The Heroine Disguises Herself As A Man To Enter The Academy, And The Hero Loses His Memory And Forgets his First Love. - Chapter 7

“Hey… woman, have we met somewhere before?”

Pfft! What an outdated, self-satisfied pickup line. She was in a foul mood—who had time for some heat-struck wild dog trying to flirt!? If he were a real man, he’d yell his intentions out loud and laugh boldly: “It’s your honor to be chosen by this lord!” That’s how a true flirt should act! This fake-gentle, poetic nonsense? Most annoying. No guts and still daring to grab her—let go already!

Legs flailing mid-air, she twisted around and shouted hoarsely, “I—this young lady—have great ambitions! No time to discuss feelings with you! Move aside! If you don’t, I’ll beat you, you—eh? D-Dragon… Dragon…?”

As she turned around, Zhu Bafu nearly bit her tongue.

Phoenix eyes, silk brocade robe, thick black braid, silver phoenix-carved smoking pipe… Wasn’t this the same Young Master Long who had insisted she deliver a love letter to Li Chenjing yesterday? So, he really had seen her before—only in that flat-chested, manly disguise.

A sly curve of the lips, eyes half-lidded in interest—he was now looking her up and down with obvious amusement. Then he loosened his arm, deliberately letting her fall, only to lift a knee and catch her perfectly at the waist, pulling her into a position just suggestive enough to satisfy him. He smirked, voice low and teasing.

“When did this lord ever say I wanted to talk about feelings, little lady?”

“Eh?” She half-lay across his knee, staring up dazedly at the seductive smile hovering above her. L-Little lady?! Wasn’t that the standard lecher’s line before assaulting a virtuous woman!? Was he seriously teasing her?

“Hmm… so you do want to talk about feelings? What a forward little lady…”

“Then fine,” he whispered. “Let’s talk about it. Feelings.” He emphasized the last word with a devilish gleam in his eye.

Zhu Bafu stared up at him helplessly.

He looked delicious—a single brow raise or lazy squint from him radiated romantic charm. Even the way he leaned over her brimmed with seduction. She gulped hard, but didn’t dare relax. Please, please don’t let him smell the “man scent”…

Xiaojiu had always said that ever since she started wearing male clothing, she gave off an inescapable “guy stink.” And today, she hadn’t even put on makeup—he’d catch a whiff for sure!

“Little lady,” he asked suddenly, “you just called out my surname. How did you know I’m a Long?”

“Did… did I?”

“You did. Very confidently. So—when did we meet? Were you hiding somewhere, secretly watching me?”

“S-Secretly watching? Me?”

“Wasn’t it? How else would you know who I am? And why would you look so familiar? Familiar to the point of being… irritating.”

Irritating?! Who describes someone they know as irritatingly familiar? Had he picked up on something!? Oh no, oh no—just agree with whatever he says! Even if he accuses her of watching him bathe, she’d nod!

“Yes, yes! I’m that woman who always hides in the corner to spy on you! Drooling over your good looks, following you around—that’s me!”

At her dramatic confession, he snapped his fingers like a proud peacock. “Ha! Just as I thought. Far too many women surround me for me to remember them all. So tell me—how long have you admired this lord?”

“Eh? A-Admire?” That word had too much emotional weight! All she meant was some passing physical appreciation—nothing to do with his arrogant attitude or rotten personality. But fine, if this narcissistic peacock needed it—she’d surrender her pride to protect her identity.

“Since yesterday.”

“Yesterday?”

“Yeah. I accidentally started admiring you yesterday. Problem?”

“Love at first sight?”

“Exactly! Love at first sight!” Gah! How narcissistic can one man be!?

“What do you like about me?”

“Your handsome way of cursing people, your sexy expressions when threatening someone, your attractive shamelessness when being unreasonable!” That was all she could come up with. Wait… why did his gaze suddenly darken? Was he about to pin her to a wall again to show off how “sexy” his yelling could be?

“You… tell me your full name.”

“W-What for?”

The arm around her waist tightened. She was suddenly much closer to him—their noses were nearly brushing.

“Because I want to marry you.”

“WHAT?” Had he gone mad!?

“I want to make you my wife.”

“Why!?” Marriage?! What kind of cursed day was this? Two men trying to marry her in one day—did she suddenly radiate “matronly” vibes!?

“If there’s a woman who can love even my worst flaws, then she’s the one I must marry!”

“Who told you that kind of garbage!?”

“My mother.” He proudly pointed at himself and shrugged. “She said a woman like you is my true match. Even if I fool around after marriage, you’d turn a blind eye, quietly manage the household, and still love me—because it’s real love.”

“…Today must be a cursed day.” First the Li family heir, now this guy—treating her like some kind of emotional landfill! She wasn’t going to be anyone’s doormat!

“Don’t worry. Fifty-five—no, sixty tops. I’ll settle down and return to you.” He smiled. “What do you say? Let’s get married?”

She smiled sweetly and patted his chest like a gentle lover—only to suddenly shove him hard and then clap the dust from her hands like she’d touched something dirty.

“Your mother’s clever. My dad said something similar: if I find someone who loves me even when I have food poisoning and I’m stuck on the toilet, I should marry him.”

“…You want me to watch you on the toilet?”

“No need. My dad already found that man for me. I’m engaged.”

“What? So you’re going to marry someone else even while admiring me?”

The story took such a dramatic turn it felt like she’d wandered into a trashy soap opera. Zhu Bafu shrugged coolly. “That’s the plan. Love at first sight is unreliable. I’m here to say goodbye to that crush and go home to marry.”

