By the time Qiu Wangzhi stumbled out from the slope of loose stones, Gu Baozhu and the others had long since disappeared.
He turned his head toward the pavilion, where his classmates were still chatting, shut his eyes in simmering anger, and strode away.
On the carriage, Gu Baozhu was so worried about running into Qiu Wangzhi that she no longer even wanted to dine at Ruyi House.
“If only we’d booked a private room earlier. There definitely won’t be one available now.”
Song Shixue lowered her eyes with a gentle smile. “Perhaps there will be. Heye can ask when we pass by.”
Gu Baozhu leaned her head against the carriage wall, pouting as she sighed.
“You don’t know since you haven’t been in Songzhou City. You have to book a private room at Ruyi House three days in advance, or you won’t be able to get one at all.”
Song Shixue’s lips curved in a faint smile. “We can at least ask.”
When the carriage stopped outside Ruyi House, Heye lifted the curtain and hopped down.
Gu Baozhu rested her head against the window, replaying Qiu Wangzhi’s every move in her mind. She was so frustrated she could hardly bear it.
Heye entered the restaurant just as the manager, Feng Yi, who was tallying the accounts, happened to look up and meet her gaze.
“Manager Feng, Miss Gu booked a private room for lunch today. Please change the reservation to this evening.”
Feng Yi opened the ledger of reservations.
“The Tianzi Number One Room on the third floor has unexpectedly become available tonight. It can be reserved.”
Knowing that Song Shixue and Song Anhao had come to Songzhou City these past few days, he had kept the Tianzi Number One Room from being rented out.
Heye smiled and nodded. “Good. We’ll take the Tianzi Number One Room.”
Just before leaving, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask, “Did someone named Qiu Wangzhi reserve a private room here for lunch?”
Feng Yi paused, then nodded without even checking the ledger.
“Yes. He reserved the Yuzi Number Five Room. He’s kept it booked for half a month, but has only shown up once. He’s already lost quite a bit just on the deposits.”
Heye nodded and returned to the carriage.
“I’ve asked the manager. He said we were lucky—the Tianzi Number One Room happened to become available this evening.”
Gu Baozhu’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
Heye nodded. “And that young man, Qiu, really did reserve a private room at Ruyi House. He’s kept it booked for half a month, but has only come once. He stood us up every other time.”
The brightness faded from Gu Baozhu’s eyes. Her shoulders slumped as she leaned back.
“I knew it. He’s only doing this because of me.”
She closed her eyes, pressing at her aching temples. “How annoying!”
The sun rose higher in the sky. Half an hour later, the people stationed on either side of the crabapple grove finally began to disperse.
“I think I just saw Miss Gu with another young woman. Why didn’t she come over?” one of the women accompanying the person at the center asked curiously.
The woman she addressed was the legitimate daughter of the circuit intendant of the southwestern province. Her father was certain to be transferred to the capital next year.
Jiang Roulan looked toward her and replied gently, “The woman beside her was Song Shixue, the younger sister of County Princess Linghui. I heard she’s been sightseeing in Songzhou City these past two days.”
“The younger sister of County Princess Linghui?” The woman’s eyes widened in surprise. She had not expected that to be the case.
The news quickly spread as people exchanged glances and began whispering among themselves.
“The Song family’s Second Miss—did County Princess Linghui come as well?”
“I heard she didn’t. Only Second Miss Song came.”
“But I heard there was also a younger brother…”
When Qiu Wangzhi’s classmates returned to the academy, they found him lying on his bed without moving.
“You said you had something important to take care of, and this is what you came back for—to sleep?”
Qiu Wangzhi opened his eyes, a trace of impatience flashing through them.
“It’s already taken care of. I’ve been rather tired these past few days. I won’t be going to the Stone Forest Sea of Flowers tomorrow.”
One of his classmates plopped down on the bed opposite him and pulled off his boots.
“I don’t know why you kept going there day after day. I’d have been exhausted long ago.”
“You left early today, so you missed her. County Princess Linghui’s younger sister also came to admire the flowers. Too bad you didn’t see her.”
Qiu Wangzhi’s brows shot up, and his voice instantly rose.
“County Princess Linghui’s younger sister?”
His classmate nodded. “She came with the daughter of the provincial administration commissioner. I heard she’s been sightseeing in Songzhou City these past two days.”
Qiu Wangzhi’s mind descended into chaos. All he could think about was the face of the woman beside Gu Baozhu.
Could she really have been County Princess Linghui’s younger sister?
“You spoke to her?”
His classmate let out a mocking laugh and looked up.
“She didn’t go anywhere crowded at all. Miss Jiang only caught a distant glimpse of her figure from over there. She’d seen Song Shixue before.”
Qiu Wangzhi collapsed onto the bed, his face expressionless. His chest was filled with nothing but frustration and regret.
Her family background was so distinguished, yet she had dressed so plainly. Why?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He buried his head in the bedding and kicked his feet.
The scholar sitting on the opposite bed stared at him in bewilderment.
What was wrong with him? He usually wasn’t like this.
