Chapter 27: Come On, Step On This Young Master’s Hand To Get Down

Xiao Jin had only sat in the dormitory for a short while before heading out again. Before leaving, he instructed Lu Shujin not to leave Haizhou Academy.

As dusk approached, Xiao Jin went to Ji Shuoting’s house.

The Ji family was a genuinely scholarly and prestigious family. Ji Shuoting’s grandfather had passed the imperial exams at a young age and currently served as the Minister of Works. His father was also a successful candidate in both rounds of the imperial exams. Ji Shuoting himself was quite gifted; he had always been a quick learner since childhood. When he was seven, he once took an erotic novel to play with Xiao Jin, but they were caught by Xiao Yunye, who gave both boys a beating and made them kneel in the courtyard.

But even then, after Xiao Yunye left, Ji Shuoting managed to recite the content he had read, leaving Xiao Jin dumbfounded.

Because of this, Ji Shuoting could spend his days hanging around with Xiao Jin, often dragging Xiao Jin to his house for fun.

The Ji residence wasn’t as grand as the Xiao residence, but it housed many people. Ji Shuoting was the fifth child, with three older sisters and one older brother above him, plus three younger siblings below. Even that would have been a lot, but since the main figures of the Ji family held official positions in the capital, the family hadn’t split. Uncles, aunts, and all their branches lived together in the Ji residence, making it bustling whenever Xiao Jin visited.

This time, the third daughter-in-law of the main branch was arguing with the legitimate daughter of the second branch’s main wife, bickering so fiercely across a rockery that their faces were flushed, and their voices could be heard from afar.

Ji Shuoting was used to it and led Xiao Jin to his quarters, saying, “Just ignore them. They’ll tire themselves out and go back to the backyard.”

Xiao Jin thought of his own home. If Xiao Yunye wasn’t around, the Xiao residence was always quiet. His father’s two concubines were honest women who rarely left their quarters. His elder brother was an official outside, and his only sister was in the imperial harem. Whenever he returned home, it always felt like he was the only one there.

Inside Ji Shuoting’s study, Xiao Jin slumped comfortably into a soft chair, sighing deeply and rubbing his temples. “I really might have drunk too much.”

Ji Shuoting was about to close the door but immediately ordered someone to prepare sobering soup when he heard this. He turned to Xiao Jin and said, “If you’ve had too much to drink, you should go back now. Don’t stay here, or you’ll accuse me of stealing your jade pendant again.”

He was referring to the last time when Xiao Jin got drunk and casually gifted his jade pendant to a girl at the Chunfeng Pavilion. The next day, he woke up and accused Ji Shuoting of stealing it. Ji Shuoting had to put in a lot of effort to clear his name.

Xiao Jin remembered nothing after getting drunk and was a complete headache, even accusing people without evidence.

“I won’t stay long. I just came to tell you two things.” Xiao Jin leaned back further, finding a comfortable position and speaking lazily. “It’s only a matter of time before the Liu family is raided. Stay away from Chunfeng Pavilion for now and avoid Ye Xun. Don’t get caught in his probes. The Yuhua Pavilion only hid around four thousand taels of official silver. As for the rest, keep an eye on three places: the Rongji Butcher Shop in the west of the city, the No. 8 Salt Shop in Donghua District, and the Yuyong Treasure Pavilion in the south of the city. But don’t monitor them too closely, or you’ll be noticed.”

Ji Shuoting moved to the table, picked up a brush, and started writing down the locations, but Xiao Jin glanced at him and said, “Don’t write it down.”

Ji Shuoting had hoped to be lazy and avoid running around personally, but since Xiao Jin saw through his intentions, he had no choice but to burn the paper he had just written on by the candle, the firelight flickering on his face. He asked, “How confident are you about the Liu family being raided? You haven’t caught Liu Quan personally transporting the silver, and they insist there’s no evidence. What if they deny it and overturn the case?”

Xiao Jin sneered, “Then they can ask my father for evidence. It’s got nothing to do with me.”

“And how long should I avoid Ye Xun?”

