The Jade Echo Singing Pavilion had a reputation.
A very bad one.
It was the kind of place elders warned gers and proper young ladies about with long sighs and pointed looks. A place where music was sweet, wine was strong, and intentions were rarely pure. Officially, it was a refined entertainment house—string instruments, poetry, private rooms.
Unofficially?
It was where trouble wore silk robes and smiled politely.
Which made it all the more baffling that Li Yanxu was strolling toward it with relaxed steps, hands tucked into his sleeves, humming.
Xu Yichen walked beside him, expression conflicted.
"…Are you sure we should be here?" Xu Yichen asked softly.
Li Yanxu waved a hand. "Relax. We're just here to listen to music."
Xu Yichen glanced at the signboard. "This is not a place one comes to 'just listen to music.'"
Li Yanxu tilted his head. "Then why do they advertise music?"
Xu Yichen opened his mouth, then closed it.
He forgot sometimes that Li Yanxu operated on a logic system that was aggressively modern and fundamentally incompatible with this world.
"We didn't bring Song An," Xu Yichen added nervously.
Li Yanxu nodded solemnly. "Exactly. This is called responsible adulthood."
Xu Yichen felt no reassurance whatsoever.
They entered anyway.
Inside, the Jade Echo Pavilion lived up to its name. Silk curtains swayed. Music drifted like mist. Incense curled lazily through the air. Cultivators and nobles sat in private booths, laughing softly, cups raised.
Several gazes snapped toward them.
Two gers.
Beautiful.
Unaccompanied.
Li Yanxu noticed the looks and leaned closer to Xu Yichen. "We're being stared at."
Xu Yichen whispered back, "That's because we shouldn't be here."
Li Yanxu nodded. "Ah. Cultural norms."
Before Xu Yichen could say anything else, a server approached, bowing deeply.
"Honored guests, would you like a private room?"
Li Yanxu smiled brightly. "Yes. Somewhere with good acoustics and less staring."
Xu Yichen swallowed.
They were led upstairs.
What Xu Yichen didn't know—what Li Yanxu definitely didn't know—was that they were being watched.
From behind a screen, a ger in pale green robes clenched his fingers around a teacup.
Yang Rui.
His eyes were sharp, resentful.
Xu Yichen.
Always Xu Yichen.
The man Yang Rui liked—no, loved—looked only at Xu Yichen. Spoke only of Xu Yichen. Smiled for Xu Yichen.
And now Xu Yichen sat laughing with another ger, closer than ever.
Yang Rui's lips curled.
"If you won't be mine," he muttered, "you won't belong to anyone."
The scheme unfolded quietly.
Too quietly.
The wine arrived.
Li Yanxu sniffed it thoughtfully. "This smells expensive."
Xu Yichen smiled. "Inner City prices."
Li Yanxu raised his cup. "To friendship."
Xu Yichen raised his as well. "To—"
They drank.
Xu Yichen paused.
"…This tastes stronger than usual."
Li Yanxu blinked. "Really?"
Then his cheeks flushed.
Rapidly.
"…Oh."
Xu Yichen frowned. "Yanxu?"
Li Yanxu's ears turned red. "That's… that's not normal."
Xu Yichen stood up immediately. "We're leaving."
Li Yanxu swayed.
"…I think," he said slowly, "I've been poisoned."
Xu Yichen's heart slammed.
Before he could reach him, the door slid open.
Men entered.
Their smiles were wrong.
Xu Yichen stepped back instinctively. "What do you want?"
"Nothing," one of them said lightly. "Just helping."
They moved fast.
Too fast.
Xu Yichen was grabbed.
"Let go!" he shouted.
Li Yanxu tried to stand—and stumbled.
"Hey," he slurred angrily, "that's my friend."
Someone struck the back of his neck.
Darkness swallowed him.
—
Li Yanxu woke up hot.
Not metaphorically.
His head burned. His body felt heavy. His thoughts were sluggish, tangled like overheated wires.
He groaned.
"…This is not alcohol."
The room was unfamiliar. Silk curtains. A wide bed.
The door was shut.
Locked.
Across the room, another figure stirred.
A man.
His eyes were unfocused. His breathing uneven.
Drugged.
