Gu Yu looked at Gu Wuyou in front of her and didn’t speak for a long time. After a while, she murmured, almost to herself, “You really… are not the same as before.”
When she had heard her mother and the maids talk about it at home, she didn’t believe it.
But now, seeing it with her own eyes—
Her cousin had indeed changed.
If it were before, how could she have said such things? She had originally wanted to ask about her and Li Qinyuan, but when she thought about their relationship, it didn’t seem close enough for that kind of conversation.
Gu Yu pursed her lips and, in the end, said nothing.
But Gu Wuyou suddenly smiled again, no longer carrying that cold and indifferent look from before. She had returned to being sweet and charming, her almond eyes shaped like crescent moons, the corners of her lips slightly raised. Looking at Gu Yu, she asked, “Right, what were you about to say to me just now?”
“I…”
Gu Yu still seemed a bit hesitant. She had never apologized to anyone in her life. Her hands twisted together, her fingertips tugged so tightly that they had turned a little red. Under Gu Wuyou’s clear almond-eyed gaze, she closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and finally forced the words out—
“…I’m sorry.”
“Huh?”
Gu Wuyou was taken aback, unable to react for a moment.
Since she had already said the hardest part, the rest was much easier. Gu Yu opened her eyes and looked at Gu Wuyou. “Yesterday at the academy, for saying those things… I’m sorry. And also… a few years ago, at Ah Yi’s birthday banquet, I shouldn’t have spoken about you behind your back with the others.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Gu Wuyou stared blankly at Gu Yu before her brows gradually relaxed, and she broke into a smile.
So it was because of this.
She had long since almost forgotten about it.
When you’re young, these things feel like the biggest deal in the world. But after a few years, you realize it was nothing much. Whether others like you or not doesn’t matter in the slightest. In this world, the only thing that truly matters is making the people you care about happy.
As for outsiders? What business is it of theirs?
She thought back to her previous life—she had only grown close to Gu Yu after returning to the capital and marrying Li Qinyuan. It was then, when they were both around twenty-five or twenty-six, that Gu Yu had also apologized. Talking about those past events had seemed almost amusing at the time.
Like reminiscing about bygone days.
She hadn’t expected Gu Yu to apologize so early this time.
But still… Gu Wuyou looked at Gu Yu and smiled softly.
“Why… are you looking at me like that?” Being stared at like this, Gu Yu frowned, shifting her weight uneasily. Especially when she saw the smile on Gu Wuyou’s face—she felt an inexplicable discomfort in her heart.
Who knew what this woman would say?
“Nothing,” Gu Wuyou chuckled. “Come on, let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
She had only eaten a bowl of wontons, a skewer of candied hawthorn, and a few pieces of pastry this morning—she was really starving.
After saying that, she started walking toward the dining hall.
Gu Yu, still standing behind her, seemed a little surprised at how easily this had been resolved. After being dazed for a moment, she quickly caught up and asked, “You don’t have anything else to say?”
“Hmm?”
Gu Wuyou turned her head. “What else?”
She knew what Gu Yu was thinking. If it were in the past, with her old temperament, she would probably be throwing out cold sarcasm or biting remarks at this moment. But now—she simply smiled and said, “Actually, I also did things wrong in the past.”
Back then, she had been extremely insecure.
The pride she forced herself to maintain on the surface was fragile, shattering at the slightest touch. She had gone to the banquet full of joy, only to overhear her own younger sister speaking ill of her with others, even saying that being her sister was terribly unlucky.
She had felt miserable, but on the surface, she had to act as if she didn’t care. And after leaving, she had to stir up trouble—one of those “If I’m unhappy, then no one else should be happy either” situations, making sure to ruin the mood for everyone.
Thinking about it now, she really had been childish.
Gu Yu listened to her words but said nothing more. As they neared the dining hall, she finally muttered, somewhat awkwardly, “Hey, I haven’t made up with you yet. I still don’t like you.”
She didn’t want Gu Wuyou to get the wrong idea.
Gu Wuyou looked at her and nodded. “Got it.” Her eyes were filled with laughter, yet her expression carried a faint helplessness, as if she were an older sister watching over a mischievous younger sibling.
Seeing Gu Wuyou like this, Gu Yu felt incredibly uncomfortable. Deep down, she thought this woman was even more difficult to deal with than before.
It would have been easier if they could just argue and fight like before.
The thought flashed through Gu Yu’s mind.
By then, they had already stepped into the dining hall. Just as she was about to say something more, Xu Wan had already spotted her from a distance and called out loudly, “Ah Yu, come over! We’ve already ordered food for you.”
Her footsteps faltered for a moment.
For some reason, before responding, she first glanced at Gu Wuyou beside her.
Gu Wuyou had also noticed Xu Wan and the others. She remained composed as if nothing had happened, merely casting a brief glance at Xu Wan and Xiao Yi before withdrawing her gaze and saying to Gu Yu, “Go ahead.”
With that, she turned and walked away without looking back.
Gu Yu remained standing there, watching Gu Wuyou’s retreating figure. Only after a long moment did she turn and head toward Xiao Yi and the others.
Xu Wan pouted, her lips turned up so high they could almost hold an oil bottle. The moment Gu Yu arrived, she blurted out, “Where did you go? Why are you back so late?” Then, glancing toward Gu Wuyou’s departing figure, she lowered her voice and asked sternly, “What did you talk about with her?”
Gu Yu sat down beside her, not in the mood to explain. Her voice was indifferent. “Nothing.”
