After all the fuss, Lin Ting finally got to eat.
She sat in the Imperial College dining hall, devouring her meal as if she hadn’t eaten in ten days, eager to fill her stomach all at once.
Yahuan and coachman had also started eating, sitting not far away, keeping a watchful eye on Lin Ting’s side.
When they saw her wolfing down food like she hadn’t eaten for ages, they exchanged a glance and quietly looked away, pretending not to notice.
Duan Ling ate at a leisurely pace, occasionally glancing up at Lin Ting sitting across from him.
Lin Ting kept picking up dishes, stuffing food into her mouth nonstop.
“Looks like my Mother worried too much. The food here at Imperial College is even better than the restaurants outside. You definitely won’t go hungry here.”
If it weren’t for the old-fashioned idea that Imperial College didn’t admit girls, she might have worked hard just to get in for the sake of these meals.
Duan Ling pushed a bowl of lotus root and pork rib soup toward her.
His hand rested firmly on the bowl’s edge, the joints in his fingers distinct.
The warmth coming from the bowl reddened his fingertips, but he didn’t let go immediately.
“Since you think it’s tasty, then eat more.”
Lin Ting didn’t hesitate.
She had actually come to deliver pastries to Duan Ling but got trapped at Imperial College by the heavy rain.
Just as she was about to pick up the spoon to drink the soup, Duan Ling withdrew his hand, speaking casually, “The soup’s still a bit hot. Drink it in a little while.”
“Oh.” She put down the spoon.
When class had just been dismissed, the Imperial College dining hall would be packed with people, but now some time had passed since dismissal, and there were fewer diners.
The surroundings were quieter.
Halfway through her meal, Lin Ting suddenly remembered something and pulled out a red safety charm.
“Here.”
Duan Ling took the safety charm and asked, “This is the one Madam Li asked you to bring me as well?”
She touched the bowl’s edge to confirm it wasn’t too hot, then picked up the spoon again and took a few sips before saying, “A few days ago, my Mother took me to Mòyǐn Temple to pray and asked me to get you a safety charm.”
“Mòyǐn Temple is very effective, but each person can only request one charm per visit. Li Jingqiu said she already got one for herself and told me to get one for you since you’re away studying and have no one looking out for you.”
At the time, Lin Ting thought it was funny—he needed a safety charm to protect him?
Even if Duan Ling truly needed protection, Madam Feng would definitely have thought of it as well.
But Li Jingqiu insisted that having extra safety charms wouldn’t bring bad luck, and her reasoning sounded just like the excuse she used today to have Lin Ting deliver pastries to Duan Ling.
In any case, it was their heartfelt intention.
Lin Ting really couldn’t refuse Li Jingqiu.
In the end, for his sake, she took out her long-saved New Year’s money, offered it as incense money into the temple’s donation box, and sincerely prayed to the Buddha for the safety charm.
The key to asking for a safety charm is sincerity, and using your own money shows the utmost sincerity.
That’s what Li Jingqiu told her.
Lin Ting was reluctant to part with her New Year’s money, so she thought of a plan: after leaving the temple and returning home, Li Jingqiu would give her an amount of money equal to the incense money, so the two would balance out.
But Li Jingqiu refused.
It was so frustrating that Lin Ting couldn’t sleep that night.
It wasn’t her idea to get the charm for Duan Ling—it was Li Jingqiu who asked her to do it.
At this moment, Lin Ting looked at the safety charm as if she were looking at her vanished New Year’s money.
More importantly, the charm was made for Duan Ling, containing his birth details.
It was useless for her to keep it—otherwise, she would have kept it for herself.
Duan Ling rubbed the safety charm and asked, “You personally went to Mòyǐn Temple to get this charm?”
Lin Ting finished the lotus root and pork rib soup and was fully satisfied.
“Yes, I did it myself. I’m not lying to make a profit. What’s wrong? Did Madam Feng also get you a safety charm?”
He twirled the thin red string of the charm between his fingers.
“My Mother recently got one for me as well.”
“My Mother said having extra safety charms won’t bring bad luck. You keep it. If carrying it around is inconvenient, just put it under your pillow. Safety charms aren’t like other things—you can’t ‘return’ them.”
