Chapter 111 - part 2

 "He didn't do poorly on the exam, did he?" Yi Shuyun wondered aloud. Just then, Lu Qingchuan walked past; he felt that was unlikely.

It might have been a coincidence, but during the exam, he had been seated right behind Lu Lizhi. He could observe Lu Lizhi's movements at any time, catching a glimpse out of the corner of his eye whenever Lu Lizhi turned a page of the test paper.

Lu Lizhi was consistently just a little faster than him.

However, Lu Qingchuan prioritized accuracy over speed and maintained a rock-solid mindset, so he hadn't tried to race against him; he remained confident about his own results.

But... just as he hesitated, thinking about stepping forward to say hello, Song Haocheng—standing nearby—suddenly spoke up: "Here he comes!"

The reason for Lu Lizhi's listlessness had arrived.

Yi Shuyun’s mouth twitched. "I should have guessed."

Seeing Jiang Baiye approach, Lu Lizhi’s eyes brightened. "Is everything okay?"

He knew Jiang Baiye wouldn't have left unless there was an urgent matter, yet Jiang Baiye suddenly looked flustered at the question. "I... I just needed to use the restroom." ”

Pah—why was he stuttering?

Lu Lizhi was absolutely certain: with Jiang Baiye around, he suddenly felt like eating again.

The group called for Tu Huanwen and their other classmates, and a boisterous crowd of them headed to the place where Dr. Pang had previously treated them to a meal.

As they passed by Lu Qingchuan, Lu Lizhi paused almost imperceptibly, though in the end, he walked on without saying a word.

Lu Qingchuan was innocent, yet he belonged to *that* Lu family. Lu Lizhi still couldn't bring himself to interact with them calmly—even though Old Master Lu kept expressing his apologies and trying his best to make amends.

At the thought of this, Lu Lizhi’s heart softened a little. When the old man had painfully refrained from interfering—letting the authorities take away his own second son without begging for mercy or pleading on his behalf—Lu Lizhi realized that their family’s conduct was actually quite upright.

The Old Master was also someone his own grandfather had once wronged.

But Lu Changhuai—even after being thrown into prison—had still sneered at him. That look in his eyes, implying Lu Lizhi would sooner or later try to take advantage of the Lu family, served as a constant reminder: he would never look back!

The Lu family of Jiangyi was indeed powerful, but it wasn't impossible for him to revitalize his own branch of the family. In any case, Lu Lizhi had no intention of striving for that himself; he planned to have a few kids and pass the pressure on to them.

“How is your little darling doing these days?” "Little Jiaojiao?" Tu Huanwen couldn't help but ask, leaving the others bewildered.

"Mm, we have a child," Lu Lizhi said, making no secret of it. "The one with the little rabbit shoes—though she can't actually wear them yet."

Seeing the others still looking puzzled, Tu Huanwen eagerly began describing just how adorable Little Jiaojiao was.

"Wow!" Yi Shuyun was the first to express envy; he wasn't young anymore, yet he harbored ambitions—planning to find an even better wife after passing the imperial examinations.

Jiang Baiye couldn't help but glance at Song Haocheng. That fellow was hard to read, yet he was a true gentleman; he showed not the slightest sign of ill will toward Lu Lizhi.

Song Haocheng felt a touch of envy too, but then a thought struck him. "Hongyu is getting married soon; his family is pressing hard for it. If everything goes smoothly, we might just make it back in time for the wedding feast."

Lu Lizhi was taken aback. Ding Lihui was the first person who came to mind; he recalled a time he’d run into Ding Lihui at Ding Yue’s place, where Lihui had confided his feelings. He had developed an affection for Fei Hongyu back on the day he first arrived at the prefectural academy—sparked by the very words Fei Hongyu had spoken:

"So what if someone likes men? Liking anyone is just liking someone—what could possibly be wrong with that?" ”

Ding Lihui had long known he wasn't interested in women, yet he hadn't realized he was attracted to men either—until the moment he saw Fei Hongyu snapping back at someone; only then did he suddenly understand what it felt like to have his heart stirred.

With Jiang Baiye and Lu Lizhi leading the way, he felt no confusion; it was as if he had found his true home.

As he grew closer to Fei Hongyu, his feelings deepened. They shared everything and were inseparable—closer than the best of brothers, surpassing even the intimacy Fei Hongyu had once shared with Song Haocheng.

