Chapter 24: Stop Talking Nonsense, Whatever I Say Goes

Lu Shujin stared at him, stunned, not knowing how to react for a moment.

Just now, she had been wondering which young master with a broken mind would cause such a ruckus in the middle of the night, moving into the academy dormitory and disturbing everyone’s peace.

But now that she saw it was Xiao Jin, it actually made perfect sense. It seemed like only he would be this impulsive, acting on a whim.

Xiao Jin must have come directly from the yamen after finishing his work, still wearing his official attire. His face showed a lazy, sleepy expression. Just as he stepped two paces past the threshold, he suddenly turned his head, looking at Lu Shujin through the gap beside the screen.

He originally thought Lu Shujin would already be asleep, but unexpectedly, she was sitting neatly dressed by the bedside, staring at him with wide, surprised eyes.

Xiao Jin turned his steps, walked around the screen to her bedside, and was about to ask why she wasn’t asleep yet when something seemed to occur to him. His brows furrowed, his eyes turned sharp, and he pointed at Lu Shujin. “Stand up.”

Puzzled, Lu Shujin stood up and softly asked, “Young Master Xiao, what brings you here in the middle of the night?”

“Stop interrupting.” Xiao Jin waved his hand, still wearing a stern expression. “Let me ask you—have you done anything to wrong me?”

Lu Shujin replied that she had not.

“Haven’t?” Xiao Jin snorted. “Back at the yamen, that pig-headed Liu Quan already confessed everything. Did you tell him we weren’t in cahoots and that he should come haunt me for revenge after he became a ghost?”

Lu Shujin didn’t show the slightest hint of panic. She merely averted her gaze without admitting or denying it. “Liu Quan is a man full of nonsense, always making up stories behind people’s backs.”

“That’s true.” Xiao Jin acknowledged, but his expression immediately darkened. “But do you think I can’t tell if it’s nonsense?”

He pointed at the inner wall, his tone irritable. “Go stand facing the wall. I’ll deal with you after I finish bathing.”

Lu Shujin had nothing more to say. She walked to the innermost wall and stood facing it, though she wasn’t reflecting on her actions.

Xiao Jin was usually a young master accustomed to ordering others around, but he found this dormitory unbearably cramped. With a large screen set up in the middle, even two people made the room feel so crowded that they could barely move. He had dismissed his other attendants, leaving them to guard the door outside.

Moving with his usual casualness, Xiao Jin started taking off his outer robe while walking. He removed his inner shirt, revealing lean, well-defined arms.

The room was lit by two lamps—one on the candle stand on Lu Shujin’s desk, and the other a tall ivory-carved floor lamp by Xiao Jin’s bedside, casting a soft light that highlighted his fair skin.

Lu Shujin slightly turned her head to look at the ground and saw his shadow, cast by the lamp. Seeing him take off his upper garment, she hurriedly shifted her gaze, not daring to look even at the shadow.

Xiao Jin paid no attention to this. He stepped into the bath chamber with his upper body bare. Upon entering, he found it even smaller than expected—a round stone pool with all the bathing supplies set on a small side table.

The pool was likely used by Lu Shujin. Xiao Jin, being obsessively particular, refused to use it despite his attendants having cleaned it several times. Instead, he used a basin to pour water over himself.

In fact, what he heard tonight at the yamen wasn’t just that. They also mentioned Lu Shujin admitting that the incident at Baili Pond was her deliberate scheme, using him to teach Liu Quan a lesson.

Xiao Jin had always been aware of this and didn’t get angry initially, but hearing how quickly she tried to distance herself from him infuriated him.

Originally, Xiao Jin planned to give An’er some silver to humiliate Lu Shujin, shattering any romantic notions she had of redeeming someone from the brothel. But today, when she was caught cheating in the test and all the blame fell on him, Lu Shujin ended up with teary eyes, sobbing pitifully.

Seeing her so fragile, Xiao Jin worried that his original plan might devastate her.

To guide Lu Shujin onto the right path without leaving her heartbroken, he came up with the later strategy. Even though it was all a misunderstanding from the start, he had still put in effort.

He had arranged for a physician to treat her injuries, helped send that neighboring sister back home, and even moved into the academy dormitory. Yet here she was, trying to sever all ties with him in a heartbeat.

“Outrageous! This little brat!” Xiao Jin thought, feeling his anger surge.

