CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: DOES THE SECOND MISS WANT ME TO LEAVE?

"Second Miss Tang—"

Tang Xiaobai stood up in fear: "Sir, you can call me Xiaobai!"

Mr. Zhang smiled, his gaze shifting outside: "Those servants outside, are they brought by the Second Miss?"

Tang Xiaobai felt a jolt in her heart and looked outside following his gaze.

The academy’s classroom is named Diligence Academy, as Tang Xiaobai expected, it was a spacious building with pillars on all four sides and no walls.

With summer approaching, there was no need for screens or curtains, one could see the people and scenery outside at a glance.

In the afternoon, the sky was blue with white clouds, and the sunlight was bright.

A strand of deep green vine hung down from the eaves, interspersed with the delicate profile of a young boy as if in a painting.

Upon hearing the questions from inside the room, the young boy turned his face, raising his gaze slightly to meet the eyes of the young man in white inside—

Tang Xiaobai blinked.

What is going on?

She faintly saw a spark between Mr. Zhang and Little Qin in their exchange of glances?

"Not one of the Second Miss’s people?" Mr. Zhang withdrew his gaze and asked again.

Tang Xiaobai’s face suddenly turned red, she answered: "It’s me..."

Outside the corridor, there were quite a few servants waiting, some brought by students, and some brought by Mr. Zhang.

The standard setup is one master with one servant, and the teacher was no exception.

But she brought four.

Look at that Tang Xiaobai, she not only doesn’t study diligently but is also arrogant and indulgent!

"Second Miss brought quite a few people..." Mr. Zhang chuckled leisurely.

"Uh... Sir, I..." What should I do? The teacher must think there’s something wrong with my style, what if he orders me to change?"

If she can only bring one person, will bringing Little Qin be too conspicuous?

"By chance, I need two servants during my lectures, I wonder if it’s convenient for the Second Miss to lend me one?"

Uh?

Tang Xiaobai was taken aback.

"Is the Second Miss willing to let go?" Mr. Zhang asked with a gentle smile.

"Willing to let go! Willing to let go!" Tang Xiaobai was overjoyed.

She was merely humbly vying for an audit spot, who would have thought the teacher would offer an assistant teacher invitation!

What kind of heavenly opportunity is this?

Tang Xiaobai suddenly felt invigorated, planning to casually push Little Qin forward, then saw Mr. Zhang pointing with his hand: "That tall one!"

Tang Xiaobai turned her head to look.

The young boy stood tall and graceful, his gaze calm and indifferent as he looked at her, the surprise on his face landed in her eyes, making it seem particularly perfunctory...

...

"Do you know Mr. Zhang?" Back at Duke Yan Mansion, Tang Xiaobai left him alone to ask.

The boy looked at her surprised, shook his head: "I’ve never met him."

Though Tang Xiaobai didn’t quite believe him, she didn’t press the matter further.

This child’s life has been tumultuous; being slightly more cautious is a good thing, and she didn’t need to pry into others’ little secrets.

"It’s good Mr. Zhang has noticed you, make sure to seize the opportunity if Mr. Zhang wants to take you along—" She stopped abruptly.

She initially brought Qin Xiao beside her to use his identity to curry favor with the heroine.

But if he leaves, what can she use to curry favor?

"I won’t go with him," said the young boy.

"Why?" Tang Xiaobai asked hurriedly, thought for a moment, then added, "I won’t stop you, if you have a better place to go, I’ll only be happy for you." But as she spoke, a touch of bitterness welled up.

Though they hadn’t been together for long, she had genuinely cared for him, and the emotion she invested wasn’t insignificant. If they did part ways, Tang Xiaobai would feel somewhat reluctant.

The boy wasn’t on the same wavelength: "Mr. Zhang just wants me to handle ink, why would he take me along?"

Tang Xiaobai didn’t think so.

Even if Little Qin really didn’t know Mr. Zhang, it’s very possible Mr. Zhang knows Little Qin.