He had assumed Fei Hongyu felt the same way, until the day Fei mentioned having a fiancée—speaking of her with genuine affection and anticipation.

"I knew then it was time to distance myself; staying a moment longer would have been unbearable."

……

Hearing Jiang Baiye chuckle, Lu Lizhi instinctively looked over and saw Tu Huanwen saying, "My wife talks every day about wanting a daughter. I wonder if she’s given birth yet? It’s a shame I’m stuck here and can’t go back to be with her."

"It’s definitely a girl; that’s already been confirmed." Jiang Baiye always found this amusing, while the others kept asking him how he could possibly know that.

"Already confirmed?" Song Haocheng keenly picked up on that point.

"Aren't you the smart one?" Jiang Baiye hummed smugly, though suddenly, under the table, Lu Lizhi grabbed his hand, making it impossible for him to peel shrimp or pick the skin off the chicken.

For some reason, Lu Lizhi was incredibly clingy for the rest of the time. After they returned home, before Jiang Baiye could even take his medicine, Lu Lizhi had wrapped his arms around his waist; his eyes were hazy, as if he were drunk.

"I want you..."

"But you didn't drink any alcohol, did you?" Jiang Baiye had barely voiced his surprise when his lips were captured; Lu Lizhi made no effort to stifle his breathing, the sound sending a tingling sensation straight to Jiang Baiye's scalp.

"We haven't bathed yet."

A flash of frustration crossed Lu Lizhi's eyes; he tried to use leverage to flip over and take the lead, but found himself pinned firmly in place.

"Don't you like getting all clean and smelling nice?" Jiang Baiye asked with a chuckle.

"Just like this—I like it."

Jiang Baiye was sweating with agitation; what troubled him even more was his utter inability to resist such temptation, though he sensed something was off about Lizhi's mood.

"Lu Lizhi, what's wrong?"

Only then did Lu Lizhi slowly stop and tell him about the matter concerning Fei Hongyu.

"But... I get the feeling he isn't entirely indifferent, either?" Jiang Baiye couldn't say for sure; he only recalled that time at the prefectural academy when they were dealing with the epidemic—Fei Hongyu had seemed to shield Ding Lihui quite protectively.

"But not everyone is as lucky as we are."

Lu Lizhi instantly tightened his grip on Jiang’s hand, terrified that letting go might lead to them being torn apart.

"What are you afraid of? We even have a child together," Jiang Baiye teased, enjoying the sight of Lu caring so deeply about him.

"Then let's have a few more!" ”

“Oh no, that’s not what I meant—wait, wait, Li-zhi, mmph...”

The exam papers submitted by Lu Li-zhi and Lu Qing-chuan presented a dilemma for the officials responsible for grading; the two sides were deadlocked, unable to decide who should be named *Huiyuan* (the top candidate in the metropolitan examination).

Generally, unless examiners encountered a truly exceptional essay, they were inclined to favor candidates who could achieve the "Little Three Champions" or "Grand Three Champions" titles—as had been the case with Tai Song. While Tai Song certainly possessed the talent, it also helped that there hadn't been any other truly dazzling essays at the time.

Consequently, when faced with a rival of similar caliber, the graders had ultimately selected him.

Lu Li-zhi and Lu Qing-chuan, however, were a difficult case; both had already achieved the "Little Three Champions" and the title of *Jieyuan* (top candidate in the provincial examination).

“I hear this Lu Li-zhi belongs to that same branch of the Jiangyi Lu family. Lu Qing-chuan’s second uncle actually killed his father—that man, Lu Chang-yan. I graded his papers during the prefectural exam myself; he was a brilliant talent. What a tragedy!”

At these words, many exchanged glances. “A relative of Lu Qing-chuan committed murder?”

“That makes him a relative of Lu Li-zhi’s as well, then.”

“On top of that, Lu Li-zhi has a penchant for men—a scandal known to everyone. Not only does he feel no shame, but he acts as if he wants the whole world to know. Hmph! What a disgrace!” ”

“That is a trivial matter; killing someone is the truly dreadful thing. If we were to select Lu Qingchuan, our reputation might suffer.”

“Besides, the influence of the Jiangyi Lu clan has grown too strong; it is time to curb it. By comparison, Lu Lizhi’s humble origins likely align perfectly with His Majesty’s wishes.”

