The spring sun warmed gently, turning the back garden lush and green. Wisteria flowers hung in clusters from the trellis, swaying lightly in the breeze, their fragrance drifting everywhere.
Not far off, under the flower shade, a few young maids gathered together, pretending to tend to their chores while stealing glances in the same direction, whispering quietly.
"Look at Guard Zhou—isn't his build wonderful?"
"Truly. Broad shoulders, a strong back, full of wild vigor; he feels so safe just to look at."
"Those muscles look lean in clothes, but powerful underneath. He's nothing like that frail scholar Young Master Qin outside the mansion."
"Quiet! One is gentle and elegant, the other wild and bold. No wonder all the young girls have their eyes on them…"
The girls' soft, shy giggles drifted on the wind.
Su Liwan leaned against a pillar in the corridor, holding a half-eaten osmanthus cake. Though she heard the chatter, she did not look away. Instead, her gaze was fixed even more firmly on the figure not far away, as if pulled by an invisible thread.
Zhou Hu was moving several heavy rockery potted plants to the sunny side of the corridor under orders. Dressed in a black fitted guard uniform, with a wide leather belt cinching his waist, he looked broad-shouldered and powerfully built. Every time he bent and lifted, the muscles in his back tensed into smooth, forceful lines beneath his clothes, stretching from his shoulders to his waist, sharp and aggressive.
As he lifted the base of a pot, his forearm muscles tightened prominently, veins faintly visible, making his arms look exceptionally strong and defined. Fine sweat beaded on his forehead, slid down his jawline, and disappeared into his collar. The sight made Su Liwan's heart skip a beat, her breath quickening.
She had been feeling increasingly strange lately.
Once, her world had only contained poetry, calligraphy, and needlework; her heart had been entirely set on the gentle Young Master Qin. She would blush and look down if a man so much as glanced at her. Now, she could not help staring at the guards in the mansion, especially Zhou Hu. His rugged masculinity, his firm, well-defined muscles, stirred a restlessness in her chest, filling her mind with chaotic, unspeakable thoughts she dared not voice.
Even the maids in the mansion were all secretly drawn to him.
"Young Miss, you're staring at Guard Zhou again?"
Yun Xiu approached quietly, her voice low and teasing, her eyes gentle.
Su Liwan's cheeks flushed crimson at being found out. She quickly looked away, covering her burning face with both hands and stamping her foot lightly.
"You—you're talking nonsense! I'm not looking at him. I'm just checking if the potted plants are arranged nicely!"
She argued stubbornly, her ears burning red. Despite herself, she secretly glanced again. Zhou Hu had just finished moving the last pot, stood up straight, and sighed in relief, casually tugging at his collar to cool down. The guard's uniform loosened slightly, revealing a glimpse of his firm collarbone and chest, sharply defined. One look was enough to make Su Liwan's heart race again, nearly crushing the osmanthus cake in her hand.
The maids not far away gasped softly, their faces flushing.
Yun Xiu smiled behind her sleeve. "I'm not talking nonsense, Young Miss. Your gaze is practically glued to him. But it's only natural—Guard Zhou is handsome and strong, full of wild energy, completely different from Young Master Qin's elegant scholar's air. Which young lady in the mansion doesn't steal glances at him? It's only normal for you to admire him; no need to be shy."
"But…" Su Liwan bit her lip, twisting her sleeves nervously. "I'm fond of Young Master Qin in my heart. Yet I keep staring at another man like this, and I… I think such improper thoughts. Am I not shameless? If word gets out, people will gossip about me."
She grew more flustered, feeling as if she were becoming a different person.
The proper, well-behaved young lady of the Su family was slowly unraveling.
"How could you be shameless, Young Miss?" Yun Xiu comforted her softly at once. "It's only human nature. Who doesn't look more than once at something or someone pleasing to the eye? You only admire him in your heart; you haven't done anything improper. No one can criticize you for that."
Even so, Su Liwan remained uneasy.
Yun Xiu's comfort was not enough. She needed a more definite answer to set her mind at ease.
"No," she said, standing up suddenly, her skirt swaying gently. "I must go see Young Master Qin."
