She slowly moved her hand away from her eyes and looked down at Jiang Xueting below the wall. He was wearing a clean long gown, his face still boyish, stretching out his arms and shouting up at her, "It's fine, it's fine. I'll catch you. Jump now."
Being mischievous herself, she mustered her courage and called out clearly, "Xue Ting, you must catch me." Closing her eyes, she resolved to jump. The wind rushed past her ears—that leap, though only a moment, felt as if it lasted an eternity, so long that... her whole heart seemed suspended, like stepping into empty air and plunging straight into a bottomless black pit...
The door suddenly creaked open, followed by the sound of footsteps. Ye Pingjun, chilled to the bone, jolted awake from her dream and lifted her head from the sofa. Outside the window, the sky had turned into a dense, dark night. The reception room was lit, and Gu Ruitong stood at the doorway with several guards. Gu Ruitong looked at Pingjun and said politely, "Miss Ye, Fifth Master says he doesn’t want to see you anymore. Please go back."
As she walked out of Maple Terrace, the night was silent and vast. A guard led her out, while he watched her from the third-floor balcony, unbeknownst to her. The courtyard was illuminated, with pine and maple trees casting long shadows on either side of the cobblestone path. Her moon-white clothes fluttered gently in the night breeze. Though the surroundings were dimmed by the darkness, she still shone brilliantly, like a dancing butterfly.
He held a freshly brewed cup of Orchid Tea, quietly watching her from afar as he slowly raised the cup to his lips and took a sip. The tea’s fragrance was intoxicating. When her figure finally disappeared, the path lay empty, leaving only the dappled shadows of trees.
In an instant, his heart felt hollow, suspended in midair. Her image was etched in his mind—every smile, every slight turn, or every fleeting glance...
He stood there, motionless for a long time.
It was the depth of the night, with a pale golden moon hanging in the sky. As the residents of Chang’an Alley were mostly common folk, the area was especially quiet at this hour. The military car came to a slow stop. Just as Ye Pingjun was about to get out, Gu Ruitong opened the car door for her from outside. Pingjun stepped out and headed toward her home, while Gu Ruitong turned back and got into the car, which soon drove out of Chang’an Alley.
Listening to the fading sound of the car, Pingjun felt as if all her strength had drained away in an instant. Her head grew heavy and her feet light, and she reached out to steady herself against a nearby jujube tree. Only then did her frantically beating heart slowly calm down. Hearing footsteps approaching from ahead, her nerves—still taut from a day of fear and anxiety—jolted, and she hurriedly looked up. It was Jiang Xueting.
Pingjun let out a soft sigh of relief. "Xue Ting..."
He said flatly, "Where have you been?"Ye Pingjun detected a cold undertone in his voice, her heart sinking slightly. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. Jiang Xueting had waited for her at the entrance all day, watching her step out of the military vehicle with his own eyes. Her current expression only fueled his frustration, and his words came out sharp and biting, like frost and rain lashing down. "Don’t bother making excuses—I already know everything. How considerate of Fifth Master to arrange your transportation, send silk and pastries, and even exchange flirtatious glances with you at the theater, upstairs and downstairs. And here I am, already treated as the elder brother-in-law! I’ve heard there will be plenty more benefits in the future. Let me thank you now, dear sister. When you become Fifth Mistress, don’t forget to give me a leg up!"
Ye Pingjun’s face turned pale. Seeing his anger, she knew he had misunderstood. Her gaze remained clear and bright as she asked, "Who told you all this?!" Jiang Xueting let out a cold laugh. "Do I need someone to tell me? I have eyes to see for myself!"
Having grown up with him, Pingjun knew his temperament well. Rather than getting entangled in explanations, she decided to cut straight to the point. She pulled the Jade Hairpin from her hair and held it out to him, her tone neither submissive nor overbearing. "I don’t know where you heard these things, but if you trust me, don’t be angry—listen to my explanation. If you don’t believe me, take this Jade Hairpin and from now on, act as if we never knew each other!"
