"How long do you plan to stay this time?" An Jing, while picking up a pellet drum to amuse An Yiqing, asked Li Wuyu.
Li Wuyu replied, "I’ll stay for just three or four days before I have to go back."
After a short pause, Li Wuyu added in more detail, "My father didn’t want me to come; it’s already March, and in July Youbao will have completed his mourning period. He can then welcome me into his household, so my father wants me to spend more time with him at home. However, I haven’t seen my Youbao and you, my teachers, in such a long time; I missed you all terribly, so I came. But I need to return early to keep my father company."
An Jing nodded and said, "Your father only has you for a daughter. Once you are married, you won’t be able to keep him company like you do now as a maiden. It’s good to spend more time with him while you still can."
Li Wuyu said, "I know."
"Did you go to Youbao’s house to look for him? Did his family tell you where Youbao went?"
"Yu Erming said Youbao went to the county to check on his restaurant business and probably won’t be back until it’s nearly dark, so I didn’t bother waiting and came here to you, my teacher."
"Then you should stay for lunch."
Li Wuyu was about to agree with a "yes," but before the word could leave her lips, she heard the sound of approaching horse hooves and instantly smiled, saying, "Teacher, your home is bustling with excitement. Not only have I arrived, but it seems we have another guest."
An Jing also laughed, "Actually, we seldom have guests. Yet as soon as you arrive, another appears; perhaps it’s you who brought them."
No sooner had An Jing finished speaking than Wang Youbao’s voice came from outside, "Changyi, An Jing, is Wuyu with you?"
Hearing Wang Youbao’s voice, An Jing immediately laughed, "See, it really was you who brought him."
With her beloved coming to find her, Li Wuyu had no interest in responding to An Jing. She got up to open the courtyard door, excitedly calling out, "Youbao, I’m here!"
As the courtyard door swung open.
Both were especially happy, yet out of respect for social proprieties, neither of them reached for a hug or held hands. Instead, they just stood at the courtyard entrance, looking at each other.
In my eyes there’s only you; in your eyes there’s only me.
The air turned so sweet, it was almost cloying.
Watching Wang Youbao and Li Wuyu stand at the courtyard entrance, exchanging looks of deep affection and sweetness, An Jing first waited a moment before saying with a laugh, "Youbao, Wuyu just said you went to the county to check on the restaurant. How is it that as soon as Wuyu arrived, you followed right behind?"
Wang Youbao exchanged another sugary look with Li Wuyu before walking toward An Jing with her, saying with a smile, "I was originally planning to go to the county, but in the end, I decided against it and just checked on the restaurant in town. As soon as I got home and heard that Wuyu had come, I went to look for her at your place."
An Jing said, "Wuyu was planning to stay here for lunch you know, do you want to stay too?"
Before Wang Youbao could answer, Li Wuyu quickly interjected, "Teacher, Youbao and I will come for lunch tomorrow. Let’s forget about today."
Wang Youbao’s face was suffused with a smile, his eyes filled with adoration as he looked at Li Wuyu.
"Oh, now that your sweetheart has come for you, you just want to go back with him?"
Not waiting for Li Wuyu to speak, An Jing continued with a laugh, "Alright, alright, I won’t keep you any longer. Go back with Youbao. You two haven’t seen each other for so long; it’s time you had a good chat and eased the longing of being apart for such a lengthy period."
Both Li Wuyu and Wang Youbao’s cheeks turned a slight red, but they still walked away sweetly and happily together.