Under the moonlight, Yu Tang’s skin glowed white, her eyes shone brighter than the stars in the night sky, and her lips were like flowers blooming in the evening breeze—she was three parts more beautiful than usual.

Gu Chang’s heart, which had already decided to give up, suddenly began beating restlessly again.

The corners of his eyes and brows involuntarily revealed a hint of a smile. His voice was gentle, as if afraid of startling a small bird: “Miss Yu, I didn’t expect to meet you here? Are you accompanying Miss Xu and the others?”

Apart from this, he couldn’t think of any other reason why Yu Tang would appear here.

Yu Tang nodded with a smile, quite delighted at meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land, completely forgetting that in this life, she and Gu Chang had never formally met.

“Magistrate Gu arrived yesterday, right?” she said warmly. “It’s so late. Are you just returning, or are you taking a walk in the courtyard?”

“I suppose it’s a walk!” Gu Chang said vaguely, asking Yu Tang, “When are you planning to return?”

He wondered if they could travel together?

Yu Tang smiled and said, “That depends on what arrangements Miss Xu has. I plan to see Miss Xu off before returning to Lin’an.”

“As it should be!” Gu Chang exchanged pleasantries with Yu Tang. He clearly knew that stepping forward to greet her like this was already presumptuous, yet his feet seemed glued in place—even if he wanted to leave, he couldn’t.

Yu Tang was too beautiful.

Not to mention her features and height—even the shallow smile at the corners of her mouth when she spoke made him feel extremely sweet.

He and Pei Yan had already gone to see Wang Qibao and handed over the so-called “evidence” that Sun Gao had entrusted to him when leaving the capital. What awaited him now, besides Sun Gao’s curses, was the contempt of everyone under heaven. To extricate himself from this predicament, he hadn’t slept all last night and had already decided to marry Sun Gao’s daughter as his wife.

But now he had encountered Yu Tang again.

Right when he had just made his decision.

She appeared before his eyes with distinct colors, like a summer flower in full bloom.

Perhaps he could marry this young lady instead.

Although her origins were humble, wouldn’t this just prove that he wasn’t someone who pursued wealth and glory? That his falling out with Sun Gao was because he disagreed with Sun Gao’s methods, and had nothing to do with his character?

Thinking this, Gu Chang’s heart suddenly cooled several degrees.

But Miss Yu’s origins were truly too humble.

The fear was that he wouldn’t gain recognition from the Jiangnan aristocratic families.

He had already severed other sources of support in his official career. If his inner household couldn’t be peaceful and smooth, providing him with additional support… he felt such a life would be somewhat exhausting!

Gu Chang’s expression inevitably revealed a few traces of hesitation.

Yu Tang was extremely good at reading expressions. Gu Chang’s sudden familiarity surprised her somewhat, but his sudden coldness was within her expectations. After all, she and Gu Chang had no friendship—they simply both happened to be staying at Pei Yan’s private residence and had encountered each other by chance.

She took the initiative to bid Gu Chang farewell: “It’s getting late. Magistrate Gu manages countless affairs daily. I won’t disturb you further.”

Yu Tang’s face was more luminous than moonlight, her expression more serene than the moon’s glow.

A trace of attachment arose in Gu Chang’s heart, but more than that was the rationality that had returned after the initial joy.

“I didn’t expect to meet Miss Yu here. I was discourteous.” He performed a polite bow toward Yu Tang, and the two departed separately.

After walking a few steps, Gu Chang couldn’t help but look back.

Yu Tang wasn’t tall, but her legs were long. Wearing a waist-high pleated skirt, her waist appeared slender, and when she walked, she was as light and graceful as a deer.

For a moment, Gu Chang stared with somewhat glazed eyes.

Gao Sheng, following beside him, couldn’t help but remind Gu Chang: “Young Master, will you still be going to Magistrate Deng’s home tomorrow?”

Gu Chang actually hesitated for a moment.

The Magistrate Deng that Gao Sheng mentioned was Zhejiang Education Censor Deng Xuesong.

Deng Xuesong could be considered his friend despite their age difference, and he constantly dealt with masters and students from prefectural schools, county schools, and academies. Before Sun Gao’s affair erupted, he needed to gain Deng Xuesong’s “understanding” and “support.”

Speaking of studying, Miss Yu’s cousin seemed not to have even passed the prefectural examination.

Gu Chang sighed softly, his tone ambiguous: “I understand. Let’s return first.”

As for Miss Yu, he wanted to consider it more carefully.

On Yu Tang’s side, she was heading toward her lodgings.

Seeing no one around, Shuang Tao said in a low voice, “Miss, who is Magistrate Gu? Could he be Miss Gu’s elder brother?”

Yu Tang stopped in her tracks.

Caught off guard, Shuang Tao nearly collided with Yu Tang.

Yu Tang frowned.

Yes, she had experiences from her previous life and naturally recognized Gu Chang, but how would Gu Chang recognize her? And even take the initiative to greet her?

Could it be… that Gu Chang also had some miraculous encounter?

Yu Tang’s heart was filled with mixed feelings. Unconsciously, she twisted the handkerchief in her hands.

The tree shadows by the roadside swayed indistinctly. When wind blew through the treetops, the shadows swayed left and right, lunging toward her shadow as if trying to devour her figure.

Shuang Tao felt cold all over.

Then she heard a low, gloomy voice suddenly emerge from the pitch-black, unclear tree shadows: “Indeed! Miss Yu, how do you know Magistrate Gu?”

Shuang Tao was so frightened her heart nearly leaped from her chest.

“Who’s there!” she said tremblingly, gripping Yu Tang’s hand tightly, ready to flee with Miss if things went wrong.