“Around half a month. Once this is over, I’ll take care of him properly,” Xiao Jin said.

Those were the only two things Xiao Jin came to say. Once done, he fell quiet, probably feeling dizzy and wanting to rest a bit longer.

Initially, Ji Shuoting could have kicked him out as soon as they finished talking, but he still had more to ask. His tone turned playful. “Our young master Xiao is turning over a new leaf to become a benevolent saint now? Why are you suddenly so concerned about Lu Shujin? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t meddle in other people’s business before?”

Xiao Jin opened his eyes slightly, and his tone changed, sighing lightly, “You don’t understand. That kid is really pitiful. I think he must be suffering at home, probably ran away secretly to Yuncheng to study, with only a few taels of silver on him. I even suspect that the few taels he has were earned by writing essays on my behalf.”

Ji Shuoting laughed. “It’s not like Lu Shujin is the only one from a humble background in our academy. Liang Chunyuan and Wu Chengyun are also from poor families. Why aren’t you feeling sorry for them too?”

“I’m not pitying the poor. I just pity Lu Shujin.”

His tone was so natural that Ji Shuoting couldn’t even find a way to tease him. Seeing that Xiao Jin was lying still, he figured he must be exhausted lately and decided to let him rest.

But Xiao Jin had barely laid down for a moment before he got up again.

“The sobering soup hasn’t been brought yet,” Ji Shuoting hinted for Xiao Jin to stay a while longer.

“No, I’ll go back for dinner,” Xiao Jin waved his hand. “If I don’t, he’ll definitely go buy that awful flatbread again.”

Back at Haizhou Academy, the moment Xiao Jin left, Lu Shujin quietly opened the window, hoping more mosquitoes would crawl in, ideally biting Xiao Jin enough to make him sleepless and leave for the Xiao residence overnight.

But as time passed and Xiao Jin didn’t return, she glanced at the darkening sky and decided to go out to buy some food. Just as she was about to leave, Xiao Jin returned.

“Where are you going?” He blocked the doorway.

“To buy something to eat,” Lu Shujin replied.

Xiao Jin’s lips curled slightly, a smile appearing on his face as he silently praised his own foresight.

Most of the alcohol scent on him had dissipated, and his eyes were clear. He gave Lu Shujin a light push without much force. “I’ve had dinner prepared.”

Despite his careless demeanor and the fact that eight out of ten things he said were unreliable, Xiao Jin had an oddly consistent sense of trustworthiness. His attendants soon served the meal, filling Lu Shujin’s table with dishes. As the lids of the exquisitely crafted, expensive porcelain dishes were lifted, the aroma instantly spread, making Lu Shujin’s stomach growl.

Xiao Jin was determined to properly nourish this pitiful child. The dinner was especially lavish. Lu Shujin ate slowly and carefully, but even after eating for a long time, she was so full her stomach hurt and still hadn’t finished. She watched as the attendants cleared the dishes one by one.

After the meal, Xiao Jin went out for a walk again, while Lu Shujin began copying “Admonitions Against Lust.”

Half an hour later, Xiao Jin returned and ordered hot water for a bath. It took a while before the room finally quieted. Once he finished bathing and lay down on the bed, the room fell into a calm silence.

With the door closed, the sound of the wind by the window became especially clear. The gentle breeze brushed across Lu Shujin’s cheek, slightly lifting the corner of her book. She reached out to smooth it down. Her gaze rested on the paper, which was intentionally written to imitate Xiao Jin’s handwriting, flickering under the candlelight, but her ears remained free.

She could hear the chirping of insects outside, the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind brushing past the treetops, the distant bustling shouts from the street, and the melodious chime of Yuncheng’s hour bell. Closer, she could hear the crackling of the burning lamp wick, the faint sound of a door closing in another dormitory, and closest of all, the steady and rhythmic breathing of Xiao Jin.

With the window open, the sounds were mixed, but once closed, only Xiao Jin’s breathing remained.

For years, Lu Shujin had always been alone, used to reading and writing at night, extinguishing the lamp, and going to bed by herself. She never thought that one day, she would be copying texts at her desk while another person lay behind a screen in the same room.

