This time, Chu Yao couldn't help but laugh out loud.
As he fanned himself to dispel the heat, he mockingly said, "Qiyuan Liang, you actually let an eleven or twelve-year-old child trick you?"
Qishan shot Chu Yao a disdainful glare, his eyes carrying a veiled threat, but the latter wasn't the least bit intimidated, continuing to make fun of him.
"Shen Xiaolang, whom did you encounter outside?"
Seeing that his intimidating gaze didn't work, Qishan decisively changed the subject.
Shen Tang replied, "A person surnamed Gu."
Qishan waited for her to provide more details, but all he got was nonsense.
Unfortunately, Chu Yao decided to stir up trouble, chiming in, "Someone surnamed Gu? Male or female?"
Shen Tang caught on to the subtlety and joined in the banter.
"Ah, can old acquaintances also be male?"
Chu Yao teased, "Well, that's hard to say. Places like the Moon Pavilion have been thriving for years, indicating that this trend is still prevalent. Given Qiyuan Liang's reputation in his youth, if by some chance..."
Shen Tang clicked her tongue, "Indeed, male."
Ignoring Qishan's attempt to flip the bamboo strips he was weaving onto his head, Chu Yao continued provocatively, "How does this person look?"
Qishan interrupted the banter between the two.
He spoke firmly, "There is no 'if'."
Neither Shen Tang nor Chu Yao dared to tease too much, lest they truly anger someone. While Chu Yao continued to fan himself and urge the chubby child to practice, his attention was mostly focused on Shen Tang and Qishan.
Qishan asked, "So who is it, in the end?"
Shen Tang replied, "I really don't know his name."
Qishan was both exasperated and amused, itching to say something, "You don't know his name, just his surname, yet you dare to claim he's my 'old acquaintance'?"
"It's the gentleman from the Moon Pavilion, the one who hides with the servant and the scholar Gong Cheng. He claims to know your 'scholarly path,' implying some sort of manipulation. If he's not your old acquaintance, then he's your enemy or rival. Otherwise, how could he know so much? Alright, I admit, 'old acquaintance' was not the right term I used."
Qishan's expression changed abruptly.
"My 'scholarly path'?"
"I think this guy is up to no good, still holding something over me, yet daring to sow discord. He said something like this—" Shen Tang imitated Mr. Gu's tone, even mimicking his facial expressions, "Upon seeing Shen Lang, I felt an instant connection, so I said this out of concern for you. If you don't believe me, Shen Lang can ask Qiyuan Liang about my 'scholarly path.'"
Qishan's expression became intriguing.
With a smile that was both rare and enigmatic, he asked, "Shen Xiaolang, are you also interested in knowing about my scholarly path?"
Shen Tang responded truthfully, "I admit I'm somewhat curious, but the answer isn't important to me. The process of unraveling the mystery is what I desire. It's not about mind-reading, is it?"
Qishan countered, "Is his scholarly path about mind-reading?"
Shen Tang hesitated.
"My scholarly path isn't about mind-reading."
Shen Tang breathed a sigh of relief.
Qishan's gaze became subtle. "You seem quite relieved?"
Shen Tang instinctively replied, "Of course, it's a relief. Otherwise, I..."
"Otherwise, you would have revealed your true intentions in your thoughts, right? Is that what you wanted to say?" Qishan felt his fists clenching.
Shen Tang fell silent.
Her quietness spoke volumes, and Qishan narrowed his eyes, capturing every nuance of her expression. "You did plan it."
This statement was delivered with absolute certainty.
Shen Tang remained silent.
The playful banter ended, and the conversation returned to its course.
"My scholarly path does indeed inspire fear in others, far exceeding that of 'mind-reading.' Shen Xiaolang, if you fear, do not associate with someone like me. No longer 'threatening' Shen Tang, but his expression carried a hint of rare darkness.
Shen Tang did not respond.
The atmosphere became uncomfortably tense.
Chu Yao continued to fan himself.
The air was still, and Qishan's fingers, weaving the bamboo strips, betrayed his emotions, subconsciously pressing down until his knuckles turned white.
Shen Tang furrowed her brow. "Is it really that serious?"
This statement not only failed to ease the tension but pushed it to another peak of seriousness, even causing Chu Yao to become alert.
"I don't know much about my scholarly path, and what little I do know comes from Mr. Wu Huai," Shen Tang didn't understand why Qishan was being so serious, looking utterly bewildered, "Do you need to consider someone's scholarly path when making friends? You people set a high bar for friendship..."
Isn't scholarly path a trump card that can be effective in crucial moments and not generally revealed to outsiders?
Qishan countered, "What if it's more than just making friends?"
Shen Tang was completely stumped by this question.
Suddenly, something struck her.
"You—could it be..."
Shen Tang seemed to have suffered a massive blow.
With one hand over her chest and the other supporting herself against the wooden floor of the corridor, she rapidly retreated, her expression clearly saying, "Don't come near me." Under Qishan's and Chu Yao's puzzled gazes, she loudly questioned Qishan, "Qiyuan Liang, I want to become sworn siblings with you, do you want to be listed on my household registration?"
Chu Yao: "..."
Qishan: "..."
Finally unable to bear it, Qishan slammed the bamboo strips he was weaving onto Shen Tang's head, gritting his teeth, "If you can't speak human language, then don't speak at all!"
Shen Tang: "..."
Qishan stormed back to his room, while she remained in a daze. Besides becoming sworn siblings or getting listed on household registrations, what other relationship could they develop? And why did they need to know each other's scholarly paths for that?
Shen Tang took down the bamboo strips, staring wide-eyed.
"You speak halfway, leaving people unsatisfied."
Chu Yao remarked, "Some words can only be understood, not spoken."
Shen Tang scoffed, "Considering my intelligence and wit, making people understand half-baked words is really challenging for me..."
She was an "NPC" with her own opinions.
Shen Tang turned to Chu Yao for advice, "Mr. Wu Huai knows what he wants me to 'understand.' Should I... reveal it?"
Chu Yao seemed to speak to Shen Tang but also muttered to himself, "It's not the right time yet. When the time is ripe, you'll know."
Shen Tang was utterly confused.
Her current expression was surely the same as that of the "black question mark face"!
Isn't this conversation no different from being "gagged"
for a chatterbox?
There was no response from inside the room, so Shen Tang called out a few more times.
Finally, someone inside the room pulled open the wooden door.
Qishan looked calmly at Shen Tang's innocent expression, hands folded in his sleeves, leaning against the door, his expression teasing as he asked, "What if my scholarly path is 'regicide'?"
Shen Tang: "???"