Lin Ting really couldn’t bear to throw it away.
Duan Ling tucked the safety charm into his belt and then handed her a handkerchief to wipe her hands.
“Alright, I understand.”
Lin Ting wiped her hands casually and asked, “Have you heard of Mòyǐn Temple?”
He smiled faintly, “I have. People say Mòyǐn Temple is very effective. My Mother often goes there to eat vegetarian meals and worship.”
She cleared her throat, hinting, “Whether it’s truly effective or not, I don’t know, but I do know they collect a lot of incense money. To get one safety charm costs one or two taels of silver.”
“That is a bit pricey.”
Just that one sentence—no other reaction?
Lin Ting continued hinting, “The incense money for the charm was my long-saved New Year’s money.”
The important point: it was her money.
Duan Ling lowered his long lashes and glanced at the safety charm at his waist.
“So you used your New Year’s money to get this for me. I thought it was Madam Li who gave the incense money.”
Lin Ting nodded vigorously, “Exactly. I used my New Year’s money to get this safety charm for you, not my Mother’s. She said that wouldn’t be sincere enough.”
She emphasized again, “It was my New Year’s money that I saved for a very long time.”
She was still young and had no other way to save money.
What she managed to save was either pocket money from Li Jingqiu buying her snacks or New Year’s money from elders.
Duan Ling was silent for a moment, looking her directly in the eyes.
“Thank you for the safety charm.”
Lin Ting: “….”
Once again, just a single sentence.
But what she wanted wasn’t Duan Ling’s thanks; she wanted the money—one or two taels of silver!
Lin Ting hesitated and said, “I got you a safety charm, and you only have ‘thank you’ to say?”
Duan Ling asked, “What do you want?”
“I want you…” your money.
Lin Ting couldn’t bring herself to say the latter half of the sentence.
She loved money, yes, but she knew this had nothing to do with Duan Ling.
He didn’t ask her to get the charm, so she shouldn’t ask him for money unless he willingly wanted to give it.
He was momentarily stunned, “What did you say?”
Only then did Lin Ting realize her first half sounded ambiguous.
She quickly corrected, “I want you to keep this safety charm well, to be safe and sound while at Imperial College, and not to disappoint the heartfelt intention of me and my Mother.”
Not to waste her money.
Duan Ling unknowingly curved his eyes slightly and softly said, “I will.”
They sat by the dining hall entrance, with a clear view outside.
The heavy rain was gradually turning into a light drizzle.
Lin Ting stood and walked out.
“The rain’s letting up.”
He stood as well, picking up the oil-paper umbrella placed by the door.
“I’ll see you off.”
She looked back at Duan Ling and said, “I know the way. I’ll take them out. You still have class this afternoon, so go back to the dorm and rest early.”
“No trouble.”
Duan Ling escorted Lin Ting to the Imperial College gate and watched her get into the carriage.
After she got in, Lin Ting lifted the curtain and waved at him, calling out, “I’m leaving. You should go back.”
Duan Ling stood in place, watching the carriage until it became a dark speck and then disappeared in the rain, no longer visible.
Only then did he turn and head back to the dormitory.
According to Imperial College rules, four people shared one dormitory room, but those with excellent academic results could live alone.
Duan Ling lived by himself.
No sooner had he returned to the dorm than someone knocked on his door.
“Brother Duan.”
Duan Ling opened the door and asked, “Did Young Master Jiang come looking for me?”
Young Master Jiang was respectful as always and replied, “Sorry to bother you, but have you seen Brother Chái?”
Duan Ling took out the safety charm from his waist, distractedly replying, “He attended class with us today, so of course, I’ve seen him.”
Young Master Jiang realized his question wasn’t precise and awkwardly said, “No, I mean after school, have you seen him?”
Duan Ling’s face remained expressionless.
“No. Why are you asking specifically about that?”
“Brother Chái is missing.”
He blinked, “When did you realize Brother Chái was missing?”
Young Master Jiang didn’t hide anything from Duan Ling.
“We planned to study in the library this noon. After school, he said he had something to do and told me to return to the dorm first, waiting for him for fifteen minutes.”
“Now half an hour has passed, and he hasn’t come back to find me.” He worried.
