Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Wen Yu did not back down. On the contrary, he remained as calm as ever, as if his own demand was perfectly reasonable, and said in a low voice, "I will not go back on my word."

With things having come to this, neither of them had any way out. The Young Marquis had no choice but to steel himself and continue.

Luo Qianyu took the wine pot, filled a cup, pushed it in front of Wen Yu, averted his gaze to look at the night market street scene outside the window, and ordered curtly, "Drink it."

Wen Yu took the wine cup and downed it in one gulp.

The Young Marquis secretly glanced at Wen Yu. Though he said nothing, he was inwardly astonished.

...This was the first time he had seen the protagonist shou drink alcohol.

He had said to pour the entire pot of wine, but as a book transmigrator, he had to consider reality. Wen Yu, being the protagonist shou of a story where everyone is obsessed with him, likely had an alcohol tolerance that was presumably poor—if not one-cup-and-down, then surely the type to become pliant and vulnerable when drunk. Taking it one cup at a time was safer, and besides, he could observe the other's reaction before making a judgment.

To his disappointment, after finishing one cup, Wen Yu's eyes were not unfocused, nor was his posture unsteady. His reaction was much better than Luo Qianyu's own after drinking that cup of wine with the Chancellor.

Luo Qianyu hesitated, then poured another full cup.

Watching Wen Yu drink it until the cup was empty, the Young Marquis went from doubt to a sense of defeat. He even forgot how odd the whole situation looked—him helping Wen Yu pour wine cup by cup, pushing it over and then taking it back.

It felt like feeding him.

When Wen Yu finished the third cup, only less than half of the wine pot remained. Just as Luo Qianyu was about to take it, Wen Yu suddenly tightened his grip on the cup. Luo Qianyu tried to take it but couldn't move it.

He heard Wen Yu's voice, "Why does the Young Marquis help me?"

Why help him?

...Naturally, it's to make you give up on finding the Mysterious Guest.

"Haven't I already told you?" Luo Qianyu concealed his inner thoughts, his brow slightly furrowed as he spoke, "Naturally, it's because you saved my third sister. As the eldest brother, I should repay this debt of gratitude and grant you a wish."

This answer was already very cautious and flawless, but Wen Yu wasn't about to let it go, asking, "Why is it this business of meeting him? If the Young Marquis wishes to repay me, there should be many other choices."

Wen Yu asked, "Why specifically this one?"

"..."

Luo Qianyu was momentarily speechless.

This method of repayment was indeed proposed by himself, but at that time... at that time, he had been chased by Wen Yu all night. He had even worn himself out hiding in a brothel to avoid exposing his identity. He never wanted to hide and run around like that again, living in fear for no good reason. Rather than clinging desperately to his secret identity, it was better to take the initiative to resolve it.

Since Wen Yu had an obsession, he would fulfill that obsession.

But at this moment, he couldn't fathom Wen Yu's meaning, or why he suddenly asked this?

The young man raised his eyes, meeting his gaze steadily, and replied extremely quickly, "Is it hard to guess? I have nothing else to repay you with. You don't ask for much, and this one thing, I can actually do for you."

The Young Marquis raised an eyebrow, leaned back in his chair, and chuckled lightly, "What, have you changed your mind at the last minute and don't want to see that Mysterious Guest anymore?"

"No."

Wen Yu said, "I want to see him."

"...Then continue." Luo Qianyu's boot tip touched the chair leg, unconsciously tapping it, and he said in a cold, stiff tone, "Still have time to chat with me, it seems Guard Wen isn't drunk yet."

Originally muttering to himself that Wen Yu might not be some legendary thousand-cups-and-still-standing type, but after the fifth cup went down, Wen Yu finally began to show it.

A flush spread from the tips of his ears to the corners of his eyes. Even with drunkenness, it not only did not detract from his appearance but instead made that peerless beauty more intense, like a solitary, pristine jade now touched by worldly desire, transforming into an enchanting, soul-stealing apparition, making the phoenix pattern between his brows even more dazzlingly beautiful.

