Pressing for Marriage
Shen Qingwu's mood brightened. In the academy, he still didn't directly call out "Liu Lang" but half-hidden called Liu Yingqu "Liu Lang Jun."
Liu Yingqu standing there was a unique sight.
"How's your health?" Shen Qingwu started with a topic.
Liu Yingqu took a step, standing under the big banyan tree. He said, "I'm fine now. You don't need to worry."
Shen Qingwu felt a bit guilty. These days, he hadn't worried about Liu Yingqu's health but had only thought about seeing him. He only remembered Liu Yingqu's illness when he saw him.
"Take me around. It's my first time here," Shen Qingwu looked down and kicked a small stone by the road.
Liu Yingqu felt like that little stone by the road. He was also here for the first time and didn't know what was worth seeing in the academy.
"Then let's walk along the path," Liu Yingqu stood beside Shen Qingwu, feeling a bit strange because Shen Qingwu quietly moved closer. He could even feel the other's breath.
"Liu Lang, why haven't you come to find me these days?" Shen Qingwu stepped on the stone bridge and asked, tilting his head.
"I've been studying at home. I only came to the academy today," Liu Yingqu said vaguely.
"Then we really have fate. I bumped into you as soon as I came to the academy today," Shen Qingwu smiled, his eyes curved, his skin even whiter in the sunlight. His long eyelashes cast shadows on his face, and the black mole under his eye was dazzling.
Liu Yingqu's embarrassment eased a lot. Looking at Shen Qingwu, he was also eighteen years old, just one year younger than Shen Qingwu.
"My father has been urging me to get married these days," Shen Qingwu complained to his lover, then he noticed his lover coughing with his head lowered, looking puzzled.
"It's still too early," Liu Yingqu said tactfully.
"Not too early," Shen Qingwu muttered. His childhood best friend was about to get married soon and had even invited him to the wedding banquet.
At eighteen, he was already considered a big shot in the county.
He just craved having a home of his own, and since Liu Yingqu seemed decent enough, that was what he was thinking about.
The scenery inside Qingshui Academy was still quite something. It was study time, so there weren’t many people wandering around; only a few stragglers were idling about.
"What did I just see? There's a young master in the academy!"
"So what? The director's son is here, isn't he?"
"Nonsense! I'm talking about the Shen family! That Shen Qingwu!"
"What’s he doing here? Which scholar can stand him?"
Everyone knew Shen Qingwu’s reputation. Plus, with such an influential uncle, marrying him meant marrying your future — but it was risky. Unless you could pretend to be a gentleman your whole life, Shen Qingwu wouldn’t even look at you.
No concubines, no restrictions on freedom, and all sorts of conditions — just hearing it made their heads spin.
The academy director’s son was gentle and mild-looking, nothing like Shen Qingwu’s complicated nature!
"Is he alone?"
"There’s a man beside him."
That piqued their interest, and they all asked, "Who is it?"
"Liu Yingqu."
Meanwhile, Shen Qingwu hadn’t really strolled around with anyone before, but now walking with Liu Yingqu made him feel somewhat at ease.
Besides, Liu Yingqu wasn’t impatient with him; he was actually listening carefully to what he said.
Liu Yingqu subtly changed the topic away from marriage, and chatting with Shen Qingwu was quite pleasant.
Though the young master's worries were different from his own.
"Lately, Jinpin Zhai’s accessories have been scarce, and many people are wearing the same ones as me, so I can’t stand out," Shen Qingwu said. He liked to dress up. Today he wore red, a risky color, but his fair skin and bright smile made it dazzling.
He could easily pull off red.
Liu Yingqu heard Shen Qingwu’s words and thought, isn’t that just a clash of outfits?
Liu Yingqu said, "You’re handsome; no one can compare to you."
Shen Qingwu was confident in his looks, but hearing Liu Yingqu say that made his eyes sparkle. Who wouldn’t be happy to be the most beautiful in their lover’s eyes? Shen Qingwu was no exception.
"You only say that to flatter me," Shen Qingwu pretended to refuse, but anyone could see how pleased he was inside.
Liu Yingqu knew to take such words lightly, but he’d still praise him next time.
Thinking of Shen Qingwu’s words, Liu Yingqu recalled some descriptions of hairpins he had read in books before. After all, his expertise involved dealing with ancient objects to some extent.
His memory was decent; he still had images of several hairpins in his mind. Maybe he could recreate one?
"Liu Lang, are you taking the exam again this year?" Shen Qingwu asked.
"I haven’t decided yet." There were still three months until the exam. He had just arrived and wasn’t confident yet.
