After the New Year season, the Imperial Academy resumed classes, and Lu Shuo returned to his busy academic life. According to Shen Hechuan, Miss Zhao and her father had left the capital after the New Year, but he had kept the address of their escort agency's headquarters, so if anything came up, he could write to them. The mansion returned to its usual tranquility. If there was any commotion, it could only be about Helan Zhen's upcoming appointment as a local official. The appointment would last at least two years. Zhang Yizhu was busy packing for her son and arranging attendants. The son's original personal attendant had married, and his wife was pregnant, so he obviously couldn't leave. The replacement attendant from the younger servants wasn't enough, and she still felt short-handed. After all, it was an appointment far away; the Duke Mansion's reach couldn't extend that far. It was better for her son to have more people around him. Zhang Yizhu was selecting suitable candidates within the mansion. During one dinner, Zhang Yizhu brought up the matter to Helan Zhen, asking if he had any suitable attendants in mind. Helan Zhen said no. Zhang Yizhu said, "It's a strange place with unfamiliar people. It's better to bring a few more people so I can rest assured. It'll also make things more convenient for you. Otherwise, when you first arrive, the subordinates won't be familiar with you and might not listen. What will you do then?" Helan Zhen looked a bit helpless and said, "Really no need." Lu Shuo's chopsticks paused. He thought of Tianqing standing behind him. He ate a few more bites silently, then said casually, "Madam, if you want to find a few more attendants for Eldest Young Master, why not consider Tianqing? He used to serve Eldest Young Master, and he's diligent and clever. I'm sure he can help Eldest Young Master with his worries." Tianqing, who had been respectfully standing with head bowed and hands at his sides, suddenly looked up. Zhang Yizhu said in surprise, "Tianqing?" Her gaze fell on Tianqing, and she said instinctively, "How can that be? Tianqing is your man." Lu Shuo said, "I'm mostly at the Imperial Academy now, so I don't really need anyone. Tianqing is hardworking; it would be a waste to keep him doing odd jobs for me. Better for him to go with Eldest Young Master." Zhang Yizhu frowned. Tianqing was indeed good—quick and sharp-minded—but he had always been with Lu Shuo; it didn't make sense to suddenly transfer him to Helan Zhen. However, Tianqing had originally served Helan Zhen before she assigned him to Lu Shuo... "I said no need," Helan Zhen put down his chopsticks and said flatly. "I already think the current staff are too many. Why are you still thinking of adding more? Bringing too many people would make local colleagues think I'm putting on airs and showing off. It won't help with getting things done. It's better to keep it lean." Zhang Yizhu said, "But..." "Alright, can't I decide who to bring myself?" Helan Zhen said. "I'm not taking any more, and I'll reduce two from the current ones. They can stay in the mansion and do other work." Helan Zong, watching from the side, said to Zhang Yizhu with a smile, "Our son's wings have hardened. He thinks you're worrying too much." Zhang Yizhu glared at him, then looked back at Helan Zhen. "Really not bringing any?" "Not bringing any." "Fine." Zhang Yizhu relented. "But if you run into trouble there because you're short-handed, don't write back asking me for people." Helan Zhe twitched the corner of his mouth. Lu Shuo continued eating silently, not paying attention to how Tianqing behind him was reacting—he had done all he could. After the meal, Lu Shuo was walking out when Helan Pei grabbed him. She glanced at Tianqing following behind him and pulled Lu Shuo further into a corner. Lu Shuo had no choice but to follow her. Helan Pei took out paper and a brush, and under the light of the eaves, quickly wrote, "Why did you suddenly want to let Tianqing go with Eldest Brother? Did something happen?" Lu Shuo pursed his lips. "Nothing. I just thought it was suitable." Helan Pei looked at him, feeling he was acting strange. But lately, there had been too many strange things about him, and she didn't want to waste time on Tianqing for now. "Why have you been ignoring me lately?" Helan Pei asked directly. Lu Shuo was stunned. His hands involuntarily clenched inside his sleeves. He took a deep breath, then forced a smile. "How am I ignoring you, miss? Am I not talking to you right now?" Helan Pei wrote, "Last time you came back, I asked if you wanted to go out for a stroll, and you said no. The time before that, I asked if you had finished reading the book I lent you, but you said you had to prepare for exams and hadn't finished yet. But until today, you haven't taken any exams." Her brows were tightly furrowed, and she stared at him with piercing eyes, a mix of confusion and reproach. Lu Shuo thought sadly, how could she ask such