Chapter 114
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Lin Qingyang listened in bewilderment and quickly stopped Xinyue from leaving. He realized that Xinyue dared not look him in the eye and took him a while to understand that she had misunderstood something. His face turned red in embarrassment.
What was this girl thinking! Did she think he was doing something inappropriate with the portrait of Chu Lishu?!
However, Lin Qingyang couldn’t blame Xinyue entirely. As a young girl filled with endless fantasies about the modern and trendy aspects of the Great Zhou Dynasty, she had just arrived in a place like the Golden Phoenix Pavilion, where she heard the girls inside sharing strange stories about the peculiar preferences of some clients. She thought such things were commonplace, and her entire perception had gone awry. Hence, she immediately associated Lin Qingyang with the rumored activities involving the portrait at the end of the bed.
Lin Qingyang couldn’t let her leave with such a misunderstanding; it would be too embarrassing. If she entered the male lead’s harem in the future, this misunderstanding would become an endless hidden danger.
“What nonsense are those people feeding you? It’s not like that, Xinyue. Listen to my explanation first.” Lin Qingyang tried to appease Xinyuewith a mix of persuasion and explanation.
Just then, there seemed to be some noise coming from his inner room, but it wasn’t clear. Lin Qingyang thought he might have misheard and hurriedly continued explaining, “I really am just painting. I haven’t finished that painting yet. Come inside and take a look, and you’ll understand.”
So, Lin Qingyang urged Xinyue to enter his inner room. Upon entering, they discovered that the window in Lin Qingyang’s room was open, but he didn’t pay much attention to it. Leading Xinyue closer to the bed, she initially appeared awkward, as if afraid of seeing something inappropriate on the painting.
However, Lin Qingyang didn’t ask her to look at the painting. Instead, he lifted a nearby curtain-covered table, opened a drawer, and said, “Take a look.”
Upon inspection, Xinyue saw a pile of painting tools, some of which hadn’t even been properly organized.
“I really just have the bad habit of painting on the bed, it’s nothing like what you’re thinking. How can you judge others based on the words of the girls from the Golden Phoenix Pavilion? Take a closer look, isn’t this painting unfinished?” Saying that, Lin Qingyang took the painting down and placed it on the table for Xinyue to see.
It was a painting titled ‘Wind Lifts the Curtain, Gentleman Reads in Silence.’ It depicted a scene from one evening at the Marquis’s residence when Chu Lishu was waiting for Lin Qingyang in his study to discuss matters. The moment Lin Qingyang entered the study, he saw this scene illuminated by candlelight.
The perfect composition of that moment was deeply engraved in Lin Qingyang’s mind, prompting him to decide to paint it. It was an instinctive act driven by his pursuit of beauty as an artist. However, due to the distance of time and having only that one scene as a reference, he felt that something was off when he tried to recreate it later.
He wanted to paint this portrait well because he knew that in the future, the male lead would revert to his original appearance as Yuan Ran, and he would no longer see the current Chu Lishu. Leaving a portrait behind would serve as a memento, especially since this era lacked the existence of photographs.
As a result of pursuing perfection, Lin Qingyang kept delaying the completion of the painting.
After examining it, Xinyue noticed some parts that weren’t well-drawn, particularly the eyes—they didn’t look quite right.
Xinyue now understood the situation and felt a bit awkward. Despite offering an apology, she couldn’t help but persist on the original topic after a while, “So, when you paint portraits of others…”
Lin Qingyang chuckled inwardly, “Take a look at the porcelain vase in the corner. There are many portraits inside. I’ve practiced my brushwork on portraits of my friends. I initially thought that once I finished them, I could use them as special gifts for occasions like birthdays.” After all, his painting skills were recognized by both the Imperial Academy and the public, and any piece he painted could be sold for a good price.
Lin Qingyang didn’t actually insist on checking each and every portrait. Instead, she expressed some envy, saying, “So… will you paint one for me?”
“Sure, I can do that. I’ll give it to you when you leave,” Lin Qingyang replied.
Xinyue hesitated for a moment but couldn’t resist asking, “So, you really are just cousins with Chu Lishu?”
