Chapter 935 - 518: Beneath the Mask (Double - )

People wear masks in front of others, which is human nature; it’s just whether they wish to hide something.

Take Zhu Pingniang, for example, who always seems frivolous, gluttonous, lustful, and impatient, embodying three of the five poisons a girl should avoid. However, those who know about Zhu Tongjun’s existence would just smile knowingly when seeing such a Zhu Pingniang.

The seductive demeanor wearing a black dress before the Flower Moon Building, as if a gentle tug could make it fall, is just a mask. Li Zhibai understands this, which is why she’s willing to accompany her younger sister in mischief.

Li Zhibai is always such a serious person.

Yet even Li Zhibai sometimes hides her true self—like in front of Xu Chang’an.

She almost never appears before Xu Chang’an with her real face.

In front of students, she is always the serious, reliable, majestic teacher, this is a necessary aspect, not her disguise.

So, she is always dignified in front of Xu Chang’an.

But Xu Chang’an hasn’t entirely missed Li Zhibai’s true nature; he’s guessed some of it. For instance, the always meticulous teacher enjoys brewing a cup of tea during breaks and staring at the dancing girls of Muyu Peak in the rain.

Serious and rigorous is Li Zhibai.

The one who wears a little skirt to close windows and eagerly hosts tea parties with Yun Qian is also Li Zhibai.

Xu Chang’an is aware of this, yet it is precisely because of this, due to Li Zhibai’s seriousness in front of him, that makes him respect and like this teacher more.

In Xu Chang’an’s eyes, Miss Yun is so close to him that it transcends interpersonal relationships.

Thus, in terms of relationships, the teacher occupies the highest position, and no one else can compare to Li Zhibai’s significance in his heart.

Perhaps in this lifetime, he will never encounter anyone as influential as the teacher.

The guidance and help during hardships will be his most precious treasure.

Therefore, when facing different people, it is appropriate and necessary to wear a mask; it does not make one seem insincere.

Perhaps it is with the teacher leading by example that Xu Chang’an also wears a mask, the most solid being his identity as an ’Internal Affairs Steward’ on Muyu Peak when alone.

Taking tasks from the girls, completing them meticulously, not seeing what should not be seen, not listening to what should not be heard, not participating in inappropriate gatherings, just doing his own tasks.

It is precisely this serious attitude that allowed him to gradually establish a foothold at Three Officials Rock on Muyu Peak.

Xu Chang’an’s mask on Muyu Peak is almost never removed. Logically, only when Li Zhibai was teaching him, tapping his palm with a ruler and asking about his family, did she see his true nature.

As for Yun Qian.

Miss Yun’s presence at this moment, it’s hard to define her, so she’s not within the scope of discussion.

Even Xu Chang’an is like this, hiding the truth beneath a mask.

Yet there are girls in this world who show their real appearance to others.

Wen Li.

Wen Li’s appearance is always her truest form, like a clear spring, anyone who knows her a little can perceive this spring.

She has no secrets or matters people can’t know—including her feelings for her junior disciple, which she hasn’t hidden even from Yun Qian.

If she wants to drink tea with her junior, she drinks with Miss Yun.

If she wants to read a book, she accepts Yun Qian’s invitation to the study.

This is Miss Wen, the senior on Muyu Peak, whom Xu Chang’an respects as his senior... yet even this guiltless Miss Wen has gradually had concerns.

Listening to the opera in her ears, watching Xu Chang’an tease Yun Qian, she lowers her gaze.

She had never seen this side of her junior.

In Wen Li’s heart, Xu Chang’an always seemed steady, gentle, and tolerant of everything.

Even when Xiaohua messes around with his bedding, her junior always smiles helplessly, never showing this kind of expression.

Wen Li once thought she saw her junior’s ’truth,’ after all, his demeanor as a steward and at home with Xiaohua... almost like two different personas.

Because of Xu Chang’an’s affection and care for Xiaohua, Wen Li assumed she had seen her junior’s true self beneath the mask.

But now, watching Xu Chang’an ’tease’ Yun Qian, showing a mischievous smile she had never seen before, her heart suddenly... feels like it’s been struck by something.

Her heartbeat suddenly quickens.

Wen Li places her fingers together against her chest, showing an inexplicable expression.

A strange feeling spreads in her heart, yet she doesn’t know how to articulate it.

Perhaps...

When Miss Yun is absent, he is very tired.

Wen Li hadn’t noticed these details before, but seeing Yun Qian leaning on Xu Chang’an, she connected it with her junior who always walks alone, thinking of his ever-gentle smile when interacting with others.

It turns out, her junior is also lonely.

Wen Li tilts her head.

At this moment, if Wen Li knew that Xu Chang’an needs regular hugs from a girl to replenish ’Yun Qian’ energy, perhaps she would unlock a new image of him.

Wen Li suddenly recalls the unfinished painting at home that her master once found.

Her junior’s painting.

Although she inexplicably painted her junior at night, even though she had time later, she never continued... because she didn’t know how to paint the eyes.