Gu Wuyou saw that smile, and her face immediately turned red, her heart pounding especially fast.
Thump, thump.
She was overjoyed, and the smile on her face couldn’t be hidden no matter how hard she tried.
Bai Lu wanted to say something to her, but she was afraid of dampening her mood. Fortunately, Hong Shuang had already led the maids and older servant women away; otherwise, who knew what they would think if they saw this?
Gu Wuyou, however, was unaware of her concerns. Seeing them approaching, she walked up to them with delight and said, “You’re here.”
Fu Xian curled his lips, speaking unhappily, “I didn’t come here to see you.” After saying that, he caught sight of Li Qinyuan beside him out of the corner of his eye, and recalling the hit he had taken to the head, he immediately chickened out.
Gu Wuyou wasn’t angry either. Knowing that Li Qinyuan must have asked him for help to come over, she still smiled warmly at him. “Come in, I’ve already asked the maids to prepare tea and pastries.”
She was so easygoing that Fu Xian couldn’t keep up his act. His face twisted in reluctance, but he was the first to step inside.
Jing Yubai and Qi Xu both greeted her with smiles before following him in. Strangely enough, as the host, she lingered behind…
Gu Yu had also been about to go in but stopped when she saw this. Her small face darkened again.
How could she not know what was on Gu Wuyou’s mind?
She felt exasperated at her lack of resolve. With the way Gu Wuyou was acting, if she really married Li Qinyuan in the future, wouldn’t he completely have her wrapped around his finger?! Yet, she couldn’t reprimand her openly in front of others. She could only glare at her before walking inside with a sullen face.
But Gu Wuyou’s thoughts were entirely on Li Qinyuan, so how could she notice?
In the courtyard, Bai Lu had also gone inside to attend to them, leaving only the two of them alone. With no one else around, Gu Wuyou couldn’t help but move a little closer to Li Qinyuan. She had yet to say anything when she suddenly heard a very soft squeak.
“Huh?” Gu Wuyou paused, following the sound. She then saw that Li Qinyuan was holding a small cage and asked in surprise, “Is that… a squirrel?”
“Mm.”
Young Master Li stiffened slightly when he saw the little girl moving closer. His straightened back was taut, and his once-calm and leisurely face instantly turned rigid. Even his voice became somewhat stiff.
“…It’s for you.”
Gu Wuyou’s eyes immediately brightened, sparkling like two twinkling stars. She looked up at him with excitement. “Did you catch it especially for me?”
Clearly, he had gone through so much effort to catch the little creature himself, yet Young Master Li, whether out of shyness or stubbornness, refused to admit it under her gaze.
“No, I just picked it up randomly.”
Gu Wuyou didn’t believe him for a second.
The great general always blushed when he lied. Look, his ears were already red. She couldn’t bear to expose such a clumsy lie, so she simply smiled, crouched down, and reached out to play with the little squirrel.
Before she could touch it, Li Qinyuan pulled her back.
The young man suddenly straightened his face and said sternly, “Don’t touch it. It’s not domesticated and still wild. We should have someone look after it for a while to get it used to people before you approach it. Otherwise, you might get bitten.”
Gu Wuyou wasn’t worried. She smiled at him with crescent-shaped eyes. “It’s fine.”
As she spoke, she reached her hand out towards the small squirrel inside the cage, greeting it softly, “Hello, little squirrel.”
Li Qinyuan’s heart was in his throat.
The little girl was usually so obedient, always listening to him. But at times, she could be incredibly stubborn. Since he couldn’t persuade her, he had no choice but to set the cage down and crouch beside her, keeping an eye on the squirrel to prevent it from suddenly acting out and biting her.
The little squirrel, of course, couldn’t understand what Gu Wuyou was saying.
But it could distinguish between good and bad people.
The beautiful young lady in front of it seemed just as kind as the young man who had fed it earlier.
It huddled inside the cage, glancing at Li Qinyuan, then at Gu Wuyou.
