"Can't Afford to Reach"

"It was a pleasure chatting with you. You're welcome anytime."

After signing the rental contract, the wealthy merchant's wife, Liu Hui, personally escorted Qin Yuan out of the mansion, saying with an elegant smile.

If I come back again, I'm a damn fool!

Qin Yuan got into the carriage and left without looking back.

If there hadn't been an empty house here, Qin Yuan wouldn't have come.

Although he could live in the Imperial Palace, he wanted to experience life integrated with a group, learning alongside his senior and junior fellow disciples at the Calligraphy Saint Pavilion.

Once his true identity was discovered, what kind of experience would that be? It would be nothing but fawning and flattery, which would be incredibly annoying.

Besides, teleporting home every day was tiring. It was better to live near the Calligraphy Saint Pavilion.

After renting the house, Qin Yuan didn't move in immediately. Instead, he first went to the Calligraphy Saint Pavilion to register as a disciple.

For the time being, he would let his two personal beautiful maidservants, Bai Die and Hong Yue, clean the courtyard. He would move in directly upon his return.

Becoming a disciple of the Calligraphy Saint Pavilion was simple: just pay money.

Outer disciples cost ten Gold Soul Coins, inner disciples one hundred, and core disciples one thousand.

To be honest, Qin Yuan was a little disappointed.

The esteemed Calligraphy Saint was such a money-grubber. Where was his integrity?!

Vulgar! So damn vulgar!

Thus, in a fit of rage, Qin Yuan...

...bought a true disciple spot for ten thousand Gold Soul Coins.

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent! You have good taste! From now on, you are my thirty-sixth true disciple!"

The Calligraphy Saint, with his white hair and beard and an immortal-like demeanor, laughed heartily and patted his patron disciple's shoulder.

"However, your master has to go out tomorrow and won't be back for about a month."

The Calligraphy Saint continued:

"I'll have your Ninth Senior Sister teach you for a month. Her calligraphy has already reached the fifth stage. Teaching a newcomer like you is more than enough."

After speaking, the Calligraphy Saint, with his immortal-like demeanor, winked slyly at Qin Yuan:

"Heh heh, your Ninth Senior Sister is a great beauty, and also the daughter of a Viscount. You have the best appearance I've ever seen. I'm very optimistic about you!"

Qin Yuan: "..."

"Teacher, you were looking for me."

Just then, a soft, melodious voice came from outside the door.

Qin Yuan turned his head to look back.

He saw a young woman in a green dress, beautiful, graceful, and fair-skinned, walking in.

She bowed slightly to the Calligraphy Saint and then glanced at Qin Yuan.

With just one look, the young woman felt the entire room brighten considerably, a flash of stunning beauty in her eyes.

What a handsome young man.

"Qin Yuan, this is your Ninth Senior Sister, Mu Yao."

The Calligraphy Saint, resuming his immortal-like demeanor, introduced them: "Mu Yao, this is your thirty-sixth junior disciple, Qin Yuan."

Then, the Calligraphy Saint told Mu Yao about teaching Qin Yuan.

Mu Yao agreed.

So Qin Yuan left with Mu Yao.

Halfway there, a teasing voice suddenly came from the left, its tone melodious and enchanting, its voice soul-stirring, making the listener's heart flutter.

"Hehehe, how rare. Our beautiful Yao is actually walking so close to a man."

Footsteps approached, and the owner of the enchanting voice walked smilingly in front of the two, wanting to see which man it was.

Her charming eyes swept over.

She froze on the spot.

It was as if only that young man remained in her eyes.

This is my type!

With just one glance, Wang Zuimo was certain.

In those three seconds of stunned silence, she had even thought of names for their children.

A girl named Chu Jian, and a boy named Xiang Feng.

"Sigh, Zuimo, he's the new junior disciple. Teacher asked me to teach him for a month. Don't talk nonsense."

Mu Yao shook her head helplessly.

Wang Zuimo completely ignored her and ran directly to Qin Yuan, giggling.

"Junior Brother, my name is Wang Zuimo, I'm your senior sister. What's your name?"

"Hello, Senior Sister. My name is Qin Yuan," Qin Yuan replied.

Hmm... so the child's father's surname is Qin.

"As your senior sister, it's my duty to guide you, Junior Brother. Mu Yao and I will teach you together!"

Wang Zuimo spoke righteously, her charming face filled with a dreamy expression, as if lost in some beautiful fantasy.

"Uh, I have no problem with that," Qin Yuan said, momentarily stunned.

Sigh, this damned face of mine.

Being too handsome is also a kind of trouble.

Mu Yao eyed her good sister up and down with suspicion.

Something's not right!

Nineteen out of twenty things are not right!

But she didn't refuse either. It was good to have someone share the task.

And so, the group became three: two great beauties and one handsome youth.

Along the way, Wang Zuimo kept trying to find topics to talk about with Qin Yuan.

You never know how proactive women can be.

However, Qin Yuan only responded politely, with no intention of developing things further.

Joking aside, Qian Renxue, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong – which one of them isn't a peerless beauty? Why would I get involved with other women?

What's more, they aren't even as pretty as White Butterfly and Red Moon in my courtyard.

Seeing Qin Yuan's lack of interest, Wang Zuimo felt very frustrated and dejected.

This shouldn't be happening. I'm so beautiful, why isn't he reacting at all?

Suddenly, she abruptly turned her head and looked at the pure and beautiful Mu Yao beside her.

Ah, I understand now.

No, no! I finally met someone I like, and my good sister can't have him either!

So, she looked at Qin Yuan meaningfully and said:

"Junior Brother, you're not a noble, are you?"

"...No." Qin Yuan was indeed not a noble; he held no title.

Wang Zuimo breathed a sigh of relief and admonished him:

"We commoners can't afford to associate with nobles. You mustn't go down the wrong path at such a young age."

Qin Yuan stumbled, almost falling.

"What, what are you talking about?" Qin Yuan looked at Wang Zuimo, dumbfounded.

"You might not know this, but Mu Yao is the daughter of a noble Viscount."

Wang Zuimo said with a serious expression:

"You can't afford to pursue her. Therefore, Senior Sister advises you to abandon any improper thoughts."

You should consider me instead... Wang Zuimo added silently in her heart.

"Zuimo, what noble or not noble? Here, we are all fellow disciples, there are no nobles," Mu Yao said.

Mu Yao shot Wang Zuimo a chiding glance, then looked at Qin Yuan:

"Junior Brother, don't listen to her nonsense. You don't need to worry about my noble status."

Then, she thought for a moment: "However, it's best if you don't interact with other noble disciples in the academy. They look down on commoners, so be careful not to be insulted without reason. Not all nobles are as easygoing as I am."

Qin Yuan nodded impassively.

Mu Yao suddenly sighed, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes, and she said with a self-deprecating tone:

"What's the point of being a Viscount's daughter? I still can't choose the life I want, not even who I... "

Her voice abruptly stopped, unfinished.

"In short, remember this: stay away from those noble disciples. You can't afford to offend them."

Mu Yao finally admonished him earnestly.

Turning her head, she saw Wang Zuimo's incredibly resentful gaze.

This left her completely bewildered.

Wang Zuimo snorted and looked at Qin Yuan:

"Junior Brother, remember this: Mu Yao is a noble, and you're not worthy of her. Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely do not go down the wrong path."

"Oh?" Qin Yuan looked at Wang Zuimo with a half-smile:

"Then what is the right path?"