Though her straightforward words stirred some unease in him, Jiang Xueting refused to back down and lose face. He forced an air of indifference and retorted, "Why would I want something that’s already tainted?"
Ye Pingjun looked directly at him, enunciating each word clearly: "It is not tainted!"
Her unwavering confidence took him by surprise. Clenching his fists tightly, waves of fury surged through him. "Only if the person is pure can the object be pure!" he spat out coldly.
His words felt like a knife twisting in her heart. Ye Pingjun stared at him, tears welling up in her eyes. Though usually strong-willed, she was still just a young girl and couldn’t hold back her emotions. Her voice trembled with emotion as she cried, "What did you say?!"
Jiang Xueting let out a scornful "Hmph!" The rage in his chest felt all-consuming. He loved her so deeply, yet she seemed so eager for wealth and status. Stubborn by nature, once he had made up his mind, it was hard to change. He turned his head away, bitterness dripping from his words: "Only if the person is pure can the object be pure. If the person is impure, how can the object be anything but?"
Overwhelmed by heartache, Ye Pingjun felt her hands and feet turn cold, yet she stood tall and straight. Her gaze was sharp and icy. Seeing how little he trusted her, she saw no point in explaining further. Proud and unyielding, she refused to tolerate his suspicions and insults. Snatching up the Jade Hairpin, she hurled it fiercely in his direction, tears streaming down her face as she declared, "Jiang Xueting, here’s your Jade Hairpin back!"The jade hairpin struck him and bounced back, falling with a sharp "crack" into a dark corner. He still cared for her after all, immediately turning his head in panic to look. Under the moonlight, he saw her pale face streaked with tears, her body trembling uncontrollably in the night breeze. His heart softened instantly, and he stepped forward, but she pushed him away abruptly, running into her own courtyard. Without so much as a glance back, she shut the gate firmly.
The night was utterly silent, save for the rustling of the jujube tree in the chilly air. The dim streetlights cast a hazy glow, making everything feel drowsy and heavy. Jiang Xueting stood for a long time on the stone steps, silently gazing at the tightly closed gate, his heart feeling hollow and empty.
Hesitantly, he stared at the shut gate, his heart inexplicably racing. Her tearful, resolute expression lingered in his mind, and in that moment, countless thoughts swirled chaotically like a tangled mess. He murmured softly, "Pingjun..."
As clouds parted and ice melted, young hearts remained entwined.
In the morning, the courtyard was filled with the fragrance of pagoda trees. The old man selling Five-spice Dried Tofu carried his load through the streets, his calls of "Five-spice... dried tofu..." drifting lazily from the alley. Occasionally, early-rising women would open their doors to buy some as a breakfast side dish. Just as Madam Ye stepped out of the house, she saw Mama Zhao heading out with a basin. "Old Mama," she said, "going to buy dried tofu?"
Mama Zhao turned and acknowledged, then glanced at Madam Ye and peered toward the inner room. "The young lady..." Madam Ye smiled. "It's nothing. She told me everything when she came back. It really was her classmate Bai Liyuan yesterday. That child is quite mischievous, deliberately playing that trick to scare us."
Mama Zhao quickly nodded. "As long as everything's fine, as long as everything's fine." She carried the basin to open the courtyard gate, but as soon as she did, she felt a weight at her feet. Someone had been leaning against the door, and with it opened, they tumbled inward. Mama Zhao gasped in surprise, "Aiyo!" Upon closer look, it was Jiang Xueting.
Mama Zhao exclaimed, "Oh, it's Young Master Jiang! Madam Ye, come quick, what's happened here?" Jiang Xueting had slept outside the gate all night. Mama Zhao's cry woke him, and upon opening his eyes, he found both Mama Zhao and Madam Ye staring at him in astonishment. He hurriedly stood up, only to realize his limbs were numb and his body chilled to the bone. Seeing his condition, Madam Ye knew it must be because of Pingjun's temper. She hadn't expected him to stay outside all night and quickly said, "Xue Ting, come inside quickly. Look at you, covered in cold."
