Chapter 179: Taixue Afternoon

Qi Tuizhi was so embarrassed by the questions that he couldn't stay. He could only blurt out, "I was looking for him too, but couldn't find him."

After saying that, he hastily found an excuse about having urgent matters and quickly left. Otherwise, he feared the mocking gazes around him would burn holes all over him.

Frankly, if they were elsewhere, the students watching might have praised him a few times; after all, he was somewhat of a celebrity. But here, no one would ever flatter him. It would be a mercy if their malicious stares didn't poke a hundred holes in him. Because here, they were rivals in love!

Even after Qi Tuizhi had stepped outside the door, he could still hear voices from inside: "Miss Pei asked a good question! I've long disliked this Qi fellow. When Ye Wufeng was around, he was like a quail, his name never heard anywhere. Now that Ye Wufeng is dead, he comes out pretending."

"Exactly! He boasts every day about being the top new talent, what's with that arrogance just because he filled a vacant spot? Someone who didn't know might even think he killed Ye Wufeng."

Pei Chuyun, however, responded softly: "Don't say that. I haven't killed anyone either..."

"How could Miss Pei be like those common martial artists? Miss Pei's hands are for writing poetry!"

Qi Tuizhi, feeling a mouthful of blood choke in his throat, quickly fled and disappeared.

Pei Chuyun half-heartedly dealt with the "flies," looking as if she was trapped even though she had long finished eating and could leave. Her beautiful eyes constantly darted towards Lu Xingzhou. Her eyes seemed to speak, clearly conveying: "You said you'd pursue me here, didn't you? I've given you opportunities, so why are you only focused on eating?"

She couldn't hold back any longer. Finally, she parted the crowd and gracefully walked towards Lu Xingzhou: "Young Master Lu, I have something to discuss."

Lu Xingzhou looked up: "Ah, Miss Pei, please wait a moment. I'll talk after I finish eating." He lowered his head, and the chicken drumstick on his plate was stolen by Ah Nuo.

Lu Xingzhou: "..."

Ah Nuo smiled apologetically: "Master, you've finished eating."

Pei Chuyun, her slender hand hidden in her wide sleeve, secretly gave Ah Nuo a thumbs-up.

Lu Xingzhou had no choice but to say: "Miss Pei, the spring breeze is lovely today. Shall we go for a walk outside?"

Everyone: "?"

Pei Chuyun calmly replied: "What needs to be said can be said openly. Let's talk here."

The onlookers let out a long sigh of relief, almost thrilled. See, not only was the top new talent snubbed, but even Lu Xingzhou, who had a past connection with her, was rejected. Miss Pei truly was a pure and noble "flower on a high mountain"!

Lu Xingzhou felt a mix of amusement and frustration. He could only say: "Then please speak, Miss Pei."

Pei Chuyun said: "On Qingdai Mountain in Qingyao Garden, between two ancient pine trees, stands a stone tablet inscribed with a poem, 'Jianzi Mulan Hua'. It has been circulating wildly in the capital recently, and countless people are flocking to the garden just to see this poem. Everyone is guessing who the author is. Does Young Master know anything?"

Lu Xingzhou said: "Why ask me? Isn't the garden owner the one who would know best?"

"This garden belongs to Chief Editor Sheng of the 'Heroes' List'. Many people have asked him, but Chief Editor Sheng only said the author doesn't want to seek fame." Pei Chuyun gazed at him, slowly adding: "It's well known that Young Master Lu and Chief Editor Sheng have a deep friendship, and Chief Editor Sheng usually doesn't know many literati or poets."

Everyone exchanged glances. Was Pei Chuyun suspecting that Lu Xingzhou wrote the poem? If it truly was Lu Xingzhou, writing such a masterpiece yet "not wanting to seek fame," compared to Qi Tuizhi's earlier "I am skilled in both literature and martial arts," it was simply...

Lu Xingzhou found it quite amusing. The "little temptress" clearly knew he wrote the poem, and she was deliberately asking in public to boost his reputation. While she said, "You pursue me," her actions were almost the opposite.

After a moment's thought, he said: "If it was me, Miss Pei, would you be willing to go outside to talk? There are too many people here, and I don't like discussing things with a crowd watching."

Pei Chuyun's innocent eyes widened: "Was it really you?"

"Yes."

The crowd burst into an uproar.

Pei Chuyun bit her lower lip, seeming conflicted about publicly accepting a man's invitation, but finally, with difficulty, made up her mind: "All right, let's go outside to talk, but not too far."

Ah Nuo, having finished the chicken drumstick, contentedly pushed her master out the door. Pei Chuyun hesitantly followed.

The onlookers exchanged glances, unsure how to feel. How could Lu Xingzhou be so cunning! He actually tricked the goddess into going out! But if that poem really was written by him, then he was a true all-around genius in literature, martial arts, and medicine—his competitiveness was somewhat terrifying... Fortunately, he was lame and had to have someone pushing his wheelchair, a "burden." At least they wouldn't be alone.

Little did anyone know that the couple, appearing so open and honorable, went out, rounded a corner, turned down a corridor, and arrived behind an old house. There, Lu Xingzhou stood up and pushed Pei Chuyun against the wall, pinning her: "Miss Pei, you said nothing needs to be hidden, that we should talk in public. Why wouldn't you come out with me?"

Pei Chuyun laughed apologetically: "But I did dutifully come out with you, didn't I? I found you an excuse! And helped you promote your reputation!"

Lu Xingzhou looked at her slightly submissive demeanor and chuckled: "Why are you being so nice?"

