The voice in her ear was clearly gentle, yet Lanyin’s heart tightened even more at this moment. She could hear the joy in his tone and see the smile in his eyes. His pupils, as dark as black jade, shimmered with tiny specks of light…
Very beautiful, and very moving.
If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, it would be hard to imagine that Qi Yubai would one day reveal such a tender expression.
In the eyes of the world, Qi Yubai—Young Lord Qi—was cold and restrained, always dressed in blue robes, a string of Buddhist prayer beads in hand. Like a pine tree covered in frost, like an immortal high above in the Ninth Heaven, dignity and aloofness were his trademarks. Even snow falling in June would be less astonishing than seeing him smile.
So it was no doubt that Lanyin was shocked.
But what startled her wasn’t his smile—it was the reason behind it.
Indeed, these past days, she had felt Qi Yubai’s change in attitude toward her. But no matter how different he had been, there was always a boundary between them—like family, yet like friends. Even if outsiders saw them together, no one would think much of it. But at this moment, the balance between them seemed to have been broken.
Staring at Qi Yubai like this, countless thoughts flashed through Lanyin’s mind, but in the end, they all converged into one—
He knows!
He knows her feelings. He knows… that she likes him too.
If he didn’t know, he wouldn’t be acting like this. Qi Yubai never fought battles he wasn’t sure of. If he was doing this now, it could only mean he was already certain.
What should she do?
A sense of panic and unease she had never felt before filled Lanyin’s heart. Looking at Qi Yubai, who was just a step away, her breath caught, her gaze froze, and once again, the thought of running away surfaced. But her hand was still held by him—she couldn’t escape. And even if she could, where could she go?
Under Qi Yubai’s gaze, so gentle yet commanding, she couldn’t move an inch.
Downstairs, laughter and conversation continued, and not far away, Grandmother Qi’s voice was near her ear.
Grandmother Qi!
At the thought of the Qi family’s grandmother, Lanyin’s pupils widened slightly, and her breath tightened once more. She had no idea that Qi Yubai had long since convinced the elderly lady, nor did she know that she wholeheartedly supported them being together. She was afraid of being discovered, afraid that in the future, Grandmother Qi would no longer treat her the way she did now… This fear jolted Lanyin back to her senses.
Lanyin had never had many emotional ties since childhood, so she cherished every single one she had. She didn’t want her relationship with Qi Yubai to affect her bond with Grandmother Qi, and she feared seeing disappointment in the elderly woman’s eyes.
“Let go!”
She lowered her voice, pressing down her emotions.
But the man who had always understood her thoughts did not let go as she wished. He continued to hold her hand and gaze at her unblinkingly. Qi Yubai’s eyelids were thin—this should have been the face of someone indifferent, yet now it was filled with deep affection. He lowered his eyes slightly, as if afraid of startling her. His voice was soft.
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“Gu Lanyin.”
Qi Yubai’s voice was deep, yet tinged with laughter. He gently held her hand, leaned forward slightly, and locked eyes with her panicked gaze as he asked again,
“Are you avoiding me?”
It was as if he had to hear her answer—one spoken by her own lips.
Their distance closed even more due to his movement. Their eyes met, and Lanyin saw the warmth in his once-distant and indifferent gaze, like a tranquil spring lake rippling with circles of breathtaking waves. Like a whirlpool, pulling her in, making her lose herself in him.
By the time she snapped out of it, she was even more flustered and at a loss.
She wanted to break free from Qi Yubai’s grip but feared that making too big a movement would attract the attention of others. Lanyin could only force herself to calm down. Taking a deep breath, she struggled to suppress her flustered emotions and looked at Qi Yubai as she spoke,
“Your Lordship has misunderstood. I have been busy with the shop these past few days. Besides, why would I need to avoid you?”
As she spoke, she glanced at her own hand, frowned, and stated bluntly,
“No matter what Your Lordship wishes to ask, you should not be holding my hand like this while asking.”
She appeared calm as she said these words.
