As Su Xiaoqi marveled, the conversation continued heartily on the other side.
The painter, Tang Boyin, found himself quite drawn to Liang Jingyu, their chat growing ever deeper and more joyful.
By the end, they were calling each other brothers.
Tang Boyin had initially been reluctant, claiming his humble origins prevented him from presuming acquaintance with Young Master Yu.
However, he was schooled by Young Master Yu, whose argument was that art knew no high or low birth, only genuine passion versus feigned adherence.
As they were both individuals who truly loved painting, they were naturally worthy of the title of brothers.
"Brother Boyin, I have not yet reached my capping ceremony, nor have I received a courtesy name, so please address me as Jingyu," Liang Jingyu was quite straightforward, settling the matter of their appellation in a single sentence.
This spared Tang Boyin the prolonged indecision.
Towards the end of their talk, they also agreed to meet periodically in the future.
"Excellent, I know a very good place," Zhao Xiaohua chimed in at the opportune moment, recommending a fine establishment: Chongming Garden.
"Good, a splendid place, we shall go there henceforth," Liang Jingyu clapped his hands.
As a painter, Tang Boyin had naturally heard of the premier gathering place for artists.
However, those who entered were either wealthy or noble. Previously, neither his status nor his finances had afforded him the opportunity to enter.
But now it was different; with Liang Jingyu's vouching, his invitation, and the introductory pass gifted to him, entering there was no longer a dream.
The meeting concluded with everyone's wishes fulfilled.
Hearing Liang Jingyu leave, Su Xiaoqi thought the matter was settled.
She also wanted to depart, as the thief who had plotted against Shen Yun had yet to be dealt with.
However, as she turned to leave, she collided head-on with Liang Jingyu, who was approaching.
Liang Jingyu, perhaps lost in thought, hadn't noticed the compartment door suddenly open. He bumped into Su Xiaoqi, who was leaning out.
"Ah..." Su Xiaoqi yelped in fright, pulled back by Zhang Yu.
Although Zhang Yu reacted swiftly and moved quickly, Liang Jingyu's momentum was too great. Su Xiaoqi, despite stepping back three paces, was still hit.
Fortunately, she had turned sideways, so the impact landed on her shoulder, avoiding her chest.
"What are you doing, not watching where you're going?" Zhang Yu blurted out, ready to scold.
Su Xiaoqi, however, had already clearly seen the person.
She recognized him as Liang Jingyu, the main figure she had been eavesdropping on in the private room.
Feeling a bit guilty, and fearing he might realize she had been listening, she grabbed Zhang Yu, preventing her from speaking further.
Though Zhang Yu complied, Liang Jingyu's attendant was not there to stand idle.
Seeing his master had indeed bumped into someone, and also hurt his own arm, causing him to wince in pain, the attendant immediately turned his ire on Su Xiaoqi and Zhang Yu.
"Are you blind? Don't you see who you're facing, shouting nonsense..."
Before the attendant could finish, Liang Jingyu raised his hand to stop him.
This was because he had seen Su Xiaoqi's face.
Her features were exquisitely beautiful, her demeanor elegant and refined; this was the person he had been searching for.
"Miss..." Liang Jingyu stared blankly at Su Xiaoqi, uttering a soft exclamation.
His voice was low, as if afraid of startling Su Xiaoqi.
Meeting his gaze, which had suddenly become overly attentive, Su Xiaoqi frowned slightly. She stepped back, re-entering the private room to avoid him.
"Hey, Miss... my apologies, Yu didn't mean to. I offer my apologies here, and hope you can forgive me."
Su Xiaoqi gritted her teeth. This drama queen, so full of theatrics.
She dared not get into a dispute, knowing Zhao Xiaohua and Liu Tingting were still in the adjacent room.
If she made a sound, they would surely recognize her.
Then, her eavesdropping would be exposed.
Su Xiaoqi pressed herself against the door, pretending not to hear.
Fortunately, Liang Jingyu realized his actions were indeed rash and quickly fell silent, leaving a parting remark of "My apologies for the intrusion today" before leaving with Tang Boyin.
Su Xiaoqi now dared not venture out carelessly.
She leaned by the window, watching Liang Jingyu descend. He first saw Tang Boyin into a carriage, then mounted his own horse. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief and prepare to step out.
However, as she sighed, she noticed Liang Jingyu looking up.
By sheer bad luck, Liang Jingyu's gaze met Su Xiaoqi's.
Liang Jingyu immediately smiled, a triumphant smile, his eyes full of smugness.
He looked understanding, mistaking Su Xiaoqi's guilt for affection towards him.
He believed she was simply too shy to engage with him.
He looked up at Su Xiaoqi and smiled, his eyes holding a deep meaning.
Meanwhile, Liu Tingting in the adjacent room had been staring at Liang Jingyu.
However, due to the difference in angles, she hadn't noticed Liang Jingyu waving at Su Xiaoqi.
Instead, she thought he was smiling at her and became overjoyed, fiddling with her face and twisting her handkerchief, growing increasingly nervous.
"Alright, Tingting, they're gone now. Let's be more composed, or others will laugh at us," Zhao Xiaohua said, pulling Liu Tingting.
Liu Tingting pursed her lips, then suddenly pointed downwards. "Oh, isn't that cousin Huang?
Why is he there? And, and my brother is there too."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaohua looked down.
Indeed, she saw Huang Yuanxiang, referred to as cousin by Liu Tingting, and Liu Yuanming, the heir of the Yong'an Marquis.
She pouted, and said in a gentle tone, "Perhaps they are busy. Let's not disturb them."
But her words came too late, as Liu Tingting had already called out.
Liu Yuanming and Huang Yuanxiang below looked up, saw the two, waved in greeting, and then ascended.
All of this was seen by Su Xiaoqi from her compartment.
Not only the two of them, but she also saw the person who had been speaking behind them. She snorted, "Indeed, the things you search for high and low are found without effort."
She had been looking everywhere for that person, only to stumble upon them right before her eyes after witnessing such a drama.
Good, that was excellent.
Hearing footsteps in the stairwell, she didn't rush to leave. Instead, she sat back down and took out coffee powder from her space to brew.
Thus, over a cup of bitter coffee, with no sugar or milk, she heard the story.
The thief had indeed been hired to plant something on Shen Yun, and the one who hired him was Huang Yuanxiang. He had also come to the capital, and upon arrival, immediately resorted to such unsavory tactics.
Su Xiaoqi was stunned. She felt a sickening disgust, as if she had been force-fed something foul.
To use the same tactic twice in succession, well, that wasn't entirely accurate.
This tactic was originally used by Shen Yun against Huang Yuanxiang.
Unfortunately, the item planted was found.
So Huang Yuanxiang had come to demand an explanation.
"Didn't you say the person was highly skilled? I don't see it." Huang Yuanxiang was very angry.
He had been ruined by Shen Yun, losing his scholarly title.
Later, through his father's and the Yong'an Marquis's maneuvering, he had barely managed to retain his Xiucai (talent) title.
But he had missed the provincial examination at that time, meaning he had no chance in this imperial examination either.
His teacher had said that with his talent, he would have certainly placed in the second tier this time, but now everything was ruined.
It was ruined at Shen Yun's hands. His father was afraid of Shen Yun and dared not oppose him, fearing it would harm his own official career. But he, being young and impetuous, could not possibly swallow this insult.
Therefore, even though he wouldn't be participating in the imperial examination, he had to chase Shen Yun to the capital, solely to deal with him!