In short, the factions favoring Lu Lizhi and those supporting Lu Qingchuan argued at length, neither side gaining the upper hand—until an inconspicuous official shifted his allegiance, tipping the balance so that one side now outnumbered the other.

When asked for his reason, he merely chuckled softly, “There is nothing wrong with liking men.”

He had spoken those words in a whisper; what others heard was simply—

“I admire his courage.”

The moment he realized he had placed first in the metropolitan examination, Lu Lizhi felt a brief sense of daze; standing beneath the posted results, he once again experienced a profound, weighty joy.

Beside him, someone sighed faintly, “Congratulations. I don’t know the reason, but you are truly impressive.”

Lu Lizhi turned his head casually, catching only a glimpse of Lu Qingchuan’s tall, slender figure as he walked away in dejection.

This defeat left the clansmen—who had held such high expectations for Lu Qingchuan—utterly disappointed. They had hoped that, following the scandal involving Lu Changhuai, Lu Qingchuan would achieve the prestigious "Grand Slam" (placing first in all three levels of the imperial examinations) to restore the Jiangyi Lu clan’s tarnished reputation.

Now, that dream of the "Grand Slam" was certainly gone.

“Lu Lizhi is a member of the Lu clan, too.” ”

“He isn’t! He ceased to be one the moment his grandfather left. An irresponsible man who disregards the family’s reputation is unworthy of being a member of the Lu clan!” Their resentment was boundless.

“His father is dead.”

“His mother is dead too. He grew up all alone; before this, he couldn't even speak—forsaken and solitary, with not a single kinsman to turn to.”

“But your Second Uncle treated you well enough in the past. Qingchuan, how could you side with an outsider?”

“So, what reason does he have to care about our reputation? We never offered him the slightest bit of help.”

The members of the Lu clan fell silent, finally saying, “We must secure the title of *Zhuangyuan* in the next exam!”

That was the crucial thing—the quickest way to suppress their infamy. They needed a *Zhuangyuan* to rapidly divert public attention.

If Lu Lizhi placing first in the Metropolitan Exam (*Huiyuan*) was within everyone's expectations, then Song Haocheng’s achievement was a stunning comeback. He had gone from being the lowest-ranked *Juren* in his province to placing in the top five of the Metropolitan Exam—catching even his close circle of friends completely off guard!

“Haocheng is undoubtedly the biggest dark horse this time around!” After three years of preparation, Yi Shuyun—who had ranked among the top few in the provincial examination—failed to even crack the top ten in the metropolitan examination, landing instead around twentieth place.

A sense of crisis suddenly surged within Jiang Baiye; however, considering that they were taking the exam alongside Lu Qingchuan this time, surely Song Haocheng wouldn't manage to place as the *Bangyan* (second-place finisher) again?

Ahem—don't blame him for having a cynical mind; that man was genuinely capable, so one had to be on guard.

Apart from them, Tu Huanwen took fourth place, while the third-place spot went to a top scholar (*Jieyuan*) from another province; these were all formidable rivals for Lu Lizhi.

The Palace Examination was scheduled for the month following the metropolitan examination, and during this interim, Lu Lizhi really had to start making the rounds and pulling strings.

He faced many slammed doors due to his attraction to men; in contrast, Lu Qingchuan—who had clansmen serving as officials in the imperial court—had a much smoother path.

Had it not been for the negative impact of the Lu Changhuai incident, his chances of becoming the *Zhuangyuan* (top scholar) would have been virtually certain—a ninety-nine percent probability.

Some people even secretly cursed Lu Lizhi, calling him underhanded.

"It didn't happen early or late—it might well have been a deliberate move to tarnish Qingchuan's reputation so that *he* could rise to the top!" ”

Although Lu Lizhi had ranked first in the metropolitan examination, the subsequent developments were beyond the grasp of even Song Haocheng and his associates; yet, Lu Lizhi remained unperturbed. The final decision regarding the Palace Examination rested with the one at the very top—the Emperor—while all other factors served merely as supporting elements.

And yet, even supporting elements could play a pivotal, decisive role.

Lu Lizhi once again turned to the books bestowed upon him by the Emperor—volumes he had brought along with him. He had already studied them repeatedly and felt he had begun to grasp the Emperor's mindset, though it was possible he was merely imagining things.

He decided to look through them again, hoping to glean some further insight.

