Chapter 22.1
Lu Yao’s gaze fell on Yu Le’s lips, his eyes darkening, and his tone slow and deep, “Have you forgotten?”
Yu Le nodded, “Forgotten.”
Lu Yao: “Curious?”
The rising inflection in his voice was like a small hook, tugging at Yu Le’s heart, making him feel a sweet, tingling sensation.
“Mm.” Yu Le swallowed, “Maybe a little.”
The air fell silent again.
The night sky, the shadows of trees, the swaying flowers, the sleeping cats, and the two people under the tree.
Even the passing breeze seemed to quietly cover its eyes.
“Woof, woof woof!”
Perhaps someone was passing by outside, as Shui Cai suddenly started barking.
A piece of gravel thrown into the pool disturbed its mirror-like surface, creating ripples that spread outwards, turning everything into illusory fragments.
Yu Le’s drifting thoughts were pulled back to reality.
In the blink of an eye, Lu Yao had already stood up and gently rubbed Yu Le’s head before leaving, “I forgot too.”
“It’s getting late, get some rest.”
After Lu Yao left, Yu Le sat alone in the courtyard for a long time.
Until Shui Cai ran back from the hall, jumping onto the stone beside Yu Le, who quickly hugged the dog’s head, burying his flushed face in its fur.
The past couple of days had been overcast during the day and rainy at night, with the air cool and damp. It wasn’t cold, but the humidity made people lethargic and unmotivated.
That day, Yu Le, bored, took out his sketchbook and sketched under the tree. Lu Yao suddenly brought three girls to the backyard.
The three girls were wearing thin coats, but it didn’t cover their fluffy, puffed-up feather skirts. They were slender, with exquisitely made-up faces, and feathered headpieces resembling wings—perfectly resembling ballet dancers.
Yu Le was confused and stood up, “What’s going on?”
Lu Yao: “They are students from the dance academy. They were informed they need to record a video for an assignment and thought the inn’s photos were suitable, so they came to borrow the space.”
The three girls stood behind him, nodding obediently, their eyes sparkling as they looked at Yu Le with shy admiration.
The boy standing alone under the lush locust tree was quite a sight, like a comic character brought to life, truly a feast for the eyes.
Yu Le understood immediately and quickly cleared the space under the tree, “Alright, you can use it.”
“Thank you, thank you.”
“We’re really sorry for disturbing you, handsome.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine.” Yu Le waved with a smile, “I’m not busy.”
He pointed to Lu Yao, “This isn’t my place; he’s the boss.”
The three girls thanked Lu Yao several more times with great politeness, quickly setting up the camera and removing their coats.
Yu Le took on the task of helping to start the music. He stood behind the camera, confirming the recording had begun before starting the DJ’s music.
The melodious sound of the violin spread through the courtyard. The three white swans under the tree danced to the music, each step and hand movement filled with exquisite romance and grace, turning the garden’s flowers into mere decorations.
“Ah, it’s really beautiful.”
Yu Le was mesmerized, turning his pencil in his hand, contentedly sighing, “Lu Yao, you know, this summer feels completely different from what I used to know.”
Lu Yao, standing next to him with his arms crossed, leaned against the wall, “So, what did you think summer was like before?”
Yu Le’s idea of summer could be summed up in a single phrase, “Air conditioning, fans, cooling mats, ice-cold cola and watermelon, ice cream, thunderstorms, and occasionally beaches that could sunburn you.”
Lu Yao tilted his head, “Is that all?”
Yu Le: “Isn’t that what summer is usually like? Or is it people working under the scorching sun to make it to their shifts?”
Lu Yao smiled, “Yu Le, that’s not summer.”
Yu Le asked him, “Then what do you think summer is?”
“I think summer can’t be described by just listing things.”
Lu Yao looked at the three dancing girls, who were like expensive music box dolls, “After all, some things that exist in summer may not be found in other seasons.”
“Many things are overlooked simply because they aren’t needed at the moment, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”
“They become grand when summer arrives, bathed in golden sunlight, shining brightly, and become impossible to ignore.”
“So, Yu Le, it’s not that summer has them, but rather that they are present in summer.”
This was a perspective Yu Le had never heard before.
It’s not about what summer has, but about what is in summer.
He felt a spark of understanding and looked up at the sky, the vastness making him feel enlightened.
He seemed to understand why Old Song criticized his designs for being too formulaic in some respects.
