---

Chapter 9 – Awkwardness, Saying One Thing but Meaning Another, Courtesy of Xie

Hmm?

Pei Shang followed the crowd’s gaze in the direction of the voice.

There stood Pei Bizhu, wearing a rose-pink, soft gauze waist-tightened dress. Under the intense stares, she hesitated as she stood up, her smile clearly forced.

Pei Shang, who had been collecting money, hadn’t said anything yet, but before he could speak, Pei Lianzhu—seated next to her—immediately launched into a rapid-fire rant, her words fast as popping beans, catching everyone off guard.

“Some people really have no self-awareness but still like to play the good guy. Has she not seen who’s been dominating the top three ranks in the academy? Xie Shizi, me, and Bai Ting. How long have we held those spots?”

“Don’t tell me you actually think your dazed, lazy, unmotivated sister Yao can stand up for you?”

“Don’t be so naive!”

She gave a cold snort and adjusted the red tasseled golden hairpin in her bun.

Pei Biyu had looked quite uneasy standing there—her expression somewhat timid like a quail. But after being provoked by her rival Pei Lianzhu, she straightened her back immediately, her fighting spirit ignited.

“Regardless, my sister Yao is better than you. I don’t know if Shizi Xie will keep his top spot, but I do know someone here won’t be able to keep theirs in the top three.”

“Don’t you agree, Shizi Xie?”

Pei Biyu wasn’t sure why she suddenly dragged Xie Zhuoguang into it—it just slipped out. Regret hit her instantly, but since she’d said it already, she forced herself to look unfazed and turned to Xie Zhuoguang.

Xie Zhuoguang, seated at the center of the hall, wore a cool blue robe, exuding a chill elegance. His eyes, often shrouded like autumn fog, were unreadable.

He glanced at her lightly and, as expected, said nothing.

But as he lowered his head to turn a page in his book, Pei Biyu thought she saw him give the slightest nod.

Nice! A tiny firework of joy burst in her heart.

No wonder she always imagined him as the protagonist of her storybook scribbles. In her mind, Yu Mingyao, with her beauty and kind nature, was the perfect match for Shizi Xie.

As for Pei Lianzhu—did she really think she had a shot at someone like him? Ridiculous!

She couldn’t stand Pei Lianzhu always showing off about her supposed closeness with Xie Zhuoguang under the guise of asking about schoolwork.

While everyone in the hall remained uncertain and silent, Pei Shang spoke up, watching from the sidelines.

“Anyone else?” Pei Shang spun a pen between his fingers with his usual nonchalant air.

He looked at Pei Bizhu: “Bizhu, it’s fine to act tough—but where’s your silver? Don’t tell me you’ll pay next time? We may joke around here, but IOUs aren’t part of the game.”

“Pei Shang, you—!”

Pei Bizhu flushed bright red.

Who brings that much silver to school? At most, people carry a few coins for snacks.

Seeing her embarrassed, Pei Lianzhu snorted again. Others seized the rare opportunity to tease her too, making her even more flustered.

Yu Mingyao couldn’t just stand by while a young girl was being bullied for speaking up for her.

Her brows furrowed tightly, and the usual charm of her face vanished into a cold expression that mirrored Xie Zhuoguang’s.

Just as she was about to speak and end the farce, she heard Xie Zhuoguang’s clear, cold voice.

“I’ll pay for her.”

Xie Zhuoguang had always been aloof and quiet at the academy. Apart from being somewhat friendly with Pei Shang, he barely talked to anyone.

At those four words, the entire hall fell into stunned silence.

No one dared to joke anymore.

He had a presence that made people afraid to look him in the eye when he truly took someone’s side—like winter ice, or the wind-scarred blade of a bloodstained knife.

Watching this scene, Yu Mingyao felt a whirlwind of complicated emotions. A hot, aching current surged in her chest.

There he went again—playing the kind-hearted hero.

In their past life, he had always been like this—stepping in calmly whenever she was humiliated or awkward, resolving things like it was nothing.

That’s why she always believed: although he looked cold on the outside, he was warm-hearted within.

But this life, she wouldn’t let herself fall into one-sided feelings again.

Yu Mingyao lowered her gaze, her dark lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

The monthly exam began methodically, with the first subject being policy essay writing.

Old Master Fan truly lived up to his reputation—his first question was a real challenge.

It addressed the currently hotly debated issue of household registration reform. How should the government handle the displaced refugees caused by famine? Should they be officially registered and resettled through labor-for-relief programs?

As soon as Xie Zhuoguang saw the question, the image that popped into his mind was Yu Mingyao’s soft, submissive face with downcast eyes.

Even he, who had been taught by great scholars since age three, found this topic difficult.

He didn’t believe a sheltered, emotional girl like Yu Mingyao would produce a decent answer.

Thanks to Pei Shang’s joking “bet,” she was now stuck in a situation she couldn’t back down from.

