Conquering the Male Supporting Character – CH 031

Chapter 31. Lantern Festival

Seeing Lu Wan leave so abruptly, Xie Yu sat quietly for a long time, his gaze fixed on the bowl of plum blossom porridge.

He watched the porridge gradually cool and solidify from its rising steam, showing no intention of touching it.

After Xie-Jue saw her out, he returned to find his master looking lost in thought.

He scratched his head, unsure what to say. It seemed that ever since Young Lady Lu Wan appeared around his master, his already thoughtful master had become even more enigmatic.

Perhaps he should find someone to advise him? Xie-Jue hesitated for a moment, then decided it was a good idea and went out on his own initiative.

A short while later, someone pushed open the study door and entered.

“Xun’an, did I hear from Xie-Jue that you actually angered Young Lady Lu Wan and drove her away?”

He seemed rather disappointed, so he deliberately stood in front of Xie Yu, took a deep breath, and then sighed heavily.

Seeing Xie Yu turn to look at him, Xu Lin deliberately mimicked the mannerisms of young ladies, wiping his eyes.

“That Young Lady Lu, just for New Year’s Eve, happily brought food to her sweetheart, but who knew that heartless, fickle man from the Xie family would drive her away like that?” Xu Lin feigned a sob, his tone full of dramatic shifts.

“What a heartless, fickle man~~~”

Xie Yu silently watched Xu Lin’s antics, realizing for the first time that he possessed such talent.

Perhaps one day, when he died and the Xie family was gone, he could make a living by setting up a stall on the street and entertaining people.

“My dear lord, what are you trying to achieve?” Xu Lin, after struggling for a while without getting a response, grew impatient and slammed his hand on the table, shouting.

“Tell me, Young Lady Lu came so happily; her sincerity is evident! How could she leave so coldly? And you, you did not even see her off!”

“Do you really think she has a sincere heart?” Xie Yu stood up and went to the window, his back to Xu Lin, asking casually, his tall figure like bamboo.

“Of course,” Xu Lin pouted, neither confirming nor denying, suddenly guessing some of Xie Yu’s thoughts.

“You do not actually think Lu Wan is just here for fun, coming to the Xie residence every so often, do you?”

Xie Yu gave a faint “hmm,” neither confirming nor denying.

Xu Lin rolled his eyes behind his back, thinking that Xie Yu was still a long and arduous road away from winning the heart of his beauty. The person by the window stood ramrod straight, seemingly unmoved by his words, as silent as the eternal snow on a high mountain.

After a long while, he finally heard Xie Yu speak, her voice so soft it was almost a soliloquy.

“She was so fond of Zhou Yan that she pursued him for years, and then, in the blink of an eye, she transferred her affections to me. Can this really be genuine affection?”

Xu Lin, who had been listening intently, burst out laughing, clutching his stomach, almost wanting to pound the table.

He finally understood Xie Yu’s inner turmoil.

No wonder, no wonder he always felt Xie Yu was aloof and unpredictable with Young Lady Lu.

His muffled laughter was too loud; Xie Yu turned around in confusion, his brows furrowing as he stared at him.

“In Luoyang, everyone praises you, Xie Xun’an, for your exceptional intelligence, so how could you make such a foolish mistake!” Xu Lin shook his head, wishing he had a fan to knock on Xie Yu’s head.

But when he looked up, Xie Yu’s brows were even more furrowed, a storm brewing. He stopped his antics and straightened his tone.

“A woman’s heart is always fickle. Today she likes you, tomorrow she likes him—that’s common.”

“Lu Wan used to like Zhou Yan; that’s true. She pursued Zhou Yan for years; that’s also true. But that does not stop her from liking you now,” Xu Lin, engrossed in his words, circled Xie Yu halfway around and, seeing his brows relax slightly, continued.

“She likes Zhou Yan, but Zhou Yan is uninterested. So be it.

Now that she likes you, just treat her well and let her be happy for a long time. That’s all there is to it. Why worry about all that other stuff?

Xun’an, ‘Gather rosebuds while you may, lest they wither and fall.’ You surely understand this principle, do you not?”

“So that’s how it is…” Xie Yu’s gaze drifted through the window to the dark, upturned eaves, where a broken, translucent icicle hung.

It was snow that had melted during the day and frozen overnight, then broken early that morning by servants with bamboo poles to prevent it from falling and injuring anyone.

He stared at it, suddenly lost in thought.

Seeing his silence, Xu Lin frowned, a thought suddenly forming in his mind.

