Chapter 7

After all, Jian Xun was a childhood friend and had often come to her aid; she could not be cold to him just because he was cold to her.

Huang Shiyu looked at his retreating back and asked enthusiastically, "I'm bringing cherry cakes the day after tomorrow, do you want some?"

Jian Xun waved her off without looking back.

Unexpectedly, a familiar voice interjected, "So you can speak the standard tongue!"

Huang Shiyu’s back stiffened. She slowly turned her neck to find the benefactor from Lujin Academy—the one whose name sounded something like "Yuan"—standing there.

The benefactor scrutinized her for a moment before his expression cleared. "It’s you—the one who rides the donkey!"

"I, I..."

"What 'I, I'?" the benefactor snapped.

With that, he lunged forward, raising his fist as if to strike her. Huang Shiyu, frozen in terror, stared blankly at the fist, forgetting even to dodge.

The fist stopped steadily just an inch from her nose. The benefactor couldn't help but laugh. "Hahahaha, you little fool."

Huang Shiyu dared not move, looking up at him.

"Consider this a light punishment," the benefactor said with a huff. "Right, you mentioned cherry cakes earlier. Where can I find them?"

Seeing that his anger had dissipated, Huang Shiyu quickly put on a bright smile. "At Huang’s Sweetwater Shop. My shop has twelve kinds of sweet drinks and eight types of pastries," she added, gesturing pointedly at her half-basket of cherries, "and the day after tomorrow, we'll have the cherry cakes."

The benefactor had eyes that seemed filled with curiosity about the world. He raised a corner of his mouth and asked, "I haven't been there yet. Tell me, what are your signature items?"

This naturally called for a description of the Lanshuang Milk Tea and the Bone-Shaped Abalone Pastries. Huang Shiyu described them with great vividness.

The benefactor gave a casual "Oh."

He had likely never seen them before. Huang Shiyu spared no effort in showing off her shop, finally saying, "I hope you have the time to come and taste them, Young Master. My shop adds plenty of fresh milk."

The benefactor felt that since she had gone to such lengths, it would be rude not to buy something. "Fine, bring a portion over. My quarters are the second one to the left in the Dongquan Gate dormitories."

Huang Shiyu smiled apologetically. "Our shop is short-handed, so for now..." Before she could finish saying they couldn't spare anyone to deliver, the benefactor handed her a piece of silver.

She looked closely—it was silver, not copper coins.

"Delivery fee," he said concisely.

Huang Shiyu’s heart hammered against her ribs. "Okay..."

That single piece of silver was enough to buy hundreds of pastries. She carried the cherries and ran all the way back to the shop in one breath.

The old beggar woman, her face still covered in bruises, was back at their doorstep, plying her trade. Seeing her, she gave a cryptic smile and called out, "Fortune telling, fortune telling! Ten coins a reading. A karmic connection for those who wish to partake."

Huang Shiyu pushed open the kitchen door. "Auntie Hua, find a way to make another portion of Lanshuang Milk Tea and Bone-Shaped Abalone Pastries. I need them urgently."

Auntie Hua looked troubled. "That won't do. We don't have enough for tomorrow's batch. What if Farmer Tian's milk delivery is late?"

Huang Shiyu pulled out the silver and waved it. "I’ve met a big customer."

Auntie Hua understood at once and washed her hands to get to work. The shop always kept a reserve of milk for such emergencies.

Half an hour later, the young proprietor of Huang’s arrived at the benefactor's quarters at Dongquan Gate. The benefactor's maid stepped forward to receive the food box.

Huang Shiyu smiled like a flower. "Please, give it a taste. These are our signature items."

The benefactor nodded.

He watched as the maid performed a graceful bow, her posture as elegant as a bamboo stalk, shoulders steady and waist straight. She spoke in soft, measured tones, "Young Master, please wait a moment."

Why wait? Wasn't it just a matter of picking up a pair of chopsticks? Though puzzled, Huang Shiyu stood quietly to the side, assuming they had their reasons.

