Chapter 13: Fear of Light

Seeing the atmosphere cool off, Cui Can shifted the topic to herself.

She ran a small interest class. “This year, I want to expand the scale and open a Go class. County Princess, do you play Go?”

Zhao Chiyun responded reservedly. “I have some knowledge of the qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”

“Tsk, you’re definitely being modest. You ancient people didn’t have phones, so you played these all day. You can come teach at my place later. I’ll pay you the highest hourly rate.”

Cui Can didn’t forget to poach her.

Gan Xun said, “What are you thinking? She’s going back.”

“She can still go back? How?”

Cui Can thought simply, assuming Zhao Chiyun was really just touring and could leave whenever she wanted.

Unexpectedly, one sentence silenced both of them.

It was like arriving at Kangqiao.

Gan Xun frantically signaled with her eyes.

Cui Can realized she had said something wrong again and hurriedly changed her tune. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. No need to worry about tomorrow today. Let’s eat first, let’s eat first.”

Zhao Chiyun remained silent for a long time. She lowered her eyes and fiddled with the teacup in her hand.

After a while, she asked, “Gan Xun works at your class?”

“No way. Her education is too high. She wouldn’t look at my little temple.”

She glanced at the message from a colleague on her phone, quickly typed a reply, then grinned mischievously. “She also wouldn’t dare come to my place.”

“Why not?”

Gan Xun kicked her under the table. “You talk too much.”

Cui Can pointed at her phone screen. “My partner has been chasing her for a long time.”

“Chasing?” Zhao Chiyun perked up with interest.

“It’s one-sided pursuit.”

“To put it crudely, she wants to sleep with her, but she doesn’t want to sleep with her.”

Cui Can said this because she had asked Gan Xun why she wouldn’t consider it—was it because she looked down on her, or… was she still thinking of someone?

That person had been single all this time, but she had crushed on someone before.

Gan Xun had joked back then, “When you don’t want to sleep with someone, you don’t need a reason.”

Now Gan Xun was truly angry. “Who asked you?”

She observed that Zhao Chiyun’s expression wasn’t good.

The County Princess had seen big scenes before, but she wasn’t adapted yet. She probably hadn’t expected things to get so crude.

She would definitely scold Cui Can for being rude, daring to speak like this in front of nobility!

But she hesitated and said nothing.

Gan Xun understood. She was probably thinking about how Cui Can was treating them to this meal, and besides, Cui Can had been quite pitiful today. Forget it.

Why wasn’t she more tactful?

Zhao Chiyun’s thoughts were hard to control. The moment she heard “sleep,” she recalled the messy scenes at Cui Can’s house.

How utterly unbearable. It ruined her appetite.

She glanced at Gan Xun, who was glaring at Cui Can. Objectively speaking, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone had vulgar thoughts about Gan Xun.

Looking her over carefully, she nodded and said, “A graceful lady is a fine match for a gentleman.”

As long as Zhao Chiyun restrained her noble arrogance and sharpness, her gaze naturally carried a gentle affection.

It was probably an illusion caused by her long lashes, beautiful eye shape, and stunning features.

Anyone she looked at would feel a bit happy.

Gan Xun’s unfounded disappointment vanished just as unfoundedly.

Smiling, she explained, “That’s also a lady.”

If it had been a man, Cui Can wouldn’t have been interested in adult jokes. She wouldn’t have even mentioned it.

Zhao Chiyun said nothing, appearing calm on the surface, but inwardly puzzled and confused. How could there be so many here?

Cui Can and her partner Lan Xiaoxi were classmates. They had started their business together in their senior year and opened a painting and calligraphy interest class.

Over the years, they had built a solid reputation locally, with stable enrollment.

Although Lan Xiaoxi had never truly dated a man, she was said to have been very straight back in university.

It was also said that she claimed the entrepreneurial pressure was too great, and after being influenced by Cui Can, she bent.

This was backstory.

Gan Xun had finished her graduate studies in another province and returned to the city. On the day she went to find Cui Can, Lan Xiaoxi fell in love at first sight.

Gan Xun was straightforward. After politely and directly rejecting her several times to no avail, she simply blocked her.

Things were peaceful for a while after that.

Lan Xiaoxi acted like the sky had fallen, wailing as she asked Cui Can why.

Cui Can went to ask Gan Xun, which led to that “don’t want to sleep” exchange.

