“Why are you here?”
Lanyin smiled as she walked toward Qi Yubai. As soon as she reached him, he naturally took her hand. Being this close to him again, she no longer felt the initial resistance, though there was still some shyness in her heart. After all, she wasn’t used to such intimacy with others. However, she did not struggle, allowing him to hold her hand, without worrying about being seen.
It seemed she had an innate trust in Qi Yubai, knowing that if he had promised her something, he would ensure no consequences remained.
“They are old friends reuniting, naturally, they have much to talk about, so I thought I’d stay out for now and not disturb them.” Qi Yubai lowered his phoenix eyes slightly, gazing at Lanyin’s bright, clear eyes. His tone was gentle as he asked, “Do you want to come over to my place for a bit?”
Hearing this so suddenly, Lanyin froze completely. The soft smile in her apricot eyes was replaced by a blank daze. When she finally reacted, her face instantly turned crimson, and she stammered, “W-what?”
Seeing her reaction, Qi Yubai quickly realized how suggestive his words had sounded. However, as he caught sight of the slight flush on her earlobes, something stirred within him. Still holding her hand, he deliberately bent down, lowering his head to meet her eyes, and asked, “Gu Lanyin, what are you thinking?”
“…Nothing at all.”
Lanyin turned her face away, not daring to meet his gaze, yet her heart was racing wildly. Her mind couldn’t help but recall what he had said to her that morning—‘I’ll deal with you tonight.’
Even though she knew Qi Yubai wouldn’t harm her, she was still a little nervous. If he really meant to… then she…
Suddenly, she felt a gentle touch on her nose. Startled, she turned back to see the flickering amusement in his phoenix eyes. “I was just taking you to my room to see the cat, Gu Lanyin. What are you imagining, hmm?”
His voice, laced with laughter, blended with the wind—deep and pleasant to the ear.
But Lanyin’s face turned even redder. Thinking of her own chaotic thoughts, how could she possibly admit them to Qi Yubai? If he ever found out, she would never be able to face him again. “Nothing,” she muttered hastily, turning her face away again.
A low chuckle, brimming with amusement, reached her ears, making her heart burn with both embarrassment and frustration. She tugged at his hand. “Are we going or not? If not, I’m leaving.”
She had learned to threaten the man she liked, even pretending to turn away.
Qi Yubai, of course, wouldn’t let go. Suppressing his laughter, he coaxed her as if soothing a child, “We’re going, we’re going right now.” This time, he didn’t tease her anymore. With that, he took her hand and led her toward his courtyard.
It wasn’t until she was following him forward that Lanyin belatedly realized—she had actually lost her temper at him just now.
She had never done such a thing before. In the past, she always thought she would never be the kind of person to lose her temper at someone. Yet now, she found it came so naturally. She couldn’t help but glance sideways at the man beside her.
The lanterns in the courtyard cast a glow around him, wrapping his figure in a faint halo of light. The sharp, oppressive aura he exuded outside was now completely absent. At this moment, Qi Yubai was as gentle and harmless as a spring breeze in April.
Sensing her gaze, he looked down at her. “What’s wrong?”
He smiled as he asked.
Lanyin stared into his eyes. After a moment of silence, she finally said, “If you keep this up, you’ll spoil me.”
Qi Yubai was briefly stunned. When he realized what she meant, he chuckled, placing his hand atop her head and giving it a light rub. “Then I’ll spoil you. I’d be very happy if you let me spoil you.”
As he spoke, his eyes held a soft, lingering warmth—so gentle it was intoxicating.
Lanyin’s heart was struck again by his words—‘If you let me.’
A faint smile also bloomed on her lips. She didn’t say anything more, only gently tightening her grip on his hand, allowing him to lead her forward.
Perhaps the path had been cleared in advance, or perhaps the Qi residence simply had few attendants, but along the way, they didn’t encounter a single person. After passing through the moon gate and turning onto a winding path flanked by bamboo, they finally arrived at Qi Yubai’s residence.