"You're going now, Young Miss?"
"Yes." Su Liwan nodded, her eyes determined despite her panic. "I want to ask him personally—am I wrong to feel this way?"
She walked out of the Su mansion and straight to the main street outside.
In the distance, she spotted a clean wooden table covered with a plain cloth, stacked neatly with scrolls. Qin Ruhai wore simple linen robes, tall and gentle, sitting quietly on a small stool tending his book stall. He spoke softly whenever someone approached to ask about a book, the picture of a frail, elegant scholar—completely unlike Zhou Hu's wild, bold aura, standing out distinctly among the passersby.
Su Liwan stood watching for a moment, her heart calming slightly.
No matter what others said, if Young Master Qin said she was not wrong, then she was not wrong.
She stepped forward and called softly, "Young Master Qin."
Qin Ruhai looked up, a gentle smile spreading across his face. He stood and said softly, "Wan'er, why have you come out? The street is busy; be careful not to get knocked into."
"I…" Su Liwan blushed, hesitant to speak. She glanced around, saw no one they knew, and lowered her voice. "I have something I want to ask you privately, Young Master Qin."
Qin Ruhai understood. To the customer at his stall, he said politely, "My apologies, I shall return shortly."
He led Su Liwan to a quiet corner by the wall, still the picture of a gentle, scholarly man, his tone soft. "Tell me what troubles you."
Su Liwan looked down, nervously twisting her sleeves, her voice barely a whisper.
"Young Master Qin… lately I can't control myself. I keep staring at Guard Zhou in the mansion. He's tall, muscular, full of wild strength. I can't look away, and my mind is filled with chaotic thoughts. I can't even sleep at night. Am I… becoming dissolute and shameless?"
Her heart pounded wildly as she waited for him to scold her, to reprimand her.
But Qin Ruhai only sighed softly, his tone still gentle and earnest, as if teaching a noble truth, his words full of consideration.
"Wan'er, why would you say that? It is only human to admire beauty. You find Guard Zhou manly, and your heart is drawn to him—this is only following your true feelings. What has that to do with being shameless?"
"But… I hold you in my heart."
"Admiring someone does not conflict with being fond of another." Qin Ruhai's voice was calm, his eyes warm, yet his words carried a subtle temptation. "Your heart is sincere; you only admire him, not with ill intent. How is that wrong? Do not take worldly etiquette too seriously, and do not blame yourself so harshly every day."
Su Liwan looked up in disbelief. "You truly think I am not in the wrong, Young Master Qin?"
"Of course not." Qin Ruhai smiled faintly, elegant and composed. "Follow your heart. Look if you wish, admire if you wish—do not suppress yourself, do not torment yourself."
He paused, his voice even softer, like a feather brushing away her last shred of modesty.
"If you truly admire him… there is no harm in drawing closer."
Su Liwan froze completely.
On one side was Yun Xiu, her loyal maid since childhood, telling her this was normal.
On the other was the gentle, thoughtful Young Master Qin whom she admired, telling her not to hold back, even to approach.
Two people she trusted most were both telling her:
You are not wrong. You may indulge. You may admire.
In that instant, the shame, guilt, and anxiety weighing on her heart collapsed entirely.
She looked at the elegant Young Master Qin before her, her eyes heating up, and nodded heavily. "…I understand, Young Master Qin."
"Go back," Qin Ruhai said softly. "Do not overthink."
"Yes."
Su Liwan turned back toward the mansion, her steps much lighter.
A great weight had lifted from her heart, leaving only a liberating sense of relief and boldness.
As she entered the back garden, she immediately spotted Zhou Hu on duty beside the rockery.
He still wore his black guard uniform, standing straight and still as a pine. Sunlight outlined his broad shoulders, firm chest, and taut, powerful waist—every line strong, handsome, and wildly masculine.
Several chattering maids not far away were still stealing glances at him.
Su Liwan frowned slightly and spoke calmly to the maids.
"You are all dismissed. Go attend to other duties. You are not needed here."
Though curious, the maids did not dare to disobey. They answered quickly and withdrew one after another, leaving in an instant.