Yu Tang’s face paled. She stared unblinkingly at where the voice came from, yet forced herself to remain composed as she shielded Shuang Tao behind her.

A figure slowly emerged from the tree shadows.

The bright moonlight illuminated his high, prominent nose, making his originally proud features half in light and half in shadow, revealing several traces of aggressive sharpness.

“What? Miss Yu can’t even recognize me now?” Pei Yan lifted his chin slightly, his expression showing some disdain.

Both Yu Tang and Shuang Tao breathed long sighs of relief. Yu Tang, disregarding propriety, even began to complain: “Third Master, people can be frightened to death by scares. You don’t know—I was just so scared my legs went weak. Why are you here? Didn’t you return together with Magistrate Gu? You saw me talking with Magistrate Gu just now? Why didn’t you say something? At least it wouldn’t have been just me and Magistrate Gu talking alone, which was quite awkward.”

“Oh!” Hearing this, Pei Yan’s eyes flashed, bright as starlight, yet he answered irrelevantly: “You found it improper?”

“It was alright!” Yu Tang said. “Since he greeted me properly, I couldn’t shrink back and not speak. But with one more person, it would certainly be better than just me alone. Fortunately, we only exchanged greetings. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t have acknowledged him.”

Pei Yan said nothing and nodded.

Yet inexplicably, Yu Tang sensed his mood seemed to have improved somewhat.

She looked at Pei Yan with puzzlement.

Pei Yan brought up old matters: “When did you meet Gu Zhaoyang?”

Yu Tang was feeling guilty and fearful about this very matter. Hearing this, she lowered her eyelids, somewhat evasively saying, “I don’t know either! Perhaps he saw me somewhere? I don’t remember.”

She was lying!

Watching her, Pei Yan’s heart felt like a tsunami was sweeping through it. He took several deep breaths before swallowing down the interrogation that had already reached the tip of his tongue, but then a dejected, disheartened feeling arose.

Since she was unwilling to tell him, he would act as if he didn’t know.

Pei Yan flicked his sleeve, deciding never to concern himself with Yu Tang’s affairs again. Yet even as he lifted his foot, he was possessed by some ghost as he said coldly, “Indeed! This doesn’t concern me either. I’ve overstepped.”

That tone carried an unmistakable contempt and mockery.

Of course Pei Yan wasn’t easy to get along with. Yu Tang had heard him mock others more than once, but mocking her, looking down on her—this was the first time.

Yu Tang was stunned.

Pei Yan was also stunned.

Although his manner toward people was harsh, he wasn’t harsh to everyone without distinguishing right from wrong.

Yet like this, when the other party had done absolutely nothing wrong, he still couldn’t control his temper and mocked someone—this was the first time in his life.

The two looked at each other, neither knowing what to say.

The air seemed frozen solid.

Shuang Tao fearfully gripped Yu Tang’s hand tightly, bringing Yu Tang back to her senses.

Pei Yan…

She smiled bitterly in her heart.

He was merely especially lenient toward her, yet she had developed presumptuous thoughts, feeling herself different from others, thinking Pei Yan wouldn’t treat her harshly.

In reality, she was just an ordinary person.

Pei Yan’s previous generosity toward her was merely because she hadn’t encountered his sharp-tongued moments.

She too felt her interest waning.

Yu Tang retreated to the proper distance she and Pei Yan should maintain. She bowed respectfully to Pei Yan and said in a low voice, “It’s getting late. Tomorrow morning I must accompany Miss Xu out early. I’ll take my leave first.” Having said this, without wanting to see what expression Pei Yan wore, she pulled Shuang Tao along and fled.

“Yu…” Pei Yan watched Yu Tang’s departing figure. He clearly knew that what he should do most right now was apologize to Yu Tang. Yet the words reached his lips, but he seemed to have his throat gripped—no matter what, he couldn’t speak them. He could only watch helplessly as Yu Tang ran away from before his eyes.

He immediately felt everything about himself was wrong. Walking wasn’t right, standing wasn’t right, speaking wasn’t right, silence wasn’t right. Chasing after her would certainly be improper, but not catching up to explain would feel even more unbearable.

Pei Yan wanted to ask the people around him, but looking left and right, there was only A’Cha who understood nothing.

His expression darkened at once. He said sternly, “Why are you still standing here? Let’s go back!”

A’Cha had no idea what had happened. Seeing Pei Yan angry, he quickly responded and trotted ahead to lead the way, not daring to speak at all.

Pei Yan tossed and turned, unable to sleep all night.

Until morning, when he sat alone in the spacious hall eating his morning meal and a servant came in to report that Yin Hao had arrived, he was still thinking about this matter.

Yesterday his actions had indeed been too hasty.

When Yu Tang had met Gu Chang—even if Yu Tang was unwilling to tell him, if he used some methods, he could find out no matter what. Why did he need to adopt such a domineering and crude approach, insisting on forcing Yu Tang to tell him?

This was all Gu Chang’s fault. Yesterday he had taken Gu Chang to see Wang Qibao. Everyone knew what was really going on, yet Gu Chang still put on airs, haggling with him and Wang Qibao. In the end, Gu Chang gained the benefits while he owed Wang Qibao a favor… Otherwise, when he saw Gu Chang and Yu Tang appearing to converse so pleasantly, his head wouldn’t have gotten hot, making him do something he shouldn’t have done.

Right! That was it!

It seemed his father’s concerns were justified. He still needed to devote more effort to cultivating his composure.

Thinking this way, Pei Yan felt his mood improved a tiny bit.

But regarding Yu Tang—what should he do?