The maid retreated to the side chamber and returned shortly after. The pastries were now arranged on an exquisite silver tray, and each piece had been slightly trimmed.

*Could she have taken them back to sneak a bite?* The thought was so shocking that Huang Shiyu steadied herself.

The benefactor’s eyesight must have been poor, as he ignored this and picked up his chopsticks. Huang Shiyu watched him eagerly; he was her benefactor now.

He took a bite of the Bone-Shaped Abalone Pastry, chewed it slowly, and frowned as he looked at her.

"Is it good?" Huang Shiyu asked, full of expectation.

The benefactor slowly swallowed. Seeing her earnest gaze, he changed his words: "It is... good..."

But he refused to take a second bite. He lifted the silver cup with a look of boredom, glanced at the so-called Lanshuang Milk Tea, and took a small sip. His face darkened instantly.

Huang Shiyu felt a twinge of unease. "Are you... are you alright?"

The benefactor nearly suspected that Huang Shiyu was toying with him. "The Bone-Shaped Abalone Pastry is at least made of real ingredients, but what is this Lanshuang Milk Tea? Aside from the milk, where is the Lanshuang tea..."

It was clearly just Red Luo tea in disguise.

Huang Shiyu didn't know what real Lanshuang tea was, but this had always been sold as Lanshuang Milk Tea, and customers always loved it. Why was it a problem for him?

The maid smiled to smooth things over. "My master has a delicate palate, young man. Please don't take offense."

The benefactor narrowed his eyes at the maid. She looked flustered and shook her head slightly, so he said nothing more.

"So, what is the real Lanshuang tea, then?" Huang Shiyu asked, tilting her head earnestly.

"It is a famous tea from Luonan. It is recorded in the *Classic of Tea*. According to the book, the fragrance is indeed different from yours," the maid smiled.

If that was true, then the Huang family's tea was a fake. Huang Shiyu felt a little dejected.

The benefactor studied her, thought for a moment, and beckoned to her. "Come here."

Huang Shiyu followed him out of the small hall into a study filled with the scent of ink. She had never seen so many books in her life.

The benefactor picked through them and pulled out one with gold-lettered characters. "See this? The *Classic of Tea*."

His voice sounded right above her head. Huang Shiyu focused intently on where his finger pointed, not noticing how close they were standing.

He asked, "Are you illiterate?"

Taken aback that he had noticed, Huang Shiyu mumbled, "I can read, it's just..."

"Just what?"

"There are some characters I don't recognize."

"Which ones?"

"This one, this one, that one..." Huang Shiyu pointed to several spots.

The benefactor stared at her with an expressionless face.

Huang Shiyu felt a sense of defeat. Trying to save face, she resorted to the clumsiest tactic: ignoring her own shortcomings to point out someone else's. "Why are you looking at me like that? Look at you, your family works so hard to send you to school, and you don't even cherish it! Look at the time—you're still playing in your dorm!"

The maid shot a displeased look at the back of Huang Shiyu's head.

The benefactor didn't seem to mind. "My family doesn't expect me to pass the imperial examinations."

"If they don't expect it, why spend so much money sending you here?" She was convinced he was just a spoiled rich kid.

"I didn't say anything when you admitted you couldn't read, so why are you getting so worked up?" The benefactor was amused.

*Who's worked up?* Huang Shiyu felt a rush of shame.

Seeing her look like a little girl, the benefactor’s gaze lingered on her neck, then drifted down to her lips, and lower still. Suddenly, he laughed. "Don't cry. How about I teach you? What do you think?"

Huang Shiyu froze and looked up at him. "Really?"

The benefactor said, "Mm. Since I'm just a spoiled heir with nothing to do, I might as well teach you to read."

His deep eyes seemed to see right through her.

Huang Shiyu’s heart skipped a beat. She said shyly, "I was rude just now. Please forgive me, Young Master."

The benefactor let out a long "Mm." "That's better."

He beckoned her over, and the maid stepped forward to grind the ink. The benefactor dipped his brush and moved it across the rice paper with flowing, powerful strokes. Huang Shiyu couldn't read the characters, but she thought they were breathtaking, like green mountains and waterfalls, or cliffs and golden sunsets.

