The dining hall of Luming Academy was divided into two floors. The first floor was for the students of Changrong Hall, where the meals were mostly simple home-style dishes. The second floor, however, was reserved for the noble young ladies and gentlemen of Pingshuo Hall and Buzhi Hall, as well as the teachers. Whether it was ordinary side dishes or rare delicacies, everything one could desire was available.
By the time Gu Tiao led Gu Wuyou upstairs, the noble ladies of Pingshuo Hall had already finished their meal, and even most of the students from Buzhi Hall had left.
Scattered across the room were only a few people, with just one table still fully occupied.
It was precisely Li Qinyuan and his group of four.
Fu Xian had nearly finished eating. Facing the entrance, he noticed Gu Tiao coming in from afar and immediately wanted to get up to greet her.
The Gu and Fu families had been family friends for generations, and since Gu Tiao was also their teacher, Fu Xian had always shown her great respect. When he saw her at the academy, he would call her “Teacher,” while in private, he addressed her as “Sister Gu Tiao.” However, just as he was about to greet her, he caught sight of Gu Wuyou standing beside her.
Though nearly a year had passed since they last met, and Gu Wuyou’s features had matured further, Fu Xian still recognized her in an instant.
The smile on his face froze, his lips twitching awkwardly, making his expression appear rather strange.
Qi Xu, sitting directly across from him, was happily gnawing on a chicken leg. Seeing Fu Xian’s odd reaction, he, with his cheeks puffed out and still chewing, mumbled through a mouthful of meat, “Ah Xian, what’s wrong with you?”
As soon as he spoke, Li Qinyuan and Jing Yubai also lifted their heads.
Noticing Fu Xian’s peculiar expression, Li Qinyuan, sitting beside him, seemed to realize something. He raised his eyes and looked toward the entrance—only to meet Gu Wuyou’s gaze, which had been fixed on him from the moment she walked in.
She seemed unprepared for his glance.
The little girl in red immediately looked away, her expression shifting. But for some reason, she soon pursed her lips and, with a shy yet expectant demeanor, peeked at him once again.
This was not the first time Li Qinyuan had seen such a gaze. In the capital, there were plenty of young women who liked him—though they considered him a libertine, a useless man, they still couldn’t help but be drawn to his face. Even within Pingshuo Hall, many noble ladies showed him such timid and bashful expressions upon seeing him.
But Li Qinyuan knew—
The look in this girl’s eyes was different from the others.
In her almond-shaped eyes, he saw emotions far more complex—joy, nostalgia, and even a touch of melancholy. It was the same as when he had seen her earlier at Buzhi Hall.
No.
There was still something different.
This time, Li Qinyuan noticed a trace of determination that hadn’t been there before.
This kind of gaze, so layered and intricate, was something he had never encountered before. He raised an eyebrow, finding it quite interesting.
Jing Yubai had also noticed Gu Wuyou. The usual smile on his face deepened, taking on an unreadable hint of amusement. However, he said nothing and was the first to rise, greeting Gu Tiao, “Teacher Gu.” Then, shifting his gaze to Gu Wuyou, he addressed her, “Princess Leping.”
Since he had spoken first, Fu Xian and Qi Xu naturally followed suit.
But while Qi Xu’s greeting to Gu Wuyou was casual and natural, Fu Xian’s was noticeably strained—his simple four-word address seemed to be squeezed out of his throat, low and heavy.
“Alright, we’re all eating here, no need to be so formal,” Gu Tiao smiled, breaking the silence.
As for Gu Wuyou—
She did not pay any attention to Fu Xian and the others. Instead, she pursed her red lips and silently gazed at her Great General. Earlier, everything had been too rushed for her to get a proper look, but now she realized—how handsome the young Great General was. Compared to his later years, where he carried an air of elegance and steadiness, he now had a youthful vigor that was undeniably captivating.
Just by sitting there, with his phoenix eyes casting a casual glance, he could make hearts race uncontrollably.
Her face grew even redder, and even her slender fingers unconsciously tightened around the fox fur lining of her cloak.
Fu Xian and the other two didn’t notice Gu Wuyou’s change in demeanor, but Li Qinyuan did. The corner of his lips curled into an amused smile, completely lacking the demeanor of a respectful student. He lazily stood up and called out to Gu Tiao, “Teacher Gu.”
When his gaze shifted to Gu Wuyou, he looked even more nonchalant. The smirk tugging at his lips carried an undeniable roguishness as he dragged out his words, “Princess Leping.”
Gu Wuyou had heard many people address her this way.
Just moments ago, three others had called her that. But only when Li Qinyuan said it did her cheeks burn, her heartbeat quicken, and even her throat itch slightly. Under his gaze, her face flushed an even deeper shade of red.
