Li Qinyuan himself didn’t know what madness had possessed him to actually come all the way to Pingshuo Hall.
At this time of day, the sun was still decent, casting a bit of warmth on his body, but the wind was strong. He was dressed in ordinary clothing without a cloak or anything, sitting on this empty rooftop, and it was really quite cold.
He sneezed lightly.
Frowning, Li Qinyuan lifted a tile from the eaves and peered down.
It seemed like class had just ended, as there were no teachers around. A group of people were either standing and chatting or sitting together in clusters. Li Qinyuan paid no attention to these people, instead scanning the area in search of Gu Wuyou’s figure.
Yet after looking for a long time, he still didn’t spot that familiar silhouette.
His brows furrowed deeper as he lowered his head even more, carefully sweeping his gaze from left to right again, but still, he found nothing… Could it be that the little hothead didn’t even last through a single class and had already gone home?
Li Qinyuan mused to himself.
It wasn’t entirely impossible.
That girl clearly hadn’t suffered many grievances since childhood. Suddenly having her personal matters dragged into the open and being gossiped about in such a ridiculous way—she was probably fuming.
Going home wasn’t a bad idea.
After all, the Duke of Ding doted on her. Any grievance she suffered, she only had to tell him, and he’d take care of it for her.
She probably wouldn’t come back to the academy after this.
At her age, even if the engagement was broken off, it wouldn’t be long before she got married. And with such a scandal stirring up, even if she wanted to return, her family likely wouldn’t allow it.
That was fine too.
He had always been annoyed by that little girl appearing before him every day, refusing to leave no matter how he chased her away or scolded her. Now, it was perfect—he wouldn’t even need to drive her away; she simply wouldn’t show up anymore.
Li Qinyuan thought he should be pleased with this outcome, but for some reason, he felt a dull weight in his chest. Having never experienced such a feeling before, he had no idea why it was happening.
His mood suddenly soured.
Casually setting aside the tile in his hand, Li Qinyuan sat on the rooftop, resting his chin on his palm, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
He sat there for about a quarter of an hour.
The light in his eyes finally refocused. Looking at the vast emptiness in front of him, he curled his lips into a sneer and let out a chuckle. Just as he was about to flip himself down, he suddenly heard voices.
“You’re really not going to tell Uncle?”
That voice—
Li Qinyuan halted his movement and turned toward the corridor not far away. Two figures were slowly approaching. The one wrapped in a blue cloak was Gu Yu, frowning in displeasure as she spoke to Gu Wuyou beside her, “If you tell Uncle, he will definitely find a way to investigate this.”
“Don’t you want to know which scoundrel spread such rumors behind your back?”
Having been pestered by Gu Yu the entire way, Gu Wuyou’s little head was buzzing. She rubbed her temple on the side facing Gu Yu and let out a soft “mm.” “It’s already been dealt with, there’s no need to trouble Father.”
“Besides, if he finds out, he definitely won’t let me come to the academy anymore.” She didn’t want to miss her chance to meet the Great General just because of something like this!
Even though she didn’t have many chances to meet the Great General at the academy…
At least they were still in the same place, weren’t they…?
“How did you become so easygoing?!” Gu Yu fumed, her face turning red. “Where did that fiery, unyielding spirit of yours go? Now that someone has spread such rumors about you, you’re just going to let them go like this?!”
The more she spoke, the angrier she became, her small face flushing crimson. “You’re really driving me mad!”
Seeing Gu Wuyou still wearing that same indifferent expression, Gu Yu stomped her foot in frustration. “I’m not going to bother with you anymore!” With that, she spun around and ran toward Pingshuo Hall, moving so fast that she showed no intention of waiting for Gu Wuyou.
“Ah, Ah Yu—”
Gu Wuyou called after her, but seeing that Gu Yu didn’t slow down, she could only sigh and prepare to chase after her. Yet before she could take a step, a maid’s voice came from behind.
“Princess Leping, your younger brother has arrived. He is waiting outside.”
“Huh?”
Jiufei came?
Gu Wuyou was momentarily dazed. At this hour, shouldn’t Jiufei be attending his classes at the Yu family? Why would he come all the way here?
Though puzzled, she decided to go see him first.
Turning back to glance behind her, she saw that Gu Yu had already disappeared without a trace. She sighed—she would have to coax her later.
“Let’s go,” she said to the maid.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The maid led her outside, while Li Qinyuan, still seated on the rooftop, remained motionless. He simply watched her figure gradually move forward until she completely vanished from his sight.