But only Lanyin herself knew how panicked she was inside. Her heart was pounding, like war drums on a battlefield, each beat so intense it made her ears buzz. She had no idea how much Qi Yubai actually knew or what exactly he had come here for. But one thing she was certain of—he wouldn’t say something as blunt as, “Because you like me,” right to her face. That wouldn’t be in Qi Yubai’s nature.
And yet—
Lanyin pressed her lips together. She studied Qi Yubai’s demeanor and actions at this moment.
—This was already quite out of character for him.
Before today, Lanyin had never imagined Qi Yubai would hold a woman’s hand like this. Having lived two lifetimes, he had always been someone who upheld rules and propriety in her heart. Yet now, the man she deemed most bound by decorum was gripping her hand tightly in a setting full of esteemed guests, where they could be discovered at any moment.
For someone like Qi Yubai, this could even be called reckless.
Even the most debauched of noble sons frequenting pleasure districts wouldn’t hold a respectable woman’s hand in such a setting, forcing her for an answer.
If not for the complete absence of alcohol on him, Lanyin would have thought he was drunk.
Being drunk would have been preferable.
At least drunkenness would mean he wasn’t clear-headed.
But clearly, he was entirely sober.
His sobriety made Lanyin’s mind spin. Her temples throbbed. She dared not look directly into Qi Yubai’s eyes and could only lower her gaze, stating,
“I’ve said all I need to say.”
She thought that would make him let go. But unexpectedly, he still held her hand firmly. Lanyin struggled again, yet couldn’t break free. Her willow brows furrowed tightly, her lips pressed into a straight line, and her voice sank completely.
“Qi Yubai, let go!”
It was the first time she had called him by his full name. The moment the words left her lips, she was stunned.
Qi Yubai was clearly taken aback as well, but he quickly recovered. Compared to the distant “Your Lordship” or the polite “Elder Brother Qi,” this one “Qi Yubai,” spoken with a mix of shyness and anger, was obviously more to his liking.
He didn’t want her to treat him the same as she treated others.
He wanted to see a different side of Lanyin when she faced him.
And now, he had seen it.
This realization put Qi Yubai in an even better mood. His phoenix eyes sparkled with laughter as he looked at Lanyin, the corners of his lips slightly curved in amusement. His gaze was bright.
“What did you just call me?”
“Qi Yubai?”
His deep, delighted voice rang out once more at the staircase landing. Not only did he not release her hand, but as he spoke, he took another step toward her.
There had already been only a step of distance between them. But now, as Qi Yubai ascended the final step while still holding Lanyin’s wrist, even that last bit of space disappeared.
A crisp, cool fragrance of plum blossoms enveloped her. Qi Yubai lowered his gaze, watching as the icy composure she had forced onto her face began to crack under his actions. His ink-black phoenix eyes filled with even more amusement.
“No more calling me ‘Elder Brother’?”
He asked Lanyin in a good-natured tone.
But Lanyin couldn’t say a single word in response.
She stared at Qi Yubai, now so close that she could feel his presence pressing down on her. Even when they had been separated by just a single step, she had already felt his overwhelming presence. Let alone now…
He stood before her, tall and imposing, his slender figure blocking all the light in front of her. She was entirely enveloped in his shadow.
Everywhere she looked, there was only him.
So close—so close that she could even make out the embroidery technique used for the bamboo leaf patterns on the front of his robes. The rich scent of ebony wood clung to her senses.
Even though he hadn’t moved any closer, under his unwavering gaze, she instinctively took small steps backward.
But her wrist was still held firmly in his grasp.
She took a step back, and he took a step forward, until her back pressed against the wall—there was nowhere left to retreat.
The surrounding noise persisted, yet in this corner, it was terrifyingly quiet, as if all that remained in the world were their breaths and heartbeats. The hanging orchid beside her trembled slightly from her movement, just like her own quivering figure. Forced against the wall, her shoulders trembled, her heartbeat so rapid she could no longer count the beats. Whether from shame or panic, Lanyin’s eyes finally reddened.
