Blood River [MDZS AU]

27. Spring To Winter II

That morning Yifeng was anxious the whole time. From the point he woke up, to getting ready to eventually going to the Lanshi along with Yuexin and Xinghua per usual - like nothing had happened the night prior.

Most of the male disicples studying here who had been involved in, or heard of the late night parties in Jin Rulan's room had heard of Yifeng's brilliant involvement or seen it. None of them could emulate it though, neither did anyone outside their circle believe the stories they shared seeing he Nie's immaculate record and behaviour.

Even Lan Sizhui who was in charge of the punishments in the Lan sect, never saw Yifeng talk to those boys outside of this stories which lacked proof, so he never did nothing to Yifeng, no matter who tried to snitch. Not only that, outside from the aproachable personality, he was a carbon copy of his sister; always in time to class, top of the class, perfect behaviour, and highly skilled. Not to mention he slowly brought the grades and performance of those around him up - why would he punish the boy based off of rumours?

When Yifeng walked into the orchid room today though, it was the first time he had been there late. He exchanged a look with his sister who warned him with a glare, but he went on to sit in his usual spot without a word.

Though it wasn't eight yet, the time when classes started, some disciples were surprised to see Yifeng here late, seeing as attendance began to be marked at seven.

Lan Jingyi was the one signing the presence list today, seeing Yifeng, he smiled. "You have arrived, young master Nie. I was getting worried" he whispered with a smile while handing Yifeng the list for him to sign on his name.

Yifeng smiled without saying a word, he took the paper and signed it before passing it to Ouyang Xinghua who had arrived with him, and sat to his left per usual. The three of them sat on the leftmost end of the hall, with Yuexin sitting by the wall. Despite this they still sat at the front of the hall, and were often quiet despite talking all the time outside of class.

Most Lans around their age group had the choice to attend Hanguang-Jun's class or go to a different class without the guest disciples. The Lan brothers had chosen to stay in their father's class along with some other disciples - despite this, they got to change daily, so it was no surprise when Lan Sizhui passed their hall, but Jingyi entered.

Though the brothers often chose to be together, so the separation brought rise to rumours - gossiping was forbidden in the cloud recesses, but the punishment wasn't as harsh as the ones for entering past curfew or drinking alcohol so many did it without fear of being caught.

Seeing how happily Lan Jingyi greeted Yifeng, many people began to speculate there was something going on. And, with Yifeng's rumored punishment dodging, many began to wonder what exaclty was going on between the two.

Yifeng wasn't dumb, he knew people woud say this, that was why he avoided responding to Jingyi when he aproached him.

And that was also why he was angry at his sister;

As classes passed, a week went by after Yifeng had been caught by Jingyi, and the boy really said nothing, but Yifeng stopped joining the other boys at night for the time being.

It was already the next wednesday, going into their fourth month of June, Hanguang-Jun had asked the people in the hall to get into groups of five, but didn't clarify why before leaving and asking them to meet him for afernoon classes.

Yifeng had initially intended on grouping with his roomates and finding someone else to add so they were five, but his sister aproached him - and to no one's surprise as the rumours had grown, Lan Jingyi aproached him too.

Before he could even speak to the two girls to his left, Yuèrú was in front of him, "We're grouping" she spoke dryly, and Jingyi seemed anoyed by the tone of her voice, specially the way it sounded like a demand, before he turned to Yifeng. "The three of us can be a group" he spoke with a smile. The second Nie twin was about to deny, heavy on staying away from the Lan.