"You've always been my child," Shu Yao said seriously and matter-of-factly, completely oblivious to the hidden meaning in his words.
Shu Yue frowned involuntarily. His deep eyes were filled with melancholy amidst the tenderness. Why didn't Father always reciprocate his feelings?
He didn't want their relationship to be just that of father and son. He simply hoped that Shu Yao could accept him, but unfortunately, even this wish couldn't be fulfilled.
"Shu Yue, what's wrong with you?" Seeing Shu Yue's silent frown, Shu Yao broke the suffocating awkwardness.
Shu Yue snapped back to reality, burying his disappointment deep in his eyes. He said indifferently, "It's nothing. Let's get ready and go back to Kunshan."
With a furrowed brow full of worries, he went straight into the inner room to pack his luggage without leaving a single word.
Shu Yao felt that the back view seemed a bit weary and desolate. As it disappeared around the corner of the house, the overwhelming sense of loneliness made his eyes freeze for a moment.
Then, thinking he was overthinking, he just started to pack his own belongings and prepared to return to Kunshan.
At this moment, in another inn, when the wooden door opened, it announced the prosperity of a new day.
Due to the difference between men and women, Kun Ling and Liu Yu Han each had their own rooms. Although they were separated, it was still quite convenient as they were next to each other.
After dressing up, Kun Ling came to Liu Yu Han's room and knocked on the door to wake him up. Her steps were extremely light and slow, for fear that the noise would wake him up.
She raised her hand and knocked on the door three times gently, but there was no sound inside. She called out softly, "Brother Yu, Brother Yu?"
Three seconds passed after her words, and there was still no response. She pressed her ear against the door, trying to hear the movement inside, and called out again,
"Brother Yu, it's me. I'm Ling'er."
Again, there was only silence. Kun Ling felt a bit panicked. She quickly pushed the door open and found that the room was empty.
Where did this person go? Could he have left first?
Surprised, she hurriedly ran downstairs and asked the waiter at the counter, "Waiter, have you seen a man in a white robe with purple hair?"
The waiter scratched his head. His small eyes darted quickly, and he asked, "Miss, do you mean the young master who came with you yesterday?"
"Yes, that's right. Where did he go?"
"He left not long ago. I don't know where he went." After saying that, the waiter buried his head in the accounts again.
"He's gone..." As she had guessed, a faint sense of loss spread in Kun Ling's heart.
At this time, Liu Yu Han, who had left first, was walking on the bustling street. Listening to the hawking and shouting of the street vendors, the lively atmosphere was full of vitality.
Liu Yu Han, who had always preferred quietness, couldn't adapt to it for a while. He was used to playing the zither alone in the Fox Palace, listening to the melodious tunes and cultivating his mind. His clean eardrums had never experienced such noise before.
With his luxurious clothes, extraordinary temperament, and extremely beautiful appearance, Liu Yu Han had obviously become a beautiful scenery on the busy street that made people sigh in admiration.
All the girls covered their faces with fans and secretly cast amorous glances at him. They lingered for a long time even after his tall and elegant figure disappeared from sight.
Indeed, such a man with unparalleled beauty and grace made them admire but feel out of reach. It seemed that in this world, no one was worthy of such a peerless man.
Liu Yu Han walked gracefully and nobly. His purple hair fluttered in the wind, and his white robe with mysterious patterns and cloud sleeves fluttered with his hair, making him look even more transcendent and otherworldly.
He was just strolling around aimlessly and was about to go back home when a fragrant smell came to his nostrils and stopped him in his tracks.
He squinted his cold and long eyes and followed the smell. His sight fell on a stall not far away, on which there were some things like pastries neatly arranged.
There were pastries in the Fox Palace too, but he had never seen such delicious-looking pastries before.
He walked over and stopped in front of the stall. The owner of the stall was a young man with fair skin and a regular appearance, but he looked a bit glib.
When he saw such a god-like man approaching, besides being amazed, he took a look at his gorgeous clothes and immediately thought that this was a rich young master.
So he smiled brightly and boasted to Liu Yu Han, "Sir, are you going to buy osmanthus cakes? I'm not boasting, but these are the handmade osmanthus cakes made by my family. You can go and ask around. Our osmanthus cakes are the most delicious and affordable within a radius of ten miles. It's a family secret recipe. No ordinary shop can compare with us."
This boasting made the peddler selling jewelry next door roll his eyes. He muttered in disgust, "Bah, I've never seen such a shameless person."
But the young man didn't care at all. His attention was completely on Liu Yu Han, trying his best to keep this rich young master.
Liu Yu Han just glanced at him indifferently. Looking at the small osmanthus cakes, the fragrant smell stimulated his appetite, and he couldn't wait to try them.
He stretched out his long and beautiful fingers, pointed gracefully, and asked in a low voice, "Can I have a taste?"
"Of, of course," the young man said happily. He quickly reached out his hand to pick up a piece of osmanthus cake for Liu Yu Han.
But just as he was about to reach out, a clear voice stopped him, "Wait. I'll do it myself."
The young man was stunned for a moment. Looking at his not very clean hands, he quickly wiped them on the handkerchief and said with a silly smile, "Oh, okay. Please help yourself, sir."
Liu Yu Han gently rolled up his sleeves, revealing half of his fair-skinned wrist. His slender and delicate fingers gently picked up a piece of osmanthus cake. His hands were so beautiful that the young man couldn't help feeling ashamed of himself.
But he also secretly sighed in admiration. How could a man's hands be more beautiful than a woman's? It was really unfair to them!
Liu Yu Han held the osmanthus cake between his fingers, opened his red lips slightly, and took a small bite with his white teeth. The crispy, sweet taste made him take another bite. Then, looking a bit satisfied, he was about to turn around and leave.
The smile on the young man's face froze as he watched the man's back. Seeing that he was still eating his osmanthus cake, he walked out of the stall and stopped Liu Yu Han.
"Sir, please wait a moment."
Liu Yu Han asked in confusion, "What's the matter?"
"Sir, you haven't paid for the osmanthus cakes yet," the young man said, thinking that the young master might have forgotten. He still kept a relatively kind smile.
Liu Yu Han, who had just come to the mortal world, obviously didn't know the rule of paying for food. He just looked at the young man suspiciously and asked, "Pay what?"
The waiter couldn't help but think it was funny. "Of course, it's the money for the osmanthus cakes."
"You didn't say anything about paying just now. Why should I pay you?"
The young man was stunned, and his smile collapsed instantly. He immediately greeted the passers-by and shouted loudly, "Hey, everyone, come and judge. This man ate my things without paying. Is there anyone as shameless as him?"