"Worse than an animal"

Lin Wanrong gazed at the young lady for a while and thought, "This girl is becoming more charming the more I look at her. I wonder which lucky lad will have the fortune to pluck this flower in the future."

Today, the young lady broke free from her usual rigid lifestyle, unintentionally indulging in a bit of freedom. She felt an inexplicable sense of excitement, much like a bird trapped in a cage spreading its wings and soaring into the sky, experiencing the liberating feeling that one truly longs for.

Observing her, Lin Wanrong could sense her emotions. He nodded and said, "Young lady, if you wish to explore a bit more, feel free to do so. The hour is already late, and a little delay won't matter much."

Xiao Yuruo responded with an acknowledgment, tucking the signed note that Lin Wanrong returned to her safely into Li Yi's income. She lifted her long skirt and gracefully sat on a protruding large stone by the embankment.

The night grew colder, but the young lady seemed oblivious to it, gazing pensively at the lake. Lin Wanrong, unsure of her thoughts, found a nearby stone and sat down beside her.

"The beauty of West Lake lies in its landscape, while the beauty of the human world lies in kindred spirits," the young lady sighed softly. "However, where can I find my kindred spirit?" Her words sounded like self-reflection and a subtle inquiry to Lin San, revealing a touch of melancholy.

With her opening, Lin Wanrong understood that this young lady was still contemplating her marital fate.

Helplessly, Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "Young lady, the divination made it clear. A kindred spirit requires your own careful observation. When you encounter one, don't let it slip away. Instead of lamenting, why not take a closer look at the talented young gentlemen around you? Perhaps the one you seek is among them."

The young lady, looking annoyed, glanced at him and said, "You, just a moment ago, interpreted the divination seriously with some knowledge. Now, why are you bringing up unrelated young gentlemen?"

Lin Wanrong, inwardly amused, thought, "You don't want a young gentleman. Do you expect me to step in?" In theory, once I settle matters with Yuxue, you'll be my sister-in-law, akin to a half-sleeve. Ambiguity is inevitable, but your character is problematic, opposing my affair with Yuxue while being overly domineering. My interest in you is temporarily lacking.

Lost in his thoughts, he suddenly heard the young lady asking, "Lin San, on the night before arriving in Hangzhou, were you hiding in Yuxue's room?"

Lin Wanrong was taken aback. "No, how is that possible? I'm an upright person. Second Miss is even more proper than me. How could I sneak into Second Miss's boudoir and hide there?"

His expression innocent, Lin Wanrong felt uneasy. "How did she know about that? I thought I concealed it well."

The young lady, seeing his evasive response, snorted and said, "Don't try to deny it. I saw it with my own eyes. You sneaked out of Yuxue's room suspiciously. What were you doing in there? Quickly confess."

Seeing Miss smirk, Lin Wanrong thought, "She actually witnessed it. It's unfortunate that I assumed no one would notice. Caught in the act, and worse, I didn't do anything except kiss Yuxue's lips, which is already an exaggeration."

After pondering for a moment, Lin Wanrong realized he couldn't admit to the incident. Exposing the affair with Yuxue was one thing, but Xiu Niang was still living in the courtyard. The affair that night was too peculiar and sensuous, and it couldn't be confessed.

"Young lady, are you sure you didn't mistake it?" Lin Wanrong smiled and said, "It was so late; how could I appear in Second Miss's room? Reputation is a matter I value highly. I've been in the Xiao family for quite some time, and my self-discipline is well-known. How could I engage in such actions?"

The young lady, familiar with his shameless nature, found his words both amusing and exasperating. She ignored his response, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement. "You have no shame. Even the maids in the courtyard dream of you. Yet you dare claim to be virtuous."

Despite her annoyance, the young lady restrained herself. She held back her laughter and said, "You're shameless from birth. Speaking such words effortlessly. When I talk to you, I feel truly helpless. Whether you admit it or not, I'll tell you this: don't take advantage of Yuxue's youth. Although the women of my Xiao family may seem delicate, not everyone can be trifled with."

"I wouldn't dare," Lin Wanrong innocently replied. "I'm merely 'caring' for her. Young lady, don't misunderstand. I may have a broad affection, but I can't find any faults within myself. Besides cherishing widely, I can't identify any flaws."

The young lady had gained a profound understanding of his shamelessness. Pretending not to hear his words, she sighed, feeling both irritated and amused. "You have no shame, don't you? I speak sincerely to you, yet you respond with such nonchalance. I tell you, whether you admit it or not, just remember, don't take advantage of Yuxue's youth. Despite the apparent frailty of the women in my Xiao family, not everyone is easy to fool."

"I'm not taking advantage," Lin Wanrong replied innocently. "I barely have time to 'care.' Young lady, don't think of me as a wandering scholar. Apart from having a broad love, I can't find any shortcomings in myself."