He washed himself clean, dried off, and draped himself in a cool, silk robe. Pushing open the door, he originally intended to give the little bookworm a proper scolding, but the sight before him stopped him short.

Lu Shujin was still standing in the same spot, facing the wall, completely motionless, her head slightly lowered, eyelashes drooping.

Hearing the noise, she turned to look at him. Half of her face was bathed in the warm yellow light, her long lashes casting a dense shadow, but they couldn’t hide her beautiful almond-shaped eyes.

For some reason, Xiao Jin’s anger vanished instantly.

He thought to himself, why get angry at this timid, weak kid who would rub his palm for ages after a slap or cry when caught cheating? It wasn’t worth it.

“Come here,” he said sternly.

Lu Shujin took two steps forward but stopped a few steps away. Xiao Jin had just finished bathing, and steam was still rising from his body. Water droplets on his neck slid down his throat, disappearing beneath his open collar. Lu Shujin had never seen such a sight before and quickly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

“Feeling guilty, are we?” Xiao Jin pretended to be stern, staring at her. “Do you know what you did wrong?”

Lu Shujin raised her head to meet his eyes directly, pressed her lips together, and said, “I know I was wrong.”

“Will you try to sever ties with me again?” Xiao Jin asked.

She shook her head.

“Then let me hear you call me ‘Big Brother Xiao.’”

She obediently followed, “Big Brother Xiao.”

“Not good enough. Try ‘Brother Xiao.’”

“Brother Xiao.”

“Now say ‘Brother Xiao Jin.’”

Lu Shujin: “…” She couldn’t understand how he had so much energy.

Seeing her hesitate, Xiao Jin’s eyes widened, ready to pick a fight. “I knew you weren’t sincerely admitting your mistake!”

Lu Shujin quickly pleaded, “Brother Xiao Jin, please don’t be upset. It’s already late at night; we’ll disturb others.”

She had no intention of befriending these noble young masters or forming cliques, but Xiao Jin was a big troublemaker. If she didn’t go along with him now, he’d probably keep this up until morning.

“Fine, I’ll let this matter go for now. Since you called me your brother, no one will dare bully you in Yuncheng in the future.” Xiao Jin finally looked a bit satisfied, waving his hand before throwing himself onto the bed. “Blow out the light and get some rest. You don’t need to stand facing the wall anymore.”

Lu Shujin breathed a sigh of relief. She walked over, carefully lifted the ivory lampshade, puffed her cheeks, and blew out the flame. Placing the lampshade back, she glanced at Xiao Jin, who had already closed his eyes but was clearly still awake. Not daring to linger, she turned, walked around the screen, and returned to her bed.

She blew out the small lamp on her desk, plunging the room into complete darkness. Moving quietly, she climbed into bed, her mind still in a daze.

She had expected Liu Quan to seize the opportunity to tell Xiao Jin everything she said tonight—twisting her words, exaggerating how she had manipulated Xiao Jin. But when Xiao Jin showed up, he only made an issue of her trying to sever ties with him, saying nothing about the rest.

Either Liu Quan didn’t report the rest, or Xiao Jin saw through her little schemes all along. His mind was as clear as a mirror, so he didn’t care then, and he didn’t care now.

Lu Shujin leaned towards the latter guess, further confirming her belief that Xiao Jin was not as foolish as he appeared on the surface.

But what she couldn’t figure out was this: today, Xiao Jin exposed a huge scandal, reporting the Liu family’s illegal hoarding of government silver to the authorities. Tomorrow, when this news spreads, it will cause an uproar in Yuncheng. Once the higher authorities convict them, the entire Liu family will likely be executed.

During the time between reporting this to the capital and the final sentencing, Xiao Jin’s safety was far from guaranteed. Why would he move into the academy dormitory instead of staying in the heavily guarded Xiao Residence, which was much safer?

Moreover, the Liu family was now like a clay idol crossing a river—barely able to protect themselves. They were likely panicking and struggling to survive, having neither the means nor the energy to trouble Xiao Jin.

If they truly had the power to deal with him, they wouldn’t have publicly claimed that Liu Quan’s broken arm was caused by a fall.

Lu Shujin couldn’t understand Xiao Jin’s purpose for moving into the dormitory, and she was even more worried about the various troubles of sharing a room with a man. Turning to face the wall, she sighed softly, thinking she needed to figure out a way to force Xiao Jin out. Otherwise, she would have to rent a place close to the academy instead—she absolutely couldn’t share a room with him for long.