Then, under her gaze, it slowly extended a tiny paw—bit by bit—until it gently placed its small paw onto her outstretched hand, as if responding to her friendly gesture.
Gu Wuyou’s long, thick lashes fluttered slightly.
The excitement in her heart and the smile on her face bloomed simultaneously.
The moment the little squirrel placed its paw in her hand, Gu Wuyou also grabbed onto Li Qinyuan’s sleeve with great force. She didn’t dare to speak too loudly, afraid of startling it. She could only suppress the excitement and joy surging in her heart, holding it in so much that her small face turned red. Yet, no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t hide the light, happy tone in her voice. Holding onto his sleeve, she eagerly said, “Look, look! It’s shaking hands with me!”
Li Qinyuan had already seen it. He was a little surprised as well.
This little creature had grown up in the deep mountains; though it had some spiritual intelligence, it was still wild. Just last night, he had spent half the night with it, only managing to get it to retract its claws and come near him.
It was only this morning that it had tentatively started reaching out its paw as a sign of goodwill toward him.
Li Qinyuan originally thought it had become more accustomed to people, but this little creature behaved one way toward him and another toward Fu Xian and the others—full of wariness. If they got even slightly closer, it would immediately bare its teeth and act aggressively.
Yet, unexpectedly, it was being so friendly with this little girl, even offering its paw upon their first meeting.
Turning his head, he glanced at Gu Wuyou. Seeing her beaming with joy, her bright, glistening eyes looked just like the little squirrel’s.
Li Qinyuan couldn’t help but smile as well. The stiffness in his posture relaxed, the tension in his expression melted away, and when the little girl softly urged, “Did you see it?” he reached out to pat her head. His voice, for the first time, carried a gentle indulgence.
“Mm, I saw it.”
It really was just like her.
Suddenly being patted on the head, Gu Wuyou froze for a moment. Her small face turned crimson, and when she looked at Li Qinyuan, her eyes were like two shimmering pools of autumn water—half embarrassment, half delight.
As their gazes locked, the atmosphere in the air subtly shifted.
The little squirrel seemed to notice it was being neglected and let out a soft, dissatisfied squeak.
Hearing the sound, Gu Wuyou’s attention was indeed drawn back. Turning her head, she looked at the little creature staring at her, and her heart itched with the urge to hold it. Unable to resist, she asked, “Can I hold it?”
Li Qinyuan thought for a moment. Under her bright, expectant gaze, he finally nodded. He opened the cage and gently lifted the little squirrel out.
Gu Wuyou immediately stood up, both excited and nervous. She stretched out her stiff hands, looking completely lost. “I—how do I hold it?”
She had never raised pets before, nor had she ever carried a baby. She had no idea how to handle such a small, furry creature.
Seeing her like this, Li Qinyuan couldn’t help but chuckle.
His laugh was crisp and brief, as if it had escaped unintentionally, but Gu Wuyou caught it instantly. Her face turned even redder. She lifted her eyes to look at him, her gaze misty, her voice soft and delicate—carrying the tone of a pout.
“Don’t laugh…”
She was just afraid of hurting it.
The little girl pouted, her face filled with embarrassment and annoyance, looking utterly adorable.
As Li Qinyuan gazed at her, the still waters in his heart seemed as if a small stone had been tossed in, sending ripples outward, one after another. The further they spread, the softer his heart became.
For a long moment.
He pressed his lips together, suppressing the amusement in his eyes as he said, “Alright, I won’t laugh.”
Though he said so, the smile in his deep, phoenix-like eyes couldn’t be hidden no matter what. Still, afraid that she might truly become too flustered, he stopped teasing her. As he placed the little squirrel in her hands, he patiently guided her, “Slowly now, bring your hands together gently. Support its neck and back with your left hand, and hold its bottom with your right hand.”
Noticing how rigidly she was holding herself, he reassured her in a soft tone, “Don’t be afraid. It’s not that fragile. You won’t hurt it.”