Although Xie Zhuoguang disliked the way she always looked at him with those eyes, she didn’t deserve to be laughed at like a joke just because she stood out.

For the first time in a monthly exam, Xie Zhuoguang found himself distracted.

The exam lasted two days. The first was written.

There were three essay questions. When Yu Mingyao saw them, she actually felt okay.

In her past life, she had always been afraid of failing and embarrassing her grandmother. Her brother wasn’t scholarly, so she had to be.

She studied late into the night, no less diligently than the boys.

Ironically, she owed her knowledge to Pei Lianzhu—who constantly hounded Xie Zhuoguang with questions. Her own pride wouldn’t let her ask, but she’d listen.

And when explaining, Xie Zhuoguang was always patient. The light from the window would fall on his face, making him look like a jade statue bathed in glow.

That was when she first gave him her heart.

After they married, he only came to her quarters at night. Most of his time was spent in his study. She sometimes gathered courage to bring him soup.

When he was in a good mood, he would explain poems and statecraft to her line by line, even if she didn’t understand or care.

He never treated her like an ordinary woman.

He taught her archery, held her wrist to guide her calligraphy.

So Yu Mingyao always felt their bond was real—deeper than others believed.

Staring at the dark ink of the exam paper, she composed her answers steadily, thought after thought.

She wrote smoothly till the end, with no confusion or hesitation.

One only realizes love is deep when the connection is lost.

Only now did Yu Mingyao understand how deeply she had loved him in her past life.

She may not have been a good daughter or sister, but as Xie Zhuoguang’s wife, she felt no guilt.

After the first day’s exam, Yu Mingyao was as calm and composed as ever—looking every bit the top-three candidate. Some students took the chance to tease:

“Mingyao already knows the results, huh? Giving up on herself?”

“Which top-three rank are you aiming to replace?”

“Could you even understand today’s questions?”

Before Yu Mingyao could speak, her brother Yu Jinnian stepped forward to chase them off.

“Go away! All of you mean bullies—picking on my sister!”

“Yeah! Don’t talk about my sister Yao like that!”

Pei Biyu stood with her hands on her hips like a protective little tiger.

Pei Lianzhu, passing by the group, scoffed coldly.

The teasing died down. Students gradually left the hall. Pei Shang was still leisurely packing his things.

Yu Jinnian glared at him with open suspicion.

Pei Shang nearly laughed—who would mess with a big, goofy boy like that?

But when his eyes swept past Yu Mingyao, he paused a moment longer.

As he left, he made an exaggerated encouraging gesture.

Yu Mingyao didn’t look at him. Her gaze was fixed on Xie Zhuoguang behind him.

Today, he looked just as striking as always—handsome features, lean build under his robe, standing tall like a green bamboo, cool and elegant.

She had seen many people, but only Pei Shang in their past life—swaggering through the bustling streets with a red flower on his head—could match Xie Zhuoguang in brilliance.

If Pei Shang was a blazing red peony, bold and vivid—

Then Xie Zhuoguang was a pale violet orchid in snow—pure, distant, untouchable.

“Let’s go.”

She lowered her eyes and walked in the opposite direction from the two boys.

The carriage rattled over the stone road behind them.

Pei Shang and Xie Zhuoguang walked ahead, no laughter or footsteps behind them.

Pei Shang finally looked back—sure enough, the trio was nowhere to be seen.

He grumbled to himself as they walked.

Did Yu Mingyao do okay on the test? Could she handle the punishment if she failed?

She’s so thin-skinned and delicate. Would she cry if she couldn’t bear the shame?

He kept muttering the entire way.

Xie Zhuoguang always prided himself on his self-control, but even as he stayed silent like a mute, the words burrowed into his ears like bugs.

They irritated him, made his blood surge with frustration.

Pei Shang was a year younger and still clueless about love. But Xie Zhuoguang—watching from the side—could clearly see what that loudmouth couldn’t.

If he really didn’t like her, would he always be thinking of her? Talking about her constantly?

As they neared the gate, Yu Mingyao’s final glance reappeared in Xie Zhuoguang’s mind.

It infuriated him. She clearly had feelings for Pei Shang—he even bought her a hairpin! They weren’t strangers.

Yet she still came to mess with him?

Shameless!

Xie Zhuoguang ground his teeth in anger.

Pei Shang turned and saw his normally-calm friend looking even colder than usual.

“Who pissed you off? Who can even piss you off?” he asked, confused.

Xie Zhuoguang: “It’s nothing.”

He said “nothing,” but the candle in his study burned all through the night.

The next morning, as Yu Mingyao entered the academy, Pei Biyu waved at her excitedly.

“Mingyao! Come here—Shizi Xie had people copy out likely exam topics. I snagged you a copy too!”

Yu Mingyao suddenly looked toward Xie Zhuoguang.

---