An arrogant, flamboyant young man.

Lu Shujin thought that if it weren’t for the secret she carried—the one she couldn’t let anyone discover—she wouldn’t actually mind Xiao Jin staying here. Perhaps in the near future, they could even chat through the screen. Since Xiao Jin disliked studying, she wouldn’t talk about books, but instead tell him about the shocking stories from Yangzhen, letting him use his sharp tongue to vent her frustrations.

Or she could listen to Xiao Jin’s tales about the strange and amusing incidents in Yuncheng. He always enjoyed chatting and joking with those around him, and he would undoubtedly make his stories entertaining enough to make her laugh.

But no, she had to find a way to make Xiao Jin leave the dormitory. Otherwise, she would have to move out and find another place to stay.

Thinking this, Lu Shujin reached out and quietly opened the window a bit wider. Mosquitoes flew in, biting her neck and wrists. These mosquitoes were particularly fierce—their bites instantly brought a strong itching sensation. Looking down, she saw one by the base of her thumb on her left hand, greedily sucking her blood.

For some reason, she was in a bad mood and didn’t feel like shooing it away.

It didn’t take long for Xiao Jin to wake up from the bites. Feeling hot, he had left the gauze curtain up, and now his arms and exposed chest were covered in mosquito bites. As he scratched furiously, he sat up and noticed that the light behind the screen was still on. His initial anger was cut short by confusion. He called out, “Lu Shujin?”

The shadow on the screen shifted, and Lu Shujin’s voice came from the other side. “Did I wake you, Young Master Xiao?”

“Why are you still awake? What time is it?” Xiao Jin got up, walked barefoot around the screen, and saw her sitting at the desk, fully dressed and copying texts. She turned to look at him when she heard his voice.

“I usually read at this hour,” Lu Shujin replied.

Xiao Jin glanced at the closed window, walked over to her desk, and immediately recognized that she was copying “Admonitions Against Lust.” He frowned and spoke gruffly, “Stop copying. Go to bed now.”

“It’s still early…”

“Early? What do you mean early? It’s bedtime now. Put down the pen.” Xiao Jin’s tone left no room for argument. Pointing to the bed, he continued, “Will you walk over yourself, or do I have to carry you there?”

Having no choice, Lu Shujin set down her pen and stood up, complying with Xiao Jin’s orders. Xiao Jin scratched the itch on his neck and opened the door, calling in a servant to light mosquito-repelling incense. Then he leaned against the bedside, closed his eyes, and pretended to nap. Only when he heard Lu Shujin finish her bath and get into bed did he finally lie down.

The gentle fragrance of the incense filled the room, not only repelling mosquitoes but also calming the mind. Normally, Lu Shujin had trouble sleeping, but tonight, the soothing scent led her to a peaceful slumber.

Before dawn the next day, she woke up full of energy. Moving quietly, she changed into her Haizhou Academy uniform, washed up, and slipped out. Xiao Jin was still asleep when she left.

Keeping to her usual early routine, she tried something different for breakfast, buying two meat buns. When she arrived at Jiazi Hall, there were still few students present, but Wu Chengyun was already there.

He had been watching the doorway for a while. Not seeing Xiao Jin enter with her, he immediately hurried over and initially sat in Xiao Jin’s seat.

Lu Shujin, munching on a bun, glanced at him with a hint of surprise. Misinterpreting her look, Wu Chengyun quickly stood up, moved to the seat in front of her, and whispered, “I heard Xiao Jin is staying in the same dormitory as you now?”

Lu Shujin nodded while chewing her bun.

Wu Chengyun hunched over, constantly glancing back, looking as if he were sneaking around. “Why would he leave his comfortable Xiao residence and suddenly move to the academy?”

“It seems he was punished by Dean Qiao,” Lu Shujin replied.

“I heard about that. Xiao Jin went to the northern brothel two nights ago, and who would have thought he’d uncover the Liu family’s hidden stash of government silver? How did he manage that? How did he know where it was hidden? You were there too, right? What actually happened? Tell me.”

