Love's Debt Comes Knocking - Chapter 14

A fair, slender hand extended, hanging in mid-air. Tao Yuan neither said she would take it, nor did she refuse.

The two remained in a stalemate for a few breaths. Sensing Lu Yang’s awkwardness, Tao Yuan’s eyes curved slightly. “Flowers given to you by other girls. I won’t accept them.”

Lu Yang suddenly understood. Earlier, she had thought this autumn begonia looked quite lovely, but now, upon second glance, she felt it was inappropriate to offer it to such a beauty. Hurriedly, she withdrew her hand and tucked the flower at her waist, then bowed deeply. “You are absolutely right, miss. It was my rudeness, truly inexcusable, inexcusable!”

Seeing this seemingly clever person suddenly turn foolish, Han Chan couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking: Where did the young lady meet this old acquaintance? How amusing.

Teased by her maid, Lu Yang’s fair cheeks flushed instantly, her ears turning bright red.

Logically, someone this embarrassed should have lowered their head, but she did the opposite—she gazed at Tao Yuan with sincere, innocent peach-blossom eyes.

The light at the corner of the alley was dim and hazy, but it didn’t hinder the ability to see the other’s appearance. Within the haze lingered a hint of ambiguity, reminiscent of that night with the bonfire burning and the stone statue standing silent.

Tao Yuan averted her eyes and spoke softly, “How long do you plan to keep staring?”

“It feels like a dream,” Lu Yang whispered, secretly pinching her palm. Feeling a sharper pain, her smile grew even brighter. “Miss, please go ahead.”

Tao Yuan took a step forward.

As they brushed past each other, Lu Yang caught a whiff of a long-missed fragrance, and her heart leaped with joy.

As the saying goes, fate brings people together across a thousand miles. If this isn’t fate, what is?

She hurried to catch up.

The bustling street was filled with overlapping shadows, the calls of vendors and laughter blending seamlessly into the moonlight. The two walked side by side, not speaking a word, the atmosphere gradually growing subtle.

So subtle that even the sharp and cautious Dui Xue, not to mention the straightforward Han Chan, sensed something amiss: For someone as aloof as the young lady, she was being unusually gentle with this unknown young woman who had appeared out of nowhere.

“Is your foot feeling better?”

Lu Yang replied earnestly, “Much better, thank you for your concern.”

Her expression slightly shy, she still spoke candidly, “If I had known it was you, miss, I wouldn’t have minded being stepped on a few more times.”

Tsk!

Han Chan stared at her back, half-expecting a fox tail to pop out.

Smooth-talking, fair-faced—she was the very picture of a delicate, sweet-talking pretty boy. Was she trying to seduce her young lady?

Even someone as straightforward as Han Chan grew wary upon hearing this. Tao Yuan was far from foolish enough to misunderstand this person’s intentions.

As the saying goes, unsolicited kindness is never without ulterior motives.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, same-sex marriage was permitted, and she had seen plenty of tricks and tactics women used to pursue other women in the vast collection of books in her family’s library.

Just as she began to distance herself, she tilted her head and met a pair of bright, clear, and harmless eyes.

Eyes are the windows to the soul, and even the subtlest emotions reveal their truest reflections through them.

From their first meeting, she had thought Lu Yang’s peach-blossom eyes were beautiful—so lovely that they held not a trace of frivolity or impurity, gentle and tender, yet also shimmering with a profound depth.

When she looked at you, it was as if she wanted to bare her warm, sincere heart for you to see.

Not afraid of you seeing it, but afraid you wouldn’t look.

Such people were the hardest to betray.

And the most unbearable to betray.

It was a purity and simplicity only found in youth.

She shouldn’t measure a noble heart with petty suspicions.

Tao Yuan stopped.

Lu Yang immediately halted as well.

The usually serious Miss Tao of the Tao family wore a playful expression. “You’d really let me step on you?”

“Of course! Which foot would you like to step on?”

Dui Xue could hardly bear to watch: Why did the young lady have the mood to bully a child?

Tao Yuan’s right foot was raised, hovering just an inch above the young man’s boot. Lu Yang, true to her word, waited for her to step down firmly, though she didn’t know what she was so excited about, looking as happy as a two-hundred-pound little fool.

A low chuckle escaped.