The reason he first came to ask Duan Ling if he had seen Brother Chái was because Brother Chái often went to Duan Ling with questions about his studies.
Duan Ling and Brother Chái were the Imperial College’s outstanding scholars; Duan Ling always took first place in exams, with Brother Chái right behind him in second.
Other students, including Young Master Jiang, believed Brother Chái might be jealous of Duan Ling.
But it turned out Brother Chái never envied Duan Ling; after exams, he humbly asked Duan Ling for advice.
Duan Ling treated everyone kindly and was happy to teach Brother Chái.
To Young Master Jiang, their relationship seemed quite good.
“It’s strange. Can someone really disappear into thin air? Before coming to you, I went to the lecture hall looking for him, but he wasn’t there.”
Duan Ling gave a sound of acknowledgment.
“If that’s the case, you should go find the Head Instructor.”
“I’ll do that.” Young Master Jiang thought a moment and added, “If Brother Chái comes to find you, please ask someone to let me know.”
“Alright.”
Duan Ling closed the door.
Brother Chái’s act was very convincing.
He humbly asked Duan Ling for learning advice in front of everyone but secretly gave him medicine that could cause madness.
Duan Ling had considered whether Brother Chái made him drink tea laced with the madness-inducing drug or planned to kill him outright.
In the end, he decided to kill him, wanting to experience what it felt like to take a life.
The first time killing someone felt… good.
Originally, Duan Ling thought about gouging Brother Chái’s eyes out, but before he could act, Lin Ting opened the study room door from outside, and that thought was dispelled by her arrival.
Lin Ting said she was worried about him and had brought her yahuan to the lecture hall to look for him.
Duan Ling unconsciously clenched the safety charm in his hand but soon relaxed his grip.
***
Three months later.
Great Scholar Gu had to return to his hometown, so Lin Ting didn’t have to attend Duan Ling’s lectures these days.
No classes, no homework—how delightful!
Today, she slept in until noon.
Li Jingqiu came again to wake her.
“Lin Leyun, what time is it? You’re still sleeping? Get up and wash, then eat. This afternoon, you have to learn the qin from the Qin Master.”
Lin Ting covered her ears, pretending not to hear.
Li Jingqiu pried her hands away from her ears.
“I told you to get up. Do you hear me?”
Lin Ting pulled the quilt over her head and grumbled, “Duan Ling even has a ten-day holiday at Imperial College. Why can’t I get a few days off too?”
“Ziyu is Ziyu, and you are you.” Li Jingqiu threw back the quilt and pulled Lin Ting up.
“If you want a break, then you’ll have to master qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting first. Then you can have as many days off as you want.”
Master all four arts?
That would have to wait for the next reincarnation.
This lifetime was impossible.
Lin Ting pounded the bed.
“So annoying! Can I at least rest for one day?”
Li Jingqiu tapped her forehead, “I’ve raised you all these years and I’m fed up too. Can I just throw you out on the street?”
Lin Ting didn’t protest anymore and got out of bed.
After tidying up and finishing breakfast, she went to the courtyard to practice qin.
All the servants in the yard covered their ears with something.
Tao Zhu hesitated but also plugged her ears.
Lin Ting closed her eyes, lost in her own world.
Her hands plucked and strummed the qin strings, producing unbearable sounds.
The Qin Master’s eyelids twitched.
As Lin Ting’s teacher, he needed to listen and guide her, so he couldn’t cover his ears.
When the piece ended, Lin Ting sat up straight, pressing down on the strings with style.
“How was it? Compared to a few days ago, is there any change?”
The Qin Master forced a smile and said, “There’s a change.”
She was excited, “Really?”
He felt his ears still ringing.
“Yeah, it’s gotten worse.”
Lin Ting: “….”
She never gave up.
“If it’s gotten worse, Master, maybe you should reflect on why my playing is getting harder to listen to.”
Qin Master: “……”
Li Jingqiu confirmed Lin Ting had stopped playing and then entered her courtyard.
“No more qin practice today. That’s enough. Go back to your room and change your clothes.”
“Madam Feng just sent someone to invite us to her residence for dinner. She said Ziyu has returned.”