Her eyes were clear and calm, while Wu Chengyun’s were filled with curiosity. Their gazes met, and Lu Shujin caught a hint of anxious eagerness in his eyes.

Speaking in a steady tone, she explained, “I don’t know how capable Young Master Xiao really is, but that night, he wasn’t there for pleasure. He was looking for his jade pendant that he’d left at the Yuhua Pavilion. Unexpectedly, he ran into Liu Quan.”

She paused briefly, leaned closer, and lowered her voice. “Liu Quan’s arm wasn’t broken by accident when he left Haizhou Academy. It was Xiao Jin who broke it. So, when they ran into each other at Yuhua Pavilion, enemies met with particular bitterness. Liu Quan’s insults angered Young Master Xiao, and that led to Xiao Jin ordering the place to be smashed, which then revealed the hidden government silver.”

Having sat with Lu Shujin for over ten days, this was the first time Wu Chengyun had heard her speak so much at once. Her expression was even somewhat animated, which left him a bit stunned. “Really?”

“Of course,” Lu Shujin said before sitting back and continuing to eat her bun.

“So…” Wu Chengyun murmured, “He just stumbled upon the government silver?”

Lu Shujin shrugged, indicating she didn’t know.

Wu Chengyun always seemed to be scheming something. Last time, when he rummaged through Xiao Jin’s books in Jiazi Hall before dawn, Lu Shujin had already begun feeling that something was off about him.

Thinking carefully, she realized that since getting to know Wu Chengyun, eight out of every ten things he said were related to Xiao Jin. His intentions were unclear, but definitely not simple. Whether good or bad, she knew she had to be wary of him.

Trying to cover his tracks, Wu Chengyun changed the topic and asked a few other questions. Lu Shujin answered vaguely, and as more people filled the classroom, Wu Chengyun returned to his seat.

Before the class bell rang, Dean Qiao Bailian suddenly appeared, calling Lu Shujin out from the doorway.

Seeing him reminded Lu Shujin of the cheating incident during the test a few days ago. She felt a little anxious, her fingers unconsciously picking at each other as she walked out. “Good day, Dean Qiao.”

“Come with me,” Qiao Bailian’s expression remained as gentle as ever.

Lu Shujin’s heart pounded. She knew Qiao Bailian was going to punish her. Even though he seemed kind and hadn’t blamed her directly, she had been caught cheating in public, and with Xiao Jin punished, she certainly wouldn’t be exempt. The only question was, what would her punishment be?

Qiao Bailian led Lu Shujin to the repentance room. As soon as she entered, she saw Xiao Jin, dressed in a light tea-colored robe, sitting in the room’s only chair. His head leaned against the chair back, and his long legs stretched out, propped up on the table—completely relaxed.

“What kind of behavior is this! Stand up immediately!” Qiao Bailian barked.

Xiao Jin opened his eyes lazily, his gaze pausing briefly on Lu Shujin’s face before he stood, speaking in a lazy, drawling tone, “Uncle Qiao, I haven’t even had breakfast. I just stepped out and got dragged here. I’m the only legitimate heir of our family—if I starve, my father will be heartbroken.”

In the past, whenever Xiao Jin was reprimanded by Qiao Bailian outside or in front of Lu Shujin, he would stand properly with his head lowered, putting on an honest, apologetic look. But now, he no longer bothered to keep up the act.

It seemed he had just woken up not long ago. His sleepy expression lingered, and his hair was casually tied into a ponytail with a blackwood hairpin, with a few loose strands falling around his face, giving him a free-spirited, roguish look typical of a wanderer.

Qiao Bailian snapped impatiently, “Skipping one meal won’t kill you. Stand properly!”

Xiao Jin let out a barely noticeable sigh and stood beside Lu Shujin. When they stood together, the height difference between them became immediately apparent.

Qiao Bailian softened his expression slightly and spoke to Lu Shujin, “After discussing with the other teachers, we have decided on your punishment for the cheating incident during the test the other day. Both of you will be moved out of Jiazi Hall and will study in Dingzi Hall for now. Additionally, you are both assigned to sweep the fallen leaves by the academy’s south wall for five days.”

