He tossed his steamed bun onto his plate and, with a face as red as a cooked shrimp, stammered furiously, “Y-you—what do you think you’re doing?!”
Not even waiting for her response, he shot to his feet and stormed off, his face burning as he practically fled the scene.
Did this woman have no concept of proper boundaries between men and women?!
He was absolutely furious!
Gu Wuyou, however, didn’t mind his attitude at all. Still worried, she quickly caught up to him, her voice full of concern. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you have a fever? How about I go with you to see a doctor?”
“You’re the one with a fever!” Li Qinyuan snapped.
“But—”
Gu Wuyou reached out, as if she wanted to poke his face, but remembering how fierce he had looked just now, she hesitated and weakly withdrew her hand. In a small voice, she muttered, “Your face is really red… It looks like it’s burning.”
His face was red?
Li Qinyuan froze, his steps halting.
He raised a hand to touch his face—sure enough, it was burning hot.
The moment he realized why, he glanced at Gu Wuyou, who was still looking at him with that innocent expression.
His face reddened even further—not out of embarrassment this time, but out of sheer irritation.
She had no idea what she was doing to him! This damn little pepper!
If he talked to her any longer, he might really have to see a doctor—for heart palpitations caused by pure frustration. And that was not a diagnosis he wanted to hear.
Shutting his mouth, unwilling to exchange another word, he lifted the curtain and strode outside. But before leaving, he lowered his voice and turned back to issue a stern warning:
“When we go out, don’t say anything ridiculous!”
This time, he didn’t wait for her reply—he just marched out.
“But—”
Gu Wuyou chased after him, still looking anxious. She followed closely, her voice small but insistent. “Are you really sure you don’t need to see a doctor? The weather’s freezing. If you get sick, it’ll be miserable…”
Li Qinyuan didn’t reply.
He clenched his jaw, teeth grinding together.
In his mind, he started reciting a Qingxin mantra, trying to clear his thoughts. Stay calm. Stay composed. Don’t get angry. Getting angry at her is pointless. It’ll just make it worse.
Old Zhang saw them come out and greeted them with a cheerful grin. “You two finished eating already?”
Already?
Back in the past, he could’ve eaten two meals in this time.
Li Qinyuan grumbled internally but said nothing aloud. He simply nodded, handed over the breakfast money, and curtly said, “We’re leaving.”
With that, he walked off without sparing a glance at Gu Wuyou, clearly not intending to wait for her.
However—
His steps weren’t as quick as before.
Gu Wuyou, seeing Old Zhang, finally snapped out of her worry over whether the great general was sick. She reached for her little pouch, wanting to pay for her share, but before she could even take it out, Old Zhang chuckled and waved his hand.
“It’s already been paid.”
She hesitated.
Seeing her anxious expression, Old Zhang raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise, “What’s wrong? Did something happen? You look like you’re in a hurry.”
“I…”
Gu Wuyou opened her mouth to speak—
But before she could say anything, Li Qinyuan, who had just left, suddenly reappeared.
Without a word, he grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
Old Zhang watched their retreating figures, standing in place for a moment before breaking into a knowing smile.
Ah, young people these days…
Chuckling, he turned back to tidying up, no longer bothering about them.
Meanwhile—
Gu Wuyou was dragged several steps forward before she fully processed what had happened.
She stumbled slightly, looking up in confusion as they entered a narrow alleyway. “What’s going on?” she asked. “Why are you walking so fast? You almost scared me.”
“Nothing,” Li Qinyuan replied quickly.
Seeing that no one was around, he finally let go of her. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he found himself giving an excuse he never thought he’d use in his life.
“…We’re going to be late for school.”
He had officially had enough of this little pepper.
If she stayed behind any longer, who knew what kind of nonsense she’d tell Old Zhang?!
She herself was completely oblivious, but how could Old Zhang not notice? If Old Zhang found out that he had turned red so many times today and had even been mistaken for having a fever, where would he ever put his face again?
“Then you—”
Gu Wuyou was still worried.
Before she could finish, Li Qinyuan gritted his teeth and said, “I really don’t have a fever!” Who on earth gets a fever that only makes their face turn red?!
Seeing that she still looked doubtful, Li Qinyuan’s breaths turned heavier in frustration. He inhaled deeply several times, reciting the Qingxin mantra in his head again and again, forcing himself to suppress the fire in his chest. Finally, he managed to control his temper and explained, “It was too hot inside. I was heated up.”
…Was that really the case?
Gu Wuyou still wasn’t entirely convinced, but looking at the great general’s face now, the redness had indeed faded a little. She decided to temporarily believe him. Still, she couldn’t help but remind him, “If you do get sick, make sure to see a doctor. Otherwise, you’ll have to take medicine again.”
The great general hated taking medicine.
Back then, she had always been the one coaxing him into drinking it.
For someone so big and intimidating, he acted like a child whenever he had to take medicine. He needed sweets as a bribe—and sometimes, only a kiss would make him obedient.
Sigh.
She let out a soft sigh.
For someone so young, she sure had a lot to worry about.
Li Qinyuan watched her little mouth continue to chatter, looking like she wanted to nag him further. He furrowed his brows and cut her off, “Alright, alright, I got it. If I get sick, I’ll go see a doctor!”
(Not happening.)
Seeing that she still wanted to say more, he decided to go for the ultimate move—he threatened her.
