Chapter 90 if·Modern Campus (1)

At 8:20, Luo Ze woke his sister up right on time.

The door opened from the inside after the third knock, and a girl in a white shirt and knee-length pleated skirt rushed out, her voice clear and crisp: "I'm ready."

Luo Ze was pleased to see her so energetic, and his eyes crinkled into a smile: "Have breakfast first. Also, I'll personally pick you up and drop you off this week."

"No!" Luo Yan stopped at the top of the spiral staircase, her lips pouting. "I'm not a child."

“We agreed to wait for A-Yang to come back before reporting, but you insisted on reporting earlier.” Luo Ze coaxed gently, “I’m not at ease without someone reliable watching over you.”

She had poor health since childhood and had to drop out of school several times. Her family hired a private tutor, and she did well in her academic studies, but she rarely had contact with the outside world.

Originally, it was agreed that she would transfer to Yunxi No. 1 Middle School and be in the same class and sit at the same desk as Cui Wuyang. With him looking after her, there would be no need to worry about Luo Yan being deceived or wronged. However, while Cui Wuyang was still in training, she persuaded her parents to move up the registration time.

Luo Ze took the coffee and asked casually, "Why didn't you wait for A Yang?"

Luo Yan was checking her schoolbag to make sure all her materials were in order before she smiled again: "Don't you think I should go out and get some sun?"

She had fair skin and a healthy glow after recovering from her illness, but she still looked weak compared to a lively high school student.

"Okay." Luo Ze chose to trust him, only instructing him, "Remember not to eat anything indiscriminately, and call me immediately if you feel unwell. At school..."

Luo Yan covered her ears: "I won't listen, I won't listen."

The following day was the Lotus Banquet. Clusters of lotus flowers bloomed in Qingyue Lake, with the lotus and leaves intertwined. The banquet was held in the Shuizhi Hall by the lake.

This was Luo Yan's first banquet since arriving in Shengjing.

The lotus banquet was grand, and all branches of the Zhu family were invited. The banquet was ostensibly for appreciating lotuses, but in reality, it was a social gathering for prominent families. A number of people had already gathered in the side hall, and the young ladies and gentlemen of the Zhu family dispersed spontaneously.

Lan Hui couldn't help but exchange pleasantries with the official's wife, and could only instruct her daughter to take good care of her niece.

The palace was heavily guarded, so Zhu Zhaoyue wasn't worried about Luo Yan being in danger. She was just afraid that Luo Yan would feel awkward because she was unfamiliar with the place and the people, so she introduced Luo Yan to several noble ladies and gentlemen.

Because Zhu Zhaoyue was there, the noble ladies and gentlemen all appeared very enthusiastic towards Luo Yan, but some of them still couldn't hide their contempt in their eyes.

"Such a lovely cousin has come, and we've kept her hidden until today before finally bringing her out."

The noblewoman who spoke had a delicate and elegant face, a calm temperament, and wore a green dress that made her look like a lotus in the rain. She had a light and pleasant herbal scent around her and seemed to be quite familiar with Zhu Zhaoyue.

Zhu Zhaoyue chuckled and teased, "It's clearly because you haven't come to see my brother for so long that you haven't seen your cousin."

Upon hearing this, the other noble ladies and gentlemen couldn't help but tease the noblewoman a few times. She immediately blushed slightly and glared angrily at Zhu Zhaoyue.

Luo Yan also realized that before going to the capital, she had memorized the family relationships in Shengjing several times. The person she was engaged to Zhu Mingxun was her childhood sweetheart who had grown up with him. The two were well-matched in terms of social status and affection, which was the envy of many.

Sure enough, Zhu Zhaoyue said, "Luo Yan, this is Jingling, the daughter of Physician Yang."

Yang Jingling and Luo Yan smiled and nodded at each other, thus officially becoming acquainted.

“Miss Luo is from Ningzhou? Everyone says that Ningzhou is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Although I have never been there, I know that this is true as soon as I saw you.”

It was the noble lady beside Yang Jingling who took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Luo Yan. She had a gentle and kind face and seemed very easy to get along with.

Zhu Zhaoyue whispered a reminder: "This is Xie Xiyun, the daughter of Grand Commandant Xie."

It turned out to be her, the daughter of the Grand Commandant, who was sincere and gentle, but had a philandering fiancé.

