This low growl of suppressed fury snapped Qiu Yun back to her senses. Only then did she notice Liang He’s strange expression. Confused, she asked, "Who what?"
Liang He’s face was flushed with anger. He glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then grabbed Qiu Yun by the sleeve and pulled her into a corner of the alley. "What... what did you just say?" he whispered urgently.
"Say what?" Qiu Yun blinked.
Liang He felt a surge of exasperation. In this era, knowledge of sexual health was a taboo subject; a girl just starting university could be as clueless about the birds and the bees as a local kindergartner. He was both angry and anxious, but as a man, it was difficult to be too direct. Looking into Qiu Yun’s watery, innocent eyes, he felt a pang of heartache. He unconsciously softened his breathing and asked gently, "You just said... it’s been four months... since your last period?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Qiu Yun remembered what she had blurted out while her mind was wandering. Her face turned beet red instantly. she lowered her head in embarrassment. "I... why did I even tell you that..."
However, Liang He interpreted this gesture as a sign of sorrow and shame. He pressed on relentlessly, "Is what you said true?"
Qiu Yun felt even more awkward, but Liang He’s expression was so tense—as if this were a matter of life and death—that she had no choice but to blush and whisper, "It’s true." She added, "It’s true. You... you shouldn't worry about it... it has nothing to do with you."
At those words, Liang He felt as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. His mind went blank, and he could no longer feel his own heartbeat. He could only hear himself asking, with forced composure, "Do you know what this means?"
"What does it mean?" Qiu Yun looked up, only to see Liang He’s face had turned deathly pale. He was staring at her—no, not just "looking"—he was "boring" into her. His gaze was so intense it felt as if he had magnifying glasses over his eyes, trying to scrutinize every single pore on her face. If it weren't for the overcast, rainy weather, she feared his gaze might have acted like a lens under the sun, burning two holes into her skin. She frowned and couldn't help but ask, "What’s wrong with you? And why... why are you here?"
After all, she had just stepped out of Qiu Zhenghong’s courtyard, and every nerve was hypersensitive. Finding Liang He here by such a coincidence made her naturally suspicious.
But Liang He’s thoughts were in a completely different place. *What does it mean? She’s actually asking me what it means! This silly girl knows nothing.* Liang He felt like his head was going to explode. Without thinking, he blurted out, "Don't you know your own body is abnormal? If this isn't handled right, a life is at stake! Why didn't you tell me sooner!"
Qiu Yun was startled, and a sentence slipped out of her mouth as well: "You know?"
Liang He felt as if ten thousand arrows had pierced his heart. He suppressed his rising emotions and stared at Qiu Yun for a long time before stepping forward. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to lower her guard and ease her worries. "Don't be afraid. Tell me, what exactly happened? Who... who is the man?"
Now it was Qiu Yun’s turn to stare at Liang He. Countless thoughts and theories raced through her mind: *No way. I just left Qiu Zhenghong’s courtyard—could Liang He already know? That’s impossible! But if he doesn't know, why is he so nervous about my health? And what does he mean by 'a life is at stake'? Also, if I really tell him the truth, could he even accept it? But if he really does know, how did he find out? How much does he know?*
Liang He seemed to sense Qiu Yun’s hesitation. He took her by the arm, glanced around, and said, "Let’s talk somewhere else. Is your grandfather back? Should we go inside and talk?"
"No!" Qiu Yun said immediately. "We can't go in!"
"Why not?"
"My... my grandfather isn't back yet," Qiu Yun hedged. If Liang He went in and saw the bizarre Qiu Zhenghong, it would be a disaster. She grabbed Liang He’s hand. "There’s no one home. Let’s not go in."
Liang He looked down at his arm, where a pair of small, slender hands were holding him.
This was the first time they had ever held hands.
Her hands weren't large, and her palms were soft, but they were sweating because of her nervousness.
Perhaps he should have lingered in this moment, but he pulled away without hesitation.
He said, "I’m going in to check."
Then, he pushed open the courtyard gate.
One drop, two drops, three drops—the rain began to fall again.
*It’s over, it’s all over,* Qiu Yun thought. *I'm doomed.*
The room was still the same room, the Eight Immortals table was still the same table, and the dim yellow light hadn't changed at all. By the time Qiu Yun ran inside, out of breath, she saw Liang He and Qiu Zhenghong facing each other, staring one another down.
When Liang He saw Qiu Yun enter, his face was full of confusion. He signaled her with his eyes, demanding an explanation for who this handsome young man was.
It seemed they hadn't spoken yet. Qiu Yun breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was wondering how to introduce Qiu Zhenghong, she heard him let out a series of "yi-yi wu-wu" sounds, gesturing wildly with his hands.
A flash of inspiration hit Qiu Yun, and she understood instantly. She hurriedly said, "Teacher Liang, this is... this is my grandfather’s disciple! Yes! His apprentice. He was born a mute and can't speak."
Then she turned to Qiu Zhenghong and introduced Liang He with great solemnity, "Senior Brother, this is the university teacher I was just telling you about."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Zhenghong’s face lit up with joy. He made more muffled sounds and reached out his right hand to shake Liang He’s.
