My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 133 Part 1

Chapter 133 Extra (19) The Story of Da Taohe

The early morning after a summer rain showed almost no traces of the previous downpour. The ground had already dried in the wind, though accumulated rainwater not yet dry could still be glimpsed on the leaves.

Shen Qingyue stood by the railing, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard and catching a figure moving through it with hurried, slightly disordered steps.

The book box in the figure's hand swung in a wide arc, clearly revealing its owner's haste.

Shen Qingyue glanced at the still-early morning sky, his eyes thoughtful.

"Young Master, it's ready."

The page boy emerged carrying the book box, carefully closed the door behind him, and noticed his young master standing at the entrance, seemingly lost in thought.

With concern in his voice, he asked, "Is Young Master still unwell? Perhaps you should request a day's leave from the teacher."

Shen Qingyue offered no response. Only when the figure in the courtyard had completely disappeared from view did he finally withdraw his gaze and reply calmly, "That won't be necessary."

His expression cool and detached, he turned and descended the stairs.

The page boy pressed his lips together. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't shake the feeling that his young master seemed somewhat unhappy.

They had been at the academy for quite some time, but this was the first morning he had woken up in a bad mood.

Before leaving home, the family had repeatedly instructed him to take good care of the young master. Then yesterday, that incident had happened. Although the young master had already instructed him not to inform the family, seeing him like this this morning, he pondered whether he should still send a letter to the eldest young master.

Just as he felt unsure, he heard the footsteps had already moved some distance away. The book boy hurriedly hugged the book box and chased after him.

The classroom was noisy, everyone discussing the strong winds, heavy rain, and booming thunder from the day before.

When Shen Qingyue arrived at the classroom, he saw at a glance the person sitting in the far back corner, currently slumped head-first on the desk.

He showed no reaction and returned to his own seat.

The entire morning, Huo Anding sat in the classroom with unusual quietness.

He listened to the teacher's lectures, noted down difficult points, flipped through books, and read.

Outside the window, cicadas chirped incessantly, as noisy as ever.

Huo Anding propped his chin on his hand, holding a brush with the other. He tried his best to focus his mind on the class, but his gaze ultimately couldn't help falling on the young man in front.

Shen Qingyue was the same as always, the same in listening to lectures, the same in his blue-green clothes.

But Huo Anding just felt too embarrassed to look at him directly. Even gazing at his back like this felt like he was stealing glances.

He had said they should act as usual.

But he had actually dreamed that kind of dream about him behind his back. How could it be the same as usual?

Huo Anding irritably withdrew his gaze and saw that on his paper, he had unconsciously sketched the outline of Shen Qingyue's back.

He was startled and hurriedly crumpled the paper into a ball and stuffed it into his book box.

After class ended, Huo Anding hesitated about whether to go eat with Shen Qingyue.

He both wanted to find Shen Qingyue and was afraid of having more dreams. After several rounds of hesitation, by the time he finished packing his book box, Shen Qingyue's figure was already gone from the classroom.

Huo Anding grew anxious and hurried to the window, scanning around but not seeing him.

"Hey, have you seen Shen Qingyue?"

"The teacher just called him to look at an essay, didn't you see?"

"Oh..."

Huo Anding made a sound of acknowledgment, staring distractedly at the doorway.

Without eating, he wandered back to the dormitory in a daze.

He had slept late last night and woke up even earlier than usual this morning.

Huo Anding collapsed onto his bed upon returning to his room and fell asleep shortly after.

"Father, Father! Look, are my characters written well?"

Huo Anding felt somewhat fuzzy. He saw a little child running towards him in the spacious manor garden, holding a sheet of paper, extremely happy.

He was just about to tell the child to slow down when the little one suddenly threw himself into his arms.

"Father, look quickly!"

Huo Anding crouched down, looking at the child clinging to him. The child didn't even reach his thigh, and was very cute and well-behaved.

Looking closely, he was astonished to discover the child bore a striking resemblance—four parts his own features blended with six parts of Shen Qingyue's.

"What are you spacing out for? Did the child write poorly?"

A cool, questioning voice suddenly sounded beside him. Huo Anding turned his head and saw Shen Qingyue walking over, dressed in formal robes.

"We... have a child?"

Shen Qingyue gave him a puzzled look before responding, "How did you know?"

He raised a hand to his lower abdomen. "You've only just returned from court. Father-in-law confirmed the pulse mere moments ago. Could he have informed you so quickly?"

Huo Anding swallowed hard and looked down to see himself actually wearing official robes.

"What's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"

"Anding?"

Huo Anding's eyes snapped open. Looking at the room dyed red by the setting sun's glow, his mouth slightly agape, he was slow to regain his senses.

Gugu sounds came from his stomach. He picked up the teapot from the table, poured three large cups of cold tea, and gulped them down.

Judging by the sky, he had slept for almost two hours.

He had slept until his mouth was dry and his head somewhat fuzzy.

Thinking of the scenario in the dream, his head instantly felt fuzzier.

How could these dreams form a continuous series? If they kept progressing, wouldn't he soon be dreaming of a house filled with children and grandchildren!

Huo Anding gripped the edge of the table, his heartbeat as chaotic as his swirling thoughts. Only one clear resolution occupied his mind: He absolutely could not go on like this.

So, in the days that followed, he tried his best not to interact excessively with Shen Qingyue, leaving early and quickly.

He practically poured all his energy out on the Cuju field.

He was serious in lectures, praised by the teacher; he won matches on the football field, attracting countless admirers. For a time, he was at the peak of popularity.

Though Shen Qingyue maintained his usual aloof demeanor, his perception remained sharp.

However slow to notice he might be, he couldn't help but observe Huo Anding's change in behavior.

Since Huo Anding no longer sought him out, Shen Qingyue similarly paid him no mind.

Thus they maintained this lukewarm distance throughout the sweltering summer and into the crisp autumn.