"I felt you were a bit unhappy earlier, sullenly eating your rice with a sour expression... When Qi Tuizhi appeared?" Pei Chuyun grabbed his hand and shook it: "How could I possibly be reeled in by someone like him? Don't worry."

"Honestly, I don't have much of an issue with Qi Tuizhi," Lu Xingzhou said with a half-smile. "Miss Pei is so beautiful; it's only natural for a gentleman to pursue her. He also maintained his decorum and didn't say anything idiotic."

Pei Chuyun cautiously asked: "Then what are you unhappy about?"

Lu Xingzhou didn't say. In truth, it was a fleeting worry within him: Pei Chuyun originated from the Enchantress Joyful Sect. The scene of men constantly surrounding her, like a throng of "simps" waiting to be hooked, was precisely the kind of life she had been taught to pursue since childhood. Choosing puppets to control or completely draining them for cultivation was an extremely common practice for her sect. Pei Chuyun herself wasn't aiming for this. It was simply that by openly appearing as a daughter of the Pei family, her conditions naturally led to this. But while she wasn't seeking this, her master was. This was one of the Enchantress Joyful Sect's intentions in having her return to the Pei family: using the Pei family identity to attract wealthy men was far more effective than the title of a Joyful Saintess. Lu Xingzhou knew Pei Chuyun didn't think that way herself. If he were to say he feared she would truly ensnare men for cultivation, it would hurt Pei Chuyun's feelings. It was just that a man's heart inevitably felt jealous, and his emotions weren't quite right.

After a long while, he finally whispered: "It's not your fault... I'm just jealous, with so many men surrounding you..."

Pei Chuyun blinked: "Are you really jealous?"

"Really jealous."

Pei Chuyun's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, feeling a little happy inside. Jealousy means liking someone, right? Who would be jealous over something they didn't like? At the very least, there was possessiveness.

"You said yourself you'd pursue me and ward off all the 'flies.' You must have anticipated this scene, Young Master. You're supposed to protect A-Lü..."

It was true he had said that. Lu Xingzhou, having no good argument, could only snort coldly: "It's not my fault someone attracts too many 'flies,' far exceeding expectations. You don't even know, there were other girls in the dining hall whose eyes were practically spitting fire when they looked at you."

"Alright, alright, it's all A-Lü's fault for being too beautiful," Pei Chuyun said, wrapping her arms around his neck and whispering in his ear: "A-Lü won't attract others; A-Lü will only attract Young Master, okay...?"

Ah Nuo shivered and turned her head away, unwilling to watch. So disgusting.

Her master's response was just as disgusting: "Isn't Miss Pei supposed to be pure and noble? And here she is, attracting men?"

Pei Chuyun's eyelashes trembled slightly: "Then please punish me, Young Master..."

The next moment, the man kissed her, a somewhat rough punishment born of jealousy. Pei Chuyun, however, was delighted, yielding gracefully.

It was a quiet, slightly humid afternoon in late spring. Beyond the corridor was a small pond where dragonflies skimmed over the tips of young lotus leaves, and the pond water gently rippled. Occasional faint buzzing of insects and cicadas only enhanced the elegant and serene environment. Faint human voices drifted from beyond the building, subtly carried on the breeze, adding to the thrill for the illicit lovers.

"Ah, Miss Pei is truly too beautiful... I can't eat, I can't sleep."

"Indeed, if I could just hold her small hand, I'd be willing to shorten my life by ten years."

Lu Xingzhou's hand slipped under the hem of Pei Chuyun's clothes.

"Don't even think about it. Miss Pei has very strict upbringing and cherishes herself. Someone like her will only marry into a powerful family. It won't be a common person's turn. As for touching her hand, just looking at it is enough."

Pei Chuyun gasped, her small hand moved to touch him, stroking gently.

"What about Lu Xingzhou then?"

"Lu Xingzhou is highly unlikely. After all, he doesn't have a good family background; the Pei family wouldn't approve."

"Didn't they say he's Huo Shang? Isn't the Huo family a good family background?"

"His relationship with the Huo family... even if he were to be formally recognized by them one day, the Pei and Huo families are rivals, so it would be even less likely."

Lu Xingzhou also began to explore lower, and Pei Chuyun clenched her teeth, barely able to control herself.

"What was that sound?"

Someone peeked their head over, but saw Ah Nuo standing blankly behind the wall, her hand on the wheelchair handle, the rest of her hidden behind the wall. "Oh, it must be Lu Xingzhou and Miss Pei talking by the pond over there. The child is just standing there watching; it's nothing."

In reality, Ah Nuo had long been sent away and told not to look. She was merely holding an empty wheelchair on the other side of the wall, acting as a human "Under Maintenance" sign.

The overly stimulating clandestine encounter made Pei Chuyun's endurance far less than usual. She soon leaned limply against the wall, her eyes unfocused, barely propped up by Lu Xingzhou's strength to keep from sliding to the ground. Lu Xingzhou placed his fingers on her lips; they were somewhat wet. Pei Chuyun gasped for a while, and her eyes slowly regained focus. She gave him a look that was both resentful and coquettish before slowly taking his fingers into her mouth.

"Are you satisfied... Young Master's illicit affair at the Imperial Academy?" Pei Chuyun mumbled, her eyes like silken threads.

This was indeed stimulating for Lu Xingzhou as well; his heart was still pounding. "Not quite enough yet. This is just one spot by the school pond, where does this even begin..."

Pei Chuyun giggled: "Then Young Master, you'll have to try harder! A-Lü isn't just waiting for you for clandestine encounters; she also needs you to be her protector... If you don't like so many 'flies' around A-Lü, please shoo them away yourself."