Shen Qingqiu’s preferences being what they were, the first haven he thought of was naturally Cang Qiong Mountain. But Luo Binghe would rather have died than go back there.
That was about right. As of now, with Luo Binghe’s martial aspect damaged, he’d definitely get hounded by onlookers if they went, and Liu Qingge would definitely be within that crowd.
So, Shen Qingqiu compromised and just brought him to the Human Realm.
As they say, the greatest form of solitude is solitude within a city. Thus they settled in an especially prosperous town. While Luo Binghe was repairing his martial aspect, they would take up residence there to pass the time. Shen Qingqiu soon got so bored that his bones began to itch, so he casually took up work at the largest academy in the city.
Naturally, Luo Binghe was unhappy with this. First of all, he disliked it when Shen Qingqiu took other disciples. Wasn’t that throng of disciples on Qing Jing Peak enough for him? And now he was taking more?!
Second of all, he disliked it even more when people assumed he was Shen Qingqiu’s son—especially because every time they got into bed at night, he was kissed and hugged, yet he couldn’t do anything at all. He even had to listen to Shen Qingqiu teasingly call him “good boy” and “my little darling.” More and more, he came to hate his own lack of ability.
When Shen Qingqiu returned from the academy one day, he saw that Luo Binghe had brought a stool to the doorway and was sitting there waiting for him, an aloof and unfathomable expression on his face.
If you swapped him with the adult version, this sight would naturally have made one shrink back in fear, trembling in their boots—but what about when he was the wrong size? All he did was make it irresistible to reach out with a pair of fingers to pinch his wee face. No matter the depths of refusal he summoned to his face, even the little chirping sparrows surrounding him couldn’t stop building dirt castles all around his stool, one after another, as they occasionally tried to cajole him to join their games.
Said sparrows were the neighboring families’ kids. Since the first day Luo Binghe and Shen Qingqiu moved in, the children had submitted to the male protagonist’s charisma halo and clung to him like nothing else; he couldn’t even chase them away. Fortunately, they were all afraid of Shen Qingqiu—every child was afraid of a teacher—so as soon as they saw him return, the flock scattered.
Thus Shen Qingqiu gracefully extended his fingers and moved to claim his usual pinch of Luo Binghe’s cheeks.
Then a series of bright, crisp voices called “Shen-xiansheng!” from behind him, and a few graceful figures decked out in silver and gold walked into the courtyard uninvited.
Shen Qingqiu turned and saw that the newcomers were a few of the town’s rather energetic married ladies. He gave them a nod, but before he could offer a greeting, the one in the lead strode up and caught his arm, whereupon she tried to drag him out and away.
“Shen-xiansheng, we’ve been looking for you all day! Come on, come on, come with me quick—the girl’s going to go mad waiting!”
“Go where?” Luo Binghe snapped. “What girl?!”
Shen Qingqiu was also confused.
Lady A, startled by Luo Binghe’s dark expression, fanned herself and let out a sound of surprise. “Such a little one, yet he’s so scary when he talks. Whatever is the young master so angry about? Shen-xiansheng, is he mad at you?”
Lady B bustled over. “Here, here, come over here, Young Master. Jiejie has some candy for you; don’t get in your daddy’s way.”
Luo Binghe ignored them and assumed a cold look. “Shiz…did you make any plans today?”
“This mas…I don’t remember?”
Lady A tutted at him. “Shen-xiansheng, you know perfectly well, and you still ask. Do you have to make me say it clearly? Fine, fine. I have a niece in my family, an excellent and respectable girl. I thought you two would be a good match, so we arranged a banquet in the Cheng Xi Pavilion to let you get to know each other.”
“And the girl from my family.”
“And my cousin. My cousin too!”
It looked like everything happened fast in lively places. Shen Qingqiu hadn’t been here very long, but all the residents of the city were already talking about how there was a new scholar in town, and not only was he well read and highly talented, polite and soft-spoken, he also had a handsome and elegant appearance and was very refreshing.
Of course, all of this was superficial! The most important thing was that he had to be rich, stinking rich! He’d thrown down the money for a respectable courtyard all at once—how could he have managed that if he wasn’t rich? And he’d even come with a four- or five-year-old son, and what a pure and adorable child he was, already a handsome sprout at this age. He would certainly develop into an elegant and dignified gentleman in the future. How devastating! Anyone with an unmarried daughter of suitable age or a newborn daughter without an arranged betrothal would be raring to snag them. A match with either the elder or the younger—neither would be a bad deal!
Luo Binghe’s face was green with rage. “He doesn’t need matchmaking!”
His rightful partner wasn’t dead yet!
Lady C strolled over, swaying her hips. “Little Young Master Shen, do you not want your dad to marry a new wife? Won’t it be good to have a gentle, pretty new mom to take care of you?”
“That’s right, that’s right,” Lady B added. “Shen-xiansheng, you can’t spoil your son like this. I hear you even bring him with you to the academy, and he even sits on your lap? You don’t have to take it from me, but if you pamper him this much, you won’t raise him into a good man. My son, you see—”
At the sight of Luo Binghe on the verge of flattening this entire courtyard with a flick of his arm, Shen Qingqiu hurriedly picked him up and retreated. “This Shen accepts all of your good intentions. I do not plan on, um, restringing my qin, as it were. I have no one at home and a young son to look after, so please forgive me for my inability to accept your invitation.”
“What is Shen-xiansheng saying?!” asked Lady A, who wore a large red peony pinned at her temple, as she spoke with a righteous vigor. “Men and women ought to get married when they come of age. And you have such a large residence—how can it go without a lady to attend the house? By what logic ought a person of such character and elegant demeanor be all alone with a single child? Not only will you be uncomfortable, it won’t look good. People will talk!”
Lady A waved her round fan, brooking no resistance. “It’s a date! Shen-xiansheng, you’re coming with us right now. The little young master can stay home; someone will come to keep him company.”
Luo Binghe sneered. “Just who do you think is going to leave?!”
Shen Qingqiu wasn’t able to keep up with this savage charm for long. In consideration for the lives of his three eager matchmakers—and everyone else in town—he flung out a few talismans to render them unconscious, abandoned the residence he had bought not even a month ago, and fled.