Soon, all that was left before his eyes was the vast, desolate expanse once more. Yet, compared to before, his heart felt much lighter—like an empty space that was slowly being filled with something.
Full.
And… rather comfortable?
The wind brushed against his face, and Li Qinyuan gradually snapped out of his thoughts.
The professor for the next class was already approaching. Only now did he belatedly remember that a certain nagging Mr. Xu was still waiting for him to report in. It had initially seemed like a troublesome matter, but at this moment, for some reason, he found himself in an oddly good mood.
Carefully setting the tile back in place, he flipped down from the rooftop, choosing an unoccupied spot before leisurely heading toward Xu Fu’s study.
—
Gu Jiufei stood inside a pavilion outside Pingshuo Hall.
Luming Academy was not only among the top academies in the capital but also one of the most prestigious in the entire Great Zhou. With a history spanning a hundred years and its foundation laid by two great figures, the entire academy exuded an atmosphere of profound scholarship. Even the architectural details—engraved beams and painted rafters—were exquisite.
Facing him was a serene lake and a grove of plum trees.
At this moment, the plum blossoms cast oblique shadows, and many of the flowers were carried off by the wind, some drifting into the lake and floating gently along the current.
The scene was picturesque, evoking the essence of Jiangnan. Though Gu Jiufei had never been to Jiangnan himself, he had read regional travelogues, and in his imagination, Jiangnan must look like this—
Small bridges over flowing water, sparse shadows slanting across the ground.
Hearing footsteps behind him, Gu Jiufei did not immediately turn around. He waited until the sound grew closer before slowly turning to look.
Two figures came into view.
But the moment he saw Gu Wuyou, his eyes could hold no one else.
Even if he was reluctant to admit it, his elder sister possessed a charm that was undeniable. No matter how many people were present, she was always the first to catch the eye.
He scrutinized her face carefully.
No signs of crying.
No traces of anger.
She was even smiling.
When she noticed his gaze, she brightened and ran over excitedly. “Why are you here?”
Her crescent-shaped eyes gleamed with joy and curiosity. “At this hour, shouldn’t you be in class at the Yu family?”
Gu Jiufei didn’t speak immediately.
Instead, he glanced at the maid behind Gu Wuyou. The maid was perceptive and, after bowing, silently withdrew.
Only after she left did Gu Jiufei finally speak. Unlike the respect he showed her at home, his tone was indifferent as he explained why he was here. “The spring exams are coming up. My teacher wanted me to visit the academy in advance. Since I had some free time today, I came along with him.”
Originally, he had just planned to look around and greet a few teachers, but he hadn’t expected to overhear those rumors.
Gu Jiufei recalled his reaction upon first hearing the gossip from the servants—
It was the same as when he had listened to Li Qinyuan casually mention Gu Wuyou in the alley that morning.
Like a fire suddenly igniting inside him.
The kind of feeling that made him want to throw a punch.
But once the thought passed, he felt that his reaction was utterly ridiculous.
The worse Gu Wuyou’s reputation became, the more advantageous it was for him. He should let those people spread the rumors—better yet, let them circulate until the entire capital knew. Best of all, if Gu Wuyou threw a tantrum and caused a major scene, letting everyone witness her arrogant and willful nature…
That was what he had thought.
Yet when his teacher was about to leave, he had stubbornly found an excuse to stay behind.
And now, here they were.
Gu Jiufei was only ten years old this year. Though he was already taller than most of his peers, compared to Gu Wuyou, he was only slightly taller. Dressed in a blue cloak, with a matching forehead band securing his hair, he still had the features of a young boy, yet he deliberately carried himself with the air of an old soul.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked at Gu Wuyou and said, “I heard people at the academy are gossiping about your broken engagement?”
“Ah?”
Gu Wuyou sighed helplessly, lowering her head. “Even you know about it?”
Before Gu Jiufei could respond, she quickly lifted her head and said, “When you go home, you’re not allowed to mention anything about what happened here today. I’ve already spoken with Second Sister and Seventh Sister—they won’t say anything either.”
Gu Jiufei frowned. Once again, he couldn’t understand what Gu Wuyou was thinking. “Why?”
“No reason,” Gu Wuyou replied casually. “I broke off the engagement—it’s a fact. Besides, the matter has been dealt with. They won’t dare to spread rumors anymore.”
That made sense.
But Gu Jiufei still felt this didn’t align with Gu Wuyou’s character.
