Lost

"Brother Yi!"

Before the person even appeared, her voice rang out first.

A light, nimble voice echoed through the room.

Lin Yi looked up toward the doorway.

A young girl dressed in a goose-yellow gown, her appearance lively and delicate, trotted into the room.

"Yan'er." Lin Yi recognized the visitor, a faint smile appearing on his face.

The girl was named Wang Yan'er, and her father was the blacksmith in Black Water Alley.

Wang Yan'er and Lin Yi had grown up together in the village; they could be considered childhood sweethearts.

Xiao Dong followed behind Wang Yan'er, appearing somewhat reserved at the moment.

However, watching Wang Yan'er's eyes light up and her brows curve into crescents the moment she saw Lin Yi, Xiao Dong couldn't help but feel a sense of loss in his heart.

It always seemed to be this way; from childhood to adulthood, everyone's gaze was always focused on him...

"Brother Lin Yi, I happened to be coming to the inner city to buy some cloth today, and Uncle Lin asked me to bring some things for you while I was at it." As Wang Yan'er spoke, she handed a parcel to Lin Yi.

After Lin Yi took it, he asked, "Is everything well at home?"

Wang Yan'er smiled and said, "Everything is fine. Uncle Lin also gave instructions that Brother Lin Yi must not slack off lately."

Lin Yi smiled and said, "That is good."

The two then chatted for a while about daily life.

During the conversation, Wang Yan'er asked with a blushing face, "Brother Lin Yi, you are sixteen this year, right? Do you have any plans for the future besides practicing martial arts?"

Great Yan had suffered constant warfare in recent years, and due to the need for population, the government often encouraged marriage through taxes and official matchmaking.

Ordinary men could marry after reaching the age of fifteen and donning the cap.

Those who remained unmarried before sixteen might be placed on the conscription list.

Those who were married could delay service until after they reached the age of twenty and the capping ceremony.

Lin Yi understood the subtext of her words, but he pretended not to, maintaining a calm expression as he replied:

"My priority is currently martial arts. I haven't considered other matters yet..."

A visible look of disappointment appeared on Wang Yan'er's face.

Knock, knock, knock!

Just then, the wooden door at the entrance was rapped.

Immediately following, a handsome head with fair skin, wearing a veil hat and a white robe, poked in, eyes darting around as they peered into the room.

"Brother Lin, do you reside here..."

The three people in the room looked toward the door in unison.

Xiao Dong felt ashamed of his own inferiority; his looks were ordinary, at best delicate, and he usually didn't pay much attention to his appearance. But now, standing before two people of such outstanding grace, he felt like a toad.

A flash of amazement crossed Wang Yan'er's eyes; this man seemed even more beautiful than a woman.

Upon seeing Lin Yi, Yu Qinglian's eyes lit up, and with a few light, graceful steps, she arrived at Lin Yi's side and sat down.

She introduced herself generously to those present: "My surname is Ning, and my name is Ning Jin. How should I address you two?"

Seeing Yu Qinglian in luxurious robes with fabric that looked incredibly expensive—likely costing more than a month's expenses for his family—Xiao Dong felt even more inferior than he already had.

He spoke in a small, timid voice: "I am called Xiao Dong."

Yu Qinglian nodded, acknowledging the greeting.

Wang Yan'er also lost the lighthearted liveliness she had when she first arrived, replaced by the reserve a girl feels when meeting a stranger: "Wang Yan'er..."

Yu Qinglian leaned in closer.

Her handsome, pretty face was almost touching Wang Yan'er's, and her phoenix eyes narrowed, giving her an air of playfulness.

Wang Yan'er was slightly startled and instinctively stepped back.

"Yan'er... a good name. Little sister Yan'er is quite pretty, and her appearance is indeed as soft and beautiful as the mist over the Jiangnan waters..." Yu Qinglian said with a half-smile, her eyes filled with a hint of ambiguity.

"Young Master... Young Master Ning, you flatter me..." Wang Yan'er's face turned bright red instantly, and her speech became stuttered.

Wang Yan'er had not yet been married off and had met very few men, mostly interacting only with neighbors in Black Water Alley.

She had never been complimented face-to-face at such close range, especially by someone so good-looking and graceful...

For a moment, Wang Yan'er felt her face burning hot.

Xiao Dong's face turned red as well.

However, his face was flushed with a different heat, and his fists were clenched tight.

Lin Yi was terrified that Yu Qinglian would take things too far, so he hurriedly reached out to wrap his arm around her neck, resting it on her shoulder to pull her close to him.

Yu Qinglian's ears burned. She turned to look at Lin Yi, and in the space between their gazes, she cast him a coquettish, reproachful glance, silently protesting, I haven't had enough fun yet.

Lin Yi could only offer a helpless smile.

Most of the time, Yu Qinglian was very understanding, gentle, and generous; it was just that sometimes she had a bit of a childish temper.

"Brother Ning, you must have come to find me for a reason, right?" Lin Yi asked.

Yu Qinglian pursed her lips, looking at him with feigned blame: "Brother Lin, you've been so focused on your martial arts training lately that you've lost track of time. The peach blossom wine I brewed a while back is ready, and we had agreed you would come to my home today to have a few cups..."

Having said that, Yu Qinglian raised her eyes to look at the two people before her: "I wonder if Sister Yan'er and Brother Xiao Dong would be willing to come to my home for a drink?"

Xiao Dong hung his head and shook it: "No... no need."

Wang Yan'er stood up, her face flushing red:

"No... I can't. It's noon, and I need to go home to help Mother with the cooking..."

"Brother Yi, bye-bye..."

With that, she fled the courtyard as if escaping.

As she jogged away with her head bowed, she muttered to herself: "Brother Yi... Young Master Ning... they really are the finest people in the world..."

Lin Yi took Yu Qinglian and prepared to leave.

Before departing, he gave Xiao Dong a final instruction: "I have some things to attend to tonight, so I won't be staying in the dormitory."

Xiao Dong nodded, though he still offered a reminder: "Brother Yi, the Master of the Hall will be returning tomorrow."

Back at Yu Qinglian's residence.

Yu Qinglian was brewing flower tea in her room, humming a little tune, her legs crossed and swinging back and forth.

"You certainly had your fun," Lin Yi said helplessly.

Yu Qinglian shot him a sidelong glance:

"Tch, I heard it all when I arrived. Sister Yan'er clearly has feelings for you, and since you're both of a similar age, it's about time you considered marriage."

"With such a beautiful girl practically confessing to you, didn't you feel a thing?"

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly: "So, my dear Sister Yu, are you lacking confidence in your own charm?"

Yu Qinglian replied as if it were a matter of course:

"I know my own charm well enough. But I am five years older than you... surely I can't compare to your Sister Yan'er, who is such a good match for you."

"However, that lingering look your Sister Yan'er gave Young Master Ning before she left—she snuck more than one glance, you know... It seems she's about to be swept away by Young Master Ning."

As she spoke, a flash of mischief crossed Yu Qinglian's eyes.

Lin Yi stood up, feigning regret: "That Young Master Ning is truly detestable; he's ruined a perfectly good match for me for nothing..."

He immediately stepped forward and scooped Yu Qinglian up into his arms.

"Ah! What are you doing!"

Yu Qinglian cried out in surprise.

"Since Young Master Ning ruined my match, he naturally owes me one in return. So, you'll just have to compensate me with yourself, my dear sister..." Lin Yi said matter-of-factly.

"Lin Yi! It's daytime!"

"It's all the same..."

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