Gu Wuyou truly felt like her hands and feet weren’t her own anymore. She followed Li Qinyuan’s instructions, carefully cradling the little squirrel bit by bit, bringing it closer to her chest. She was still visibly nervous, her gaze darting toward him as she asked in a tight voice, “L-Like this?”
Li Qinyuan nodded, adjusting the little squirrel in her arms to a more comfortable position before finally smiling. “Alright.”
The little squirrel remained dazed, looking as clueless as ever.
The little squirrel was unexpectedly obedient—whatever it was told to do, it did, without making a fuss. Perhaps it was because it had finally been let out of the cage, seeing a different landscape than before. It remained quiet, simply lying on Gu Wuyou’s shoulder, curiously taking in the scenery around it.
At first, Gu Wuyou was a little nervous, but seeing that the squirrel wasn’t causing any trouble, she gradually relaxed.
As she gently stroked its fur, she looked up at Li Qinyuan with her bright, glistening eyes, just about to speak. But before she could say anything, the little creature in her arms suddenly brushed against her neck with its fur. The soft bristles against her skin brought an indescribable tickling sensation.
Gu Wuyou was naturally ticklish. Her body stiffened at once, straight as a rod. She wanted to dodge, but she was afraid that if she did, the squirrel might never get close to her again, so she had to endure the tickling sensation.
“What’s wrong?”
Li Qinyuan had been watching her the whole time. Seeing her suppressing laughter while also looking tense, he thought for a moment and asked, “Ticklish?”
Gu Wuyou nodded. Since she had been holding it in for so long, her face was already flushed, and her voice carried hints of suppressed laughter. “It brushed against my neck… so ticklish… and warm.”
It seemed she couldn’t hold back any longer. She suddenly let out a burst of giggles, her laughter so light and sweet that even the corners of her eyes were damp with tears. “It tickles so much.”
Li Qinyuan saw how her eyes had reddened slightly from trying to hold it in. Her usually watery eyes now carried an even deeper glisten.
He didn’t know why, but looking at her like this, he suddenly felt his throat go dry. A certain impulse surged within him—an urge to tease her even more.
He wanted to see her eyes turn even redder. He wanted to see her…
Realizing what he was thinking, Li Qinyuan’s face instantly heated up. He cursed himself under his breath.
“What?” Gu Wuyou hadn’t heard what he muttered and looked at him in confusion.
How could Li Qinyuan possibly tell her what he was thinking? Especially when faced with her clear, innocent gaze, he felt as if even having such thoughts was a defilement. His ears turned red, and he shook his head. Internally, he berated himself as a beast, then, without another word, reached out and grabbed the little squirrel by the scruff of its neck, lifting it out of her arms.
“Ah—”
Gu Wuyou panicked. “You’ll make it uncomfortable like that!”
The little squirrel was stunned at first, confused about why it had suddenly been lifted into the air. Then, as if it understood what had happened, it started squeaking loudly in protest, waving its tiny limbs in obvious displeasure, as if denouncing this act of cruelty.
Hearing its cries, Gu Wuyou became even more anxious. “Li Qinyuan! Give it back! Look, it’s squeaking—it must be in pain!”
Seeing how flustered she was over the little creature, Li Qinyuan suddenly felt like this gift was a terrible idea. He had given her something that was now competing for her attention! In just the short time they had been together today, how many words had she actually spoken to him?
All of her attention was focused on this tiny thing.
His heart was filled with jealousy. Without caring that Gu Wuyou was trying to grab it back, he lifted his hand even higher. The person who had given the gift was now sulking over it, his words filled with forced reasoning. “You shouldn’t spoil it so much. The more you spoil it, the more disobedient it’ll become. One day, it’ll completely walk all over you.”
Who he was really referring to was unclear.
“That’s still no reason to treat it like this!” Gu Wuyou instantly reverted to her old self, just like when she used to fight the great general over her illustrated books. She clung to his arm, tiptoeing to reach for the squirrel, her voice turning a bit more willful. “Look at it—it’s crying out in pain! You’re hurting it! Give it back to me!”
