Chapter 45: A Chance Encounter Is Better Than a Formal Invitation

This young woman was none other than Guo Xin, the young lady who had stood up for others near the West Market when Yang Xi last returned to Chang'an.

Could this be too much of a coincidence? He had come to the Qujiang Pool on a whim, only to run into this young beauty. Was it fated? Yang Xi asked himself with a self-deprecating smile. When he had first decided to visit the Qujiang Pool, he had felt a strange sensation—a vague, inexplicable sense of anticipation.

Could it be that he had subconsciously wished to meet someone, or perhaps had a premonition that he would?

Guo Xin had not expected to run into Yang Xi at the Qujiang Pool either.

She had felt restless and stifled in the manor today, unable to stay put. She had snuck out with her maid, Xiao Yu, to wander about. Not feeling satisfied with their outing, they had finally ended up at the Qujiang Pool. To her surprise, while frolicking with Xiao Yu, she had nearly collided with Yang Xi.

Both were stunned, standing there at a distance, staring wide-eyed at one another. Even Xiao Yu, who had chased after them, froze in place.

Yang Xi was the first to recover. He stepped back and bowed with refined grace: "Greetings, Young Lady Guo. What a coincidence to encounter you here at the Qujiang Pool!"

Seeing Yang Xi looking at her with a gentle, unwavering smile, Guo Xin’s face flushed red. She quickly averted her gaze and returned the bow, slightly flustered: "Greetings, Master Yang. I truly did not expect to meet you today." It was strange—for months, she had wanted to run into him again to clarify certain matters, but despite wandering the streets of Chang'an, she had never seen him. She had nearly given up, assuming they would never cross paths again, yet here he was, and she had almost walked straight into his arms.

How could things be such a strange coincidence?

Noticing Guo Xin's peculiar expression and flushed face, Yang Xi couldn't help but tease: "Young Lady Guo, I have returned to Chang'an twice, and twice I have met you. If I were to call it mere coincidence, it would be hard to believe. It seems we are destined to meet!"

"Ah?!" Guo Xin let out a soft cry of surprise. She wasn't sure if she was startled by his teasing or by the revelation that he had only been to Chang'an twice. So, he hadn't been in Chang'an all this time? Every time they met, it was just when he was returning? Where had he been? Guo Xin found herself pondering this question for no apparent reason.

Seeing her blank expression and the way she stared at him, Yang Xi felt a desire to laugh.

His mood was excellent today, and meeting Guo Xin at the Qujiang Pool only made it better. In the presence of this young beauty, he felt a touch of romantic sentimentality.

Yang Xi had always believed that a woman does not blush before a man without reason. If a girl blushes in front of a boy, she must have developed special feelings. With this assumption, a sense of hope grew within him. Watching her, he smiled and said: "Young Lady Guo, surely you agree with what I said? As the saying goes, it is better to meet by chance than by invitation. Last time we met, we didn't have the chance to talk much. Since we have met today, we shouldn't part in such a hurry. Why don't we walk together, or perhaps find somewhere to sit and chat?"

Yang Xi wasn't sure if she would agree; he knew his request was abrupt and that a refusal would be expected. Still, he hoped for a positive response. To win a girl’s favor, one had to be bold, attentive, and thick-skinned. He intended to use all these tactics, confident that his psychological maturity gave him a distinct advantage over the young girl before him.

"Ah? This..." Guo Xin had certainly not expected such a direct invitation. She panicked, her face turning even redder, unsure whether to refuse or accept.

She felt annoyed with herself. She had always been decisive, never one to hesitate, yet today, ever since seeing Yang Xi, she had been unable to act firmly. She silently scolded herself—how embarrassing! If her sisters knew, they would laugh at her to death.

Her maid, Xiao Yu, had caught up and heard the invitation. Xiao Yu, who held a favorable impression of Yang Xi, didn't dare to speak for her mistress, though she secretly hoped her Seventh Young Lady would accept. Yang Xi’s conduct during their previous encounter had been admirable, and his charm had stirred the heart of the young, budding maid. Since that day, she had often spoken of him to her mistress.

"It seems I have been too forward!" Yang Xi offered a pleasant, reassuring smile. He realized her hesitation wasn't a rejection, but rather a mix of surprise, shyness, and maidenly reserve. He added, "I simply feel a strong connection with you. It is rare that I have returned to Chang'an twice and met you both times. I might have to leave Chang'an tomorrow..."

"You are leaving Chang'an tomorrow?" Guo Xin felt a jolt at his words. She couldn't help but interrupt, asking urgently: "Aren't you from Chang'an? Where... where are you going?"

Yang Xi found the situation intriguing and explained with a smile: "My manor is in Chang'an, but I have had important business elsewhere for some time, so I haven't been here. I just returned today and haven't even gone home yet; I was passing by when I decided to stroll here. I didn't expect to run into you. I am truly glad I didn't rush back to the manor. As I said, it is better to meet by chance than by invitation. If you don't mind, would you accompany me for a walk?"

A girl of sixteen or seventeen had little guile, as evidenced by Guo Xin's behavior. Yang Xi was confident that his sincerity would be hard for her to refuse.

As he expected, after a moment of hesitation, Guo Xin nodded: "Very well. I have no one to play with today anyway, so I shall walk with you, Young Master!"

"My thanks for the honor, Young Lady!" Yang Xi bowed with grace. "Let us head this way!"

He also gave a polite smile to the little maid, and his cheerful expression was met with a similarly bright smile from Xiao Yu.

As they began to walk, Xiao Yu, showing great tact, lagged a few steps behind, trailing alongside Yang Xi’s attendants.

At first, there was silence. After a few paces, Yang Xi spoke naturally: "Did you come to the Qujiang Pool specifically for an outing today?"

"Yes!" Guo Xin nodded. "I had nothing to do at the manor, so I thought I would come out for a walk. I didn't expect to meet you. By the way, Master Yang, you frequently leave Chang'an—where do you go?"

As soon as the words left her lips, she felt it was too prying and quickly added: "I didn't mean to pry, I was just curious. With the chaos of war continuing and battles frequently breaking out near Tong Pass, are you not afraid of trouble?"

"You are right, Young Lady. The rebellion continues, and Tong Pass remains the front line of the war. However, in these times, many have no choice but to head toward the front lines without hesitation—men like Guo Ziyi, Li Guangbi, and Yan Zhenqing." As he spoke, watching the growing astonishment in Guo Xin's eyes, Yang Xi smiled contentedly: "I am one of them. Serving in the military, one has little control when war breaks out, and few opportunities to return home."

"Ah..." Guo Xin was stunned once again.