Tao Yuan knew when to stop and spared her the pain, withdrawing her leg. “I won’t step on you.”

“Eh? Why not?”

Han Chan couldn’t bear to listen to this absurd conversation any longer. “If she won’t, she won’t. Don’t even think about trying to extort my young lady!”

“Strange, when did I say I wanted to extort your young lady?”

“You didn’t say it, but that’s what you were thinking!”

“That’s even stranger. Are you the worm in my stomach or something?”

“Ugh! Who would be your—”

“Han Chan.”

At the young lady’s command, Han Chan immediately fell silent, glaring at the “scoundrel” one last time before closing her mouth.

Young Master Lu was baffled by the glare.

Fortunately, she was broad-minded and free of arrogance, and she quite enjoyed bickering with this maid named Han Chan. She especially liked how the girl she fancied would protect her during their arguments.

She was secretly delighted, the sweetness and joy in her chest impossible to suppress.

Seeing her gentle temperament and lack of resentment, Tao Yuan’s heart softened a little.

Born into the Tao family, she had grown accustomed to “noble masters” who would threaten or even harm their maids at the slightest disagreement, so she often showed compassion and leniency toward her servants.

In the situation just now, any young master from the other prominent families would have definitely taken offense.

She admired Lu Yang’s gentle and easygoing nature, even if she occasionally acted foolishly. She enjoyed interacting with people who were clear-minded and whose thoughts were easy to read.

“I’m new to the capital and unfamiliar with the place. Would you mind showing me around?”

Tao Yuan returned the favor. “Alright, stay close.”

“I won’t get lost.”

The two exchanged a smile.

Perhaps because they had once faced hardship together and seen each other at their most vulnerable, seeing the other appear before them now, beautifully dressed and smiling, after so many days, the deepest barriers had already been broken. What remained was only a fresh sense of wonder at the magic of fate.

Celebrating the festive season, with “joy” as the priority, the fervor of the holiday was enough to make people let down their guard and enjoy themselves thoroughly.

Singing and dancing, stomping to the rhythm, were essential entertainment activities for the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty during festive days.

Stomping dances could be performed in pairs, groups, or with intricate patterns. Holding hands and stomping until covered in sweat was the ultimate way to enjoy it.

Lu Yang wanted to stomp dance with the girl, thinking she had hidden her intentions well. Little did she know, Tao Yuan saw right through her.

One was itching with anticipation like a cat’s scratch, while the other pretended not to notice, as calm as autumn clouds.

Arriving at the liveliest Taiping District in the capital, they saw crowds of people gathered in layers ahead. Lu Yang exclaimed in surprise, “What are those people doing? Miss, shall we go take a look?”

“Most likely, they’re stomp dancing.”

When the words “stomp dancing” came from her mouth, Lu Yang carefully observed the expression on her face, following closely by her side. “I’m very good at stomp dancing.”

“Is that so?”

Tao Yuan chuckled softly. “I’m quite good at it too.”

“Shall we compete?”

Two elegant and noble-looking young people appeared together, and the crowd naturally made way for the young couple.

A kind-hearted aunt, fond of Lu Yang’s shy and well-behaved demeanor, tugged at her sleeve. “Are you here to compete too? Hurry up, or the prize will be taken by someone else!”

She gave Lu Yang a push forward, and Lu Yang, quick as lightning, grabbed Tao Yuan’s wrist and led her to the open space.

Even the well-behaved ones knew how to be cunning.

Tao Yuan’s clear, cool eyes lifted as Lu Yang gave her a sweet, honey-like smile, making it hard to scold her.

The organizer of the stepping dance competition was a middle-aged man with a goatee. Upon seeing the newly arrived young couple, he clapped his hands and laughed heartily, “Another challenger who refuses to accept defeat? Young Master Xie, your opponents are here.”

“Elder Sister?” The woman beside Xie Liulang instantly looked strange, glancing at Tao Yuan and then at Lu Yang, who was still holding Tao Yuan’s wrist tightly.

The Night of Stepping Autumn in the capital was a night of freedom and openness. It was common for people to temporarily pair up and act as couples in public.

But for Tao Yuan, this was unusual.

After all, before losing her innocence, Tao Yuan had a reputation in the capital for being as pure as jade and ice—elegantly put, she was untouchable; crudely put, she was unapproachable.