Grand Commandant Xie was upright and selfless, and his children were also straightforward and honest. Therefore, even though the Xie family was very dissatisfied with Xie Xiyun's fiancé, since the marriage was arranged by Old Master Xie, they would not take the initiative to break off the engagement, much less use any means to scheme to do so, unless the other party did something outrageous.

The information Luo Yan received was superficial; how could the secrets of a grand mansion be so easily known? The hidden truth was gleaned during a casual conversation with Zhu Zhaoyue.

She smiled at Xie Xiyun.

Xie Xiyun paused for a moment, seemingly stunned by her bright smile. After regaining her senses, she realized she had been somewhat impolite and stammered, "Luo Yan, are you here to visit relatives? How long do you plan to stay in Shengjing?"

Some people who knew the inside story showed a hint of mockery on their faces.

Zhu Zhaoyue's expression froze for a moment, just as she was thinking of how to smooth things over, when she heard Luo Yan calmly say, "I will probably be staying in Shengjing for a long time in the future. I came to Shengjing to prepare for my marriage."

The noble ladies and gentlemen present were all from prominent families, and unless there was a connection, they wouldn't pay special attention to Cheng Feng, a mere supervisor. Those unaware of the inside story were immediately intrigued, and even the gentlemen who had developed feelings for Luo Yan showed their disappointment.

Ichiro asked, "I wonder which family's young master is so fortunate?"

Luo Yan replied calmly with a faint smile, "It is Cheng, the supervisor of the Imperial Academy."

This matter couldn't be kept secret anyway.

In an instant, surprise and astonishment, regret and mockery mingled on everyone's faces, each with a different expression. Xie Xiyun felt she had touched a sore spot and felt guilty.

Yang Jingling said, "This... if I remember correctly, Supervisor Cheng seems to be over sixty years old?"

Zhu Zhaoyue looked at Luo Yan with concern, but she seemed oblivious to the contempt or regret in everyone's eyes, and simply nodded.

My cousin is putting on a brave face. Who would want to marry an old, lecherous man?

The noble ladies and gentlemen present all thought the same thing, feeling that although Luo Yan appeared calm on the surface, she must be experiencing unspeakable bitterness in her heart.

Luo Yan naturally noticed the pity in everyone's expressions.

But she no longer needed such things when she was young. Pity is the so-called empathy that people in high positions bestow upon the weak. It cannot change her situation, nor can it bring her any comfort.

A sudden commotion broke the oppressive silence from nearby.

Luo Yan followed the crowd and saw a handsome man being escorted by several people. He was wearing a snow-white round-necked brocade robe, and his black hair was neatly tied up with a jade crown.

Perhaps for ease of movement, Zhu Yun wore wristbands today, which accentuated the strong and neat lines of his arms, revealing a calm yet powerful aura that made him stand out in the large crowd.

Zhu Zhaoyue exclaimed in surprise, muttering, "Big brother rarely attends occasions like this. Why did he suddenly show up today?"

Luo Yan, however, stared intently at the person next to Zhu Yun.

It's that person from Baoyue Pavilion. How could the two of them be together?

"Cousin, is the person next to my eldest cousin a member of the Yunyi Guard?"

Zhu Zhaoyue looked over and saw that the person was not wearing the Yunyi Guard's official uniform. She didn't know how Luo Yan recognized him. "That's Yuan Ling, the commander of the Yunyi Guard."

"Is he close to his older cousin?"

Zhu Zhaoyue didn't notice the barely perceptible tension in Luo Yan's tone, and shook her head, saying, "I haven't heard of it, I just happened to run into it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the man seemed to sense something and looked over.

The moment their eyes met, Yuan Ling clearly recognized her and smiled knowingly.

Luo Yan was about to lower her eyes to look away when she saw Zhu Yun also turn to look at her.

His clear eyes remained emotionless, yet Luo Yan inexplicably felt something was off about him. Nevertheless, she skillfully flashed a gentle and bright smile.

Before the corners of her mouth could fully curve into a smile, Zhu Yun looked away.

On the contrary, Yuan Ling, who was standing next to him, had witnessed the whole process and raised his eyebrows meaningfully.

Luo Yan couldn't help but feel a bit irritated. He was actually the commander of the Yunyi Guard, one of the emperor's trusted ministers, making things even more difficult than before.

