The gentle breeze carried warmth, and in the study hall fragrant with books and ink, fourteen-year-old Yuanxi lay sprawled over her desk writing. Beside her sat a young man in a blue robe, absorbed in reading a book. Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting their shadows on the ground—one long, one short, silently facing each other.

After writing only a few characters, Yuanxi paused her brush and stole a glance at the little tutor beside her who was reading with such concentration, then secretly sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Without raising his eyes from the page, he seemed able to perceive all her movements and asked softly.

Yuanxi set down her brush and tilted her head with displeasure. “Today I heard father call second sister by her pet name. All my sisters have pet names, only I don’t.” Suddenly struck by an idea, she stared at him hopefully. “Little Tutor, please give me a pet name.”

He finally set down his book and after only a moment’s thought, smiled and said, “Very well. How about calling you Wanwan?”

She felt this attitude was too perfunctory, so she pouted and said, “If Little Tutor doesn’t want to give me one, then forget it. Why casually pick something to brush me off?” The little tutor continued smiling gently, picking up the brush she had just set down and writing the two characters “Wanwan” on paper. His brushstrokes flowed like dragons and snakes, rendering these two characters as graceful and elegant as morning breeze caressing willows. He said to her, “Wan means gentle and compliant. In the Book of Songs, in the Airs of Zheng, there’s a line: ‘There is a beautiful person, with clear eyes so gentle.’ So this is the name of a gentle beauty—how can you still be displeased?”

She listened with great delight, smiling until her eyes curved like crescents, carefully folding that paper and tucking it into her bosom. She felt the little tutor was the most learned person she had ever met, so naturally the name he gave her was the best possible. She wished she could immediately proclaim it to the world. But the little tutor said that a girl’s pet name shouldn’t be casually announced, nor should it be given by an outsider. So this became their little secret—only when alone with the little tutor would he call her Wanwan.

Later, after the little tutor left, no one ever called her Wanwan again. Now, even the little tutor could no longer call her that. Meeting again, he stood between mountains and waters, still wearing that familiar gentle smile she knew so well, yet he said to her, “Madam Xiao, it’s been a long time.”

Yuanxi suddenly felt an inexplicable sourness in her heart. She didn’t know where this emotion came from, only that it shouldn’t be this way. So she suppressed that momentary loss of composure, stood and bowed to him properly, then turned away, not daring to look at him again.

Over there, Luo Yuan called out clearly, “I have long heard of Marquis Xuanyuan’s great reputation. What unexpected fortune to encounter you today—perhaps we could travel together?”

Xiao Du glanced at him sideways and deliberately said in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, “A mere fifth-rank petty official dares to travel alongside me?”

These words were cutting, yet Luo Yuan showed no anger, still wearing his neither humble nor arrogant smile as he replied, “May I ask whether the fish and birds in this lake, or the grass and trees in these mountains, have any official rank? Since we’re here to enjoy the scenery, why be burdened by worldly vanities?”

“If you insist on following, then follow.” Xiao Du stood up, brushed off his robe, tossed out these words, and headed toward the boat cabin. Looking back, he discovered that Xiao Zhixuan and Yuanxi were still gazing over there together, which immediately made his anger flare. He barked, “The wind is strong here—return to the cabin.”

Xiao Zhixuan looked at him strangely. “In such fine weather, where is there any wind?”

Xiao Du glared at her fiercely, gritting his teeth as he said, “Evil wind!”

Seeing he was truly about to lose his temper, Xiao Zhixuan quickly ducked her head and ran into the cabin. Yuanxi also didn’t dare linger, lifting her skirt as she followed inside.

Once in the cabin, Xiao Zhixuan immediately pestered her with chattering questions: who was that person just now, and why did he know sister-in-law? Yuanxi glanced at Xiao Du, who was pretending to lounge casually to one side with apparent indifference, and said, “When I was still unmarried, the Xia family specially established an academy for the clan’s children—both boys and girls could attend, though girls only studied for one year. They invited Master Liu Wendao, a great scholar from the capital, as the instructor. Master Luo was his student. He had just passed the provincial examination and was waiting for the metropolitan examination, so Master Liu brought him along to lecture to us as well. Master Luo taught well and was kind and approachable, so we all called him Little Tutor. After I stopped attending the academy, I never saw him again.”

