C18 Beauty!

"It's very important... At the very least, I want to see what kind of man I've chosen for myself... As was mentioned at today's poetry gathering, the prize for first place is to spend a delightful evening with me and Sister Yanyuan. You and I both know the winning poem 'Thoughts on a Quiet Night' was your masterwork, Young Master. It truly deserved first place, so naturally, I am the one to fulfill this reward."

"At least, it's better to entrust myself to a man who can craft such an immortal verse than to another..."

A shadow of melancholy crossed Su Xiaoxiao's beautiful eyes. Her gentle voice carried an indefinable weariness and a bitter resignation. If Lin Han had any doubts about Su Xiaoxiao's earlier words, he now understood that she was speaking from her heart.

Lin Han remained silent. The existence of places like this was inevitable, and he was well aware that these women seldom chose such a life willingly. Most were simply trying to survive. The notion of having a choice in their destiny was a luxury they did not possess. Thus, faced with Su Xiaoxiao's heartfelt expression, Lin Han could only respond with silence.

"In truth, I had my own reasons for inviting you over this time... The matron intended for me to attend to Young Master Bai alongside Sister Yanyuan. Young Master Bai is the Second Young Master of the Governor of Jiangnan... You might look down on us, but who understands the struggles of keeping the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion afloat without any backing or connections?"

A rare glimpse of desolation appeared on Su Xiaoxiao's exquisite face. She wasn't seeking Lin Han's forgiveness; she was searching for a qualified listener. She didn't care about receiving comforting words, nor did she need them. Lin Han, however, played his part perfectly, becoming an ideal listener.

"Now that Sister Yanyuan has chosen Lingfei... The one to accompany Young Master Bai... can only be me... But I am not content with that... Do you know? When I saw Young Master Lin before the Mid Autumn Poetry Meet began, I was certain you would take first place... But fate has its own plans. Did you really think I was unaware... that Young Master Lingfei's 'Cold Moon' was... penned by you, Young Master Lin?"

Resentment and an unshakable sorrow lingered on Su Xiaoxiao's face. A woman of her gentle nature, when filled with such grief, seemed to make even the waters of West Lake pour out in sympathy. Watching Su Xiaoxiao fight back her tears as she spoke, Lin Han felt a tender spot in his heart stir.

Lin Han couldn't help but massage his temples, bewildered that his simple desire to make some quick money had entangled him in such a web of complications. In dire straits, hope is the most precious commodity, yet it's also the one thing that shouldn't be clung to. The agony that comes when hope is shattered is something no one can fathom. Witnessing Su Xiaoxiao's beautiful face struggle to hold back tears, her defiance in the face of despair, and her unyielding gaze... Lin Han's perception of Su Xiaoxiao had shifted.

"Young Master, there's no need for self-reproach. Our paths crossed by mere chance. Though I come from humble beginnings, I understand that a true gentleman doesn't misplace his anger onto others. My fate is my own... Perhaps one day I'll have to confront it... But today, I am yours. If you can look past my modest beauty, Young Master..."

A warm smile graced Su Xiaoxiao's lovely face, and she seemed quite pleased with Lin Han's conflicted demeanor. Perhaps Lin Han wasn't her destined partner, but his troubled expression for a woman he'd met by happenstance spoke volumes about his character, proving he was not a cruel-hearted beast. She left her sentence hanging, but the implication was clear to anyone.

"Yet, Young Master, you've composed poems for your beloved wife and Sister Yanyuan. Might you grace me with a poem as well?"

Su Xiaoxiao's playful tone seemed designed to alleviate Lin Han's sense of guilt, but Lin Han noticed the tear tracks on her cheeks. She was a woman of self-respect and strength. Lin Han could be base and shameless, even manipulative, but all his actions were driven by the instinct to survive. He could justify his actions to himself, maintaining a baseline of integrity.

However, as Lin Han reflected on Su Xiaoxiao's predicament, he questioned his integrity. Gazing into her eyes, a blend of tenderness and stubbornness, he realized that despite her assurances, and although they were mere strangers, he couldn't absolve himself of guilt.

Children might face multiple-choice questions, but if Lin Han were to come out on top, whom would he choose? After some thought, he figured he might want both, or perhaps neither. Since the situation hadn't unfolded by his choice, he knew he couldn't claim a clear conscience.

"Miss... I'm really not what you'd call a good person..."

Lin Han gave a wry smile. In his past life, he'd always been the good guy, but in this life, he vowed not to be the kind of good person who gets pushed around. Why did everyone, from Lau Mingzhu to Su Xiaoxiao, and even Moo Lingfei, that chubby kid, see him as a good, trustworthy person?

Su Xiaoxiao gazed at Lin Han, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. How could someone in this world claim they weren't a good person? Especially someone who agonized over a chance encounter with a stranger.

"Among the flowers of water, land, grass, and trees, many are beloved. Since the country's founding, people have adored the peony. But I have a special fondness for the lotus, which rises unsoiled from the mud, bathes in clear water without becoming seductive, stands straight and unentangled, without sprawling branches. Its fragrance carries far, pure and untainted, standing dignified and clean, to be admired from a distance but not trifled with..."

Lin Han didn't wait for Su Xiaoxiao to speak. He clutched his cup, his words punctuated with pauses, his gaze distant and his expression filled with a joy that was hard for most to comprehend. It was a genuine affection, free from any selfish desire, and it moved Su Xiaoxiao deeply. Although Lin Han didn't mention the poem or her, the prose clearly spoke of her.

What kind of talent was required to pen such words? Su Xiaoxiao's eyes brimmed with emotion as she watched Lin Han. Her heart was already captivated by the man before her. If this was what falling felt like, then she was content to fall for this man. In that moment, she even felt a twinge of envy for Lau Mingzhu. To be with a man of such talent, if only for an instant, would be worth any price.

"The chrysanthemum is the hermit of flowers. The peony, the flower of wealth. The lotus, the flower of the gentleman. Alas! The love for chrysanthemums is seldom heard after Tao Yuanming, but who shares my love for the lotus? The love for peonies is understandably widespread."

Lin Han had finally finished reciting the poem "On Loving the Lotus," and his forehead was slick with cold sweat. He cursed inwardly; this world was utterly devoid of any Li Tang, and one slip of the tongue could spell disaster for him. Thankfully, his quick thinking had saved him from a potentially embarrassing faux pas that could have ended with him being struck by lightning. So preoccupied was he with his own relief that he failed to notice the look of admiration in Su Xiaoxiao's eyes, and he remained drenched in sweat.

Unbeknownst to Lin Han, Su Xiaoxiao was utterly captivated, her gaze fixed on him with rapturous enchantment. Her body had gone limp with desire; she yearned for this man. With just a nod from him, she would willingly give herself to him tonight. Despite the clarity of the tragic fate that would likely follow such a reckless act, she couldn't suppress the thought.