“I see.” Zhao Chiyun watched from afar, nitpicking the words. “Miss Lan’s deep affection flows east.”

She knew better than anyone that since Gan Xun was straight, she would absolutely never agree.

Every straight woman had her destined path and fated match. She could not accept such feelings.

Sure enough, Gan Xun’s attitude was indifferent. “Don’t mention her. Let’s eat.”

The dishes came one by one. Gan Xun was the first to reach for them with her chopsticks.

“You’re hungry?”

Cui Can found it incredulous. “The honorable guest hasn’t even touched hers yet. What are you grabbing for?”

Gan Xun bit into the pigeon. “I have to eat first. She’s afraid it might be poisoned.”

“Ah, it’s like that?”

Cui Can spoke profoundly. “Royalty is different from us, huh.”

The little white mouse Gan Xun deeply agreed.

Cui Can thought to herself that Lan Xiaoxi had better not see this scene.

Zhao Chiyun quite liked this meal. Everything here was awful in a million ways, but the food far surpassed anything in the Mirror Country.

She didn’t talk much while eating, simply listening to Gan Xun and Cui Can chat.

The two had a good relationship and spoke casually, enjoying poking at each other’s sore spots.

One said Lan Xiaoxi was still waiting—if she got too lonely, she should just consider it.

The other said Xu Yanyan would probably kneel at the door begging forgiveness once her tantrum was over. She shouldn’t soften up again; even a love brain had its limits.

They must have known each other for a long time. Their barbs were harsh, but neither took it to heart.

Lan Xiaoxi had been bombarding her with messages. After Cui Can replied “eating with Gan Xun,” things finally quieted down.

After the meal, Cui Can said, “I need to head to the studio. What about you two? Heading home?”

Gan Xun looked at Zhao Chiyun. “You wanted to wash your hair.”

On this outing, the County Princess had suffered too many shocks. For her, every new place meant more risk.

She held her forehead wearily. “Another day.”

Gan Xun agreed immediately. “Sure. Your hair is a bit messy anyway. Tomorrow works too.”

“Alright. You two head home early and whisper sweet nothings.”

Cui Can’s words carried a hidden meaning. As she spoke, she eyed Zhao Chiyun’s hair, wishing she could claim it for herself. “Lend me a third of it, and I’d be happy.”

Zhao Chiyun looked at her. “Miss Cui has plenty too.”

“My curls just make it look that way. I don’t actually have many.”

This amused Zhao Chiyun into laughter.

The three left the Cantonese restaurant. A few steps away was a milk tea shop. Cui Can said, “Let’s get a drink. My treat.”

Gan Xun ordered lemon tea. Zhao Chiyun, fearing for her life, said she didn’t want any.

Cui Can insisted, “There’s really no poison!”

“Not drinking.” Zhao Chiyun stood firm.

Fine, no drink then. Gan Xun didn’t push her.

After Cui Can left, they waited for their ride under the shade of a roadside tree.

Zhao Chiyun put on her sunglasses. Sweat trickled down inside her clothes. The summer here was much hotter than in the Mirror Country.

She pondered for a moment. “I have something I want to ask.”

“I said we’d talk at home.” Gan Xun yawned.

“It’s not that.”

“Just say it.”

“Since so many people around you are lesbians, were you surprised the first time you found out?”

Gan Xun pretended. “A little.”

Of course she had been surprised—and thrilled—when she discovered her own kind.

“Would you despise them? Even feel disgusted?”

“Would you question their character because of it?”

Gan Xun sensed something off. Her heart sank slightly. “What do you mean? Didn’t you say you weren’t homophobic?”

She had forgotten that even with Zhao Chiyun’s high tolerance, she was still from ancient times. Entrenched ideas wouldn’t change overnight.

She shouldn’t have brought her on this trip.

Zhao Chiyun shook her head. “You only asked about me. What about you?”

The sunlight was blinding. Gan Xun shifted her position.

“Of course not. It’s like food—you can love rice, but you can’t say someone has a problem just because they love steamed buns.”

Zhao Chiyun smiled. “Wise words from a sage.”

She took off her sunglasses, turned, and helped Gan Xun put them on. “I know you fear light. Here, for you.”

She even smoothed the hair at Gan Xun’s temple.

“Perfectly neat.”

I fear light.

The little mouse gritted her teeth inwardly and chugged her iced lemon tea in one go.

Damn these boundary-less straight women!