Now, no one else remained nearby.
This time, Su Liwan did not hold back, did not shy away, did not restrain herself.
"Yun Xiu," she said, turning to her maid. "Stay here and guard the area. Do not let anyone come near."
Yun Xiu bowed slightly. "Yes, Young Miss. Rest assured, this servant will see to it."
Su Liwan took a deep breath and walked straight toward Zhou Hu.
Zhou Hu heard footsteps, turned, and bowed respectfully upon seeing her. "Young Miss."
Before he could straighten, Su Liwan reached out and grabbed his wrist.
His wrist was rough and warm, his palm covered in thick calluses from martial training, firm and powerful to the touch. Su Liwan's hand burned, her heart racing, yet her face held a reckless boldness.
"Zhou Hu, come with me."
Zhou Hu hesitated. "Young Miss, this servant is on duty…"
"I have something to say to you." Without waiting for his response, Su Liwan pulled him toward the secluded area behind the rockery.
Zhou Hu was shocked and flustered. He wanted to break free but dared not hurt her, so he allowed himself to be half-dragged into the shadow of the rockery. The area was overgrown with grass and quiet, rarely visited by others.
"Young Miss, what are you doing?" Zhou Hu's face darkened, his voice low. "This place is secluded; it is improper."
Su Liwan let go of his hand and looked up. Her once clear, gentle eyes now blazed wildly, locking onto him like a starved beast fixated on its prey, staring unblinkingly at his muscular lines, nearly delirious with obsession. Her cheeks were flushed, her breath rapid, her gaze lacking all the shyness of a noble young lady, replaced by reckless heat.
"Zhou Hu," her voice trembled but was stubborn. "I know you are handsome and strong. I admire you… I watch you every day, think of you every night. I cannot control myself."
"Young Miss…" Zhou Hu's heart jolted. He sensed something was very wrong.
Su Liwan suddenly stepped closer, nearly pressing against him, reaching to tug at his clothes, her eyes wild and desperate.
"No one is here—Yun Xiu is keeping watch… Touch me, right now! Young Master Qin said I am not wrong! I am not wrong! What are you afraid of? I am not afraid—why should you be?!"
She looked beautiful and bright, her gaze confused and obsessive, a wild energy unleashed without restraint, like a fire burning out of control, rushing straight toward him.
Zhou Hu stiffened in terror, his face turning ashen, his soul nearly fleeing his body.
He had never seen the proper young lady behave like this, and his heart pounded with fear and alarm.
"Young Miss! This is absolutely unacceptable!"
He dared not stay another moment. He tore free of her grasp and fled in panic, not daring to look back, leaving only a tense, panicked sentence:
"This servant… takes his leave!"
Before the words faded, he had escaped the rockery's shadow and vanished.
Su Liwan's outstretched hand hung in the air. The wild heat on her face slowly cooled, her eyes quickly emptying. All strength left her, and she stood there numbly, lost and broken.
She had received approval from Yun Xiu, indulgence from Young Master Qin.
She had followed her heart.
So why had she still scared him away?
Outside the rockery, Yun Xiu stood quietly guarding the path, head bowed, like a silent shadow.
Wind blew through the flowers, lifting a few petals that drifted gently to the ground.
The back garden remained quiet, as if nothing had happened.
Only Su Liwan stood in the rockery's shadow, her heart in chaos, lost and confused.
She did not know that the step she had taken was not indulgence—but a fall.
Zhou Hu stumbled back to his post, his heart still racing.
He leaned against the wall, gasping for breath, his mind filled with Su Liwan's wild, burning gaze and her beautiful, delirious expression. He could not shake them off.
He forced himself to stand straight and pretend nothing was wrong, but he was clearly distracted, his gaze vacant. He kept unconsciously staring at the wrist she had grabbed.
The usually steady, upright guard spent the rest of the day in a daze, unsettled, her image replaying in his mind against his will, the turmoil in his heart beyond his control.
Not far away, the maids saw his absentmindedness and thought he was simply tired, whispering their concern. None of them knew the shocking scene that had just unfolded.