Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with winning over Daiyu's favorability

When Lin Daiyu heard Deng Zechen relent and frankly admit his selfish motives, she immediately felt that what she had just said was somewhat petty.

But when facing Deng Zechen, she often has more unreasonable and troublesome thoughts than usual:

"So you're admitting that you only proposed marriage after achieving academic success for your own sake?"

In dealing with Lin Daiyu, Deng Zechen kept a close eye on her, but found that Lin Daiyu's favorability towards him did not change at all.

Based on past experience, Lin Daiyu is different from Qin Keqing. If Lin Daiyu has any dissatisfaction with you, your favorability rating will drop directly.

But since we've already come this far, and there's been no change in Lin Daiyu's favorability rating, then at least one thing can be said:

Lin Daiyu neither accepted nor opposed Deng Zechen's statement.

Deng Zechen cleared his throat:

"It's for my own sake, and also for Miss Lin's."

Lin Daiyu seemed unconvinced by this ambiguous answer, thinking, "Smooth-talking!"

Lin Daiyu's favorability rating: 84/100

Deng Zechen looked at the barrage of comments that suddenly flashed before his eyes after he finished speaking, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

You're just saying one thing and meaning another!

Lin Daiyu felt a little embarrassed when she saw that Deng Zechen not only wasn't angry after hearing her words, but even smiled.

But stubbornly refusing to show it, she simply sized up Deng Zechen:

"Many unfaithful people are scholars, and I don't know if you, as a scholar, are that kind of unfaithful person."

Without a second thought, Deng Zechen raised his right hand as if to swear an oath:

Heaven and earth bear witness that my feelings for Miss Lin are sincere.

"I will absolutely not let Miss Lin down. If I do anything contrary to what I did today, may I be struck by heaven..."

Lin Daiyu's face paled, and without thinking, she threw out the silk handkerchief in her hand. The light handkerchief lacked the force to hit Deng Zechen.

Deng Zechen subconsciously reached out and caught it, but the handkerchief interrupted his next words.

Seeing that Deng Zechen did not continue speaking, Lin Daiyu, who had already stood up and reached out, first breathed a sigh of relief, and then put her index and middle fingers together on Deng Zechen's lips.

This intimate gesture startled both of them, and a blush quickly rose to Lin Daiyu's face.

Lin Daiyu recoiled as if she had been burned by Deng Zechen, withdrew her hand, and slowly sat down.

Deng Zechen only felt a cool touch on his lips that was fleeting, and before he could feel anything more, Lin Daiyu had already withdrawn her hand.

"If you say it's there, then it's there; if you say it's not, then it's not. What's the point of making a vow?"

The handkerchief was still clutched blankly in Deng Zechen's hand. Lin Daiyu placed her hands on her knees, trying to grab something, but in the end, she grabbed nothing.

Lin Daiyu's favorability rating: 87/100

Lin Daiyu's favorability rating: 88/100

It wasn't until he heard Lin Daiyu's words and saw that his favorability rating had increased by two points that Deng Zechen was completely certain that Lin Daiyu was not truly angry, and was even quite satisfied.

"Alright, I won't say anything. I'm just glad that Miss Lin understands my feelings."

"Who understands your heart? You'd better go back to your books."

Otherwise, if they don't become the top scholar in the imperial examinations, won't they blame me?

Deng Zechen understood the joking meaning in Lin Daiyu's words, and his smile faded somewhat. He stood up and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lin Daiyu.

"Yes, I dare not disobey Miss Lin's command."

"Once I get back, I will definitely study diligently, burning the midnight oil."

After saying this, he turned and left before Lin Daiyu could react, feeling both embarrassed and angry. He only heard Lin Daiyu's voice when he reached the door:

"Come back! How could you take something else and leave like that?"

Deng Zechen then realized that he was still holding the silk handkerchief that Lin Daiyu had thrown at him, and hurriedly returned it.

Lin Daiyu then said:

"Your father entrusted me with all the books he used for the imperial examinations and brought them to the capital. Since you're determined to make a name for yourself through your studies, go ahead and take them."

