Chapter 32: Parting Oaths and Eternal Farewell

Shen Residence, New Moon Pavilion.

"Is there something on your mind?" Shen Yanxi asked, watching Lu Jin fidget restlessly at her side.

"Ah... no, what could I possibly have on my mind..."

Heh, could I really tell you I'm planning to run away today?

Why has this girl been coming here so often these last few days, almost every single day? If I don't leave soon, we might actually start developing feelings for each other.

"If nothing's wrong, why are you so ill at ease? Or is it that you don't enjoy talking with me?" Shen Yanxi couldn't shake the feeling that this fellow was hiding something from her.

"How could that be?" Lu Jin replied, wearing a genial smile.

"It's just that you're so beautiful. Being with you makes me nervous..." As he spoke, Lu Jin lowered his head, feigning bashfulness.

Life is but a play, and all depends on one's acting.

His words caught Shen Yanxi off guard, a faint blush rising to her cheeks as she struggled for a response.

A peculiar atmosphere seemed to swirl in the silence between them.

"Well... I should be going, then. You should rest," Shen Yanxi eventually excused herself, unable to bear the odd tension any longer.

"Ah, why not stay and chat a while longer?" Lu Jin looked up.

"Should I?" Shen Yanxi replied with a teasing glance.

"Miss Shen, take care!" Lu Jin hurriedly made a show of seeing her out. He was only being polite—did she really take it seriously?

"Hmph!" Shen Yanxi feigned annoyance, shooting Lu Jin a fierce glare before calling for her maid and leaving.

This fool truly doesn't know how fortunate he is.

Inside, Lu Jin finally breathed a sigh of relief. At last, the young lady was gone. Who could stand these daily visits, all her endless questions and concern?

Leaving the Shen family had never been more urgent.

Lu Jin had considered seeking the family's permission to depart, but after several attempts, Shen Yanxi either brushed him off with idle talk or stormed off in a huff. Clearly, that path would get him nowhere.

He'd also toyed with the idea of frequenting pleasure houses and staying out all night—surely behavior Shen Yanxi would never tolerate in a husband.

But after much deliberation, he abandoned the plan. Compared to being thrown out of the Shen household, he figured he was more likely to end up as fish food.

Such were the helpless realities of life—he held no power over his fate.

That left only one path: a quiet escape.

Given his current standing with the Shen family, surely they wouldn't launch a citywide search for someone so insignificant?

If he could just manage to lie low for a while, figure out his own circumstances, and settle somewhere new, it might all work out.

Resolute at last, Lu Jin rose from his chair, made his way to the study, and shut the door behind him.

He went through his belongings once more, checking for anything he might have missed. In truth, he had very little.

He placed his fishing float and travel permit in his sleeve pouch—he had no silver, that would have to be dealt with later.

Once everything was packed, Lu Jin sat upright in his chair and called for Caiyun.

"Young master!" Caiyun entered, beads of sweat on her brow.

This girl always seemed busy, though with what, Lu Jin had no idea.

Watching Caiyun's simple, honest face, Lu Jin found himself at a loss for words.

That was the way of things: spend enough time with someone, and feelings inevitably grow. Parting is never easy.

"Young master!" Caiyun called again—why was he always daydreaming?

"Caiyun, take Xiaobai and fetch some stones like this one from Beihai. I have use for them," Lu Jin said, handing her a pitch-black stone wrapped in paper.

Caiyun shot it a look of disdain. Never reading, always up to some nonsense.

"I’ll have another maid go, young master. You shouldn’t be left unattended," Caiyun replied, though she accepted the stone.

"I don't trust the others. This is important. Xiaobai is too careless—you’ll need to watch him, make sure he doesn’t bring back useless rocks..." Lu Jin urged her patiently.

Caiyun frowned. Was Xiaobai really that careless?

What was so special about this filthy stone anyway? Treating it like a treasure—aren’t you a bit old to be playing with rocks?

"If you need anything, young master, let Xiaoyu serve you," she relented, though her tone was tinged with resignation.

As Caiyun left, Lu Jin breathed out in relief. He had finally gotten rid of those two shadows.

As for Yuanfang, he’d told him yesterday that he wouldn’t be going out today, so Yuanfang hadn’t shown up. The other maids would be easy enough to deal with.

Just then, he heard Caiyun scolding Xiaobai in the courtyard.

“How are you serving the young master, letting him play with stones instead of reading?”

“That stone was something the young master found himself…”

Their bickering faded into the distance.

Lu Jin moved to the desk, pulled out a sheet of paper, poured some water into the inkstone, and began to grind ink with care.

“A Letter of Farewell.” Three characters appeared boldly on the page.

He hadn’t planned to leave a note, but thinking of Shen Yanxi, he decided it was best to be clear—parting ways forever, each seeking their own peace.

“Spring’s splendor contends in beauty, colors outshining white silk, the zither still rests in imperial hands, yet new tunes supplant the old...

The vermilion strings broken, the bright mirror marred, morning dew evaporates, flowers fade with the season, a song for white-haired partings, mourning our farewell. May you find peace, forget me. The river flows on, and our parting is forever!”

For the word "you" in the farewell, Lu Jin deliberately left it unchanged. From the start, he had always placed Shen Yanxi as an equal—this “you” was meant as a mark of respect, nothing to do with gender.

He hoped their strange bond might end like a chance meeting between gentlemen—no resentment, only the occasional, gentle remembrance.

When the ink dried, Lu Jin turned the page over and pressed it down with a paperweight.

He’d repeatedly instructed Caiyun never to enter his study without his word, so he had no fear of being discovered too soon.

By the time Shen Yanxi found it, he would surely have escaped.

He took one last look at the room, slipped out quietly, closed the door behind him, and headed for the courtyard gate.

“Young master, are you going out?” Xiaoyu, busy in the courtyard, noticed and hurried over.

“I’m just going to see how Caiyun and Xiaobai are doing. Go about your business, no need to follow me...” Lu Jin replied casually.

“But how can that be? Caiyun said—” Xiaoyu began to protest, but Lu Jin’s stern voice cut her off.

“I’m just in the residence, what trouble could there be? Or can I not even give you instructions anymore?” he barked.

Xiaoyu lowered her head and fell silent. She had never seen him so angry.

Lu Jin ignored her and strode towards the gate.

He wandered southeast, affecting an air of nonchalance. Servants hurried out of his way or bowed their heads in greeting.

It wasn't that they all recognized him, but attire alone made it clear who was master and who was servant.

Those who did know him addressed him quietly as “young master,” but asked no questions. After all, he had nothing to do with them—why meddle?

Lu Jin responded in kind, praying he wouldn’t run into anyone truly familiar.

He’d reasoned it out: scaling the walls by night was out of the question—not only did he lack the skill, but the Shen residence was no paper tiger.

If he failed, he’d be subject to the family’s discipline—and that would be a disaster.

So, this—strolling out by day in the most ordinary, casual way—was the best option.

To make his act even more convincing, Lu Jin carried only his identification; nothing else.

Amidst the riot of spring blossoms, he remained but a passing guest in the gardens of Shen.