In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

The sunlight was a bit too bright.

He looked down at the Analects in his arms, but what came to mind was the scholar's toes, frozen purple, and his weak words, "I'll just take a look." The dignity that could be bought with two taels of silver, the heaviness in his heart caused by days of hard study and chaotic thoughts, was suddenly pressed down by something heavier.

"Cui Langjun."

A soft female voice sounded from behind.

Cui Yutang did not stop walking.

"Young Master Cui, please wait." The voice drew a few steps closer, tinged with urgency.

He turned around.

A veiled woman stood at the entrance of the study, her eyes gazing silently at him. The spring breeze stirred her pale yellow skirt and veil; her figure was delicate, yet her eyes held a complex mix of emotions—gratitude, guilt, and something else he couldn't decipher.

"Thank you so much for your help today, sir," she said softly. "And the two taels of silver..."

"No need," Cui Yutang interrupted her. "I've bought the book; the transaction is settled."

He paused, glanced at the plaque of the study, and asked, "For your father's illness, would you like me to recommend a doctor? Master Xiao of the academy knows several retired imperial physicians."

The woman's eyes flickered slightly, then she lowered them: "Thank you for your kindness, sir. My father's illness... is an old ailment; he will recover with rest."

Cui Yutang said no more, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.

Even after walking a long way, he could still feel that gaze on his back.

But he didn't turn around. He quickened his pace and walked towards the clinic.

The morning light stretched his shadow long, and his sky-blue robe swayed gently in the wind. He remained upright, yet inexplicably exuded a more profound and solitary air than ever before.

Only after she had completely disappeared at the end of the long street did the masked woman sigh softly, turn around, and walk back to her study.

As the curtain fell, she whispered to the shopkeeper:

"From now on... if there are scholars like this, let them stand under the eaves and watch. Don't rush them."

The shopkeeper paused for a moment, then bowed his head and replied, "Yes, Miss."

After settling the scholar in, it was already late. Cui Yutang and the students who had helped carry the man back to the academy together.

"Brother Yutang, you're finally back?"

On Zhou Xuan'an's desk sat a familiar food box, a satisfied smile on his face: "Come and try some of my mother's pastries."

He opened the food box, and the golden pastries instantly whetted his appetite, their sweet aroma filling the air.

Cui Yutang looked at the pastries, his throat tightening.

"What are you spacing out for?" Zhou Xuan'an handed him a piece. "It's really delicious, I'm not kidding."

Cui Yutang took it, his fingertips touching the soft surface of the pastry, and he trembled slightly.

He took a small bite. It was soft and sweet, a taste he had never experienced before.

"How is it?" Zhou Xuan'an looked at him expectantly.

"...Very good," he said softly.

"Right!" Zhou Xuan'an laughed smugly. "That girl Yi Ge finally didn't lie to me this time. She said my mother researched it for a long time and failed several times before she finally made it like this."

Cui Yutang lowered his eyes and slowly ate the pastry in his hand. The sweetness melted on his tongue, but he inexplicably tasted a hint of bitterness.

"Oh, right," Zhou Xuan'an suddenly remembered something, "Did Yi Ge offend you at the door during the day? That girl is reckless. If she said anything inappropriate, I apologize on her behalf."

"No." Cui Yutang put down the half-eaten pastry, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and said, "Thank you, Madam... for your politeness."

"That's good." Zhou Xuan'an breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again. "But she only puts on an act in front of outsiders. At home, she's quite a handful, climbing trees to pick flowers, going to the river to catch fish, not acting like a proper young lady at all..."

The conversation ended abruptly there.

Zhou Xuan'an glanced at Cui Yutang, a flicker of something passing through his eyes, but he quickly smiled and changed the subject: "Let's not talk about her. The debate with Baidong Academy is in seven days. Have you made any progress?"

"I have some ideas." Cui Yutang got up and walked to his desk, opened a book, and said, "I need to sort them out a bit more."

"Our academy is counting on you, you really need to work harder." Zhou Xuan'an patted his shoulder.

"Don't make excuses to be lazy. It's everyone's responsibility to uphold the academy's reputation." Cui Yutang frowned as he looked at his nonchalant attitude.

"Yes, yes, I'll try my best. Just don't embarrass me when the time comes." Zhou Xuan'an said as he carefully put away the food box.

"By the way, I'm going home on my day off. What are your plans?"

Cui Yutang's hand, which was holding the book, tightened slightly.

"I haven't decided yet."

"That's perfect." Zhou Xuan'an's eyes lit up. "The day after tomorrow is the Lantern Festival. There will be lantern viewing, a variety of performances, and lantern riddle guessing. It'll be very lively. Would you like to come along? With your talent, Cui, you're sure to win the lantern riddle prize this year."

Cui Yutang's fingertips traced the edge of the book's pages, his gaze sweeping over his food box.

"I..." he heard himself say, "I'll think about it some more."

"What are you still thinking about?" Zhou Xuan'an laughed. "It only comes once a year. Master Xiao already said that there will be a two-day holiday for the Lantern Festival so that everyone can relax."

Cui Yutang remained silent.

He wanted to go.

He dared not, for fear of making a mistake.

"Then don't dwell on it for too long," Zhou Xuan'an walked to the door, turned back and raised an eyebrow at him, "otherwise the festival will be over before it gets too cold."

The door closed gently.

The dormitory fell silent. The candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows on the walls.

Cui Yutang stared at the words on the page, not turning a single page for a long time.

On the Lantern Festival, dusk was just beginning to fall.

The sound of the brother and sister bickering came from the east courtyard of the Xie residence.

"Zhou Xuan'an! You come back looking so lazy. How do you expect to pass the imperial examinations?" Xie Yige pushed open the window and shouted into the courtyard, "Our family is counting on you to bring honor to our family!"

Zhou Xuan'an lay back in his wicker chair reading a book, not even looking up: "Xie Yige, would it kill you to call me 'brother'?"

"We'll talk about it when you become the top scorer in the exam."

"With Cui Yutang around, you might not even live to see your brother become the top scholar."

Cui Yutang.

Xie Yige's heart skipped a beat.

"Is Cui Yutang...very impressive?" she asked casually, her fingers unconsciously twisting the sash of her clothes.

"He must be amazing." Zhou Xuan'an sat up, his eyes shining. "That guy is proficient in everything from policy essays and poetry to rites, music, horsemanship, and archery. He is the undisputed champion of our academy—the one you saw at the gate the other day."

"That's amazing..." Xie Yige lowered her eyes. "So... what does his family do?"

Zhou Xuan'an stared at her, then suddenly narrowed his eyes.

"Hehe, you might not know this if you ask others." He lowered his voice, mysteriously, "But who am I? He and I are best buddies, roommates. He came to Donglin Academy to study in a low-key manner."

"Zhou Xuan'an!" Xie Yige stamped her foot. "You've been rambling on and on! You don't actually know anything, are you just bragging?"

"How could I not know?" Zhou Xuan'an raised an eyebrow. "He's the famous Qinghe—"

The conversation ended abruptly there.

He stared at his sister's slightly flushed cheeks, then suddenly leaned closer: "Wait... Xie Yige, why are you asking about him?"

"I... I was just asking!"

"Just asking?" Zhou Xuan'an bent down, staring into her eyes. "You wouldn't happen to... have fallen for him, would you?"

Xie Yige's face turned bright red.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" She shoved him away abruptly.

"There's no best." Zhou Xuan'an put away his joke and looked serious. "You absolutely mustn't like him. His family... even the princess wouldn't look favorably upon them, let alone someone like us."