But she had no time to plan, because Zhu Zhaoyue was already trying to drag her to pick lotus flowers.

The lotus banquet begins at the end of Shen Shi (3-5 PM). Consort Qiong has placed several small boats on the lake for the noble ladies and gentlemen to use for picking lotus flowers and boating in the afternoon. To add to the fun, Consort Qiong also sets up some lucky draw prizes every year, hidden deep in the lotus flowers, and they are given to those who arrive first.

Consort Qiong was deeply favored, and her private treasury was filled with rare treasures. She was also very generous, so everyone tried their best to win the prize every year.

Zhu Zhaoyue was an impatient person. Seeing that others had boarded the boat first, she also wanted to pick lotus flowers.

The intense sunlight reflected off the lake, scattering it into seven colors that beautifully complemented the red lotus leaves and green foliage. A small boat parted the lotus blossoms, its stern leaving a long trail in the calm water.

Three women sat at the bow of the boat, holding bamboo umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching sun. Zhu Zhaoyue chattered on and on about the lucky draws from previous years to Luo Yan.

"Last year's prize was truly amazing. It was a five-colored jade, a tribute from the Western Regions. Its colors were brilliant and it was a rare find in the world. The youngest daughter of the Minister of Personnel found it. Ah, it's truly enviable! I also won a prize a few years ago, but it was never as precious or beautiful as that five-colored jade."

Yang Jingling said helplessly, "What's wrong with the red agate that Kucha presented as tribute? If you don't want it, you might as well give it to me."

"I'd be willing to give it up, but I'm worried my brother will scold me for stealing his thunder."

Luo Yan listened with a smile.

Suddenly, a lotus flower flew through the sunlight and landed straight in Luo Yan's arms.

The lotus flowers were freshly picked and still had water droplets on them. The cool water droplets splashed onto the faces and clothes of the three people, startling them all. Zhu Zhaoyue almost screamed out loud.

The three of them instinctively looked into the distance.

A small, exquisitely decorated pleasure boat was moored about half a mile to their northeast. A woman stood at the bow, smiling at them.

She was about sixteen years old, her head adorned with magnificent jewels that shimmered in the sunlight, and her slender neck was also adorned with pearl necklaces, but what shone even brighter were her eyes, sparkling with lively intelligence.

"It is Princess Hejia."

Zhu Zhaoyue reminded Luo Yan.

Luo Yan had already guessed it. After all, in the palace, especially at the lotus appreciation banquet held by the Imperial Concubine, who else could be such a young woman dressed so elegantly but He Jia?

Princess Hejia, Xiao Ying, was the only daughter of Consort Qiong, who had been favored by the emperor for over a decade. She was also the emperor's youngest daughter and was deeply loved. This little princess always loved to wear brightly colored jewelry and her clothes were also gorgeous and eye-catching.

The little princess gave an instruction to the eunuch who was holding an umbrella to shield her from the sun. The eunuch responded and gestured to the eunuch in charge of Luo Yan's boat.

Before long, Luo Yan and the other two's boat docked at the painted barge.

She had just instructed the eunuchs who had come to the boat to hand the umbrella to the other palace servants, and walked to the side of the boat with a smile.

"Ladies, please come in."

With Princess Hejia's invitation, how could the three of them refuse? They exchanged a glance, then one by one lifted their skirts and carefully stepped onto Xiao Ying's painted boat.

Luo Yan walked at the back, holding a lotus flower in her hand, lifting her skirt, and holding a bamboo umbrella in her other hand.

Suddenly a gust of wind blew by, causing Luo Yan's bamboo umbrella to shake violently, and her body to sway unsteadily like a kite in the sky.

"Miss Luo, please be careful."

With a flick of his whisk, the eunuch swiftly used the whisk to brace Luo Yan's arm.

The force supporting her was as steady as a rock, and Luo Yan couldn't help but look up at the eunuch.

The eunuch smiled politely. He wore a maroon eunuch robe, indicating he was a high-ranking personal eunuch who served him closely. His hair was already graying at the tips, and his skin was pale to the point of being bloodless. The kind smile on his face was somewhat eerie.

On the other side, Zhu Zhaoyue and her companion were already bowing: "Greetings, young master."

