Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1113: Calm down

Since their first encounter in the garden that day, Xie Linzhou had become a frequent visitor to the Shen residence. Sometimes he'd arrive in the early morning, bathed in the morning dew, bearing a newly acquired ancient painting; sometimes in the afternoon, tucked away in the warm sunshine, a half-finished poem hidden in his sleeve; and occasionally, on rainy evenings, he'd arrive with an oil-paper umbrella and two glass lanterns, worried that the darkness in Shen Yanqiu's study would hurt his eyes. Shen Yanqiu's study had once been the quietest spot in the entire Shen residence. The tomes on the rosewood bookshelves were covered in a thin layer of dust, the water in the celadon brushwasher was often cold, and even the potted asparagus fern on the windowsill exuded a sense of seclusion and aloofness. But since Xie Linzhou's frequent visits, the place had gradually become popular. The fresh tea he'd brought still lingered in its tin can, the pages folded during their discussions still held bookmarks, and even the Duan inkstone on the inkstone table had acquired a warm luster from the constant polishing they'd taken turns doing. The time they spent together flowed by unnoticed. Sometimes they discussed the profound meanings of the Spring and Autumn Annals, with Xie Linzhou always finding fresh insights in the commonplace annotations, saying, "The Gongyang Commentary is too rigid, the Guliang Commentary too soft, but the characters in the Zuo Zhuan are flesh and blood, like living people." Sometimes they discussed calligraphy. Xie Linzhou, a master of beautiful running script, his brushstrokes flowing like water, noticed Shen Yanqiu's meticulous regular script and chuckled, "Your handwriting resembles you—too formal. You should learn from Zhang Dian's Zui Su and be more unrestrained." More often, they simply sat opposite each other in silence, one reading, the other painting, occasionally looking up and smiling at each other, feeling the quiet time was good. Shen Yanqiu found himself increasingly anticipating Xie Linzhou's arrival. Every morning, as he washed up, he would gaze at the faint shadows of his eyes in the bronze mirror, lost in thought, wondering if Xie Linzhou would arrive that day. After finishing his homework, he would subconsciously glance toward the gate, listening for familiar footsteps. Even at night, lying in bed, his fingertips would unconsciously stroke the corners of the quilt, his mind replaying Xie Linzhou's words and smile from the previous day. Hidden in that anticipation was a joy he had never experienced before. Like the buds that quietly emerge from branches in early spring, with a timid leap of joy, or like stars that secretly light up in the dark night, hiding an unspoken light. But the deeper this joy, the deeper the fear that accompanied it. Whenever Xie Linzhou approached, he could smell the faint pine scent on his clothes, feel the occasional warmth of their sleeves touching, and his heart would beat as if it would break his ribs, a mixture of longing and fear. He was afraid that the emotions in his eyes would be revealed, that Xie Linzhou would see through his inappropriate heartbeat. This era had no room for feelings like theirs, just as it couldn't tolerate a peach blossom blooming in the bitter cold of winter. They would be deemed evil, uprooted and crushed. He was the eldest son of the Shen family, carrying the family's honor and disgrace on his shoulders. Xie Linzhou was the only son of the Minister of Revenue, with a bright future ahead of him. If this bond were to be broken, they would lose even their brief moment together and risk ruin. This fear, like an invisible web, entangled him day and night. He began to deliberately keep his distance from Xie Linzhou. When he approached, he would quietly step back. When he handed something, he would deliberately stand across the table. Even his words were more concise than before, fearing that even a single word would betray his feelings. But the more he suppressed his feelings, the more they surged, like an undercurrent beneath a dam, stirring to break free. One afternoon, the autumn sun was shining brightly, casting dappled shadows through the window lattice on the blue brick floor. Xie Linzhou came to visit again, and they set up the chessboard in the study. On the rosewood chessboard, black and white chess pieces were neatly arranged in a cloud-patterned chess pot. Xie Linzhou played black and Shen Yanqiu played white, sitting opposite each other across a three-foot desk. At first, the situation was stable. Shen Yanqiu made his moves cautiously, weighing each step over and over again. Xie Linzhou, on the other hand, seemed casual, occasionally humming a few unknown tunes, and tapping the chessboard lightly with his fingertips, like a cat teasing its prey. "What do you think of this move?" Xie Linzhou's fingertips landed, and the black piece landed next to the Tianyuan position. It seemed careless, but it instantly cut off the white piece's retreat. Shen Yanqiu stared at the chessboard, frowning slightly. He had originally wanted to enclose an open space in the lower right corner, but now that the black piece had disturbed him, he was immediately put in a passive position. He picked up a white piece and rubbed it repeatedly between his fingers, but the touch of the cold jade could not calm him down. When Xie Linzhou made his move just now, his sleeve brushed the edge of the chessboard, bringing up a breeze that brushed across the back of his hand. The touch was like a feather gently scratching, making his heart tingle and even his thoughts confused. He calmed down and placed the white piece in the lower left corner, trying to start a new game. Xie Linzhou took a look, a faint smile on his lips, and another black piece fell, following slowly. The two of them went back and forth, and the black and white pieces on the chessboard were intertwined, gradually forming a stalemate. Shen Yanqiu became more and more absent-minded, and the chess pieces in front of him gradually blurred. What flashed repeatedly in his mind were the fine lines at the corners of Xie Linzhou's eyes when he smiled just now, the way he occasionally coughed when he spoke, and even the dark patterns embroidered on the stone-blue brocade robe he wore today. With a light "pop", Xie Linzhou placed another piece, and this time, he directly cut off the white piece's way out. Shen Yanqiu snapped back to his senses, realizing he'd made a blunder that had completely ruined a situation that had once held promise. His face flushed, and he was about to make amends when Xie Linzhou suddenly chuckled, "Brother Shen, you seem a little distracted today." His tone was a touch of gentle teasing, and his gaze, resting on his face, was as clear as the waters of an autumn lake. Shen Yanqiu's heart skipped a beat, as if someone had read his mind. He hurriedly lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously grasping the unmoved white piece. His voice tightened, "Perhaps I've been a little tired lately." Even he felt the paltry tone of his words. Though he'd been sleeping restlessly lately, he'd never lost his composure like this at the chessboard. Xie Linzhou said nothing, simply staring at him intently. His gaze, unlike his usual gentleness, held a hint of inquiry, as if concealing something else. Shen Yanqiu's back stiffened, and even his breathing became cautious. The study was so quiet that he could hear the wind rustling the sycamore leaves outside the window, and the crescendo of his own heartbeat. After a long while, Xie Linzhou spoke softly, his voice lower than before: "Brother Shen, you seem to have something on your mind?" This sentence was like a stone thrown into Shen Yanqiu's already restless heart, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. He raised his head abruptly and met Xie Linzhou's gaze. There was no ridicule, no contempt, only a faint concern, but it was this concern that made him even more flustered. Like a thief who had been caught, he hurriedly avoided his sight and looked at the endgame on the chessboard. He picked up the white piece, but was hesitant to put it down. The coolness of his fingertips passed through the jade to his palm, but the heat in his heart became more and more intense. "No...no." His voice was trembling, and even he could hear the panic in it.