Maybe she was truly exhausted, for she soon fell into a deep sleep, not waking until the sun was high in the sky.

When she opened her eyes, bright sunlight pierced through the window, almost blinding her. Her first instinct was to shield her eyes with the back of her hand as she slowly sat up.

Her senses gradually returned, and she heard the noise outside—some were loudly reciting lessons, others were chatting and laughing.

Unless she was seriously ill and bedridden, she had never woken up this late before. But it was understandable—after all, Xiao Jin had caused so much trouble last night.

She had fallen asleep fully dressed, and now her clothes were wrinkled and hung loosely on her.

With a sigh, Lu Shujin began to smooth out the creases.

Unexpectedly, her sigh woke Xiao Jin.

As the only legitimate son of the Xiao family and the youngest, second only to Xiao Yunye in status, Xiao Jin had always been pampered in every aspect. Although he had this noble upbringing, he didn’t have trouble sleeping in unfamiliar places—he could sleep anywhere. But he couldn’t stand constant noise.

The dormitory at Haizhou Academy housed mostly students from other regions, all diligent and motivated. Some even got up before dawn. Xiao Jin had sharp hearing—he could hear every door and window that opened nearby.

Worse, the trees around the dormitory meant more mosquitoes. Their bites left him restless all night.

Caught between sleeping and waking repeatedly, it wasn’t until daylight, when he heard Lu Shujin getting up, that he finally stirred awake.

The moment he opened his eyes, his face was filled with irritation. Sitting up, he grabbed a soft pillow and threw it at the door, shouting in a hoarse voice, “Someone, get in here!”

Startled, Lu Shujin looked up just as the door swung open, and a servant quickly bowed and entered. “Young Master, what are your orders?”

“This place is noisier than a pigsty! Find someone to reinforce the doors and windows, and install soundproofing immediately!” Xiao Jin’s annoyed voice came from behind the screen, thick with sleep.

Lu Shujin peeked out from behind the screen, only to see Xiao Jin sitting on the bed with his robe half-open, exposing his fair, toned chest. A spot on his neck seemed to have been bitten by a mosquito, and three red scratch marks marred his pale skin from his rough scratching.

His mouth was set in a displeased line, and his brows were tightly knit. The frustration on his face was evident—clearly, his night here hadn’t been pleasant.

Lu Shujin’s heart lightened. When he discovered more and more problems with this place, would this pampered young master still be willing to stay?

Xiao Jin, oblivious to her thoughts, kept scratching the itchy spot on his neck. “Also, prepare mosquito-repellent incense and itch-relief balm. Fumigate this room from top to bottom—don’t leave a single corner untouched.”

The servant bowed in acknowledgment. “Young Master, would you like to wash up? Breakfast is ready.”

Xiao Jin grunted in reply. As he got out of bed, he carelessly shrugged off his silk robe, letting it hang loosely on his arm. But when he inadvertently glanced over, he saw a small head peeking out from behind the screen—two dark eyes staring at him. He froze.

His undressing had been a casual, unconscious action as he got out of bed. Lu Shujin hadn’t had the chance to look away and was caught off guard.

Remembering he was woken up by her noise, Xiao Jin’s irritation returned. Thinking about how she had to endure this noisy dormitory every day made him pity her. He spoke to the servant again, “Prepare an extra portion of breakfast.”

For years, Lu Shujin had always slept alone. Waking up to find someone else in the room was an awkward adjustment. Not knowing what to say, she chose to avoid a greeting altogether. Turning around, she grabbed a wooden bucket, planning to fetch water for washing up.

But Xiao Jin’s young master temper flared. “What, cat got your tongue? Ignoring me?”

He was so impulsive that he immediately rounded the screen to confront her.

Startled, Lu Shujin spun around. In the dim light last night, she hadn’t seen clearly, but now, with the morning sun flooding the room, the young man’s physique was unmistakable—no unnecessary fat from his shoulders to his waist, muscles clearly defined.

Fortunately, he was at least wearing trousers.

Startled, Lu Shujin quickly turned her head away, her cheeks instantly flushing bright red. Stammering, she muttered, “I didn’t.”

Xiao Jin walked over, suddenly reaching out to pinch her chin and forcefully turning her face toward him. Though his grip was firm, as if aware of the wound on her neck, his touch wasn’t rough, making it impossible for Lu Shujin to break free. Her gaze collided directly with his.