She turned to leave—only to have him step in front of her. His deep, dark eyes stared into hers without blinking.

“So… you’re rejecting me?”

These peacock types clearly couldn’t handle rejection. His expression turned dark and sullen—nothing like the proud flirt from earlier.

“So… for another man, you won’t marry me?”

Wait—why did it suddenly sound like she was the heartless one? As if she had been dating him for years and then dumped him for someone richer?

“…Who?”

“Uh?”

“Tell me. Who’s the man you’re marrying?”

“…” Oh no. Where was she going to find a fake fiancé now!?

“If you don’t answer, I’ll carry you straight to my house.”

What is this? A family of bandits!?

“I’m marrying Zhu—Zhu Bafu of the Zhu family! Master Zhu of the Wuyashufang Bookstore!!”

“WHAT?! You’re marrying that little brat?!”

“Who are you calling a little brat?!”

“You’re not just a brat—you’re a sissy! Always loafing around, even sent a love letter to another man!”

“That letter was because you—”

“Hm?”

“I mean… even if he doesn’t like women and only likes men, I still want to be with him!”

Crap! Of course I wouldn’t like women—I’m a woman myself!

“I don’t like women who talk too much.” He raised a finger and gently pressed it to her lips. “If you become mine, I won’t let anyone leave marks on your face.”

She stiffened. He’d noticed the slap mark on her cheek? He reached down, unhooked a tiny silver pouch from his belt, and placed it in her hand.

“Here. My token. If you ever get tired of him, come find me.”

He paused—then added with a smirk, “Before or after the wedding. I prefer the latter.”

She looked down at the pouch. It was dark purple, embroidered with a silver dragon coiled around a sun. Tiny silver letters ran beside the tail.

“What’s this?” she asked.

“My woman count.”

So—these pouches were serially handed out!? Each woman he’d “touched” got a number!? That meant she was woman No. 330!?

“If you come find me one day and I don’t remember you, show me this pouch. I never forget a number.”

Come back to him someday? For what? Round up all 329 previous women and form a shoe-throwing revenge squad!? Honestly… tempting.

One Day Gone, Nothing Gained.

Got kicked, slapped, and gave away her money. Lost her silver and dignity—and all she got was a dumb smoke pouch labeled No. 330.

No wonder Zhu Xiaojiu looked at her like trash the moment she came home.

“You lost the money?”

She nodded pitifully, lip pouting high.

“How are we going to send money to Dad?”

She shook her head, lips drooping low.

“In that case, sell yourself.”

“S-Sell myself?! Me or you?!”

“You, obviously. I’m underage and not even fully grown. Who’d buy me?”

“…Maybe some creeper’s into baby-faced types. You’d fetch a better price than me!”

“Whose fault is this mess, huh? What right do you have to make me get sold?” Xiaojiu slammed the table like a family patriarch. Zhu Bafu immediately cowered and poked her fingers together guiltily—proving that without financial power, age, gender, and height meant nothing in this house.

“So… who’re you selling me to? I must be worth something. Skilled in literature and martial arts—my price has to be decent!”

“More than decent. Male or female, yin or yang—you’re a two-for-one special. Not easy to find.” Xiaojiu swung her feet under the table. “Let’s sell you to the Emperor—as a servant.”

Smack! A wrinkled official notice was slapped on the table—

Year 6 of Tianjuan: Ministry of Personnel’s Eastern Academy Recruitment Notice

The Ministry of Personnel, by imperial order, is organizing the Year 6 recruitment exam for Eastern Academy to fill vacancies in state institutions. Eligibility and exam conditions follow…

“Eastern Academy recruitment?” Zhu Bafu blinked at the flyer, then stared at Xiaojiu, who was nodding seriously.

“You want me to apply?”

“Exactly.”

“But I’m a girl!”

“I almost forgot.”

“……”

“Civil servant—golden rice bowl. Get a post—Eastern Academy. If you get in, we’ll never need to worry about money again. We can even visit Dad properly. Isn’t that great?” Xiaojiu raised an eyebrow.

“But what if I don’t pass? Getting into Eastern Academy doesn’t guarantee a job. The final imperial exam is brutal—hundreds of candidates fighting over one post. Even the Prime Minister’s own son could fail! I have no bribes, no connections, no background—how could I possibly pass?”

“Even better if you don’t.”

“You doubt my skills?!”

“If you really passed and wore official robes, a woman in office—that’s treason! I’d be executed right alongside you. Don’t you get your real mission yet?” Xiaojiu snorted. “What kind of men come from Eastern Academy?”

“Bookworms full of Confucian nonsense, arrogant nobles, royal relatives—jerks with connections.”

“Ever heard of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai?”

“…The butterfly couple?”

“Exactly. Your mission: find a rising official who can speak to the Emperor, clear Dad’s charges, and restore his post. The next Prime Minister is definitely inside Eastern Academy. Whether you become his friend or lover—just bag him!”

“…And then turn into butterflies together?” Zhu Bafu sneered. “Tch. Xiaojiu, your plan is too shameless. Deceiving the future Prime Minister’s feelings just to climb the ladder—ugh! I, Young Master Zhu, will never bow for a mere five pecks of rice!”

“…So?”

“If you give me six pecks, I’ll consider it.”

“……”

“Become besties with the future Prime Minister, and the whole empire’s backdoors are ours! Wahaha! It’s settled! I, Young Master Zhu, shall apply to Eastern Academy! Civil service exam? Piece of cake!”