Judging by Shen Huaizhi’s entrance route earlier, the bedroom lay to the left of the courtyard gate. It featured double wooden doors flanked by windows on either side. Lin Yue’s bed now sat against the wall to the right of the entrance. A bedside table rested beside the headboard, while a vanity stood further ahead—its finish suggesting it was newly made. A wardrobe stood at the foot of the bed.

Opposite the bed, against the wall, stood a row of large cabinets—their contents unknown. By the window sat a desk, neatly piled with stacks of books. This must be where Shen Huaizhi studied. The empty space nearby held Lin Yue’s dowry and part of the betrothal gifts Shen Huaizhi had sent. After surveying the room’s furnishings, Lin Yue felt puzzled. Nothing essential was missing. Could it be that the poor conditions were just modest?

It wasn’t until he looked up and saw the roof, a mix of tiles and thatch, that Lin Yue realized it really wasn’t great. Moreover, the placement of the tiles seemed deliberately chosen, positioned directly above the bed and the desk.

Overall, it was still far better than Lin Yue had anticipated. He just wondered what the exterior looked like. As he was lost in thought, a knock sounded at the door. “Brother-in-law, it’s Shen Lingzhi. May I come in now?”

Lin Yue glanced down at himself. Not bad—he was sitting upright, and his hem was perfectly positioned. Clearing his throat, he replied softly, “Yes, come in.”

Lin Yue watched Shen Lingzhi push open the door. He was slightly shorter than Lin Yue, his face still carrying traces of baby fat. His skin was a light wheat color, his cheeks rosy and vibrant, full of life like a young sapling. A smile played at the corners of his mouth, making him look approachable and endearing.

Noticing his shyness, Lin Yue spoke first: “Why have you come in? Is there something you need?”

Shen Lingzhi stared blankly at Lin Yue, thinking to himself: His voice is truly lovely, and he’s so handsome too. My brother is so lucky. Huh? What did he just say? I was so caught up in listening to his voice, I forgot to hear the words!

“Brother-in-law, my brother is still busy entertaining guests outside. He was worried you might be bored, so he asked me to come in and keep you company.”

Lin Yue was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t realized Shen Huaizhi was so thoughtful. He raised his hand and beckoned. “Then come sit down. Don’t stand there.”

Shen Lingzhi quickly shook his head. “No need, no need. Brother-in-law, I’ll just sit on a stool.” With that, he dashed to the table, pulled over a stool, and sat diagonally across from Lin Yue.

Lin Yue didn’t insist he come closer, merely saying, “Just call me Brother. ‘Brother-in-law’ sounds a bit awkward.”

This was one of the local customs in the surrounding villages. Married men were typically addressed as “Mr. So-and-so,” while peers called each other “brother-in-law” or “younger brother-in-law.” However, the most common practice was simply to use ‘brother’ or “younger brother,” with elders adding the honorific “younger” when addressing uncles or older brothers.

Shen Lingzhi nodded repeatedly. “Then I’ll call you Brother! Brother!”

Lin Yue chuckled at his earnestness and called back, “Little Brother.” The moment the words left his mouth, he felt a twinge of strangeness. He’d never really called anyone that before. Back home, he’d always addressed Lin Yang by his full name, never properly calling him “little brother.”

The thought flashed through his mind, and suddenly, Lin Yue found himself missing Lin Yang. The new little brother was adorable, but Lin Yang was still the most special.

Shaking his head to shake off the image of Lin Yang grinning foolishly in his mind, Lin Yue finally asked, “Can you tell me about your family?”

“Of course.”

Shen Lingzhi blurted out without hesitation, only beginning to organize his thoughts after agreeing. “Brother, there are five of us in our family: Dad, Mom, you, my older brother, and me. Our house is toward the back of Linshui Village. There’s a small river outside our gate, and not far away are the mountains. We also have Grandpa and Grandma, but they live with my eldest uncle’s family, so we don’t see them often.”

Lin Yue raised an eyebrow. It sounded like their relationship wasn’t very close. He wondered what had happened.

After introducing his family, Shen Lingzhi mentioned a few other households in the village they interacted with more frequently, as well as the general route for leaving the village. He chattered on about various details before finally stopping.

Suddenly, the noise outside grew louder. Shen Lingzhi hurriedly asked, “Brother, my brother asked me to check if you’d prefer to eat alone tonight, or if I should invite a few siblings to join you.”

Lin Yue pondered for a moment before replying, “If it’s convenient, you’re all welcome. Eating alone is boring. It’ll be a good chance to get to know everyone.”

Shen Lingzhi’s eyes crinkled with a smile. “They were just about to come in, but I stopped them. They’ll be thrilled to hear you agreed. I’ll go tell them now. Wait for me, Brother. I’ll be right back.”

Lin Yue chuckled at his playful tone, waving his hand dismissively. “Go ahead.”

Shen Lingzhi rose, first moving the table opposite the bed closer, then pulling a bench from the corner and setting it in place before striding out of the room.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Shen Lingzhi returned, leading four or five young men and women. One knocked at the door up front, two carried trays laden with dishes behind him, followed by those bearing bowls and chopsticks, and those carrying rice. The faint sound of a woman’s teasing voice could be heard in the distance.

“Brother Ling, isn’t spending the whole day with your new husband enough?”

“Brother Ling, is your husband handsome?”