It inexplicably added a bewitching, demonic allure.

When sober, he was a white lotus immortal crane; after getting drunk, he transformed into a worldly temptress. No wonder so many people in the original text wanted to get the protagonist shou drunk. Such a contrast, probably no one could resist.

Even Luo Qianyu was almost captivated, couldn't bring himself to look any longer. He barely managed to avert his gaze, turning his eyes aside, his fingertips feeling hot.

...Wen Yu seemed drunk.

Many people flush when they drink, and Wen Yu's was clearly showing all the way to his ears.

He suddenly remembered the trope that the protagonist shou speaks truthfully when drunk. The young man hesitated for a moment, his fingertips lightly touching the edge of the table. He glanced sideways and called softly, "...Wen Yu?"

Wen Yu looked up, "Hmm?"

"You've lived through dynastic changes, and before leaving the capital, you must have met many people. Suppose... I'm just supposing, the Emperor, Chancellor Lin, the Imperial Guard Commander Luo, my old friend Young Master Lou, Liu... forget it, better not mention that pervert."

In theory, there was one more, but he hadn't officially appeared yet.

He asked in a low voice, "Among these people, if you had to choose one as a partner... which would you choose?"

Can't blame him; this is something all book fans were curious about.

Forced love aside, in the original book, which one did Wen Yu actually develop feelings for, and who ultimately won the beauty? The debates and fights never stopped, with forums racking up hundreds of posts. And today, he happened to encounter the person in question while he's drunk. How could he let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? To grill the protagonist shou thoroughly.

Wen Yu was silent for a long while, then asked, "Are you among them?"

"Ah?"

Luo Qianyu was stunned, clearly not expecting Wen Yu to ask this. He hesitated before replying, "...Yes, yes, I am."

He vaguely sensed something was off because Wen Yu didn't continue answering.

The Young Marquis suppressed his surprise and immediately pressed, "Wen Yu, make yourself clear. Are you saying, if you had to choose one, you'd choose the Young Marquis?"

"..."

Wen Yu didn't speak. The Little Beauty looked at the wine cup, then at the window lattice, then at the bustling street below that occasionally erupted with cheers, but just wouldn't look at him.

As if... tacitly agreeing.

Luo Qianyu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he muttered to himself.

Upon careful thought, Wen Yu favoring him was also reasonable, given that this was his own storyline and the layer of relationship as guard and young master.

However, winning against these people, he inexplicably felt no sense of accomplishment. Picking a less perverse young dandy from a group of beasts, even if he won, the victory seemed... not so glorious?

An inexplicable stubbornness arose in his heart. The Young Marquis folded his arms, propped his boot up, and snorted coldly, "Of course you should choose me. I'm better than all these people."

"Aside from being foolish, lustful, and having somewhat poor martial prowess, which of my other aspects isn't top-notch?" The Young Marquis's voice paused briefly before he added, "My martial arts and archery have improved a lot already... Aren't you the one who knows best in this world?"

Wen Yu: "Hmm."

"Being with any one of them would bring you great suffering. They covet your good looks and also have designs on your... rear. You're such a perfect person; don't get entangled with those ruffians. It's better to remain magnificently single." Luo Qianyu sighed and muttered, "It's a pity you're this drunk. Tomorrow when you sober up, you'll forget what you said today. After all, this is the protagonist shou's character trait: speaking truth while drunk, forgetting after waking up... But if you were sober, I couldn't say this even more. Although the Young Marquis is a minor character, he can't OOC either."

Wen Yu: "OOC?"

Wen Yu was a pure ancient person, so when he repeated these three English letters, the scene seemed really incongruous, even downright weird. The Young Marquis couldn't help but chuckle, covering his lips with a fist, his face turning red from stifling laughter.

The inebriated beauty looked confused.

