Chapter 146 Day 10 of Transmigrating into an Imperial Examination Novel

Chapter 146: The Tenth Day After Transmigrating into the Imperial Examination Story

That afternoon, An Yi had just guided Qin Cang in writing a few simple characters when Qin Cang picked up a twig and began practicing writing on the muddy ground.

Outside the yard, hurried footsteps approached, followed by a boy's voice—still childish but with a surprisingly steady, adult-like tone—ringing out from beyond the fence:

"Senior Brother An Yi, good day!"

An Yi looked up.

Standing outside the fence was none other than the favored child of destiny in this world—Fang Huaixing.

He wore a slightly worn fine cotton robe. Though still thin and dark-skinned, he was clean and neatly dressed. His unusually bright eyes looked in with just the right degree of politeness.

His gaze first fell on An Yi, with a barely perceptible flicker of admiration. An Yi's demeanor and attire were far from the down-and-out scholar he had imagined.

He's really good-looking.

Then he noticed Qin Cang sitting on a small stool, still holding a twig, staring at him with a wary expression.

Who was this? He quickly ran through his memory and remembered—it seemed to be that unlucky guy Qin Cang.

The moment Qin Cang saw Fang Huaixing, he tensed up. His wolf-like eyes instantly grew wary, as if his territory were being invaded.

He recognized this boy who had been getting famous in the village lately, knew he was good at his studies, but that didn't make him any less annoyed right then.

Especially because An Yi's gaze toward that boy was warm and soft.

He didn't know what it was, but it bugged him.

An Yi's heart stirred slightly. He still kinda admired the original novel's male lead.

He stood up and said in a calm tone, "Good day. What can I do for you?"

Fang Huaixing cupped his hands in a standard student's salute, neither humble nor arrogant: "Student Fang Huaixing has long heard of Senior Brother An's reputation. Lately, I have encountered some difficulties in my studies but had no one to consult. I took the liberty of coming to ask for your guidance. Is that okay?"

He spoke clearly and with refined language, nothing like a six- or seven-year-old kid.

An Yi smiled. He really did look quite intelligent.

An Yi looked at him, smiled slightly, and stepped aside: "Please come in, Little Friend Fang."

Fang Huaixing thanked him and stepped into the yard.

His gaze swept once more over Qin Cang, who stood tense like a little guard slightly behind and to the side of An Yi. Curiosity flickered in his eyes, but he didn't ask further, instead focusing his attention on An Yi.

He bowed again. An Yi gestured for him to begin, and he proceeded to raise the questions he had accumulated.

The questions were indeed quite profound, touching on the interpretation of the classics and even lightly touching on some moral debates—astonishing for a kid who'd just started learning.

An Yi did not hold back. Combining the original owner's solid foundation with his own knowledge from multiple worlds, he explained things in a simple but deep way.

He had once been a Chief Grand Secretary himself, and answering these questions felt oddly like going back to the past.

Fang Huaixing's eyes grew brighter and brighter. He nodded from time to time, and the initial politeness in his gaze toward An Yi gradually mixed with genuine admiration.

"...So that's how it is! Thank you, Senior Brother An, for clarifying. It all makes sense now!" Fang Huaixing bowed solemnly again, his tone sincere.

"Little Friend Fang is naturally gifted—you get it in one. No need to be so polite," An Yi replied in his usual gentle tone.

Comment section:

"This An Yi... is he also a prodigy? He's not a villain, is he? The kind that highlights the male lead?"

"Probably not. He seems very gentle, with a gentlemanly vibe."

"What if he's a hypocrite?"

"Calling him a villain already?"

"I don't think so. He'll probably be the male lead's ally at court later!"

"Am I the only one who thinks this character backstory is just some unlucky old dude? (LOL)"

"I have a question! Why does the author make An Yi so handsome? Just describing his appearance and demeanor took two pages. Is that right?"

"Shaking my fist! Author, I ask you: Is that right?"

"Right, he's even more handsome than the male lead. We readers can't even feel immersed anymore..."

"@Author, you'd better change it. Don't be so clueless!"

"Hiss... The author goes overboard praising him. Is this character a self-insert from the author's real life? (Frown) (Chin rub) (Pondering)"

"????? WTF are you talking about, dude above?"

"Look closely! An Yi is male!"

"So what if he's male?"

"????? The question marks aren't because I have a problem—they're because YOU have a problem!"

"Very likely. The author isn't trying to ship them, is he?"

"????? Get it straight! Use your thick skull! How is that possible? How old is the male lead? Huh!! (Angry) (Angry)"

"If he really writes it that way, the author is begging to get cancelled!"

"..."

An Yi: ...

Seriously, not necessary.

An Yi and Fang Huaixing exchanged a few more words, the atmosphere was pretty harmonious.

However, Qin Cang, sitting nearby, his face grew darker and darker.

He watched An Yi chatting happily with that unfamiliar, well-dressed boy, watched An Yi patiently answering his questions—a calm focus he'd rarely seen An Yi give anyone else lately.

A strange, bitter, prickling feeling silently wrapped around his heart like vines.

So... An Yi was this good to everyone?

He wasn't... special, was he?

That was right. How could he ever deserve special treatment from a scholar like An?

This thought sent a wave of inexplicable panic and discomfort through Qin Cang.

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms, and hung his head, no longer looking at the unbearable scene.

Fang Huaixing sat for a while longer, heard his little sister calling him, and then got up to leave.

He said he'd bring Senior Brother An some stuff next time to show his thanks.

An Yi saw him off at the courtyard gate.

When An Yi turned back, he saw Qin Cang still keeping his head down, with a low, oppressive aura enveloping him.

He was scratching the ground with a twig, the marks he was making becoming crooked.

“What’s wrong?” An Yi walked up to him and asked.

His gaze fell on Qin Cang’s lowered head, revealing a small patch of tanned nape, and he clearly felt the almost tangible hurt and awkwardness.

An Yi: ????

What’s going on?

Hearing his voice, Qin Cang's scraping abruptly stopped.

He lifted his head; his eyes were indeed slightly red, as if he was holding back tears, his lips tightly pressed together.

After a long moment, he finally choked out: “...Nothing.”

An Yi narrowed his eyes, staring right at him.

It made Qin Cang break out in a cold sweat.

Standing in the courtyard, An Yi watched the hurt radiating from Qin Cang, almost tangible, like a puppy drenched in rain, stubbornly forcing itself not to shiver.

He subconsciously recalled the earlier scene—Fang Huaixing’s visit, the patient explanations, the friendly chat... then combined it with Qin Cang’s current abnormal reaction. In a flash of insight, understanding dawned on him.

He understood.

So that was it.

Was he upset because An Yi had shown patience and guidance to someone else?

Like a protective puppy that discovers the attention and kindness it thought were its alone have been shared with others—feeling neglected, it gives rise to this straightforward yet clumsy hurt and possessiveness.

An Yi let out an almost inaudible sigh to himself.

Still just a kid, really.

Having been surrounded by malice and neglect for so long, suddenly receiving a shred of warmth and care, it was like a drowning person clinging to a piece of driftwood, unwilling to share even a fraction of that one kindness with anyone else.

This mindset, he could understand, but...