Lu Lizhi was in no rush, but Jiang Baiye worried on his behalf. In the original storyline, Lizhi loved no one; naturally, he was unstoppable, and no one dared to give him a hard time.

But if loving him meant losing what he cared about most... Regarding official rank and fame, it would be hard for Jiang Baiye to say he wouldn't feel some regret if he missed out.

Having made connections with various powerful figures through his medical practice at Huichuntang—and leveraging Dr. Pang’s network—Jiang Baiye began attending social engagements while Lu Lizhi was occupied with his studies.

Tu Huanwen worried that such activities might prove counterproductive, but he had his own hands full; he was determined to secure the rank of *Tanhua* (third place in the imperial examination), and the pressure was immense.

Just as the capital’s examination candidates were deep in tense preparations and the final stretch of study, a carriage slowly came to a halt on one of the city's main streets.

Passersby heard the sound of an infant crying as a scruffy, middle-aged man stepped out of the carriage, cradling a swaddled bundle in his arms.

"Oh, my little ancestor... I must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to end up with a little creature like you," the man grumbled, drawing the ire of an older woman nearby.

"Have you no heart? The poor child is crying his eyes out, and that’s the sort of thing you say?" Upon seeing the baby’s chubby, adorable face, the woman felt an urge to take the child and soothe him herself.

The man gave a wry chuckle. "Then you hold him. If you can get him to stop crying, I’ll give you a hundred taels!" ”

Upon hearing this, the older woman didn't care about the hundred taels; her main concern was simply soothing such an adorable, heart-melting little baby.

As it turned out, she couldn't calm the child down at all; the baby was only truly settled when held by the middle-aged man.

"I give up, I give up—it’s an absolute ear-splitting racket! I need to go find her father!" Shen Feng felt a massive headache coming on. He really had only himself to blame; missing the little darling, he had snuck over for a peek, only to find himself stuck with the responsibility and unable to escape.

He had traveled all the way to the capital because the baby was only well-behaved around her two fathers; he wanted to hand her over quickly so he could get back to his wandering life.

Soon, Jiang Dazhu and Madam He caught up. They were heartbroken to see the baby crying so hard, yet they dared not hold her. It was a mystery—ever since Shen Feng had shown up, Jiaojiao would often cry inconsolably, refusing to be held by anyone but him.

Shen Feng, however, had no desire to be a full-time babysitter; otherwise, they wouldn't have made such a long journey specifically to find Li Zhi and the others.

"At a time like this, Li Zhi is surely preparing for the Palace Examination—it’s all your fault!" Madam He didn't mince words; they had heard the news of Li Zhi placing first in the Metropolitan Examination while on the road.

Shen Feng rubbed his nose sheepishly; why did he feel like little Jiaojiao had played him again?

Despite his grumbling, after handing the nursing infant over to Jiang Baiye, Shen Feng hesitated for a moment before heading toward the Imperial Palace.

"Oh my, our Jiaojiao really is a little lucky star!" Upon learning what Shen Feng had done, Jiang Baiye instantly felt heartened: "Even from so far away, he knows to care for his daddy!"

The little tot had sprouted several teeth; he was full of vigor as he flailed his limbs in his daddy's arms, babbling away as if he had endless things to say.

Few people realized what a massive turning point Shen Feng’s arrival had created for Lu Lizhi’s palace examination.

On that day, the palace examination was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony—the highest-ranking hall in the imperial palace—with over three hundred candidates arriving before dawn.

After a series of elaborate procedures—including roll calls, ceremonial salutations, and formal rites 

After a series of formalities, they took their seats on the dais in front of the great hall.

The Palace Examination consisted solely of *cewen*—policy essays addressing current affairs. The emphasis was on the proposed strategies and the ability to solve problems. The Emperor of Da Ning presided in person and issued the decree to distribute the exam papers.

After reviewing several questions totaling over a thousand characters, the candidates were required to present their proposals within a strict word count and using a prescribed calligraphic style.

Both calligraphy and policy analysis were Lu Lizhi’s strong suits; given the chance, he could have written endless pages of suggestions.

Standing on the high platform, the Emperor gazed out at the candidates with a gentle smile. "This year's candidates are truly a fine-looking group."

An official beside him chimed in, "They look impressive even from a distance. Da Ning is a land blessed with outstanding people and a constant stream of talent; the competition this year is fierce indeed."

