Chapter 122

The night grew deeper.

At the corner of the street, the second floor of the Chujian Bookstore was still lit.

Liu Chujian didn't go home, but came to the bookstore.

Luo Zijun helped her, sent her to the second floor, poured her a cup of tea, and comforted her softly.

After her emotions calmed down, he asked her about the matter with that Marquis's mansion's daughter.

The other party's retaliation regardless of the occasion and image tonight clearly showed that the relationship between the two was not like what the other party said, that they were good friends.

Liu Chujian was silent for a long time before slowly telling the reason.

Luo Zijun listened quietly, feeling it was a bit melodramatic.

It turned out that that Marquis's mansion's daughter had liked a man, and that man was actually the eldest young master of the Bai family's Anguo Mansion, named Bai Qingyang, who was Bai Qingtong's brother.

The two had known each other since childhood and often played together; they could be said to be childhood sweethearts.

Wan Qianzi thought the other party also liked her.

When both reached the age of marriage last year, Wan Qianzi took the initiative to confess to Bai Qingyang, hoping he could marry her.

But Bai Qingyang politely declined and told Wan Qianzi that he already had someone he liked.

That person, naturally, was...

"I didn't know before; she came to find me in a rage, scolded me, and only then did I know... I hurriedly explained to her that I had only met that Young Master Bai a few times, and we couldn't even be considered friends. I explained for a long time before she left."

"Who would have thought that two days later, that Young Master Bai personally went to our mansion to propose marriage. My father and mother were very surprised and asked for my opinion. Knowing that the other party was her sweetheart, I refused on the spot. That Young Master Bai spoke for a long time, but I didn't agree."

"The next day, Young Master Bai's father came personally, still about the marriage proposal; I still firmly refused."

"A few days later, she came to find me, saying I was a good sister for not snatching her sweetheart, and was very grateful."

"Who would have thought that a month later, she suddenly came to me crying, saying that Young Master Bai had left Great Liang and gone to Yujing..."

"I kept comforting her and told her that if she really liked the other party, she could go to Yujing to find him."

"Half a year later, our family had things happen, and I had no contact with her anymore. Until a few days ago, she took the initiative to find me, saying she was having a banquet for her birthday tonight, and hoped I could play a song for her..."

Liu Chujian finished telling the whole story with a choked voice, her eyes red, and said bitterly: "I thought we were still friends."

Luo Zijun listened and was silent for a moment, looked at her and said: "You are really stupid. You should have recognized such a person long ago. If she really treated you as a good friend, a good sister, when that Young Master Bai said the person he liked was you, she should have sincerely blessed you, instead of obstructing you, and certainly wouldn't have gone to your home to scold you."

Liu Chujian lowered her head and laughed bitterly: "It's my own stupidity for still holding onto fantasies."

Seeing her desolate expression, Luo Zijun didn't dare to say more, only able to comfort her softly: "It's not that you are stupid, it's that you have experienced too much in this short year, from fine clothes and food, a happy family, to having nothing, to despair. Having finally found hope again, and having your home back, you naturally hoped in your heart that your original friends could also return."

"It's not your fault."

Luo Zijun habitually reached out his hand and stroked her head.

With this touch, both were suddenly stunned.

Liu Chujian suddenly stiffened, staring at him with teary eyes.

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he hurriedly retracted his hand, embarrassed: "Sorry, Miss Chujian, I..."

Bi'er, who was peeking and eavesdropping not far away, suddenly hummed: "Young Master Luo, why do you like touching other people's heads so much? You often touched mine before, and now you're touching my Miss's, humph, so frivolous."

Just as Luo Zijun was feeling embarrassed, the young lady beside him suddenly turned her head, looked at the little maid not far away, and said: "Bi'er, don't you want to go to sleep?"

Bi'er looked at her expression, hurriedly stuck out her tongue, turned and ran into the room, closed the door, and never dared to come out again.

It was quiet in front of the table.

Just as Luo Zijun was about to apologize again, the young lady beside him looked at him with soft eyes and said softly: "If the Young Master likes to touch... feel free to touch, Chujian won't be angry."

Then she lowered her head again, gently bit her pink lips, and whispered: "Every time the Young Master comes in the future, you can... you can touch."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Miss Chujian..."

