Hanyue sat down in his seat, and all traces of his earlier sternness had vanished.
He let out a soft chuckle, repeating Bairan's words, "As I wish."
Dongpo and Dongyan exchanged a glance; Dongpo's smile carried a hint of happiness.
Zhouyan tapped his fingertips against the rim of his teacup.
It was difficult to guess what lay hidden in the unwavering eyes, which were like a quiet ocean.
Hanyue turned toward him, about to speak, when a man rushed into the room.
He clasped his hands and reported;
"Master, Miss Lin left the residence in a rush. She… she took one of our horses."
Hanyue lifted a brow.
"A horse? Can she even ride one?"
The servant hesitated, his eyes flickering toward Zhouyan before he forced himself to speak;
"Not only can she ride… she took His Highness's horse."
Zhouyan raised his head.
Both Dongpo and Dongyan let out a startled breath.
Han Yue froze.
"…What?"
They went after her.
Hanyue and Zhouyan waited at the roadside; the teahouse was near from here.
Soon, the sound of hoofbeats echoed in the distance.
A white horse appeared—its tack shining under the sunlight.
Though Bairan wore a light veil, the moment her silhouette came into view, both men recognized her at once.
She sat on the horse with ease, one hand holding the reins.
In front of her sat Baian. He pointed here and there at the scenery, wide-eyed, his cheeks flushed with excitement.
Bairan saw them as well.
She thought back to how they had frightened her with talk about Baian being in danger—yet when she reached the teahouse, Baian had been standing outside waiting for Dongpo and Dongyan.
He didn't know they had left him there.
When he saw Bairan, he had run to her and asked how she had learned to ride a horse.
Bairan had joked, "Master Pei and his master forced my hidden talents to appear in a hurry."
Her gaze swept over the group—and settled on Zhouyan.
His presence made the road feel different.
The red ribbon resting on his right shoulder stood out against his black hanfu.
Zhouyan looked at her—the way she rode, her slender fingers holding the reins—and his horse, which she was riding.
The same horse that only one other person except himself had ever ridden was his Xinyi.
A sharp, tight pain gripped Zhouyan's chest.
His head buzzed.
In his mind, a familiar voice echoed; it was his Xinyi's laughter.
"Hah… look, Hanzhou, look—you lost the bet again. I rode your master's horse with ease."
Hanyue exhaled and muttered under his breath;
"…She rode it."
Bairan noticed they were all looking at the horse. She looked down and let out a small "oh." She had focused on Baian's safety; she hadn't checked which horse she was taking.
Seeing Zhouyan and Hanyue, and even several guards with them, she wondered,
Did they think I stole their master's horse and ran away? …Tsk. Stingy people.
When she reached them, Baian slid down first.
Then Bairan dismounted, removed her veil, and asked Baian to return it to the small shop nearby where she had taken it earlier.
She said mockingly,
"Are you here to welcome me, or to welcome the horse?"
Hanyue blinked his eyes, wondering, "How did Báiguāng even let her ride him...?"
The reins were still in her hand.
She meant to hand to Hanyue, but the horse stepped toward Zhouyan instead.
Bairan swallowed.
Does he want me to give him back to his actual owner…? Sick horse.
She smiled awkwardly and held the reins out in front of Zhouyan.
"I think he wants to return to you."
Zhouyan raised his hand and took the reins, holding her hand as well.
The calluses on his palm brushed her skin.
Bairan stiffened slightly, yet she did not pull away.
She assumed he was angry simply because she had taken his horse.
Her voice was light, careless on purpose.
"Your man's acting was so real, I didn't even notice which horse I took."
She did not apologize—only reminded that they were the ones who tested her, and they had gone too far.
But Zhouyan's fingers tightened.
He didn't hear her words.
His mind was noise—voices, memories, blurring into one another.
All he could think about was not letting this hand slip away.
But how could Bairan's slender fingers compare to the powerful grip of General Xinyi, whose martial skills matched his own? He didn't control his strength at all.
Bairan's hand ached, but her expression didn't break.
Her lips still carried a faint smile—she refused to lose to him.
Hanyue felt something was wrong.
But it was too late.
A sharp crack sounded.
Hanyue exclaimed, "Master…"
Zhouyan's fingers released her at once. He stared at his own hand, stunned by what he had done.
Bairan's smile vanished.
Pain shot from her hand up to her heart
She thought, "Did he just break my hand... for a horse?"
Her anger surged. She held her trembling hand against her chest and glared at him.
"What are you crazy about? I just took your horse; I didn't eat it! I brought it back, didn't I?"
Hanyue stepped forward quickly, trying to calm her.
"Miss Bairan—"
But Bairan's voice broke through him;
Her lips trembled; "Why did I take it first... ha? It wasn't because of your stupid test. I do not even know your name, so what right do you have to know everything about me?"
She turned to leave.
But before she could take a step, Zhouyan suddenly pulled her toward him.
He lifted her onto the horse in one motion and swung up behind her, the reins already in his grip. He galloped horse sharply.
The horse leaped forward at full speed.
Bairan struggled to break free of his hold. She shouted, "Let go!"
The horse raced faster.
Bairan, burning with anger, refused to be restrained by him.She Wrenched herself free and threw herself from the saddle.
Zhouyan reacted instinctively—he threw himself off the horse with her, shielding her with his own body. His back hit the ground with a dull, heavy thud.
Then he loosens his grip slowly
Bairan leaned away from him; her hand throbbed painfully. She glared at him.
Zhouyan looked at those eyes, the edges reddened from pain she refused to cry. Something inside him cracked.
His mind cleared up a little, though. "What am I doing? This is not Xinyi. His Xinyi is dead."
He looked down at her injured hand and gently took it into his. His palm was so big it hid her entire hand at once. His fingertips brushed against the back of her hand.
Bairan trembled slightly, trying to pull her hand back, but Zhouyan suddenly reset the bone with a single move.
Bairan clenched her teeth—she seized Zhouyan's other hand and bit it with all her strength.
Zhouyan let her bite. Blood welled at his skin, but didn't pull away.
He recalls her words:
"I don't even know your name."
His voice was barely above a whisper, rough and low.
"Zhouyan...my name is Zhouyan."
Bairan snapped back without hesitation;
"Like I care."
Zhouyan's hand trembled slightly.
He reached toward her face… toward that single tear that refused to fall.
But before his fingertips could touch her,
The sound of galloping hooves broke through the silence. Hanyue and the others were approaching.
Zhouyan lowered his hand, rose to his feet, took his horse's reins, took two steps and looked back at Bairan, who was sitting in the dust, clutching her mended hand, looking at him without blinking
He downcast his eyes, hiding all emotions that burned him, tightened his hand around the reins, and said with a cracked voice,
"…I'm sorry."
Then he mounted Bái Guāng and rode away.
Bairan watched his departing figure, mixed emotions flickering in her eyes.
She couldn't tell what tightened her heart more—the pain he had caused her, or the deep sorrow in his eyes that she could not understand.