The Emperor smiled faintly and let his gaze sweep over the crowd, as if searching for someone specific.

He knew Lu Qingchuan, but Qishan had described the other man as even more handsome and elegant—the most striking figure in the entire assembly.

Suddenly, his gaze paused.

That must be him; he finally grasped the true weight of the description "the most handsome of them all."

He had heard whispers about him years ago, and throughout his journey, stories and rumors had constantly followed him. For a figure so steeped in controversy to reach this stage was truly no small feat. As the Emperor descended the steps, a ripple of agitation ran through the examinees below; they were so nervous that some could barely hold their brushes to write.

Lu Lizhi, however, remained oblivious to anyone approaching; he was utterly engrossed in his writing, his brush moving with fluid confidence, completely undisturbed by his surroundings.

The Emperor strolled past him and moved on. Once he had left, the backs of the examinees' robes were damp with sweat, and many had nearly stood up to offer a formal salute.

The Emperor of Great Ning was an enlightened ruler—often praised for presiding over an era of peace and prosperity—yet few essays truly resonated with the depths of his own convictions.

"What is this? Is there no one truly capable?" he wondered aloud, just as he turned to a paper written in an exceptionally beautiful *guange* script.

Ah—the author was Lu Lizhi.

"I knew it!" The Emperor studied the text closely; his usually composed expression seemed to light up, growing increasingly radiant.

After that, even the policy essay by Lu Qing—a scholar he had long admired—seemed to lose some of its luster.

Sometimes, a ruler needs a kindred spirit—someone bold enough to think and act, someone daring enough to articulate the very things he himself could not openly voice.

Even an enlightened ruler requires a sharp blade to carve the path forward, even if the person wielding it appears outwardly unassuming and reserved.

Yet, his writing was a blade with a razor-sharp edge—keen, brilliant, and unapologetically bold! "Quick, grind the ink for Us; one look will reveal the truth—let us waste no more time."

Those around the Emperor were secretly startled by his agitation and hurriedly sprang into action.

Upon closer inspection, the examination paper bearing the most circles belonged to none other than Lu Lizhi; the Emperor was somewhat surprised, having expected someone to sabotage him.

These circles were marked by the officials responsible for reviewing the papers, reflecting their assessments; the more circles a paper received, the better the result.

Lu Qingchuan had received the same number of circles as Lu Lizhi.

The final decision, however, rested with the Emperor.

The Palace Examination determined rankings rather than eliminating candidates; without hesitation, the Emperor personally designated the top three scholars—the *Zhuangyuan* (First Place), *Bangyan* (Second Place), and *Tanhua* (Third Place)—while conferring the title of *Jinshi* upon those in the second tier and the title of *Jinshi* (by imperial grace) upon those in the third tier.

On the day the Golden List was posted, the Lu clan members were more excited than anyone, convinced that Lu Qingchuan would achieve high honors, given the extensive preparations they had made.

As for Lu Lizhi, his reputation had suffered due to his predilection for men, leading to considerable ostracism; it was doubtful whether he would even make it into the top tier.

Yet, when they saw the name occupying the first spot on the high-hanging list, the smiles vanished from their faces.

That day, before Jiang Baiye’s family could even step out of their home, a messenger arrived to share the joyous news; He Shi and Jiang Dazhu were so overjoyed they nearly gave away their entire fortune in celebration.

Shortly thereafter, imperial plaques bearing the inscriptions "Zhuangyuan" (Top Scholar) and "Sanyuan" (Winner of the Three Top Honors) were delivered, sending a shockwave of astonishment throughout the capital! Shanyitang originally had nothing to do with him, but upon hearing that the matter actually involved Jiang Baiye—and making a few inquiries—Qin Chunquan nearly stumbled in shock.

"A *Zhuangyuan* who swept the top spot in all three rounds of the imperial examinations—and he’s his partner? With that kind of talent, why doesn't he just fly straight up to the heavens?" Qin Chunquan felt as though he had aged a dozen years in an instant; damn it all, he didn't even want to keep doing this job anymore!

Because Dr. Luo had been arrested, they were under strict surveillance; they didn't dare make any moves—they didn't even dare let out a fart.

Business had been going from bad to worse lately, with that damned Pang Da and Huichuntang snatching up all the customers!

While things were going wrong for them at every turn, Jiang Baiye and Lu Lizhi were riding high on success. Just how much weight does a *Zhuangyuan* who swept the top three exams carry?