"Call me Chujian."

The young lady smiled gently, looking at him with soft eyes, and on her clear and fair cheeks, two shallow blushes had already appeared at some point.

Luo Zijun paused and said: "Chujian."

The young lady smiled gently and said: "Young Master."

The atmosphere suddenly became ambiguous.

Facing the young lady's soft, watery eyes, Luo Zijun didn't dare to look at her again, turned his head, looked at the sky outside the window, and just as he was about to speak, the young lady beside him spoke first with a weak tone, her tone carrying a trace of begging: "Young Master, can you... can you not leave tonight? Chujian, Chujian is afraid..."

Luo Zijun was startled upon hearing this, his gaze looking at her.

Just as he was silent and hesitant, the young lady suddenly smiled slightly again and said: "Chujian was just saying it casually; the Young Master has family waiting at home, so naturally you can't stay out overnight."

There was a trace of sadness in her eyes, which was quickly hidden, her face still maintaining a smile, and she said softly: "Young Master, thank you tonight; if it weren't for you, Chujian would only..."

"I'll go back first."

Luo Zijun glanced at the window again and suddenly stood up to say goodbye.

The young lady was silent for a moment, nodded, and didn't speak again.

Luo Zijun didn't linger, went downstairs, went out the door, and soon disappeared into the street outside.

This time, Liu Chujian didn't send him downstairs.

She stood by the window, watching the back that left in a hurry below, and was stunned for a long time, a trace of self-mockery suddenly appearing on the corner of her mouth, whispering to herself: "I am really shameless... just humiliated, been to a brothel... what qualifications do I have to beg him to stay..."

"He... should also dislike me..."

Outside the window, dark clouds drifted across the night sky, covering that silver moon.

The night grew deeper.

The oil lamp on the table gradually burned out, the weak lamp flame flickered a few times, and suddenly extinguished.

Inside the room, it suddenly fell into pitch darkness.

The young lady was still standing quietly by the window, her delicate body melting into the darkness, motionless.

In her mind, it was full of the past, the scenes of tonight, and the bits and pieces since she met him.

She stood for a long time, a long time...

She finally turned around silently, and returned to the room without a sound.

The door closed.

She stood in the darkness for a while longer, slowly raised her head, and looked at the crossbeam above her head...

Outside the window, it was as dark as ink.

Luo Zijun was walking rapidly on the street, thinking about things in his heart, when a "cough cough" sound suddenly came from the entrance of the only shop with lights on nearby.

He was preoccupied and didn't turn his head, waving his hand and saying: "Senior Sister, I have things to do, I'll come find you tomorrow."

Su Dafang's voice suddenly came from the entrance: "Luo Zijun! You little bastard, did you bully my Ling'er?"

Luo Zijun's footsteps paused, and he turned his head to look.

Master was standing outside the door, holding a thick rolling pin, glaring angrily.

Luo Zijun said: "No, Master, I'm wronged."

"Zhi ya..."

The window upstairs suddenly opened.

The young lady wearing a plain white dress appeared in the window, cold and beautiful, staring at him with cold, beautiful eyes and saying: "You licked my feet."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Nonsense! Utter nonsense! Master, would you believe such ghost talk?"

Su Dafang said: "I believe it."

Luo Zijun was instantly speechless: "Master, do you think I'm sick? Licking feet?"

Su Dafang said: "Didn't you have this sickness since you were little?"

Luo Zijun: "???"

Su Dafang snorted coldly: "Every time you were beaten by Ling'er when you were little, you would cry and threaten Ling'er, saying you would go back and tell your sister, or tell me, unless Ling'er allowed you to lick her shoe, or gave you a sock from her foot, you wouldn't go tell on her."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"Master, when did you learn from Senior Sister, also liking to slander people?"

Su Dafang said: "This is a fact."

Luo Zijun sneered: "Master, don't think I don't remember anything, so you can just frame and slander me. What I remember is, every time Senior Sister beat me until I cried, she would threaten me, make me kneel down to put on her shoes, and then force me to lick her shoes and socks, and also secretly take her socks and clothes back to wash clean, and then return them to her."

