Chapter 12

Chapter 12

There was no way light was actually coming off his body.

The reason Shen Qinglan felt as if Han Zhang was shining so brightly was, aside from the filter from the storybook, purely the result of science and a few clever tricks.

Fluorite, or calcium fluoride, when ground into powder and exposed to strong sunlight, emits a faint phosphorescent glow in the dark.

Han Zhang had sprinkled the ground and sun-dried fluorite powder on himself in advance, and since the interior of the study was dimly lit, this created a glowing effect and set the mood.

Coupled with the fan filter of the "Scholar Zhang" persona.

As expected, Shen Qinglan's initial infatuation, which was only at fifty percent, shot up to a hundred percent!

The young lad's eyes and heart were now entirely focused on him, his gaze full of tender affection.

"Don't say that, Brother Han. Though you are poor, you are an upright gentleman, not like those mediocre scholars who put on airs of moral superiority. Your noble character is admirable. Meeting you today is my great fortune."

"You flatter me, Brother Wang. I dare not accept such high praise."

Han Zhang waved his hand with a hearty laugh.

Shen Qinglan wanted to get closer to him, so he smiled and let the topic drop, and took the initiative to find other things to talk about.

"Speaking of the recipes in the book, I also recall you wrote about a music box that can play tunes on its own, and a new type of toy that can blow colorful bubbles in the sunlight. Can those be recreated too?"

Han Zhang nodded: "They can certainly be recreated, but the craftsmanship for these two items is very complicated. Making them won't be easy and will take a lot of time."

"Really?"

Shen Qinglan was pleasantly surprised. He had just asked on a whim, never expecting that such magical things could actually be made real.

His eyes sparkled with cleverness, and he quickly came up with a good idea.

"Brother Han, since you're short on money, if you don't mind, how about I give you a way to make some money?"

"How could I possibly mind when Brother Wang is willing to help me out of my predicament? What business opportunity are you talking about?"

Han Zhang asked curiously.

Seeing that he truly didn't seem offended by the mention of money, Shen Qinglan explained, trying to reassure him.

"It's like this, Brother Han. You should know that my uncle is only the manager of this bookshop, not the owner. For my uncle and me to manage the master's property, besides drawing in crowds of customers to the bookshop, we also need to know how to please the master. Otherwise, there will always be others vying for the manager's position."

"I think the objects you describe in your book are really novel and interesting. If I could present them to the master and gain his favor, that would be perfect."

"So, if you could craft the playthings we just talked about, how about I buy them from you for thirty taels?"

Thirty taels might sound like a small amount, but it was actually quite substantial.

Bear in mind, for an ordinary family at that time, after deducting daily expenses, saving just a few taels a year was already considered good.

Han Zhang was certainly tempted, but he hesitated: "That's too much. These are just clever little trinkets; they're not worth that much. Brother Wang, you're kind to help me, and I'm very grateful, but ten taels will do."

"It has to be thirty taels. Brother Han, don't be so formal with me. Good ideas are priceless. If these things earn the master's favor, my uncle and I will get rewards and plenty of other benefits!"

Shen Qinglan was determined to help him, so he tried to persuade him with these reasons.

But Han Zhang still felt undeserving: "But—"

"No buts. Brother Han, if you keep refusing, does that mean you look down on me because I'm not a scholar and don't wish to associate with me?"

Shen Qinglan pretended to be hurt.

Han Zhang quickly shook his head in denial: "Of course not!"

"Then that's settled! I feel a connection with you, Brother Han. I consider you as an elder brother. Would you be willing to recognize me as your younger brother? From today on, shall we address each other as brothers?"

Shen Qinglan blinked with anticipation.

As long as they became sworn brothers, he would be able to meet with Brother Han often!

"Brother Han, please just recognize me as your little brother, okay..."

The young man tugged at his sleeve pitifully, looking as if he would throw a tantrum if he didn't agree.

Han Zhang seemed taken aback by such an endearing demeanor. He paused for a moment before breaking into a smile.

Then he stood up, made a respectful bow with cupped hands, and said: "Brother Wang doesn't disdain me and is willing to form a bond with me—I am overjoyed. From now on, I shall address you as Worthy Brother."

His smile was warm and gentle, warmer than the sunlight.

A true gentleman, indeed.

This made Shen Qinglan's already fluttering heart leap again, and his cheeks slowly flushed.

Finally, he shyly responded: "Worthy Brother..."

The young lad's voice was soft and full of shyness—truly pleasant to the ears.

Han Zhang's heart also seemed to skip a beat as he looked at the blushing, head-lowered youth, his eyes involuntarily brightening with mirth.

Such a shy and bashful boy was really adorable...

The two chatted a little longer.

With one party willing and the other agreeable, in just half an hour of spending time together, they felt as familiar as if they had been sworn brothers for years.