His courtyard wasn’t overly adorned. Beyond the two black-lacquered wooden doors lay a moderately sized courtyard. A few green bamboo plants stood along the walls, their leaves swaying in the wind with soft rustling sounds. There was a stone table and stone stools, but aside from that, nothing else. The moonlight spilled over the ground, and a lamp was lit inside the house. Lanyin glanced around and realized there wasn’t a single servant present in the courtyard.
“Aside from the cleaning boy, only Zhusheng and Tianqing come over from time to time,” Qi Yubai explained, resolving her confusion.
Lanyin softly murmured in acknowledgment. Though her expression remained unchanged, she felt a bit pleased in her heart. Most households had maidservants in attendance, and she had assumed Qi Yubai would as well. While she was not one to be overly jealous about such matters, knowing that there were no other women by his side—how could she not be happy?
Liking someone naturally came with the desire to claim them as one’s own.
She was just an ordinary woman, after all. She had only been too afraid to admit it before.
Thinking of this, she recalled what had happened earlier today. Her red lips pressed together slightly, and a trace of guilt appeared on her face. Holding Qi Yubai’s hand, she softly said, “I plan to invite Madam Xu to the shop tomorrow.”
“Madam Xu?” Qi Yubai was momentarily caught off guard by the name, not immediately processing who she was referring to. Glancing at her expression, he quickly made the connection and asked, “The one from earlier today?”
“Mm.”
Lanyin nodded. “Back then, I…”
At the time, when faced with Zhou Chaofang’s request, she hadn’t really had any grounds to refuse. However, thinking of how dejected Xu Rou had looked when she left, Lanyin couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. Moreover, Zhou Chaofang had even planned to entrust her with orders from both the Zhou and Xu families, which made Lanyin feel undeserving. Not wanting to make excuses for herself, she simply told Qi Yubai, “I’ll speak with her tomorrow. No matter what, this was my mistake.”
Qi Yubai did not say much, only asking, “Do you want me to go with you?”
Lanyin smiled and shook her head. “It’s just a small matter. I can handle it myself.” She didn’t want to trouble Qi Yubai over her personal affairs, especially when his work at the Court of Judicial Review was already demanding.
Qi Yubai nodded without pressing further.
“Meow~”
Before they even stepped into the room, a cat’s cry reached Lanyin’s ears. Following the sound, she saw a large, well-groomed orange cat striding toward them. Its movements were sleek and steady, exuding an air of authority. At a glance, one might even mistake it for a small tiger.
Perhaps because it had never seen Lanyin before, it did not approach as it usually would. Instead, it stopped at the doorway, tilting its head upward, studying her with curiosity.
Its eyes were a pure shade of amber. Lanyin couldn’t help but wonder—had it spent so much time with its owner that even the way it scrutinized people resembled Qi Yubai’s?
Both carried a silent sense of pressure.
“This is Yuanbao?” she asked Qi Yubai.
Qi Yubai nodded. “Grandmother named him.” He bent down and scooped Yuanbao up from the ground, making it easier for Lanyin to see the cat up close. Noticing how intently she was staring at the fluffy creature in his arms, her eyes unblinking, he found it amusing and asked, “Want to hold him?”
Lanyin hesitated, tempted yet uncertain. Looking at Yuanbao’s proud and aloof demeanor, she hesitated and glanced up at Qi Yubai. “Will he allow it?”
She knew some cats disliked being touched by anyone other than their owner, and she worried Yuanbao might be the same.
“It’s fine. He’ll like you,” Qi Yubai said with absolute confidence.
Lanyin remained doubtful. No matter how impressive Qi Yubai was, could he really control his cat’s preferences? But deep down, something tickled her curiosity, as though a feather were teasing her heart, urging her to try. After some hesitation, she pressed her lips together and finally reached out toward Qi Yubai.
“He’s a bit heavy, so be careful,” Qi Yubai reminded her as he placed Yuanbao into her arms.
