Chapter 1232: TangNing Reluctance (2/2)

“You’ll be working hard,” Gu Beiyue said.

“As I should,” Qin Min smiled.

Gu Beiyue didn’t linger for long. He was readying to leave before Qin Min even finished her soup.

“It’s cold outside, so no need to send me off. Rest early,” Gu Beiyue remarked.

Qin Ming was quite indifferent herself, but the sight of Gu Beiyue’s lone form stirred something within her. She chased after him and said, “Let me send you off anyways, it’s New Year’s Eve after all.”

Gu Beiyue didn’t refuse. The two of them walked shoulder-by-shoulder until they reached the gates.

“Eldest Miss Qin, please stay your steps,” Gu Beiyue intoned.

“Academy Head, may you have a peaceful journey,” Qin Min said sincerely.

Gu Beiyue was already walking off when he stopped and turned back. “Eldest Miss Qin, I did bring the fireworks. They’re on the tea table in your room.”

Qin Min waved and politely replied, “Many thanks!” It wasn’t until Gu Beiyue’s figure vanished into the night that she dropped her hand and muttered, “He didn’t even eat but still paid for his meal?”

When she returned to the rooms, she spotted the fireworks as promised. After staring for a while, she suddenly began to panic. “Shaoyao[1] quick, bring some matches. Let’s go set off fireworks!”

She was so rushed she turned to run, but accidentally tripped over the doorstep and crashed into the floor. The servant girl Shaoyao quickly ran to help her up. “Young Miss, what happened? Did you trip? Does it hurt?”

Qin Min crawled to her feet and ignored the pain to grab the matches out of Shaoyao’s hands. She dashed into the courtyard with fireworks in tow and started lighting them up. As they crackled and popped, the skies were filled with dazzling lights in bloom.

Qin Min stood beneath the spectacle with her head raised in a smile. “So beautiful…”

--

Gu Beiyue hadn’t gone far when he looked back to see the bright and luminous sights above him. He stopped to watched until they fizzled out before turning to leave again. After this parting, how long would it be before they met again?

Long after Gu Beiyue left, Qin Min was left standing in the courtyard and staring at the ashes on the ground. Shaoyao inspected her from head to toe, tugging her here and there. “Young Miss, where were you hurt just now? Does it hurt?”

“Young Miss, you just recovered your legs, so you can’t fall down!”

“Young Miss, why were you in such a rush anyways?”

Qin Min let herself be asked this and that before she finally looked over and mumbled, “Shaoyao, I...can’t bear to see him go.”

Shaoyao gave a start. “Young Miss, this servant is reluctant to see sir off as well! It’s even the New Year’s...he really is a good person.”

Qin Min stared at Shaoyao for a long time before she laughed helplessly. Instead of saying any more, she returned to her rooms.

Shaoyao, this foolish girl!

With a New Year’s Eve dinner and fireworks, Gu Beiyue and Qin Min could technically count as having passed the New Year’s officially. However, there was one man who had nothing but wine to keep him company.

The long missing Ning Cheng.

On the grasslands of Wintercrow Country’s northern borders, a hearty bonfire soared to the skies. The men of Wintercrow Country feared no cold as they sat by the flames in their fox fur vests, eating meat and drinking alcohol. Ning Cheng was mixed amongst them, dressed in a similar style. He seemed no different from his companions, except for the fact that he only drank, not ate. Unless one looked closely, it would be impossible to recognize him as the head of the Di Clan and an ex-great general of the north.

While the men were celebrating over wine, female slaves streamed out of the surrounding tents. One of them moved to sit by Ning Cheng’s side…