Chapter Nine: When the Matchmaker Reels in the Thread

"Nonsense! You should go out and practice your skills," the person in the green attire reprimanded him with a stern expression

The Star Soul gazed at the child playing the zither in the bamboo grove, and as he simultaneously played the last glissando, the arc of his raised hand was strikingly similar. The lingering sound echoed in the bamboo house. He smiled and turned back, and a single tear trembled on the face of the beautiful gentleman, hanging precariously without falling.

Star Soul has speculated more than once about the identity of this boy and is eager to spend some time playing with him. He has a wealth of stories to share. The people of the valley will inform him of what they want him to do, but Star Soul is very keen to approach the truth of the matter through other channels

The star soul quickly spreads the paper and grinds it, washing the brush and preparing the colors to serve.

Xinghun nodded slightly. After a moment's thought, he said: "Would it be acceptable for Xinghun to compose a poem for you, sir?"

He was planning to continue his efforts, but his good mood was ruined. The Qingyi Master said that the divine doctor in the valley was interested in his face and wanted to perform some cosmetic work for him

"Little Star, let this be it for today, I am weary, you may go back now." Cheng Dieyi seemed to be touched by something, wanting to be alone.

The person in the blue attire was taken aback for a moment and asked hesitantly: "The butterfly-clad individual has always held themselves in high regard..."

The Star Soul was overjoyed and took the opportunity to embrace the handsome gentleman, giving him a loud kiss. Before she could get angry, he jumped back a few steps and clapped his hands, saying: "Master Qingyi was right, the handsome gentleman's face is both fair and smooth!"

The man in the green robe was puzzled as to why he finished school so early. Xinghun had embellished the story and then seriously handed the painting to the master in the green robe: "The gentleman of beauty said you must not see this. As for women, when they say no, they actually mean yes. Master, do not let the gentleman of beauty down!"

Two days later, when the Qingyi Master came to pick up Xinghun from school, his eyes could not help but glance at the beautiful gentleman's hair. Xinghun, with a serious demeanor, bid farewell to the beautiful gentleman, while his eyes sneakily caught sight of what he wanted to see. The Qingyi Master's gaze passed through the white jade hairpin and looked deep into the bamboo forest. The beautiful master slightly lowered his head and adjusted the shawl on his arms.

Sir, how about you draw a self-portrait for Xinghun? When I think of you, I can take it out and have a look. Watching you practice is also invigorating, much better than staring at Master Qingyi!

The person in the blue attire exclaimed in surprise: "This... how can this be my intention?"

Cheng Dieyi casually inscribed a note on the painting

"Very well," the beautiful gentleman sighed deeply after a long while.

Cheng Dieyi gladly agreed

Cheng Dieyi thought of the line "to die beneath the peony flower" and had never seen him write poetry before, which piqued his interest greatly

Anger spread across that beautiful face, and her eyes were already filled with rage. "The green-clad monster is being too unreasonable!"

After waiting for a while, he emerged from the stone chamber with a sly smile, slowly making his way towards the bamboo house of the handsome gentleman. From a distance, the sound of a flute could be heard coming from outside the bamboo house. Star Soul, satisfied, returned to the stone chamber to sleep, shaking his head in exclamation, how dare the Master in green present such an unpleasant flute performance as a treasure, the power of love is truly great

The Star Soul was very pleased with her teasing. With wide eyes, she looked at her innocently and praised, "You are truly beautiful, sir. Master Qingyi has always said that if a white jade hairpin were to be used to style your black hair, it would be nothing short of stunning!"

What do you want

The Star Soul pondered and recited: "The beauty rolls up the pearl curtain, sitting deeply with furrowed brows. Only the tear stains are visible, yet who knows the heart's resentment?"

Before long, a woman of exceptional grace from ancient times appeared at the tip of the brush. Cheng Dieyi set down the brush with satisfaction and smiled, saying: "Take it! However, only you can see it. If your Qingyi master sees it, I will not agree."

