Then, seeing that there were also some on his chest, she figured he must have a pet. Otherwise, the fur wouldn’t have ended up even on his chest.
She was surprised.
She hadn’t expected someone like Qi Yubai to keep a pet.
The thought amused her, and she found herself wondering what he was like as a pet owner.
“Brother.”
She held the box and reminded him, “Your sleeve.”
“Mm?”
Qi Yubai followed her gaze, looking down to see the cat fur clinging to his sleeve. He didn’t seem to mind and simply raised his hand to brush it off.
Grandmother Qi, knowing the reason, chuckled from the side. “Where has Yuanbao run off to now?”
Qi Yubai shook his head. “Not sure.”
Grandmother Qi wasn’t surprised, familiar with Yuanbao’s temperament. She explained to Lanyin, “It’s a cat. Yubai has raised it since it was young. But it’s rather aloof—it only comes out when it feels like it.”
A cat?
Lanyin was momentarily dazed, recalling the little orange kitten she had raised for a few days as a child.
“What is it?”
Grandmother Qi asked.
Qi Yubai was also looking at her.
“Nothing.” Lanyin came back to her senses and smiled, shaking her head. She didn’t mention that she had once kept a kitten herself. Instead, she simply tightened her grip around the box and thanked Qi Yubai once more.
Qi Yubai shook his head lightly and returned to his seat.
Grandmother Qi, however, smiled and encouraged Lanyin, “Go on, open it and take a look.” She had no idea what her grandson had gifted.
It was the first time she had seen him give something to a young lady, and she was undoubtedly the most excited person present. She was eager to see what her grandson could possibly have chosen as a gift!
Lanyin didn’t mind and smiled in agreement.
But the moment she saw what was inside the box, the smile on her face froze slightly.
Inside lay a hand-woven bracelet of vibrant, interwoven threads—
A longevity thread.
A longevity thread was a bracelet woven from five different-colored strings. On the Dragon Boat Festival, those skilled with their hands would craft one for themselves as a wish for safety and smooth fortune in the coming year. They were also commonly gifted to friends and loved ones. Lanyin had already seen quite a few today, and even this morning, both Shi Yu and Ting Yun had made one for her, which still hung beside her bed.
It was a simple gift.
Lanyin didn’t mind at all. In fact, she preferred simple gifts, as they were easier to accept. But this longevity thread, while ordinary, was also not so ordinary. It was indeed a customary item used for blessings during the festival. However, when exchanged between an unmarried man and woman, it carried an additional meaning…
Lanyin knew Qi Yubai couldn’t possibly be aware of this implication, and that left her feeling momentarily troubled. Had she known earlier, she would not have accepted it. But now that she already had, returning it in front of everyone would be inappropriate.
Her hesitation was plainly visible to Qi Yubai.
He always paid close attention to her. Even the slightest change in her expression did not escape his notice. Assuming she didn’t like the gift, he paused mid-sip of his tea and asked, “You don’t like it?”
Hearing this, Lanyin quickly shook her head. “No, I… I like it very much.”
This was a gesture of goodwill from him—how could she possibly dislike it? It was just that this particular item felt like holding a burning ember in her hands. Yet, if she brought up its additional meaning, it might only put him in an awkward position. For a moment, Lanyin truly didn’t know how to handle the situation.
“What is it?”
Grandmother Qi had also noticed something off about Lanyin.
She began to wonder if her grandson had given something inappropriate. Although she thought it unlikely, she still leaned over for a look.
The moment she saw what lay inside the box, she paused, instantly understanding why Lanyin was feeling troubled.
This foolish boy.
Grandmother Qi rubbed her forehead. She truly hadn’t expected him to give this.
No wonder yesterday, while Yanhuan had been weaving a longevity thread beside her, he had been watching so intently.
She knew the significance of longevity threads when exchanged between unmarried men and women. But she also knew her blockheaded grandson was completely unaware of this implication. If he had known, he would never have given this to Lanyin so recklessly.
No one cares more about Lanyin’s reputation than he does—there’s no way he’d put her in an awkward position over something like this.
Looking at the two younger ones—one aware of the meaning yet too embarrassed to bring it up, the other completely oblivious and mistakenly thinking the other disliked it—
Grandmother Qi shook her head.