“You would not be holding a grudge because Lu Wan once loved someone else, would you?

Young love is common for both men and women. Xun’an, if you are bothered by these things, you’ve fallen to a low level.”

“Of course not,” Xie Yu replied, withdrawing his gaze. “Our dynasty has never had such a harsh attitude towards women.” His expression remained unchanged, but his tone turned cold, as if wrapped in fine frost.

“If she still thinks about Zhou Yan all the time and approaches me only to get revenge on him or to provoke him, what then?”

Xu Lin paused for a moment, then clicked his tongue. “Xun’an, this is unlike you. You actually have such moments of insecurity?” He shook his head and smiled. “Have you seen her frequently seeking out Zhou Yan these days? Or dragging you to stroll around in front of Zhou Yan?”

Seeing Xie Yu shake his head, he stepped forward and put his arm around Xie Yu’s shoulder, only to be coldly shaken off. “That’s it. Who are you? You are Xie Yu, Xie Xun’an! The dream lover of countless young ladies in Luoyang. It is perfectly normal for her to fall for you.

Besides,” Xu Lin’s tone turned cold, a sinister glint appearing in his once amorous eyes, “if you’ve fallen for her, would you really give her up so easily?”

Of course not, Xie Yu thought. Even now, he did not want to let go.

Things that caught his eye were never given away easily.

Regardless of the strange voice in his mind or any reward clues.

It was just that he had a thought in his heart, a desire to possess her entirely.

So what if Lu Wan did not like him? So what if she still clung to Zhou Yan?

He had a thousand ways to break her wings, to trap her by his side forever, so that whether she cried or laughed, it could only be for him.

She was the one who provoked him first.

This time, Xu Lin had truly revealed his secrets, and his inner turmoil was resolved.

Xie Yu raised his hand and patted his shoulder to express his gratitude.

Then, to Xu Lin’s astonishment, he returned to the table and slowly began to eat the now-cold plum blossom porridge.

The porridge had turned into a paste, icy cold as it went down his throat, and even with the delicate fragrance of white plum blossoms, it was bland and tasteless.

But at this moment, Xie Yu felt that nothing could be more delicious.

A relieved smile curved his lips.

【Xiao Bai: Ding! Target’s current favorability was 50…55…60!】

The notification sounded in her mind, and Lu Wan, who was holding Xiao Bai, froze.

She had not clicked to check, and more importantly, Xie Yu’s favorability had inexplicably increased.

She got a cold shoulder from him, and it still increased his favorability? Could it be that she had really spoiled him?

Lu Wan sighed inwardly. Indeed, Lady Zhou was right; a balance of tension and relaxation was key. It seemed that occasionally throwing a little tantrum had a pretty good effect.

“Wan, stop daydreaming! It is your turn! It is your turn!” Lu Xiao swallowed a mouthful of cheese, urging her repeatedly.

Lu Wan snapped out of her reverie and pushed a piece that had strayed deep into the enemy territory on the Xiangqi board.

Between Lu Xiao and her, a Xiangqi board lay, with the rooks, knights, and cannons fiercely battling on either side of the Chu River.

She did not know how to play Weiqi, but luckily, they already had Xiangqi, which followed the same rules as the ones she used to play with her grandfather, and she was reasonably skilled at it.

So, when they returned home, and the family gathered to play, Lu Xiao dragged her to play Xiangqi.

Lu Xiao was a typical methodical player, completely outmatched by her every move, yet she still managed to get hooked.

As he retreated step by step, he muttered that he had been too soft-hearted and had gone easy on her; he was determined to show Ah Wan his skills.

As dusk settled, dozens of lit candles illuminated the main hall. Lu Wan sat down at the table, her gaze sweeping over her family members gathered around.

To her left was Lu Xiao, to her right was Lu Ling, and her father and mother sat together.

Outside, the snow had fallen silently; inside, it was warm and cozy. The table was laden with everyone’s favorite delicacies, and the family chatted and laughed.

Although these things did not truly belong to her and were merely illusions existing in a book, she was still very happy.

Lu Wan chewed her food carefully, her head lowered so no one could see the glistening tears in her eyes.

Xie Yu’s favorability rating had now reached 60; soon, she would be able to return home. This was probably the last time she would spend the New Year with the Lu family.

A tear fell, silently merging into the golden-white soup in the cup, disappearing completely.

She smiled and raised her head, continuing her conversation with them, greedily savoring the warm moment.

Midnight had passed; the new year had arrived.

*

Since the New Year, Lu Wan had been thinking about whether to find time to visit the Xie residence again.

