Daily life in the academy

"You're back so late, is Chu Shinan making things difficult for you?" Yan Qingchen put down the book and motioned Bai Zhi to sit over.

Bai Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought Yan Qingchen was coming to blame her for being late, so she calmed herself down. Fortunately, she had already prepared a plan: "Brother Yan, you know that Miss Chu and I have been through thick and thin together. I saw that she was a woman with many difficulties, so I took good care of her. She was very grateful to me for that, so she talked to me for a while."

Yan Qingchen tapped the table habitually: "Is Chu Shinan interested in recruiting you?"

Bai Zhi shook her head: "I don't know that."

"what for?"

"This must be Miss Chu's intention. I haven't seen Mr. Chu in the Chu Mansion for a long time."

"Knock knock knock—" There was a regular knocking sound. Yan Qingchen lowered his eyes and thought, but did not answer.

Bai Zhi asked curiously, "But is there anything unreasonable?" The boss has a well-developed information network and is more aware of the general trend. He must have thought of some hidden possibilities.

"A strange man stayed in the same room with my daughter for several days and nights, but Chu Shinan didn't do anything. Could it be that he really looked down on you, a powerless and poor boy? Doesn't this mean that he has never taken me seriously?"

Yan Qingchen's serious expression made Bai Zhi feel dazed. It turned out that he was thinking so seriously just because he felt that Chu Shinan didn't take him seriously?

Bai Zhi: “…”

She endured it again and again, but finally couldn't hold it back any longer: "Brother Yan, I think you are a little too worried."

Yan Qingchen raised his eyebrows: "What are your thoughts? Tell me."

"Only a handful of people knew about Miss Chu's experience last time. These people wouldn't want to destroy a girl's reputation. Besides, Brother Yan, you told the truth. I'm a poor, powerless boy, and Minister Chu would definitely look down on me. Not to mention that Miss Chu and I really don't have any personal relationship. If there was... he would probably want to kill me."

Yan Qingchen nodded, "Indeed, you should get some rest early." He was about to step out the door when he stopped and turned back to say, "Oh, by the way, when you were leaving for the banquet just now, Bai Lian came over and asked us to go to Xiyun Tower to listen to music tomorrow."

"When did anyone start singing in Xiyun Tower?"

"I don't know. Let's go check it out together tomorrow."

"Okay, Brother Yan." Bai Zhi smiled and watched him leave.

...

On the second day, after half past Si

Mu Bailian and Wenzhe's carriages were already waiting at the gate of the palace. They sent the guards at the gate to report. Soon, the four of them met, got on the palace's carriages, and went to the West Market together.

The weather was getting hotter, but not yet to the point where ice was needed to cool down. Inside the carriage, Mu Bailian fanned himself with a fan and curiously asked Bai Zhi, "Azhi, when you went to the Chu residence for a banquet yesterday, did Lord Chu give you any trouble?"

Bai Zhi had learned her lesson this time. She smiled and shook her head, "I didn't see Mr. Chu yesterday. Perhaps he knew I had three friends with powerful backgrounds, so he didn't dare to offend me easily."

Yan Qingchen laughed out loud and coughed twice to cover it up.

Wenzhe keenly sensed something unusual and said to the two of them, "You two have a secret. Qingchen has never smiled like that in front of us."

"is it?"

Mu Bailian nodded in agreement: "Yes." His eyes revealed a strong curiosity. If Wenzhe had dared to ask, he would have punched him.

Yan Qingchen regained his composure, his expression calm: "Don't you think Bai Zhi's words make sense?"

Mu, simple-minded, white-skinned, and thick-skinned, clapped his hands in agreement, "Yes, Brother Yan is right. Minister Chu must be afraid of us behind Ah Zhi, so he didn't dare to pick a fight."

Bai Zhi lowered her head to stifle a laugh, but Wenzhe said lightly, "Qingchen, you're incredibly tolerant of Ah Zhi. I remember you said before that you wanted a cute and intelligent brother, and Ah Zhi fits the bill quite well."

Mu Bailian didn't get jealous about this, and said righteously, "Azhi is the youngest among us and is indeed very likable. Not to mention Brother Yan, I treat him as my younger brother too. If Lord Chu really makes trouble for him, I will go back and ask my father to come!"

Yan Qingchen leaned against the wall of the carriage, lowered his eyelids and glanced at Bai Zhi beside him. His lazy expression was mixed with rare gentleness, and he hummed softly.

Wenzhe smiled broadly and spoke firmly, "I think so too. So... Ah Zhi, you don't have to be so reserved in front of us from now on. Although you try to appear open-minded, I can sense your deliberate concealment. We don't care about your background or your family background. Power to us is more about gains and losses, but you are different. You are pure and kind-hearted, lively and outgoing, and intelligent. You are unlike others."

Although he usually looks depressed and occasionally says something shocking, he is the most meticulous.

A warm current flowed through Bai Zhi's heart. She felt her eyes become moist. Before the three people noticed, she pursed her lips and lowered her eyes.

It turns out they all knew... but never pointed it out, and just cooperated with her silently. Is this what true friends are like?

"Crack--" the last barrier in my heart shattered.

The carriage was silent, and no one spoke a word.

Until Bai Zhi regained her composure, raised her eyes and smiled brightly: "Then I will be unscrupulous from now on."

Mu Bailian touched his cheek, recalling that day at the academy gate, and jokingly said, "So there's still restraint."

Bai Zhi snorted at him: "You deserve it."

Mu Bailian shrugged, looking like, "Whatever you say, I'm giving in to you now." Bai Zhi was so angry that she couldn't stand it for a while.

After this in-depth exchange, Xiyunlou arrived. The four people got off the carriage, and everyone stopped to watch, giving the impression of a street explosion.

Just as they were about to enter Xiyun Tower, they happened to run into an acquaintance.

Xue Huaiming also got off the carriage, fan in hand, with a perfectly composed smile on his face. Seeing Yan Qingchen and the others, he hurriedly greeted them, "Prince Yan, have you heard that Xiyun Tower has invited a new opera troupe? Come over and listen to the music?"

"What else could you be doing in a restaurant?" Yan Qingchen didn't give him any face at all. "But Master Xue is dressed so... elegantly. Could it be that someone in the troupe took a fancy to him and is planning to take him back home?"

Xue Huaiming was still smiling, without a trace of displeasure on his face. "Prince Yan, you're joking. I just came here today to listen to your music. How about traveling with you?"

"I'm here to listen to music. I have no interest in watching a peacock spread its feathers today."

Interjection:

Thanks to "Xi Mian" for the flowers~

Thanks to "Excited Little Bun" for sending the love-generated

Thanks to "Chennai Salted Fish" for sending the love power

Yesterday, I suddenly had the urge to play a Plants vs. Zombies hybrid. I got really into it. Shuishui will make up for what I missed yesterday today. Sorry, sorry~