These two fools.
Afraid that the situation would only grow more awkward, Grandmother Qi stepped in and spoke to Lanyin.
“This boy isn’t good with words. Even when he cares about someone, he expresses it in the most dry and awkward way,” she said warmly. “But his wish for your peace and happiness is sincere.”
She knew that once a five-colored thread was worn, it couldn’t simply be discarded or removed casually. So instead of asking Lanyin to wear it, she simply took her hand and said,
“It’s alright. Just treat it as a blessing and keep it.”
As she spoke, she gently stroked Lanyin’s hair, her gaze filled with warmth. “Our Lanyin must be safe and happy, smooth and blessed in all things.”
She understood what Yubai was thinking. And this, too, was her own heartfelt wish for Lanyin.
Lanyin looked into the elderly woman’s smiling eyes and saw the expectation and blessing in them.
After hesitating for a moment, she finally chose not to refuse.
She closed the box and held it in her hands. Then, standing up, she bowed slightly toward Qi Yubai and softly said,
“Thank you, Brother.”
“No need,” Qi Yubai said.
Though those were his words, his heart held a peculiar feeling. He could sense that both Lanyin and Grandmother had reacted quite strongly to the bracelet, though he wasn’t sure why. Seeing that Lanyin had already sat back down, he didn’t press the matter further. However, he made a mental note to ask her about it later.
Since Grandmother Qi had the habit of taking an afternoon nap, Lanyin noticed that it was about time and didn’t linger any longer.
She headed outside.
Ting Yun was already waiting there. When she saw the black wooden box in Lanyin’s hands, she was just about to ask about it when she noticed Qi Yubai following behind.
“My lord.”
Upon seeing him, Ting Yun immediately stepped back and bowed in greeting.
Hearing the voice, Lanyin turned around and saw Qi Yubai standing by the bamboo curtain. Assuming he was going to escort her out as he had in the past, she quickly said, “My lord doesn’t need to see me off. I’ve walked this path many times; I won’t get lost.”
After all, she still felt somewhat uneasy about the bracelet.
She understood perfectly well that he wasn’t aware of its meaning. If he had known, how could he have possibly given it to her?
She was simply… feeling uncomfortable with it herself.
“I have something to ask you,” Qi Yubai said as he looked at her.
Not knowing what he wanted to ask, Lanyin couldn’t refuse. She followed him as they walked out, with Ting Yun trailing behind them at a respectful distance. Once they stepped outside the courtyard, before Lanyin could ask what he wanted to say, Qi Yubai turned to her and asked outright, “Does this bracelet have another meaning?”
His question was so blunt that Lanyin was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected Qi Yubai to be so direct. She stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding hesitantly.
“…Yes.”
So it really did.
Qi Yubai frowned. “What meaning?”
This time, Lanyin didn’t answer immediately. She hesitated—should she tell him the truth, or just make up something to brush it off? But under Qi Yubai’s sharp phoenix-eyed gaze, she found herself unable to lie. Besides, even if she dodged the question now, he could always ask someone else later and find out the truth.
“…If an unmarried man and woman give this to each other, it means they are also offering their feelings.”
She spoke lightly and slowly. After finishing, she caught a glimpse of Qi Yubai’s slightly furrowed brows and quickly added, “It’s fine. As long as I don’t wear it, it won’t mean anything. If it bothers you, you can take it back now—it’s no trouble.”
Earlier, in the presence of others, she hadn’t wanted to embarrass him by returning it. But now, with only Ting Yun nearby, she didn’t have to worry about that anymore.
Qi Yubai’s expression flickered in rare surprise. He truly hadn’t known about this implication. No wonder she had looked so conflicted earlier.
But hearing her last words, his frown deepened.
He asked, “You don’t mind?”
Why was he the one who was supposed to mind? She was the one who had been put in an awkward position.
“…What?”
Lanyin blinked and met his dark gaze. When she realized what he meant, she smiled.
“You didn’t know about the meaning before. You only meant to wish me peace and safety. I’m grateful to you—I don’t see why I should mind.”
Qi Yubai fell silent at her response.