But it was just a thought; she had not been able to make the trip yet.

The reason was simple. Although things were not as busy after the New Year as before, her mother still had many things that needed her help, and she was constantly busy, with no free time.

Besides, Xie Yu had given her the cold shoulder last time. If she did not have a necessary excuse, she could still eagerly try to give him a cold shoulder in return.

That was right.

Most importantly, Xie Yu had invited her to go on an outing for the Lantern Festival, and it would be here in a few days. Taking this opportunity, she could not very well…

After much deliberation, she saw Xie Yu again on the evening of the Lantern Festival.

When the maid came to report that Xie Yu had arrived, Lu Wan was eating glutinous rice balls with her family.

Upon hearing this, everyone else smiled at Lu Wan.

“Young Master Xie is in such a hurry,” Lu Xiao sighed, feigning concern. “Poor Ah Wan, she has not even finished her dinner.

Do not eat anymore; hurry up and go, lest another young lady steals the show.” He chuckled and gave her a light push.

Lu Wan playfully slapped his arm, scolding, “Brother, you always tease me!”

Lu Ling, standing nearby, covered her mouth and chuckled.

Lady Zhou turned her face away, smiling as she instructed a maid, “Go and invite Young Master Xie in, and bring another set of chopsticks and a bowl.”

A short while later, Xie Yu, dressed in a white brocade robe, arrived in the hall.

Lu Wan looked up and saw him smiling, in a very good mood, as if he had already forgotten what had happened that day.

Today, he wore a jade crown in his hair, and jade adorned his waist. His clothes were spotless, and his demeanor was refined and elegant—the very air of a noble young master from a prominent family.

After exchanging greetings, Lu Yuan smiled and spoke.

“Greetings, you’ve arrived early. Why not join us for some glutinous rice balls? These were made by Ah Wan herself; they taste quite good.”

Lu Wan had expected him to politely decline, but Xie Yu readily agreed and even sat down next to her.

Suddenly, Lu Wan felt a little uneasy…

Especially when the others in the hall occasionally glanced at the two of them, their faces displaying enigmatic smiles.

Xie Yu’s eating manners were extremely elegant.

Lu Wan glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and saw his jade-white wrist move slightly, without making a sound, seemingly only because he was hungry.

Lu Wan had finished eating, yet his bowl still held half a piece.

Seeing that she had finished eating, he turned his head and asked gently, “Has Ah Wan eaten enough?”

Lu Wan felt uneasy. Logically, after a cold war, someone should be the first to back down, but it felt strange that Xie Yu was the one to do so.

However, she smiled and nodded.

Lu Yuan and Lady Zhou had also finished eating. Seeing that Lu Wan had finished, they began to make arrangements.

“Tonight, I will go with your mother to the lantern festival. Ah Xiao will take Ah Ling. As for Ah Wan,” Lu Yuan waved his hand casually, “she can be taken care of by Xun’an.”

Xie Yu stood up and bowed, his expression becoming more respectful. “I will take good care of Ah Wan.”

Lu Yuan nodded in satisfaction, finding him increasingly pleasing. “In that case, arrange it accordingly.”

Once outside the mansion, Xie Yu gestured, and someone brought over a horse.

“It’s still quite a distance to where the lanterns are being released. Would you like to walk, Ah Wan, or should I take you?”

It was not too far, Lu Wan estimated, about the time it would take to drink two cups of tea.

Riding a horse would actually be a bit bumpy for her, having just eaten.

“I think walking would be nice; it will help with digestion.”

Xie Yu paused. He had originally intended to use his old trick, hugging her and coaxing her a bit more, hoping they could reconcile sooner.

But Lu Wan refused. He pursed his lips and remained silent.

This was something Xu Lin had taught him that day.

That New Year’s Eve, the self-proclaimed amorous Xu Lin had kept talking all night, not only about his extensive romantic history but also the countless flirtatious methods he had employed.

They talked until almost dawn before Xu Lin gulped down a mouthful of tea, looking exhausted, and gave him one last piece of advice.

“In any case, you should try to appease Lu Wan during the Lantern Festival and calm her down. Remember to dress well before you go; clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse. What young lady would not want to take a second look at a handsome young man?”

But he had prepared for a long time today, and Lu Wan had not even glanced at him much. Now she even refused to ride with him.

He frowned slightly. Could it be that he had gone too far that day?

Seeing Xie Yu’s apparent displeasure, Lu Wan pursed her lips. It was just that riding a horse was faster than walking; why be upset?

