Lin Zhishui sat at the little table by the shop entrance. After setting breakfast on the table, he asked casually, "Oh, right, I bought breakfast. Want some?"
Yan Shanshui looked stunned. "May I?"
"Why shouldst thou not... ahem, why not?" Lin Zhishui had slipped into archaic speech out of habit. He coughed awkwardly and corrected himself.
Yan Shanshui hurriedly said, "Senior, it's all right. I know habits you've had for years are hard to change. There's no need to make a special effort to correct them."
Lin Zhishui was a little lost for words and offered no explanation.
Apparently, this girl had taken him for an enthusiast of traditional culture and all things classical. In reality, his customers had rubbed off on him.
"Oh, right, Senior."
Holding a cup of sweet soy milk, Yan Shanshui asked cautiously, "Could I study calligraphy with you?"
Lin Zhishui took a bite of his crab roe bun, then glanced at her. "You want to learn calligraphy?"
"Uh... all right, actually, I want to practice copying The Highest Good Is Like Water, the calligraphy piece hanging behind your screen," Yan Shanshui admitted honestly.
Lin Zhishui smiled and asked, "Aren't you uninterested in calligraphy? You want to copy it?"
"Well..."
For a moment, Yan Shanshui could not find the words.
She knew her request was far too presumptuous. How could such a precious calligraphy piece be freely offered for her to copy?
But the Dao Resonance contained within The Highest Good Is Like Water would be an enormous help on her path of cultivation. She did not dare hope to possess such an unparalleled treasure. Just a chance to copy it would satisfy her.
Seeing her remain silent, Lin Zhishui shook his head with a smile. "All right. How could I not understand what you're thinking? I wasn't really inclined to agree, but fate has brought us together, and you're a kindhearted girl. I'll give you a chance. Come practice your writing whenever you have time."
Yan Shanshui was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly. "I'm so grateful! Thank you, Senior! Thank you!"
Lin Zhishui smiled helplessly and said nothing.
He understood perfectly well what this girl was thinking.
Just last night, she had said she had merely practiced calligraphy before and had no real interest in it. Yet today, she had suddenly changed her tune, saying she wanted to study calligraphy with him and copy The Highest Good Is Like Water.
Without a doubt, she was inventing an excuse, simply trying to create an opportunity to spend time with him.
How could he fail to understand a young girl's little thoughts?
Learn calligraphy together, then let affection grow over time.
Although her intentions were far too obvious and her attempts to conceal them clumsy, such innocent, indirect courtship was precisely how a young girl expressed her affection.
Of course, Lin Zhishui was not particularly moved. Though he found it rather amusing, this girl was far too young. Even if she seemed mentally mature for her age... she was still only fifteen or sixteen.
Nor could he bring himself to reject her outright.
He suspected he might be Yan Shanshui's first love... or rather, her first secret crush. Of all the romantic experiences in a person's life, this was one of the hardest to forget. Such feelings could not be severed simply by an outright rejection.
What people could not have, they loved all the more; what came too easily, they ignored.
The more distant he was and the more coldly he rejected her, the less clearly she might see him. The imaginary object of her crush could become even more perfect in her mind, making her affection all the stronger and more deeply rooted.
Better to let her approach him while remaining aloof, allowing her to gradually realize he was just an ordinary person. Apart from being handsome, good at calligraphy, devoted to his wife, articulate, talented... and so on, he might have other shortcomings.
Of course, the key was that his Little Snake occasionally came to "visit him at work," which was clearly a surprise inspection.
When that happened, he could show off their affection in front of Yan Shanshui. Not only would the girl understand that his heart already belonged to someone else, but he could also use the opportunity to take his relationship with Little Snake a step further.
Two birds with one stone!
I'm a goddamn genius... Lin Zhishui could not help admiring himself.
"Oh, right, Senior."
Yan Shanshui gulped down some soy milk, then suddenly asked, "Then... what would I need to give you in return for studying calligraphy and practicing my writing with you?"
"Give me in return?"
Lin Zhishui looked over Yan Shanshui, who sat opposite him. She gazed at him with her beautiful eyes blinking, her rosy lips holding the soy milk straw. A faint pink flush colored her youthful, lovely face. As she spoke, she seemingly casually crossed her fair, slender legs, making him instinctively steal another glance.
Combined with that question... See? See? Here comes the temptation!
He forced himself to keep his gaze from drifting downward and looked straight at Yan Shanshui. "What, do you want to pay tuition? How much do you think would be reasonable to study the art of calligraphy with me? My fees are very high, you know."
Lin Zhishui decided to start exposing one of his flaws right away-greed.
"Uh... of course it makes sense for your fees to be high, Senior." Yan Shanshui froze for a moment, then said hesitantly, "I definitely couldn't afford the tuition..."
"What's your family situation like? What assets do you have?" Lin Zhishui asked.
"I'm an orphan, and I don't really have any assets," Yan Shanshui said frankly.
Lin Zhishui was stunned, unsure what to say.
He suddenly felt a little ashamed. He had never imagined this girl was an orphan.
No wonder she had wandered alone through the rainy night despite being in the most beautiful bloom of youth, and had seemed a little odd. So that was why...
And judging from her rather plain clothing, without a single designer label on her, her parents evidently had not left her much of an inheritance.
At that thought, Lin Zhishui coughed lightly and immediately abandoned the idea of charging a high tuition fee. "Then you certainly can't afford my tuition. How about this... from now on, you can clean the shop for me and look after my pine tree. That'll count as tuition. What do you think?"
"That's all?"
Yan Shanshui asked in surprise.
Wasn't that practically giving it away for free?
The good fortune to study the "art of calligraphy" under such an immortal master was a blessing earned over three lifetimes. She had never really expected him to agree, and even if he did, she had assumed she might have to pay some sort of price.
Yet these conditions were far too easy.
Only "looking after" the pine tree by the entrance might mean he wanted her to help it cultivate. She would need to prepare materials for the Heaven-Praying Altar, which would count as a small contribution.
But compared with "tuition," that was utterly insignificant.
Even those peerless masters who had broken through the Five Passes would surely be sorely tempted by a chance to study under an immortal master like him.
"Of course that's all. Besides, you don't have anything to offer. Even if you sold yourself to me, I wouldn't be interested," Lin Zhishui said deliberately. "But don't get any ideas. You'll only be practicing calligraphy with me. There won't be any other relationship between us."
The implication was: Stop trying to tempt me. It won't work. I don't lust after your body, and you won't win me over.
At his words, Yan Shanshui fell silent for a moment. She gave Lin Zhishui a long look and said softly, "I understand. Thank you."
Apart from her master, this was the first time she had met an expert who treated her so well. Not only was he willing to teach her, but he asked for nothing in return. She was truly moved once again.
As for Senior Lin's statement that there would be "no other relationship," he presumably meant he would not accept her as a disciple.
But she had never imagined she could become the disciple of such an expert anyway, so she did not mind at all.
Yan Shanshui had already resolved that, if she ever had the chance, she would properly repay Senior Lin for his tremendous kindness.
"Just enjoy your breakfast. Come back tomorrow to practice."
Seeing Yan Shanshui fall silent, seemingly somewhat downhearted, Lin Zhishui sighed softly and reached out to pat her shoulder.
Ah, young girl. First love is always bitter. I hope you can let it go.
Before you continue