After they had agreed on the time and place for their next meeting, the waiter who had gone to fetch the books finally returned, delayed.

"Apologies, Master Han. A clumsy servant accidentally messed up the books in the storeroom. It took me a while to locate the books reserved for you. I came back late; please forgive me."

"No matter. It was my fault for arriving late today as well. Thank you for your trouble. How much for the books?"

Han Zhang shook his head kindly, taking out his money pouch to pay.

Shen Qinglan didn't stop him.

Although he wished to give the books to Han Zhang as a gift, his assumed identity was only a minor clerk at the bookshop, and he couldn't just give away the shop's merchandise for free. Moreover, it might seem as though he was belittling Han Zhang.

There were plenty of other ways to help without causing embarrassment over such a small matter.

After Han Zhang had paid the waiter, he glanced at the sky outside and said: "Worthy Brother Wang, it's getting late, and I need to return to the academy. I've thoroughly enjoyed our chat today. I'll make the music box and bubble solution as soon as possible. Shall we meet again another day?"

"Alright, Brother Han, go on back. Next time, we must have a good long talk. There are still so many things in your book I want to ask you about."

Shen Qinglan was very reluctant, but indeed it was getting late, so he had no choice but to let him leave.

However, his eyes kept fixed on Han Zhang's retreating figure.

Only when the figure completely disappeared did he reluctantly withdraw his gaze.

Qiao Dong and Qiao Xi, who had been watching from the side the whole time, finally realized that their young master must have fallen for Master Han at first sight!

The two couldn't help but ask with concern, "Young Master, have you fallen for Master Han?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

Shen Qinglan nodded with a red face and did not deny it. After all, in the future, when he met with Brother Han, he would need the help of his personal page boy to make excuses for him, so hiding his feelings now would be completely unnecessary.

Although an attending page boy was also a servant, having grown up with the master since childhood, they shared a special bond.

Qiao Dong and Qiao Xi were truly loyal to their master. Seeing that their master was smitten, they became worried and, disregarding the usual rules, boldly spoke up to give their advice.

"Young Master, this is a huge problem!"

"Although Master Han is quite talented, studying at Xiangnan Academy, and might have some future prospects, and he is handsome as well, none of that outweighs the fact that he comes from a humble background."

"Young Master, if you marry him, no matter what, you will have to endure several years of hardship before you can live well. And that also depends on whether he has a conscience."

"If he has a conscience, it's fine. But if he doesn't, Young Master, you will end up like the Madam..."

That's right, Master Shen himself started as a poor scholar with a xiucai degree.

Back then, he used sweet talk to deceive Madam Shen, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. With the financial support of his father-in-law, he not only successfully passed the imperial examinations but also used money to buy favors and network, eventually attaining the Fifth Rank.

After turning his life around, Master Shen, though he did not divorce his wife of merchant origin, broke his promise and took concubines. He favored his concubines and their children, making Madam Shen cry endlessly.

Previously, Shen Qinglan would rather enter the palace to accompany the Old Emperor than consider marrying beneath him, all because of what his mother went through.

But now...

Shen Qinglan was also very troubled, "But I really like him. I feel he is different from my father."

"You can know a man's face but not his heart, and besides, people can change! They say love can sustain you on water alone, but can a person live on water forever?"

"Young Master, think about the concubines and their children in our mansion. Can you accept enduring years of hardship by your husband's side, only for him to forget his vows and favor a concubine?"

"Instead of gambling on an uncertain future, it's better to nip this in the bud. Young Master, we are going to be the Favorite Consort and take our revenge fully!"

Qiao Dong and Qiao Xi advised earnestly, holding nothing back.

There was loyalty, but also selfishness.

Because they were the young master's personal page boys, and in the future, they would accompany him when he married. If the young master lived well, they too would have a future; if the young master lived poorly, their fate would certainly be miserable.

Shen Qinglan was not truly foolish; he naturally understood these principles.

Moreover, his own parents were a real-life example!

Thinking of those difficult concubines, the half-siblings, his biased father, and his tearful mother, Shen Qinglan's infatuation faded, snapping him back to reality.

"Yes, I am going to become His Majesty's Favorite Consort and take revenge. How could I get confused now?"

"I've already encountered three heartless men, why haven't I learned my lesson?!"

"Having a crush isn't more important than revenge. At worst, after the revenge is done and His Majesty passes away, when I follow my son out of the palace to build a mansion and receive a noble title, I can snatch Master Han back and make him my lover."

"Anyway, given His Majesty's age, he certainly won't live many years. By then, I will still be young and beautiful, with money and status, and Master Han by my side—how wonderful would that be? Why should I suffer now? I'm truly foolish!"

The more Shen Qinglan said, the more he felt that this plan was wonderful for the future. He smacked his forehead, annoyed at almost making a fool of himself.

Qiao Dong and Qiao Xi: ...

So in the end, that Scholar Han is just not acceptable, right?