When he refocused on Lu Yao, he saw him leisurely making Chinese knots with a red cord.
Yu Le leaned in closer, surprised, “You can make Chinese knots? That’s impressive!”
“I learned it from Grandma Lu next door when I had nothing to do.” Lu Yao quickly transformed the red cord into a flower, “It’s not impressive, just this one type.”
Yu Le: “Is this a safety knot?”
He only knew this type.
Lu Yao: “It’s a pan-chang knot.”
Yu Le: “Pan-chang, as in the rock?”
Lu Yao: “Stretch out your hand.”
Yu Le thought he was going to give him the knot and opened his hand, but Lu Yao instead used his knuckles to write characters in his palm.
Yu Le’s hand felt soft and tingling from the touch, his fingertips involuntarily curling. He carefully counted the strokes to recognize the characters, “Oh, it’s this pan.”
Lu Yao smiled and then placed the completed knot in Yu Le’s hand.
As the music neared its end, Yu Le held the knot, his attention shifting from the dancers under the tree, feeling somewhat distracted.
The spot touched by Lu Yao’s fingertips still felt a bit itchy, and the sensation lingered.
The crowd around them had unconsciously increased; it seemed Wang Wenyuan and the others had also heard the music and come downstairs to join in.
As the little swans finished dancing, Wang Wenyuan, smiling, led the applause, “Wonderful, so beautiful, you girls are amazing!”
The girls smiled shyly, sending one of them happily to take away the camera. The three of them were chattering in front of the camera, seemingly discussing something and looking a bit troubled.
Lu Yao took the initiative to ask, “What’s the matter?”
The girl who had come to collect the camera responded, “We still need to take some photos for the cover. Can you help us again?”
“If you wanna take photos, you can ask me!”
On the other side, Zhou Fei suddenly raised his hand and spoke up, volunteering, “I can take professional photos. I know all about angles and lighting. I guarantee you’ll love the photos!”
Fool, you’re just a lecherous toad hoping to eat swan meat!
Guan Zheng made a retching face and rolled his eyes dramatically from behind.
The three little swans frowned tightly. Before Zhou Fei could get close, they hurriedly clutched the camera and ran to Yu Le and Lu Yao, “Sorry to trouble you again. It doesn’t have to be very professional; it’s just for an assignment, so just take some casual shots.”
Lu Yao had never handled a camera in his life, and he had no idea where the shutter button was. He shrugged helplessly and turned his gaze to Yu Le.
“I’ll give it a try,” Yu Le hesitated for a moment, taking the camera and explaining the situation to the girls, “But I’m not very skilled either. I’ll take more shots, and you can pick the best ones later.”
“Okay, that works. Thank you, handsome!”
Zhou Fei awkwardly stopped midway, scratching his neck and making an annoyed sound. He couldn’t get his way, so all he could do was glare at Yu Le.
The little swans were pleasant to work with. Although Yu Le felt his skills were too lacking to capture their beauty, they praised him profusely.
“Wow! It looks amazing!”
“We love every shot. We’ll choose the best ones when we get back.”
“Thanks for your hard work, handsome!”
Yu Le was flattered, “It’s no trouble. I’m glad you like it.”
“Hmph, no wonder.” Zhou Fei suddenly started to speak sarcastically, “A bunch of art students, with no real skills, just messing around with their painting and dancing, always sticking together.”
There were only four art students present—Yu Le and the three little swans. It was clear who Zhou Fei was indirectly targeting.
The girls, who had been recording the video, were stunned by the sudden personal attack.
Yu Le’s face darkened. He was about to speak when Lu Yao interrupted with a calm question for Zhou Fei, “So, do you think being a cultural student is something impressive?”
Zhou Fei responded arrogantly, “Isn’t it? Who doesn’t know that art students are the least competent? Only those who can’t handle studying end up taking these side paths to pass the college entrance exam. Is it forbidden to state the obvious?”
“Hmm, impressive.”
Lu Yao nodded slowly, “Then let me ask you, this impressive cultural student, since you entered university, has there been a stage built specifically for you, or a spotlight aimed solely at you?”
Zhou Fei was speechless, his neck stiff, “Why are you asking this?”
Lu Yao turned to the three girls, “What about you?”
The girls nodded in unison, “Yes, many times. We’ve participated in numerous ballet competitions both domestically and internationally.”
“And you’ve won awards?”
“Yes! The worst result was third place.”