a question so easily? Yes, she was indeed perceptive, because he had been deliberately distancing himself from her, reducing contact to avoid sinking deeper. She felt it, but she didn't understand why. Because she only saw him as a friend, or half a family member, never as an independent male. She was innocent and sincere, without any ulterior motives toward him. He was the one with improper thoughts, harboring desires for her but afraid to let anyone know. If her heart had no one else, he could still hypnotize himself, pretending they were inseparable, indulging in this beautiful dream as long as it lasted. But now the dream had been shattered. Her world finally had a perfect, independent male, and it was only natural she would be drawn to him. He and she were never possible anyway. He had already enjoyed a long time with her; if he didn't know when to stop and retreat, and instead kept disturbing her and Young Master Shen's time together, he would probably earn her disgust. Besides, he was always afraid—afraid that Young Master Shen had already seen through his feelings. If he shamelessly clung to her, he feared Young Master Shen would tell the master and madam. He didn't want things to turn so ugly, so he decided to end this one-sided romantic dream himself. Seeing Lu Shuo silent for so long, Helan Pei frowned even deeper and quickly wrote, "Did I do something wrong that made you angry?" "...No. Where did your mind go, miss? You've never done anything wrong, and I'm not angry at all," Lu Shuo said bitterly. "It's just that the coursework at the Imperial Academy has become much harder. I want to focus more on my studies. If I've made you misunderstand, I apologize." Helan Pei stared at him steadily. Too strange. So strange. His tone was too stiff, not like his usual gentle temperament. She thought for a moment, then finally asked, "Is it because I went out with my cousin before without telling you, so you're upset about it?" When Lu Shuo saw the words "my cousin," his scalp nearly tingled. He thought she was about to confess about her and Young Master Shen, or that she had long seen through his feelings. But that wasn't it. She genuinely thought he was unhappy because he hadn't been able to go out with them. "No." Lu Shuo clenched his fists and said slowly, "That was so long ago. Who would be upset about that and hold it for so long?" "Then what is it?" Her handwriting became sloppy, clearly losing patience. Lu Shuo opened his mouth but didn't know how to explain. The night wind was still chilly, making the lanterns under the eaves sway, casting flickering light and shadow on her face. Lu Shuo saw Zisu and Tianqing waiting not far away, and in the distance, Shen Hechuan, who had briefly looked back in their direction and then gracefully walked away. "I really haven't been ignoring you, miss," Lu Shuo repeated. "And I'm not angry at you." Helan Pei wrote, "Then next time you come back, will you go out with me? I know a shop with delicious pastries." Lu Shuo said, "Next time, I'll be close to exams." He paused. "Really." Helan Pei looked at him silently. Lu Shuo couldn't bear her gaze. He felt deeply guilty; she knew nothing, yet she was troubled by his emotions. He had failed her innocence. He almost panicked and blurted out, "I'll go now, miss." Then he quickly walked away, fleeing this place that made him so uncomfortable. Helan Pei watched his back in shock. He had never left her like this, so recklessly and discourteously. She felt like a bewildered little dog, inexplicably abandoned in a wilderness. But before, he had always let her have her way... Zisu approached. "Miss." Helan Pei snapped back to reality. She looked at Zisu sorrowfully and wrote, "Why is he suddenly treating me like this?" Zisu didn't know either. She scratched her head and guessed, "Maybe you actually had an exam recently, but Young Master Lu didn't do well, so he's in a bad mood and afraid to tell anyone?" Helan Pei wrote, "That can't be. He just told me that when he comes back next time, it'll be close to exams." Zisu said, "Who knows if he's telling the truth? Second Young Master, Third Young Master, and he are in different classes. I don't know when their exams are." Helan Pei let out a long sigh of frustration. She still didn't think that was the reason. But if it wasn't exams and she hadn't done anything wrong, why was he avoiding her? She couldn't figure it out. In the past, when she encountered something she didn't understand, she would ask Jiang Siji, her eldest brother, her mother, or her father. But lately, she had a feeling she shouldn't ask her eldest brother or parents about this. It was about Lu Shuo. Asking Jiang Siji might be okay, but she had stopped coming to the mansion to teach long ago. She couldn't just knock on her door for this one matter. After thinking it over, Helan Pei decided to go to the most knowledgeable person in the mansion.
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