Saying this, he raised his head, looked at the cold young lady in the window upstairs, and said: "Senior Sister, am I right?"

"Humph."

Su Qingling closed the window directly.

Su Dafang had a look of embarrassment, laughed dryly: "Zijun, do you remember everything about the past?"

"Master, I have things to do, I'll come talk to you tomorrow."

Luo Zijun didn't say more, waved his hand, and left quickly.

"Zhi ya..."

The window pushed open gently again.

Su Dafang looked at the back that was moving away quickly and said to upstairs: "See, Ling'er, this kid remembers everything, he definitely remembers the oath he made to you back then. If he still plays dumb tomorrow, I'll help you speak."

The young lady in the window looked at the street corner where the figure had disappeared, her face still cold like snow, and didn't speak.

Luo Zijun quickly returned to the Anguo Mansion.

Ziyuan had also returned.

From Ziyuan, he learned that the Third Miss and others had also returned, and just now the Third Miss had come to find him.

"Young Master, the Third Miss told this servant to tell you that she will come to Junzi Residence to find you at lunch tomorrow, wanting to say a few words to you."

Luo Zijun nodded, guessing in his heart that it should be about tonight's matter; when her brother went to the Liu mansion to propose marriage back then, she should have known.

After Ziyuan left, he gave Xiaohuan a few instructions and went out.

The temperature at night was a bit sultry.

There was no wind tonight.

The silver moon in the sky had also hidden into the clouds at some point.

The originally pitch-black night became even darker.

Chujian Bookstore, the lights had long been extinguished.

The entire small building was silent.

In the room, Bi'er and Xiao Lan had long been asleep.

And in another room.

In the darkness, the delicate young lady who had changed into a pure white dress was standing alone by the window with a pair of bare jade feet, looking at the dark night outside, motionless, not knowing how long she had been standing.

"Ga... ga..."

In the night sky outside the window, night birds flew past, making lonely and desolate calls.

The young lady lowered her head slightly, her long eyelashes drooping, and on her clear and beautiful cheeks, there were two lines of tear stains left, as desolate and beautiful as a broken flower.

Silence for a long time.

She seemed to have decided something, raised her jade hand, and gently pushed open the window.

The night wind swept in from the windowsill, lifting her pitch-black hair and that pure white dress, turning around in the room lightly before leaving here quietly again.

What it brought was a light dance, what it left was loneliness.

Inside the room, it was still as silent as before.

The young lady slowly closed her eyes, and after a long time, slowly opened them, and on her clear and beautiful cheeks, there were two more lines of clear tears.

"No one... will care about me..."

She whispered to herself.

However, at this moment, a vague sound suddenly came from downstairs.

She was startled, a trace of bitter self-mockery appearing in her eyes, thinking it was an illusion in her trance.

However, that sound came again: "Miss Chujian!"

She was stunned.

At this time, the door of the next room suddenly opened, and Bi'er came out angrily: "It's so late, who is shouting downstairs?"

Liu Chujian's heart trembled, and she immediately came back to her senses from her trance.

"Bi'er, open the door quickly!"

Luo Zijun shouted at the door.

Bi'er had just reached the stairs when she heard the sound, was stunned for a moment, and thought to herself: It's Young Master Luo? Why come now?

She hurriedly went to light the oil lamp, carried it downstairs, and went to open the shop's main door.

Luo Zijun stood at the door, saw her, and said: "Why open the door only now?"

Saying this, he was about to enter the shop.

Bi'er hurriedly stretched out an arm to block him, frowning: "Young Master Luo, why come now? In the middle of the night, you... what is the matter?"

Luo Zijun said: "Nothing, just can't sleep, come to talk to your Miss."

Bi'er instantly widened her eyes, her little face serious: "How can that be, in the middle of the night, a lone man and woman, and my Miss is already asleep, you..."

"Bi'er, let Young Master Luo in."

At this moment, Liu Chujian's voice suddenly came from upstairs.

Bi'er was stunned, and could only unwillingly move aside.

"Stupid girl."

Luo Zijun reached out and rubbed her head again before entering the door.

Bi'er immediately covered her head, pouted her little mouth, and said angrily: "Don't touch my head anymore in the future!"

