As Yun Duan exited the teahouse, her eyes immediately fell upon Shang Can, who was crouched in the middle of a group of children.
It was a lively scene. At the center, two children appeared to be engaged in a dramatic “battle,” with one of the girls wielding a fake Wuyou sword—one that Shang Can had only just recently purchased from a nearby weapon stall. Shang Can herself was squatting behind a child wearing a paper mask, crouched low and setting off tiny fireworks.
Yun Duan stood at the teahouse entrance, watching for a while. Seeing that both Shang Can and the children were still thoroughly engrossed, she silently walked over and softly asked, “What are you doing?”
“Ah, you’re out!” Shang Can looked up, her eyes bright as if they were reflecting sunlight, her smile radiating cheerfulness. “We’re playing a game where we pretend to be cultivators.”
Yun Duan, infected by her enthusiasm, found herself smiling. Her voice softened. “And who are you pretending to be?”
“Can Zhe’s subordinate.”
Yun Duan’s gaze momentarily faltered in surprise, while Shang Can grinned mischievously and stood up. She spread her palm open before Yun Duan, revealing a small firework that blossomed in her hand.
“Look, it’s the critical moment in the battle between Can Zhe and Yun Zhongjun. I’m part of Can Zhe’s special effects team. What do you think? Does it look good?”
“……”
Shang Can made the fireworks in her palm shift colors and patterns. Yun Duan watched quietly for a long moment before softly replying, “It looks beautiful.”
“But… I don’t want to fight you.”
Seeing Yun Duan’s cool and calm expression soften slightly, Shang Can’s heart unexpectedly melted. She replied gently, “We won’t fight. I can’t beat Yun Zhong—”
“It’s Yun Zhongjun!!”
Before Shang Can could finish, a crisp child’s voice interrupted, filled with both surprise and excitement. Shang Can couldn’t help but laugh.
Of course, she’d been so focused on Yun Duan that she’d forgotten all about the little Yun Zhongjun and little Can Zhe who were still locked in their “battle.” Still smiling, Shang Can turned her head and acted startled. “Oh my, Yun Zhongjun has suddenly appeared!”
“Ah Can, you’re too loud!” The little girl anxiously tugged at Shang Can’s sleeve, trying to pull her back, and earnestly whispered, “I heard Yun Zhongjun doesn’t like noise. Don’t scare her away!”
It sounded as if they were trying to catch a rare creature.
Shang Can inwardly chuckled, thinking that Yun Duan did indeed give off an air of rarity. Outwardly, though, she nodded seriously, playing along. “You’re right. I won’t disturb Yun Zhongjun.”
She turned to Yun Duan, her expression sincerely apologetic. “I didn’t scare you, did I?”
“……” Yun Duan, unexpectedly drawn into the game, glanced at Shang Can and, playing along, responded, “No, you didn’t.”
While Yun Zhongjun wasn’t startled, the little girl finally seemed to grasp the situation. Shy now, she hid behind Shang Can, clutching her sleeve tightly. She peeked out at Yun Duan, but quickly shrank back when Yun Duan’s gaze fell on her.
“…Ah Can, Ah Can.”
The girl seemed nervous in Yun Duan’s presence and tugged on Shang Can’s sleeve, leaning in to whisper.
“Yun Zhongjun is so beautiful! You were just talking to her—do you know Yun Zhongjun? What’s your relationship with her?”
“…Hmm… She is indeed very beautiful…”
Shang Can hesitated, feeling a bit lost for words. The last question was particularly tricky. After all, how could she accurately describe their current relationship?
If she had to put it into words, the most fitting description would be that they were in a temporary partnership. But saying that outright would probably confuse the child even more.
“Yun Duan-shimei, what’s going on here—”
Before Shang Can could think of a proper response, Chu Ming’s voice suddenly sounded from behind Yun Duan. She looked up and saw him approaching with a puzzled expression. His arrival caused the group of children, who were already stirred by Yun Duan’s appearance, to erupt even more excitedly.
“It’s Yushan-jun!”
“Yushan-jun is with Yun Zhongjun! Are they… dating?”
“Nonsense! Yun Zhongjun is clearly with Can Zhe!”
“But… Can Zhe isn’t here right now?”
“Ah! Yushan-jun is trying to sneak a date with Yun Zhongjun while Can Zhe is away! Yushan-jun is the bad guy!”
The chaotic imaginations of the children spun out of control, and Shang Can, watching poor Chu Ming—who had no idea what was happening—get labeled as a villain, had to bite back her laughter, her shoulders shaking from the effort.
Realizing that neither Chu Ming nor Yun Duan would be able to handle the energetic children, Shang Can stepped in to restore order. Once she managed to suppress her laughter, she put on a serious face and waved a hand.
“That’s not right. You shouldn’t jump to conclusions about Yushan-jun without hearing what he has to say. It’s not fair to call someone a bad guy.”
The children looked up at her, nodding in agreement. One of the bolder kids then asked Chu Ming, “Yushan-jun, are you secretly meeting Yun Zhongjun?”
“?! Of course not!”
Chu Ming’s voice rose in panic as he frantically waved his hands, clearly flustered. For some reason, he looked straight at Shang Can as he stammered, “I was just passing by to check on Yun Duan-shimei, and—uh—there’s someone else with her, so we’re not meeting alone!”
The children nodded, somewhat understanding, while the child playing as Chu Ming got so excited after seeing the real person that they accidentally let go of the chicken they were holding.
Chaos broke out again as the children, along with Chu Ming, chased the squawking chicken. Shang Can quickly grabbed Yun Duan, pulling her aside to avoid the charging bird.
The scene was amusing, and Shang Can felt tempted to jump in and help, but before she could, the older girl peeked out from behind her, shyly glancing at Yun Duan, who had been silent the whole time.