This was the first time she had ever scolded him.
Li Qinyuan’s heart soured even more, as if he had swallowed an old, unripe plum—sour to the core. He looked at her, full of grievance, and inwardly complained: She really is getting more and more out of hand.
But in the end, he loosened his grip and handed the little squirrel back to her.
Seeing her hold the tiny creature protectively in her arms, he couldn’t help but lower his voice, sounding aggrieved. “I was only doing it because of you.”
But right now, Gu Wuyou’s heart and mind were entirely on her little squirrel. How could she have the time to pay attention to him? She carefully examined the tiny creature in her embrace, making sure it wasn’t hurt, before finally sighing in relief.
She held the little squirrel in her arms, stroking its fur as she asked, “What’s its name?”
“I don’t know.” Young Master Li, feeling aggrieved, jealous, and upset, didn’t want to talk to her.
Gu Wuyou turned to look at him, and suddenly, she burst into laughter. Hugging the little squirrel, she moved closer to him. Because of the height difference, she had to tilt her head up to look at him.
Li Qinyuan only needed to lower his head to see her. They were so close that he could even count her eyelashes. His throat suddenly felt dry, and without thinking, he took a step back. Looking at her, he awkwardly asked, “W-What are you doing?”
Gu Wuyou asked, “Are you jealous?”
“I am not.” Young Master Li firmly denied it.
“Really?” Gu Wuyou didn’t believe him.
Li Qinyuan’s face turned red from her teasing. He was about to say something when a soft cough came from nearby.
Jing Yubai, dressed in a blue robe, stood by the doorway, smiling as he looked at them. “It seems like… I’ve come at the wrong time?” Then, with a helpless expression, he rubbed his forehead and chuckled. “I came to remind you—if you don’t come inside soon, those two little troublemakers are going to drag you in themselves.”
Those two didn’t have a heart as strong as his. If they saw this scene, who knew how they’d react?
Gu Wuyou, however, wasn’t embarrassed at all. In her heart, the great general was hers—so what if they were a little close? Besides, this wasn’t one-sided anymore. The great general liked her too!
He had even confessed to her!
So she didn’t feel awkward at all. Smiling, she nodded at Jing Yubai and responded openly, “We’re coming in now.”
Seeing how composed she was, Jing Yubai simply chuckled, said nothing more, and lifted the curtain as he stepped inside.
Li Qinyuan bent down to pick up the cage, then reached out his hand toward Gu Wuyou. Though he was still a little sulky, his voice was stiff as he said, “It’s afraid of strangers. There are too many people inside, put it in the cage first.”
This time, Gu Wuyou didn’t refuse and nodded in agreement.
Once the little squirrel was placed back in its cage, Li Qinyuan picked it up and turned to go inside. But after only a few steps, Gu Wuyou tugged at his sleeve.
“What?” He stopped, his back straight and stiff, but still turned around to ask her.
“I like it because it’s a gift from you.”
The beautifully dressed young girl stood behind him, holding onto his sleeve, looking up at him with a serious expression. “Because you gave it to me, I treasure it so much.”
Li Qinyuan was stunned.
Just moments ago, his heart had been sour with jealousy, but in an instant, it melted into a pool of spring water.
Gu Wuyou still didn’t let go. She continued holding onto his sleeve and coaxed him, “Don’t be mad anymore, okay?”
Li Qinyuan had never actually been angry with her—he had just felt a little jealous and a little wronged. Now that he thought about it, he found himself ridiculous for being jealous of a tiny squirrel.
He turned his head away awkwardly. But when the little girl tugged at his sleeve again, his ears turned red, and he finally nodded. “…Mm.”
As soon as he spoke, he caught sight of her bright, blooming smile, and he couldn’t help but smile too.
One hand holding the golden cage, the other allowing her to tug on his sleeve, he lowered his gaze and looked at her.
He understood now—he had fallen.
Fallen so deep there was no saving him.
And yet, he was happy to indulge in it.