Lin Qingyang nodded firmly.
Xinyue continued to press, “And you truly feel nothing for Chu Lishu. Even though he’s also a man, you don’t have any feelings for him, no spark in your heart for him?”
Lin Qingyang continued to nod, showing no hesitation whatsoever.
Xinyue walked away with a satisfied heart but suddenly realized that not liking Chu Lishu and also liking men meant she was disappointed again.
The rich and varied emotions of Xinyue left Lin Qingyang completely perplexed.
Watching Xinyue leave, Lin Qingyang prepared to put away Chu Lishu’s portrait. However, because of what Xinyue said, he decided never to hang a portrait on his bed again. On one hand, he was afraid of misunderstandings, and on the other hand, he felt a psychological shadow from Xinyue’s implications.
Just as he was about to roll it up, Lin Qingyang suddenly paused when he reached the middle. He hadn’t painted the eyes well—Chu Lishu’s eyes were beautiful, and he felt that no matter how he painted, he couldn’t capture that beauty. Lin Qingyang thought for a moment and gently brushed over the eyes with his hand. Suddenly, he remembered Xinyue’s question from earlier, and he felt a strange sensation in his chest.
Feeling a bit flustered, Lin Qingyang quickly rolled up the painting and placed it in the porcelain jar, intending to continue when he felt inspired.
The porcelain jar contained many portraits, and upon closer inspection, one could see that the other portraits were on relatively new paper. The time spent on those practice sketches of people didn’t exceed one night, and they were all completed quickly. As for Chu Lishu’s portrait, it had been hanging there since he arrived at the detached courtyard.
Upon arriving at the flower hall, Lin Qingyang learned that Chu Lishu had unexpectedly come.
Inquiring hastily, Lin Qingyang was told that Chu Lishu had gone to find him, but he hadn’t seen him at all. Suddenly, he remembered the several incidents of misunderstanding he had recently and wondered if it was another coincidence. Anxiously planning to go out and find him, he was surprised to see Chu Lishu arriving.
As their eyes met, both of them hesitated for a moment.
After not seeing each other for a long time, besides the daily deductions in points, it seemed like something else was increasing.
“Cousin, why did you suddenly come? Did you come to find me? Why didn’t I see you?” Lin Qingyang quickly asked.
“I originally planned to find my cousin, but then I remembered there were some matters to attend to, so I returned to my own courtyard first,” Chu Lishu said with a faint smile, his expression gentle.
Lin Qingyang breathed a sigh of relief. According to the timeline, he seemed to be discussing strange questions with Xinyue at that time.
However, at this moment, Nanny Ding and Lin Qinglan were somewhat surprised. The current Chu Lishu was completely different from when he first arrived, described by the phrase “refreshed and spirited.”
Lin Qingyang quickly invited Chu Lishu to sit down, placing him opposite Xinyue. With Chu Lishu’s arrival, his mission seemed to have hope again. He still believed in Chu Lishu’s personal charm. Perhaps Xinyue was scared by the situation that night, so she didn’t have a good impression. The next interaction might…
Lin Qingyang glanced up and indeed saw the two of them making eye contact, although there were no sparks flying in the air.
During the meal, Lin Qinglan was chatting with Xinyue like a younger sister, and the atmosphere was very friendly. Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu interjected a few timely remarks but didn’t dominate the conversation.
“I’ve heard the recent rumors outside. Has the storm calmed down?” Lin Qingyang asked Chu Lishu in a low voice.
Leaning in, Chu Lishu approached Lin Qingyang, and sensing the almost imperceptible gaze from across, he directly whispered into Lin Qingyang’s ear, “Yes, rest assured. Today, I also met Yue Chen and Huo Luo, and they confirmed that the matter has passed.”
Lin Qingyang turned in surprise, and the two of them got even closer. “They came to see you again?”
Chu Lishu smiled with his eyes, “Yes, they’re preparing to become teaching assistants in the palace.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyang felt relieved to some extent. At least, the relationships among these characters were not in chaos. It seemed that the two right-hand men had taken their positions. Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but smile. “Good, very good.”