Luo Zijun didn't pay attention to her and went upstairs directly.

Seeing this, Bi'er hurriedly closed the door, carried the oil lamp, and followed.

Luo Zijun had just gone upstairs when he saw a delicate figure wearing a white dress standing at the top of the stairs on the second floor, looking at him quietly in the darkness.

"Miss Chujian, I went back just now, wanting to tell my family first, and then..."

Before he could finish, the delicate figure brought a fragrant wind, pounced into his arms, and hugged him tightly.

Luo Zijun instantly froze there, not daring to move.

Bi'er only then carried the oil lamp and chased up, seeing this scene, instantly furious: "Young Master Luo, let go of my Miss quickly!"

Luo Zijun: "..."

The lamp light shone up, Bi'er suddenly discovered her Miss, full of tears, and then opened her eyes, looking at her, her teary eyes full of disgust, and said: "Bi'er, you go, I don't want you anymore..."

Bi'er: "..."

The air suddenly became quiet.

Bi'er finally reacted, hurriedly carried the oil lamp upstairs, put it down, and without a sound, immediately ran back to her room, closed the door, and never dared to come out again.

"Chujian..."

Luo Zijun felt the young lady's fragrance and crying in his arms, and for a moment, didn't know whether to hug and comfort her, or push her away and comfort her.

The young lady raised her tear-stained, desolate and beautiful face, looking at him with teary eyes, and whispered: "Young Master... can I call you, Brother Zijun?"

Luo Zijun was startled and said: "Of course."

"Brother Zijun..."

The young lady hugged him tighter, tears flowing down her eyes again, looking at him with desolate and soft eyes, and whispered: "Can you carry Chujian back to the room?"

Luo Zijun: "..."

The scene was quiet for a moment.

Luo Zijun picked her up and said: "Of course."

On the way back tonight, he had already carried her.

Just hugging between friends, what was there to hesitate about?

Luo Zijun carried her delicate, fragrant, and soft body, which had almost no weight, walked toward the room, and pushed open the door with his foot.

In the room, two little girls wearing little dudous suddenly sat up from the bed, looking at him with wide eyes.

"..."

Luo Zijun also looked at them with wide eyes.

"The room on this side..."

The young lady in his arms reminded him softly, two blushes suddenly appearing on her cheeks.

Hot, burning, her head also suddenly dizzy.

"Ah... Bi'er, Xiao Lan, sorry, you continue sleeping, the room is so dark, I didn't see anything."

Luo Zijun hurriedly closed the door with his foot again, carried the young lady in his arms, and went to another room.

In the room, Bi'er and Xiao Lan: "..."

"Zhi ya..."

The door opened.

Luo Zijun carried the young lady in his arms, entered the room, bent down, and placed her gently on the bed.

Just as he was about to straighten up, the young lady on the bed tightly hugged his neck, her cheeks burning, her voice trembling: "Brother Zijun, don't go..."

Luo Zijun smelled the girl's fragrance on her, felt the hot air she exhaled, and her delicate and soft body, instantly unable to bear it, hurriedly said: "I won't go, I'll stand by the bed, accompany you..." "No..."

The young lady still tightly hugged him, looking at him with teary eyes, and whispered to herself: "Don't want you standing..."

"Then..."

"Lying... lying on Chujian's body, okay?"

"..."

Standoff for a few seconds.

Luo Zijun's body softened, and he lay on top.

"Hu... hu..."

"Pudong! Pudong!"

In the darkness, the two looked at each other, both clearly hearing and feeling each other's increasingly heavy breathing, and each other's increasingly fast heartbeats...

!

"Brother Zijun..."

"Mm?"

"Brother Zijun..."

"Sister Chujian..."

"Brother Zijun..."

"..."

"Thank you, for coming to accompany Chujian tonight..."

"Between friends... um..."

Luo Zijun's words suddenly stopped.

Because his mouth was suddenly blocked.

The fragrant and soft girl's cherry lips suddenly blocked his mouth.

His body trembled, feeling the blood in his body instantly rushing rapidly, and the beast that had been suppressed in his heart for a long time suddenly rushed out, baring fangs and brandishing claws, roaring at the sky.

"Now... are we still friends?"

