Chapter 95

Yang Yuhuan's face showed a faint blush, and she gripped the hand of Fang Yun even tighter.

Nunu, however, fixed her gaze on the cold dishes and pastries, one paw tugging at Fang Yun's clothes, the other pointing at the food.

Fang Yun reached out to cover her eyes and stepped onto the stairs, heading for the second floor.

"Yingying... Hmph!" Nunu turned her head to avoid Fang Yun's hand, looking up at him with dissatisfaction, as if asking if he was annoyed by her eating too much.

On the second floor, Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan's eyes lit up. Indeed, the view was much broader from here than from the first floor.

No one was playing the zither on the second floor. Almost everyone was wearing the robes of a scholar or a candidate, with a few, like Fang Yun, wearing ordinary brocade robes. There were also a few serious-looking students standing on either side.

A few people glanced over, and seeing that Fang Yun was a stranger, most ignored him. More people, however, looked at the beautiful Yang Yuhuan.

A few of those who had finished looking at Yang Yuhuan then glanced at Nunu, and finally looked at Fang Yun again, deep in thought.

Fang Yun, who knew no one, nodded slightly in greeting, took Yang Yuhuan's hand, and came to the windowsill, looking outside.

Nunu jumped onto the window frame, gently wagging her tail, curiously looking around.

The banks of the Jade Belt River were crowded with people.

Fang Yun pointed to a distant bridge and said, "That should be the Dragon Head Bridge. Before the race starts, we'll head there. Unfortunately, the bridge is already full of people; otherwise, watching the dragon boat race from the bridge would be great."

"Um. When does the dragon boat race start?" Yang Yuhuan asked curiously, looking at the sandbank in the river. She had never seen such a large-scale dragon boat race before.

"I really don't know."

"A pleasant voice came from behind. According to military time, the dragon boat race starts at ten o'clock, which is more than an hour from now. No need to rush."

Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan turned around together.

A young man with a gentle face, a head shorter than Fang Yun, walked over. His facial features were soft, and if it weren't for the hint of heroism in his eyes, Fang Yun would have thought he was a woman.

Then, Fang Yun looked at the young man's neck, saw no Adam's apple, and realized he was indeed a woman.

The young man held a fan in his hand, came over, and bowed to Fang Yun with a smile, saying, "I am Zhao Zhuzhen from the capital."

Fang Yun returned the bow, saying, "Fang Yun."

Fang Yun had deliberately lowered his voice, but a few people still heard and immediately looked over, their gazes somewhat strange.

Zhao Zhuzhen seemed not to care about Fang Yun's identity, walked to his side, and looked out the window, saying, "Brother Fang, are you not interested in the dragon boat race?"

"It's okay." Fang Yun had seen too many forms of entertainment and sports.

"Brother Fang doesn't seem like a passionate scholar."

Fang Yun said calmly, "If the blood heats up during the dragon boat race, it will be too cold when killing demons."

"Brother Fang is right; I have learned from you," Zhao Zhuzhen said, turning to look at Fang Yun with a hint of surprise and admiration, as if she couldn't believe such words could come from someone so young.

"Brother Zhao is too polite; it's just a common truth."

"But not everyone can say it, and not everyone can do it," Zhao Zhuzhen said.

"Brother Zhao is right; I have learned from you."

Zhao Zhuzhen smiled and looked at Yang Yuhuan, saying, "Your lady is truly beautiful."

"Everyone says so," Fang Yun said with a smile, and Yang Yuhuan blushed and gave him a playful glare.

Nunu looked at Yang Yuhuan in confusion, as if saying, "Fang Yun is right, why are you giving him a glare?"

Zhao Zhuzhen chuckled, revealing a mouth of fine white teeth, and said, "Those with insight say you have a deep mind, and those with ill intentions say you are a mad scholar. I didn't expect you to be as eccentric as a mad scholar."

"Thank you for the compliment," Fang Yun said with a smile, looking at Zhao Zhuzhen. Her eyes were very clear, illuminated by the light outside the window, but behind the brightness, there seemed to be something hidden.

"Strange person," Zhao Zhuzhen said, avoiding Fang Yun's gaze and looking outside.

Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan chatted in low voices, and occasionally Nunu would interject with a "yingying." The two people and the animal were particularly warm and cozy.

However, Nunu was still not giving up. After a while, she tugged at Fang Yun's sleeve with one paw and pointed at the pastries on the table with the other.

Fang Yun reached out and turned Nunu's head toward the outside, and Nunu immediately protested with a "yingying."

Zhao Zhuzhen smiled slightly and gestured to her attendant to bring the pastries.

Soon, the attendant brought a plate of pastries and handed it to Zhao Zhuzhen.

Zhao Zhuzhen held the plate in one hand and picked up a piece with the other, saying to Nunu, "Eat it."

Nunu's eyes lit up, looked at her, then turned to look at Fang Yun, seeking his approval.

"Thank you, Brother Zhao, you can eat it," Fang Yun said.

Nunu cautiously extended her small paw, but as soon as it touched the pastry, she pulled it back, looking up at Fang Yun with a hopeful gaze.

Fang Yun shook his head helplessly, took the pastry, and handed it to Nunu, who then happily started eating.

"What a well-behaved little fox," Zhao Zhuzhen said with a smile.