“Yun, Yun Zhongjun…” Clearly intimidated by Yun Duan’s cool aura, the girl nervously stammered, “What’s your relationship with Ah Can?”
…Well, she’s certainly persistent, Shang Can thought. She hadn’t even been distracted by Chu Ming or the runaway chicken.
Shang Can’s thoughts quickly returned to the conversation. She glanced at Yun Duan, suddenly realizing she was still holding her hand. Embarrassed, she quickly let go and tucked her hands into her sleeves, awkwardly stammering, “I’m, uh, just… acquaintances with Yun Zhongjun. You know, that kind of…”
Struggling to find the right words, Shang Can trailed off. Yun Duan, noticing her hesitation, took over with a calm and serious expression.
“We have a temporary partnership.”
“……”
Well, that was exactly what Shang Can had just ruled out saying, and Yun Duan had said it without a trace of hesitation.
Shang Can’s emotions grew a bit complicated. Meanwhile, the little girl, as expected, didn’t understand what “temporary partnership” meant and frowned in confusion. “Does that mean your relationship isn’t good?”
It did sound a bit like a cold, transactional adult arrangement.
Shang Can, deciding to let Yun Duan handle the rest, stayed silent and looked off into the distance.
Yun Duan glanced at Shang Can, then at the chaotic scene of children chasing the chicken, and shook her head quietly.
“No.”
“It’s because our relationship is good that we have a temporary partnership.”
The response was so sudden that Shang Can didn’t quite catch its meaning. She glanced at Yun Duan, only to see her looking back calmly, continuing to speak.
“At the very least…” Yun Duan paused for a moment, her tone carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible shift. “My relationship with Ah Can is… a little better than with Yushan-jun.”
Across the way, Chu Ming had just caught the runaway chicken, but not before it left two muddy claw prints on his pristine white robes. Shang Can, seeing this, couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into laughter behind Yun Duan’s back.
“It’s time to go,” Yun Duan said calmly, oblivious to Chu Ming’s slightly resentful gaze. She subtly shifted to block Shang Can from view even more. “We should leave before this commotion draws too much attention.”
“True.” Shang Can poked her head out from behind Yun Duan, grinning cheekily. “Besides, Yushan-jun still needs to change his clothes.”
“…You seem quite happy.”
Chu Ming muttered, a bit dejected, while rubbing his nose, but quickly regained his upright and proper demeanor when facing the children. Even when dealing with kids, he maintained his usual courteous manner.
“Apologies for interrupting. We’ll be leaving now.”
The children let out reluctant sounds, dragging their voices, but Sang Can waved at them with a bright smile, “We’re off! Next time, make sure to tell me who won between Canzhe and Yun Zhongjun. I’ll set off more fireworks for you then!”
Although they were a bit reluctant to part, the kids were understanding and waved back. The girl in the lead returned the fake Wu You sword Sang Can had lent her. Sang Can tilted her head, then accepted it.
She had considered leaving the sword with the kids as a gift but realized that giving a one-to-one replica of a weapon as a present to children wasn’t the most sensible idea. And, honestly, she felt a little reluctant herself—what a complicated feeling.
Sighing, Sang Can realized this piece of merchandise would likely remain with her and reattached the sword to her waist.
Chu Ming’s stare felt piercing. What’s with that look? Never seen someone buy merchandise?
Even someone as carefree as Sang Can felt a little uneasy under his gaze. She shot a glare back at him, but he remained completely unfazed, glancing between her and Yun Duan with an expression so complex it could fuel a 40-episode drama series.
Deciding to ignore him, Sang Can turned to Yun Duan instead, “Shall we go? Should we continue exploring Yanyang or get something to eat first?”
“Either is fine, up to you.”
“Alright, let’s head to Tianwaitian and scrounge for food. We can storm Pei Chen’s place and eat everything he has.”
“Tianwaitian’s food isn’t great.”
“…Is that really the most important point? Shouldn’t you be more focused on stopping me first?”
As the two of them walked farther away, chatting, Chu Ming snapped out of his daze and hurried to catch up, calling out, “Wait, wait for me—”
“What’s this, Yushan-jun is still around? Yun Zhongjun is going to eat, haven’t you talked enough yet?”
“No, at least help me find a place to change my clothes first…”
The group of kids stood on the roadside, watching the trio with differing attitudes disappear around the corner. Only after they were out of sight did the eldest girl withdraw her gaze, sighing with mock seriousness.
“Yun Zhongjun really is a better match with Acan—with Canzhe.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
“Eh—I think Yushan-jun is more handsome…”
“That’s because you were busy chasing the chicken and didn’t hear Yun Zhongjun speak! She said it herself: her relationship with Canzhe is better! And her expression was especially, especially—” The girl struggled to find the right word and finally declared, “—especially different!”
The kids all complained, “That doesn’t explain anything to us!” Only the child who had been playing Canzhe blinked in confusion, asking in surprise, “Are you saying… Acan is… Canzhe? Really?”
“Wow, how didn’t you catch that!”
The other children became anxious, all talking over each other to fill her in, and eventually, the leader summed it up.
“Canzhe was pretty much exposed the moment Yun Zhongjun appeared.”
“Yeah, and before that, Acan even said that Canzhe looks alright.”
“And she said Canzhe and Yun Zhongjun are a good match.”
If Sang Can had been present, she would have exhausted herself trying to explain she definitely hadn’t said the last part. But the kids on-site all nodded in agreement, fully convinced.
Though they did have some differing opinions, for instance—
“Looks like Acan is secretly in love with Yun Zhongjun…”
“No way! I think it’s mutual love!”
“No, no, don’t forget about Yushan-jun—”
“Out! Out! Solo stanning can’t join this conversation!”
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