Hearing this, Qing Zhu narrowed his eyes, his smile becoming increasingly lecherous. He even waggled his brows from time to time, looking like a lustful bandit who specialized in seducing respectable women, while rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “I used to think so too, but…” His gaze swept brazenly over Ning Xuan. “You’ve overturned far too many of my assumptions. If every man looked as bewitching as you, it would hardly be surprising for the masters to keep several young gentlemen.”
“Damn it!” Ning Xuan immediately leaped three feet into the air. “How did this get turned back on me again? How many times do I have to tell you? Mine is called handsomeness, bearing, charisma, allure, and masculinity! Stop calling me bewitching every other sentence. Keep talking nonsense and I’ll make sure you’re never a man again!” Ning Xuan glared, though his smile was brilliantly bloodthirsty. Crooking a finger, he wore an expression that plainly said, Go on—say one more word and see how I deal with you.
Qing Zhu remained entirely unmoved. Even Mo Qi no longer showed the alarmed expression he had worn at first or any intention of rushing over to break up a fight. Instead, both of them appeared perfectly calm, having long since grown accustomed to such scenes.
“Fine. Call it whatever you like. It won’t change an established fact. Carry on with your work.” Qing Zhu spoke dismissively, even arranging his face into an expression of profound sympathy. He waved and moved aside to continue with his own tasks.
Ning Xuan fumed. Turning away and refusing to acknowledge him, he concentrated upon the work in his hands. His gaze happened to drift toward the pond, only to become fixed there, unable to move away.
Skin as smooth as congealed cream, white as snow, delicate and flawless. An exquisite face no larger than a palm. His glossy black hair had been tied high, yet several unruly strands had escaped and fallen across his forehead. His naturally crimson lips were full and beautifully shaped, gleaming as though perpetually moist and tempting others to take a bite. His nose was high and delicately sculpted, but the most devastating feature was his eyes. They were large and radiant, still carrying the innocent light of youth, yet their upturned corners and rising shape stubbornly traced a seductive, captivating allure. Thick lashes fluttered like two little fans. The complete confusion and shock within his gaze added a touch of ignorant innocence to a face that could otherwise be called devastatingly enchanting.
Ning Xuan opened his mouth in astonishment. The reflection in the water opened its mouth as well. Ning Xuan pulled his lips into a stiff smile as though the sky were about to collapse, and the person in the water curved his lips in response.
Ning Xuan straightened, turned around mechanically, and resumed working with apparent concentration—though it was only for show. He muttered without pause, sounding as though he were comforting himself, but resembling self-hypnosis even more. “This… is definitely handsome… Handsome, not bewitching…”
For some reason, however, those words sounded exceptionally weak and entirely unconvincing now…
Although transmigration had not drastically altered his appearance, Ning Xuan could not understand why the face that had merely been considered refined and pleasant in modern times became so… after being paired with ancient clothing.
Ning Xuan mechanically repeated the movements in his hands, stubbornly hypnotizing himself. He did not even notice when Mo Qi and Qing Zhu left, nor did he realize that noon was approaching and the long-awaited midday meal would soon begin.
Suffering two successive blows within a single day was rather difficult for Ning Xuan to endure, even though he had brought both of them entirely upon himself…
Someone suddenly kicked his foot. Before Ning Xuan could make a sound, that person sharply rebuked him. “Insolence!”
Ning Xuan remained dazed and merely gave a wooden “Mm.” His reaction left the other person momentarily unsure how to proceed. The two simply remained there staring at each other—although Ning Xuan had not actually raised his head.
Another person waved a hand, and the man who had reprimanded Ning Xuan withdrew.
The newcomer crouched down until he was level with Ning Xuan. After examining him for a while as Ning Xuan continued refusing to raise his eyes, he reached a conclusion. “Could he be a fool?”
“You’re the damned fool!” Ning Xuan immediately snapped back. Apparently, he was not even allowed to retreat quietly into his own little world and wallow for a while. Everyone here clearly had far too much time on their hands and knew only how to amuse themselves at someone else’s expense. A tiger doesn’t show its strength, and you take me for a sick cat!
Ning Xuan raised his head with an angry glare and met the amused scrutiny in the man’s long, narrow phoenix eyes. His thin lips curved faintly. Ning Xuan froze. He did not recognize this man; it was a completely unfamiliar face. He wanted to seek help from Qing Zhu and Mo Qi nearby, only to discover that both had disappeared. With no other choice, he examined the man’s clothing and attempted to identify his status using the pitifully limited knowledge he had only recently acquired.
The man wore plain, dark-colored clothing, tightly fastened at the collar, cuffs, and trouser legs. Black ankle boots covered his feet, while a long sword hung diagonally at his waist. His hair bore no ornaments and was bound only by a ribbon. His entire appearance was simple, efficient, and capable.
He must be one of the residence’s guards, Ning Xuan concluded.
The man also froze when he saw Ning Xuan clearly. A moment later, he threw back his head and laughed without the slightest regard for his image.
Ning Xuan rolled his eyes at him, wondering whether the man was ill. How could anyone become so delighted merely from seeing a stranger?
“Remember to wash your face before going out next time, little painted kitten.” As he spoke, the man lightly brushed a hand past the corner of Ning Xuan’s eye, the touch as brief as a dragonfly skimming water, before turning away.
Ning Xuan jolted and hurriedly moved aside as though electrocuted. One could hardly blame him for being so nervous—the man’s manner had been far too intimate and casual, and the expression upon his face far too difficult to interpret. The man himself remained perfectly composed and even remembered to wave goodbye after walking some distance away.
Qing Zhu and Mo Qi had finally succeeded in preserving Ning Xuan’s share of the food at the crowded table where there were far more mouths than dishes. When they saw Ning Xuan arrive late, looking utterly dazed with one hand half covering his face while rubbing and smearing at it, they could only stare in astonishment.
“Your face…” Qing Zhu struggled to control the twitching corner of his mouth.
With that sensitive nerve struck once again, Ning Xuan immediately exploded. My face again! I said it was handsome—definitely handsome, not bewitching!
“Do you have a problem with it?!” Ning Xuan tried to smile gently, though his teeth were tightly clenched. “This is natural handsomeness. You couldn’t imitate it even if you were jealous!”
“…” Both youths twitched simultaneously but declined to comment.
“Then may I ask the handsome and dashing Lord Ning Xuan how you managed to air the books so thoroughly that the ink slapped you across both cheeks?” Mo Qi asked with perfect composure, while Qing Zhu beside him had already collapsed into helpless laughter.
Ning Xuan stared blankly and lowered the hand pressed against his face. Only then did he discover that both palms were covered in spots of ink. Remembering the guard laughing until his stomach hurt while calling him a “little painted kitten,” and seeing the two before him laughing without restraint and occasionally spraying grains of rice from their mouths, Ning Xuan no longer had time to eat. He released a miserable howl—“My books!”—and bolted toward the volumes he had stacked upon the shelves earlier. Heaven knew what fate awaited him if anyone discovered that books perfectly intact last month had been aired until they looked completely mangled beneath his hands.
Futile Devices Scans 
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