The young lady's lips slowly retreated, looking at him with teary, soft eyes.

Luo Zijun froze for a while, then said: "Still... um..."

The young lady blocked his lips again.

After a few breaths, she retreated and asked softly again: "Still?"

Luo Zijun opened his mouth, and before he could answer, the young lady's lips suddenly kissed up again, and then, her teeth gently bit his lips, letting him feel a trace of pain, before slowly loosening.

She asked softly again: "Now, are we still?"

Luo Zijun: "No... not anymore..."

"Then what are we?"

"Are... good friends."

"..."

"Ah..."

The young lady's teeth bit him again.

This time, she used more force.

Luo Zijun's beast in his heart finally couldn't be controlled, instantly broke free from the shackles, and rushed out of the cage!

"Aowu——"

He also bit back!

The young lady's delicate body trembled, her eyes still carrying tears gradually widening, and a pair of jade arms suddenly hugged him tighter.

Two more lines of tears fell from the corners of her eyes.

Only this time, it was happiness, it was sweetness, it was tears from cloudy skies to clear skies.

Outside the night sky, the clouds dispersed, and the bright moon was clear.

Jia family, Rongguo Mansion.

When the Jia Tanchun sisters returned, surrounded by maids, nannies, and guards, it was already the hour of the pig (9-11 PM).

However, most people in the Jia mansion had not yet gone to sleep.

In poor families, at this time, most were already lying in bed sleeping.

After all, there was no entertainment at night, and not even oil lamps and candles; even if there were, they couldn't bear to keep them lit.

But noble families like the Jia mansion were naturally incomparable to ordinary families.

Once night fell, lanterns were already hung everywhere inside and outside the courtyard.

Oil lamps were lit in the rooms, and many candles were even lit, making the room even brighter.

The masters chatted and read books, drank tea and watched plays.

The servants played and frolicked, and could even play cards.

After the Jia Tanchun sisters returned, hearing that their grandmother had not yet slept, they went over to pay their respects together and talked for a while.

The other young ladies were also gathered there chatting and laughing.

Jia Tanchun talked about some of what she saw and heard at the Marquis's mansion banquet tonight, but didn't talk about Luo Zijun.

On the way back, she also instructed those maids and nannies to not speak recklessly for the time being.

She had to go talk to her father about this matter tomorrow first, and listen to her father's opinion.

In order to save that young man, she had been impulsive at the time and deliberately said that he was the son-in-law her Jia family's Eldest Master had taken a fancy to.

Although it was indeed so, her uncle had only told her privately, and it hadn't spread, after all, the eight characters hadn't even had a stroke yet.

Now that she had suddenly said it in front of so many people, if the other party refused again, then the Jia family's face, her uncle's face, would probably all be lost.

Thinking of the scolding her father might give her tomorrow, and the impact on the Jia family, she was instantly a bit uneasy.

After talking to the Old Matriarch for a while, she left.

Seeing her leave, Jia Yingchun also said goodbye.

However, after she went back to her room and let her imagination run wild for a while, she brought her maid out and went to her cousin's place.

Lin Daiyu had also just returned from the Old Matriarch's place, and seeing she seemed to have something to say, she immediately pulled her into the room and let the maids and nannies all retreat.

Jia Yingchun went to close the doors and windows, then pulled the little hand of this delicate cousin and whispered: "Daiyu, I met a... a fortune-teller when I went out today; he read my face and even gave me two poems, I don't quite understand them, help me look at them."

"Fortune-teller?"

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and laughed, her eyebrows full of delicate and pretty beauty, and said: "Second Sister, where did you meet the fortune-teller? Did you meet a liar?"

Jia Yingchun shook her head, looking at her anxiously: "Daiyu, it's not a liar, help me look."

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu could only restrain her smile and nodded: "Then Second Sister, recite them, I'll listen."

Jia Yingchun thought for a moment, suddenly stood up, walked to the desk, spread out a piece of rice paper, and while picking up the ink block to grind ink, said: "I'll write them down, you help me look."

Lin Daiyu stood up and followed, responding.

Jia Yingchun dipped her brush in ink, recited them a few times in her heart, and then wrote them down.

Lin

"A Zhongshan wolf in the family,

Arrogant once he gains his way.