Even though Lanyin had mentally prepared herself, the actual weight of the cat still took her by surprise. This… was too heavy!
Carefully adjusting her hold to make Yuanbao more comfortable, she couldn’t help but whisper to Qi Yubai, “Why is he heavier than Lin’er?”
She felt like she was holding two Lin’ers—this cat must weigh at least fifteen jin (about 7.5 kg).
Qi Yubai couldn’t help but laugh. His eyes glimmered with amusement as he looked at her. “If Yan Mingruo hears you comparing his son to a cat, he’s definitely going to be upset.”
Lanyin thought of Tu Yici’s personality and couldn’t help but laugh. She didn’t say anything, only lowering her gaze to look at Yuanbao in her arms. She had initially assumed that the cat would struggle and escape—after all, when Qi Yubai had just placed it in her arms, she had clearly felt its ears perk up and its back arch in tension.
But now…
Lanyin looked down at Yuanbao. It no longer showed the initial wariness or discomfort, nor did it try to run away. The ears that had been standing up were now lying flat, and the once-arched back had softened. Its nose twitched as it sniffed at something, repeatedly burrowing into her embrace, all the while glancing up at her with inquisitive eyes.
“This…”
Lanyin was puzzled.
Qi Yubai, however, understood. It was not only humans who cherished old memories—everything in this world had a spirit, and cats were no exception. Seeing that Yuanbao had completely dropped its guard, burying itself comfortably in Lanyin’s arms and even closing its eyes in contentment, Qi Yubai reached out, gently stroking its fur. Then, meeting Lanyin’s confused gaze, he said, “It’s sniffing its owner.”
Hearing this, Lanyin’s cheeks turned slightly red.
She realized that ever since she and Qi Yubai had clarified their feelings, he had become increasingly unreserved. Just as she was about to reprimand him, she noticed that his expression remained calm, without a hint of teasing—nothing like what she had imagined. Under the flickering lantern light above them, their gazes met, and suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind.
Her dark lashes trembled under Qi Yubai’s watchful eyes before slowly lowering. As if testing something, her fingers reached toward Yuanbao’s neck.
Yuanbao, who had been comfortably resting with its eyes closed, opened them abruptly at the unexpected touch. Upon seeing that it was Lanyin, it did not resist. Though unsure of what she was trying to do, it allowed her to gently part the fur around its neck…
And there, a plum blossom-shaped white marking was revealed before her eyes.
Lanyin stared at that plum blossom mark for a long while, her fingertips trembling slightly. She didn’t know how much time had passed before she suddenly looked up, as if seeking confirmation, and gazed at Qi Yubai. “It’s…”
Qi Yubai patted her head gently, then nodded under her searching gaze. “It’s the one you raised as a child.”
Boom.
It was as if a flood of long-buried memories had suddenly surfaced in her mind.
She remembered the tiny, newborn kitten she had rescued from an abandoned, desolate courtyard, its eyes still unopened. She remembered how it had learned to walk, stumbling toward her day by day. And she remembered the painful moment when she had been forced to give it away—how it had seemed to sense what was happening, its amber eyes brimming with tears…
“Miss, don’t worry. I handed it over to a young master. He looked kind-hearted—he will definitely take good care of the kitten.”
She finally recalled what that servant had told her back then.
“You were that young master?”
Tears welled in Lanyin’s eyes as she looked at Qi Yubai, her voice hoarse with emotion.
Qi Yubai nodded and used his thumb to gently wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes.
Lanyin didn’t know how to describe what she was feeling at this moment. She could only murmur softly, “This truly is fate.”
Who could have imagined that the cat Qi Yubai had raised for over ten years was the very one she had been forced to part with as a child?
“What if it isn’t fate?”
A deep voice reached her ears. Lanyin’s gaze lifted in a daze. “What?”
She suddenly thought of what Qi Yubai had told her that morning. She knew he was about to explain why he had come to like her. Her heart started pounding wildly, yet she said nothing—just stared at him quietly, waiting for him to give her an answer.
