Even in the bookshops of Yangping, she had never seen so many books.

Su Jin stood up and carefully stood in front of the bookshelf, looking over each book one by one. In her heart, she admired Grand Tutor Shen’s scholarship even more. She could teach imperial daughters above and found Qingshan Academy below.

Truly a worthy great scholar!

Her gaze fell on an ancient book on the top shelf. Su Jin’s heart pounded, wanting to pull it out for a look, but afraid of touching the host’s belongings without permission and breaking etiquette.

She stood dumbly in front of the bookshelf, her expression almost reverent.

Shen Yuan watched from behind the screen for a while, unable to help but whisper to the servant beside him, “The scholars who usually come looking for things don’t seem this dumb.”

“The young master truly has a discerning eye.” The servant repeatedly agreed.

Shen Yuan’s eyes curved, and he lightly patted the servant’s shoulder, “I told you to study hard, but you refuse. You’ve used the wrong phrase again. As usual, go to the back courtyard and keep watch. If Mother gets up, have someone come inform me first.”

“Young Master, this time you’ll surely crush this flower with an iron hand!”

The servant didn’t forget to flatter as he left. Shen Yuan was stunned, the tips of his ears suddenly burning. He scolded in a low voice, “I told you to read fewer of those improper stories. Look at the nonsense you’re spouting!”

He secretly glanced at Su Jin, who was still in a daze in front of the bookshelf, and slowly walked out from behind the screen. The gentleman’s appearance was as beautiful as snow, his eyes smiling, his long cyan robe from earlier now changed to moonlight white, even more like a deity descending from the clouds, incomparably gorgeous.

His sleeves lightly brushed, bringing a hint of coolness.

But Su Jin’s eyes were fixed straight ahead, staring at the ancient book on the shelf, completely unaware of anyone approaching.

Shen Yuan stood beside Su Jin, tilting his head to look down at her, “What’s the matter, want to read this?”

His voice was soft, like a book spirit steeped in a thousand years of ink.

Su Jin sighed and honestly answered along with his words, “I do, but this is an ancient edition. Without the mentor’s approval, and without burning incense and bathing, this Su wouldn’t dare to be presumptuous.”

“Mother has said before, books placed here are for people to read. If you want to read, just read directly.”

His slender fingers easily pulled out that ancient book from the shelf and held it out to Su Jin, “There’s no need to burn incense and bathe. Just be careful when you read it, don’t damage the pages.”

The ancient book in hand, the gentleman on the right.

Like fragrant orchids and beautiful jade trees, clear and noble.

Su Jin stared at him blankly, the redness in her ears like a wildfire on the plains, blown by the wind, burning endlessly.

Even that old-fashioned heart in her chest sank like a mountain, pulling down her heartstrings unstoppably.

For a moment, she forgot to breathe.

Shen Yuan had never seen a woman blush like this before. He lowered his head, his slender fingers mixed with a faint fragrance softly pressing towards Su Jin’s forehead.

Just a hair’s breadth away from skin contact.

Su Jin’s brow broke out in fine beads of sweat at his pause.

Her heart, which had been sinking endlessly just now, was wrapped in invisible red threads, rising rapidly.

Up and down, beating fast and loud.

Even her temples began to throb, mixing with her disordered breathing, shattering Su Jin’s remaining clarity.

She widened her eyes, not knowing what mistake she had made.

Her fingers hidden in her sleeves clenched tighter and tighter, not even knowing when the ancient book in her hand had been taken back and returned to the shelf.

All of Su Jin’s senses were focused on that tiny bit of skin under his finger.

Tense to the point of pain and itching.

Especially as the gentleman was still smiling slightly, she became even more flustered, not daring to push away the person in front of her.

The more he smiled, the more Su Jin’s frantically beating heart felt like someone had gently bitten it, a dull ache.

Unable to soothe or touch.

Her face was flushed crimson, having long forgotten she could step back.

She just stood there stupidly, her head tilted back, forced to lay bare all her panic and confusion that she couldn’t hide in front of the gentleman.

The slender fingers suddenly withdrew.

By her ear was his indifferent laugh, “I thought you were a scholar focused on your studies, but I didn’t expect you to still be bewitched by this appearance, not even realizing when the ancient book in your hand was gone. Burning incense and bathing?”

Shen Yuan’s words carried mockery, coldly dropping a sentence. He didn’t even look at Su Jin, his sleeves swishing as he went straight behind the screen.

He came and went without pause.

Like an immortal, like the wind, unfathomable and impossible to detain.

The ink-painted landscape screen, just looking at the gauze surface, was already priceless.