Back at Linfeng Pavilion, Chuxia’s room was empty, only a window flapping open and shut with the wind, letting in the drifting rain. The young master stood by the bed, the fishing fires reflected in the river, dotting the vast expanse of the Cang River with light. He recalled Chuxia’s words, and suddenly, a wave of irritation surged within him. This was the first time she had ever been angry with him over someone else… and that person was from Lüliu Alley, possibly the fiancé Chuxia often mentioned. After some time, the young master slightly squinted his eyes, hearing the watchman’s call from Shuyuan. His irritation eased somewhat, but he couldn’t help but wonder where Chuxia would go this evening since Su Fenghua’s room had only a bed and a chair. Before he knew it, he had left Linfeng Pavilion, turned left, and exited Shuyuan. Outside, on the long corridor, the bamboo shadows swayed, and no lights were lit in the rooms on either side. A slender figure sat at the farthest end of the corridor, motionless. The young master lightened his steps and approached. The place where Chuxia sat was windy, and the fine rain was blowing onto her. Half of her body was already wet, but she sat still like a statue. The spring rain, ethereal and cool, touched her heart. He saw her shoulders shudder, a soft sob escaping her. A fine thread in the young master’s heart seemed to be gently tugged. Without thinking, he stepped forward, from behind to in front of her, and enveloped her in his arms. His chin just grazed the top of her head, and he asked softly, “Still sulking?” Chuxia’s body trembled violently at first, but upon recognizing his voice, her sobs gradually subsided, though she began to struggle more fiercely. The young master ignored her struggles, holding her hand in his to warm it, gently saying, “Silly girl, it’s so late, and you’re freezing here. Why not go back?” Chuxia, unable to break free, cried harder, saying, “You wanted me to leave.” The young master was taken aback, then smiled, “When did I ever say I wanted you to leave?” “But you go back on your word. Why are you so petty with that scholar?” Chuxia said, “He’s so pitiful, what harm would it do to let him have a meal?” The young master continued to hold her, and after a long while, he said, “If you like him, why sit here alone? His room must be warmer than here.” “The scholar said it’s improper for men and women to share a room,” Chuxia replied haltingly, “He’s injured like this, how could I let him come out!” Before she could finish, Chuxia realized something, “Wait—Who said I like him?” The young master gave a slight smile, his lips brushing her earlobe, “If you don’t like him… why move out for him?” Chuxia fell silent, not speaking. “Chuxia, have you ever thought why I care so much?” Seeing her silence, the young master suddenly asked. Chuxia shook her head in confusion. The young master sighed softly, “That’s because I’ve been thinking… Su Fenghua…” He paused, inhaling the faint fragrance from Chuxia’s hair, unwilling to continue, instead, with a teasing tone, “If sharing a room is improper, we’ve been improper for a long time—” The air carried the scent of night-blooming jasmine, subtle and lingering, and in his seemingly playful words, there was an intense ambiguity. Chuxia’s cheeks flushed with heat; she turned slightly in his embrace, looking at him seriously, as if realizing something, “Young Master… you’re not in love with me, are you?” Chapter 26 (Part 1) – In his lifetime, Jun Ye’an encountered for the first time a woman brave enough to look directly into his eyes and say such words. She leaned against him, her eyes as clear as crystal, her lips so tender, her lashes fluttering like delicate butterfly wings, breathtakingly beautiful. Is this love? All emotions stirred by just one person, his usual calm demeanor now seemed like pretense. The young master was momentarily stunned, unable to articulate a simple “yes” or “no.” “You two—what kind of behavior is this!” A voice trembled from behind as someone emerged, coughing, “A man and a woman, without any marriage agreement… how can you be so careless about propriety…?” The young master was unaffected, but Chuxia jumped in surprise and pushed him away. Fearing she might hurt herself, he let go. Scholar Su, looking frail, supported himself by the door, feeling slightly better seeing them apart. Chuxia was alarmed, “You shouldn’t be out of bed!” Su Fenghua said, “I heard sounds outside…” The young master, now impatient, flicked a finger, hitting Su’s sleep point, and returned him to bed. He closed the door, rubbing his temples, and said with a wry smile, “The Jun residence now has a stickler for etiquette.” Chuxia, recalling his words, couldn’t help but smile, “Young Master, you’re keeping him?” In a good mood, the young master extended his hand naturally, “If I send him away, you’d leave too, and I can’t bear that.” Standing beside her, his white robe as pure as snow, he waited patiently for her response. Chuxia looked at him intently, slowly placing her hand in his. On the path back to Linjiang Pavilion, the drizzle continued, but Jun Ye’an held her hand firmly, feeling an unprecedented peace and joy, even without words. At the edge of Linjiang Pavilion, a willow tree, so large that it would take three people to embrace its trunk, now lush with foliage, concealed a slender figure. The young Qinglong watched the departing figures, his mind suddenly in turmoil. Bai Xue had already told him that the young master liked Chuxia, but it was only at that moment he truly understood what liking meant. The young master’s gaze was a tenderness he had never seen before, focused solely on Chuxia, as if trying to memorize every expression and every word. If there had been moonlight at that moment, it would have been sweet as honey. The youth played with a silver hairpin in his hand, remembering clearly how months ago at Linjiang Pavilion, he had scared Chuxia, and the young master had comforted her, casually removing the pin from her hair and throwing it at him. He should have known then… how could the young master be so casual and affectionate with anyone else? The youth repeatedly caressed the silver hairpin, feeling a mix of sourness and regret, thinking perhaps he understood too late. At midnight, in Linjiang Pavilion, the young master’s lazy voice came from inside, “How long are you going to wander outside?” Chuxia, who had been treading lightly, hesitated about whether to enter, but his words prompted her to push the door open.
The young master sat at the table, meticulously wiping the Yu Yang Sword under the candlelight. When Chu Xia saw this renowned blade again, she couldn’t help but shiver slightly—it seemed to possess an inexplicable, chilling power that made one hesitant to approach. The young master sheathed the sword, its body sliding into the scabbard with a sound like the cry of a phoenix or the roar of a dragon. The candlelight flickered wildly, stirred by the sword’s aura, but the young master’s expression remained unchanged as he smiled slightly, “Can’t sleep?”
Chu Xia’s gaze held a faint reverence. She bit her lip and asked with some suspicion, “Are you going out, my lord?” The young master just smiled without answering. Chu Xia’s long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her cheeks look even smaller and her skin as white as snow, like a meticulously crafted snow doll, endearing to behold. Seeing he wouldn’t speak, she went straight to the point, “You haven’t answered me yet, my lord.”
“What?” The young master was somewhat taken aback.
“That question.” Chu Xia mustered her courage, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Oh… that question…” The young master deliberately paused, his phoenix eyes slightly arched, drawing out his tone but not speaking.