Luo Yan calmly withdrew her gaze and bowed to Xiao Ying along with her.

Xiao Ying smiled, her eyes crinkling, and waved her hand, saying, "No need for formalities."

Xiao Ying and Zhu Yang already knew each other. After exchanging greetings, they looked at Luo Yan, who was holding a lotus flower, and asked, "Are you a relative of some newly appointed official?"

Luo Yan, with a graceful smile, revealed her identity and concluded by saying, "I haven't yet thanked you for the lotus flowers you bestowed upon me, young master."

Xiao Ying did not look down on Luo Yan because of her humble status. "I saw you at a glance just now, but you were quite far away, so I used the lotus-throwing method. I hope I didn't scare you?"

Of the three, Zhu Zhaoyue was the closest to Xiao Ying. "Young Master is still the same as always."

Xiao Ying's smile widened. "Eunuch Xu, Miss Luo just mentioned that she comes from Ningzhou. Is Ningzhou in the south? I vaguely remember that my father passed through here during his southern tour."

Eunuch Xu was the same eunuch who had come to invite them earlier. He said helplessly, "Young master, you have never left the capital, and neither has this old servant. Aren't you making things difficult for this old servant?"

Xiao Ying then looked at Luo Yan. Just as Luo Yan was about to answer, she heard Eunuch Xu say with a smile, "Young master, it's hot outside. You're sweating. Why don't you take the ladies inside to sit down?"

Xiao Ying snapped out of her reverie: "It is indeed a bit hot. Miss Luo, there is tea and snacks prepared inside, why don't we go in and talk?"

"yes."

Xiao Ying's painted boat was naturally much larger than their small boat, and it even had an inner room. Their small boat was completely open, relying only on bamboo umbrellas for shade, which was far less cool than the painted boat.

When they sat down, Xiao Ying specifically instructed Luo Yan to sit beside her.

Zhu Zhaoyue and Yang Jingling exchanged a glance, both understanding that Xiao Ying really liked Luo Yan.

Although Xiao Ying was warm and hospitable, she rarely took such initiative towards any noble lady. Given her status and the favor she enjoyed, people would be too busy trying to please her.

Sure enough, after sitting down, Xiao Ying pulled Luo Yan aside for a chat. Zhu Zhaoyue and the other girl spoke very few times, but they didn't mind and chatted about other things on their own.

After the pleasure boat had been sailing for a while, and the group was chatting happily, a scream suddenly rang out—

"Ah! Someone's fallen into the water! Help! Miss Xie has fallen into the water!"

So the four of them went downstairs together, and Zheng Qi and Yang Tianyu joined them along the way.

Luo Yan had already memorized the names of her new friends: the quiet girl with black-rimmed glasses was named Song Qingqing, and the lively and cheerful girl with a round face was named Meng Yue.

They were initially a little reserved, but after entering the restaurant, Zhu Yun asked them about their favorite dishes one by one. Although her tone was indifferent, she was more approachable than they had imagined, so they gradually opened up and chatted casually.

Zheng Qi was very talkative, vividly recounting the campus horror legends. They were scary, but also quite interesting.

After the meal, the six girls became noticeably closer, and while waiting for their milk tea, they started talking about their zodiac signs and hobbies.

Zhu Yun listened intently, then pulled out her phone and asked, "Who's the most handsome guy at No. 1 High School?"

Shangguan Chang from Class 1, Grade 11, typed rapidly on the screen:

【？】

[Get lost, you hacker!]

Zhu Yun replied with a period.

Shangguan Chang quickly changed his tune, asking affectionately, "Of course it's my brother in my heart, but last year in the forum's campus heartthrob poll, Brother Yang narrowly won by a few votes."

Cui Wuyang was flawless in appearance, academic performance, and personality. Zhu Yun, on the other hand, was always expressionless. He would occasionally smile, but it would send a chill down one's spine, making one wonder if his death was imminent.

He concluded: "So, girls like Choi's type?"

Shangguan Chang had no idea. He interviewed a few classmates on the spot, and they replied: "Not necessarily."

[Dude, why are you suddenly asking this?]

Zhu Yun glanced at Luo Yan's puffed-out cheeks, smiled, and lowered his eyes to type:

【Um. 】

I met a girl.

I think I've fallen in love with her at first sight.