Li Chenyuan was in the courtyard, pacing back and forth with a harsh look on his pretty face.
His mood definitely didn't look good!
Qiu Yunru would have to get in and out as quickly as possible. He gave Li Chenyuan a courtesy, careful not to get too close to him. "Lord Li, we are departing. All affairs have been concluded. If you need anything else from the Jade Clouds Sect, don't hesitate to contact us."
Li Chenyuan nodded, looking at him with an uncomfortably sharp gaze.
Qiu Yunru noticed then that there was a bit of sweat on his pale brow.
"Is Lord Li...all right?"
Li Chenyuan waved his hand carelessly, seeming distracted. "I'm fine. Are you leaving right now?"
"Yes--we are about to set off. Does Lord Li need anything else?"
Li Chenyuan continued to storm back and forth in front of Qiu Yunru, clasping his hands tightly behind his back. It seemed he was truly conflicted about something.
However, Qiu Yunru didn't dare ask. After all, it wasn't his business. He had already asked if Li Chenyuan was all right, and if he hadn't opened up, it wasn't his place to press. He'd just been through hell and back, after all!
"This one will be going, then..."
As Qiu Yunru turned to leave, he found some resistance and couldn't move forward.
When he looked down, he saw that Li Chenyuan had grabbed his sleeve.
Li Chenyuan's face was difficult to read. His expression could be said to be somewhat desperate.
Qiu Yunru's heart ached once again. This kid...
He really didn't want to be left alone, did he?
And didn't it make perfect sense? After seeing his tormentor die such a violent death, after being attacked personally by a ferocious demon, after finding out it was all constructed to lead to his death...
Who wouldn't be a little scared to be left alone?
If it wasn't completely improper, Qiu Yunru would have given him another hug. It was too bad. Not only could he not give this kid another little hug for comfort, but he definitely couldn't stay to keep him company any longer. They had been allotted a week for their mission, and were expected back at the sect to uphold their disciples' duties tomorrow. He really couldn't help this poor child at all!
Qiu Yunru gave a sympathetic expression and lowered his head respectfully.
"This one understands. Should I fetch a servant to keep you company as we leave?"
Li Chenyuan's face turned bright red. He released Qiu Yunru's sleeve like he had been burned, glaring.
"What? Why would I need that kind of thing? Just go!"
Once again, Qiu Yunru felt like he had been kicked in the chest and punched in the gut.
How quickly this kid could go from nervous and pitifully tugging at one's heartstrings to cold and scratching like an angry street cat! Truly unbelievable!
Qiu Yunu nodded. He should really get out of here before any more of Li Chenyuan's ire fell on his head and crushed him.
However, as he turned away, Li Chenyuan called out again:
"Wait!"
Turning his face away, Li Chenyuan was holding out something shiny to Qiu Yunru. It was a hairpin. With a silver stem and an amethyst stone inlaid on the end, it sparkled in the candlelight. Li Chenyuan motioned at Qiu Yunru stubbornly, pointing the pin towards him.
"Take it."
Qiu Yunru did a double-take.
It could only be a thanks for completing this mission and helping him survive the machinations of his uncle. However, looking closely...
This pin was really, truly, an expensive piece of jewelry!
The silver shone like the waters of a river in moonlight, and the amethyst alternated from a pure, pale white to a deep, lustrous purple. Hanging down from the end of the pin was also a ring of polished jade. Something like this...
It had to cost a fortune!
What's more, Li Chenyuan had taken it out of his own hair!
This made Qiu Yunru even more anxious.
Wasn't giving someone your hairpin a sign of romantic affection...? It was true that that was a custom reserved usually for young ladies presenting pins to men, but still...wasn't this a bit improper?!
When he thought about it, it couldn't be that this was that sort of gift. There was first the constraint that no NPC's in Spring Blossoms, Autumn Fruits could display any sort of attraction to a player. Then, there was also the fact that that sort of thing just wouldn't occur in this situation.
It must be that Li Chenyuan, being a young lord brought up without being allowed to leave his home and facing only abuse and darkness, didn't even know that such customs existed, and therefore didn't understand the impropriety of this situation.
Qiu Yunru bowed his head courteously. The best thing to do would be to respectfully refuse!
"Lord Li is highly generous, but this one really can't accept such a valuable gift. I was merely doing my duty as a disciple of the Jade Clouds Sect."
"Tch." Li Chenyuan's voice was chilly.
He walked up to Qiu Yunru then...
And shoved the pin into his ponytail directly!
Qiu Yunru's face went white as snow.
He had known that Li Chenyuan probably didn't have a fully understanding of propriety...but this...
This was really too much!
Without saying another word, Li Chenyuan turned away and crossed his arms. "You should learn to accept gifts. Anyways, this isn't really a gift. It's compensation. You saved me from...that demon. Now I don't owe you any debt."
Qiu Yunru stood there blankly, a very expensive hairpin glittering in his hair.
So that was it! This young lord's ego was a little too fragile. Having had his life saved, he couldn't stand the idea of carrying a debt, and felt the urge to return it immediately with an expensive, if improper, gift. Qiu Yunru couldn't exactly tell him that he should carry the debt on and keep on owing him, could he? That would be even more improper!
So, he made a courtesy instead.
"This one thanks Lord Li. As you said, you owe no debt to me."
After a few more cursory words during which Li Chenyuan refused to look at him, Qiu Yunru left to join the others.