Chapter 39: Oh No, It’s Love at First Sight

Chu Ying felt a pang of sorrow. Her sister-in-law had always been the one actively pursuing her eldest brother. Her brother’s repeated retreats were meant to signal that it wasn’t that he didn’t like her, but rather that he was unwilling to reveal his feelings.

However, once his retreat became too obvious, someone as proactive as her sister-in-law would inevitably misunderstand. She would then become unwilling to take the initiative any longer, knowing that continuing to do so would only lead to deeper hurt. Perhaps she had already decided to sever these feelings for him, unwilling to be heartbroken by him ever again.

Hmm?

Chu Ying’s sharp eyes caught sight of someone dressed in the robes of a Tai Xue scholar, leaning against a tree in the nearby dense forest and reading. Her eyes lit up instantly. She knew that no matter the generation or the dynasty, there would always be a "studyaholic" in any school!

Chu Ying rushed over, her face beaming with excitement: "Classmate, may I ask if the Princess is currently on campus?"

*Thump-thump—thump-thump—thump-thump—*

Qu Zhouyuan froze, the book in his hands motionless. His bright, limpid eyes were filled only with Chu Ying’s remarkably beautiful and radiant smile under the morning sun. He heard nothing but the sound of his own racing heart. He hadn't heard a word of what she said.

*Wow!*

Chu Ying was dazzled by the appearance of the unknown student before her. What an exquisite little boy! With skin so tender it seemed ready to drip water, large, expressive eyes that looked like they could speak, a delicate, upturned nose, and those cherry-red lips...

Good heavens! How could someone look like a boy straight out of a manga? He was just too cute!

But... was something wrong with this boy's brain? Why was he just standing there looking so dazed? Could it be that he wasn't a study-obsessed genius, but just an ordinary student who woke up early only to get a few extra minutes of sleep on campus?

"Classmate? Classmate? Classmate?" Chu Ying waved her hand before his face, trying to determine if he was perhaps intellectually disabled.

Qu Zhouyuan’s heart, fluttering like a startled fawn, finally steadied. He shook his head and apologized sheepishly: "I'm sorry, I... I was just daydreaming."

Looking at his pitiful, puppy-dog eyes, Chu Ying felt like King Zhou of Shang, his mind bewitched by Daji. Who could possibly resist this?!

"Are you going to find the Dean to submit your enrollment documents for the Tai Xue?" Qu Zhouyuan noticed the papers in Chu Ying’s arms. His heart surged with excitement. Suppressing an overly wide grin, he stood up and said, "Let’s go, I’ll take you there."

"Ah? No..." Chu Ying was about to deny it when Qu Zhouyuan cast her a look so watery and soulful that she couldn't bring herself to say "no." For some reason, gazing into those moist, sparkling eyes, she simply couldn't bear to refuse him.

No!

Chu Ying shook her head vigorously, trying to snap out of it. How could she lose her composure just because of a boy who looked like a character from a manga? Her most important mission was to tell her sister-in-law about her brother’s true feelings! She had to help her beautiful sister-in-law end up with her brother and ensure she wouldn't be sad anymore! She had to unite them in mutual affection!

"Ahem. I..." Chu Ying tried to steer the conversation back, but—

"Little sister!" Chu Hengyang was fuming with rage, and even more frantic with worry. Seeing Qu Zhouyuan standing so close to Chu Ying only fueled his fury. His murderous gaze was already mentally tearing Qu Zhouyuan to pieces. What was this devious Qu Zhouyuan doing, standing so close to his little sister?!

In this moment, all sense of the teacher-student bond Chu Hengyang held for this once-in-a-century genius vanished, replaced entirely by the protective instincts of an elder brother.

Qu Zhouyuan understood. He blinked. So, the person he had fallen for was his teacher's younger sister—the ninth daughter of the Chu family, doted upon by her parents and eight older brothers.

*I see...* he thought. *Winning her heart and being with her will be no easy task, will it? Not only must I pass the test of Master Chu and his wife, but I also have to get past her eight brothers?*

With that thought, Qu Zhouyuan put on an exceptionally amiable smile. If that was the case, he should show his teacher that he was a reliable, upstanding student. He needed to put his teacher at ease so that he might eventually approve of them being together.

"Tea—" Before Qu Zhouyuan could finish his word, his wrist was grabbed, and Chu Ying pulled him away, sprinting off without looking back.

"Hmm?" Qu Zhouyuan was puzzled.

Chu Ying ran for her life. *How did my brother catch up so fast?!* He had seen her standing with this student, and he would definitely get the wrong idea! Given his overprotective nature, he would never let this student off easily, and he certainly wouldn't let her off either! *Oh my god, I have to run!*

Qu Zhouyuan looked at Chu Ying’s running profile, then at the hand clutching his wrist, his lips curling into a smile. Though he didn't know why, this was fine by him.

Finally, having no idea where they had run to, Chu Ying stopped, panting for breath.

Qu Zhouyuan, however, looked perfectly composed, not showing the slightest trace of exhaustion as he stood by her side.

"That... classmate, is the offer to take me to the Dean to submit my enrollment papers... still valid?" Chu Ying was breathless.

"Of course," Qu Zhouyuan smiled. "Once you’ve rested, I’ll take you."

"Th-thank you..." Chu Ying said.

Her brother must be looking for her everywhere right now. The only way to get through this was to act as if nothing had happened! She would follow this student to the Dean, submit her documents, go to class, and study. If her brother asked, she would just play dumb! Yes! That was the plan!

"Classmate, which teacher will you be studying under once you join the Tai Xue?" Qu Zhouyuan asked, hiding his ulterior motive. Since her brother was his teacher, she would surely choose to study under him, right? Moreover, Master and Mistress Chu doted on their only daughter and would surely want her brother to keep an eye on her. Given her brother's reputation for doting on her, he certainly wouldn't trust her with anyone else.

Thinking this, Qu Zhouyuan looked at Chu Ying with anticipation, hoping to hear her say she would study under Chu Hengyang, the same teacher as him. That way, he would have more time to spend with her. He would be able to see her in class every single day.

Chu Ying wore a look of stoic resolve. Naturally, she would study under her brother. Being in his class would also allow her to help him get closer to her sister-in-law! But for now... she couldn't go to her sister-in-law yet. She had to survive this hurdle first...

Chu Ying felt like crying. Her expression only made Qu Zhouyuan’s smile broaden; he took it as confirmation that his guess was correct. If she were going to study under someone she wasn't familiar with, why would she look so miserable?

*In the future... I'll be able to see her all the time.*

"Let's go," Chu Ying said, having caught her breath. "I'm ready."

"Yes." Qu Zhouyuan, whose fair, smooth face resembled a peeled egg, nodded and led Chu Ying toward the Dean’s courtyard, the most important place in the Tai Xue academy.