Wait for Me to Propose

After Cao Yue had walked away,

Lu Heng closed the courtyard gate and returned to the stone table. The tea had already gone completely cold.

He poured out the remaining tea in his cup and was about to head to the kitchen to boil a fresh pot when Han Yue came around the side corridor carrying a new teapot.

"She left?"

"Mm."

Han Yue set the pot on the table, refilled Lu Heng's cup, and sat down as well.

She had changed into a light blue casual outfit today. Her silver-white hair was loosely gathered behind her, making her seem far gentler and more domestic than her usual cold, distant demeanor outside.

"I'd heard of this Senior Cao Yue before. She's from the Alchemist Department, a Sixth-Grade Alchemist, and she gets along quite well with people in the Inner Academy."

"Mm, she's a good person."

Han Yue poured herself a cup of tea but did not drink it. She simply held it in her hands and sat quietly for a while.

A breeze passed through the courtyard, rustling the leaves of the old locust tree.

"She said she was graduating and going home," Han Yue suddenly said.

Lu Heng glanced at her.

Han Yue lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously rubbing along the rim of her cup.

"I haven't gone home either, not for five or six years."

She spoke softly, yet her words landed with particular clarity in the quiet afternoon courtyard.

Lu Heng put down his cup and leaned a little closer to Han Yue.

"How long has it been since Senior went home?"

Han Yue tilted her head and thought for a moment.

"Five years... no, nearly six, I suppose."

She set down the cup in her hand.

"I entered Jia Nan Academy when I was twelve.