Song Nianyun stopped in her tracks at the sound and slowly turned around.
Her expression was calm and unreadable. The look she gave him was distant and indifferent, as if he were nothing more than a stranger with no relation to her at all.
That gaze made Chen Yunli’s heart sink sharply. The words he had prepared were instantly stuck in his throat.
He stood in front of her, slightly out of breath, unable to find the right words for a moment.
“Mr. Chen,” Song Nianyun spoke first, her voice cool and detached, carrying no emotion at all, “you stopped me. What do you want to instruct me on?”
“Mr. Chen”—that address completely drew a line between them.
A flash of embarrassment crossed Chen Yunli’s face. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to sound calm.
“I… I just heard you ranked first in the A-list, and… and that Elder Yun has taken you as his disciple. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Song Nianyun nodded slightly, perfectly polite—but clearly perfunctory.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
She turned as if to leave.
“Wait!”
Chen Yunli quickly stepped forward to block her path, his tone carrying an urgency he didn’t even notice himself.
“Nianyun, between us… there may be some misunderstanding…”
“Yesterday, I couldn’t sleep the whole night. I thought about what you said, and I realized you were right. My family comes from a humble background, and our engagement with you was indeed because of the Song family’s wealth—I won’t deny that.”
“But besides that, I do like you!”
“You’re gentle, obedient, considerate, you…”
“Mr. Chen!”
Before he could finish, Song Nianyun interrupted him calmly.
“Gentle and obedient? Considerate? Do you still think I am the kind of person you’re describing?”
She met his eyes directly.
There was no gentleness, no obedience, no consideration—only sharpness and edge.
But in his memory, Song Yibai used to look at him with shy affection.
When did it change?
After that serious illness…
“Chen Yunli, have you ever experienced the despair of being on the verge of death? Do you know what it feels like to lie in bed, abandoned by everyone?”
Her voice was very soft.
“When I had a high fever, I heard the servants discussing that my condition was dangerous and I probably wouldn’t survive.”
“I heard my father instruct them not to use expensive medicine anymore—to avoid wasting money.”
“I heard you say you would just stay outside my room. I know you were afraid of catching the illness…”
“I heard my mother crying beside my bed while I was unconscious… crying so helplessly…”
“Chen Yunli, that illness made me see many things clearly. I learned who was sincere and who truly cared for me…”
“Do you really think you can still deceive me now?”
Without waiting for his response, Song Nianyun turned and continued walking down the mountain.
This time, Chen Yunli did not chase after her.
He watched as the sunset light fell upon her figure, making her silhouette look both fragile and unshakably strong.
Memories he had once ignored surfaced clearly in his mind.
Last winter, when she was at her worst, his mother had strictly forbidden him from visiting her, saying the Song family would take care of everything.
He had been worried, but also afraid of illness, so he only asked after her once from outside the courtyard.
So… she had heard everything.
She heard her father’s indifference. She heard his own detachment.
He had never thought that the girl who always smiled so gently at him had once been pushed to the edge of life and death in such despair.
He had enjoyed her admiration and obedience, yet never given her any sincerity in return. What he wanted had always been the Song family’s support and her unconditional compliance.
“False sincerity…”
Yes… all along, his feelings toward her had been false.
And yet, why did his chest now feel faintly tight as he watched her walk away without hesitation?
It seemed… he was starting to feel sorry for her.
He didn’t want to examine this unfamiliar feeling too deeply.
He only knew one thing clearly—he could not let go of this engagement.
Song Nianyun was the best marriage prospect he had right now. He would not allow her to drift away from him.
When Song Nianyun returned home, the gatekeeper told her to go directly to her father’s study.
Inside the study, Song Wenmo was smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum.
“Yibai! You’ve really brought honor to the Song family! First place in the A-list—hahaha… you’ve made your father proud!”
“Yibai, why didn’t you say you were this capable earlier? If I had known, I would never have engaged you to Chen Yunli! You deserve someone much better!”
Across eighteen generations, the Song family had been farmers or merchants—never a scholarly lineage.
Since her grandfather’s generation, they had placed great emphasis on education, yet no one had ever passed even the county exams, let alone entered Qinghui Academy.
Song Yibai’s first place ranking was a breakthrough in the family’s hundred-year history.
A hint of mockery appeared on Song Nianyun’s lips.
“Father, I did say I could get into Qinghui Academy. It was you who thought I was dreaming.”
Song Wenmo’s smile froze. He finally remembered that she had indeed spoken those words days ago—and he had dismissed them as nonsense.
He awkwardly touched his nose.
“It’s my poor judgment. I didn’t see my daughter’s true talent. From now on, whatever you say, I will believe you.”
Song Nianyun’s eyes turned cold, though her expression remained calm.
“Since that’s the case, I have a few matters to report.”
“Speak! Speak!” Song Wenmo quickly replied.
“First, according to our bet, since I entered Qinghui Academy, you will pay my tuition for the next three years.”
“Of course! Even ten years—I can afford it!”
“Second, my studies will be heavy. I will live in the academy to focus on learning.”
“Good! I’ll arrange it tomorrow and give you the best residence!”
“Third,” she looked up calmly, her tone firm, “I have been taken as a personal disciple by Elder Yun and given the style name ‘Nianyun.’ I hope the family will address me by that name from now on.”
“What?! You were taken as Elder Yun’s disciple?”
Song Wenmo’s eyes widened in shock.
Elder Yun was no ordinary figure—he had served in the Hanlin Academy, and his daughter had married the former Marquis of Zhenbei. His grandson was now the new Marquis of Zhenbei of the Great Feng, the famed war god of the empire—Jiang Xuirui.
Song Wenmo’s voice trembled with excitement.
“Quick—tell me everything! What exactly happened?”