Chapter One

Gentle spring breeze, willow branches swaying, the expansive Xuanwu Lake resembles a vast and smooth mirror. Under the warm glow of the setting sun, it sparkles with golden radiance.

Upon the spacious lake, ripples shimmer as pleasure boats glide swiftly. Laughter echoes from the boats, possibly young ladies from noble families, creating a lively scene.

Numerous scholars and gentlemen stand tall at the boat's prow, gazing at the flower boats carrying charming young ladies. Their eyes reveal a wolfish desire. As the flower boats approach, their demeanor suddenly changes to one of upright nobility. They avert their gaze, lightly flick their folding fans, recite poems, and showcase their elegance.

Official boats with lowered curtains navigate the lake. Concealed behind the curtains, young ladies discreetly observe the passing literati, selecting those who catch their fancy.

Standing by the Xuanwu Lake, if one must describe Lin Wanrong's current mood, it would be—unfortunate, truly and immensely unfortunate.

It has been a month since he arrived here, and misfortune has stuck with him. Perhaps, misfortune has accompanied him since the moment he decided to join the company's tour to Mount Tai. Especially upon seeing the name of that girl on the travel list, he had a sense of unease.

And the reality confirmed his speculation.

Lin Wanrong spat fiercely into the lake, slightly improving his mood. It felt refreshing, as if he hadn't enjoyed such a liberating act in a long time. Damn it, in this era, there shouldn't be an old lady with a red armband skipping over to fine him fifty bucks.

Lin Wanrong examined his reflection in the clear water—sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, a nose like a hanging gallbladder, and a friendly smile. If he were dressed in official attire, he would probably appear more charming than those foolish literati composing broken poems in the lake.

Unfortunately, clad in a plain blue robe and worn-out shoes, with a haircut different from the norm, he appeared somewhat shabby compared to those literati. The passing girls, with a single glance at Lin Wanrong's attire, didn't bother to look at his face, directing their attention to the seemingly sophisticated literati standing shivering at the prow.

Suddenly, the roadside beauties rushed to the lake, continuously gazing into the distance on the lake. Their excited cries were melodious.

"Wow, look, it's Lord Hou Yuebai, the first talent in Jinling!"

"Wow, so handsome!"

"Wow, so romantic!"

"Ah, which family's young lady is so blessed?"

Following the gazes of the girls, Lin Wanrong looked ahead.

Three luxurious boats floated toward them, each with two tiers and about six or seven meters high. Lanterns hung high, and eaves adorned the buildings, presenting an imposing spectacle.

On each boat, banners fluttered, and each had a huge scroll hanging from the roof.

On the right, "Spring Breeze Caresses My Mind," and on the left, "Only for Your Heart."

In the middle boat, a young gentleman stood at the prow, elegant and smiling, holding a folding fan. He exuded a romantic charm that could not be expressed in words.

On the opposite side, a larger and more exquisite boat approached. Unfortunately, the curtains were drawn deeply, concealing the figures inside. On a huge lantern at the boat's prow, there was a gilded word—"Luo."

"Oh, it's Miss Luo, the first beauty and talent in Jinling!" exclaimed a girl standing next to Lin Wanrong, her face full of excitement, evidently a fan of Miss Luo.

"What I heard is true, Lord Hou has been pursuing Miss Luo for two years. As the son of Jinling Prefect and a renowned talent in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, with his background and literary talents, ah, if I were Miss Luo, I would have been happily married long ago," said a infatuated girl.

"Tsk, Miss Luo is known as the first talent and beauty in Jinling. In literary talent, she's no less than Lord Hou. Moreover, she is the daughter of the governor of Jiangsu. In terms of family background, she surpasses Lord Hou. So, Miss Luo might not necessarily fancy Lord Hou," analyzed another girl, an ardent fan of Miss Luo.

"In my opinion, the first talent of Jinling and the first beauty of Jinling, they are a perfect match, destined for each other. Not only in Jinling but also in the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, it's difficult to find a couple as perfectly matched as they are," added the infatuated girl.

Lin Wanrong shook his head helplessly. Women are naturally gossipy, regardless of the era.

The romantic Lord Hou had already anchored his boat beside Miss Luo's, bowing and saluting. It seemed he was saying something to Miss Luo's boat. After a while, a lively maid from Miss Luo's boat stepped forward, spoke a few words to Lord Hou, and his expression changed from disappointment to joy.

Lin Wanrong was too far away to hear what they were saying, but looking at Lord Hou's strange expressions, he wondered whether Miss Luo accepted or rejected him. Why did this Lord Hou show a mix of disappointment and joy?

The nearby infatuated and fanatical girls were also puzzled. Seeing Miss Luo's boat slowly moving away, one of Miss Luo's fans joyfully said, "See, I didn't say wrong. Lord Hou may not be able to win Miss Luo's heart."

The infatuated girl sneered, "Not necessarily. Look at Lord Hou's current expression. Maybe it's a moonlit night, and the lovers have an appointment, who knows?"

That's true. Judging by the customs of this world, considering the difference between men and women, love affairs should take place in private where the moon is high and the wind is strong.

Lord Hou, seeing Miss Luo's boat gradually moving away, continued to flutter his fan, wearing a smile on his face. Lin Wanrong found his so-called romantic and affectionate appearance quite displeasing.

Kid, what are you so proud of? Compared to picking up girls, your grandpa's methods are a thousand times better than yours. Look at your infatuated appearance. Lin Wanrong thought indignantly.

It was late autumn, approaching winter, and the lake surface was chilly. Lord Hou seemed unable to bear the cold, shivering his shoulders.

Lin Wanrong, with keen eyes, observed Lord Hou's movements clearly. Unable to contain his laughter, he sneered. Damn it, these guys who care more about demeanor than temperature. I wondered why spring came so early; it turns out you and those girls are experiencing spring fever.

Lin Wanrong's cynical laughter attracted the attention of several nearby girls. They looked at him and, upon seeing his shabby attire and short hair, burst into laughter, then blushed when they saw his face. Lin Wanrong, with a height of 1.77 meters, well-built due to persistent sports training, had a compelling charm compared to the fair-faced literati of this era.

It's no wonder those girls dared not look at him again. This man had quite an impact on their hearts.

During his time at Peking University, Lin Wanrong was a bit of a dark horse prince, and there were quite a few girls who secretly admired him.

"Where did this country bumpkin come from?"

"Look at his shabby appearance."

"Huang, standing next to him tarnishes your identity. Let's keep our distance."

A few literary-looking fellows nearby, after witnessing Lord Hou's spectacle, had their confidence deeply shaken. The beauties beside them completely ignored them, focusing their attention on Lin Wanrong instead. How could these literati not feel annoyed?