“What about you? Are you feeling okay?” Yuan asked Meixiu, who was the only one left there.
“Just a little nervous,” she said.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. You might be startled by the demon’s appearance and aura at first, but remember, you have trained under my killing intent.” Yuan smiled.
“Un.” She nodded.
Once Meixiu also left to prepare, Yuan returned to his room and sat on the balcony with a zither in his lap, and for the next few hours, until it was time to gather at the backyard, he would play with the zither that once belonged to Azure.
‘Two… I have already lost two people that were precious to me to demons. There will not be another… I will do everything in my power to kill all demons.’ Yuan sighed inwardly as he recalled his memories as Tian Chenyu.
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Sitting atop a small green hill were two figures, a young man and a young lady, both seemingly around 16 years old.
The young man had a scroll in his grasp and appeared to be studying its contents with great focus. Meanwhile, sitting right beside him, the young lady appeared to be fiddling with flowers.
“Chenyu! Look!” A sweet but clear voice resounded.
“What is it?” Tian Chenyu responded without looking away from the scroll.
“I said look, not listen! Come on! You won’t die if you stop studying for a day!”
Tian Chenyu sighed and placed his scroll down before turning to look at the beautiful young lady sitting beside him.
“You know the scholar examination is next week. You even promised that you wouldn’t bother me if I came out here with you. If I fail this examination, I will have to wait another four years before I can retake it.”
“Don’t be so stingy. Do you know how many people would die to spend time with me? You should consider yourself lucky that I chose you. And with your intelligence, I’m sure you can pass the examination even without studying.”
“You chose me? Or do you mean our families chose each other?” Tian Chenyu shook his head.
Indeed, he was engaged to this young lady, but that was a decision made by their families.
“While that is true, I still have control over my own feelings, and I personally want to be with you,” she said with a slightly rosy face.
“…” Tian Chenyu also began blushing, and the two of them would silently and awkwardly stare at each other for the next few seconds.
“A-Anyways! Look at this wreath I just finished! I made it using the flowers in this area. Isn’t it beautiful?”
Tian Chenyu looked at the headdress made of white flowers in her hands and shrugged.
“Here, let me help you put it on.”
“Who said I want to wear…”
Before Tian Chenyu could even finish his sentence, the young lady placed the wreath on his head.
“Hehe… You look even weaker than usual now…” She chuckled.
“So annoying…” Tian Chenyu mumbled to himself. However, despite his annoyance with her, he didn’t remove the crown of flowers on his head.
Instead, he picked up his scroll and went right back to reading it.
The young lady smiled at his reaction, and then she positioned her body before laying her head on Tian Chenyu’s legs.
Tian Chenyu acted as though he didn’t even notice it and continued reading his scroll.
The two of them remained in that position for the next few hours until the sun was beginning to set.
“It’s about time I go home. I won’t be able to see you for another month because of my cultivation lessons, but I will come see you as soon as that is over.”
“So I will have a month of peace, huh? It’s been a while.” Tian Chenyu said as he packed his scrolls and stood up.
“How horrible. Do you really hate being around me that much?” The young lady said with a puffed face as she tried to act angry.
“What do you think?” Tian Chenyu said.
She pondered for a moment before responding with a cheeky smile, “I think you love me but you’re just too shy to admit it.”
“Whatever.” Tian Chenyu nonchalantly said, and he began walking down the hill.
“Wait for me!” The young lady quickly grabbed her stuff before chasing after him.
After walking for about 20 minutes, the two of them returned to the city.
“Chenyu, I know it’ll only be a month, but promise me that you won’t forget about me.” The young lady suddenly said.
“Really?” Tian Chenyu looked at her with a weird face.
The young lady didn’t respond and merely stared at him intently.
Tian Chenyu sighed and said, “I promise I won’t forget you.”
The young lady immediately smiled, “Then I will see you next month, darling!”
Tian Chenyu’s entire body trembled when the young lady called him ‘darling’, but before he could even say anything, the young lady turned around and ran away with a flushed face.
After returning home, Tian Chenyu’s father approached him and asked, “How was your day with Lady Ai Rong?”
“It was horrible, and I couldn’t get any studying done. Why did you even agree to let me go out with her when you know my examination is next week?”
“How could I refuse such a beautiful young lady asking to spend time with my own son? I would lose my qualifications as a father if I refused.”
“Whatever. I’m going back to my room to study. You don’t have to cook my share for dinner tonight.” Tian Chenyu said before disappearing into the house.
“He’s still having difficulties expressing his emotions, huh?” A beautiful woman suddenly appeared and sighed.
“He’s already finished his studies two months ago, yet he still pretends to be studying. Why can’t he just be honest and accept his feelings for Lady Ai Rong?” Tian Chenyu’s father sighed.
“Lady Ai Rong, on the other hand, is very expressive and honest about her feelings for him. It feels like their role as a man and woman are flipped. What a troubled young man my son is…” The woman sighed as well.
