Chapter 73: Nosebleed

Lu Yuner’s smile deepened. She spread her hands in front of Su Qingwan, as if saying “it’s up to you”, then gave him a hint, “First, remove my belt. The slip knot on the belt will come loose with a gentle pull.”

The shy Su Qingwan’s face was already flushed red, his heart pounding like a drum, almost jumping to his throat.

He nervously inched closer to Lu Yuner, raised his hand to undo the slip knot on the belt, and instantly the constrained outer garment fell open completely.

Su Qingwan reached out again, slowly circling behind her to remove the outer garment, placing it along with the belt on the wooden rack. Now only a snow-white undergarment remained.

Su Qingwan approached again in a fluster, his trembling fingers pausing in mid-air. The skin hidden by the collar made one want to take a peek.

Once the undergarment was removed, he would see Elder Sister Yuner’s bare skin.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his chaotic breathing, but a shameful scene that made one’s heart race appeared in his mind.

Seeing that he hadn’t made the next move for a while, Lu Yuner’s eyes curved, knowing he was shy and nervous.

Although Young Master Su was bold and daring in front of her, sometimes deliberately intimate with her, he had never truly been with a woman before, let alone undressing one.

Trying to be bold yet shy, he was quite adorable.

Lu Yuner’s lips unconsciously curved upward, “Alright, I know you’re shy and nervous. I’ll do it myself.”

“Elder Sister Yuner, I-I-I…” The young man’s face was so red it seemed about to bubble, so nervous his tongue wouldn’t obey. He pressed down on her hand that was undressing, “I-I can do it.”

Hearing this, Lu Yuner stopped her movements, letting him continue.

The snow-white undergarment was slowly removed, revealing skin as white and delicate as mutton-fat jade, like a blooming magnolia flower showing its beauty.

The slender neck, alluring collarbone, and beneath the intimate garment, two raised white mounds.

Faintly visible, they seemed to bounce out, looking full of elasticity.

Waves of desire rippled in Su Qingwan’s beautiful black eyes. He unconsciously swallowed, and that indescribable heat in his lower abdomen surged up again unexpectedly.

At this moment, the blush on his face was like a budding flower, too shy to fully bloom yet appearing especially charming, spreading to the back of his ears, his whole body burning like a fireball.

It wasn’t just Su Qingwan whose heart was in turmoil; Lu Yuner was also falling.

The young man’s fingertips brushed across Lu Yuner’s skin, leaving a trail of heat wherever they touched. She sensed he was about to undo her final piece of clothing.

Lu Yuner, suppressing her chaotic breathing, reached out to grasp his slender wrist, “That’s enough. I’ll bathe in my intimate garments. No need to remove everything.”

“Oh!” Su Qingwan blinked his eyelashes, slightly concealing the fascination and desire in his eyes, his embarrassed face showing a hint of disappointment.

Just a little more, and he would have seen the enchanting spring scenery.

Lu Yuner smiled slightly, “Take me over there!”

By the side of the bath, steam rose. With a clear splash of water, Lu Yuner slowly stepped into the hot spring, submerging her entire body in the water.

Su Qingwan stared unblinkingly at the figure in the pool, his heart growing increasingly restless.

In his dazed state, Su Qingwan felt a warm flow slide down his nose. He instinctively raised his hand to touch beneath his nose, and saw his hand covered in sticky blood.

Su Qingwan’s face flushed red with shame, feeling utterly embarrassed, but fortunately Elder Sister Yuner hadn’t seen.

At this moment, the unaware Lu Yuner spoke, “Ah Wan, I need to soak for some time. You don’t need to wait here. Go out first! Let Xiao Huashi arrange a room for you.”

“Alright, I’ll go out first then,” Su Qingwan said, pinching his nostrils.

Lu Yuner noticed the unusual tone in his voice, but only wondered briefly without thinking further.

Su Qingwan came out of the bath chamber and ran right into Huashi who was waiting outside.

Huashi was startled and exclaimed in surprise, “Oh my! Young Master Su, why are you having a nosebleed?”

Su Qingwan gave an embarrassed smile, trying to cover his awkwardness, “The air is dry, maybe I’m a bit hot-tempered.”

Young Master Su’s status was extremely noble, how could he be allowed to bleed on Long Cloud Mountain!

Huashi furrowed her brows in concern and hurriedly said, “Then you must drink more water! Please come with me to take care of this.”

A while later.

After dealing with the nosebleed, Huashi, following the instructions of her senior sister, arranged for Young Master Su to stay in the room next to Miss Lu’s.

Huashi showed him around the room and said, “Miss Lu needs to recuperate quietly, so we’ve arranged for her to stay in this separate small courtyard in the back mountain. The female disciples on the mountain don’t usually come here. As for meals, you don’t need to worry. We have cooks who will prepare food and deliver it to you and Miss Lu daily.”

Su Qingwan looked around, smiled with satisfaction, and politely replied, “Thank you for your trouble. But I have a question I’d like to ask you.”

Huashi nodded, “Please ask. If I know anything, I won’t hide it from you.”

Su Qingwan’s expression turned serious, “When exactly will Elder Sister Yuner’s eyes recover?”

“Well… I heard my master say that Miss Lu’s eyes can be treated, but it requires the spiritual flowers of a spirit grass as a medicinal guide for her eyes to recover. However…”

Huashi paused briefly, then continued, “Although the spirit grass exists, the spiritual flowers are difficult to bloom, so… the possibility of recovery is very slim.”