Even the officials who had previously shut their doors to Lu Lizhi were now finding ways to curry favor with him.

A *Zhuangyuan* might not hold much real power at the moment, but his future prospects were limitless, and his rate of promotion would likely be astonishing.

During the conferral of offices in the Golden Throne Hall, Lu Lizhi stood flanked by the *Bangyan* (second place), Lu Qingchuan, and the *Tanhua* (third place), Tu Huanwen. Song Haocheng had regrettably only placed in the second tier (*Erjia*), though he had topped that group; Yi Shuyun was also in the second tier—a result he was quite satisfied with, given his capabilities.

Both men intended to qualify as *Shujishi* (Junior Compilers) and enter the Hanlin Academy; there wasn't a single scholar in the land who didn't dream of joining the Hanlin Academy.

Having achieved the rank of *Jinshi* (Presented Scholar), the three of them—Lu Lizhi and the others—began their careers directly as Hanlin Academy *Xiuzhuan* (Junior Compiler, rank 6b) and *Bianxiu* (Compiler, rank 7a). He was riding high on success, the hoofbeats of his steed swift as the spring breeze—a moment when the air was thick with ceaseless congratulations, enough to make a man feel intoxicated with triumph.

Suddenly, Lu Lizhi spoke, his voice cool and composed.

"Your subject has a request—one that may be considered presumptuous."

The Emperor of Danning was currently very pleased with him; he was eager to see the young man take office immediately, feeling that the imperial grants for his studies had been well spent.

"Speak freely, my loyal subject. Today, I shall grant any request—provided it is not too excessive!"

Clad in the brilliant crimson robes of the *Zhuangyuan* (top scholar), Lu Lizhi usually exuded an air of aloof elegance. Yet now, under the gaze of the entire court, a faint flush rose to his otherwise unruffled face.

But thinking of the person waiting for him outside—and his adorable daughter who knew how to cherish her father—Lu Lizhi spoke with solemnity, his words clear and forceful.

"I humbly request an imperial decree to marry the man who has stood by my side through it all: Jiang Baiye—a landed gentleman of Xuanhe Prefecture and the proprietor of Jichun Medical Workshop. Without him, I would not be the man I am today!"

An uproar erupted throughout the imperial court. Everyone stared in disbelief at the young *Zhuangyuan*—was this really the top scholar? How could he dare to be so bold?

Glancing at the Emperor, one saw he was clearly stunned—shocked beyond measure. Many thought to themselves: *He is done for.* There were also those privy to the secrets of the former dynasty’s inner court who felt that Lu Lizhi’s move was, perhaps...

Lu Lizhi felt a measure of trepidation himself. True, he could have married Jiang Baiye quietly, but he refused; hadn't people said he was practically itching to announce it to the world?

So, let the world know. Let everyone understand the nature of the bond between him and Jiang Baiye.

The Emperor of Da Ning seemed lost in a trance for a long moment; he gazed at Lu Lizhi as if seeing someone else, his eyes filled with reminiscence.

"Since the laws of Da Ning permit marriage between men... then I have no grounds to object."

In the heavy silence—so profound that the drop of a pin could be heard—he spoke earnestly, enunciating every word: "I grant my consent!"

"Your Majesty..." A censor-official started to speak but was stopped by a colleague shaking their head.

Lu Lizhi was overjoyed, his eyes welling up with emotion, and he performed a solemn, respectful kowtow: "I thank Your Majesty for making this possible!"

At that moment, a veteran official who had served two reigns recalled a scene that was similar, yet vastly different—

Back then, to achieve this very outcome, the late Emperor had stood in the Golden Throne Hall with disheveled hair, looking like a madman, ultimately paying the price with his life.

Looking at Lu Lizhi now, one saw how fortunate he was: able to defy the conventions of the world, secure an imperial decree sanctioning the union, and walk proudly out of the Zhaode Gate with his head held high, smiling as he moved toward the one he loved.

Waiting outside, Jiang Baiye saw Lu Lizhi—clutching something tightly in his hand—walking rapidly toward him, until he could no longer restrain himself and broke into a run, finally crashing straight into Jiang Baiye’s embrace. "Are you going to marry me?"

"Hmm?" Jiang Baiye felt a tremor run through his heart.

"You can't escape now."

……

(Main story concluded)