Li Yanxu's modern common sense slammed into place like an alarm bell.
"Oh no," he muttered hoarsely. "This is illegal."
The man turned toward him, pupils dilated, gaze unfixed.
Li Yanxu scooted backward on the bed. "Stop. Don't come closer."
The man didn't respond.
Li Yanxu's heart raced.
He scanned the room desperately.
No windows.
No weapons.
His limbs felt weak.
"Okay," he said to himself shakily, "think. Think."
He raised his voice.
"HELP! THIS IS A CRIME! THIS IS ASSAULT! THERE ARE LAWS—"
The man lunged—
And the door exploded open.
The impact shook the room.
The man was yanked backward violently and slammed into the wall.
Li Yanxu blinked blearily.
A familiar voice roared, filled with cold fury.
"TOUCH HIM AGAIN AND YOU DIE."
Li Yanya.
She stood in the doorway like a war goddess, whip crackling with qi, eyes glowing with murderous intent.
Behind her were Li Yanli and Xu Junyi.
Li Yanxu burst into relieved laughter. "Ah. Backup."
He promptly fainted.
—
At the same time—
Chaos erupted in the opposite wing.
Xu Yichen struggled as he was dragged down a corridor.
"Let go of me!"
The men holding him suddenly shouted loudly.
"Stop pretending!"
"We all know you were sneaking around!"
"You've been having an affair!"
Xu Yichen froze.
"What?"
Their voices echoed deliberately.
Doors opened.
People peeked out.
Whispers erupted instantly.
Xu Yichen's face went pale.
And then—
"LET HIM GO."
Li Yanli stepped forward, eyes icy.
Xu Junyi stood beside him, sword half-drawn.
The men hesitated.
Li Yanli's voice was calm, deadly. "You are accusing a Xu family member without proof. Repeat that again."
The men faltered.
Xu Junyi's gaze swept the crowd. "Anyone spreading rumors will answer to the Xu family."
The men panicked.
They tried to run.
They didn't get far.
—
By the time everything ended, the Jade Echo Pavilion was in shambles.
Guards were summoned.
The Yang ger was dragged out screaming.
The Pavilion owner knelt, drenched in sweat.
Li Yanxu lay on a couch back at the Li mansion, wrapped in blankets, fanning himself weakly.
"…I told you," he muttered hoarsely, "this place had bad safety standards."
Li Yanya sat beside him, arms crossed, glare sharp enough to kill. "You are never leaving the house again."
Xu Yichen sat nearby, hands clenched, eyes red. "I'm sorry… I didn't know…"
Li Yanxu cracked one eye open. "Not your fault."
He paused.
"…But next time, let's go to a teahouse."
Xu Yichen laughed shakily, tears falling.
Li Yanya's glare softened—just slightly.
And somewhere above, the Heavenly Dao rubbed its temples.
This chosen one was going to give it heart problems.
--
-
The Xu residence was calm in a way the Li mansion never was.
The stone paths were swept clean, the bamboo groves trimmed just enough to look effortless, and even the koi in the pond seemed to swim with better manners. Li Yanli noticed all of this as he walked beside Li Yanya through the front gates, posture straight, expression composed.
Li Yanya, on the other hand, radiated restrained violence.
"I still say we should have overturned that Pavilion," she muttered.
"Sister," Li Yanli said gently, "we're here to apologize."
"I know," she replied. "That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."
They were led into the main hall, where Xu Father and Madam Xu were already waiting.
Tea was served. Greetings were exchanged.
Before Li Yanya could even finish her carefully prepared apology, Xu Father waved a hand and laughed.
"Enough, enough. What apology?" he said warmly. "That Pavilion deserved what it got. If anything, those naughty youngsters needed a lesson earlier."
Madam Xu nodded. "Exactly. These things happen. No one is at fault."
Li Yanya blinked. "…You're not angry?"
"Angry?" Madam Xu smiled. "If my Yichen hadn't been dragged in, we might never have discovered such filth. You did us a favor."
Li Yanli relaxed slightly.
Li Yanya exhaled, tension easing from her shoulders. "You're generous."
Xu Father chuckled. "Come, come. Let's talk like adults. Let the younger ones breathe."
As if on cue, Madam Xu rose and lightly tugged Li Yanya's sleeve.
