The Delicate White Moonlight of The Paranoid Powerful Minister

Liu Jiyu sniffed but didn’t speak, looking extremely aggrieved.

Shen Huan chuckled, taking Shen Zhizhi’s hand and then Liu Jiyu’s hand, stacking them together, and patting them gently. He said kindly, “Both of you, stop being stubborn. You both care deeply about each other, so why bother? Can we make up and start afresh, for my sake?”

Shen Zhizhi pouted, saying, “I… I wasn’t angry to begin with.”

But Liu Jiyu felt uncomfortable all over, wanting to pull her hand away, yet afraid of arousing suspicion from others. She had to keep up the act, which was really difficult.

Just as Liu Jiyu was about to speak, she saw the youth approaching with a stern expression, grabbing her hand and coldly saying, “Don’t you need to write? Why dawdle?”

Liu Jiyu blurted out instantly, “Oh? Alright, let’s go then.”

Shen Huan frowned, watching Mei Shuyu holding Liu Jiyu’s hand, feeling a bit displeased. “Third young master Mei, remember the distinction between men and women. Don’t forget the proprieties.”

Liu Jiyu wanted to roll her eyes. Did he pay attention to propriety when he was holding her hand just now?

Mei Shuyu gave him a disdainful glance. “Does Master Shen think he’s better than others?”

This was a subtle mockery.

Shen Huan remained silent, but Shen Zhizhi couldn’t stand seeing others speak against him, especially someone she never liked, Mei Shuyu.

Seeing her scowling at Mei Shuyu, she spoke up, “Who do you think you are? Daring to meddle in my brother’s affairs? If you want to reprimand someone, you should first consider your own status.”

Liu Jiyu gritted her teeth. How did she not notice in her past life that this Shen siblings were so unpleasant?

As she was about to speak up for the boy, she felt his hand holding hers tightening slowly.

Her heart sank. Indeed, his background had always been his sore spot.

“Y-,” Liu Jiyu barely uttered a word before the boy interrupted her, smiling at Shen Huan. “The atmosphere in your mansion leaves much to be desired. Seeing it today, I’ve truly opened my eyes.”

With that said, paying no mind to the siblings’ displeased expressions, Mei Shuyu glanced at the bewildered girl beside him, gave her hand a tug, and turned, heading towards the adjacent corridor.

“Third brother…”

Liu Jiyu watched the stern profile of the youth, cautiously speaking up.

Mei Shuyu pulled her towards a secluded courtyard, glanced at her calmly, and said, “I’ll come find you in less than three quarters of an hour.”

Liu Jiyu still looked bewildered. He was going to find her? But for what?

Seeing her puzzled expression, the youth smiled faintly, reached out, and lightly tapped her head, saying, “Aren’t we supposed to practice calligraphy? Let’s start from today.”

Rubbing her forehead, Liu Jiyu said with a bitter smile, “Today’s my birthday, why don’t you let me off for the day, Third Brother?”

“It’s precisely because it’s your birthday.”

Liu Jiyu tilted her head, looking at him with confusion. What did he mean?

Mei Shuyu looked at her and said, “New year, new beginning. Don’t be lazy. I’ll expect you up by less than three quarters of an hour. If not, five days later, I’ll see how you’ll explain yourself.”

With that said, the youth glanced at her for a moment before turning and walking away.

But the hand in his sleeve tightened slowly.

New year, new beginning.

No matter how long I deliberated in my heart, how many times I resolved to let go, when I saw her, all rationality collapsed.

In the end, I couldn’t bear to let go, unwilling to release my grip. Yinyin, I can’t escape this feeling, and you, are destined not to escape from the palm of my hand.

***

In the afternoon, Liu Jiyu specifically instructed Huixiang to wake her up by the second hour of the afternoon.

However, by that time, Huixiang looked at the girl who was still refusing to get up, feeling utterly helpless.

By the third hour of the afternoon…

Mei Shuyu frowned and stepped into the inner room. There, he saw Liu Jiyu lying on a cool mat, covered with a thin silk quilt.

The girl was exceptionally obedient, her hands quietly resting by the pillow. Her rosy lips were slightly parted, and her long, thick eyelashes covered her dewy almond eyes, below which lay a conspicuous red birthmark.

Mei Shuyu stood in the room, looking at her like that, feeling his heart melt. Memories of the girl’s childhood flashed through his mind.

Back then, her temperament hadn’t yet gone astray, exceptionally innocent and charming, holding his hand and calling him “Third Brother” in a childish voice, as sweet and docile as a little powder puff.

“Third young master, please wait in the outer room. All the writing materials are ready. I’ll call the young lady to wake up now,” Huixiang urged him to leave. After all, it wouldn’t be appropriate for the girl to be disturbed while dressing.

The young man nodded and glanced at the sleeping girl before calmly saying, “A little longer won’t hurt.”

With that said, he lifted the curtain and left.

Huixiang glanced at his retreating figure, pursed her lips. Third young master Mei was indeed a bit distant.

Then she heard a whimper from the girl. Turning around, Huixiang bent down and gently said, “Miss, it’s time to get up.”

Liu Jiyu frowned and coquettishly replied in a soft voice, “I don’t want to get up, dear sister, please don’t rush me.”

Her voice, sweet and cloying, combined with the silence of the room, reached the ears of the young man sitting in the outer room. Seeing his eyes darken for a moment before he lowered them again, it was unclear what he was thinking.

“This won’t do. Third young master Mei has been waiting for quite some time. Miss, please get up quickly,” Huixiang urged once more.

Liu Jiyu didn’t catch everything, but she did hear “Third young master Mei.” Seeing her eyes flicker, she slowly opened them, still looking a bit drowsy.

Seeing her awake, Huixiang asked, “Miss, are you getting up?”

Liu Jiyu grunted in response, still a bit reluctant.

Huixiang chuckled and moved to help her up. The girl sat up, adjusting the silk quilt around her waist.

After washing up, Liu Jiyu left the inner room and entered the outer room.

“Third Brother, I’m sorry for making you wait,” she said, yawning slightly, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She dabbed at them with a handkerchief and smiled at the young man.

Mei Shuyu watched her and said, “No problem.”

Liu Jiyu sat across from him, glancing at the writing materials on the table, pursing her lips but saying nothing.

The young man leaned back in his chair, looking at her. “Write a character for me to see,” he said.

Liu Jiyu was feeling a bit lethargic, probably due to sleeping deeply during the nap. Now she felt a bit dazed and had a slight headache, as well as a dull taste in her mouth.

Despite feeling this way, she didn’t say anything. Instead, she nodded and dipped the brush into the ink, starting to write.

The young man sat beside her, not looking at the characters but rather observing her.

After a while, Mei Shuyu stood up and walked out.

Before long, she saw him holding a plate with preserved fruits.

Liu Jiyu had just finished writing a character and was about to set the brush down on the inkstone when she noticed a plate of preserved fruits on her table.

Feeling pleasantly surprised, she looked up to see the young man sitting calmly, not saying anything, as he took the character she wrote and examined it carefully.

With a smile on her face, the girl picked up a piece of preserved fruit and savored it.

Since she was young, whenever she woke up from a nap, she would feel uncomfortable. But having something sweet like pastries or preserved fruits would make her feel much better.

He had always remembered.

Feeling warmth in her heart, Liu Jiyu’s smile grew even brighter.

“Yinyin!”

Yun Rumei excitedly rushed in and seeing Mei Shuyu there, she became even more enthusiastic. “Third Brother Mei, did you bring the kite?”