Caught off guard by the questions, Shen Lingzhi gave a hasty nod before urgently ushering them inside. The moment the last person stepped through the doorway, Shen Lingzhi slammed the door shut.

Before Lin Yue could even offer to help, Shen Lingzhi and the others swiftly served the dishes and rice, placing them before him in a flash.

Lin Yue glanced up. Several avoided his gaze, while others stole quick looks before hastily lowering their eyes. An odd sense of elderly concern welled up in Lin Yue, softening his tone several octaves.

It was still early, and having eaten more than usual that morning, Lin Yue wasn’t particularly hungry. He took only a few bites before setting down his chopsticks. Noticing their slight awkwardness, he made a point of asking them questions, and the atmosphere gradually grew more relaxed.

After the meal, just before leaving, the group made plans with Lin Yue to come find him for fun in a few days.

Once alone again, Lin Yue found the room’s door facing the courtyard offered little soundproofing. Shouts and laughter from outside drifted in whenever they grew louder. He listened with mild amusement, occasionally recognizing familiar voices—Shen Zhengchu and Song Xunchun, the parents of the Shen family, greeting guests.

As dusk fell and the sounds outside gradually quieted, Lin Yue surmised the banquet had ended. Suddenly, a wave of nervousness washed over him—he had no idea when Shen Huaizhi would return…

He had braced himself for waiting until nightfall. Banquets drew many drinkers, and the meal dragged on. During village celebrations, Lin Yue often accompanied his mother to help out. Guests would depart in droves, and helpers would finish washing dishes only to find the hosts still seated—waiting for them. Often, the helpers wouldn’t return home until after dark, a prospect he deeply disliked.

He wondered if Shen Huaizhi drank at all. A little wouldn’t hurt—he occasionally took a sip with his father during festivals to celebrate. But too much was bad; not only did it taste awful, but it was unhealthy. Lin Yue’s mind had already wandered to what he’d do if Shen Huaizhi turned out to be a drunkard when the door suddenly knocked, startling him.

“It’s Shen Huaizhi. May I come in now?”

Lin Yue: Talk about speaking ill of someone behind their back. He’d nearly been caught just thinking about it.

“Sure, come in.”

The door opened, but no one appeared. Only two large kettles steaming with hot water were placed inside, followed by a wooden tub brimming with water, and finally Shen Huaizhi himself.

Shen Huaizhi didn’t rush over. He placed the kettles in the corner by the wardrobe, draped the hanging towel over the bathtub, and laid out the undergarments before slowly approaching Lin Yue.

As Shen Huaizhi drew nearer, Lin Yue’s breathing quickened. His lashes fluttered slightly as he lowered his eyes to the folding fan in his hand. He appeared visibly nervous, though only about fifty percent so—he still found time to mentally berate himself. This wasn’t their first meeting, so why was he getting flustered now? Should he speak first? Would it feel awkward if he initiated? Better to wait… What if he never said anything? Surely not…

In mere moments, countless thoughts had flashed through Lin Yue’s mind.

Shen Huaizhi’s nervousness felt far more genuine. By the time he neared Lin Yue, his hands and feet were already tripping over each other. He breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed Lin Yue wasn’t looking at him—he truly didn’t want to show his vulnerable side in front of him.

With about an arm’s length left, Shen Huaizhi stopped. “Sitting for so long must be uncomfortable. There’s still work to finish outside. I brought in some hot water. You can wash up first. If you’re tired, rest for a while.”

Lin Yue felt a sense of “I knew it.” This must be the gentlemanly type sung about in operas. Though not exactly moon-and-breeze handsome, his demeanor perfectly matched the description. Truly a good man! This time, he hadn’t misjudged him.

Lin Yue relaxed, lifting his lowered head slightly. Peering through his fan, he studied the man before him. Before he could discern anything unusual, he turned to leave.

Lin Yue’s eyes widened in surprise. “Aren’t you going to take my fan?” he blurted out.

Indeed, though a ger’s wedding didn’t involve a veil, it did include a similar ritual: accepting the handheld fan before drinking the ceremonial wine and entering the bridal chamber.

Shen Huaizhi promptly demonstrated for Lin Yue what it meant to be flustered. With hands clasped reverently, he took the fan from Lin Yue’s grasp, then immediately turned and strode toward the door. Only upon reaching for the handle did he realize the fan was still in his hands. He turned back, placed the fan on the wardrobe, and left without even closing the wardrobe door properly.

Lin Yue bit his lip, struggling hard to stifle his laughter. Only after Shen Huaizhi had exited did he finally let out a laugh—one so loud it made Shen Huaizhi stumble outside.

Apparently, nervousness was contagious. Seeing Shen Huaizhi so flustered, Lin Yue’s own tension melted away. He took off his outer robe, folded it neatly, and then strolled over to bathe.

The bathtub looked brand new, matching the dressing table in color. Lin Yue felt a sense of being valued, lifting his spirits considerably.

Though he’d barely walked today, Lin Yue still felt utterly exhausted, both inside and out. Leaning back in the tub, he drifted toward sleep, only occasionally lifting his hand to splash a little water on his neck. When the water grew cold, he added more hot water.

After a long while, darkness had fully settled in. Worried Shen Huaizhi might walk in and catch him, Lin Yue reached for a towel to dry his hair, pinning it up with a hairpin. Just as he began wiping his arms, Shen Huaizhi pushed open the door.