The young lady, accustomed to his thick-skinned nature, chose to ignore his words. Feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement, she held back her laughter and said, "You have no shame. Speaking such words effortlessly. When I talk to you, I feel truly helpless. Whether you admit it or not, I'll tell you this: don't take advantage of Yuxue's youth. Although the women of my Xiao family may seem delicate, not everyone can be trifled with."

Lin Wanrong sighed inwardly, thinking, "Solving this divination problem was quite exhausting. Now, she's inquiring about my affair with Yuxue. This woman is truly troublesome."

Their previously delightful mood after interpreting the divination had dissipated in Lin San's presence. Annoyed with him, the young lady, holding back her laughter, focused on the distant lake and sky, lost in her thoughts.

The night sky was vast and profound, adorned with numerous bright stars scattered in the air, their reflections shimmering in the water, creating an illusion of an inverted starry sky descending into the lake.

The young lady, never having admired the night sky by the lake in this manner, couldn't resist lifting her head, gazing at the starry sky for a long time. Suddenly, she extended her delicate fingers and asked, "Lin San, what are those two stars?"

In a rush to leave in the afternoon, Lin Wanrong's clothes were thin. The

 cold wind by the lake made him yearn to return. However, he lacked the interest to identify stars. With a yawn, he replied without looking up, "Wenqu Star and Tai Bai Jin Xing."

The young lady, finding him uninteresting, huffed, "I talk to you sincerely, but you respond so dismissively. You are truly dull."

"Miss, you are wearing thick winter clothes, but I have only a long robe. If I catch a cold, I'm the one who suffers," Lin Wanrong sighed. He followed the direction of the young lady's pointed fingers. The two stars were large and bright, facing each other from a distance, surrounded by a group of smaller stars.

After observing for a while, Lin Wanrong, with limited astronomical knowledge, didn't recognize these stars. Without thinking, he picked the most familiar names and casually replied, "Those are the Cowherd Star and Weaver Girl Star."

"Cowherd and Weaver Girl?" The young lady, curious, asked, "What stars are those? I've never heard of them."

"Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Cowherd. Handsome and kind, much like myself. The young lady from the Goddess of Heaven's family, known as the Weaver Girl, saw him by chance while looking into a mirror. She fell in love with him and eloped to the mortal world, marrying Cowherd. They had seven sons and seven daughters. Later, the heavenly officials discovered them... Eventually, the Goddess of Heaven pardoned them, allowing the couple to meet on the seventh day of the seventh month each year, with magpies building a bridge for them to reunite in the Milky Way. Others are forbidden from peeking..."

Lin Wanrong yawned while narrating the story of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl. He almost turned the romantic story into an explicit one.

Although the young lady listened to his tales, she found them far from ordinary. Despite the beautiful story, Lin San's storytelling method was annoying, destroying the atmosphere of the narrative.

Picking up on the crucial part of the story, the young lady sighed, "Although the Cowherd and Weaver Girl are separated by a river, they still find their kindred spirit. It's truly admirable." She paused and asked, "Lin San, are you kindred spirits with Miss Qingxuan?"

Here it comes again. Lin Wanrong thought, "This girl is showing signs of entering spring. My attraction is so strong; if she sets her sights on me, it could be dangerous."

He chuckled, not answering the young lady's question directly, and said, "Young lady, the story of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl is quite ordinary. Allow me to tell you a more exciting one called 'Beasts are Inferior.'"

"Beasts are Inferior?" The young lady was momentarily stunned. The name of this story was indeed quite shocking. "Is it more exciting than the Cowherd and Weaver Girl?"

"A hundred times more exciting." Lin Wanrong grinned. "Once upon a time, there was a scholar and a young lady who knew and loved each other. One day, they went on an outing and got caught in heavy rain. Seeking shelter in an empty house, they stayed overnight. The house had only one bed. Although the two were deeply in love, they managed to abstain from any improper behavior. The young lady, pitying the scholar, shyly invited him to share the bed but placed a pillow between them. She left a note that read, 'Those who cross the boundary are no better than beasts.' The scholar, a true gentleman, endured the night without crossing any boundaries."

The young lady, accustomed to his nonsense, was starting to lose her reaction. Blushing, she said, "You always tell stories, but never seriously. The scholar adhering to propriety was actually commendable, wasn't it?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled and said, "The next morning, the young lady woke up, transcendent and gone, leaving behind a note."

The young lady asked, "What note?"

Lin Wanrong, with a mysterious smile, replied, "Inscribed with seven grand characters, 'Thou art inferior to even beasts.'"

The young lady, feeling both embarrassed and angered, hastily stood up and exclaimed, "Shameless! Vulgar! The one who concocted such a story is undoubtedly an individual of shamelessness, a fellow of brutish inclinations." After saying these words, she turned around and hurried towards the direction of the shop.

"Miss, wait for me," Lin Wanrong grinned and said, finally escaping the cold wind. He quickly caught up.

The young lady turned to look at him, her face blushing with embarrassment. She angrily huffed, "You exploit storytelling to utter such vulgar language. You, you," she huffed several times, unable to find the right words, and finally said, "You are inferior even to beasts."