Seeing Lu Shujin’s head lowered, looking somewhat pitiful, he added, “Shujin, if you perform well, you may still have the chance to return to Jiazi Hall. Don’t be discouraged, but try to avoid hanging around with this troublemaker.”

Xiao Jin was displeased. “Uncle Qiao, how could you say that right in front of me? That hurts my feelings.”

Qiao Bailian shot him a glare. “Get out of here.”

Xiao Jin had been waiting for this and quickly bowed, then turned to leave.

Qiao Bailian, still worried about Lu Shujin, offered her a few more words of encouragement, reminding her not to slack off in her studies even in Dingzi Hall. He reassured her that the class she studied in didn’t matter as long as she kept learning.

But in truth, Lu Shujin didn’t care which class she was in. As long as she wasn’t expelled from Haizhou Academy, any other punishment was acceptable. The location of her studies was of little importance to her. Still, Qiao Bailian’s heartfelt encouragement did warm her heart a little.

The caring look in his eyes always seemed to stir up the distant, almost faded memory of her grandmother’s face in the depths of her mind.

After standing and listening to his advice for a long time, Qiao Bailian finally grew tired and allowed her to leave.

Lu Shujin bowed and exited. As she rounded the corner of the covered walkway, she suddenly saw someone leaning against the wall on the other side. Startled, she stopped in her tracks.

Upon closer look, she realized it was Xiao Jin, who was supposed to have left.

Xiao Jin seemed to have grown a bit impatient while waiting, his brows faintly furrowed with an underlying sense of irritation. When he saw her, he straightened up, his gaze sweeping across her face before he asked, “Why didn’t you wake me this morning?”

Lu Shujin looked confused. “When I left, you were still asleep.”

“What did you have for breakfast?” Xiao Jin’s expression remained unchanged, as if he were asking casually.

“I bought two meat buns,” Lu Shujin replied.

Xiao Jin’s gaze darkened slightly. He suddenly grabbed her cheeks, gently lifting her head so she looked up at him, his tall figure looming over her. “This morning’s breakfast was supposed to be crab meat cakes, fried meatballs, osmanthus milk cake, and black-bone chicken congee. It was all arranged last night. And you ran off to eat meat buns with filling smaller than a sesame seed.”

Only now did Lu Shujin realize that Xiao Jin seemed upset, though his anger wasn’t obvious. She tried to explain, “Young Master Xiao wouldn’t want to be disturbed while sleeping, right? I noticed you hadn’t been sleeping well the past two nights, so I didn’t dare wake you this morning.”

“And after leaving before dawn, where did you go?” Xiao Jin asked.

“I’m used to waking up early and went to Jiazi Hall to read,” she answered honestly.

Xiao Jin frowned. “Can’t you read in the dormitory?”

Her usual routine was to buy breakfast and then head straight to Jiazi Hall. If she had to return to the dormitory first, it would waste time.

Just as she was about to explain, Xiao Jin interrupted, “From now on, you’ll read in the dormitory in the mornings. And you’re not allowed to eat at the eateries.”

He gave her cheeks a light shake. “Lu Shujin, eat properly, okay?”

Lu Shujin nodded repeatedly before Xiao Jin finally let go.

As he turned to leave, he casually added, “Since you didn’t eat that breakfast, I had them throw it all away.”

Xiao Jin knew exactly how to make Lu Shujin remember his words. This statement was far more effective than any direct threat. Remembering the dishes Xiao Jin had mentioned, Lu Shujin felt a pang of regret that lasted the entire morning.

The two of them entered Jiazi Hall one after another, quietly packing up their things, drawing the attention of everyone in the classroom.

Shortly after, they left with their belongings, and as soon as they were gone, the classroom buzzed with whispers.

Jiazi Hall was already packed with students at this time, but Dingzi Hall was still half-empty. The moment Xiao Jin stepped in, someone immediately stood up and greeted him, “Brother Xiao! Are you coming back?”

Xiao Jin responded with a casual “Mm” through his nose and walked in. Only then did Lu Shujin, carrying a small bookcase in her arms, come into view, drawing the attention of the Dingzi Hall students.