Oh well, she’d just consider it a gesture of appeasement.

Lu Wan said softly, “However, it seems the journey is indeed quite long. Shall we ride? Thank you, Lord Yu.”

Xie Yu paused slightly, not quite understanding why she had changed her mind so quickly, but this suited him perfectly.

“How can you say it is a trouble for you?”

He curved his lips into a smile, mounted his horse, and, as before, leaned down and extended his hand. Seeing Lu Wan automatically wrap her arms around his waist after mounting her horse, he smiled slightly and softly called out, “Ah Wan?”

His voice was exceptionally gentle and tender.

Only after hearing the slightly puzzled reply from the person in his arms did he, with a smile on his lips, spur the reins and head towards the long street.

Held in his arms, Lu Wan’s mind was in turmoil. She felt that Xie Yu was unpredictable; was this the sign of a 60% favorability rating? She clung to his lean waist, her cheek pressed against his warm chest, her mind racing, not even noticing that his usual cool, slightly bitter scent had returned.

No longer the same Moonlit Incense as Shi Yao’s.

They rode for a while longer.

“What happened last time was all my fault, Ah Wan; I am sorry.” The night was dark, the streetlights were just coming on, yet it was like a thunderbolt.

Xie Yu’s simple words exploded in Lu Wan’s ears.

Through their interactions over the past few days, she had come to know Xie Yu quite well. He appeared gentle and aloof, but deep down, he was not one to easily admit his mistakes.

She held her breath, listening quietly to his next words.

He said, “That day, I only hoped you would stay and keep me company on New Year’s Eve, but I forgot you had family waiting for you at home. And because you did not agree, I gave you a cold look. It was truly my fault.”

Lu Wan’s mind went blank for a few moments before she came to her senses.

She lifted her head from Xie Yu’s embrace to look at him. Just then, Xie Yu also looked down at her. They were very close, their eyes meeting, their breaths mingling.

From this ambiguous angle, she could even count Xie Yu’s eyelashes.

Lu Wan did not have time to think, nor did she have time to ponder how his attitude could change so quickly. Her eyelashes trembled, and she hurriedly shifted her gaze to Xie Yu’s chin. Then, pursing her lips, she replied, “I was just angry for a moment.

Who told Lord Yu to give me such a cold look and yell at me without warning?” she exaggerated, making up a story on the spot. “I cried my eyes out when I got back that day.

I painstakingly prepared so much food, hoping to cheer you up for the holiday, but you still…” She seemed furious; her eyes were bright, her face flushed, and her cheeks looked even more radiant in the dim light.

“If you had not come today, I would not have gone looking for you again.”

That was impossible. The mission was not finished yet. Even if he did not come, she would still have to go. Lu Wan suddenly felt a pang of melancholy.

Following her words, Xie Yu could almost see the scene before him: her crying upon returning home on New Year’s Eve.

Large, glistening tears rolled down her cheeks. She cried pitifully, her eyes red and her voice hoarse.

The warmth of Lu Wan’s tears dripping onto the back of his hand, as if still lingering from his severe injury, was a testament to his strength.

Xie Yu’s voice was hoarse. “It’s my fault; I made Ah Wan sad.”

He actually believed her; Lu Wan chuckled inwardly, thinking she had outsmarted him.

She threw herself back into Xie Yu’s arms, burying her face in her hands, and muttered, “You are not allowed to do that again next time.”

This meant she was going to forgive him; Xie Yu sensed this signal.

He had not expected Ah Wan to be so easily appeased. His heart softened, and he gently promised, “There will not be a next time.”

And so, the matter was considered closed, and both tacitly agreed not to bring it up again.

Lu Wan remained silent, but inwardly she felt a surge of joy.

Even though she had lied, it was Xie Yu who had so softly assured her—he was so good with words.

Lu Wan gently rubbed against the fabric of his chest, carefully counting his heartbeats, smiling like a cat that had stolen a fish.

Darkness falls quickly in winter, and by the time they could see the vast expanse of lights along the long street, like a galaxy of stars, the thick night had already permeated the sky.

The long street was bustling with activity; young and old alike crowded the street, and various vendors lined the sides.

Unclaimed handkerchiefs and purses littered the ground, along with glittering women’s ornaments, likely lost in the crowd.

The most eye-catching sights were the various lanterns. Some hung from street corners, others strung in rows on wooden frames, and still others, enormous, intricately colored lanterns suspended in mid-air.

“It’s so lively!” Lu Wan exclaimed, infected by the smiles on the faces of passersby. She smiled and leaned closer to Xie Yu, raising her voice slightly so he could hear her.

