"Why are they going to Guanyuan Temple?" Qin Yuchuan asked.
Yan Yang hesitated for a moment, "I'm not sure exactly what they plan to do, they didn't tell me. But I suspect it has something to do with the small box that has captivated you, General."
He had overheard Namu and Yan Chi saying that the General had been bewitched by the enchantress in the small box, and they must remove her influence. They must be going to Guanyuan Temple to seek help from a master.
Qin Yuchuan's expression turned grave. "Call Yan Chi back, I need to see him. You can go for now."
After Yan Yang left, Qin Yuchuan took out his phone and gently wiped it with a handkerchief. "Let's see if they have what it takes to destroy it."
In Xuanyuan Xi's courtyard, Qin Yuchuan sat on a stone bench.
Bai Wei brought him tea and pastries. "General, please have some tea!"
Bai Wei had been by Xuanyuan Xi's side since she was little, practically growing up alongside Qin Yuchuan.
As a child, Bai Wei adored clinging to him, until Qin Yuchuan went off to war and their relationship grew cold.
"The tea is well-brewed. Thank you for taking care of Mother all these years."
Bai Wei kept her head lowered. "It's merely a servant's duty."
Qin Yuchuan didn't say anything further, and Bai Wei retreated silently. She had always known her status was unfit for him.
His kindness to her was solely because she was the princess's attendant. She should not hope for him to see her as anything more.
Moreover, he now had a beloved girl, though she had only glimpsed them conversing from afar. Yet she could sense his joy and ease – something she had never witnessed before.
Ever since he went off to war ten years ago, the smile had vanished from his face. He had matured in an instant, and remained solemn even when at home, never cracking a smile.
Last night's smile was especially radiant.
Xuanyuan Xi carried over a plate of mung bean cakes she had made and approached Qin Yuchuan. "Chuan, try these. I just made them."
Qin Yuchuan took a bite.
"How is it?" Xuanyuan Xi asked.
"A bit too sweet." It wasn't that Qin Yuchuan was being ungracious – the pastry was overly saccharine. He quickly drank all the accompanying tea to dilute the sweetness.
Xuanyuan Xi tried a small bite as well. "It seems I'm not cut out for making pastries. I won't bother with it again."
"Mother, Namu must have told you some things. What is your perspective on this?"
Qin Yuchuan knew Namu had approached Xuanyuan Xi, likely urging her to persuade Qin Yuchuan to destroy the phone. Yet she had not mentioned it to him.
Xuanyuan Xi sighed. "Are you wondering why I haven't asked you to destroy that small box like Namu did?"
Qin Yuchuan nodded – that was precisely his confusion.
Xuanyuan Xi smiled. "Namu did advise me to tell you to destroy the box. But you're an adult now with your own decisions. Whether you want to destroy it or keep it, I respect your choice."
"Namu said the box is not of this world, and the girl inside is not of this realm. He claims pursuing it would bring harm and no benefit. But I don't agree."
"Since the box exists in this world, there must be a reason for its existence."
"What's illusory or forbidden about it? In the face of true feelings, none of that matters."
"I fell in love with Xu at first sight, but after we married, we were often apart."
"He was constantly at war, and I could only comfort myself by gazing at his portrait and reading his letters, reassuring myself that he was well and would return safely."
"Back then, we couldn't see each other either, just like your situation now. But you're luckier than us."
"You have the small box to communicate with her. Perhaps this is fate arranged by the heavens."
Hearing Xuanyuan Xi's words, Qin Yuchuan seemed to understand some things.
Since he liked her, he should pursue her. Overthinking it served no purpose and only increased his worries.
"Mother, I know what I need to do now. I'll take my leave."
Xuanyuan Xi waved him off. "Go on!"
...
After an entire afternoon of classes, Feng Qingyi felt a bit dizzy and drained. She wondered what she had been thinking, choosing a math major that now tormented her daily.
Despite previewing the course material in advance, studying remained an arduous task.
"Let's go, time for dinner," Shen Hanyue said, swiftly packing up her books.
The four of them took the elevator down and exited. As Feng Qingyi stepped out, a stranger shoved a huge bouquet of roses at her.
Feng Qingyi stared at the flowers and balloons displayed before her, utterly bewildered by the stranger thrusting roses into her hands.
"Feng Qingyi, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?" the stranger proclaimed.
"Sorry, but...I don't know you. You should take these flowers back," Feng Qingyi tried to return them.
But the male student refused to take them back. "Qingyi, I've liked you for a long time. Please give me a chance."
The crowd of onlookers began chanting "Get together!" in a crescendo, making Feng Qingyi feel incredibly awkward.
"I'm sorry, but we really aren't acquainted..." she said.
Lou Xi took the roses from Feng Qingyi's hands and flung them back at the male student. "Feng Qingyi has rejected your confession, so you can leave!"
Feng Qingyi thought Lou Xi was incredibly cool for helping her turn down the confession. She was ready to leave with her roommates when the male student blocked their path.
"Acting so high and mighty! You think these roses aren't fancy enough for you? You need a rich guy driving a luxury car and showering you with jewelry to be worthy of you, huh?"
This was the first time Feng Qingyi had encountered someone like this – getting enraged and resorting to insults after a rejected confession, displaying zero class.
"What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded.
The male student sneered, "You're just a college student on financial aid, but you strut around in designer brands with a fancy car picking you up. You act so pure!"
Feng Qingyi was sorely tempted to curse him out, but maintaining her image in front of the crowd of spectators, she restrained herself.
"Let me make this clear – I've never taken the school's financial aid. I have received some academic scholarships, which you can look up on the school's website."
"As for wearing designer brands, I didn't spend your money on them. And the luxury car drops – it's not like it belongs to your family, is it? The kind of person you are determines the world you see. I'm clean and have nothing to be ashamed of."
"But you're the kind of person I truly look down upon!"
After Feng Qingyi finished speaking, she left with the others.
"Qingyi, are you alright? That person, who knows from which courtyard they came from, looking so ugly yet slandering you like that. I really want to give them a beating," Shen Hanyue said as he held Feng Qingyi's hand.
Feng Qingyi shook her head, "It's fine, I'm not that fragile. I'm just a bit annoyed."
Anyone would feel upset after such an incident. Feng Qingyi decided to eat a little more that night.
Lou Xi also consoled her, "They're insignificant people, no need to spoil your mood over them."