Chu Lishu felt the continuous intense gaze from across, “And you, what have you been busy with recently?”
Lin Qingyang hinted with his eyes, “Accompany her. Xinyue is a good girl, but she has too much energy. Compared to her, I feel like I’ve become an old man. I can’t be solely responsible for involving her and causing her harm. You have to take responsibility too. If you’re going to play with her in the future, you need to be the main companion!”
Chu Lishu’s eyes and smile seemed to blossom. “Sure, I’ll accompany her.”
The male lead is still easy to talk to.
Lin Qingyang patted the male lead on the shoulder and shared some of the hardships he had endured in the past few days, preparing Chu Lishu mentally for what might come.
On the first day, even with a head injury, Xinyue didn’t properly rest and recover. When she saw the characters in the room, it was initially fascinating, but unfortunately, she couldn’t fully recognize some of the characters from the Great Zhou Dynasty. For the ones she did recognize, their meanings were elusive. When Lin Qingyang visited her, he kindly gave her some guidance. However, he ended up being entangled, forced to read one storybook after another. When he tried to ask his eldest sister for help in exchanging tasks, she used the excuse of making snacks and left him to handle it alone. As a result, his throat became hoarse in the evening, and she seemed to be quite satisfied with the outcome.
Lin Qingyang finished his story, and Chu Lishu frowned slightly. “Is it still uncomfortable now?”
Lin Qingyang shook his head. It had been several days, so how could he still be uncomfortable? On the second day, fearing for his throat, Lin Qingyang decided to let Xinyue play activities that didn’t require talking. They tried various things like music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and different games. In the end, Xinyue became particularly fond of playing five in a row game, so Lin Qingyang reluctantly spent two days playing with her.
On the fourth day, Xinyue wanted to go out, and Lin Qingyang felt a sense of relief. Going shopping was usually considered a girl’s activity, right? It was time to ask his eldest sister for help.
However, his eldest sister claimed to be busy accompanying their mother for a religious ceremony, leaving Lin Qingyang feeling like they could swap responsibilities. He could accompany their mother for the religious ceremony, and he had no idea what girls liked to shop for anyway.
So, his eldest sister provided him with a list of must-visit shops for noble women in the capital, along with a shopping list. She emphasized that if he bought something for Xinyue, he should get something for her too. Despite feeling a bit teary, Lin Qingyang accepted the task with the intention of doing his best to make Xinyue happy throughout the day.
However, even if Xinyue was adorable, fun to be with, and pleasant to interact with, it didn’t mean Lin Qingyang had the energy to spend the whole day playing with her!
“Thank goodness you’re here,” Lin Qingyang looked at Chu Lishu with teary eyes. Dealing with the task of entertaining his future sister-in-law was truly exhausting.
Seeing Lin Qingyang’s expression and hearing his small complaints, Chu Lishu felt a pang of sympathy. At the same time, he understood that Lin Qingyang treated Xinyue like a little sister, so he couldn’t just get rid of her. He needed to find a way to handle the situation.
“By the way, are you staying for a few days? Do you have other things to attend to?” Lin Qingyang asked, actually intending to inquire about the matter Chu Lishu was investigating regarding the little princess.
Chu Lishu considered saying he couldn’t stay tonight as there were urgent matters to attend to, planning to come back tomorrow. However, Xinyue unexpectedly spoke up, “Big Brother Lin, let’s have some Pear Blossom White tonight. Sister Lin said it’s a good night to appreciate the full moon, and she’ll prepare some dishes for us to go with it.”
Lin Qingyang was immediately dumbfounded. All he wanted to do tonight was lie down, but Lin Qinglan had already chimed in, “Let’s all gather tonight. With so much Pear Blossom White, we can have a good time. We’ll go to Yang Yang’s courtyard; the view is excellent there.”
Since his eldest sister had already spoken, Lin Qingyang couldn’t refuse. He looked at Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu smiled and said, “I’d like that too.”
Not long after finishing dinner, the four young individuals started drinking in the courtyard. Lin Qinglan, having just entered the scene, didn’t last long and got drunk quickly. With her limited alcohol tolerance, she was carried back by Qiu Qing.
