Qingyun's Love: Tiger Boy Falls in Love with a Pretty Lawyer

Before class that day, Ajaan informed Ranmo that the time for the poetry gathering had been set, and the theme had been chosen. Participants would each share a love-related anecdote or story they had personally experienced or heard. Then, everyone would discuss and judge whose story was the most moving.

Ran Mo thought that this setting was quite good. It did not require knowledge of the rules of poetry and was not limited by personal experience. It catered to the needs and standards of the general public.

Even so, storytelling requires structure and technique. Hu Ling is undoubtedly the most qualified person to speak on this subject. With several novels and storybooks already under her belt, it remains to be seen what heartbreaking story she will unleash, one that will move listeners to tears and sighs.

Azan held his cheek with his hand and said gloomily, "Ranmo, please think of a story for me. I don't have any love stories to tell."

"You haven't experienced love yet, so naturally you can't talk about much. Of course, you can also talk about family and friendship, but it doesn't have to be that kind of love."

Azan's eyes lit up, then he chuckled and said, "No, I'm grown up now. I also want to tell some stories about love." His face turned slightly red after he said that.

Ran Mo smiled like an aunt. The child had really grown up. He then jokingly said, "Then think of a time when you had a secret crush on someone. If you embellish it a little, wouldn't it be a great piece of emotional writing?"

Upon hearing this, Azan turned his head slowly towards Ranmo. Ranmo saw that things were not going well and quickly changed the subject, saying, "You don't have to talk about yourself. You can ask your mother. They are older and more experienced, so they may have heard some touching stories or anecdotes that you can use."

Azan suddenly realized and hugged Ranmo's arm to thank her for the good idea. He then asked Ranmo what kind of story she wanted to tell.

Ran Mo was a little irritated. Originally, as she'd said earlier, she'd wanted to write a romance novel. Now, it seemed like she'd have to wait. The male lead hadn't been chosen yet. To be more precise, even though she had chosen one, it still left her feeling frustrated. She might as well hold off on writing for now.

Ranmo simply said he was still thinking about it. He also told Azan not to be nervous about the poetry gathering; everyone was just gathering for fun. For the students, it was more about learning from others' techniques and ideas in poetry writing.

Azan nodded. With Ranmo as his backbone, he felt more at ease. He was just an ordinary kid, not a social person. It would be beneficial for him to get in touch with the outside world and broaden his horizons with his friends.

He thought of another person and asked Ranmo, "You and Qingsheng won't remain silent at the poetry gathering, will you? That would be so awkward. I'm afraid I won't be able to pass on your message then."

Ran Mo knew he had good intentions, but he was also a bit carried away. He really needed to think about this issue, how to avoid affecting his speech while also avoiding that guy appropriately.

Early in the morning on a rest day, the poetry gathering was held as scheduled. The venue was chosen to be an elegant courtyard that Wu Shao was familiar with.

There is a rockery pond in the yard with gurgling water, surrounded by flowers and trees, and spider plants and vines hanging down from the top.

Sunlight streamed in from above, bright but not too hot. Teacups and the four treasures of the study were placed on the incense table. It was truly a haven for a small, elegant gathering.

When Ranmo and Azan arrived, the others were already seated. Young Master Wu invited them in, and the others rose to greet them. There were seven people in the room.

Wu Shao, Qing Sheng, and Hua Shao sat on the east side. To the west sat Hu Ling, who had come with Xin Er. Xin Er happily waved at Ran Mo, who nodded in response. He and A Zan sat on the south side.

Ran Mo intentionally avoided looking over there. Yet, he could sense someone's gaze constantly scanning his direction. Ran Mo had no choice. In a public place, if someone wanted to look at you, you couldn't just gouge their eyes out.

Young Master Wu gave an opening speech, saying that since everyone knew each other, there was no need for formalities in today's poetry gathering. Simply share your own experiences and experiences, as per the theme. Those who tell interesting or moving stories will receive a gift box of fresh fruit.

He glanced at Qingsheng and Hua Shao again and said that those who were perfunctory would be fined three glasses of wine and have to sing and dance for everyone. Everyone laughed. They had already prepared their stories and were just waiting to start telling them.