"No need to think about it — of course you have to take it. In the future, when we’re together, I can accompany you to the exam," Shen Qingwu said, tilting his head.
He had never accompanied anyone to an exam before; it sounded fun. One day, he’d be supervising someone else’s exam.
"Young master, the master is looking for you," Jiang Luoluo ran over to say.
"What does he want with me? I’m useless," Shen Qingwu grumbled.
He was dealing with a major life issue and was so happy being with Liu Yingqu that he was reluctant to leave.
"I don’t know either, young master," Jiang Luoluo said with a bitter face, not daring to argue with Shen Qingwu.
Liu Yingqu breathed a sigh of relief. "Qingwu, since uncle is looking for you, you should go quickly. I have class soon."
"I don’t want to leave you," Shen Qingwu said.
Liu Yingqu felt a bit numb.
"There’s still a long time ahead," Liu Yingqu comforted Shen Qingwu to think more openly.
When Liu Yingqu left, Shen Qingwu was still reluctant. He had never felt this strongly before; now he wanted to say a few more words to Liu Yingqu, or even just walk silently together.
Shen Qingwu’s face slowly flushed red.
"Luoluo, Liu Lang is really nice."
Jiang Luoluo: "… Young master, I think you’re acting a bit strange."
Liu Yingqu returned to the study hall, drowsy after a whole day of classes, his mind filled with classical texts and scholarly jargon.
"Liu Yingqu, get up and answer this question," a teacher stroked his beard and called him up.
Liu Yingqu used to be attentive in this teacher’s class, but now he was dozing off, which the teacher couldn’t stand. Although Liu Yingqu’s talent wasn’t exceptional, he was diligent and hardworking.
Liu Yingqu gave the correct answer.
The teacher’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise. "Sit down. You must pay attention in class."
Liu Yingqu cupped his hands. "Yes, teacher."
The others in class were also surprised. Liu Yingqu had been dozing but still gave the right answer. This class was somewhat difficult.
Liu Yingqu took his brush and started taking notes in his book. After being reminded, he finally perked up a bit.
The intensity of classes for ancient scholars was quite high. Fortunately, there were no classes at night; otherwise, Liu Yingqu would have really collapsed.
At two in the afternoon, they had a class on policy discussion.
At three, a teacher took them to a debate where they were harshly criticized by the opposing side, leaving Liu Yingqu dumbfounded.
At five, the teacher made them write a ten-thousand-character essay, nearly making Liu Yingqu sick from writing.
At six, dinner was served. It was delicious, though the meat was a bit scarce. Liu Yingqu puffed his cheeks, cherishing every bite of meat.
At seven, it was time to recite texts. Liu Yingqu glanced a few times and then recited perfectly, after which he started slacking off.
At eight, classes ended, and back in the dormitory, Liu Yingqu felt alive again, even his breathing seemed beautiful.
"Liu Yingqu, you took the wrong path. Your dorm is this way."
"Coming." Liu Yingqu almost got lost but turned himself around.
He placed his clothes on the bed, washed up, and sat on the edge of the bed with wet hair, holding his small bundle, sadly hiding his piggy bank.
There were only twenty wen left; the remaining one hundred eighty wen were quietly slipped into Aunt Tan’s room.
He had brought two sets of clothes. Today’s journey was tiring, and with exams coming up, Liu Yingqu was very sleepy, but he still forced himself to take out the script and copy it.
He was too poor.
"Yingqu, you’re copying books to earn money?" Jiao Ming, his dormmate, came out of the washroom and immediately saw Liu Yingqu sitting on a chair, spreading paper and writing something.
He was slightly stunned. In the candlelight, Liu Yingqu’s face looked gentle. He lifted his head, his features deep and refined, with a high nose bridge and thin lips. His eyes, when looking at people, gave a feeling of deep affection.
Liu Yingqu said, "Yes. Is it bothering you all?" If it did, he would stop writing. The dorm was a shared space; he couldn’t disturb others just for himself.
"No, we don’t sleep that early," Jiao Ming replied. He suddenly felt Liu Yingqu was very polite to them, and such politeness made Jiao Ming feel comfortable, thinking Liu Yingqu was considerate.
But Liu Yingqu had never worried about money before; now, this looked genuine, not an act.
"Someone, help me, bring a bucket."
Jiao Ming sat on his bed, wrapping himself in a quilt. Before he could get down, he saw Liu Yingqu walk out.
He was startled. Since when did Liu Yingqu become so helpful?
Liu Yingqu stepped outside. The candlelight outside was dim, casting a shadow on his face, highlighting the smooth jawline.
His voice was warm and low: "Do you need my help?"