Su Qingwan unconsciously furrowed his brows, lowering his eyelids to hide the guilt and regret in his eyes. If Elder Sister Yuner hadn’t risked her life to protect him, he wouldn’t have survived unscathed until today.

After they left, Liu Lan entered the bath chamber, looking at Lu Yuner with smiling eyes, “How’s your body recovering now?”

Lu Yuner smiled and said, “It’s almost recovered. The remaining toxins in my body should be cleared in a few more days.”

Liu Lan glanced at the misty pool water, then took some medicinal flower petals from the wooden rack beside it. She came to the side of the bath and put the petals into the water, “You called Young Master Su here, but have you thought everything through for the future?”

Lu Yuner replied solemnly, “Yes.”

Liu Lan’s eyelashes trembled, but her hand movements didn’t stop. She smiled slightly, “The account book matter is considered settled. Ranzhi told you that the Imperial College is about to reopen, so I have to go back. If you need anything, just tell Xiao Huashi. As for Young Master Su… we’ve already arranged accommodation for him, so you don’t need to worry. Just focus on recovering.”

Lu Yuner felt warmth in her heart at Liu Lan’s arrangements. In this world, having one or two friends who give their all is enough.

When friends release kindness and care, saying thank you seems too formal. Lu Yuner chose to accept and treat them the same way.

Liu Lan continued, “Young Master Su had a nosebleed just now.”

Lu Yuner was startled, “What? A nosebleed?”

After placing the flower petals, Liu Lan stood up and walked back. Looking at the petals in her hand, she suddenly pursed her lips and smiled, “Little Sister Yuner! You should pay more attention to Young Master Su’s health. After all, a man’s body is delicate, as soft and tender as a flower. It needs rainwater to nourish it every day. Don’t let him get pent up.”

The meaning of Liu Lan’s words couldn’t be more obvious. No wonder he had answered so quickly earlier, with his voice carrying a slight nasal tone. So he had a nosebleed.

Lu Yuner laughed with a slightly red face, her heart adding another layer of thought.

Yun Qinwang’s Mansion.

After returning from Long Cloud Mountain, Wan Ling came to the study with complex feelings. She raised her hand and gently knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Wan Ling tidied up her appearance once more, slowly pushed open the door and entered. She saw Su Bai practicing calligraphy and respectfully bowed, “Adoptive Mother.”

“What is it?” Su Bai didn’t raise her head, continuing to write with a calm expression. Her indifferent tone also carried quite a deterrent force.

Wan Ling looked at her nonchalant adoptive mother, seeming to confirm what Liu Lan had told her. She spoke respectfully, “Qingwan and I went to Long Cloud Mountain and saw Lu Yuner. Her eyes were covered, seemingly blind in both eyes, but…”

Wan Ling paused here and glanced at her adoptive mother, then continued, “Qingwan… he doesn’t want to come back.”

Su Bai’s brush didn’t pause as she said indifferently, “Let him be.”

Wan Ling’s eyes flickered slightly, and she said reluctantly, “But Qingwan is an unmarried man after all. Being with Lu Yuner damages his reputation. Moreover, since Qingwan has been frequenting the Lu mansion, rumors have been flying outside. It’s hard to silence the masses.”

Su Bai suddenly stopped writing and looked up at Wan Ling, “Ling’er, you’re a sensible person. Qingwan has no romantic feelings for you. You should have sensed this.”

A trace of bitterness passed through Wan Ling’s heart. How could she not know these things? In Qingwan’s eyes, she had always been treated as a sister, but she had never viewed him as a brother.

Seeing the gloom that welled up in Wan Ling’s eyes, Su Bai’s tone changed slightly, “You and Qingwan have known each other since childhood. You know Qingwan’s personality. Once he’s made up his mind about something, it won’t change. Since he has chosen Lu Yuner, he won’t fall for anyone else. Otherwise, before Lu Yuner appeared, if you and Qingwan were meant to be, it would have happened naturally.”

Su Bai’s words hit the mark, seeing through the relationship between the three of them completely. Wan Ling’s eyelashes trembled, but she still felt somewhat confused, “Adoptive Mother, are you at ease entrusting Qingwan to someone like Lu Yuner?”

When discussing Lu Yuner, Su Bai felt particularly at ease. She suddenly smiled, “Although her family background is a bit modest, she’s still from a military family after all. She conducts herself properly, doesn’t have any butterflies or swallows around her, doesn’t dally with flowers or willows, and has no scandals or bad habits.”

Su Bai paused for a moment, her expression cooling slightly, and spoke seriously, “As for whether she’s sincere towards Qingwan, you should have felt it these past few days. Lu Yuner once saved Qingwan’s life, and with everything that has happened recently, you and I both understand that Lu Yuner and Qingwan are now inseparable. The feelings between them can’t be severed.”

“If Lu Yuner ever mistreats Qingwan, I definitely won’t let her off. I’ll make sure her entire Lu family suffers punishment along with her.”

After hearing Su Bai’s words and recalling the tragic scene in the mountain village that day and the blind Lu Yuner she saw today, a faint sense of acceptance arose in Wan Ling’s heart, and her dislike towards Lu Yuner diminished considerably.