“Shall we go inside first?”
But Qi Yubai didn’t give her the answer right away. Instead, he asked her this.
Lanyin nodded, temporarily suppressing the emotions in her heart as she followed Qi Yubai inside.
Aside from Xiao Ye, she had never entered another man’s room before. Stepping inside, even though she knew it was impolite to glance around, she couldn’t help but take a look at Qi Yubai’s living space. It was just as she had imagined—like his courtyard, his room was simple and unembellished, with little excessive decoration. The walls were adorned with a few calligraphy paintings, and a few potted spider plants were placed near the window. The only thing that surprised Lanyin was the sword hanging on the wall—silver blade, red tassel, its surface clean and bright, clearly not just an ornamental display.
As she was surveying the room, Qi Yubai was pouring water for her.
Tea at night would make it difficult to sleep, so he had prepared warm water instead. When he placed the teacup on the table, he noticed Lanyin gazing at the sword and casually explained, “I wasn’t in good health as a child, so I learned some swordsmanship from my teacher for a while.”
“If you like, I’ll perform a sword dance for you next time.”
Lanyin instinctively wanted to decline, but as she met Qi Yubai’s gaze under the warm lamplight—his dark eyes shining with quiet anticipation—she found herself unable to resist her inner longing and nodded.
“Alright.”
She answered softly, then added, “Then, when the time comes, I’ll play the qin for you.”
Before she was married, she had once imagined such a life—her plucking the strings of a qin while her husband practiced swordplay beneath a tree. She had thought it was something that would never come to pass in her lifetime, yet now…
Her eyes carried a gentle, expectant smile.
Qi Yubai also smiled and agreed. He reached out to her, and just as Lanyin was about to adjust Yuanbao’s position so she could give him her hand, the cat suddenly opened its eyes as if sensing something. After glancing at them once, it lightly leaped out of her embrace.
“Ah—”
Lanyin didn’t know what it was up to and instinctively wanted to chase after it, but Qi Yubai held her hand. “It’s fine, it won’t run far.”
Sure enough, Yuanbao merely found another spot to lie down. Seeing this, Lanyin didn’t disturb it, only watching for a moment before allowing Qi Yubai to lead her to a seat beside him.
As she sat down, the doubts and questions that had been lingering in her mind resurfaced. Turning to Qi Yubai, she asked, “What you said earlier…”
Qi Yubai sat by the window, the cold moonlight streaming through the wooden lattice and casting a silvery glow over him.
He knew what Lanyin wanted to ask, and he had already prepared himself to tell her everything. Yet now, as he looked into her clear, earnest eyes, he suddenly didn’t know where to begin.
Qi Yubai had never been someone who struggled with words.
Two years ago, when the Liao Kingdom came to celebrate the Zhou Emperor’s birthday, they deliberately sought to embarrass the Zhou officials. At the time, Qi Yubai had only recently entered the court, holding a low-ranking position. It was only because Hanlin Academy’s Grand Scholar Li had taken notice of him that he was allowed to accompany the Ministry of Rites in receiving the Liao delegation.
In these years, though Liao was no longer as aggressive as it had been during the late emperor’s reign, their ingrained arrogance remained. They claimed to be allies, yet every time they visited the Zhou Dynasty, they carried themselves with an air of superiority. That time, they had come with some difficult riddle they had picked up from somewhere, presenting it as if to say, “You claim that the Great Zhou is full of talented minds, yet none of you can solve this simple puzzle?”
Qi Yubai had never liked drawing attention to himself. Having lived an extra lifetime, he had learned how to conceal his sharp edges. Yet while he disliked trouble, he had never feared it. That day, he single-handedly resolved the Liao Kingdom’s challenge to the Zhou Dynasty, and his brilliance from that moment was still spoken of by many to this day.
But now, as he looked at the woman he cherished, he found himself at a loss for words.
In the end, he could only hold her hand, meet her gaze, and after a brief moment of silence, say, “Let me think about where to begin.”