Should he take it as trust, or should he take it as… the fact that she didn’t see him as just any ordinary man?
There was a hint of helplessness in his gaze. But what could he say? He had long understood her temperament—she was used to being compliant, used to accepting things, used to not causing trouble for others.
Especially when it came to him—the person she felt she owed something to.
Qi Yubai sighed softly.
He didn’t know if it was heartache or something else, but he only looked at Lanyin and said, “I truly didn’t know about the meaning. I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”
“If I had known…”
If he had known, at the very least, he wouldn’t have put her in a difficult position at this moment.
“This thing…” He glanced at the bracelet in her hands and fell silent for a moment before continuing, “If keeping it makes you uncomfortable, you can just throw it away. I’ll find something more appropriate for you another time.”
In truth, this wasn’t what he had originally wanted to give her. But what he had truly wanted to give—she likely wouldn’t have accepted that even more.
“No need.”
The moment she heard that, Lanyin quickly shook her head. “You don’t have to give me anything else. This is already very good.”
Now that she had cleared things up with Qi Yubai, she felt much more at ease and no longer uncomfortable as before.
This was his sincere wish for her—how could she just throw it away?
Besides, her hesitation earlier hadn’t come from feeling awkward about keeping it, but rather… from worrying about his reputation.
Qi Yubai didn’t respond immediately. He only studied her for a moment before finally saying, “Let’s go. I’ll walk you out.”
Lanyin still wanted to say there was no need, but Qi Yubai had already started walking. She had no choice but to follow.
Unlike before, the two of them did not chat along the way. It was only when they were near the entrance that Lanyin suddenly heard the man beside her speak.
“If there’s ever something that makes you feel uncomfortable in the future, you can tell me directly. You don’t have to force yourself.”
Qi Yubai had stopped walking when he said those last few words, turning to look at her as he spoke.
“I…”
Lanyin instinctively wanted to say that she hadn’t felt uncomfortable, that she didn’t feel forced. But as their eyes met, she suddenly had the eerie sensation that he could see through her completely. Under his deep, pitch-black gaze, her heart trembled faintly.
She didn’t know how much time passed before she finally murmured, “Alright.”
—
That night, after returning home.
Lanyin did not hand the black wooden box to Ting Yun as she usually would, nor did she tell her who had given it to her.
Instead, she walked into her room alone. Once seated before the bronze mirror, she finally opened the wooden box. Inside, the longevity thread lay quietly on a layer of yellow silk.
Lanyin’s gaze remained steady as she looked at the bracelet. Its complex and vibrant colors represented the simplest and purest of wishes—peace and prosperity, all things going smoothly.
She reached out, wanting to touch it. But just before her slender, jade-like fingers could make contact, she hesitated. Her fingers curled slightly inward, retreating into her palm, where she could feel them trembling ever so slightly.
Her lips pressed into a firm line, and she said nothing. Her eyes, however, never left the bracelet.
Qi Yubai had gotten one thing wrong.
She was no longer the same Gu Lanyin who once endured everything, sacrificing herself to fulfill others’ expectations.
The past Gu Lanyin might have bent over backward, exhausting herself just for the approval of others.
But the present Gu Lanyin would no longer suppress herself for the sake of someone else’s praise or disappointment.
If it had been anyone else today—
She wouldn’t have accepted it. Even if she had taken it at first, the moment she realized what was inside, she would have returned it.
But this was him.
Because the one who had given her the bracelet was him, she had accepted it.
Even she herself couldn’t quite explain it.
If, in the past, she had been unable to refuse Qi Yubai out of guilt… then what about now?
Now, did she still only feel guilty toward him?
Outside, the laughter of the maids echoed softly through the night. Inside the room, Lanyin sat in utter silence.
She didn’t know how long she had been staring before she finally closed her eyes.
In the dimly lit room, dust swirled in the golden glow of the lantern light. Her raven-feathered lashes trembled lightly, betraying the turmoil in her heart.
When she opened her eyes again, she slowly closed the box.
Carefully, she placed it inside a locked brocade chest.
From beginning to end, she hadn’t spoken a single word, nor had she sighed even once.
But that night—
Lanyin lay awake for a long time, staring at the glow of the lantern in the room next door before finally falling asleep.