Madam Yan's Matchmaking Pavilion for Men

25 Thinking Too Much, Falling in Love at Second Glance

Zhang Shi Lan's fingers stilled while the last tone of the guqin still echoed in the room. For a moment, he blankly looked at the instrument before he lifted his gaze to General Yu's face. Directly meeting with the other man's eyes, Zhang Shi Lan was pulled out of his daze. His eyes widened and his cheeks flushed red. He scrambled to his feet and clasped his hands, bowing his head. "I hope I haven't offended General Yu."

Yu Huang Rong didn't answer. He just looked at this person, his thoughts wandering. Ah, it had been ten years since then. Seeing him almost fall into the Fen Hua River, he hadn't thought much of it when he rushed to save him. As a soldier stationed in the capital, naturally, it should be his task to help the citizens. If he saw something like this happening, then how could he walk past and pretend not to have seen? Furthermore, it was easy for him to rush over in time and pull him back up. Why shouldn't do so? Who wouldn't lend a helping hand in such a situation? He hadn't thought anything more.

It was only afterward when he took a longer look at his face and when Zhang Shi Lan looked up at him with those soulful eyes that his heart started to thump. It wasn't love at first sight. No, for him, it had taken a second glance.

At that moment, at the bank of the river, he had only been amused. This type of young boy, he certainly wouldn't have imagined that somebody like that would take a liking to him. Bringing him home, it had been nothing more than whimsy. He had felt like doing so and did. It felt good to be admired like that. He had relished it. He never would have thought that there would be any lingering feelings afterward.

But then, after seeing that person in the capital several more times, seeing him turn from a boy into a beautiful youth and finally into a young man, his heart hadn't been able to stay calm. Unfortunately, while his heart that had been indifferent before warmed up and started to long for this person, the one that had originally admired him and maybe entertained some thoughts seemed to have become indifferent instead.

It truly made him think that fate was cruel. Originally, there had been a chance but he hadn't taken it seriously and only played around. When he was finally willing to take it seriously, the other one didn't seem interested anymore.

Who could have known that he had gotten it wrong? That Zhang Shi Lan actually still felt for him the same way that he had had on that day? It needed several years and a matchmaker to finally figure that out. He truly felt dumb thinking about it.

Unwittingly, Yu Huang Rong reached out to the person he had kept in his heart for so long and touched his cheek. His thumb gently rubbed the skin above his cheekbone and his fingers fit the curve of his cheek.

Zhang Shi Lan's face reddened further and he couldn't help but think back to the words that Qian Mu Qing had said. General Yu ... Could it really be he had some fondness for him? But how could that be? Hadn't it been his unrequited longing all these years? How could the other person suddenly requite his feelings?

He was unable to understand. Still, he didn't push him away and didn't speak up to make him stop. He lowered his gaze and just let Yu Huang Rong continue. This moment, it was even more precious than just having the opportunity to be in the same room with him. Even though he knew that nothing could happen between them, he still wanted to experience this for just a moment longer.

Yu Huang Rong leaned in closer, his breath brushing Zhang Shi Lan's face. He looked at that pair of pink lips and his eyes narrowed. He really ... really wanted to bridge the last gap between them and kiss him. He even felt that Zhang Shi Lan wouldn't push him away. He might allow him to go through with this whim.

But thinking about what Madam Yan had said that this was something that would need time and then also thinking back to that day ten years ago when he had also just followed his whims and what happened afterward, he finally just sighed and leaned back, lowering his hand. "I'm sorry. For a moment ... Scholar Zhang's music can really touch a man's heart." He didn't say anything more and took a step back, turning to the side and taking a deep breath to calm his heart.