Daily life in the academy

"Is there a lotus pond in the backyard?" Bai Zhi asked curiously.

Wenzhe nodded and said, "Yesterday we went to the hot springs and passed by a large lotus pond. It was dark at night, so we didn't see the whole thing."

Bai Zhi was eager to try: "Okay, let's go to the backyard this afternoon."

Yan Qingchen cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and finally returned to normal: "Then go ahead. I specifically instructed Steward Li to take good care of the lotus pond earlier."

Unfortunately, Steward Li also walked in at this time. He heard this and replied, "Young Masters, are you discussing the lotus pond in the backyard? In April, I specially invited a master to come and clean the pond, and now the flowers are growing well."

Mu Bailian became even more excited and asked, "Are there any lotus pods growing in the pond?"

Butler Li recalled for a moment and nodded affirmatively: "Yes, yes."

"Okay, then we'll go pick lotus seeds later."

Yan Qingchen asked, "Butler Li, what do you want?"

Butler Li replied respectfully, "The grill that Young Master Bai ordered the day before yesterday has been completed by the craftsmen and is now outside. I came here specifically to ask Young Master Bai to take a look."

"That's it?" Bai Zhi was even happier now.

Butler Li was infected by her smile and nodded with a smile: "Okay, the craftsman is still here. If you are not satisfied with anything, Master Bai, you can ask the craftsman to adjust it."

Bai Zhi immediately stood up and called out to Butler Li as she walked out, "Butler Li, lead the way. I'll go take a look."

Mu Bailian was a curious baby, and he quickly followed Bai Zhi's steps to see what the so-called barbecue grill looked like.

Only Yan Qingchen and Wenzhe were left in the room.

Wenzhe asked with concern, "Qingchen, you don't seem to be in a good mood today. Is there any bad news from the court? Or are you worried about something else?"

Yan Qingchen hesitated again and again, and considered his words carefully before speaking: "Azhe, if you found a friend who had a hobby that was difficult to talk about, what would you do?"

"A hobby that's hard to talk about?" Wenzhe asked.

Yan Qingchen nodded: "Yes, it's hard to say."

Wenzhe was filled with surprise when he received a positive answer. For a moment, he was possessed by Mu Bailian. "Is it Azhi or Bailian? What outrageous things did they do to make you angry? Tell me quickly, so that I can be happy too."

Yan Qingchen held his forehead and whispered Wenzhe's name, saying in annoyance, "Be more normal."

Wenzhe coughed lightly and said sternly, "Qingchen, regardless of who he is friends with or what kind of unspeakable hobbies he has, let's judge him purely from the perspective of a gentleman. No matter what hobbies a person has, as long as they haven't told others, they are private. I believe that no gentleman would casually pry into another's privacy. Perhaps that person's hobby has hurt anyone else?"

Yan Qingchen slowly shook his head: "No."

"That's it, Qingchen, are you worrying too much and thinking too much?"

Yan Qingchen sighed: "Am I really thinking too much?" It seemed like he was asking Wenzhe, but also like he was asking himself.

Mu Bailian ran in carelessly, picked up the teacup and drank it all, then asked curiously: "Brother Yan, what are you thinking too much about?"

"nothing."

"Oh." Mu Bailian glanced at Yan Qingchen, who was not in a good mood, strangely, and soon regained interest: "Brother Yan, Azhe, do you want to go check out the barbecue grill? Azhi said that we can make barbecue tonight. After hearing his description, I can't wait to eat barbecue."

Wenzhe also became interested. He stood up and patted Yan Qingchen on the shoulder, but said nothing. He only said to Mu Bailian, "Take me to see it."

"Come on, Azhe, let me tell you, Azhi said that at night under the moonlight, the four of us will gather around the barbecue grill and..."

Mu Bailian enthusiastically relayed to Wenzhe what Bai Zhi had said to him. Their voices gradually faded away, leaving Yan Qingchen alone sitting there in deep thought.

Perhaps, he was really thinking too much and was just reading a low-quality storybook... Then should he observe it carefully?

When Yan Qingchen stood up and walked outside the dining hall, the three of them happened to be walking back, chatting and laughing. Steward Li was also following behind them. He took the initiative to ask, "How about not cooking dinner tonight and just barbecuing in the courtyard? Is that okay?"

Seeing that he had finally returned to normal, Bai Zhi nodded repeatedly: "We were just about to discuss this with you, and we didn't expect that we would agree on the same thing."

It was noon now and the sun was bright. They decided to go to the lotus pond in the backyard to pick lotus pods after the sun went out at 3 p.m.

On the way back to the main courtyard, Bai Zhi came close to Yan Qingchen, tugged at his sleeve, and apologized in a low voice: "Brother Yan, I know I was wrong about what I did yesterday, and I promise I won't do it again." I promise I will never let you find out again, and if you find out, you will quit reading.

Yan Qingchen's first reaction was to see that he was also close to him, and then he shook his head in his heart. No, why would he think so? It must be because of the dream last night. Finally, he came back to his senses when Bai Zhi called out in confusion.

"Brother Yan?"

"It's okay. That kind of book is not serious. Don't read it again in the future." Yan Qingchen carefully pulled back his sleeves and moved two steps to the side.

Bai Zhi didn't notice at all and nodded obediently: "Brother Yan is right, I promise I won't watch it anymore."

Wenzhe turned his head slightly and saw the interaction between Yan Qingchen and Bai Zhi. He smiled inwardly. Only Ah Zhi and Bai Lian could make him so upset. He whispered to Mu Bai Lian, "Bai Lian, have you noticed anything strange recently?"

Mu Bailian shook his head blankly: "No, everything is fine."

"Nothing, I just feel like this vacation has been too leisurely. It would be more interesting to be in the academy."

"Azhe, are you serious?"

"you guess."

Mu Bailian looked at Wenzhe sadly and didn't want to talk to the nerd anymore.

***

Shen Shi

Butler Li had already prepared two small boats by the lotus pond for them to pick lotus pods. The four of them consciously divided into two teams, one team with Yan Qingchen and Bai Zhi, and the other team with Mu Bailian and Wenzhe.

Mu Bailian shouted, "Brother Yan, Ah Zhi, let's compete to see which team can pick more."

Bai Zhi replied, "What's the point of comparing this? Can we pick all the food we need?"

"How boring! There are dozens or even hundreds of people in the villa. If we can't finish the food, we can share it with them."

Wenzhe actually nodded in agreement: "It's rare to have such a scene, so it doesn't hurt to have a competition. Qingchen, what do you think?"

"Since we are going to compete, you better be careful. I have never lost. Is there any prize?" After resting for an hour, Yan Qingchen had fully recovered and was even eager to try.

This really stumped Mu Bailian: "Caitou... Brother Yan, you don't like these things of mine, do you?"

"We haven't even started competing yet, and you're already trying to boost others' prestige and destroy your own ambition." Wenzhe slapped Mu Bailian on the head, causing the boat to shake.