Deng Zechen was overjoyed. Lin Tanhua's imperial examination notes?

This is great stuff!

"Thank you, Miss Lin."

Lin Daiyu nodded demurely, without responding to Deng Zechen, but instead called Xueyan in.

"Xueyan, send two people to the storeroom and find all the books that Father used for the imperial examinations and give them to Brother Shi."

"Yes, young lady."

When Deng Zechen left Lin Daiyu's house again, he was carrying a box that was half a person's height.

The Lin family's servants, who had originally intended to lend a hand, withdrew their idea upon seeing the situation.

They whispered among themselves as they watched Deng Zechen's departing figure.

"I never would have guessed that a scholar like Young Master Deng would have such strength."

"Isn't that right?"

Zijuan, who was passing by, heard this and gave a cold warning:

"What kind of talk is it to gossip about others behind their backs? If it happens again, you'll have to go and face the consequences."

"We were wrong, Miss Zijuan, please don't be angry."

……

Xiangling, who was at home, was surprised to see Deng Zechen return with such a big guy. She hurriedly tried to help, but Deng Zechen stopped her.

"Hey, hey, hey, how much strength can a little girl like you have? I can manage on my own, don't worry."

"Why didn't you ask the doorman to carry it in for you, Brother Deng?"

"Hey, it's more convenient for me to do it myself, I don't need them."

"These are all my own things; I'll just carry them to my room myself."

Hearing Deng Zechen's words, Xiangling didn't say anything more. She watched as Deng Zechen carried a large wooden box back to his room with ease.

After finding an empty spot to put the wooden box down, Deng Zechen patted off non-existent dust from his body before washing his hands, preparing to carefully examine Lin Tanhua's imperial examination notes.

With his eldest brother away and not yet returned, and his master rarely seen throughout the year, Deng Zechen had to study on his own until his eldest brother came back.

Lin Daiyu gave it at just the right time!

After all, Lin Ruhai was the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examinations, so his experience in the examinations must have far surpassed that of most private school teachers.

Since the eldest brother's return date is uncertain, we can't just wait idly. Why not stand on the shoulders of giants and move forward?

Deng Zechen opened a copy of the Book of Rites. In addition to the content he was already very familiar with, the book also contained annotations made by Lin Ruhai when he read it.

As he read through the pages, Deng Zechen also found several articles written by Lin Ruhai, which he found very helpful.

Before he knew it, Deng Zechen had become completely absorbed in it.

Since accumulating three points of memory bonus, Deng Zechen has essentially acquired the skill of photographic memory.

This skill is a killer weapon when it comes to studying, saving Deng Zechen a lot of effort.

However, the imperial examination did not only test whether students had memorized the classics; their writing ability was also extremely important.

This can only be improved by reading and writing more. Now that we have Lin Ruhai's exemplary articles, we should naturally study them carefully.

Qin Keqing knew that Deng Zechen studied very hard, so she never disturbed him when he was in his room. This was a rule that everyone in the family knew and followed.

But Deng Zechen hadn't come out of his room since he entered at noon, and now it was lunchtime again, and he still hadn't made a sound.

He then tentatively asked Xiangling:

"Young Master Deng has been silent inside for half a day. Should we go and call him out for dinner?"

Having spent more time with Deng Zechen, Xiangling understood that he was probably forgetting the time again while studying, so she nodded in reply:

"I'll go, Brother Deng is probably forgetting the time again."

Baozhu and Ruizhu had finished their meal at another table and left, leaving only Deng Zechen, Xiangling, and Qin Keqing at the table.

Xiangling had a small appetite and quickly finished eating. Seeing that Qin Keqing, who was also almost done eating, showed no signs of illness, she asked suspiciously:

"Wasn't Sister Qin sick? What illness did she have? She couldn't even get out of bed this morning, but now she looks much better?"

Upon hearing Xiangling's words, Deng Zechen recalled the absurd night they had spent together and began to cough violently.