“Impressive.” Lu Yao smiled and looked back at Zhou Fei, “Did you hear that? Cultural student, you’re currently unknown and yet look down on them?”
Zhou Fei refused to back down, “So what? What’s the use of winning awards? Have they made money, become famous, or contributed to society? And him!”
He pointed at Yu Le, “What’s he good for, besides showing off his face? He just comes to these remote places to show off. I really don’t understand what women see nowadays!”
“Him?” Lu Yao raised an eyebrow, “He was admitted to a top design academy at seventeen, went abroad for further studies at twenty, has won numerous design awards, and established his own brand at twenty-one. He’s already a leader in the industry. Are you comparing yourself to him?”
The little swans looked at Yu Le in surprise. They had thought he was an ordinary college student like them. Guan Zheng and Wang Wenyuan were also surprised, and even Chen Fa, with his usual impassive expression, couldn’t help but look at Yu Le twice.
Yu Le was astonished at how Lu Yao knew so much about his past.
Zhou Fei’s expression was worse than if he had swallowed a fly. His face turned pale, and he couldn’t muster a word in response.
Yu Le looked him up and down and suddenly smiled brightly, “Zhou Fei, right? Actually, I have quite a few acquaintances at Xuan University.”
Zhou Fei’s face turned ashen, “So what?”
Yu Le: “Do you think if your remarks today spread throughout Xuan University, you’ll still be able to walk proudly on campus? Wait, I remember Xuan University’s motto is humility and courtesy. If this gets out, it might even affect your graduation.”
What a self-inflicted humiliation.
Zhou Fei, spiteful and stubborn, could only leave with a dark face, sulking back upstairs.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Yu Le turned to the three girls, “There are countless paths in the world, and everyone has different aspirations. The paths to success are varied, and right and wrong are up to oneself. No one has the right to judge.”
“Mm! We understand!”
“And we didn’t choose ballet to cheat the college entrance exam. We just love ballet!”
The little swans were very grateful to Lu Yao and Yu Le. Before leaving, one of the girls asked Yu Le softly, “Are you two a couple?”
Yu Le was puzzled: “Me and who?”
The girl winked: “Boss Lu.”
Yu Le was momentarily stunned, “Why would you think we’re a couple?”
“Because you look very close.” The girl smiled, “And Boss Lu looks at you with the same tenderness as he would a treasure.”
As night fell, it started to rain. The raindrops pattered on the blue tiles and dripped through the gaps into the courtyard. The series of water flowing on the eaves created a rhythmic sound on the bluestone, merging with the jingling of wind chimes to form a melodious tune for the rainy night.
The lantern light flickered, casting a shadow of a figure on the third floor that turned into the stairwell and made its way to the courtyard eaves.
Seeing the sketchbook left on the window ledge, Zhou Fei’s heart leaped with joy. He hadn’t been mistaken; Yu Le had indeed forgotten to bring it back to his room.
The courtyard was quiet, with only the cat and dog for company, and Zhou Fei alone.
The big yellow dog lay on the wall, watching him closely. Its green eyes were like small, distant headlights in the dark, while Shui Cai was also staring at him from the doorway. Perhaps suspicious of his sneaky actions, it bounced on its front paws and barked a few times.
“Shh!” Zhou Fei glared at Shui Cai, hissing, “What are you barking for? You little ungrateful creature.”
Shui Cai stretched out its front body, scraping the ground with its paws in agitation.
“Annoying, even the pets are annoying. Really…”
Zhou Fei picked up the sketchbook and flipped through it. There were only a few pages, most of them showing simple sketches of human figures with sloppy clothing.
“What kind of garbage is this? I can’t even understand it.”
He maliciously tore out all the pages with drawings, put the sketchbook back in place, and triumphantly waved the pages, “Let you be arrogant, don’t cry tomorrow—”
Before he could finish, the pages were snatched away by a hand that reached in from the side. Zhou Fei didn’t even have time to turn around before his arm was twisted painfully behind him.
Zhou Fei’s body instantly curled up like a cooked shrimp, with his head outside the protection of the eaves. Rainwater pelted down on his forehead, drenching him into a wet mess with only his head dry.
“Argh—!” In pain, he couldn’t even shout. His face was squeezed by a hand with thick calluses, the bones feeling painfully compressed.
“Quiet.” A cold voice came from above his head, “Don’t disturb others.”
Zhou Fei recognized the voice and felt a chill run through him.