Cheng Dieyi was taken aback, murmuring it a few times, a trace of sorrow flashing in her beautiful eyes

"Is the gentleman angry? The Qingyi master never said such a thing. He... he merely stated that the gentleman is an extremely elegant person, and that Xinghun wishes to be close to the gentleman." As he spoke, his lips had already slightly pouted, and his expression was one of utmost grievance.

Cheng Dieyi's expression darkened as he reached out to take down the hairpin: "Did your master send you to deliver this?" He made a motion as if to throw it away

That night, Xinghun discovered that Master Qingyi had quietly left the stone chamber alone

Xinghun cast a glance at him in the darkness, his tone tinged with a hint of fear: "Master didn't mean it this way? What should we do? I will go find Mr. Meiren and explain that it wasn't the Master's intention. I was thinking, Mr. Meiren looks forward to Xinghun's return from school every day, even more anxiously than I do... Alas, what should we do? If Mr. Meiren misunderstands and wears that hairpin all day... Master, please do not expose me! Mr. Meiren will punish me!"... Alas, what should we do? If Mr. Meiren misunderstands and wears that hairpin all day... Master, please do not expose me! Mr. Meiren will punish me!

He walked over and extended his finger to wipe away that tear, inadvertently brushing against her cloud-like long hair, his little finger intentionally or unintentionally gliding past her pearl-like earlobe

"Sir, why not write the title on the painting?" Xing Hun urged. He recalled how Fang Shiyu's father had deceived Fang Shiyu's mother and thought to himself that there were too many regrets in this life, and that he could only do things he had not done in his previous life to achieve some psychological balance

Star Soul was taken aback and quickly intervened: "I went to the market and saw Master hesitating to buy this hairpin. As a disciple, I should consider my Master’s feelings. I bought it with my own silver. How can you refuse Star Soul's filial piety?"

A faint fragrance emanated from the gentleman, and Xinghun took a deep breath, intoxicated by it. ... How delightful it is to have beauty in one's embrace, but alas ... ... He sighed, raised his head, and smiled as he said: "Sir, you have yet to return my gift."

Star Soul, please take another shot: "Good painting, good writing! Star Soul thanks you, sir."

The current situation is akin to placing a pot of delicacies before him, only telling him how delicious it is, yet not allowing him to pick up the chopsticks. The imagined feast drawn in his mind can never compare to the comfort of tasting it. He detests such matters that dull his brain cells. Consequently, he has come to resent the knowledgeable Qingyi master and the handsome gentleman who understand the truth yet choose not to reveal it to him. The result is that he decides to act as a matchmaker to bring joy to the two of them

The purpose of the Star Soul has been achieved, holding the painting in hand, it hurriedly ran back to the stone chamber like the wind

Cheng Dieyi gently pointed at the forehead of Xinghun with her delicate fingers and smiled, saying: "If it were a gift from your master, I would certainly throw it away. However, the heartfelt intention of little Xingxing is something I will naturally cherish"

The Star Soul smiled even sweeter: "Master, just take a look at this painting and you will understand. The beautiful gentleman lives alone in the valley, and surely feels lonely. If she were indifferent, how could she be so kind to me? This is called love for the crow to the nest. By the way, you know the temperament of the beautiful gentleman; you must not ask her, as she will definitely be angry. Also, the beautiful master gifted me this painting, so I gave her the jade hairpin, saying... it is your heartfelt intention, Master."

"Is that alright, sir?" The Star Soul gazed at her with anticipation

Star Soul chuckled lightly as he slipped out of the stone chamber like a rabbit, unable to contain his laughter. He imagined the scene of his master in the green robe eagerly dismissing him, lost in the appreciation of that painting and poem, which filled him with great satisfaction. He had not been able to stay in the valley for long; practicing martial arts had become tedious, and learning from that poor boy in the purple robe was even more uninteresting. For three months, he had not found a single opportunity to speak privately with the boy, which truly left Star Soul feeling somewhat stifled

"Little ghost!" Cheng Dieyi exclaimed in reproach, sitting up with a face flushed with a wave of crimson.

"Alright, you child!" Her heart softened, and she reached out to embrace Xinghun