She had been raised with strict discipline since childhood, bound by etiquette from the age of six. Even though she had once been married, both she and Xiao Ye had been steady and reserved in temperament. Whether at home or in public, they had always treated each other with formal respect. This was the first time she had ever been treated in such a way—moreover, it was in public. Lanyin knew she should be angry. She should even slap him outright to wake him up.
Yet, the one doing this to her was Qi Yubai.
The Qi Yubai whom she both owed and loved.
She couldn’t bear to.
So, with reddened eyes, she could only ask, “Do you still look anything like an elder brother right now?”
It was meant as a rebuke, yet her voice was soft, without a trace of resentment—only a choking sob, filled with grievance.
Lanyin did feel aggrieved.
She didn’t understand why, after just a few days, Qi Yubai had changed so drastically. She had thought that even if he knew her feelings, he would still maintain propriety and distance. She thought that even if she rejected him, he would accept it with dignity. He would respect her, understand her.
Who would have thought—
This man had completely changed!
He had become shameless, reckless, utterly impossible for her to handle.
Her eyes were red, her tear-filled gaze brimming with frustration. She had no idea what to do with Qi Yubai. She couldn’t break free from him, yet she couldn’t bring herself to scold or hit him either. In the end, she could only let him act as he pleased.
Her choked voice finally snapped Qi Yubai back to his senses.
“…You’re crying?”
His voice, tinged with hesitation and surprise, sounded right beside her ear.
Lanyin refused to speak. She probably thought she had embarrassed herself enough. Holding back the sob in her throat, she turned her head away, revealing only the graceful curve of her neck and the delicate outline of her profile.
Her red jade earrings swayed gently with the movement.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on her, as if a layer of crystalline snow had settled on her face.
She refused to let Qi Yubai see her like this.
But the more silent she was, the more panicked he became.
He loosened his grip on her hand, only to reach up and lift her chin instead.
The slight roughness of his fingertips brushed against her skin. Lanyin shuddered. Realizing what was happening, a fresh wave of shame and anger surged within her.
She turned back sharply, her tear-filled eyes carrying both shyness and grievance as she glared at him, about to scold him for his boldness.
But before she could, she saw the deep furrow between his brows, the way his thin lips pressed tightly together. The teasing smile from earlier was gone. Now, he looked like a child who had done something wrong—uncertain, at a loss.
It was hard to imagine such an expression on this face.
Lanyin froze again.
“…I’m sorry,” Qi Yubai’s voice was hoarse. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
His voice was filled with guilt.
Watching the delicate redness at the corners of her eyes, watching the faint shadows her long lashes cast on her cheeks, Qi Yubai’s brows remained deeply furrowed.
The thing he could never bear to see was her tears.
Yet today, he had been the one to make her cry.
In all his years, he had always been in control, capable in everything he did. But now, Qi Shaoqing truly found himself at a loss.
He didn’t understand how things had turned out like this.
He never wanted to make her cry.
He was just… too happy.
Ever since last night, when he learned that she liked him too, his heart had been unable to calm down. Like a clueless young boy experiencing love for the first time, he had spent a sleepless night, yet his spirit remained high. The moment he saw her, the excitement and joy in his chest surged to their peak, so much so that he had acted on impulse, doing things he had never done before.
But it seemed like he had messed up.
Qi Yubai sighed softly, feeling helpless. Seeing Lanyin still frozen in shock, he gently cupped her face in his palm. His thumb, careful and full of tenderness, brushed over the corner of her eye, wiping away the teardrop clinging to her lashes. Only then did he look at her and say in a hoarse voice,
“Don’t cry.”
“I won’t force you anymore.”
His gentle touch and his words filled with tenderness left Lanyin momentarily dazed again. When she finally processed it, she noticed that his hand was still resting on her face. Her expression changed slightly, and just as she was about to struggle, the sound of footsteps came from the staircase.
Her face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Lanyin could not imagine what kind of storm would arise if someone saw her and Qi Yubai in such an intimate situation. Fear gripped her mind, stripping away all rationality. Someone as composed as her was now frozen in place, unable to react.
She glanced past Qi Yubai and looked downstairs, spotting a familiar streak of red walking toward the upper floor.
It was the uniform of a Jinxiu Hall attendant.