Mr. Zhang’s grandfather and Little Qin’s grandfather were both high-ranking officials in the previous emperor’s court; perhaps Mr. Zhang had seen Little Qin or someone from the Qin Family before, aware of their misfortunes, and might have inquired about Little Qin’s whereabouts before entering the Capital—

!!!

Could it be possible Mr. Zhang came to the Capital following Little Qin?

Why else would he be traveling and end up teaching in the Capital?

If this were the reason, everything would make sense!

Mr. Zhang’s grandfather and Little Qin’s grandfather were once colleagues, with good relations; upon learning about the Qin Family’s misfortune, they kept inquiring about Little Qin’s whereabouts, and finally sent Mr. Zhang to the Capital.

Mr. Zhang must have recognized Little Qin at Diligence Academy, hence seized the chance to approach, intending to rescue him!

After figuring out all the links, Tang Xiaobai inadvertently grasped the boy’s hand tightly, earnestly saying: "If you go, make sure to write to me and come back to see me when possible..."

She was indeed in the heart of the villain’s domain, truly needing some little ancestor’s protection.

But if she obstructs Little Qin’s path to prosperity, wouldn’t she be siding with the villains?

She’s really in a tough spot!

"Second Miss, where is this coming from?" Li Mu appeared somewhat helpless, "Mr. Zhang never had any intention of taking me away?"

The girl listened to him, eyes flickering, quietly said: "How about... I take the initiative to send you to Mr. Zhang?"

Li Mu’s brow furrowed tightly, an "Unacceptable" almost slipped out.

Each night now he needed to receive Divine Doctor Feng Hua’s silver needle detoxification in the secret chamber of Duke Yan Mansion. If he suddenly moved to Zhang Yin’s side, everything would have to be rearranged anew.

Moreover, Zhang Yin was temporarily lodging at Gu Mansion, nowhere near as convenient as Duke Yan Mansion.

Facing the girl’s questioning gaze, Li Mu’s eyes darkened, he said gloomily: "Does the Second Miss wish for me to leave that badly?"

The girl was startled, quickly shook her head: "No—"

"Is it because you have Ah Yuan, you no longer wish to keep me around?"

"No, no—"

"If the Second Miss has already decided, Ah Xiao has nothing further to say." After speaking, the boy lowered his eyes, lips pressed, looking as if his heart had turned to ashes.

Where is this going? How could it be said like this?

Tang Xiaobai pinched her brow, painstakingly advised: "I’m just considering what’s best for you; Mr. Zhang comes from a prestigious family, if you have the chance to be included under him, your future—"

The boy suddenly raised his eyes again to glance at her, his dark eyes causing her brow to twitch.

This kid, he’s exasperatingly skilled at pretending!

Looking pitiful and innocent yet somewhat resentful, he really resembled a flourishing white lotus!

"Alright, alright!" Tang Xiaobai waved her hand helplessly, "We’ll talk about this later!" She pointed at the ink stone on the table, "Grind some ink!"

When the boy rolled up his sleeves and added water, he suddenly glanced at her again, a slight smile on his lips, his gaze bright and gentle, leaving her unable to hold onto any temper.

Forget it, forget it, the little white lotus she transplanted, what else can she do? Just keep nurturing it!

Tang Xiaobai sighed quietly, leaning back on the desk to watch the boy grind ink.

His sleeves rolled up, revealing thin arms, fingers slender and fair, grasping the ink stick, his stance and color were both beautiful, but—

He didn’t know how to grind ink.

The boy’s strength was poorly controlled, ink splattered on his hand, sleeve, and even a spot ended up on his face.

Tang Xiaobai instinctively reached out to wipe it, but the boy reflexively turned his face to avoid.

Their eyes met briefly, the boy’s eyes flickered urgently, his lips slightly parted, seemingly wanting to say something.

Tang Xiaobai casually smiled at him, retracted her hand, and pointed to her own face: "You’ve got ink here."

The boy’s lashes fluttered suddenly, his gaze following her hand.

Tang Xiaobai, inspired, reached out again, wiping his face.

As the ink was cleared away, the boy’s fair face showed a bit of a blush.

Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help but chuckle.

This awkward child...