Chapter Fifteen: Afraid the Dream Will Eventually End

She truly was beautiful.

Of all the people he had ever met, she was by far the most striking.

Xiao Yan was just about to step forward and offer his respects when he saw her seem to notice him. In that instant, her eyes brightened, her brows curved gracefully, and she walked toward him with a gentle smile.

“Why are you out here?” Her voice was soft and pleasant. “Soon you’ll begin your martial training, and then there will be little time for rest. You should seize this moment to recover—your injuries haven’t healed completely yet.”

Xiao Yan bowed low in greeting, then replied, “I am already much better.”

These past days, not only had the color returned to his face, but his body seemed stronger as well. It dawned on her that the reason she had once looked directly at him was because he had been too weak to stand straight; now, she realized she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze.

She felt proud of her efforts.

“Though you’re nearly recovered, you still need to take your medicine and eat well. Martial training is exhausting,” she continued, smiling. “Take a short walk outside, then return to rest. If you need anything, look for me or Uncle Li.”

Xiao Yan lowered his eyes. “Yes, miss.”

A faint, pleasing fragrance lingered in the air, one he had noticed every time she visited the side room—her scent.

She seemed to be kind to everyone.

She was gentle with Uncle Li, with the maids who served by her side, and… with him as well.

Here, everyone seemed at ease, living without constraint. As long as one completed the tasks at hand, there was no fear of punishment, no anxiety over the next meal.

Sometimes, when she went out, she would bring back delicacies from the city and share them with the servants. The medicine she gave him never ceased, not a single day missed.

He could not understand why she did all this, or why she treated him so well. After years spent shrouded in darkness, this sudden warmth made him inexplicably uneasy.

He could not say why, but the more often he saw her, the more intense this feeling became.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists.

Perhaps he did understand.

He feared that one day, this dream would end.

——

On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the Double Ninth Festival, it was customary in the capital to go out and admire chrysanthemums.

The garden at the Gao residence boasted a vast array of chrysanthemums, and so, every Double Ninth, the Gao family would invite the most prominent families in the city to come and enjoy the blossoms.

Shen Nanyuan was personally greeted by Gao Xueluo. Seeing Shen Nanyuan in her pale pink gauze dress, Gao Xueluo exclaimed, “Our Yuanyuan’s beauty is truly unmatched. Today, you’ll have all eyes upon you—no one will be able to look away.”

“I wonder if they’re here to admire the flowers, or simply to look at you.”

Shen Nanyuan laughed. “It's only been a few days since we last met, and you’ve become so charmingly witty.”

Gao Xueluo blinked. “I’m only speaking the truth.”

She added, “There are many guests in the house today. Stay close to me, just in case you run into some unscrupulous people.”

Shen Nanyuan’s eyes curved into a smile. “I know.”

The Gao family’s garden was vast. By the time the two arrived, there were already many guests present. As Gao Xueluo had predicted, the moment Shen Nanyuan appeared, every gaze turned in her direction.

Low whispers accompanied those glances, eyes frequently drifting toward her.

“That must be the eldest lady of the Duke Zhen’s household.”

“Of course it is. Who else in the capital could be so beautiful? But she rarely appears in public—this is my first time seeing her.”

“She certainly deserves her reputation as the city’s greatest beauty.”

“They say Miss Shen’s looks are unrivaled; seeing her today, I can only agree. The rumors are true.”

“And yet Young Master Jun was willing to break off the engagement with her!”

“Lower your voice—Young Master Jun is here today too.”

Jealous voices mingled among the crowd.

“I thought she’d be more beautiful. She’s nothing special—not as pretty as our Sister Lin.”

“She’s not all that good-looking.”

At this, Gao Xueluo immediately turned toward them, placing herself protectively in front of Shen Nanyuan like a mother hen and letting out a mocking laugh.

“Did a dog just bark? How strange. Our Gao family doesn’t keep dogs—it must be from outside.”

She turned to Shen Nanyuan. “Did you hear that, Yuanyuan?”

Shen Nanyuan glanced at the group of girls wearing sour expressions and nodded. “I heard.”

Their faces turned even more unpleasant.

With her head held high, Gao Xueluo let out a disdainful snort and led Shen Nanyuan past the group. Only when they were well away did she speak again. “Don’t mind what they say. They’re just jealous that the moment you appeared, you stole all the attention—no one’s looking at them anymore.”

“You rarely attend such gatherings, but most of these girls dress up so carefully in hopes of catching the eye of a future husband—after all, many young gentlemen from prominent families are here today. And, naturally, the first thing they all notice is the most beautiful girl present.”

Shen Nanyuan nodded in understanding and glanced back. Among the group, one girl stood out, her beauty a match for the rest, and she stared at Shen Nanyuan with undisguised hostility.

It puzzled her.

“Who is that?”

Gao Xueluo followed her gaze. “You mean the other girl in pink? That’s Lin Yan, the second daughter of Grand Tutor Lin. She’s quite pretty, but why does she keep staring at you?”

Why is she staring?

Shen Nanyuan had found it strange as well. But the name Lin Yan suddenly made everything clear.

Wasn’t she Jun Ci’s precious first love?

No wonder her gaze was tinged with hostility. But what did it matter to her? The engagement had already been canceled.

Shen Nanyuan couldn’t help but purse her lips and shrug. “Who knows? Maybe she just envies my looks.”

Gao Xueluo: “...Yuanyuan.”

Shen Nanyuan: “?”

“That’s exactly how you should be!” Gao Xueluo said cheerfully.

Shen Nanyuan: “...”

The two found a quiet spot to sit, where they could see the fish in the pond and the library across the way. A maid came by to pour them tea and bring pastries. Shen Nanyuan took one and tasted it, the sweet flavor relaxing her expression.

Gao Xueluo quietly scanned the surroundings.

“By the way, how is your second brother Shen Jinyu? Is he still confined?”

“Yes,” Shen Nanyuan nodded. “His injuries have improved, but he still can’t walk. Father made sure those twenty strokes were delivered with full force—to teach him a lesson.”

She visited him often in his quarters, bringing books. This time, the lesson seemed to have sunk in; though he was still a bit arrogant, he had become noticeably more restrained.

Change would not come overnight.