Nunu immediately puffed out her chest, raised her head, and looked very pleased.

"Well-behaved, but very greedy," Fang Yun said.

Nunu immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, lowered her head, and continued eating the pastry.

Zhao Zhuzhen showed a liking, opened her mouth as if to say something, but then seemed to think it was inappropriate and changed her words, saying, "If Brother Fang ever comes to the capital, please visit the Bamboo Truth Tower and say you came with the little fox. I will come as soon as possible."

"Seems I am not as important as a little fox!" Fang Yun said.

Nunu immediately puffed out her chest and raised her head, looking very pleased, but soon realized what Fang Yun meant and glared at him, as if asking, "What do you mean I am not as important as a little fox? Is a little fox that bad?"

A hint of melancholy flashed in Zhao Zhuzhen's eyes, and she said, "I am... restricted at home and have nothing to entertain me. Seeing this little fox, I couldn't help but like it."

"Sure, if I can't take care of Nunu anymore, I'll give her to you," Fang Yun said jokingly.

Nunu froze, the pastry in her small paw fell to the ground, her mouth opened, and the crumbs fell out. She quickly spat out the pastry in her mouth, patted the crumbs off her body, and covered her mouth, looking at Fang Yun seriously.

"Um! Um!" the little fox called.

Fang Yun, Yang Yuhuan, and Zhao Zhuzhen all laughed. Yang Yuhuan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Don't listen to Little Yun scaring you. How could he bear to give you away?"

"Yingying?" the little fox looked at Fang Yun.

"Just eat, I can still take care of you," Fang Yun said, giving Nunu another piece of pastry.

Nunu looked at Fang Yun and the pastry, back and forth several times, and finally, with a tragic expression, took the pastry and looked at Fang Yun with a sad gaze, as if asking, "You won't feed me and then give me away, right?"

"Just eat it!" Fang Yun said with a laugh.

Nunu pretended to lower her head, about to bite the pastry, but suddenly looked up at Fang Yun, afraid he would run away while she was eating.

Fang Yun tapped her little head with his finger and said, "You're small, but you have big worries. If you don't eat it, I'll take it away."

Nunu immediately held the pastry away from Fang Yun, took a big bite, and looked at Fang Yun again, seeing that he was still there, and then ate with peace of mind.

Zhao Zhuzhen couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, but quickly realized her action was inappropriate, her face flushed, and she returned to normal.

After Nunu finished eating, Fang Yun picked her up and rubbed her, and Nunu, instead of being angry, was very happy, thinking this meant Fang Yun wouldn't give her away.

More scholars gathered on the second floor, and soon, six people walked over.

"Brother Zhao, we meet again."

Fang Yun, Yang Yuhuan, and Zhao Zhuzhen turned around and saw a handsome, refined young man smiling and greeting them.

"Brother Tong," Zhao Zhuzhen replied with a faint smile, but anyone could see her coldness.

The young man didn't seem to mind and said, "Brother Zhao, can you introduce this distinguished gentleman?"

Zhao Zhuzhen, however, smiled strangely and asked, "You don't know him?"

"Never met."

Zhao Zhuzhen's smile became even stranger, and she said, "Then I will formally introduce you both. Tong Li, the grandson of the Minister of War, a student of Yuhai City. This is Fang Yun from Jixian County, a scholar before the emperor."

Both were taken aback, looking at each other, not expecting to meet under these circumstances.

"Coincidence, Brother Tong," Fang Yun bowed.

Tong Li immediately laughed heartily and said, "County examination double first, three poems shining together, a scholar before the emperor. I have long admired your name and never thought I would meet you today. What a fortunate day! If you weren't competing in the dragon boat race for our Jing country, I would have invited you to drink for a day."

Fang Yun smiled and said, "When did I say I would compete in the dragon boat race? Yuhai City has many talents, and I am just a new scholar. How can I have the qualifications to participate in such an important race? Brother Tong is joking."

"Ah? That doesn't sound like you. In my impression, you, Fang Yun, are a true hero who fights demons and savages for the country and the people. How could you ignore the honor of Jing country and not participate in the dragon boat race?" Tong Li was very surprised.

"Brother Tong, you look down on the scholars of Yuhai City, but I do not. I believe the scholars of Yuhai City can defeat the scholars of Qing country and win first place. I will cheer for the scholars of Yuhai City!" Fang Yun said with a smile.

Everyone present was silent, and after Fang Yun spoke, they all understood Tong Li's intention. If Fang Yun participated, he would accuse Fang Yun of looking down on the scholars of Yuhai City. If Fang Yun didn't compete, he would accuse him of ignoring the honor of Jing country.

"Brother Fang, your words are truly hurtful," Tong Li said helplessly.

Zhao Zhuzhen sneered and said, "Tong Li, don't play this game. Do you think others can't see your provocation? I came here to invite Fang Yun to participate in the dragon boat race to strengthen our Jing country. If you ruin my plans, be careful when you go to the capital."

"I..." Tong Li was interrupted by a candidate.

"Tong Li, Fang Yun coming to our Yuhai City is a great event. Don't make our Yuhai City lose face!" The candidate's voice was full of coldness.

Tong Li's face changed, and he looked around, seeing that many people were not looking at him kindly.

Tong Li was afraid of Fang Yun taking the book mountain quota, but the candidates and scholars didn't care.

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