"Let's go see the embroidery I was working on," she said pleasantly.
Li Yanya glanced once—just once—toward the garden.
Then she smiled.
"Lead the way."
The two women left together, their conversation already flowing, their steps suspiciously slow.
Xu Father sipped his tea, eyes twinkling, then stood as well. "I'll go check on the servants."
And just like that—
Li Yanli was alone.
With Xu Yichen.
In the garden.
The garden was quiet.
Sunlight filtered through bamboo leaves, dappling the stone path. A light breeze carried the scent of flowers and pond water.
Xu Yichen stood near the koi pond, hands folded neatly in front of him, pale robes catching the light. When he heard footsteps, he turned.
Their eyes met.
For half a breath, neither spoke.
"…How is your health?" Li Yanli asked finally, his voice calm but a little softer than usual.
Xu Yichen blinked, then smiled faintly. "Much better. Thank you for asking."
Li Yanli nodded. "…I'm glad."
Silence followed.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
Just… new.
Xu Yichen glanced at him from beneath his lashes. "You came to apologize… but it wasn't your fault."
Li Yanli shook his head. "He is my younger brother. His trouble is my responsibility."
Xu Yichen laughed quietly. "Then my trouble is also mine."
Their gazes met again.
This time, Xu Yichen's ears warmed slightly.
Li Yanli noticed.
And promptly forgot how breathing worked for half a second.
"…You were very brave," Li Yanli said suddenly.
Xu Yichen looked startled. "I was?"
"Yes." Li Yanli's voice was sincere. "You didn't panic. You didn't give in to their words."
Xu Yichen looked away, fingers tightening slightly. "I was scared."
"Courage isn't the absence of fear," Li Yanli replied. "It's standing firm despite it."
Xu Yichen's heart skipped.
He looked back.
Li Yanli stood straight, hands behind his back, expression composed as ever. But his eyes were steady, warm, and unwavering.
Xu Yichen smiled, softer this time. "You're very… dependable."
Li Yanli's ears turned red.
"…Thank you."
They walked slowly along the path.
The koi gathered near the surface, mouths opening and closing expectantly.
Xu Yichen crouched slightly. "They think everyone brings food."
Li Yanli watched him. "They're optimistic."
Xu Yichen laughed. "Like Yanxu."
Li Yanli sighed fondly. "Unfortunately."
Xu Yichen hesitated, then said quietly, "He's… important to you."
"Yes." Li Yanli nodded without hesitation. "Very."
Xu Yichen smiled. "I can tell."
Another pause.
This time, Li Yanli spoke more slowly. "Xu Yichen… about what happened—"
Xu Yichen shook his head gently. "I don't blame him."
Li Yanli looked at him.
"I know," Xu Yichen continued softly. "He didn't mean to. And he was protecting me in his own way."
Li Yanli's chest warmed.
"…Thank you," he said.
Xu Yichen glanced up at him, eyes bright. "You protect him very well."
Li Yanli smiled faintly. "He makes it difficult."
Xu Yichen laughed.
The sound lingered in the garden like sunlight.
From a distance, behind a carefully chosen pillar, Li Yanya and Madam Xu paused mid-conversation.
They looked.
They exchanged a glance.
And smiled.
"Your son," Li Yanya said slowly, "has good taste."
Madam Xu sipped her tea. "Your brother is very steady."
They nodded in mutual understanding.
Back in the garden, Li Yanli and Xu Yichen stopped walking.
Xu Yichen clasped his hands together, gathering courage. "…If you ever need anything, you can come to me."
Li Yanli met his gaze. "Likewise."
Their eyes lingered.
Just a moment too long.
Then—
"AH—"
A scream shattered the tranquility.
Li Yanxu's voice echoed from somewhere in the mansion.
"I WAS JUST WALKING AND I SLIPPED AGAIN—WHO POLISHED THE FLOOR—"
Li Yanya's roar followed immediately.
"LI YANXU—!"
Xu Yichen covered his mouth, laughing.
Li Yanli sighed. "That's my brother."
Xu Yichen smiled at him, eyes gentle. "I don't mind."
They stood there, laughter and chaos echoing faintly behind them, something quiet and warm settling between them.