“You…”
It was the first time she had spoken to the Great General in this lifetime. Her voice was soft and husky when she first started speaking.
But as soon as she felt other people’s eyes on her, her throat miraculously recovered. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to look away from Li Qinyuan as she said in a quiet voice, “…We’re at the academy. There’s no need to address me like that.”
Fu Xian had never gotten along with her and had no awareness of the little thoughts she was harboring. He bluntly retorted, “If we don’t call you ‘Princess,’ then what do we call you?”
Gu Wuyou frowned.
She hadn’t thought too much when she spoke earlier, but now that she considered it, this was indeed a tricky issue.
Aside from Fu Xian, she hadn’t been close to Jing Yubai and the others in the past. After marrying Li Qinyuan, they had addressed her as “Sister-in-law.” As for Li Qinyuan—he had called her by many names. When their love was sweet and deep, it was “Madam” or “My Wife.” In everyday moments, he called her “Manman.” And when they argued, he would either call her by her full name or simply “girl.”
But now—
Clearly, none of those names were appropriate.
Gu Wuyou, who had just been delighted at being able to speak with Li Qinyuan, suddenly felt disheartened.
Gu Tiao noticed her change in expression and, understanding her feelings, spoke up to help her out. “We are all family friends, and Manman is younger than you all. When there’s no one else around, addressing her more intimately is fine.”
Since Gu Tiao had spoken, Fu Xian couldn’t argue any further, though his expression still looked somewhat unpleasant.
Jing Yubai, the most composed and socially adept among them, smiled and said, “Teacher Gu and the young Miss Gu haven’t eaten yet. We won’t disturb you any longer.” With that, he gestured for the others to leave, cupping his hands in a polite salute.
Fu Xian didn’t say another word and immediately got up.
Qi Xu, reluctant to part with his unfinished chicken leg, cast one last regretful glance at it before following suit.
Li Qinyuan, however, did not bow. He remained as lazy and carefree as before, simply nodding at them before striding off.
Watching the group leave, Gu Tiao sighed softly as she noticed Gu Wuyou’s lingering gaze on Li Qinyuan. “Manman, let’s eat.”
Gu Wuyou nodded, though a sense of defeat still weighed on her heart.
She had seen the Great General and even spoken to him, but clearly… the Great General had no intention of acknowledging her.
But that was alright.
She gave herself a silent pep talk.
This was already a good start. The days ahead were still long—she believed that, one day, she and the Great General would return to how they once were!
Thinking of this, Gu Wuyou’s little face once again bloomed with a sweet smile.
She and the Great General still had a long road ahead.
—
Walking out of the dining hall—
Fu Xian could no longer hold back his scowl and muttered, “I don’t know what that woman is trying to stir up again.”
Jing Yubai, seeing his reaction, couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know, you’re usually fine with everyone. Why do you insist on being at odds with her? Don’t tell me you…”
Fu Xian paused. “Don’t tell you what?”
Jing Yubai smirked. “Like her.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!” Fu Xian reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly exploding. His face flushed red, his breathing grew uneven, and he snapped, “How could I possibly like a woman like her? No manners, no upbringing, not a shred of what a noble lady should be like!”
“If I were to like someone—”
He racked his brain, his face turning an even deeper shade of red as he declared, “It would be someone like Xiao Yi!”
Qi Xu let out a soft “hmm” and turned his head to look at Fu Xian with some surprise. “Ah Xian, you like Princess Changning?”
“I—I don’t!”
“I was just… just making a comparison!” Fu Xian fumed.
Jing Yubai smiled. “I think she’s quite alright now. She seems to have grown up and become a lot more composed.” He paused, then turned his gaze toward Li Qinyuan. “Qilang, don’t you think so?”
Li Qinyuan had been walking along indifferently, as if the conversation had nothing to do with him.
Hearing this, he glanced at Jing Yubai. The pearl inside his sleeve gently swayed as he chuckled, placing both hands behind his head in a relaxed manner. His tone was lazy as he replied, “Hmm, she’s alright.”
By this point, most of Fu Xian’s embarrassment had faded. Though his face was still somewhat red, his tone had returned to normal. He said in exasperation, “What’s the point of asking Qilang? He doesn’t even know that little chili pepper.”
Jing Yubai only smiled and said nothing.
The others might not have noticed, but he certainly had—
That little chili pepper’s eyes had been fixed on Qilang the entire time…
If she really liked Qilang, then the days ahead were bound to be quite interesting.
Though, Qilang’s attitude seemed the same as ever.
—
Author’s note:
Rest assured.
There’s no drama of brothers fighting over her—Old Fu and Qilang have always been good friends!
—Manman’s husband-chasing journey officially begins.