For half the day, Chang Yuncheng had been hovering around Qi Yue with that peculiar smile and strange drawl, making Qi Yue's skin crawl. Taking advantage of his trip to the privy, Qi Yue quickly summoned a maid.
“From yesterday afternoon until I returned, did the Young Master suffer any shocks?” she asked in a low voice.
Qiuxiang was at a loss for words, but Quezhi’s eyes lit up.
“Madam, when the Young Master returned yesterday afternoon, there was a scent of powder on him,” she whispered.
Qiuxiang and A’ru were startled by her words. What was this wretched girl trying to do!
“Nonsense. There are so many women in the household, and the rooms are scented with incense. What young master doesn't carry a fragrance?” Qiuxiang quickly retorted.
“But the Young Master came back from outside, and he was drinking with Young Master Fan. Outside…” Quezhi tried to continue, but A’ru, standing nearby, pinched her hard, silencing her abruptly.
How could these little tricks of the young maids escape Qi Yue’s notice? She burst out laughing.
“What are you laughing at?” Chang Yuncheng asked as he emerged.
Qi Yue waved her hand, and the three maids quickly retreated.
As soon as they were out, A’ru and Qiuxiang pulled Quezhi into the room.
“Sisters, I was only looking out for Madam…” Quezhi said, slightly intimidated by the looks from the other two.
“Looking out? The Young Master and Madam are just starting to get along, and you bring this up. Are you trying to start another quarrel between Madam and the Young Master?” A’ru scolded sharply.
“Exactly! Is your nose sharper than ours? I didn’t smell anything! Why were you rushing to say it?” Qiuxiang was also furious. Thinking of something, she scrutinized Quezhi from head to toe. “And when did you get close enough to the Young Master to smell that?”
“I, I was bringing the Young Master tea…” Quezhi mumbled sheepishly.
“Didn’t I say that while the Madam is away, none of you are to enter the Young Master’s chambers?” A’ru’s expression grew darker as she examined Quezhi up and down.
Quezhi’s heart fluttered under her gaze.
“No, no, I truly wish for Madam and the Young Master to get along. I was just reminding Madam, so the Young Master doesn't get misled by outsiders…” she hurried to explain, her face flushing pale then red with anxiety. “How could I possibly want them not to get along? If the Young Master and Madam are unhappy, what good will come to me!”
A’ru nodded at her.
“It’s good that you understand. If Madam isn’t well, none of us will be,” she said.
Quezhi nodded repeatedly.
“Also, I hope you haven’t forgotten what I told you,” A’ru continued, her face turning stern as she looked at Quezhi. “The next time something like this happens…”
“Never, never, there won't be a next time,” Quezhi pleaded quickly.
While the maids withdrew to speak, Qi Yue, back in the room, looked at Chang Yuncheng and smiled.
“What are you smiling at?” Chang Yuncheng asked, feeling entirely uneasy under her gaze.
“Why did you go drinking with Young Master Fan?” Qi Yue asked with a smile, propping her chin on her hand to watch him.
“Why shouldn’t I drink with him?” Chang Yuncheng frowned.
“Isn't it said that birds of a feather flock together?” Qi Yue smiled.
Chang Yuncheng was about to glare, but then he recalled Fan Yilin’s advice: Don’t always glare. Your eyes are large, and glaring is very frightening. Women are timid and love to overthink things. Even if nothing is wrong, your glare can make them imagine trouble… So, squint your eyes instead. Squinting makes you look more… approachable…
Chang Yuncheng, halfway through his glare, slowly let his eyes narrow.
Qi Yue had been watching him the entire time and clearly saw the change. She froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.
Chang Yuncheng’s face instantly flushed crimson from her laughter.
“What are you laughing at, you wicked woman! Does it kill you to speak properly!” he shouted, slamming the table, completely forgetting Fan Yilin’s counsel.
Qi Yue continued to roar with laughter.
“You fellow, what in the world are you playing at,” she laughed. “Does it kill you to speak properly?”
Chang Yuncheng flung up his sleeve and turned to leave.
Qi Yue hurried forward to stop him.
“Alright, alright, I won't laugh at you anymore,” she said, pressing her lips together, only to let out a muffled giggle again.
Chang Yuncheng swung his sleeve away.
Qi Yue held on.
“Fine, fine, I really won’t laugh. I understand your intentions,” she said. “I forgive you.”
“Do I need your forgiveness? Besides, have I offended you?” Chang Yuncheng turned to look at her and said.
Qi Yue smiled and patted her chest lightly.
“Good, you’re back to normal. That’s the way you should speak,” she chuckled, casting a meaningful glance at Chang Yuncheng. “Don’t learn from that boy.”
Chang Yuncheng’s face cycled from pale to red, then back to white.
This vile woman… she’d been mocking him the whole time.
Qi Yue patted his arm, smiled wryly, and turned to walk away.
“Oh, right,” she paused, turning back to smile at Chang Yuncheng. “I still prefer you this way.”
Chang Yuncheng felt a booming sensation in his head.
What… what did she just say…
That sensation of crawling insects all over him returned.
Qi Yue hadn’t felt much after saying those words herself. Seeing this young man’s clumsy attempt at change to please her stirred an indescribable feeling within her. Perhaps it was her age; expressing her feelings frankly seemed fine now. Or perhaps it was because the man was even shyer than she was, which surprisingly made her less inhibited.
She had only taken a few steps with a smile when she was suddenly enveloped from behind in a tight embrace.
He held her so hard she couldn't help but cough twice.
