Unintentional Surprise (GL) - Chapter 18

What is owed must be repaid.

Whether it is a debt of emotion or material, it makes no difference.

“Whatever you need, I, Shunyáo, will do everything in my power to repay what I owe.”
At this moment, the top scholar no longer displayed the sharp wit seen in the courtroom—only hesitation and softness.

“What if what I want is the moon in the sky? How will you repay that?” Wen Dinglan loved teasing Jiang Shunyáo, taking pleasure in the latter’s earnestness.

“I…” Jiang Shunyáo was clearly at a loss.

Wen Dinglan pushed further, relentless:
“What if I want you to repay me, one thing after another, until you grow old and die and cross into the Yellow Springs? Then what?”

“I…” Jiang Shunyáo had no answer.

Only those who give their heart are troubled by such questions; only those who are sincere are unwilling to offer hollow replies.

After a long pause, during which the courtyard was already bathed in the golden light of dusk—

Jiang Shunyáo finally gave her reply.

Word by word, each one resolute and heavy with meaning:
“I, Shunyáo, lack the skill to obtain the moon in the sky. I, Shunyáo, have no power to know when I’ll reach the Yellow Springs—but whatever I can do for Miss Wen, I will give it my all. I would part with my fortune without hesitation. I would offer up my life without regret.”

Wen Dinglan was moved once again.

She had heard countless sweet nothings from patrons in the front hall. But this time, she felt like a young girl experiencing her first love—taking the honeyed words to heart.

Her playful index finger hooked onto the black belt around Jiang Shunyáo’s waist, tugging gently, pulling her closer.

Jiang Shunyáo didn’t resist—her nose nearly touched Wen Dinglan’s cheek.

Any closer, and their lips would meet.

“I’ll take your gold and silver. I’ll take your fate in the Yellow Springs too. Since you’re being so generous, can you give me one more thing—a true heart?” Wen Dinglan teased, flashing a crooked smile just for Jiang Shunyáo’s lowered gaze.

A true heart?

Jiang Shunyáo didn’t even know how much her own heart was worth.

Was it heavier than gold and silver?

Was it longer-lived than a promised fate in the afterlife?

From the moment she put on the red robes of the top scholar, those very robes had distanced her from so much of the world’s simple humanity. Over time, she had nearly forgotten that she still had a heart—one that beat warm and alive, capable of bleeding.

Wen Dinglan wanted it. Jiang Shunyáo was willing to give it.

She deliberately asked,
“I know little of romance—how much would my true heart be worth, in your eyes, Miss Wen?”

There was no reply.

But there was a bold move.

Her belt was gently tugged again, shifting their positions.

Wen Dinglan now sat on the stone bench, tilting her body up. Jiang Shunyáo turned and hovered above her, so close it was like there wasn’t even a sliver of space between them.

Such intimacy—something only deeply bonded lovers would dare.

Reason urged Jiang Shunyáo to step back. Emotion tempted her to lean in.

What should she do?

Of course, Wen Dinglan would never leave her to make such a difficult choice—because the power to choose had always been in her hands.

She would draw Jiang Shunyáo in, make her have to come closer. Closer, until there was no more distance left—and still, it wouldn’t be enough.

At last, the gap between them disappeared. Jiang Shunyáo kissed Wen Dinglan’s cheek.

It was meant to be just a brush, light as a dragonfly’s wings on water—but lovers, once touched by warmth, always crave more.

Their lips met again, tender and lingering.

Their breath mingled. From then on, their hearts were bound, impossible to part.

Their posture remained close and intimate.

Of course, Wen Dinglan still had a few tricks up her sleeve—a little scheming of her own, gently toying with Jiang Shunyáo’s affections.

Bang!

The courtyard gate burst open.

Che Kuiyuan stood there, arms full with a golden instrument—golden frame, golden strings—and collapsed in shock against the doorframe.

Clearly, he had come at the worst possible moment.

By some unlucky coincidence, he had walked in just in time to witness the lingering, sultry scene unfolding between the stone table and the stone bench.