Xu Chang’an was initially curious about how Yun Qian and Li Zhibai interacted, wanting to join them, but upon seeing the setup for a girlish tea party before him, he had one foot over the threshold but pulled it back.
He took a step back and cautiously said, "Sir... you chat, I won’t disturb you."
With Li Zhibai’s nod, Xu Chang’an gave Yun Qian a glance, then watched as the door slowly closed.
After a moment of silence, he descended the stairs, returned to the first floor, and looked at the fine rain outside the window before stepping inside.
If someone could see Xu Chang’an’s expression, they would notice a strange look on his face, as though smiling, but with an undertone of helplessness and astonishment.
He couldn’t help it; upon discovering that the usually exceptionally composed Li Zhibai was actually "nervous," he couldn’t help but feel that way.
Was she nervous about whether Miss Yun would like the candied fruits, incense, and soft blanket she had prepared?
Although it felt very impolite to think that way, at that moment, Li Zhibai had given Xu Chang’an a sense of... a shy child encountering someone they wanted to befriend, but feeling helpless in how to proceed.
Until now, Xu Chang’an had just thought of Li Zhibai as solitary, but now it seemed she might simply be... not good at interacting with people.
No wonder she always said Steward Zhu was a big trouble.
For someone like Li Zhibai, Zhu Pingniang’s social butterfly nature, able to chat smoothly with anyone, was truly her nemesis.
The fact that she would use rouge and think to prepare snacks for Miss Yun showed just how detailed her inner world was.
If not for the respect he held for his teacher, which still carried weight, Xu Chang’an might have thought Li Zhibai was rather adorable...
As it was, he only felt that he had unlocked a new side of his teacher, seeing her as more human, and feeling closer to her in his heart.
And yet, there was confusion.
The teacher actually wanted to befriend Miss Yun.
Can someone tell him what exactly had happened?
Li Zhibai didn’t want him to go in and see, and there was no understanding to be gained from Yun Qian’s side since, as events stood before, Yun Qian only said she asked Li Zhibai to apply some makeup for her and did nothing else.
How she managed to bewitch Li Zhibai was something Xu Chang’an simply couldn’t fathom.
Li Zhibai, relieved, watched Xu Chang’an leave the room and exhaled a breath. The source of this content ɪs ɴoᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt
Her student indeed knew his boundaries well.
In fact, if Xu Chang’an had insisted on joining them, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but she would indeed have been uncomfortable... after all, Li Zhibai knew that what she was currently doing didn’t match the image Xu Chang’an had of his teacher.
Yun Qian, however, wasn’t bothered by Xu Chang’an’s departure, but after she stepped over the threshold, she glanced back and saw Xu Chang’an give her a reassuring look.
A small question mark hovered above Yun Qian’s head.
Evidently, she didn’t understand Xu Chang’an’s intention.
She wasn’t someone who felt uneasy when alone... pondering, Yun Qian thought that Xu Chang’an was telling her to be patient with their teacher, not to brush her off too much, making it difficult for him.
But her feelings toward Li Zhibai were rather positive.
After all, under the arrangement of the Heavenly Dao, if not for her existence, it’s possible Xu Chang’an would indeed have had three or four wives.
At that time, the main palace position would most likely fall to this unsettled elder sister before her.
As she was thinking this, Yun Qian saw Li Zhibai extend her hand to her, saying, "Sister, change your shoes, I’ve put down soft pads."
"Mm." Yun Qian took off her embroidered shoes, wearing white socks embroidered with flowers, stepping onto the plush pad.
Indeed, it was quite comfortable.
"Is the hand warmer too hot?" Li Zhibai looked at the small stove in Yun Qian’s hand: "If it’s too hot, I can turn it down a bit."
"It’s not hot." Yun Qian nodded, standing at the door, smelling the sweet and sour aroma of candied fruits mixed with the peony incense... along with a familiar scent of wine, feeling slightly surprised.
She looked strangely at Li Zhibai but said nothing.
She was waiting for Li Zhibai to speak.
Li Zhibai might have also realized that her reaction was overly unusual, feeling a bit awkward as a host frozen before her guest.
She usually lived alone, lighting a single antique oil lamp, all other candlesticks empty, with the lamp’s surface shining as new. Now, only a single flame flickered.
Li Zhibai gently blew out a breath.
A puff of flame suddenly appeared in her palm, then gradually brightened, floating to the center of the room, its burn casting light that dispelled the darkness filling the space.
This woman, who insisted on bathing, lighting oil lamps, and refusing to use the Teleportation Array, abandoned all her habits upon Yun Qian’s arrival.
Li Zhibai looked at her own Daoist robe, suddenly said, "Sister, wait for me a moment, I’ll go change my clothes."
"Mm." Yun Qian naturally had no objections.
Li Zhibai entered the inner room, but soon came out again: "There are snacks and candied fruits I prepared on the table, Sister, feel free to help yourself."
"I know." Yun Qian responded.
As Li Zhibai went into the inner room to change clothes, Yun Qian naturally walked to the table, her gaze falling on the wine being warmed there.
Had she been drinking alone before this?
In her husband’s words... raising a glass to invite the moon, she becomes three with her shadow.
Their interests really were identical.
Yun Qian thought Li Zhibai had good taste, then went to the table, picked up a piece of candied fruit, and put it in her mouth, savoring as the sweet and sour flavor spread.
Because she cared about Li Zhibai more, and having been to this room once before, upon seeing it again, even Yun Qian could feel Li Zhibai’s meticulous preparation.