Yang Yuhuan’s face showed a hint of shyness as she held Fang Yun’s hand tighter.

However, her gaze fell on the cold dishes, and one of her claws tugged at Fang Yun’s clothes while the other pointed at the food.

Fang Yun covered her eyes with his hand and walked up the stairs to the second floor.

“Ying ying… hmph!” Yang Yuhuan turned her head to avoid Fang Yun’s hand, looking at him dissatisfied, as if asking if he thought she ate too much.

Once they reached the second floor, Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan’s eyes widened. It was indeed different from the view on the first floor, with a broader field of vision.

There was no one playing the piano on the second floor. Almost everyone was dressed in the robes of accomplished scholars or presented scholars. There were a few child scholars standing on both sides, their expressions serious.

A few people glanced over here, but most of them ignored Fang Yun since he was a newcomer. More people looked at the beautiful Yang Yuhuan.

There were also a few who looked at Yang Yuhuan and then glanced at Fang Yun, seemingly lost in thought.

Fang Yun didn’t recognize anyone and nodded slightly as a greeting. He held Yang Yuhuan’s hand and walked to the window, looking outside.

The little fox jumped onto the windowsill, wagging its tail curiously and looking around.

Both sides of the Yudai River were crowded with people.

Fang Yun pointed to a bridge in the distance. “That should be the Longtou Bridge. Before the competition starts, let’s go there. Unfortunately, the bridge is already crowded. It would have been nice to watch the dragon boat race from there.”

“Hmm. When does the dragon boat race start?” Yang Yuhuan curiously looked at the sandbank in the river. It was the first time she had seen such a large-scale dragon boat race.

“I really don’t know.”

“According to the military’s time, the dragon boat race starts at ten o’clock. We still have over an hour, so there’s no rush.” A pleasant voice came from behind.

Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan turned their heads together.

A refined young man, slightly shorter than Fang Yun, walked over. His facial features were soft, and if it weren’t for the hint of heroism in his eyes, Fang Yun would have mistaken him for a woman.

Then, Fang Yun looked at the man’s neck and noticed the absence of an Adam’s apple. It turned out to be a woman.

The refined young man held a fan in his hand and walked over to Fang Yun, bowing and smiling. “I am Zhao Zhuzhen from the capital.”

Fang Yun returned the greeting. “Fang Yun.”

Fang Yun deliberately lowered his voice, but a few people still heard it and immediately looked over, their gazes towards Fang Yun filled with strangeness.

Zhao Zhuzhen seemed unconcerned about Fang Yun’s identity. He walked to Fang Yun’s side and looked out the window, saying, “Brother Fang, are you not interested in the dragon boat race?”

“It’s alright.” Fang Yun had seen too many forms of entertainment and sports.

“Brother Fang doesn’t seem like a passionate scholar.”

Fang Yun calmly replied, “If blood is hot when watching the dragon boat race, it would be too cold when killing demons.”

“You’re right, I have learned from Brother Fang.” Zhao Zhuzhen turned his head to look at Fang Yun, his gaze filled with surprise and admiration, as if he couldn’t believe that such a young person could say such words.

“Brother Zhao is too kind. It’s just a common understanding.” Fang Yun smiled and looked at Zhao Zhuzhen. Her gaze was clear, shining brightly in the sunlight, but there seemed to be something hidden behind that brightness.

“Weirdo.” Zhao Zhuzhen avoided Fang Yun’s gaze and looked outside.

Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan chatted quietly, occasionally interrupted by the little fox’s “ying ying” sounds. The three of them had a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

However, the little fox was still not satisfied. After a while, it tugged at Fang Yun’s sleeve again and pointed at the pastries on the table on the second floor.

Fang Yun reached out and turned its head towards the outside. The little fox immediately protested with a “ying ying” sound, dissatisfied.

Zhao Zhuzhen chuckled and showed a mouthful of white teeth. “Smart little fox.”

The little fox immediately straightened its chest and raised its head, looking very proud.

“Indeed, it is smart, but also too greedy.”

The little fox deflated like a deflated ball, lowered its head, and continued eating the pastry.

Zhao Zhuzhen smiled and looked at Yang Yuhuan. “Your wife is truly beautiful.”

“Everyone says that.” Fang Yun smiled, and Yang Yuhuan shyly gave him a white glance.

The little fox looked at Yang Yuhuan in confusion, as if agreeing with what Fang Yun said, asking why she was giving him a dirty look.

Zhao Zhuzhen chuckled and then looked at Fang Yun. “Those insightful people say that you have great ambitions and that you are a hero who kills demons. I didn’t expect you to be just as extraordinary, with a peculiar temperament.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Brother Zhao.” Fang Yun smiled and looked at Zhao Zhuzhen. Her gaze was clear, shining brightly in the sunlight, but there seemed to be something hidden behind that brightness.

“Weirdo.” Zhao Zhuzhen avoided Fang Yun’s gaze and looked outside.

Fang Yun, Yang Yuhuan, and the little fox chatted in low voices, occasionally interrupted by the little fox’s “ying ying” sounds. The three of them had a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

However, the little fox was still not satisfied. After a while, it tugged at Fang Yun’s sleeve again and pointed at the pastries on the table on the second floor.

Fang Yun reached out and turned its head towards the outside. The little fox immediately protested with a “ying ying” sound, dissatisfied.

Zhao Zhuzhen chuckled and gestured to the servant behind him to bring the pastries.

Soon, the servant brought a plate of pastries and handed it to Zhao Zhuzhen.

Zhao Zhuzhen held the pastries in one hand and picked up a piece, handing it to the little fox. “Eat.”

The little fox’s eyes lit up and it looked at her, then turned its head to look at Fang Yun, seeking his opinion.

