Xu Changâan was initially curious about how Yun Qian and Li Zhibai interacted, wanting to join them, but upon seeing the setup for a girlish tea party before him, he had one foot over the threshold but pulled it back.
He took a step back and cautiously said, "Sir... you chat, I wonât disturb you."
"Mm."
With Li Zhibaiâs nod, Xu Changâan gave Yun Qian a glance, then watched as the door slowly closed.
Xu Changâan: "..."
After a moment of silence, he descended the stairs, returned to the first floor, and looked at the fine rain outside the window before stepping inside.
If someone could see Xu Changâanâs expression, they would notice a strange look on his face, as though smiling, but with an undertone of helplessness and astonishment.
He couldnât help it; upon discovering that the usually exceptionally composed Li Zhibai was actually "nervous," he couldnât help but feel that way.
She was nervous.
Was she nervous about whether Miss Yun would like the candied fruits, incense, and soft blanket she had prepared?
Although it felt very impolite to think that way, at that moment, Li Zhibai had given Xu Changâan a sense of... a shy child encountering someone they wanted to befriend, but feeling helpless in how to proceed.
Until now, Xu Changâan had just thought of Li Zhibai as solitary, but now it seemed she might simply be... not good at interacting with people.
No wonder she always said Steward Zhu was a big trouble.
For someone like Li Zhibai, Zhu Pingniangâs social butterfly nature, able to chat smoothly with anyone, was truly her nemesis.
The fact that she would use rouge and think to prepare snacks for Miss Yun showed just how detailed her inner world was.
If not for the respect he held for his teacher, which still carried weight, Xu Changâan might have thought Li Zhibai was rather adorable...
As it was, he only felt that he had unlocked a new side of his teacher, seeing her as more human, and feeling closer to her in his heart.
And yet, there was confusion.
The teacher actually wanted to befriend Miss Yun.
Can someone tell him what exactly had happened?
Li Zhibai didnât want him to go in and see, and there was no understanding to be gained from Yun Qianâs side since, as events stood before, Yun Qian only said she asked Li Zhibai to apply some makeup for her and did nothing else.
How she managed to bewitch Li Zhibai was something Xu Changâan simply couldnât fathom.
"..."
ââ
Li Zhibai, relieved, watched Xu Changâan leave the room and exhaled a breath.
Her student indeed knew his boundaries well.
In fact, if Xu Changâan had insisted on joining them, it wouldnât have been a problem, but she would indeed have been uncomfortable... after all, Li Zhibai knew that what she was currently doing didnât match the image Xu Changâan had of his teacher.
Yun Qian, however, wasnât bothered by Xu Changâanâs departure, but after she stepped over the threshold, she glanced back and saw Xu Changâan give her a reassuring look.
"?"
A small question mark hovered above Yun Qianâs head.
Evidently, she didnât understand Xu Changâanâs intention.
She wasnât someone who felt uneasy when alone... pondering, Yun Qian thought that Xu Changâan was telling her to be patient with their teacher, not to brush her off too much, making it difficult for him.
But her feelings toward Li Zhibai were rather positive.
After all, under the arrangement of the Heavenly Dao, if not for her existence, itâs possible Xu Changâan would indeed have had three or four wives.
At that time, the main palace position would most likely fall to this unsettled elder sister before her.
As she was thinking this, Yun Qian saw Li Zhibai extend her hand to her, saying, "Sister, change your shoes, Iâve put down soft pads."
"Mm." Yun Qian took off her embroidered shoes, wearing white socks embroidered with flowers, stepping onto the plush pad.
Indeed, it was quite comfortable.
"Is the hand warmer too hot?" Li Zhibai looked at the small stove in Yun Qianâs hand: "If itâs too hot, I can turn it down a bit."
"Itâs not hot." Yun Qian nodded, standing at the door, smelling the sweet and sour aroma of candied fruits mixed with the peony incense... along with a familiar scent of wine, feeling slightly surprised.
She looked strangely at Li Zhibai but said nothing.
She was waiting for Li Zhibai to speak.
Li Zhibai might have also realized that her reaction was overly unusual, feeling a bit awkward as a host frozen before her guest.
She usually lived alone, lighting a single antique oil lamp, all other candlesticks empty, with the lampâs surface shining as new. Now, only a single flame flickered.
Li Zhibai gently blew out a breath.
"Puffâ"
A puff of flame suddenly appeared in her palm, then gradually brightened, floating to the center of the room, its burn casting light that dispelled the darkness filling the space.
This woman, who insisted on bathing, lighting oil lamps, and refusing to use the Teleportation Array, abandoned all her habits upon Yun Qianâs arrival.
Li Zhibai looked at her own Daoist robe, suddenly said, "Sister, wait for me a moment, Iâll go change my clothes."
"Mm." Yun Qian naturally had no objections.
Li Zhibai entered the inner room, but soon came out again: "There are snacks and candied fruits I prepared on the table, Sister, feel free to help yourself."
"I know." Yun Qian responded.
As Li Zhibai went into the inner room to change clothes, Yun Qian naturally walked to the table, her gaze falling on the wine being warmed there.
Had she been drinking alone before this?
In her husbandâs words... raising a glass to invite the moon, she becomes three with her shadow.
Their interests really were identical.
Yun Qian thought Li Zhibai had good taste, then went to the table, picked up a piece of candied fruit, and put it in her mouth, savoring as the sweet and sour flavor spread.
Because she cared about Li Zhibai more, and having been to this room once before, upon seeing it again, even Yun Qian could feel Li Zhibaiâs meticulous preparation.