Xiao Zhixuan suddenly understood. “No wonder I found his conversation extraordinary and his character outstanding—so he’s a student of old Master Liu.”

Xiao Du snorted softly from the side. “Having met him only once, how do you know his character is outstanding?”

Xiao Zhixuan was still indignant about being inexplicably dragged into the cabin earlier, so she rolled her eyes at him and was about to retort when Yuanxi quickly coughed lightly and advised, “Stop talking—be careful not to wake Yunniang.”

The two indeed fell silent, simultaneously glancing at Yunniang, who was sleeping soundly not far away. After boarding the boat, Yunniang had felt unwell and had been resting in the cabin, with only that little maid watching over her. Now with several people crowded into the boat cabin, Xiao Zhixuan couldn’t see the lake scenery and was restlessly pacing about in frustration. Yuanxi leaned against the cabin wall, lost in troubled thoughts. Xiao Du lifted the cabin curtain, gazing at the small boat that had been following at a constant distance, and muttered to himself, “Just happened to encounter us… could it really be such a coincidence?”

After traveling for a while, the boat finally reached shore. Xiao Zhixuan escaped from the cabin as if granted amnesty, joyfully pulling Yuanxi as they hurried toward the estate. Xiao Du deliberately slowed his pace and indeed heard footsteps behind him. He suddenly turned around and said, “Scholar Luo has been following like a persistent ghost—what exactly are your intentions?”

Luo Yuan maintained that same composed expression. “This is my first time in these parts, and I can’t find lodging for the moment. I wonder if I might impose upon Your Lordship’s estate for one night?”

Xiao Du laughed coldly. “How did you know we were going to an estate?”

Caught in his deception, Luo Yuan showed no embarrassment on his face, still smiling as he said, “I wonder if Your Lordship might do me this convenience?”

“There are only women present—it’s inconvenient!” After saying this, Xiao Du strode forward without looking back, only hearing Luo Yuan call from behind, “If Your Lordship is unwilling, I certainly cannot force the matter. However, I do have one question I’d like to ask. Once I receive an answer, I’ll leave immediately.”

Xiao Du paid him no attention and continued walking forward. Luo Yuan hurried to catch up, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear: “Does Your Lordship truly believe that in the Battle of Pingdu Pass, Xia Zheng alone would have dared to delay the Xiao family army’s supplies?”

Xiao Du abruptly stopped, turned back, and stared at him intently. After a long moment, he laughed coldly. “Do you know that based on those words alone, not only would you lose your petty fifth-rank position, but your head would be hard to preserve as well?”

Luo Yuan looked back at him without flinching or fear. “I naturally know this, but without burning my boats, how could Your Lordship understand my sincerity?”

Xiao Du narrowed his eyes, staring at him fixedly. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

Luo Yuan swept back his sleeves and bowed to him. “I only want Your Lordship to understand: I know what Your Lordship is most worried about right now, and I can help you.”

Xiao Du’s expression changed several times before he finally laughed. “So you’re someone unwilling to remain subordinate, wanting to use schemes to climb upward. Unfortunately, you’ve miscalculated—I’m merely an idle marquis. Even if you rack your brains trying to curry favor with me, you won’t gain any benefits.”

Luo Yuan looked at him candidly. “What if I said I’m not doing this for profit or position, but simply want to help Your Lordship? Would Your Lordship believe me?”

Xiao Du glanced at him disdainfully and turned away. “Too bad I’m living quite comfortably now and don’t need your help with anything.” He paused in his steps, then added, “However, there are quite a few vacant farmhouses in the estate. If you don’t mind them, you may follow.”

The corner of Luo Yuan’s mouth curved in a slight smile. He straightened his back and followed behind him at an unhurried pace. The noon sun blazed overhead, casting the shadows of the group onto the dirt road. In an instant, they disappeared into a field of golden wheat.