Chapter 372: Chapter 272 This sun is both round and… square Chapter 372: Chapter 272 This sun is both round and… square The study was indeed located in a secluded part of the orchid garden, far off the beaten path to the west window.
To reach it, one had to make a big detour from the main entrance to the study, a place not usually frequented by anyone.
Originally, the west window faced several delicate orchids, which served as Zhu Yourong’s private scenery for idle musings or eye-soothing monts during her calligraphy practice.
But now, an utterly unexpected figure had appeared without any warning, peering through the west window and catching a glimpse of her private view…
The bright sunlight filtered through the leaves, slanting across the west window of Lan Xuan’s study.
It also cast its slanting rays on the man and woman standing inside and outside the west window.
However, it did nothing to lt the tense, awkward atmosphere. Instead, Zhao Rong felt even more exposed, everything illuminated all too clearly.
If there were no surprises, he was caught red-handed by soone.
Well, what if this young master claid he just arrived and saw nothing? Would you believe that?
At that mont, their eyes t.
Zhao Rong t the gaze of the Confucian-robed woman’s wide-eyed stare, rigid and unblinking, his expression stiff. His right foot, which he had just stealthily lifted to sneak away to one side, now felt utterly out of place.
Neither stepping back nor casually walking away as if nothing happened was an option.
Zhao Rong suddenly felt the urge to touch his nose to ease the tension but promptly dismissed the action, alert.
Cough cough, did you just see sothing odd? Because I certainly didn’t see anything strange; why would I touch my damn nose…
While Zhao Rong’s thoughts ran wild, behind the west window of the desk, leaned over… no, rather, pressing down, Zhu Yourong, with her head tilted, allowed her previously rounded eyes to slowly relax, tapering like the first leaves of spring.
The Confucian-robed woman’s eyes narrowed as she scrutinized the scoundrel outside the window, not letting any detail of his expression escape her attention.
Under Zhu Yourong’s increasingly unnerving gaze, Zhao Rong knew he was running out of ti.
Should he pretend to see nothing and simply greet her? Hmm, not bad. She surely wouldn’t press the young master on why he had suddenly gone blind, right?
She would probably skeptically look for an excuse, gracefully rush back inside to cover up the unexpected sight, and then co out to subtly probe him. But… this young master would rather die than admit anything. Zhu Yourong couldn’t possibly put a knife to my throat, right? Being a woman and nominally a Teacher, she surely wouldn’t speak plainly about it, so all is well…
Just make the greeting natural, no big deal. This young master is good at this.
Zhao Rong felt his train of thought was clearer than ever and silently comnded his clever mind.
In front of the west window, the young Confucian Scholar chuckled:
“Oh, what a coincidence, Zhu Yourong, you’re here too?”
His tone was as casual and ordinary as ever.
The Confucian-robed woman simply stared at his smiling face for a mont, then nodded slightly.
The young Confucian Scholar looked around and said, sowhat surprised, “I didn’t expect this path to lead here. I knocked on your door just now and didn’t hear a response, so I wandered around…”
The Confucian-robed woman remained composed, only the intensity of her gaze on Zhao Rong lightened a bit.
Zhao Rong imdiately felt a significant decrease in pressure, his smile brightening, “Haha, the sunlight here is really strong.”
Zhu Yourong’s expression shifted suddenly.
Zhao Rong’s eyes twitched, and he quickly waved his hands, “No, no, I an the sun in the sky, which is brighter and bigger than it has been in past days, and, and… and square…”
His voice trailed off to a whisper.
Zhu Yourong: “…”
Zhao Rong clamped his mouth shut.
Zhu Yourong took a deep breath, her chest heaving dramatically while Zhao Rong’s eyelids twitched.
Next second, she set down her almost dry brush, straightened her upper body and, without letting a certain soone see much of another round and square sun, turned around.
However, from the back, Zhao Rong could tell that Zhu Yourong’s Confucian robe was notably tighter than usual, so areas straining. This sudden tightness in her gown made her waist look slimr, her shoulders more curved, and her back as sharp as carved.
Zhu Yourong, one hand on the desk’s edge, the other tightly clutching her sleeve, turned her back to Zhao Rong, her face unseen, fell silent for a while.
Was her picturesque brow furrowed or were her lips pressed so tight that they turned white?
Suddenly, a lodious clear voice ca from inside the window to the outside.
“Morning… Hello, Zhao Ziyu. Don’t go wandering off casually next ti.”
Zhao Rong finally planted his restless right foot on solid ground and quickly nodded, realizing she was facing away and might not see him. His voice was serious, unusually respectful, “Teacher Zhu, I was impolite this ti. I won’t dare to do it again, even if the sun…”
Zhao Rong cut himself off hastily, wanting to smack his mouth hard; why couldn’t he stop bringing up the sun? Thinking about what? The sun? Think…
Zhu Yourong resisted the urge to close the window, pressed a hand to her chest, looked down silently, lost in thought.
Outside, Zhao Rong also fell silent for a while then suddenly broke into a bright smile, “Zhu Yourong, haven’t you finished writing on your desk yet? No rush; don’t mind , just keep writing. I’ll wander around and admire the orchids.”
Having spoken, he stepped forward and turned, preparing to disappear for a while, giving the woman inside so ‘Zhou Xuan’ ti, like… closing the west window, shutting in the sun…
Zhao Rong walked several steps, looking around at this elegant spot filled with orchids, then sidestepped onto a small path.
“Wait.”
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