Initially, they intended for a casual drink, but it turned into a three-way drinking contest. As it got late, they decided to let the servants rest first.
In the end, one by one, the three friends fell down, leaving Xinyue in the best condition. “Humph! Get up and continue drinking! You guys are all weak!” she declared, pointing at Chu Lishu. “Especially you, you pretty boy. You can’t handle alcohol at all. What’s so great about you!”
Under the influence of alcohol, Xinyue muttered for a while. When she was about to leave, she turned back, thinking that Lin Qingyang shouldn’t lie in the night breeze, as he might catch a cold. So, she helped him up and guided him back into the house.
Having managed to move Lin Qingyang to the bed, due to the posture, the two were too close. Xinyue suddenly caught a whiff of Lin Qingyang’s unique male scent, which she found very pleasant. Unlike other smelly men, she couldn’t help but follow the scent and ended up near Lin Qingyang’s cheek. She looked up and felt her cheeks burning; Lin Qingyang was really handsome, and she liked him.
Lost in her thoughts, she couldn’t resist leaning closer and pecking him on the cheek.
“Hehe… according to the customs of your Great Zhou Dynasty, does this count as skin contact? Shouldn’t you marry me?” Xinyue mumbled drunkenly. Suddenly, she felt a chilling sensation down her spine, and a murderous intent rushed towards her.
Xinyue suddenly turned around to see a figure standing very close. She was so scared that she sat down on the ground, looked up to find that it was Chu Lishu, who had just been sleeping on the table. “You… aren’t you drunk?”
Chu Lishu didn’t answer, just stared coldly at her with a murderous look.
“Are you really not drunk?” Seeing his expression, Xinyue felt uneasy, fearing that he might go crazy again, like when he wanted to kill them.
Chu Lishu approached and pushed Xinyue away with force, causing her to fall. “What are you doing!”
“You just now… it’s not called skin contact; it’s called being a hooligan. I’ll sentence you.” Chu Lishu said coldly, “Death penalty.”
Xinyue felt instantly embarrassed, realizing that her secret actions were caught. “You… don’t lie to me, I…” Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Chu Lishu raising his hand towards her. His palm gradually clenched into a fist, and though Xinyue didn’t understand, she felt a chill.
At this crucial moment, due to the awkward position she was placed in on the bed, Lin Qingyang, who was drunk and unconscious, finally made a dissatisfied sound, attempting to adjust his posture. This movement startled Chu Lishu, waking him up and extinguishing the anger in his mind.
Chu Lishu snapped back to reality, still feeling the surging emotions within him. However, he was a step too late, as this fool had already taken advantage of the situation.
Chu Lishu had no intention of harming Xinyue; he knew that Lin Qingyang would be angry. Suddenly making Xinyue disappear would raise suspicions, and Lin Qingyang would surely investigate. However, Chu Lishu felt a stifling sensation in his chest, and his head was buzzing. This person clearly belonged to him, clearly liked him—how could he allow others to touch him?
Chu Lishu reached out and vigorously wiped the cheek that Xinyue had just kissed, making Lin Qingyang grumble and squirm uncomfortably. Determined to free himself, Lin Qingyang attempted to push Chu Lishu’s hand away, but Chu Lishu caught his hand and pressed him back onto the bed.
Unconsciously, Lin Qingyang opened his mouth as if trying to say something, but Chu Lishu’s gaze darkened.
“Hey… about tonight, don’t tell Big Brother Lin. Just now, I was… drunk, and it wasn’t intentional,” Xinyue couldn’t help but speak.
In response, Chu Lishu turned his head, speaking coldly, “Next time, don’t touch other people’s things, or it might cost you your life.”
Xinyue immediately disagreed, “What other people’s things? He wou—”
Before she could finish her sentence, Xinyue stared in disbelief at the unfolding scene. On the bed, Chu Lishu suddenly bent down, planting a kiss directly on Lin Qingyang’s half-closed lips. Lin Qingyang let out a choked sound, followed by the sound of kissing and the inability to catch a breath, leaving Xinyue flushed and embarrassed.
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Poor xinyue, she’s just a free spirited girl