, “You don’t need to be so polite with us. I brought you here because I want to be close to you.”
Then she turned to glare at Qi Yubai, clearly displeased.
“You fool! You were never this dense before. Now you’ve completely lost your wits. Your younger sister comes to the house for a meal, and she feels awkward, and you just let her be? You even let her send you food for several nights—how shameless can you be?”
Seeing that Qi Yubai had once again suffered an “unwarranted disaster” because of her, Lanyin felt a pang of guilt and quickly explained to Grandmother Qi, “It’s not about politeness.”
“You and Brother treat me well, so naturally, I want to treat you well too.”
By now, she had grown accustomed to calling him “Brother,” and the words came out smoothly. As she spoke, she used the serving chopsticks to place a piece of saltwater duck onto Grandmother Qi’s plate. “Besides, I eat at night anyway. Making one portion or three makes no difference.”
Her tone was gentle.
She clearly didn’t want to owe anyone anything.
Yet, the way she said it made Grandmother Qi feel utterly at ease. Since that was the case, she let it go. Reaching out, she affectionately tapped Lanyin’s nose and said, “You, ah.”
“Since you put it that way, I won’t say anything more. Just don’t spoil him too much, and don’t trouble yourself over it. If there’s any leftover food, just give it to him. He’s not picky.”
She directed these words at Lanyin.
Lanyin nodded in agreement, but inwardly, she had no intention of letting Qi Yubai settle for leftovers.
“Stop giving me food. Eat for yourself.”
Grandmother Qi noticed that Lanyin was busy picking food for her while barely eating anything herself. She quickly stopped her, making sure she focused on eating.
Under the glow of the lanterns, she watched Lanyin—her delicate face smooth as the finest jade, exuding an effortless grace. The more she looked at her, the more she liked her.
Yet, the more fondly she regarded Lanyin, the more she despised that Chengbo Manor heir and her younger sister.
Grandmother Qi’s heart clenched.
A perfectly good girl had been ruined by those people. If her old sister were still around, she might have torn apart the Xiao family in fury. She didn’t know whether her old friend was aware of what had happened, but this was ultimately Lanyin’s personal matter. It wasn’t her place to pry.
Still, she couldn’t help but wonder—would Lanyin still want to marry in the future?
If she did, Grandmother Qi would have to carefully help her choose. She absolutely could not let Lanyin suffer such mistreatment again.
But that was a matter for the future.
Grandmother Qi knew that bringing this up now would only sadden her, so she naturally refrained from mentioning it. After finishing dinner, Lanyin stayed for a while longer to chat with her before taking her leave.
After she left…
Grandmother Qi turned to Qi Yubai, who was also about to excuse himself.
“Stay.”
She dismissed Mama Wei and the other maids. Once they were alone, she finally spoke.
“Come and sit.”
Earlier, when Lanyin had been sitting beside her, Qi Yubai had taken a nearby chair—not too far, yet not too close. Now, hearing his grandmother’s words, he complied, standing up and walking over.
“What does Grandmother wish to say?” he asked.
Grandmother Qi simply stared at him, scrutinizing him for a long moment before speaking.
“How are things going with the one in your heart?”
Qi Yubai immediately understood what she meant.
His lips curved into a faint smile, but his eyes held a trace of helplessness.
“And you still have the nerve to smile?”
Grandmother Qi glared at him in exasperation.
“I held back earlier because Yinyin was here, but really, is this how you pursue someone? You don’t even go see her! How exactly do you plan on courting her?”
“Who said I haven’t seen her?” Qi Yubai replied, calmly twirling the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand.
Grandmother Qi was taken aback.
She grew even more irritated.
“You either go to the yamen or come straight home. Even on your days off, you don’t step outside. Just who exactly have you been seeing? You—”
She abruptly stopped mid-sentence when she noticed his composed and serene expression.
He didn’t look like he was lying.
Could she have misunderstood him after all?
“Then tell me—who exactly is this person you like?”
Today, she was determined to get to the bottom of this.
Qi Yubai didn’t answer right away.
He calmly looped the prayer beads back around his wrist, then poured her another cup of tea before finally speaking.
“You know her.”
Grandmother Qi froze.
She knew her?
The number of young ladies she knew wasn’t large—at most, the granddaughters of a few close friends. But she had introduced all of them to him before, and never had he shown interest in any of them.
Grandmother Qi wracked her brain, searching for an answer.
Then—
A series of crystal-clear images flashed through her mind.
Two figures standing side by side, washing their hands.
Two figures walking in through the doorway together.
Two wide sleeves occasionally overlapping as they walked.
In every one of those images, her grandson was always standing next to the same person.
“It’s me who likes her. She doesn’t know yet.”
“You only need to know—she is a good girl.”
…
Those words from that day echoed in her ears.
Grandmother Qi stared at Qi Yubai in a daze.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she finally found her voice.
“The person you like… is Lanyin?”