A few people quickly gathered around, chattering away.

“Brother Xiao, did you deliberately get caught cheating in the Jiazi Hall test just so you could return to Dingzi Hall? You’re really a genius!”

“Did Dean Qiao not give you any other punishment? I heard it was Teacher Tang who caught you this time. He definitely wouldn’t let you off easily.”

“Yeah, Teacher Tang has never liked you, Brother Xiao.”

“Wait, why is Lu Shujin here too? Is he going to study in Dingzi Hall now?”

Xiao Jin walked to his seat, ignoring most of the questions except the last one. “He got punished along with me, so he’ll be studying here for now. Go get him a new desk.”

Lu Shujin remained calm. After all, this wasn’t her first time in Dingzi Hall, and she recognized most of the students around her, including Jiang Su and Fang Yi, who had helped her before. She smiled faintly at them.

Xiao Jin placed his belongings on his desk, stretched his arms, and asked, “Is Shuoting not here yet?”

Jiang Su quickly replied, “Brother Ji hasn’t come for morning classes in days.”

“Such nerve?” Xiao Jin scoffed. “I haven’t even skipped that many morning classes.”

“Brother Ji is different from you, Brother Xiao,” Jiang Su teased fearlessly. “His academics are much better than yours…”

Before he could finish the rest of the sentence, Xiao Jin’s glare silenced him. Fang Yi quickly smacked Jiang Su on the head, laughing, “Anyway, the teachers aren’t too strict with Brother Ji.”

Lu Shujin noticed the crowd gathering around Xiao Jin, chatting away, so she quietly stepped back, listening from a distance.

No one mentioned the incident at Yuhua Pavilion where Xiao Jin caught Liu Quan smuggling government silver. Other than the courtesans in the brothel, only the officials and Xiao Jin’s guards knew about it, while the rest were all in custody at the yamen. Given the severity of the matter, there was no way the news would have leaked from Xiao Jin’s guards or the officials.

Yet Wu Chengyun knew about it in such detail.

Just as Lu Shujin was lost in thought, someone brought over a new desk and asked Xiao Jin, “Brother Xiao, where should we place this?”

Xiao Jin, who shared his desk with Ji Shuoting, naturally couldn’t kick his friend out. He casually pointed back, “Put it at the back.”

The person carrying the desk was about to take it to the back when Jiang Su interrupted, “Wait a moment. Lu Shujin, why don’t you sit with me? My deskmate went with his father to study in the outer city and won’t be back for ten days or so.”

Noticing that Xiao Jin’s desk had no space and not wanting to sit alone in the back, Lu Shujin readily agreed. Jiang Su was straightforward and easygoing, making him good company. “Alright,” she said.

Xiao Jin didn’t say anything but did glance over at Jiang Su’s seat.

Jiang Su’s spot was along the row by the wall, closer to the front, quite a distance from Xiao Jin’s seat.

But Xiao Jin thought that with Jiang Su around, no one would dare to secretly bully Lu Shujin, so he tacitly approved of her sitting there.

Although the desk was placed behind Xiao Jin, Lu Shujin directly carried her bookcase to Jiang Su’s seat at the front. The big, cheerful guy was quite considerate and let her sit by the wall.

The classroom layout was the same as in Jiazi Hall. After Lu Shujin settled in, she didn’t feel any discomfort. The only difference was that Jiazi Hall was always calm and quiet—students spoke in low voices or focused on their books—while Dingzi Hall was filled with laughter and chatter, always bustling.

Lu Shujin tuned out the noise, bowed her head, and focused on her reading, enveloped in a serene, quiet aura.

No one disturbed her.

Though Jiang Su and the others were loud and chatty between classes, they were respectful of their teachers. The moment the class bell rang, the room would quiet down.

Most of the time, Jiang Su didn’t interrupt Lu Shujin’s reading. Occasionally, he’d chat with her briefly before saying, “Boss told me not to bother you. Keep reading.”