Lu Yao: “Zhou Fei, you’ve got some nerve, doing such underhanded things right under my nose. Have you thought about the consequences?”
“Uh, no, uh, no!”
Zhou Fei was so disoriented from the rain that he couldn’t speak clearly; drool mixed with rainwater was dripping down. He was drenched and his head felt fuzzy, his eyes barely open.
Lu Yao: “I don’t want to deal with things in the inn, so I’ll give you one last warning. Stop thinking about these small tricks and don’t lay your hands on him.”
Zhou Fei could only nod vigorously, feeling like his arm was about to break.
Lu Yao let go, and without needing to push him, Zhou Fei stumbled a few steps forward and fell into the courtyard. The heavy rain drenched him, and mud splattered all over him.
“Stay away from Yu Le.” Lu Yao looked down at him from above. “If there’s a next time, the consequences won’t be so simple.”
Zhou Fei, with blurred vision, raised his right hand and nodded repeatedly, “Okay, okay, okay! I won’t do it again!”
Lu Yao ignored him and glanced up at the building as he turned to leave. Wang Wenyan was leaning in the corridor, watching the scene. When she saw him look over, she smiled and waved.
Lu Yao expressionlessly withdrew his gaze and walked upstairs.
The next morning, Yu Le discovered his sketches on the cabinet at the door.
They were just some doodles he had made on a sketchbook to pass the time and had no real value, so he hadn’t bothered to bring them back to his room and had left them downstairs.
So how did they get torn off and end up in his room?
Yu Le wasn’t naive enough to think this was some supernatural event. He tidied up and took the sketches downstairs. On his way, he ran into Zhou Fei, who was walking towards his room with a piece of bread, looking dejected.
Yu Le was considering whether to greet him, but Zhou Fei, upon seeing him, was startled and quickly moved to the side, running up the stairs along the wall as if fleeing from a flood or a beast.
What’s going on here?
Is the influence of “I have connections with Xu” this great?
Yu Le didn’t think so, so he walked around downstairs and eventually found Lu Yao in a small room at the bottom of the stairs, where old miscellaneous items were piled up.
It was Yu Le’s first time in this room. The space was small, filled with the heavy scent of aged wood, with a wooden bunk bed against the wall—things piled on the upper bunk, and the lower bunk left empty to sit.
Although it was a storage room, it was unexpectedly clean and orderly, with everything neatly arranged and symmetrically placed.
Yu Le suspected that Lu Yao might have a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Lu Yao was moving a pile of dishes from the corner to the wooden bed when he turned around and saw Yu Le standing at the door, curiously looking around.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Yu Le walked in, “This storage room is so well-organized, it’s fit for living in.”
To Lu Yao, this was just routine. He smiled and asked, “Are you here for something?”
“Just a little.” Yu Le waved the sketches in his hand, “Did you put these in my room?”
Lu Yao replied with a casual “Hmm,” finishing moving the last pile.
Yu Le: “Was it Zhou Fei who tore them?”
Lu Yao glanced at him sideways, “You know?”
Yu Le smiled, a bit smug, “Just a guess. When he saw me, he acted like a mouse seeing a cat. I guessed he might have been sneaking around doing something bad and got educated by you, and it turns out I was right.”
Lu Yao looked at his curved eyes and felt a bit restless, his heart fluttering.
He thought, indeed, he looked like a cat.
Yu Le had another question, “How come you know my resume so well?”
Unexpectedly, Lu Yao countered, “Isn’t it impressive? Why shouldn’t people know?”
“……”
Yu Le was speechless and amused. “Boss Lu, are you trying to be shameless again? Aren’t you embarrassed?”
Lu Yao crossed his arms, “Why should I be? Aren’t you also embarrassed not to thank me?”
“Never realized you’re so good at biting back.” Yu Le was stumped, huffing, “Fine, how do you want me to thank you?”
Lu Yao casually but seemingly with intention, “Sign your name.”
Yu Le: “A signature?”
Lu Yao picked up a black marker from the windowsill and handed it over, “The renowned designer Yu Le, I’ve admired you for a long time.”
“Wow, I’m so honored.” Yu Le’s tone was even more insincere than Lu Yao’s, but he took the pen, removed the cap, “Where should I sign?”
Lu Yao opened his palm.
Yu Le lifted an eyebrow at him: “A place that can be washed off easily. Boss Lu, your sincerity is indeed only 0.05 points, nothing more.”
Lu Yao just smiled and said nothing.