His eyes were clear and piercing, filled with the youthful energy of a young man—sharp but not overbearing. Staring into them gave the illusion of being the sole focus of his attention. “What are you mumbling about?”

Lu Shujin couldn’t withstand such an intense interrogation. Her face flushed from her neck to her ears, burning like a fiery cloud. It felt like a torturous ordeal of soft, invisible blades—inescapable. She had no choice but to answer, “I… I wouldn’t dare ignore Young Master Xiao.”

Xiao Jin felt the heat rising under his fingers and noticed her face turning beet red, her gaze flitting around nervously. Any time her eyes accidentally dipped a bit lower, she would quickly avert them, as if scalded. Curious, he looked down at himself and realized he was bare-chested. No wonder she was so flustered.

He didn’t think much of it, letting go of her chin. Like an elder brother, he patted her shoulder and chuckled, “No need to envy me. Though you may never get a figure like mine, regular exercise and a good diet will definitely make you look better than this scrawny chicken look of yours.”

Feeling as though she’d been granted a pardon, Lu Shujin hastily nodded and stepped back two paces, turning around and crouching under the table to grab the water bucket, using it to hide her blushing face.

Watching her shrink into a ball, Xiao Jin couldn’t help but laugh again. His lingering frustration from the restless night completely dissipated. Leisurely, he turned around to change clothes. Having come to the academy in a rush last night, he had only brought a few items with him, including limited clothing. He picked out a red robe and began dressing at a relaxed pace. When he looked up, he saw Lu Shujin carrying the bucket and hurrying out.

But just as she stepped out the door, a servant waiting outside stopped her. The man was holding a water bucket. “Young Master, clean water is already prepared. No need to fetch any.”

Lu Shujin had no choice but to bring the empty bucket back in. Only after watching the servant carry bucket after bucket of clean water into the washroom did she go in to wash up.

Since it was Xiao Jin’s servants who prepared the water, she didn’t dare to take too long. Her washing was quick but careless, accidentally wetting the front of her clothes.

By the time she stepped out, Xiao Jin was fully dressed. His long hair was neatly tied, and as he secured a jade pendant at his waist, the young man in the red robe stood out like a flamboyant maple leaf—bold and striking. He was once again the elegant youth of daylight.

Catching sight of her, Xiao Jin said, “The food is on your table. Go eat.”

Lu Shujin looked over in surprise. The table she usually used for books, ink, and paper was now completely cleared, replaced with several delicately carved plates. There were translucent dumplings stuffed with meat, soft and plump round buns like tangyuan, neatly sliced white vegetable strips, stacked pastries, and a bowl of porridge.

The dishes were fresh, colorful, and fragrant, making her stomach grumble with hunger.

The bowls, chopsticks, and spoon were arranged neatly. Even the dishes were of flawless white jade, looking extremely expensive.

If she turned to Xiao Jin now and said, “This looks really pricey, I can’t eat it,” she would definitely be scolded and maybe even get into trouble. She didn’t dare.

It wasn’t exactly accepting charity—she just didn’t want to provoke Xiao Jin’s bad temper.

With this thought in mind, Lu Shujin pulled out the chair, sat down, and picked up her chopsticks, grabbing a translucent dumpling.

Although Lu Shujin had long grown used to cold and indifferent treatment, she was still a sixteen-year-old girl. She would gaze curiously at things she hadn’t seen before and feel tempted by foods she hadn’t tasted. Despite her usually reserved nature, she couldn’t completely suppress the excitement of her age.

The crystal dumpling was warm but not scalding. As she bit into it, a little juice spilled out, and the chewy shrimp mixed with fresh minced pork filled her mouth with a burst of savory flavor.

Her almond-shaped eyes widened slightly. One after another, she ate the dumplings, silently wondering how anyone could make something taste this good.

The tangyuan-like item was actually tender tofu stewed in broth. Though it didn’t have soup, the first bite released a fragrant broth hidden within, lingering on her palate.

The neatly sliced white vegetables were sweet and savory pickled radish strips, the pastries were mildly sweet red bean cakes, and even the porridge was special—containing minced meat and shiitake mushrooms. She couldn’t figure out how it was cooked to be this delicious.

It must have taken at least an hour to prepare this meal. But for Xiao Jin, this was merely his breakfast.