She pointed to a character with fewer strokes. "That's 'Si' (Thought)."

He pointed to the one with more strokes. "This is 'Yuan' (Deep). Siyuan is me. Remember that."

"So your name is Siyuan."

"My courtesy name is Siyuan."

She knew what a courtesy name was; it was just like how Jian Xun was also known as Jian Yunzhang. Huang Shiyu asked, "Then what is your given name?"

The benefactor smiled at her. "What is yours?"

"Huang Shiyu."

"How old are you this year?"

"Fifteen."

The benefactor was stunned. She was only two years younger than him.

He teased, "It's rare to see a young man as short as you."

Huang Shiyu replied, "It's just that you're too tall."

Distracted by his teasing, she forgot to ask his name again.

She spent the whole morning learning over a dozen characters. The benefactor even gave her a stack of copybooks and brushes, telling her to practice hard. Next time they met, he would correct her work, and he would taste her cherry cakes.

Huang Shiyu agreed to everything. Mimicking the students she had seen, she respectfully called him "Teacher" and handed him the Shao-West porcelain doll she had been clutching in her sleeve—the dragon from the zodiac.

The benefactor raised an eyebrow. "A gift for the teacher, I see."

Huang Shiyu’s face burned. Fortunately, the teacher didn't mind that it wasn't a full set; he accepted it happily.

The benefactor watched her retreating back with a smile.

Huang Shiyu walked with a light step, her heart filled with golden warmth, just like the benefactor's smiling eyes. She trotted out of Dongquan Gate.

Suddenly, a strong force yanked her behind a Taihu rock.

Jian Xun hadn't expected Huang Shiyu to be so light; with just a slight pull, she flew into his arms.

The two separated as soon as they touched, both stepping back.

"Have you lost your mind?"

Huang Shiyu watched her brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone scatter across the ground and immediately pummeled him in frustration.

Jian Xun took two hits, looking a bit dazed.

Seeing her remain oblivious, anger rose in him. "Do you have a death wish?"

Huang Shiyu looked up at him, uncomprehending. "It looks to me like you're the one who almost killed me."

"I ask you, what were you doing in Siyuan's dorm all morning?"

"How did you know?" Huang Shiyu was stunned.

"I live nearby, too," Jian Xun sneered.

So that was it. Huang Shiyu was surprised, but in such high spirits that she didn't dwell on his rudeness.

"Look at this," she said, picking up the copybooks. "Siyuan gave them to me. I learned fifteen characters in less than an hour."

A bright, beautiful smile lit up her face, making Jian Xun’s heart thump wildly.

Jian Xun studied her for a moment. "Just practicing characters?"

"Yes, what else?" Huang Shiyu looked at him, confused.

"You... you don't naively think he’s chatting with you because he thinks you're a young man, do you?" Jian Xun narrowed his eyes. "Even if he did before, after spending a morning together, he certainly doesn't anymore! Huang Shiyu, are you stupid?"

A single glance at her neck and chest would be enough to tell.

*What do you mean...?* Huang Shiyu swallowed. The joy that had filled her heart vanished, replaced by doubt and fear.

*Did Siyuan figure it out?*

*Would he be like her father...?*

The radiant glow faded in an instant, and her eyes drooped.

Seeing that he had made his point, Jian Xun reached out and helped her up by the sleeve.

"Don't go there again," he advised patiently.

"But Siyuan didn't expose me. He accepted that I was learning, and he taught me earnestly. We were getting along fine—why can't I go back?" Huang Shiyu protested.

"If you don't know how to cherish your own reputation, don't blame me for informing your father."

He had hit her where it hurt most.

Huang Shiyu was choked with words, tears welling in her eyes. She glared at the detestable person before her. "You're not my father, why are you meddling in my business?"

"I am your father's student."

That single sentence silenced her. Huang Shiyu couldn't hold it in and burst into tears.