The students around her were also friendly and took the initiative to talk to her. Unlike the reserved students in Jiazi Hall, these students were warm and approachable. Within just a few days, Lu Shujin became acquainted with the students around her.

Back in Jiazi Hall, even though she sat with Xiao Jin, the two of them barely interacted. After moving to Dingzi Hall, their exchanges grew even rarer. Apart from lunch, when Xiao Jin would call her over to eat together, he usually stayed with Ji Shuoting, Jiang Su, and others at the back of the classroom, while she remained at the front, quietly reading. Occasionally, students would approach her with questions about their studies, and she would look up to help.

Despite living under the same roof, they barely saw each other. In the morning, they washed up and had breakfast on either side of the screen and then left together. After class, they only occasionally met for dinner. Sometimes, Xiao Jin didn’t come back for dinner at all, spending most of his time outside, only returning late at night to sleep.

There was one thing Lu Shujin genuinely admired about him. Every day, she secretly opened the window to let in mosquitoes, and every morning Xiao Jin would wake up cursing, covered in bites. Yet, he stubbornly refused to move out. Running out of options, Lu Shujin even started looking around for a place to rent.

Her wound healed quickly. The cut was clean, and the medicine Xiao Jin gave her seemed to have scar-removing properties. Once fully healed, it left only a faint scar, barely noticeable.

As days went by, autumn arrived, and the weather turned cooler. Although Lu Shujin wore the academy uniform most of the time, she began considering buying winter clothes to avoid catching a cold if the temperature suddenly dropped.

At Haizhou Academy, students were responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the campus in rotations. In October, it was Dingzi Hall’s turn. Since Lu Shujin sat at the front, she was among the first assigned to cleaning duty.

Their designated area was the maple forest along the south wall, the same place where Qiao Bailian had once punished her and Xiao Jin to sweep. Back then, Xiao Jin had lazily left the task to his little followers.

This time, seeing that she still ended up sweeping the maple forest, Lu Shujin found it rather amusing. She thought to herself that escaping this task was impossible.

After class, a group of them headed to the maple forest. The forest was larger than expected, with the ground covered in a thick layer of fiery red leaves. Every step crunched beneath their feet, and the scenery was breathtaking.

Jiang Su brought an extra broom for Lu Shujin and helped divide the cleaning areas. To finish before dark, everyone began working diligently.

But there were too many fallen leaves. No matter how they swept, the work seemed endless. They kept at it until night fell. A teacher on patrol lit a lantern by the south wall, checked their progress, and said, “The leaves are too many. If you can’t clean them all, that’s fine. Head back soon.”

Everyone hurried, quickly finishing their assigned areas and leaving one after another.

After finishing his section, Jiang Su offered to help Lu Shujin, but she politely declined. He was starving by then and left first.

Unlike the boys, Lu Shujin wasn’t as fast or efficient with the broom. But she didn’t mind. She found the scenery beautiful, the breeze pleasant, so she took her time, sweeping slowly.

Lost in the calming atmosphere, she worked until nearly curfew. Just as she was about to finish the last bit, someone approached with a lantern.

“Lu Shujin?” A puzzled voice called out.

Startled by the familiar voice, she turned around to see Xiao Jin standing a few steps away, holding a lantern and looking at her. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m sweeping the leaves,” Lu Shujin answered honestly, standing up. She had barely seen Xiao Jin these past few days. Sometimes, he even woke up earlier than her and left without a sound. He returned late at night, and in class, whenever she looked back, she often saw him resting his head on his hand, dozing off. She had no idea what he had been busy with.

Xiao Jin stepped forward, took the broom from Lu Shujin, and said, “You should’ve told the attendant guarding the dormitory door. Why are you sweeping here until dark by yourself?”

“I had nothing else to do anyway…” Lu Shujin changed the subject and asked, “Why is Young Master Xiao here?”

“That’s none of your business.” Xiao Jin shoved the lantern into her hands. “Hurry back.”

He casually tossed the broom against the wall, then suddenly leapt forward, grabbing the top of the wall and, with a slight push, easily perched himself on it.

Lu Shujin watched and suddenly spoke, “It’s curfew now.”