Only after the Young Marquis finished laughing did Wen Yu speak: "Do you think I'm a perfect person?"

Luo Qianyu picked up the wine jug and poured another cup of clear wine for the man opposite him, saying, "Of course. I only read it because a character shared my name, but you truly are the most perfect protagonist I've ever seen. While reading, I wanted to be friends with you. You are a scholar who can win the Zhuangyuan title, your name shining on the golden list; a warrior who can sweep through thousands of troops, your sword cleaving the firmament—the very model of a scholar-warrior. What's even rarer is that you are one in a million, a gentleman strict with himself. Being so perfect, how could anyone not admire you?"

"A gentleman?" Wen Yu's voice paused for a moment before he added, "Friends?"

"Yes, just buddies, good brothers."

Wen Yu fell silent for a long moment before replying, "Mm."

Luo Qianyu, deciding to tease him, called out again: "Wen Yu!"

The other man nodded dazedly and mumbled in response, "What is it?"

Luo Qianyu propped his chin on his hand, watching Wen Yu, who sat ramrod straight with reddened ears, and couldn't help but smile. The person who was usually icy had shed some of his aloofness after getting drunk. Though still sparing with words, he answered every call.

And he always replied with just one or two words, which was almost unfairly adorable.

This idle chat across from Wen Yu was a first since they had met. It was a rare moment for the two of them to sit down and talk properly, making it all the more precious.

They had always been at odds with each other, and he had forgotten when the last time was that he spoke calmly with Wen Yu. If he had to trace it back... probably that night at the Donglang Bridge Night Market, when his horse was startled and Wen Yu helped him back to the mansion.

Tonight could be considered... a temporary truce.

That damned storybook surely wouldn't punish him for this, would it?

After Wen Yu drank the last cup of wine and the jug was emptied, only the final step remained.

It was time to put on the blindfold.

The Young Marquis took the cloth strip and clenched it in his palm, only then realizing that he himself was nervous. Perhaps, subconsciously, he had been trying to distract himself and force himself to calm down by talking so much with Wen Yu earlier.

When he first had the idea of letting Wen Yu meet the Mysterious Guest, it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. In fact, he had always been curious: what could make someone like Wen Yu so persistent? What did Wen Yu want to say to the Mysterious Guest when they met?

The Young Marquis held both ends of the cloth and deftly covered Wen Yu's eyes, crossing the ends at the back of his head and tying a knot. After a moment's thought, he said, "Wen Yu, I don't like waiting too long. You only have the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn."

Any longer and they risked exposure.

His world went dark.

Then came the sound of footsteps leaving and the door closing.

...

Luo Qianyu was leaning against the carved wooden window, his gaze fixed on the bustling street performance stall at the nearby alley entrance, unsure how long he had been watching. He was supposed to disguise himself as the Mysterious Guest and speak clearly with Wen Yu in person... but he had genuinely seen Wen Yu turn tail and run before. No matter how much mental preparation he made, when it came down to it, all the previous groundwork seemed to vanish into thin air.

Luo Qianyu noticed sweat seeping into his palms. He pursed his lips, made up his mind, and turned around with a flick of his sleeve.

Footsteps approached, stopping abruptly outside the private room door. The person outside hesitated for a long moment.

A moment later, the door creaked open.

When the door opened again, it was still the same private room, the familiar space behind the screen remained unchanged, and Wen Yu was still sitting in his original spot.

However, upon hearing his sound, the other man's figure noticeably stiffened.

His head, blindfolded, tilted slightly toward the sound then went still.

...

Neither of them spoke.

Luo Qianyu's back stiffened slightly, but he quickly composed himself. Footsteps sounded again, stopping opposite Wen Yu, followed by the sound of a chair being pulled back.

The Mysterious Guest fell silent for a moment, not intending to exchange pleasantries, and spoke in a deliberately lowered voice tinged with a hint of coolness, "Wen Yu, I heard you were looking for me?"

"Has your injury healed?"