A flower-willow nature in the golden bower,

In one year, he departs for a yellow millet dream."

After reciting it, she immediately furrowed her delicate brows, her heart feeling somewhat stifled.

Jia Yingchun then wrote down the second poem.

She continued to recite it.

"Cold lamp light reflects a weeping face by the moon,

The grandson branches wither, leaving only a barren mountain.

Unbearable to look back, where is the person now?

The marriage dream turns to emptiness, the soul returns."

After writing it down, Jia Yingchun put down her brush, looked at her, and said in a low voice, "These are the two poems."

Lin Daiyu's gaze fixed on the rice paper, her mouth repeating the words over and over.

"A flower-willow nature in the golden bower, in one year, he departs for a yellow millet dream..."

"Unbearable to look back, where is the person now? The marriage dream turns to emptiness, the soul returns..."

She suddenly raised her head, furrowed her brows, and asked, "Second Sister, did that fortune teller say anything else?"

Jia Yingchun hesitated for a moment and said, "He said my fate is not very good, especially regarding marriage; later... later I might not live past seventeen."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu's expression changed instantly.

She carefully read the two poems on the rice paper again, her pretty face immediately hardening, her brows filled with anger as she said, "Second Sister, don't believe him! He must be a swindler, just spouting nonsense! You should have had the guards drive him away right then and there. Hmph, how could anyone curse someone like that?"

Jia Yingchun lowered her head and remained silent for a moment, then said, "Daiyu, he is not a swindler; I believe him."

She then took her soft, boneless little hand and said, "Good sister, can you help me interpret this?"

Just as Lin Daiyu was about to persuade her not to believe such ghost stories, she saw her eyes suddenly turn red, looking as if she were about to weep, and she pleaded again, "Good sister, I beg you..."

Seeing this, Lin Daiyu could only sigh and say, "Judging by what that person said to you, the meaning of the first poem should imply that the person you marry in the future will not be the right one, and within just one year, you might pass away. The 'Zhongshan wolf' in the first line might be a name or a nickname. As for the second poem..."

Having said this, she lowered her head and read it a few more times, then said, "The meaning is very simple; combined with his words, it should also mean that after marrying someone else... eh?"

She suddenly stopped speaking, picked up the rice paper from the table, read the second poem up and down again, and a look of confusion, then clarity, and then shock and uncertainty appeared on her face.

Seeing this, Jia Yingchun hurriedly asked, "Daiyu, what is it?"

Lin Daiyu furrowed her delicate brows, moved the rice paper in front of her, pointed her slender jade finger at the first character of the second poem, and said, "This should be an acrostic poem; read the first character of each line."

Upon hearing this, Jia Yingchun immediately lowered her head and read aloud earnestly: "See... Grandson... Do not... Marry..."

She was stunned and said, "See Grandson, do not marry?"

Lin Daiyu nodded, furrowing her delicate brows, and said, "See Grandson, do not marry. Combined with the meaning of these two poems and what that fortune teller said, it means that in the future, if you meet someone with the surname Sun, or whose name contains 'Sun', and whose name is related to the Zhongshan wolf, you must definitely not marry them. Otherwise... in one year, you depart for a yellow millet dream, the marriage dream turns to emptiness, the soul returns..."

After listening, Jia Yingchun was dazed for a while, her expression vacant.

Lin Daiyu looked at her and said, "Second Sister, who else did that fortune teller tell fortunes for? How did you meet him?"

Jia Yingchun said in a daze, "He only told a fortune for me."

Lin Daiyu asked suspiciously, "Just for you? Did you take the initiative to find him, or..."

Jia Yingchun suddenly looked at her and said, "Daiyu, I will tell you who he is, but you must swear not to tell anyone else, okay?"

She was feeling lost and helpless inside, wanting only to speak out, hoping someone could help her come up with an idea.

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "Second Sister, rest assured, I will never tell anyone else. If I break this, may I be struck by lightning."

Jia Yingchun naturally believed her, held her little hand, and said, "Actually, that person is not some fortune teller; you once saw him from afar at Jinshan Temple. Moreover, our Begonia Poetry Society collection contains poems written by him; you like his poems very much and have always praised his talent and character..."