The man behind her was radiating heat, as if he had just stepped out of a hot bath.
He seemed to want to say something, but only managed incoherent noises.
Because they were back-to-back, they couldn't see each other’s faces, which lessened the tension.
Qi Yue blushed slightly.
“Um, my hitting you was a bit rash, but it wasn't entirely wrong. Let’s consider that incident settled…” she said slowly.
Chang Yuncheng barely heard her words; his ears and mind were bubbling. This soft, fragrant person was held tightly in his arms, and for the first time, she wasn't struggling or resisting.
Although this woman claimed not to fall for his usual tactics, it seemed that certain words and behaviors had finally taken effect…
Had things finally settled between them?
“Then, let’s sleep,” he said in a husky voice, his hands moving upward to settle perfectly over her high, plump mounds—those two big peaches. Gripping them from this posture was more intoxicating than ever, feeling as if nectar was overflowing and fragrance saturated his hands.
A’ru and Qiuxiang had just finished seeing Quezhi off the courtyard when they turned back, only to hear a shriek from the main room, followed immediately by sounds of crashing and banging.
The two exchanged a look, recognizing the shared helplessness.
It’s happening again…
Fan Yilin received messages from his servant and began taking leave from his wife, mother-in-law, and father-in-law one by one.
“Don’t speak carelessly, don’t gossip about other people’s marital affairs,” his wife cautioned.
“Be mindful of your words when speaking to young people,” his mother-in-law said, squinting as she fiddled with her prayer beads.
“Say what should be said, and drink what should be drunk, but don't cause me trouble,” his father-in-law snapped, glaring.
The three of them, with three different sets of words, conveyed the exact same message.
This annoyed Fan Yilin greatly. Was he the type of person who spoke carelessly? He was incredibly articulate! Hadn’t he managed to turn the fearsome Young Master, who wouldn’t even spare him a glance, into someone who personally invited him for drinks in just one day? Didn't that prove his charm?
In the private room, Chang Yuncheng had been sitting for a while. The dishes before him remained untouched, but he had consumed quite a bit of wine.
“The Madam still won’t reconcile?” Fan Yilin asked, surprised by the look on his face.
Impossible. How could his experience be wrong?
“We’ve sort of reconciled,” Chang Yuncheng mumbled darkly, pouring himself more wine.
Fan Yilin breathed a sigh of relief. I knew it, how could it not work?
“Then?” he asked again, confused.
Chang Yuncheng downed the cup in one go and said nothing.
Fan Yilin observed his gloomy expression and instantly understood.
“The Madam still won’t let you get close?” he asked in a low voice.
Had this matter truly become common knowledge throughout the Yongqing Residence? Had Chang Yuncheng become the laughingstock of the entire estate?
Chang Yuncheng slammed his wine cup onto the table.
Fan Yilin jumped, but he had his answer.
“Oh dear, oh dear, what’s the big deal?” he laughed heartily, coming over personally to refill Chang Yuncheng’s cup. “This is clearly just the woman being shy.”
Shy?
Chang Yuncheng paused in thought.
Fan Yilin cleared his throat, his eyes sparkling.
“Right, just now?” he blinked and inquired.
Chang Yuncheng knew exactly what he was asking about. His face, slightly reddened by the wine, flushed even more at the implication.
“Mmm,” he grunted noncommittally.
Fan Yilin chuckled slyly.
“So, she said no, and you stopped? Then you left the room?” he asked in a hushed tone.
What else could he do?
Chang Yuncheng glared at him.
Fan Yilin clicked his tongue, shook his head, and couldn’t help but laugh.
Young men… too young…
“Someone! Someone!” He suddenly clapped his hands toward the outside.
A servant immediately entered.
“Quickly, quickly! Call those two courtesans from the Drunken Immortal Pavilion that the Young Master mentioned,” Fan Yilin said with a grin, rubbing his hands.
The servant was startled and shot Fan Yilin a meaningful look. Master, our allowance is long gone. Those two courtesans the Young Master mentioned are very expensive. Are we going to put it on credit? Father-in-law will break your legs if he finds out!
Fan Yilin understood the servant’s look and shot him a look back, gesturing toward Chang Yuncheng. Someone else is paying, he signaled. Hurry up, don’t miss this chance!
The servant understood and enthusiastically hurried off.
“Why are you calling those noisy women over again?” Chang Yuncheng frowned, looking displeased.
“Don’t worry, don’t worry, we aren’t having them sing this time,” Fan Yilin laughed, grinning sheepishly at Chang Yuncheng. “Young Master, how did you… how did you manage to… you know… with the Madam?”
What kind of question was that! How dare he ask! Chang Yuncheng narrowed his eyes at him over the rim of his wine cup.
This man was intimidating when glaring, and even when squinting, he was frightening. Fan Yilin instinctively shrank his head back.
Not long after, a wave of coquettish voices and fragrant perfume wafted in as two heavily made-up women entered.
Following the principle of respecting the teacher, Fan Yilin chose the one he fancied most and passed the other to Chang Yuncheng.
“Come, a sip of beauty nectar…” Fan Yilin was delighted, embracing the courtesan and sharing wine mouth-to-mouth.
Chang Yuncheng, meanwhile, looked rather impatient.
“Master… Young Master…” The courtesan beside him tried to lean in and imitate Fan Yilin, but Chang Yuncheng shot her a glare, scaring the words she was about to speak back down her throat.
Over there, Fan Yilin and the courtesan were entwined, cheek to cheek, the man’s teasing mixed with the woman’s delicate cooing, making the atmosphere in the room thick and decadent.