While waiting for Qingqing to arrive, Bai Jinghuai took the chance to strike up a casual conversation with Ning Yan.
Ning Yan continued cracking nuts, his voice calm. “No. I have no intention of starting a family.”
Bai Jinghuai blinked. Not not for now, but not at all?
“If you don’t mind me asking—why? You know, my eldest son is also at the age for matchmaking. I figured I’d try to learn from others.”
“There’s nothing to learn from me. I’ve simply never considered it.”
“Then… if you were to meet a girl you truly liked, would you still not want to marry her?”
Ning Yan’s hand paused mid-crack, then he replied with finality, “I will never fall for anyone.”
Bai Jinghuai: “…”
He suddenly didn’t know how to keep the conversation going. Ning Yan’s certainty forced him to question his own assumptions. Perhaps he didn’t like Qingqing after all—maybe he was just showing compassion, doing a good deed?
“But how can you be so sure?” Bai Jinghuai pressed gently. “These things are hard to predict. Maybe you just haven’t met the right person yet.”
Ning Yan’s reply came with an unexpected pride. “Impossible. I’m not like those fools who moan and pine over women, losing all sense of purpose. That only dulls the hand that draws the blade. I have my sword for company—it's enough for this life.”
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Well. That shut Bai Jinghuai up.
Fortunately, Bai Qingqing arrived soon after. The moment she stepped into the side hall, the room seemed to brighten.
“Father, Lord N—” Her gaze met Ning Yan’s, and in that instant, she understood. “Brother Yan.”
Thud—
Bai Jinghuai’s teacup slipped without warning. He fumbled for a cloth, wiping his hands furiously while sneaking a horrified glance at Ning Yan out of the corner of his eye.
Qingqing just called him… what? Brother Yan?
Ning Yan was pleased. The corner of his lips curled ever so slightly as he finished cracking the last nut and dusted off his hands. “Eat.”
Then he glanced at Bai Jinghuai. He said nothing, but the message was clear.
Bai Jinghuai quietly rose to his feet. “Well then, I’ll leave you to it. Qingqing, take good care of Lord Ning. If anything comes up, just have someone fetch me.”
Qingqing nodded obediently. Bai Jinghuai walked out with great reluctance, glancing back every few steps. The last thing he saw was Qingqing picking out the nutmeat from the shells while Ning Yan, after watching her for a moment, reached over to help.
Standing just outside the side hall, Bai Jinghuai stared blankly into space, trying to reconstruct in his mind that ruthless, aloof image of Ning Yan he’d always held.
He’ll never fall for a girl in this lifetime? Ha.
…
Inside the room, Ning Yan watched Qingqing eat the nuts, quietly comparing her to the little fragrant dumpling in his memory. The more he looked, the more amused he became—they were exactly the same.
Under his gaze, Qingqing ate more and more nervously. She couldn’t help looking up. “Why are you staring at me?”
“Nothing. Go ahead. I just didn’t expect that the little Fragrance Girl from back then would grow up and yet somehow… not change at all.”
Qingqing couldn’t eat another bite. Her face flushed a bright red. To be called “Fragrance Girl” to her face—it was mortifying!
“How did you suddenly remember? Did Brother Pei tell you? I thought… I thought you didn’t remember any of it.”
The more Ning Yan thought about it, the more amused he felt. “I remembered. Just never expected to meet you again. What are the odds? Isn’t this what people call fate?”
He never put much stock in fate. But the one he shared with Bai Qingqing—he had to admit, it made him happy.