Hearing this question, Lu Jinzhi felt as if he had been pricked by a needle, his entire body growing uncomfortable, and a sense of regret began to stir within him.
Had he lost his mind just now? How could he have said something like “Qiao Yin didn’t look at me”—words that sounded exactly like a resentful woman’s complaint?
“How could that be? How could I possibly fall for someone like Qiao Yin, who is so uneducated and idle…”
“But she isn’t uneducated and idle anymore. Mr. Meng, whom you admire, likes and approves of her very much.”
Chu Wenjing interrupted Lu Jinzhi’s words. Lu Jinzhi snorted coldly, “Even so, with her family background, she isn’t worthy of our Duke’s residence!”
After saying this, Lu Jinzhi turned away angrily, boarded his carriage, and drove off.
Chu Wenjing stood where he was, curling his lips in disdain. “Well, Xie Yu’an’s family background is even more illustrious than yours, and he doesn’t put on airs!”
Lu Jinzhi returned to the Duke’s residence by carriage, where his personal attendant Zhuye came forward to greet him.
“Young Master, weren’t you attending the lecture? Why have you returned so early?”
Lu Jinzhi pressed his lips together without answering and strode into his room.
Zhuye stole a glance at Lu Jinzhi’s expression, quickly wiped the smile from his face, respectfully helped him change his outer robe, and then presented a pot of hot tea.
Lu Jinzhi took a sip and casually tossed the teacup heavily onto the table, his face showing great impatience.
“Why has this tea been changed?”
Zhuye replied, “The previous tea was used up yesterday, so we switched to Longjing.”
Lu Jinzhi’s anger was hard to quell. “If it’s gone, why not go out and buy more? I’m used to the old one.”
Zhuye could only answer truthfully, “We sent someone out to look for it. We asked at all the teahouses and tea shops, but they all said it was specially blended. We should look for the person who blended it—it’s not sold outside.”
Zhuye timidly raised his head and asked, “Should I go ask Miss Qiao for some?”
Lu Jinzhi suddenly remembered.
Back then, when he had slight dark circles under his eyes, Qiao Yin had noticed he wasn’t sleeping well. She had deliberately searched through medical books and consulted several physicians to blend this calming tea for him.
She had sent it to him every month, making this calming tea for him for three years and eleven months. Over such a long time, he had grown accustomed to her gifts.
How could someone so devoted turn away so abruptly?
Lu Jinzhi’s expression brightened. He curved the corners of his mouth and waved his hand at Zhuye. “No need. She probably just forgot for the moment. In a couple of days, she should send new tea.”
Zhuye stared blankly at Lu Jinzhi, feeling somewhat hesitant.
Should he tell the Young Master that in the past, even when Qiao Yin was sick, she remembered to have someone deliver the tea?
On the fifth day of every month, without fail. But… today was already the tenth.
Moreover… although the Young Master had instructed the gatekeepers not to give her a hard time, Qiao Yin hadn’t come to the Duke’s residence for three days. This would have been absolutely impossible in the past. Whenever Qiao Yin sensed even a hint of the Young Master’s anger, she would immediately rush over and find ways to soothe him.
It was clear that Qiao Yin intended to give up on the Young Master. How could she possibly still send tea?
“Young Master, this morning at breakfast, Madam asked why she hadn’t seen Miss Qiao these past few days,” Zhuye hinted indirectly.
Lu Jinzhi didn’t catch on. Instead, he frowned. “Mother? Hasn’t she always disliked her? Why would she ask about her?”
Zhuye broke into a cold sweat. “Madam’s scented powder has run out.”Indeed, Mother disliked Qiao Yin’s unruly and unconventional nature, but to please her, Qiao Yin often presented gifts like a dutiful daughter-in-law.
Qiao Yin cherished him so deeply, persevering through countless setbacks and growing more determined with each failure—how could she simply withdraw so easily?
He didn’t believe it.
Lu Jinzhi made up his mind: “Go and find out what Qiao Yin has been busy with these days.”
…
In a courtyard far from the bustling city, located in the suburbs.
Qiao Yin gazed hopelessly at the sky, where the glow of sunset painted the horizon, signaling the end of the day.
Ah, why hasn’t Xie Yu’an come to pick her up yet?
Could it be he was just toying with her?
“Teacher Qiao, could you explain this equation and the summation of this sequence again?”
“Huh? Again?”
Qiao Yin wore a pained expression. From the moment she entered, she had been lecturing for hours without even a sip of water, her throat nearly parched.
What was even more terrifying was Mr. Meng’s profound knowledge, which allowed him to grasp concepts instantly. Qiao Yin had almost given herself away several times.
If anyone found out she wasn’t from this world, they would surely treat her like a monster and grind her bones to dust!
She couldn’t go on, she couldn’t—continuing would be the death of her.
As Qiao Yin was contemplating how to escape, she caught a glimpse of a dark blue robe fluttering past the doorway and immediately brightened.
Looking up, she indeed saw Xie Yu’an striding in from outside.
Qiao Yin instantly dashed toward him like a kindergarten child spotting their parent at the end of the school day.
“Why did you take so long?”
“At least it didn’t rain.”
Huh? What did he say?
How could he still hold a grudge? How could he be so petty?
Qiao Yin pouted, knowing it wouldn’t be that easy to move past it.
“Old Meng, I’ve lent her to you for a day. It’s time to return her.”
Xie Yu’an seemed very familiar with Mr. Meng, walking over effortlessly without even greeting him and directly pulling Qiao Yin outside.
“We haven’t finished yet! Just one more, the last one,” Mr. Meng said reluctantly.
“It’s getting late. If we don’t head back, her family will worry. Let’s stop here for today. I’ll bring her to visit you another time.”
Xie Yu’an shielded Qiao Yin from Mr. Meng. By the time Qiao Yin regained her senses, she was already seated in Xie Yu’an’s carriage, with him pouring her a cup of tea from across the way.
Without even time to thank him, Qiao Yin tilted her head back like a thirsty ox and gulped it down in one go.
So delicious, she wanted another cup.
Thinking this, she extended her hand holding the empty cup.
Xie Yu’an seemed to be watching her every move, and almost simultaneously, his slender, well-defined hand lifted the white porcelain teapot beside him and refilled her cup.
It was only while drinking the second cup that Qiao Yin realized it wasn’t tea—it was pear soup with rock sugar.
Recalling the events of the day, the warm, sweet flavor soothed her throat and seemed to flow through her veins into her heart, filling her with sweetness and warmth.
Just as she was about to ask how he knew she was thirsty, Xie Yu’an spoke first.
“Old Meng is just someone deeply obsessed with academics. I apologize if his hospitality was lacking.”
Qiao Yin was taken aback for a moment, then joked, “It seems you couldn’t find a teapot at Mr. Meng’s place either, and you went without water too. Mr. Meng truly treats everyone equally.”
Xie Yu’an chuckled along, the curve of his lips like a captivating blade.
How could there be such a gentle and considerate man in this world?
“Today, thank you.”
“Thank you for letting me shine at Yingtian Academy and regain the respect of others.”Qiao Yin expressed her gratitude sincerely, but Xie Yu’an shook his head.
“I didn’t do anything. You were already dazzling on your own.”
Qiao Yin was taken aback. Aside from Qiao Mo and Bizhu, Xie Yu’an was the first to praise her so unreservedly.
It sounded a bit perfunctory.
But why did it make her so happy?
Suddenly feeling inspired, Qiao Yin sprang up and sat down beside Xie Yu’an on the opposite side. “Then, would you like to see an even more dazzling version of me?”