Could it be that after losing her purity, she had given up and let herself go?

Tao Zhang tightened her grip on Xie Liulang’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

At the sight of the eldest Miss Tao, Xie Liulang’s eyes didn’t know where to look.

Sensing the coldness in her companion’s expression, Lu Yang stepped forward to shield her, suppressing her impatience, “Young Master, it’s improper to stare.”

Xie Liulang’s fair face immediately darkened with displeasure.

But why would Lu Yang fear him?

From now on, she disliked anyone or anything that tried to take her woman away.

A gong sounded.

The tense atmosphere was dispelled by the sound of the gong.

The middle-aged man pretended not to notice the hidden rivalry among the young people and explained the rules to the new contestants.

The competition used an audience voting system. The spectators would give their red beans to the couple they favored, and the one with the most beans would win.

It began with a dice roll—whoever rolled the higher number would start first.

Xie Liulang rolled a three, while Lu Yang rolled a single red heart.

Tao Zhang looked indignantly at her elder sister, who remained as calm as a maiden, laughing at her for willingly degrading herself. Even if she couldn’t marry, she shouldn’t be mingling with a girl much younger than her. What would people say? Did the Tao family still care about their reputation?

If Father found out… She snorted softly and cast a provocative glance at Tao Yuan.

When it came to stepping dances, among women, she claimed second place, and no one dared claim first!

Confident as a hen rushing onto the stage, Lu Yang didn’t care how they danced. She glanced at them symbolically and whispered to Tao Yuan, “Your sister doesn’t seem much like you.”

Tao Yuan smiled at her boldness, “Hmm? What makes you say that?”

“She holds a grudge against you.”

“And how do I feel about her?”

Lu Yang pondered, “You look at her as if she were dead.”

“You really dare say anything.” Tao Yuan rubbed her slender, pale wrist with her left hand, “Aren’t you afraid?”

“No.” Young Mistress Lu smiled, her radiance surpassing the starlight in the sky. Her voice was low and soft, with a faint, light tone that carried a hint of relief, “You don’t look at me as if I were dead. At least in your eyes, I’m alive.”

“…”

Tao Yuan found her amusing. An eighteen-year-old girl who knew exactly how to get close when speaking.

It was understandable. A naive young girl, untouched by love, caught in a flood, taking shelter in a dilapidated temple, and spending a night of passion with someone. Such an experience would inevitably leave a mark on her heart.

It was her first time, and it was the same for this person.

Once you’ve tasted something sweet, you crave more. One leads to two, two to three, three to four, and endless desires follow—a natural progression.

Lu Yang was eighteen, while Tao Yuan had left eighteen behind some years ago.

She didn’t dislike Lu Yang, nor did she mind the pure experience of being carefully pursued by her.

Tonight, the entire city was celebrating, and she didn’t want to spoil the mood.

Xie Liulang and Tao Zheng danced together, his eyes frequently drifting toward Tao Yuan not far away.

His mind kept wandering, so while the dance had its aesthetic appeal, it lacked spirit.

Affected by him, Tao Zheng even missed the beat, and her singing was a complete mess.

“It’s our turn now.”

Lu Yang took a silk handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe the sweat from between her fingers, cleaning each one meticulously. Before she could speak, her face flushed red.

Tao Yuan teased her, “Is this your first-time dancing with someone?”

She seemed a little different from that night.

No.

She was very different.

In the broken temple, behind the stone statue, the beauty’s clothes were soaked through, her aura radiating a pure, sacred, and untouchable quality.

Tonight, Lu Yang saw clearly, without any concealment, the teasing in her eyes.

What did it resemble?

It was like a wise person who had walked through the mundane world and attained enlightenment, looking at a greenhorn who had just fallen into the web of love.

A casual question.

First time dancing with someone?

First time pursuing a girl she liked.

What she thought was a hidden secret was completely exposed in the lighthearted conversation.

Lu Yang’s heart pounded like a drum. It had been many years since she last tasted the feeling of being underestimated.

The young woman’s eyes were like the bright moon, like blazing fire. She smiled shyly and said, “You’ll know once we try.”

She held Tao Yuan’s hand, stubbornly interlocking their fingers. Her profile reflected both tenderness and unwavering determination.