Chapter 11: The Gentle Scholar
The village of Qinghe was already stirring by the time Su Yanyue and Yu Shiming arrived. Stalls were being assembled with rough timber frames and colorful cloths. The air was alive with the scent of roasted chestnuts, herbal ointments, and the occasional waft of freshly baked sesame flatbread.
Yanyue quickly secured a modest corner spot near the well. She laid out her jars, bundles, and dried snacks with precision. Her hands were steady, her expression calm—but her heart hummed with a quiet thrill.
Yu Shiming stood nearby, watching silently with arms crossed, his dark eyes alert beneath the hooded cloak he'd insisted on wearing. He blended into the shadows with ease—too easily for someone without military training.
It didn't go unnoticed.
"Miss Su?"
A warm, familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
She turned and found herself facing a young man in pale blue robes. His features were refined—gentle eyes, a high nose, and lips that curled into a soft smile. He looked scholarly, the kind of man who quoted poems instead of wielding swords.
"It really is you," he said, stepping forward. "Su Yanyue. I wasn't sure at first. It's been years."
Her brows furrowed faintly. "…Do I know you?"
The man chuckled lightly, lowering his voice. "We met once, long ago. In the mountain pass near Yinfeng. You helped treat an injured bird. I was passing by with my teacher. You likely don't remember—it was before you disappeared from the capital."
Her heart skipped a beat.
From the capital?
She masked her surprise with a polite smile. "It's possible. I… had some memory loss."
"Ah," the man said gently. "Then allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Shen Liye, a traveling scholar. My family once served the Su household in the capital."
Yu Shiming's eyes narrowed subtly beneath his hood.
Shen Liye continued, his tone warm but respectful. "I never expected to see you here, living in the countryside. You were always different—even then. Clever and kind. And now, even more beautiful."
Yu Shiming stepped forward just enough to let his presence be known.
Yanyue, flustered, quickly redirected. "Would you like some herbal tea? It's good for fatigue."
Shen Liye smiled, still looking only at her. "If it's made by your hand, I'll buy the whole pot."
She laughed lightly, trying to ease the growing tension, but her fingers fumbled slightly as she poured.
"Your companion," Shen Liye said, finally acknowledging Yu Shiming with a nod, "is he your…"
"Friend," she said quickly.
Yu Shiming said nothing, but his gaze locked on Shen Liye for a moment too long—calculated, assessing. Like a general measuring an enemy commander.
Shen Liye was refined, charming, and clearly well-educated. The kind of man society would call a good match.
But Su Yanyue… didn't belong to society.
Still, when Shen Liye handed over a silver coin for the tea and gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, Yu Shiming's jaw tightened imperceptibly.
As the scholar walked away, promising to return and "catch up on the years lost," Yanyue sighed and shook her head.
"He's harmless," she said.
Yu Shiming didn't respond.
Instead, after a long silence, he muttered under his breath, "You should be careful with men who use silk and words instead of steel."
She arched a brow. "And what about men who hide behind cloaks and act like shadows?"
He gave a faint, rare smile. "Those are the ones worth keeping an eye on."
And just like that, the tension eased—but the fire sparked again.
This time, it was jealousy.