Seeing the faintest trace of a smile finally emerge on Shao Lan's face, Gu Qingli's heart lifted with quiet relief.
Yet character forged over more than a decade cannot be transformed in a single day.
Soon, Gu Qingli found herself talking until her throat turned dry, while Shao Lan remained utterly silent—unmoving, expressionless. If not for the subtle glimmer still flickering in his silver eyes, she might have suspected he'd turned to stone.
This boy had likely been locked in his own world for far too long. Aside from the brief spark of interest at the beginning, no other emotion crossed his face.
His expression stayed blank, his presence distant and cold, eyes deep as a still lake, betraying nothing of his thoughts.
At last, Gu Qingli could only sigh and quietly take her leave.
By the time she stepped out, the sun had already risen, casting golden light upon the elegant courtyard and its lofty pavilions, where tall trees stretched their shadows across the tranquil space.
Time had passed more swiftly than she'd realized, and now daylight had fully claimed the sky.
There, outside the courtyard, stood Shao Yan—respected high-star Martial King of Loulan City, a man whose name alone commanded power and reverence.
Yet at this moment, he waited foolishly like a worried parent, anxiety etched across his face. Only when he saw Gu Qingli emerge did his eyes brighten with hope.
"Xiao Li, Xiao Li!" he called eagerly, a grin stretching across his kindly face. "How did the talk go with Xiao Lan?"
His tone was warm, but the tension in his expression revealed the depth of his concern. Clearly, seeing her remain inside for so long had stirred his anticipation.
"Uh…"
Faced with his hopeful eyes, Gu Qingli felt a flicker of awkwardness. Though she had managed to speak a few words with Shao Lan, the latter half of their exchange had been… unfruitful.
"Well, Uncle Shao…"
She gave an embarrassed laugh as she relayed the conversation that had taken place. To her surprise, Shao Yan seemed utterly elated—his eyes shimmering with unshed tears of joy.
"Ah, you can't imagine how much this means, Xiao Li! That child… for all these years, he hasn't spoken to anyone but me. I once tried introducing him to other children his age, hoping they could reach him. But it was all in vain. Some were so frightened by his eyes they burst into tears. After that, Xiao Lan withdrew even further into himself, becoming more sensitive and guarded."
As he spoke, Shao Yan was nearly weeping—his voice hoarse with long-held emotion, as though he'd carried this burden for far too long.
"Ah, Uncle Shao… it hasn't been easy for you either. Don't worry," Gu Qingli said earnestly, "Though Shao Lan's personality is a bit… unique, I believe he's a good person at heart. You have my word—I'll spend more time with him. Sincerity can move even stone; I'm certain one day, he'll be my friend."
She lifted her chin slightly, her face lit by a confident smile. Surely there wasn't a boy in the world she couldn't win over—not when she was this adorable!
"Good, good! Xiao Li, I'll leave it to you, then! And rest assured, when you leave for Fengyun Holy Academy, I'll see to it that your father is safe—he'll be under my protection."
When matters didn't concern his beloved disciple, Shao Yan was quite shrewd. He understood perfectly well what Gu Qingli hoped for—and was more than willing to trade promises to secure her help.