Lin Daiyu was startled.

Jia Yingchun said, "He is Luo Zijun, Young Master Luo. Back then at Jinshan Temple, he was righteous and awe-inspiring, unafraid of my father, and denounced Manager Wang. For the sake of that young maid's purity, he was willing to keep silent and was almost tied up and taken to the magistrate's office... He is also called the Peach Blossom Young Master; that poem you like best, 'The human face knows not where it has gone, the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze,' was written by him."

"Also, that 'If life were just like the first time we met,' and that 'Ode to the Lotus,' were all written by him..."

Lin Daiyu's face was full of surprise: "He is the Peach Blossom Young Master that Sister Tanchun spoke of, who is handsome, dashing, hates women, and shows no mercy to women?"

Jia Yingchun couldn't help but cover her mouth and smile: "Tanchun is talking nonsense; how could Young Master Luo hate women or show no mercy to them? I have met him a few times, and he is always gentle, elegant, and polite, and he speaks with extra gentleness and courtesy, and besides..."

Her smile faded, and she sighed softly, "And tonight at the Bowang Marquis Mansion, he even bravely rushed onto the stage for the sake of a woman, scolded the Bowang Marquis's daughter, and even righteously rebuked the Bowang Marquis to his face..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daiyu was stunned, her face full of amazement: "Really? That person is so bold? Why would he act like that at the Marquis Mansion?"

Jia Yingchun immediately told her everything that happened at the Marquis Mansion, point by point.

"That Miss Wan publicly humiliated the daughter of Minister Liu, saying she... saying she had been to a brothel, and would not let her leave, insisting she take off her veil and play the zither for everyone..."

"At that time, that Miss Liu was so pitiful, but unfortunately, no one dared to speak up for her..."

"At this moment, Young Master Luo suddenly walked up, took that Miss Liu's hand, protected her in front of him, and righteously rebuked Miss Wan and that Marquis..."

"In the end, Young Master Luo, supporting that Miss Liu, walked as if through an army of thousands, without changing his expression, and left in a righteous manner..."

Jia Yingchun finished speaking excitedly, her cheeks burning, her heart surging, her eyes full of bright luster, as if the person Young Master Luo protected and left with was her.

After listening, Lin Daiyu was silent for a moment and said, "If it is truly as you say, that Young Master Luo is indeed a good person worthy of admiration. The words he said to you and the two poems he wrote for you should not be without purpose. Perhaps he really saw something. It's just, he is so young, how could he be... so capable?"

Jia Yingchun said, "Daiyu, I believe his words. He also encouraged me to be strong in the future, to dare to resist, and not to be too timid. If I encounter a major marriage matter and I am unwilling, I should not hesitate to resist even with my life."

Lin Daiyu looked at her with encouragement and said, "Second Sister, he is right; you must be braver. In many things, do not just yield blindly; you must argue based on reason and be tougher, so that you will not be bullied."

Jia Yingchun nodded: "Mm, I will definitely remember your words in the future and strive not to be timid or cowardly anymore."

Lin Daiyu smiled, her gaze returning to the two poems on the rice paper in her hand, her eyes revealing curiosity as she said, "That day at Jinshan Temple, I didn't see him clearly. Hearing you say this today, I am truly curious: what kind of man can have such talent, such courage, and such heart and character?"

Jia Yingchun smiled: "Daiyu, if you want to see him, we can go to the Baifu School. He teaches there, and you can go and see him. Also, next month is Xichun's birthday, and Tanchun has also invited him; I don't know if he will come."

Lin Daiyu hurriedly shook her head and smiled: "I won't go to the Bai Mansion; I'll just stay here. If he comes, I'll take a quiet look, and if he doesn't, then so be it. As a girl, how could I take the initiative to see a strange man? If it gets out, people will laugh."

Jia Yingchun smiled, thinking it was getting late, and hurriedly said goodbye: "Daiyu, I won't disturb your rest; your health is not good, go to sleep quickly."

Lin Daiyu nodded and saw her to the door.

As the night wind blew, she began to cough.

Jia Yingchun walked along the corridor, looked up at the bright moon overhead, and couldn't help but see that delicate and handsome face and that righteous, tall figure appear in her mind again.

