“S-Senior Xie!” Zhong Yilan almost lost her calculated elegance when she stammered. But she regained her composure quickly and said, “That’s so kind of you to motivate Yun Qing-er like this. If she ever gets to the level where she can challenge you, I’m sure she’ll remember it and appreciate your encouragement!”

“I don’t think that was meant as an encouragement,” I retorted, not letting the perfect chance slip by. If Xie Lun was willing to accept a challenge from me, it would be not only an ideal solution to the talisman problem, but also a great opportunity for me to learn and improve. “If you can challenge him, Zhong Yilan, I don’t see why I cannot.”

Xie Lun gave me a half-amused, half-approving look. “I take that as an invitation,” he said.

I nodded. “If I could have the honor, I’d like to challenge you first during the tournament.”

“You can’t!” Zhong Yilan exclaimed before Xie Lun replied. “You made a bet with me first!”

Xie Lun frowned. “Since when does your bet override the tournament rules, Zhong Yilan? The rules state clearly that the challenger has the right to decide the order of competitions.” He turned to me and said, “It’s a deal then.”

The look on Zhong Yilan’s face flashed, from astonishment to embarrassment, then to a trace of fear. I waited for her reactions—this deal was the last thing she wanted to see, and she surely wouldn’t give up so easily. What would she do next to stop me from challenging Xie Lun first?

But she seemed to have decided to not make a move today. The smile returned to her face. “I wish you good luck, Yun Qing-er,” she said sweetly. “I’ll leave you two to discuss it further, and I hope you’ll win!”

She stood up from her chair and gave Xie Lun an elegant light bow, then made her way out. The charming smile was still on her lips when she passed by my side and whispered in my ears, “Don’t even think you can impress him with your empty talk and pretty hair. You have no chance.”

I was at a loss as I watched her smile turn into a sneer. Then I remembered the new braid that Bai Ye combed for me this morning. Zhong Yilan thought I had put on the new look to … impress Xie Lun?

Things might’ve just gotten more complicated.

~ ~

“I think she’ll hate me even more now,” I sighed after recounting the tale of the day to Bai Ye in the evening. If simply being Bai Ye’s disciple was enough to make her resent me so much, how much worse would it get if she started to see me as a potential love rival? I’d have to watch my back every day from now on.

The box of candied hawthorns lay quietly on the table in front of us. Despite the tempting glow of the crystalline glaze, I didn’t feel much appetite. I just wanted the troublesome day to be over.

Contrary to my frustration, Bai Ye was unfazed. “There’s only so much she can do, and it’s not a bad thing to force her hand without giving her too much time to plan. We are more ready than she is.”

I took a deep breath. He was right. At the very least, Zhong Yilan wanted to keep her image in front of Xie Lun, which meant that she wouldn’t dare do anything ostentatious to someone who challenged him. Especially not before the tournament.

“The situation is in my favor as long as she keeps vying for Senior Xie’s attention,” I said, letting the heavier thoughts drop from my mind and trying to focus on the bright side. “Though I have trouble understanding her in that regard … Senior Xie clearly doesn’t like her, and she’s not stupid. How could she not realize it?”

Bai Ye huffed, “Sometimes rejections only make people want to prove themselves more, especially when they are vain like her.” He picked up a skewer of hawthorns and offered it to me, “Sure you don’t want to try one? These won’t last long in the summer.”

I smiled. I had never been too keen on sweets since I was a child, but I didn’t want to turn down the gesture from him, so I plucked the spit from his hand and took a big bite. “Senior Xie said something similar,” I mumbled with a mouthful, “about the season. He didn’t lie—the sugar coating does taste better in the winter. I wonder why East Village made them so early in the year.”

“Fresh hawthorns give it a different flavor. Some people prefer it that way.” Bai Ye paused for a brief moment. “You’ve known Xie Lun for a while, Qing-er … What do you think of him?”

“I’ve seen his sword skills at the village,” I recollected my memories of Xie Lun’s style and said. “He’s strong, certainly worthy of his reputation as the top disciple in his rank. I’m not expecting to win the challenge at all, but I think it’ll be a great experience regardless.”

Bai Ye gazed at me. Then he shook his head and smiled. “That was not what I meant …” he said softly, though he didn’t explain further.

“Do you want some?” I passed the candied hawthorns back to him, paying no more heed to the small digression. “It’s a little sticky and messy … but the tartness is refreshing for the season. I hate to say that I agree with Zhong Yilan on that much.”

“I can tell it’s messy. You’ve smeared it all over your lips.”

I started, instinctively trying to wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. But he caught my wrist before I could move, and the next moment, his breath was warm on my cheeks. “I can help,” he whispered.

A moist softness whisked over my bottom lip.. I gasped, and the skewer that I was still holding in my other hand dropped onto the ground.