With her temper, how could she not make a huge fuss after being slandered like this? Yet this time, she just let it go?
Then again, ever since she came back, everything she did and said had been different.
Silently, he observed her, trying to discern anything unusual from her expression.
But after a long time, he still couldn’t find anything.
Had she really changed?
Could that even be possible? Didn’t people say that habits are hard to change? Or… was she possessed by some mountain spirit or demon?
His thoughts drifted wildly until Gu Wuyou looked at him expectantly and asked again, “So, can you keep it a secret?”
Only then did he snap out of his daze. Lowering his head, he met her gaze with an indifferent expression. After a moment, he responded stiffly, “Do whatever you want.”
“It has nothing to do with me.”
His voice was cold and distant.
Yet upon hearing this, Gu Wuyou’s smile brightened once more.
She had a beautiful smile. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, filled with a radiance even more dazzling than the sun overhead.
Gu Jiufei rarely saw her smile like this.
At least, she had never smiled like this in front of him…
So at this moment, looking at this version of Gu Wuyou, he found himself momentarily dazed.
By the time he snapped out of it, he quickly turned his head away, avoiding her gaze. His small face remained stern, lips pressed together in a thin line, and his hands, clasped behind his back, tightened into fists.
The wind stirred the drapes.
More and more plum blossoms drifted into the lake in the distance.
Gu Jiufei stared at the scene for a long time before finally turning his head back toward Gu Wuyou and asking, “Do you really not like Zhao Chengyou anymore?”
This was the question that had been lingering in his mind ever since he learned of her broken engagement.
He remembered clearly—
Gu Wuyou had once liked Zhao Chengyou very, very much. Every time she returned home, she would buy an enormous pile of gifts, then bring them to Langya for him.
Yet now, she had so easily called off the engagement?
“Ah?”
Gu Wuyou seemed surprised to hear that name from Gu Jiufei’s mouth. Or perhaps it was because she herself hadn’t heard it in so long that for a moment, she was caught off guard.
After a while, she shook her head. “I don’t like him anymore.”
Her feelings for Zhao Chengyou had long since faded—both love and hatred had been buried in the past. To her, Zhao Chengyou was now nothing more than a familiar stranger.
After saying that, she smiled first. Her eyes curved as she spoke lightly, “I used to be foolish, thinking that if I just gave more of myself, he would eventually like me back. But later, I realized…”
She paused.
Instead of finishing her sentence, she simply looked at Gu Jiufei and said seriously, “I truly don’t like him at all anymore.”
“Then you—”
Gu Jiufei’s mind flashed back to that moment in the alley this morning—Gu Wuyou’s gaze when she looked at Li Qinyuan, filled with trust and unrestrained joy.
His hands, hidden behind his back, unconsciously clenched. His voice caught in his throat.
Gu Wuyou waited for a long time but didn’t hear him finish his sentence. Tilting her head slightly, she asked curiously, “Then what?”
Gu Jiufei glanced at her once more, but in the end, he merely said flatly, “Nothing.”
After speaking, he didn’t look at her again and simply strode forward. “I’m leaving. You should head back.”
He had only taken a few steps when—
Gu Wuyou’s voice came from behind him, soft and careful, carrying a faint hope.
“Do you want to stay and have dinner with me? I think it’s about time for the meal.”
Gu Jiufei’s footsteps halted. After a moment, he turned back and looked at her.
His expression remained the same—calm, indifferent—but there was an undeniable flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Gu Wuyou had never spent much time with him before. She didn’t know how other families’ siblings interacted, so she could only look at him expectantly, her face bright with a smile. “I remember the dining hall is serving pearl meatballs today.”
“Oh, and stir-fried lily bulbs.”
She blinked and, as if worried she had remembered wrong, asked, “I didn’t get it wrong, did I?”
Gu Jiufei was completely stunned.
He stared blankly at the smiling face before him, unsure how to describe what he was feeling.
He had thought she never remembered his preferences. He had thought that yesterday, when she had casually put food on his plate, it was just a random act.
But once could be coincidence.
What about twice?
Unlike how she so naturally bantered with Li Qinyuan, Gu Wuyou was always somewhat uncertain around her own younger brother. She nervously fidgeted with her fingers, and when he still didn’t respond, she assumed he didn’t want to stay.
She let out a quiet sigh and was just about to say, “If you really don’t want to, then forget it,” when she suddenly heard Gu Jiufei’s hoarse voice—
“…Alright.”