“Are we going to keep going along this street?”

Xie Yu rarely attended such events and found the crowds overwhelming. But seeing the cheerful laughter around him, he gradually stopped finding it noisy.

He took her hand, leaned close to her ear, and patiently explained.

“I’ve also arranged for someone to book a private room at the tavern. If you are tired, you can go and rest for a while.” His breath tickled Lu Wan’s ear, making it burn. She tugged at Xie Yu’s hand, signaling him to follow her.

She pulled Xie Yu around, curious about everything, stopping frequently to watch the singing and dancing performances, then the illusions and divination.

Until they stopped at a particular stall, their eyes were glued to it.

It was an extremely eye-catching stall, filled with all sorts of colorful lanterns. The most striking was a glass lantern hanging at the highest point.

The lantern’s frame was made of multicolored glass, its surface delicately painted with a cluster of lush peonies, and its base a whole peony flower pedestal—absolutely dazzling.

A little tempted, Lu Wan reached out and touched the tassels on the lantern.

“Does Ah Wan like it? How about I give it to you?”

Xie Yu, observing her expression, asked with a smile, but before she could answer, he gestured for the stall owner to take the lantern down.

“Young master, you may not know this, but this lantern is not for sale,” The stall owner said, shaking his head mysteriously and explaining, “You two are clearly distinguished guests and naturally have discerning eyes to recognize its unusual nature. If you can guess twenty riddles correctly in a short time, you can take the lantern. Otherwise, you will need to pay some money.”

So this lantern was just a gimmick to make money, Lu Wan realized, finding it somewhat amusing.

She glanced at Xie Yu, blinked, and clearly showed interest.

She had long heard of Xie Yu’s exceptional talent but had not witnessed it firsthand. She wanted to see if he could guess them all correctly.

Seeing her expression, Xie Yu understood her meaning. He smiled slightly and asked the stall owner to bring the riddles and writing materials.

Lu Wan also curiously leaned closer to look.

“One-eight fifty-eight, a flying spring flowing upwards?” she read aloud, but did not understand its meaning.

Then, Xie Yu picked up his brush and wrote the character “井” (well).

? Did he not need to think? Before Lu Wan could ask him how he guessed it, he continued writing, and in an instant, the riddles were solved.

Was there really such a big difference in intelligence between people? Lu Wan fell into deep self-doubt.

Even after watching him take the lamp from the stall owner’s grim face, she was still somewhat dazed, feeling as if she were walking on soft clouds.

“Lord Yu…” Before she could finish speaking, Xie Yu seemed to think she was urging him and handed her the lamp.

Lu Wan swallowed hard, took the lamp, and asked dryly, “How did you guess so quickly?”

Now it was Xie Yu’s turn to be puzzled. He looked down at the dazed young woman and suddenly understood; she probably wanted to know how he had solved it.

He took Lu Wan’s hand, carefully protecting her from the bumps of pedestrians, and slowly explained.

“The character ‘井’ (well) has eight corners, so it is one-eight. It can be broken down into four ‘十’ tens, so it is 58. ‘A flying spring flowing upwards’ refers to its use. As for…” Xie Yu explained the twenty riddles in detail, leaving Lu Wan even more bewildered.

He had only glanced at them, yet he remembered them all.

This photographic memory made her suddenly a little envious…

Lu Wan looked at him seriously and suddenly felt that Xie Yu himself was truly a winner in life.

Not only did he have a brilliant mind, but he also had an outstanding appearance.

She suddenly felt that her progress in winning him over must be quite fast; after all, her target was simply too excellent.

After strolling around for a while, seeing so many different lanterns, Lu Wan lost interest and felt a little tired.

Xie Yu, who had been secretly observing her, suggested they take a break.

The two had just reached the top of the stairs when they heard someone call out excitedly from upstairs, “Ah Wan!” The voice sounded familiar. Lu Wan looked up and, sure enough, it was someone she knew.

It was Princess Nan’an, whom she had met on the day of the poetry gathering.

Author’s Note:
Xu Lin: You cannot do it like this! You need to #%@%&……&*……%, you need to dress up first!
Xie Yu: Got it.
Lu Wan: ???
(Laughing like a cat that stole a fish—Xie Yu probably does not like cats because his name is Xie Yu. Yu = fish)
The riddle about the character ‘井’ (well) is by Bao Zhao. The line from Li Bai’s poem, “Fresh and elegant like Yu Kaifu, handsome and dashing like Bao Canjun,” refers to him.