They spoke simultaneously.

Luo Qianyu was taken aback, suddenly remembering the arrow shot by the Ximo people from across the river. He instinctively touched his left shoulder and replied hesitantly, "...Mm, it's no longer a problem."

There were still marks, but he managed to deceive Wen Yu thanks to Miss Su's scar-removing ointment.

The Mysterious Guest couldn't help but recall the last incident. To avoid Wen Yu, he had waded through water, climbed trees, chased three carriages in a row, ridden on a cloak, and hidden in a brothel—doing all sorts of embarrassing things. And what about Wen Yu? He'd set a trap for him.

"...You went too far last time," the Mysterious Guest said coldly, unable to hold back, "Putting yourself in danger to lure me in—is that the act of a gentleman?"

This time, it was Wen Yu's turn to fall silent. After a long while, the Mysterious Guest heard his voice, "I am no gentleman."

The Mysterious Guest sighed softly, "Forget it, none of that matters now."

"What did you want to say? Say it here." The Mysterious Guest, separated by the table, passed judgment on the top scholar in a low voice, "But you must promise me one thing—once we part today, let it be forever."

"You have the ability to protect yourself, so it's unlikely you'll need my help."

Perhaps still drunk, Wen Yu only uttered two words: "Forever?"

"Mm. Is it because you're thinking of repaying the debt of saving your life that you're so persistent in wanting to see me?" The Mysterious Guest lightly unfolded his folding fan, fanning himself as he spoke, "There's no need for that. It wasn't a life-saving favor; saving you was nothing. I would have done the same for anyone else. Brother Wen, don't dwell on it, and don't feel the need to repay me anything."

"..."

The blindfolded beauty fell silent again.

...

Luo Qianyu couldn't help but reach out and wave his hand in front of Wen Yu's eyes. Seeing that the other man showed no reaction, he withdrew his hand, propped his chin with his knuckles, and sank into thought.

Wen Yu was truly drunk.

So drunk that he couldn't even form complete sentences, let alone have a proper conversation with him. And he had only given Wen Yu half an incense stick's worth of time—it seemed it would soon be over.

...

What to do.

Should he get up and take his leave now?

Or wait a little longer, sticking to the agreement until the time ran out?

But Wen Yu was already thoroughly drunk. What difference did it make whether he left now or after a brief pause?

As he pondered, a sudden, sharp crack shattered the night sky.

Fireworks soared into the air, colorful blossoms bursting upward, thousands of sparks tearing through the night curtain. Golden-red streams of fire poured down like an inverted Milky Way, illuminating the private room.

Streams of fire streaked across the ink-black sky, and the entire city erupted in an instant!

Luo Qianyu stopped short, his attention pulled elsewhere.

Beneath Fan Tower, children leaped and cheered, night watchmen stood frozen, forgetting their clappers, street vendors with their lanterns stared upward in a daze, and even the painted boats on the moat stopped rowing. All across the city, people looked up, thousands of gazes piercing the thin mist, fixed upon the same night sky.

"It's fireworks!"

"Fireworks! Look at those fireworks!"

"So beautiful..."

"Indeed! During the late emperor's reign, a palace fire led to a decade-long ban on fireworks. The last time anyone saw such a sky full of sparks was probably the Lantern Festival a year ago!"

...

Wen Yu lifted his gaze slightly, his fingers twitching. The knot tied behind his head had come loose at some point.

One end of the black cloth blindfold slipped down, revealing a glimpse of a beautiful eye, the lashes trembling, half-concealed, half-exposed.

The surrounding clamor faded into nothingness.

His vision was obstructed, only his left eye could glimpse a sliver of light and shadow. What he could see was merely a fragment of an outline, yet it did not prevent him from staring, spellbound, at the figure before him.

Perhaps steeped in drunkenness, a flush burned from the corner of his eye to his pupil, like a flickering candle flame.

Intense and obsessive, on the verge of spilling over.