"Sigh..."

She sighed softly, her brows filled with sorrow.

At the third watch, the night grew deeper.

Chujian Bookstore, second floor.

In the room, Luo Zijun had already risen from the young girl on the bed, forcibly suppressing the roaring beast in his heart.

He only kissed her and bit her gently.

He dared not do anything else.

The young girl lay on her back on the bed, her hair disheveled, her white dress blooming like petals, her lips moist, her chest heaving, her pair of watery eyes looking at him in a dazed and unfocused manner.

"Brother Zijun, why..."

"I cannot..."

"Chujian will not make you take responsibility..."

Luo Zijun still shook his head.

The young girl's eyes suddenly filled with tears: "Do you... do you think, think Chujian's body is already... not clean..."

"Of course not."

Luo Zijun looked at her and said, "It is precisely because I believe in you that I do not want to hurt you tonight. I know what you mean; you want to prove, prove your purity. But there is really no need for this; if I did not believe in you, how would I treat you this way?"

The young girl said nothing more, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Luo Zijun walked up, sat on the edge of the bed, reached out, and gently wiped the tears from her face, saying, "I know tonight's events made your heart suffer and made you feel somewhat desperate. But I think you should be strong; it's just one betrayal, just some rumors and gossip; once tonight passes, you should forget it. You must live for yourself, not live in the words and eyes of others. Everyone will experience cold and darkness, but everyone will also have their own warmth and beauty. At least, your parents are still here, they love you, you still have a loyal little maid who loves you, and you still have a..."

"And a what?"

The young girl looked at him with teary eyes, seemingly waiting for the answer she wanted.

Luo Zijun gently stroked the tear stains on her cheeks and said, "And a... good friend who wipes away your tears when you cry and accompanies you when you are lonely."

The young girl suddenly grabbed his hand, bit down on it, her eyes filled with tears, glaring at him fiercely and annoyedly, yet looking pitifully.

Luo Zijun hissed and said, "Aren't we good friends? Then what is it?"

The young girl pretended to bite him gently again, then said with tears in her eyes, "Can good friends kiss and bite lips?"

Luo Zijun pretended to think seriously and said, "It's not impossible... ah!"

The young girl really bit him hard this time.

Luo Zijun could only say, "Then whatever you say it is, it is."

To be honest, he didn't know what it was either.

The two of them were suddenly like this, yet not married; calling her 'wife' was definitely not right, calling her 'lover' didn't seem quite appropriate, and calling her 'girlfriend'—did the word 'girlfriend' even exist here?

As for 'paramour' or 'beloved', they didn't seem appropriate either.

The young girl loosened her teeth, paused, and said with teary eyes, "A confidante..."

Then, she held his hand and pressed it against her cheek, saying softly, "Brother Zijun, don't be afraid... Chujian won't force you into anything, won't pester you, and even less will she be shameless and want to be your wife... Chujian will just be your confidante; you come to see Chujian occasionally, and Chujian will be satisfied..."

Luo Zijun said nothing more, lay down with her, looked at her delicate and beautiful yet sorrowful face with tear stains, and was silent for a long time before saying, "Chujian, wait a little longer. I still have some things I haven't finished. Every time I come to see you, I am very careful, coming through the alley behind, fearing being seen by others..."

"Are you afraid of being seen by that childhood sweetheart of yours?"

The young girl teased him on purpose.

Luo Zijun's mouth twitched, and he said, "Of course not, I..."

"Then what if she sees us? What will happen?"

The young girl's eyes held a hint of playfulness as she continued to ask, seemingly wanting to see him in a difficult spot and see him make a fool of himself.

Luo Zijun paused and said, "I wasn't talking about her..."

"But Brother Zijun, I was talking about her."

"..."

The young girl giggled, suddenly leaned close to him, burrowed into his arms, held him tightly, pressed her cold, delicate cheek against his neck, and whispered, "Brother Zijun, don't be afraid; from now on, Chujian will be your little lover hidden away outside, not letting her know, so Brother Zijun won't be in a difficult spot, okay?"

Luo Zijun's heart trembled; he stretched out his arms and held her tightly.

(End of this chapter)