No sooner had she spoken than Ye Pingjun's voice came from inside the room, "Mom, don't let him in!"
Madam Ye glanced back toward the room. "You're being difficult again. Xue Ting has been freezing outside all night—how can you not let him in? Why do you have such a temper?"
Ye Pingjun didn't argue with her mother but stepped out of the room, glanced at Jiang Xueting, and said coolly, "Did you come to the wrong door? Our home is too dirty for a clean young master like you."Jiang Xueting looked at Ye Pingjun but ultimately remained silent. Madam Ye, observing their demeanor from the side and understanding the matters between them, knew they needed to resolve things privately. She turned to Mama Zhao and said, "Old Madam, let’s go buy some bean curd together." Mama Zhao nodded in agreement. Madam Ye gently nudged Jiang Xueting further into the courtyard before closing the gate and leaving with Mama Zhao.
Now alone in the courtyard, Ye Pingjun turned and walked straight into the house. Jiang Xueting took a few steps forward, stopping beneath the locust tree facing the main door, where he stood watching her inside. Ye Pingjun washed her face and combed her hair indoors. After finishing her ablutions, she came out to discard the water and, seeing him still standing under the locust tree, said coldly, "Step aside."
Jiang Xueting replied, "I know you’re not that kind of person. Last night, I spoke recklessly out of anger."
Ye Pingjun set the washbasin down with a clang and retorted sharply, "Please clarify, Young Master Jiang—exactly what kind of person am I not?"
Jiang Xueting met her gaze and said, "I know you’re not someone who craves vanity." Having stayed outside all night in the cold, his voice came out hoarse. Ye Pingjun glanced at him, noticing his fingers had turned pale from the chill. Her heart softened slightly, but she still responded, "How magnanimous of you to personally come and clear my name. I thank you for that."
Her voice trembled lightly, betraying a sob. Seeing her eyes redden, Jiang Xueting knew he had hurt her deeply, and his own heart ached with regret. "Pingjun, it’s my fault. I was overly suspicious. Please forgive me this once—I’ll never repeat this mistake."
Ye Pingjun rubbed her eyes, holding back tears, and silently walked to the stone table, sitting with her back to him. After a long pause, she finally spoke, "Jiang Xueting, let me ask you: why do you believe whatever others say? When those ill-intentioned people bullied me, instead of defending me, you fell for their schemes and took your anger out on me! If you distrust me so much, how could I ever rely on you if something truly happened?"
Jiang Xueting froze, unable to respond.
Hearing only silence behind her, Ye Pingjun knew he had no answer. She continued, "Let me ask you another thing: last night you spoke with such self-righteous conviction, so why are you here now, humbling yourself? How could you assume you’re inferior to the Yu family’s Fifth Master? If a man is as indecisive, timid, and insecure as you, what future can he possibly have?!"
Jiang Xueting was rendered speechless. Orphaned since childhood, he had lived under his elder brother and sister-in-law’s roof, growing accustomed to caution and conformity, yet always feeling liable to blame. Madam Ye, who had been close friends with his late mother and regarded him as her own son, had raised him alongside Pingjun, treating him with maternal care. Thus, he had essentially grown up in the Ye household. Yet, his temperament perfectly mirrored the eight words Pingjun had thrown at him: indecisive, timid, and insecure.Jiang Xueting stood under the locust tree and saw Ye Pingjun slightly lowering her head, her shoulders trembling gently. He lowered his gaze slightly, stepped forward, and said softly, "Don't cry, I was wrong." Ye Pingjun tried to push him away, but instead, he grasped her hand. His hand was slender, and as it held hers, Ye Pingjun couldn't hold back her tears. Choking up, she said, "Why is your hand so cold?"
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