“I know,” Xiao Jin replied, sitting on the wall, one leg crossed and the other dangling, swinging idly. “That’s why I’m climbing over the wall.”

“Did Young Master Xiao come looking for me?” Lu Shujin asked again.

Xiao Jin didn’t say yes or no. He lazily swayed his leg and said, “Hurry back for dinner. It’ll get cold.”

But Lu Shujin continued to look up at him without responding or leaving.

The moonlight behind Xiao Jin cast a gentle glow on his jade hairpin, and his figure almost melted into the night. Over the past few days, she had only seen him six times and spoken less than ten sentences with him.

“Then I’ll tell the teacher that you’re sneaking out during curfew.” That was the tenth sentence.

Xiao Jin lowered his head to look at her, gazing down from above. Over the past half month, with all the good food she’d been eating, Lu Shujin had noticeably gained a little weight. Her face was no longer so thin and frail that a breeze might blow her over. The warm, yellow light from the lantern in her hand illuminated half her face, softly outlining her thick eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes. Standing obediently, she looked just like a little girl.

A thought flashed through Xiao Jin’s mind. He suddenly changed his mind, jumped down from the wall, and walked over to her.

Startled, Lu Shujin thought he was going to hit her for what she said. She was just about to explain it was a joke when her wrist was suddenly grabbed, and she was pulled to the wall.

Xiao Jin took the lantern from her and set it on the ground. Before she could figure out what he was doing, his hands suddenly grabbed her waist, and with a forceful lift, he hoisted her into the air.

“Ah!” Lu Shujin let out a soft gasp, instinctively grabbing onto the top of the wall. Xiao Jin’s voice came from below, “Hold on tight.”

As soon as he said that, the strength around her waist disappeared. Panicked, Lu Shujin’s arms tightened, and she clung to the wall’s edge, shouting nervously, “Young Master Xiao, what are you doing?”

Before she could get an answer, her ankles were grabbed. Xiao Jin used his strength from below, pushing her upward. It was a firm and overpowering force, leaving her no choice but to climb up. Trembling, she scrambled onto the top of the wall.

And then she glanced outside—and froze.

There was an open area outside the wall, with several horses standing there. Each horse was mounted by a young man. Among them were Ji Shuoting and Ye Xun, whom she had met in the private room of Chunfeng Tower half a month ago. But one of the horses was ridden by a beautiful young woman, and several guards holding lanterns stood nearby.

Everyone was looking at Lu Shujin.

She was so shocked she didn’t dare move.

Just then, Xiao Jin skillfully climbed back onto the wall, leapt down with ease, and landed outside.

“Brother Xiao.”

“Brother Xiao.” The group greeted him in unison.

Xiao Jin nodded at them, acknowledging their greetings without moving. The beautiful woman asked, “Brother Xiao, who is that on the wall?”

Xiao Jin smiled, his eyes slightly squinting. “A student from the academy. He said he was going to tell the teacher about me sneaking out during curfew, so I hung him on the wall as punishment.”

The group burst into laughter. They knew Xiao Jin’s personality well. That tone and expression clearly meant he was joking. No one took it seriously, and they even playfully urged him to let her down.

But Lu Shujin took it seriously. Panic surged within her. Seeing Xiao Jin stepping away as if he really intended to leave her hanging on the wall, she grew anxious and blurted out, “Xiao Jin!”

Xiao Jin’s steps halted, and he turned to look up at her.

This was the first time Lu Shujin called him by his full name. Usually, no matter how much good food he gave her, she always called him “Young Master Xiao.” But in her panic, she finally called him “Xiao Jin.”

The moonlight hung bright in the dark sky, surrounded by countless stars. Its soft glow fell on Lu Shujin’s face, clearly illuminating the fear and anxiety hidden in her eyes—something Xiao Jin could see perfectly.

He had initially planned to fetch his horse and let Lu Shujin step down on its back. But meeting her gaze now, he didn’t know why he changed his mind. He turned back, took two steps closer, stretched out his arms, and raised his brows, saying, “Come, step on this young master’s hands and come down.”

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