Though today, it had turned into lunch because they both woke up late.

Lu Shujin’s heart was filled with awe as she ate. Despite her best efforts, she was soon so full her belly was round, yet she couldn’t finish everything on the table.

She knew well that she was only able to enjoy this rare, unmatched feast because of Xiao Jin’s presence. So when she looked at the remaining untouched food, she felt a bit troubled.

Until the servant came to clear the dishes, Lu Shujin kept staring at the leftovers with a look of regret and reluctance, whispering, “There’s still some left… such a waste.”

Xiao Jin, standing by the door, noticed her pitiful expression and commented, “Although autumn has already begun, it’s still quite hot. The food won’t keep. If you still want it, I can have them make it again tonight.”

“Tonight?” Lu Shujin looked up at him, unaware that her eyes were filled with hope.

Seeing the brightness in her eyes, Xiao Jin casually replied, “Yes, tonight.”

It sounded like a promise made in passing, one that might never actually be fulfilled.

Noticing his nonchalant attitude, Lu Shujin didn’t press further.

Xiao Jin didn’t think too much about it. In his mind, he suspected that Lu Shujin’s situation was not just one of poverty. There was a good chance she had suffered mistreatment at home. This impression didn’t come simply because of her occasional displays of greed or frugality, but rather her complete lack of entitlement to anything.

Normally, for a diligent student like Lu Shujin—highly regarded by Scholar Qiao Bailian—a young man so promising should be greatly valued at home. Even if they were dirt poor, his family should prioritize his needs, perhaps even pampering him a bit. But instead, she was quiet, never fought for anything, rarely initiated conversations, and could sit silently in a corner for an entire day without drawing any attention to herself.

It was strange.

Thinking of this as he stepped outside, Xiao Jin couldn’t help but feel that Lu Shujin was rather pitiful.

Unaware of his wild speculations, Lu Shujin, feeling full and satisfied, decided to visit Yang Peier. She took out a small box where she kept her hidden silver, pulled out the original twenty taels belonging to Yang Peier and placed them in her small bookcase, then took three of her own taels and slipped them into her pocket before slinging her bookcase over her shoulder and heading out.

But as soon as she stepped outside, she saw Xiao Jin standing in the open space in front of the door, talking to his servants. Noticing her, he paused and turned to ask, “Where are you going?”

“To see Sister Peier.” Lu Shujin stepped out, noticing that the usual students who would be reciting texts outside during their day off were nowhere to be seen. Besides the seven or eight servants and Xiao Jin, the area was empty.

She was wondering whether she should leave the key with Xiao Jin when he walked over and said, “I’ll go with you.”

Lu Shujin’s immediate reaction was to refuse, exclaiming, “That’s not necessary, right? It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

How could someone like Xiao Jin, a pampered young master, possibly set foot in such a shabby, dirty rental compound?

But Xiao Jin’s brows instantly furrowed. “Why wouldn’t it be appropriate? Is it appropriate for you, a man, to go alone to see that woman?”

“It’s a large courtyard with seven or eight families. I’m not going alone,” Lu Shujin explained.

“Still not acceptable,” Xiao Jin insisted. “People love to gossip. Last time I took a shortcut home and happened to walk the same path as Miss Ye from the Ye family. The next day, rumors were flying that I was lusting after Ye San’s beauty and secretly following her.”

Recalling the incident, Xiao Jin clenched his fists, teeth gritting in anger. He warned Lu Shujin, “You are destined to be the top scholar one day. You mustn’t let your reputation be tarnished by rumors of secretly meeting women while studying at the academy.”

Lu Shujin, who never harbored any ambitions of earning the top scholar title, couldn’t help but retort, “Only you have to worry about things like that.”

She had come to realize that in Yuncheng, people seemed to have a special talent for creating rumors about Xiao Jin. No one else seemed to be bestowed with this kind of ‘honor.’

Xiao Jin’s gaze settled on her ear, where the sunlight revealed the delicate, tiny hairs on the tender white earlobe. “Come forward a bit,” he said.

Though puzzled, Lu Shujin stepped closer, shortening the distance between them.

Suddenly, he reached out and flicked her ear lightly, pretending to be stern. “Less nonsense. What I say goes.”

Lu Shujin flinched in surprise. His touch wasn’t rough—if anything, it was rather gentle—but her left ear immediately turned bright red. She pursed her lips, saying nothing.

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