Liang He had no choice but to extend his own hand. "Hello. My name is Liang. I’m Qiu Xiaoyun’s class counselor. I heard her grandfather had returned today, so I came by for a home visit."
When Qiu Zhenghong heard Liang He’s self-introduction, his eyes widened as if he had found a precious treasure. He hummed a few more sounds toward Qiu Yun, then reached out with his left hand as well, clutching Liang He’s hand and shaking it incessantly.
Liang He felt uncomfortable being held by a man like that. He managed to pull his hand away, but he used a bit too much force, and Qiu Zhenghong nearly lost his balance. Looking closer, Liang He realized the man was missing a leg.
Qiu Yun rushed forward to support him. "I’m sorry, Teacher Liang. My Senior Brother suffered an infection years ago and had to have an amputation."
Liang He wanted to ask: *Grandfather isn't back, but a Senior Brother has appeared out of thin air?* But seeing the situation, he could only say, "Let’s sit down first."
After settling Qiu Yun Zhenghong, Qiu Yun subserviently moved an Eight Immortals chair over for Liang He to sit. Liang He didn't stand on ceremony and sat down. Qiu Yun spoke like a servant who had made a mistake. "Yes, my grandfather only has this one closed-door disciple. He usually travels everywhere with him and is rarely home, so not many people know about him. Naturally, I don't mention him much. Because my Senior Brother’s leg is bad and he can't stand the dampness, he came back to recover for a while."
"Can't stand the dampness?" Liang He glanced at the rain outside, which hadn't stopped for a week.
"And since my grandfather didn't come back for the New Year, he sent my Senior Brother back to check on me. That’s the main reason," Qiu Yun quickly corrected herself.
"Then where is your grandfather?"
"He... he..." Before Qiu Yun could come up with an answer, Qiu Zhenghong started making noises again as if explaining something. Qiu Yun said, "Senior Brother just told me that Grandfather took on a big job recently. He can't come back until he finishes solving it for the client."
Liang He couldn't help but frown. Before entering, his chest had been tight with frustration. The strangeness of the courtyard and Qiu Yun’s attempts to stop him had already made him suspicious. But after coming inside, he found a disabled man—missing a leg and unable to speak. It felt as if his forceful punch had landed on a bale of cotton. He felt the situation was becoming tricky. It seemed Qiu Zhenghong was Qiu Yun’s only guardian; contacting him was now the most important thing.
So he asked again, this time directly to Qiu Zhenghong, "Can you contact your master? Qiu Xiaoyun just told me something very important. He must come back immediately."
Qiu Zhenghong made more "yi-yi wu-wu" sounds. Liang He was getting annoyed and asked, "Can you write?"
Qiu Yun brought over a pen and paper. Qiu Zhenghong wrote: *Master is in secluded meditation.*
Liang He spoke very seriously to Qiu Zhenghong, "Something very serious has happened to Qiu Xiaoyun. Her grandfather must be told."
Qiu Zhenghong paused slightly, his eyes meeting Qiu Yun’s. He wrote: *I really don't know how to reach him.*
Liang He was exasperated. Qiu Yun hurriedly said, "Teacher Liang, I don't know how much you think you know. This has nothing to do with my Senior Brother, and it wouldn't matter if my grandfather were here. Whatever it is, I’ll go back to school and talk to you there."
Qiu Zhenghong started making noises again, desperately trying to say something, but not a single word was intelligible.
Liang He looked at the two people before him—one who understood nothing, and the other... who couldn't understand anything. He sighed. Seeing a teapot and an empty cup nearby, he poured himself a cup of water. Just as he raised it to his lips, the cup was suddenly snatched away.
"This... this... you can't drink this!" Qiu Yun gripped the teacup tightly.
"Why not?"
"It’s too hot!"
"Then I’ll let it sit for a bit." Liang He reached out.
"I... I’m too thirsty, I’ll drink it first!" Without a second thought, Qiu Yun gulped it down. The hot liquid slid down her esophagus and into her stomach, scalding her so badly she almost jumped!
Qiu Zhenghong also jumped up beside her, stomping his feet in anxiety. He made frantic noises and kept pointing into the air at the empty cup in Qiu Yun’s hand.
Qiu Yun thought, *You weren't the one who got burned, why are you jumping?* But then it hit her. *Oh no. It’s over. This time, it’s really over.*
The teacup fell to the floor and shattered.
Qiu Yun felt like dying. *Heavens! Earth! This water is the key to the whole time-travel thing! Did I lose my mind?!* But in a flash, another thought occurred to her. She dashed outside, stuck her index finger down her throat, and began to vomit painfully over the plants in the soil.
Liang He followed close behind. Seeing this, he hurriedly rubbed Qiu Yun’s back. Once she had caught her breath, he handed her a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.
Qiu Yun looked up, about to say thank you, but she saw the veins bulging on Liang He’s forehead. His expression was abnormal, and the air around him felt incredibly heavy.
*Is he...*
This time, Liang He didn't beat around the bush. He said directly, "Tell me, who is the father of the child?"
***