People were coming and going; if they were seen, it would be impossible to explain. Jian Xun quickly pulled her into a more secluded spot.

She resisted, stubborn as ever, and as they struggled, two passersby approached.

Jian Xun covered her mouth with his hand. He intended to lower his head and soothe her, but his chin brushed against her bobbing forehead, sending a ticklish sensation through him.

He felt a tingle, as if struck by lightning. A strange, unprecedented warmth coursed through his limbs, and even his voice trembled. "Be quiet. If you keep struggling, I'll take it as an invitation for me to be improper."

Huang Shiyu didn't believe him and struggled harder. He clamped his arm tightly around her waist. His breathing became noticeably ragged as he hugged her, hunched over. Perhaps realizing something, Huang Shiyu gradually stopped struggling.

Jian Xun slowly released her.

As soon as her mouth was free, she began to complain. "Jian Yunzhang, I thought you were a good person! I thought you were different from the others!"

"Shh, keep your voice down."

The two passersby seemed to hear the movement and looked around.

Jian Xun had to hold her again, covering that troublesome mouth. His touch was gentle, but the more she struggled, the tighter he held her. She punched him with her fists, but he didn't get angry.

"Huang Shiyu, are you doing this on purpose? Trying to get me to hug you?" Jian Xun tried to suppress his embarrassment.

Huang Shiyu stiffened, cursing his ancestors in her heart.

After a long silence, the hand restraining her finally loosened. She lunged away. "Have you hugged enough?"

The passersby were long gone!

Jian Xun hung his head, his arms dropping to his sides.

*So he has things he's afraid of, too.* Huang Shiyu seized the leverage. "Just you wait. I'm going to tell my father you bullied me!"

"Don't talk nonsense," Jian Xun said coldly.

"I'll tell the Headmaster too! Two can play at this game."

"Fine, go ahead. I wouldn't mind marrying you this year," Jian Xun said with a smirk.

Huang Shiyu shuddered and immediately shut her mouth.

Jian Xun didn't expect her to be so afraid. He wanted to reach out and comfort her, but he didn't know where to place his hands. After a long standoff, he said coldly, "If you really want to learn, let me teach you. I can do it too."

"I don't want to learn from you." Huang Shiyu found everything about him irritating.

Jian Xun raised his eyelids, his gaze sharp.

The pressure he exerted was so overwhelming that it made her heart tremble inexplicably.

Huang Shiyu took a step back and sniffled. "Why can I learn from Siyuan but not you? Aren't you a man too!"

The question left Jian Yunzhang stunned.

He stood there in silence.

After a long while, he spoke quietly, "Because I have someone I love in my heart. I would never have any ulterior motives toward you."

*His motives were never ulterior.*

Huang Shiyu frowned, a sense of justice flaring up. She blurted out in defense of her benefactor, "So you're saying Siyuan *would* have ulterior motives? With his looks, if anyone is going to have them, it’s going to be me!"

Jian Xun looked at her as if she were a madwoman.

Huang Shiyu tried to push him, but he wouldn't budge. Clearly, he wouldn't let her leave.

She changed her tune, feigning compliance. "Fine, I'll learn from you, okay? Just stop glaring at me."

Jian Xun softened, his gaze relaxing.

She pressed her advantage. "I said I'd learn from you, so why are you still blocking me?"

Jian Xun twitched the corner of his mouth. "Let's go."

Huang Shiyu felt as if she had been granted amnesty and scrambled to escape, but she bumped her stomach into his arm and was blocked again.

"Jian Yunzhang!" She was about to explode.

Jian Xun said softly, "I know you're unhappy. Believe it or not, I truly have your best interests at heart."

*So, she couldn't hold a grudge against him.*

"I believe you, I believe you," Huang Shiyu nodded repeatedly. "You've enlightened me with your pure heart. Now that I've found my way back, from now on, you're my sworn brother."

Jian Xun released her helplessly.

As soon as she broke free, Huang Shiyu ran off, shouting, "Jian Xun, you're a son of a turtle!"

Jian Xun stood where he was, watching her go, lost in thought.