Young Master Wu looked at Hu Ling and said, "Today we are honored to have Miss Hu Ling, a talented woman from Dayue, here with us. I'm sure everyone here has read or heard of her vernacular novels. It was she who proposed this poetry gathering. I'd like to present you with a bouquet of flowers as a token of my gratitude!"

Hu Ling quickly stood up and bowed to everyone. Everyone applauded. Hu Ling accepted the flowers from Wu Shao and a bright smile spread across her face. Wu Shao asked her to say a few words. Hu Ling modestly began to speak:

"I am grateful for your kindness, which has allowed several of my humble works to reach your attention. I also want to use today's literary gathering to listen to stories from all sides and gather creative material.

If your story is compelling and detailed, we can collaborate on a novel. Everyone has their own story, and everyone can be a writer."

Everyone applauded and cheered. Hu Ling was truly an extraordinary woman, understanding the human heart and seeing far into the future. Her point echoed the one Qingsheng had raised at the garden party: poetry and prose weren't just for the literati; everyone could incorporate their own stories into it.

Ranmo agreed with this. In that internet age, the flourishing popularity of online novels created by the general public was a clear proof of this.

Seeing the atmosphere was already heated, Hu Ling stopped being modest and said she would tell a story to stimulate discussion. She also gave Ran Mo and Qing Sheng a meaningful look. She cleared her throat and began to speak:

"A long time ago, there was a young couple who met by chance while on an outing. They fell in love with each other at first sight. They got to know each other by chatting while admiring calligraphy and paintings at a calligraphy and painting stall. The man gave her a folding fan, and she gave him a sachet in return.

From then on, the woman missed him deeply. Whenever she was out and about or attending a temple fair, she would make plans to meet the man. They were in love and both followed the rules. To reassure the woman, the man went to her home to propose marriage.

But the girl felt that she was still young and afraid of her parents' criticism, so she didn't need to rush into it. For her, the sweet words and promises of the passionate love stage were the most touching.

Hearing this, someone in the audience sighed. Hu Ling paused for a moment and continued:

"Originally, nothing was amiss; the two were in love and contented with each other. Suddenly, one day, the woman unfolded the folding fan the man had given her and took a closer look. She discovered a clue hidden in the poem inscribed on it.

The inscription on it was written by the man himself. At first glance, it seems to be just a poem expressing his feelings.

As the poem goes, I came from the mountains and fell in love with orchids. The fragrance filled the path, and the orchids embroidered my brocade robe.

The woman, who had no idea where she got the information from, pondered it carefully and concluded that it must be an acrostic poem. The first four characters together formed the words "I love fragrant orchids."

So she asked the man, "Who is Xianglan? What's your relationship with her? Why did you include her name in your poem?" The man was at a loss for words and said he hadn't meant to, but that was just how she interpreted it.

The woman refused to give in, believing the man was hiding something and not truly in love with her. The man thought she was just joking and stopped arguing. But the woman became suspicious and started to act unreasonably.

At this point, everyone who heard it secretly blamed the woman for being too petty and making trouble out of nothing. But they didn't know what happened next. Hu Ling continued:

"After this ordeal, the relationship between the two became somewhat distant. Just then, a family came to the girl's home to propose marriage.

The girl was completely disdainful of the son of that family. She didn't dare mention the man in front of her parents, so she urged him to come and propose marriage as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly, after some time of contact, the man felt that the woman was not the one he wanted, so he hesitated and made excuses to delay.

Later, the girl's parents, considering the family's generous betrothal gift, agreed to the marriage. The girl was heartbroken, but she couldn't resist her parents' orders. She reluctantly married, missing out on a potentially good marriage opportunity.

The name of this story is "The Folding Fan Mistake." The plot is simple, but it serves as a warning to lovers: do not be too willful and unfoundedly suspicious, otherwise your good intentions will be shattered.

There was a moment of silence, then a burst of applause. They were moved by the moral of the story and applauded Hu Ling's eloquent storytelling and talent.

Ranmo shared the sentiment, but she also wondered if Hu Ling's story had a hidden meaning. Looking up, she met Qingsheng's penetrating gaze. How could she not understand the meaning behind that look?