“Thank you, Brother Zhao, but you should eat it.” Fang Yun said.

The little fox cautiously extended its small paw, but as soon as it touched the pastry, it quickly retracted it and looked at Fang Yun, its eyes full of anticipation.

“Thank you, Brother Zhao, but you should eat it.” Fang Yun said.

The little fox cautiously extended its small paw, but as soon as it touched the pastry, it quickly retracted it and looked at Fang Yun, its eyes full of anticipation.

Fang Yun shook his head helplessly, took the piece of pastry, and handed it to the little fox, who happily started eating.

“What an obedient little fox.” Zhao Zhuzhen smiled.

The little fox immediately straightened its chest and raised its head, looking very proud.

“Obedient indeed, but also too greedy.”

The little fox immediately deflated like a deflated ball, lowered its head, and continued eating the pastry.

Zhao Zhuzhen showed a liking for the little fox, opened his mouth as if to say something, but then seemed to think better of it and changed his words. “If Brother Fang ever comes to the capital, please visit Zhu Zhen Tower. Just say you came with the little fox, and I will come as soon as possible.”

“So, I, Brother Fang, am not as good as a fox!” Fang Yun said jokingly.

The little fox froze, the pastry in its paw fell to the ground, and it opened its mouth, letting the crumbs fall out. It quickly spat out the pastry in its mouth with a “puh puh puh” sound, then used its paw to brush off the crumbs on its body, and finally covered its mouth, looking at Fang Yun seriously.

“Ying ying! Ying ying!” The little fox called out.

Fang Yun, Yang Yuhuan, and Zhao Zhuzhen burst into laughter. Yang Yuhuan couldn’t help but say, “Don’t listen to Little Yun scaring you. How could he bear to give you away?”

“Ying ying?” The little fox looked at Fang Yun.

“Just eat it, don’t worry.” Fang Yun smiled.

The little fox pretended to lower its head, and just as it was about to bite into the pastry, it suddenly looked up at Fang Yun, afraid that he would run away while it was eating.

Fang Yun pointed at its little head with his finger and said, “You’re small in size but big in heart. If you don’t eat, I’ll take it away.”

The little fox immediately moved the pastry away from Fang Yun, took a big bite, and then looked at Fang Yun, relieved that he was still there.

Zhao Zhuzhen couldn’t help but cover his mouth and laugh, but quickly realized that it was inappropriate and a blush appeared on his face. He quickly regained his composure.

After the little fox finished eating, Fang Yun hugged it and rubbed it playfully. The little fox was not angry but rather happy, thinking that it meant Fang Yun wouldn’t give it away.

More and more literati gathered on the second floor, and soon, six people walked over.

“Brother Zhao, we meet again.”

Fang Yun and Yang Yuhuan turned their heads and saw a handsome and refined young man smiling and greeting Zhao Zhuzhen.

“Brother Tong.” Zhao Zhuzhen returned the greeting with a faint smile, but anyone could see her indifference.

The man didn’t mind and asked, “Brother Zhao, could you introduce this dignified gentleman to me?”

Zhao Zhuzhen smiled strangely and asked, “Don’t you know him?”

“We have never met.”

Zhao Zhuzhen’s smile became even stranger. “Then let me formally introduce you. This is Tong Li, the grandson of the Minister of War, and a child scholar from Yuhai City. And this person is Fang Yun, the talented scholar from Jixian County.”

Both of them were stunned and looked at each other, not expecting to meet under these circumstances.

“What a coincidence, Brother Tong.” Fang Yun greeted with a bow.

Tong Li immediately smiled and said, “County-level double champion, three poems shining together, talented scholar before the emperor. I have admired your name for a long time, and I never thought I would have the honor to meet you today. If it weren’t for you wanting to compete for the honor of our Jing Kingdom in the dragon boat race, I would definitely have dragged you to drink for a day.”

Fang Yun smiled and said, “When did I say I wanted to participate in the dragon boat race? Yuhai City has many talented individuals, and I have just become a talented scholar. I am not qualified to participate in such an important event. Brother Tong is joking.”

“Ah? This doesn’t sound like you. In my impression, Fang Yun, you are a true hero who fights for the country and the people, killing demons and barbarians. How could you abandon the honor and disgrace of Jing Kingdom and not participate in the dragon boat race?” Tong Li was extremely surprised.

“Brother Tong, you look down on the scholars of Yuhai Prefecture, but I don’t. I believe that the scholars of Yuhai Prefecture will be able to defeat the scholars of Qing Kingdom and win first place. I will definitely cheer for my fellow scholars from Yuhai Prefecture!” Fang Yun smiled.

Everyone present fell silent. After Fang Yun finished speaking, everyone understood Tong Li’s intentions. If Fang Yun participated, he would accuse Fang Yun of looking down on the scholars of Yuhai City. If he didn’t compete, he would accuse him of disregarding the honor and disgrace of Jing Kingdom.

“Brother Fang, your words are truly hurtful.” Tong Li said helplessly.

Zhao Zhuzhen sneered, “Tong Li, spare us your act. Do you think others can’t hear your provocation? I came here to invite Fang Yun to participate in the dragon boat race and showcase the might of our great Jing Kingdom. If you ruin my plan, be careful when you go to the capital.”

“I…” Tong Li’s words were interrupted by a presented scholar.

“Tong Li, Fang Yun’s arrival in our Yuhai City is already a grand event. Don’t embarrass our Yuhai City!” The presented scholar’s voice was filled with coldness.

Tong Li’s face changed when he heard the voice and looked at the people around him, realizing that many of them were looking at him with unfriendly eyes.

The child scholar was afraid of Fang Yun taking the spot for the Book Mountain, but the presented scholars and talented scholars didn’t care.