“If you keep talking, I won’t come tomorrow.”
As soon as he said it, he froze.
…What kind of threat was that?!
But to Gu Wuyou, it was shockingly effective.
She immediately fell silent, even covering her mouth with both hands. Her big, round eyes widened in surprise, and she shook her head, signaling that she wouldn’t say another word.
Seeing her like that—
Li Qinyuan suddenly felt an urge to laugh.
He quickly turned his head away, afraid that if he kept looking at her, he wouldn’t be able to hold it in. But even so, the amusement in his eyes was hard to conceal.
Thankfully, no one could see it from the side.
The morning sun rose.
Golden light pierced through the clouds, illuminating the world below.
In the long and narrow alley, a young man in white stood with his shoulders trembling slightly, his usual indifferent face softened by a faint smile.
And the girl in red?
She was still covering her mouth, tilting her head up to look at her great general.
The brilliant sunlight only made her face appear more radiant, so beautiful that no one would be able to look away. Yet she seemed completely unaware, as if she only had eyes for her great general.
And once she looked at him—
She couldn’t look away.
When Li Qinyuan turned his head back, he caught her gaze.
His heart gave a sudden, light thump.
His ears burned red, and he quickly looked away, clearing his throat before saying, “Let’s go.”
Gu Wuyou nodded, still not speaking, and followed by his side.
When they reached the mouth of the alley, Li Qinyuan saw her carriage parked not far away and stopped walking.
Now that they were back in a bustling area, his demeanor shifted. He returned to his usual self—relaxed, indifferent, and slightly aloof.
“Go on.”
He looked at Gu Wuyou and said simply.
Gu Wuyou had finally lowered her hands, but her lips remained firmly shut, keeping his earlier words in mind.
She glanced at the carriage, then back at Li Qinyuan, looking as if she wanted to say something.
“What?” Li Qinyuan frowned at her.
Gu Wuyou pointed at her lips. Seeing his furrowed brows, she looked a little deflated, wanting to speak but afraid of making him angry. Then, as her gaze fell on his slender hand, an idea suddenly struck her. Her eyes lit up, and she grabbed his hand, intending to write in his palm.
The moment her soft, delicate fingers brushed against his palm—
Li Qinyuan hadn’t reacted at first. But as soon as he registered the gentle touch, he nearly jumped out of his skin. His first instinct was to glance around, and after confirming that no one had noticed, he immediately grabbed Gu Wuyou by the arm and dragged her aside. His voice was exasperated as he barked, “What are you doing?!”
She actually dared to touch him so casually in broad daylight! Did she not know the meaning of restraint?!
Seeing that the little girl was still staring at him in silence, he grew even more irritated. “Speak!”
Oh.
Gu Wuyou had been holding back for so long—she could finally talk again.
Looking up at Li Qinyuan, she pouted and said, feeling wronged, “You told me not to speak.”
“I—”
Li Qinyuan retraced their conversation and realized that… yeah, he had told her that.
So this was what it felt like to shoot yourself in the foot.
His expression alternated between green and white, and after holding it in for a long time, he finally gritted his teeth and said, “Speak!”
“Are you really going to come for breakfast tomorrow?” Gu Wuyou blinked at him, her eyes full of expectation.
Just for this?
Li Qinyuan sighed in resignation, lifting a hand to rub his forehead. He sounded drained as he muttered, “Yes.”
The moment she heard his answer, Gu Wuyou beamed.
“Then I’ll bring some pastries for you tomorrow!” she said happily. Then, smiling, she turned toward the alleyway entrance. As she stepped outside, she turned back and waved at him, still grinning. “See you tomorrow!”
In the dim alley—
Li Qinyuan remained leaning against the weathered wall, watching the girl standing at the entrance.
The wind lifted her long hair and the hem of her red dress, making the embroidered peonies and cranes look almost alive.
Her smile was brighter than the golden sunlight above.
When she saw him looking over, she showed no shyness at all, as if she didn’t care who saw her. She waved even more enthusiastically and said once again, smiling, “See you tomorrow!”
He just stood there, watching as she left.
Watching as she got into the carriage.
Watching as the carriage rolled away, vanishing from his sight.
And then, standing there, staring ahead, he murmured softly—
“See you tomorrow.”
The moment he realized what he’d just said—
He froze for a second.
Then, after a long pause, he cursed under his breath, “Vixen.”
Slowly, he made his way to the alley entrance.
But as he walked, the image of that little pepper’s bright smile replayed in his mind.
He couldn’t help it—his lips tugged upward slightly.
Noticing it, he immediately forced his mouth into a straight line again, pressing down hard on the corners of his lips.
As he neared the alley’s exit, something else occurred to him.
How did that little pepper know that his ears turn red when he lies?
He frowned, thinking it over.
In the end, he could only come up with one possible culprit—Fu Xian, that damn brat.
That guy must’ve blabbered all their embarrassing moments to her while trying to win her favor.
Great.
No candied hawthorn for him today.
The thought of getting his ear tugged by that little pepper made his face darken.
He had never been so humiliated before—not even by his own mother!
A few more steps forward—
And then, he remembered the lingering sensation in his palm.
He cursed under his breath again, but his slender fingers unconsciously curled, as if trying to hold onto the warmth that had just been there.
Thank you for the translation! I can’t wait for the plot ti develop more. I love this so much. Haha