Seeing her like this, Xu Wan became even more agitated, her voice carrying a hint of frustration. “Gu Yu! We treat you like a sister, but what about you? What do you take us for? We used to talk about everything, but now? You’re hiding things from us!”
“And you’re even getting close to her!”
Looking at the agitated Xu Wan, Gu Yu suddenly felt a wave of irritation.
These people—once, they had been the friends she was closest to, with endless things to talk about. But now…
Now, they just made her feel exhausted.
She would rather…
Rather spend time with that annoying Gu Wuyou.
Seeing that Gu Yu was ignoring her, Xu Wan grew even angrier and was about to continue when Xiao Yi grabbed her arm and spoke, “Enough, Wanwan. Ah Yu must have had something important to do, which is why she was late. Don’t say anymore.”
“Ah Yi!”
“Wanwan, that’s enough.” Although Xiao Yi’s voice was gentle, her tone left no room for argument.
Xiao Yi was the leader among them. No matter how upset Xu Wan was, she couldn’t argue further. She could only turn to the side, her face dark, choosing to ignore Gu Yu altogether.
And so, the atmosphere fell silent.
The silence lasted until Gu Yu finished her meal.
After Gu Yu finished eating, Xiao Yi softened her voice and said, “Ah Yu, let’s go.”
Gu Yu hesitated.
During the meal, she had glanced behind her and noticed that while others sat in groups, Gu Wuyou was sitting alone, isolated at her table.
But Ah Yi and the others—
They clearly wouldn’t walk with Gu Wuyou.
“Ah Yu?” Xiao Yi called her name again. Though her face still carried a gentle smile, her fingers had obviously tightened slightly.
Gu Yu snapped back to reality and turned to look at Xiao Yi. Under her warm and smiling gaze, she finally nodded. “Let’s go.”
Gu Wuyou saw them leaving but showed no reaction.
Gu Yu had her own friends; it was normal for her to stay close to them. And she was used to being alone anyway.
Walking with them wouldn’t be any better than walking alone.
After finishing her meal, she noticed that the dining hall was nearly empty. Judging by the time, Bu Zhi Zhai had probably finished classes as well. She wanted to stall for a bit longer, ideally until the Great General arrived. But since she had already followed him to breakfast this morning and made him rather unhappy, she hesitated.
If she clung to him again in front of everyone, the Great General might start ignoring her altogether.
This is so hard.
Gu Wuyou sighed softly and stood up to leave.
At the same time, Li Qinyuan and his group were walking over from the direction of Bu Zhi Zhai. Along the way, Qi Xu and Fu Xian were chattering non-stop, with Jing Yubai occasionally adding a word or two.
Only Li Qinyuan remained silent, quietly listening to their laughter and conversations.
As they neared the dining hall, he heard someone ahead whisper, “Huh? Isn’t that the Commandery Princess of Leping?”
Little Chili Pepper?
Li Qinyuan raised an eyebrow and followed their gazes. Sure enough, it was her.
She was wearing her usual red cloak. But unlike her usual rash and reckless manner, she was walking with measured steps, appearing graceful and elegant. The peony embroidery on her cloak swayed slightly with each step, lending her an air of quiet poise.
However—
Why was she alone?
Hadn’t she just been with her younger sister?
“Qilang? What are you thinking about?” Fu Xian leaned over. His sharp eyes had also spotted Gu Wuyou’s figure. Clicking his tongue, he muttered, “What rotten luck. How come we keep running into her?”
Qi Xu, who had no personal grudge against Gu Wuyou, simply noted, “Why is she walking alone?”
In the academy, most people moved in groups.
Unless someone was a known loner, it was rare to see someone eating and walking alone.
Fu Xian curled his lips and scoffed, “She has a bad temper. No one likes playing with her.”
Then, as if afraid this explanation wasn’t enough, he added in a quieter voice, “She’s been like this since she was a child.”
“Huh?”
Qi Xu was momentarily stunned and murmured, “Then… isn’t that kind of pitiful?”
This time, Fu Xian didn’t say anything further. It was true—she was quite pitiful.
She had lost her mother at birth. Though she had everything she could possibly need, some things would always be different.
That was why, when they were children, he used to visit the Gu family to play with her. With a good-natured smile, he would reassure her, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you in the future.”
But who could have known that Little Chili Pepper had such a fiery temper? Not only did she shove him out the door, but she even pointed at his nose and scolded him,
“What kind of brother are you supposed to be to me?!”
“Shameless! You’re just as shameless as your aunt!”
He had his pride, too.
After being treated that way a few times, he had no interest in dealing with her anymore.
While Fu Xian and Qi Xu continued chatting, Li Qinyuan remained silent. The usual indifferent smile on his face gradually faded.
He glanced in the direction Gu Wuyou had gone, but by now, the red figure had completely disappeared from sight.
“Qilang?” Jing Yubai called his name.
“Hmm?” Li Qinyuan turned to him. “What is it?”
“It’s time to go in.” Jing Yubai nodded toward the entrance.
Fu Xian and Qi Xu had already gone ahead, and from a distance, Qi Xu’s complaints could still be heard: “Hurry up! If we’re late, my sweet and sour pork ribs will be gone!”
“Mm.”
Li Qinyuan gave a small nod and stepped forward into the dining hall.
Jing Yubai, lingering behind, watched his departing figure. Thinking about the way he had momentarily lost focus just now, he chuckled softly.
It seemed quite a lot had happened this morning that he wasn’t aware of.
He hadn’t forgotten—when he had gone looking for Qilang earlier, that skewer of candied hawthorn, which had been left untouched all morning, had mysteriously disappeared.