Naturally Gifted

For Shen Qing, teaching someone the basics was as easy as could be. What surprised him was how clever Bai Mo was: she never forgot anything she saw, and her extraordinary aptitude allowed her to grasp three things from being taught one!

In a single afternoon, she had learned every character in half the dictionary. Shen Qing figured that in two or three days at most, she would know them all...

Shen Qing gazed at her intent profile and sank into thought. The more he saw of Bai Mo, the less he understood her.

Had she really been a fool for the first seventeen years of her life, or had she been pretending? If she truly had been a fool, how did she possess such profound inner strength, know medicine, and have such an extraordinary memory?

Yet if she had been pretending, she might recognize fewer characters than a three-year-old child.

"What about this character?"

"What are you daydreaming about? Let's keep going."

Bai Mo waved a hand in front of Shen Qing's eyes.

"It's been more than four hours. Let's stop here for today. You should rest too."

"Are you hungry? Would you like to eat together?"

Shen Qing smiled faintly without voicing his thoughts. Everyone had secrets of their own, and he was no exception!

"I'm not hungry yet. Is it convenient for you to take off your clothes now?"

Seeing Shen Qing stare at her in surprise, Bai Mo hurried to explain, "Don't get the wrong idea. I want to treat your poison. When I return to the residence later, I still have to explain what happened with the tutor today to my mother, and we also need to discuss the academy examination. I'm afraid things will be delayed if I leave it too late.

"I think we can move the treatment to the daytime. You teach me to read, and I treat your poison. After all, it isn't very proper for me to keep coming to your bedchamber late at night, and this way you won't get the wrong idea."

Shen Qing's lips curved upward. "I didn't get the wrong idea," he said softly.

"Come into the inner room with me."

His deep voice seemed to tease and beguile, nearly making Bai Mo lose her focus.

The inner room was Shen Qing's resting room at the Hundred Gatherings Studio. It was not very large, but every detail of its furnishings was exquisite. A faint scent of green bamboo lingered in the air, leaving one refreshed.

Shen Qing walked to the bed and began loosening his clothes. His purple robe slipped off, and his long hair hung down his back, concealing the lovely sight. Little did he know that what was half-hidden only invited the imagination to wander further.

Hearing no sound behind him, Shen Qing glanced back.

The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the window onto his divinely handsome face, giving it an almost dreamlike glow.

His whole body seemed to be shining.

There was a hint of panic in Bai Mo's eyes, yet she could not bear to look away. Her cheeks grew a little warm.

All she could feel was her heart going thump, thump, thump...

Beating faster and faster like a drum.

"What's wrong?"

The corners of Shen Qing's lips lifted slightly. The pleasure on his normally icy face was easy to see.

"Hm? Nothing."

A trace of guilt flickered in Bai Mo's eyes, and she hurried over in a few steps.

Shen Qing is just too handsome! One look or movement from him is enough to leave anyone completely bewitched. He doesn't even need to speak—he's a natural flirting machine!!

"Do you know..."

"What?"

"Being too handsome is a little improper."

"Haha."

Shen Qing could not help laughing aloud.

Bai Mo: "..."

"Do you think I'm very handsome?"

Shen Qing had already turned his face away, so she could not see his expression, but his voice made it clear that he was not angry.

"You really are very handsome."

The smile on Shen Qing's face deepened. He had never cared about his looks and had even been troubled by this outward appearance. This was the first time he had felt grateful for it. She liked handsome young men, and fortunately, he had been born with these looks...

Once Bai Mo sat cross-legged on the bed, Shen Qing fell silent.

A pair of small, cool hands pressed against his back, making Shen Qing shiver again. A current of warmth followed, entering his body, and both of them closed their eyes.

Half an hour later.

As soon as Bai Mo withdrew her hands, she sprawled out on the bed again.

"I'm so tired..."

"Have a rest. I'll go arrange dinner."

Shen Qing rose and dressed, a hint of concern in his eyes. He called through the door, "Xiaotian, go across to Yuelai Restaurant and bring back a few of their signature dishes. Make sure to get two extra meat dishes."

"Yes, I'll go at once."

Xiaotian was visibly taken aback. His young master did not care for meat, but he did not dare say more and immediately went to carry out the order.

As soon as Xiaotian reached the first floor, Shopkeeper Pan hurried over to ask how things were going. The young master and Eldest Miss Bai had been alone together all afternoon, and it would have been a lie to say she was not worried. After all, Eldest Miss Bai was notorious for her outrageous behavior. If even a whisper of this got out, the young master's good name might be ruined.

"How is it?"

Xiaotian shook his head. "The young master ordered me to bring back a few dishes from Yuelai Restaurant. I'll be going now."

Shopkeeper Pan could only nod and let Xiaotian go. She rubbed her hands and paced back and forth.

"These lamb chops are delicious, and the fish is wonderful too. This Dongpo pork is also really good, and this one..."

Bai Mo ate with immense satisfaction, all the while putting food on Shen Qing's plate.

Whenever Bai Mo ate, she felt as though she were in heaven. Ever since transmigrating, she had been able to eat piping-hot delicacies every day. It made her so happy she wanted to cry!!

"Then eat some more."

A smile on his face, Shen Qing continued eating in small bites. This was the first time the two of them had eaten alone at the same table. He found Bai Mo quite adorable, and watching her eat seemed to improve his own appetite.

Once she had eaten and drunk her fill, Bai Mo said goodbye to Shen Qing and returned to the residence with Lixia.

It was already the beginning of the hour of the dog when she returned.

"Eldest Miss, you're finally back! The family head is waiting in the study. Please come with me." Bai Mo had barely stepped down from the carriage before a servant led her to Bai Peilan's study.

Just thinking about what had happened with the tutor today gave Bai Mo a headache...

"Greetings, Mother."

Bai Mo offered a perfectly proper bow, looking as well-behaved as could be.

"So you still know how to come home? Have you eaten dinner?"

Bai Peilan glanced at her daughter and saw how well-behaved she looked.

"I used my brain too much studying today and got very hungry, so I ate dinner before coming back."

"Oh? What studying did you do? You drove another tutor away today. How did you study, my child? Tell your mother."

Bai Peilan gave a cold snort.

Bai Mo held nothing back. She gave a vivid account of how she had overslept that day... how she had not seen the tutor, how Madam Chen had instigated the tutor to leave, how she had gone to the bookshop intending to look for a teacher, how she had met Shen Qing, how he had agreed to teach her, and how she had discovered just how clever she was.

This time it was Bai Peilan's turn to be surprised. She hurriedly asked, "Your father instigated the tutor to leave? And now the Shen family's young master is teaching you to read and write?"

Bai Mo nodded, walked straight over to Bai Peilan, and sat down. She poured herself a cup of tea and refilled Bai Peilan's cup as well.

"My child really is a talent, coming up with such a wonderful plan."

Bai Mo: "..."

"I hear that the Shen family's young master has enough talent to fill eight bushels. It's a pity he's a man; otherwise, he'd have had the makings of a top scholar. He couldn't be more suitable as your teacher."

"The pavilion nearest the water gets the moonlight first. It's a very good thing the tutor left today."

Bai Peilan completely ignored Bai Mo's description of how clever she was. All she could think about was how this fine son-in-law seemed almost within her grasp.

At one point, Bai Mo interrupted her and spoke again, seriously, about what Madam Chen had done.

Bai Peilan, however, patiently urged her, "Your father was born into a modest family, and there's always been something a little petty about the way he does things. For your mother's sake, could you be a little more understanding and not hold it against him? Mother will go give him a scolding today and a stern warning!!"