"That day, you mumbled something about a men's academy before sleeping, and I thought it made sense, so I discussed it with Zheng Yu, and she agreed wholeheartedly."
Oh, so it wasn't that my wife and I had a telepathic connection, but rather that my wife had overheard me. Shen Xuan felt a pang of disappointment.
"The men's academy is currently under construction and will take another two months to complete. Zheng Yu said we could start promoting it, but our town has no male teachers, nor any precedent for men studying. So I was thinking..."
"So you want to tell everyone about me, and have them use me as an example? That way, men in our town will have a precedent for studying in the future."
Without even being asked, Shen Xuan finished Lu Yu's sentence, his tone firm.
"Yes, that's what I was thinking. But this matter still requires your consent. After all, if this is made public, the townsfolk will surely gossip."
Lu Yu was not surprised that Shen Xuan had voiced his thoughts. After all, they were of one mind. However, Lu Yu dared not make such a decision for Shen Xuan.
He himself had been troubled by rumors just a few days ago. If this matter were to be made public, it would undoubtedly cause another stir, and the number of people discussing him would only increase.
However, the town truly lacked male teachers. Once the academy opened, mothers would surely hope for a male teacher. After all, people's mindsets could not be changed overnight. Shen Xuan was literate, knowledgeable, and skilled in painting, making him an excellent candidate for this male teacher position.
"Of course, I agree," Shen Xuan said without hesitation.
Seeing Lu Yu frowning beside him, Shen Xuan knew what Lu Yu was worried about. He leaned against Lu Yu, his voice soft, "I've already gone through the previous rumors, so this is nothing."
"Besides, I genuinely wish for a men's academy, and I want to contribute."
"Good. Then I support you. Don't worry, Zheng Yu will send people to control the narrative."
"Wife, with you by my side, I'm not afraid. I trust you." Because you will always protect me.
This is so good.
"Wife, thank you."
"What is there to thank? We are husband and wife, there's no need for thanks. Besides, this is also something that contributes to the townsfolk. Like you, I am very willing."
Night fell, and the two slept in each other's arms.
By noon the next day, the entire town was abuzz. It turned out that Mr. Xuan, the seller of books and paintings, was not a woman but a man, and moreover, the husband of Dr. Lu Yu.
This news caused another sensation in the town. Men studying, writing, and painting was truly an astonishing and unprecedented marvel.
However, with Zheng Yu's previous protection and assistance during the time of rumors, the townsfolk did not react as they had last time. Most of them praised Shen Xuan, stating that despite being a man, his calligraphy and painting skills were in no way inferior to women's.
Lu Yu's worries did not materialize, and the people Zheng Yu had dispatched were not needed.
"So Mr. Xuan is our Xuan'er! Afu, you all knew, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Gu Yi said, holding Shen Xuan's hand and looking reproachfully at Afu.
"Don't blame him, it was I who told him not to say anything."
"How could I? I am also a man, so I naturally understand your difficulties. I would never blame you." Gu Yi also took Afu's hand. "Besides, I am younger than both of you. You are like my elder brothers, and you've been taking care of me for so long."
"I just didn't expect you, Xuan'er, to be so learned and talented. Just looking at the paintings, I already felt they were excellent. And then reading the poems inscribed on them, the artistic conception... I am truly envious."
"How could Yi'er deceive us? If you were illiterate, how could you understand? If you didn't understand poetry, how could you comprehend the artistic conception in my poems?" Shen Xuan playfully patted Gu Yi's hand as if to punish him.
"These past few days, it's more accurate to say that you've been running around for me, rather than us taking care of you. For me, you went alone to invite the town mayor and brainstorm ideas." Shen Xuan's eyes were full of gratitude.
Hearing this, Gu Yi couldn't help but laugh. "Miss Zheng isn't a fierce beast. It's no big deal for me to meet her alone."
"Miss Zheng?" Shen Xuan repeated. "So Yi'er and the town mayor are already so familiar."
Shen Xuan noticed the unconscious gentleness in Gu Yi's eyes when he mentioned Zheng Yu and, with a guess, felt pleasantly surprised.
"Not very familiar, just met a few times."
Being pointed out by Shen Xuan, Gu Yi became somewhat flustered, his gaze shifting, avoiding eye contact with Shen Xuan.
He was too afraid of others seeing through his thoughts; he was too proud and too insecure.
Having grown up in a privileged family with a comfortable life, and being the most doted-upon son in the family, he had studied all sorts of knowledge. His inherent pride was something that could never change.
But after a sudden turn of events and his family's misfortune, he fell into a brothel. He constantly reminded himself that he was no longer the pampered young master he once was.
Instead, he had forever become a despised, humble street performer, no different from the others in the brothel.
Heh... to become someone even his past self would look down upon, how ridiculous!
Later, he learned that his sister was looking for him in town, but he didn't dare to reveal himself. He was insecure, ashamed of his identity, ashamed of his past, ashamed of these indelible memories. He felt he was unworthy of knowing anyone outside the brothel.
He finally overcame his own hurdle and reunited with Gu Yitong, but he still dared not push his luck or indulge his feelings. He even felt he wasn't worthy of even an ordinary woman.
Yet, he also found other women unappealing. Perhaps his life was destined to be lived in solitude. Finding his sister was already a great fortune.
Shen Xuan noticed Gu Yi avoiding his question and seeming unhappy. He didn't press the matter further but changed the subject, continuing to discuss books and paintings that both of them were familiar with.
The two truly felt a sense of meeting a kindred spirit, a mutual appreciation for each other.
Afu, not understanding these matters, went to the front hall to help with the work.
"Hey! Be careful!"
Afu was diligently wiping the medicine cabinet. Just as he was about to look up, he heard Gu Yitong shout from behind him. Thinking something was about to fall on his head, he flinched and froze.
Gu Yitong rushed over, stood on tiptoe, and raised her arm, steadying the wobbling medicine box.
Afu, confirming he was out of danger, slowly looked up. He saw that one of the drawers of the medicine cabinet had been pulled open and not closed. Fortunately, Gu Yitong had steadied it, otherwise, it would have surely hit his head.
Just as he was about to look up and thank Gu Yitong, he saw her holding the medicine box in her arms, carefully examining the herbs inside.
As she checked, she muttered, "Good thing it didn't fall. These are all my most precious medicinal herbs. If they had fallen, they would have been ruined, and how much money would I have to spend?"
Afu almost choked on his unspoken words. So my head is less important than this box of herbs!
"What's going on?" Lu Yu, hearing the commotion, walked over. Seeing Gu Yitong holding a box of ordinary herbs and worrying about the cost, she was quite perplexed.
"When did you become so poor?" After saying that, she glanced at Afu standing beside her and suddenly had an epiphany. She seemed to have discovered something significant.
Gu Yitong didn't know why. Although she was afraid of Afu being hit, and the herbs in the box weren't worth much, after saving Afu, she didn't dare to admit it and pretended to be concerned about the herbs.