Chapter 7

"Why can't it be compared? We are all educated individuals; who is born a drunkard? You are not allowed to drink next time!"

She did not tell anyone about her friendship with a scholar, not even Yu. She felt that this was a secret between her and Shao Jiyan. She secretly thought that if she told the other sisters, they might become curious and come to see him as well. She knew that whether in terms of beauty or wit, she was not outstanding among the sisters, and she feared that if he met other girls, he would no longer be just her friend.

Ah? If Ruyu is unhappy, it's almost time for the exam. It's not good to stay at home studying and then run off to drink. This alcohol is not something good. Look at that Scholar Sun from South Street, a good student who has ruined himself by drinking. He no longer studies and spends all day holding a wine jar, and at over fifty years old, he is still just a scholar!

Outside the screen, there was a moment of silence. Shao Jiyan smiled faintly, knowing without looking that Ruyu's chubby little face must have turned pink again. Sure enough, a small, embarrassed murmur from Ruyu soon followed: "Who likes to see... such a lewd person..."

Hmm?

As jade

Indeed. "As if jade, he scratched his head, 'How do you know?'"

After that, Shao Jiyan no longer scolded Ru Yu. He had completely grown accustomed to Ru Yu's presence. Sometimes, the two would not speak a word to each other for an entire evening; one would read while the other wandered about the room, squatting in a corner for a while, playing in the yard, or simply sitting by the table, resting his chin on his hand while watching him read. When he grew tired of reading, he would not need to concern himself with Ru Yu, as he would undress and rest on his own. Ru Yu, on the other hand, would happily float away. If it was still early, she would go visit other houses; if it was late, she would directly go to the big locust tree to chat with her sisters. When he grew tired of reading, he would not need to concern himself with Ru Yu, as he would undress and rest on his own. Ru Yu, on the other hand, would happily float away. If it was still early, she would go visit other houses; if it was late, she would directly go to the big locust tree to chat with her sisters.

Shao Jiyan, seeing her pitiful appearance, could not bear to chase her away any longer, so he allowed her to huddle in the corner while he went back to reading his book

Yes, yes... next time I will drink less

This is Ru Yu's little thought, and Shao Ji Yan also has his own troubles. He has discovered that this female ghost, Ru Yu, is indeed... too clingy...

This is more like it, I will remember what you said, next time I see you come back drunk, I ... ...

Like jade, she is a ghost. What she loved most in the past was to visit one household after another after nightfall, but now she only visits one family, for she has a friend.

Oh..." Ruyue replied reluctantly, not understanding why she was not allowed to go. However, since Jiyan had said so, there must be a profound reason behind it.

Although the company of Ru Yu made Shao Ji Yan's life much more cheerful than before, he could not withstand her daily visits for play, which left him with no time even to read. Initially, he did not want to dampen Ru Yu's spirits, so he devised a way to tease her deliberately, provoking her to the point of annoyance, causing her to leave with a flushed face. He thought she would be upset for two or three days, but unexpectedly, after swearing the day before that she would no longer pay him any attention, she came knocking at his door the very next evening, smiling as if nothing had happened. Her simple nature of not holding grudges truly made him feel both fond and helpless.

Well, I was taken by Brother Feng and Brother Chen to have a couple of drinks

Every night upon waking, she would head straight to Shao Jiyan's home to share the latest news she had heard from her sisters. Some matters seemed to delight him, while others appeared to hold little interest. Yu meticulously noted everything, intending to inquire about the topics that piqued his interest when she returned, so she could share them with him the next day. Naturally, it was not solely her speaking; he would also engage with her, recounting the friends he had made during the day, a poem he was proud of, or an outing he had planned with friends. Of course, he never failed to tease and joke with her, which would leave her feeling both annoyed and embarrassed, yet she was not truly angry with him; instead, she found it oddly endearing.

As Yu blinked her eyes and said earnestly, "Am I not a living person?"

Noticing Shao Jiyan's displeasure, Ru Yu pouted and floated to the corner of the wall, curling up her body to make herself as small as possible, covering her mouth and whispering: "I am right here, can't I just stay silent?"

Shao Jiyan said seriously: "Ruyu, you are not allowed to watch other couples argue in the future"

Shao Jiyan laughed from behind the screen, saying: "How do you know that they bathe once a month? You must be spying on them every day while they bathe."

As if in a fog: "How do you know? Did I tell you? I don't remember"

Shao Jiyan said: "How can I find peace of mind with a living person sitting in the room?"

He was so engrossed that after more than half an hour, there was not a single sound. He thought that Ruyue had grown bored and left. When he turned around, he saw that she was still obediently squatting in the corner, drawing circles on the ground with her finger. Upon noticing his gaze, she quickly covered her mouth, widened her eyes, and shook her head innocently. Shao Jiyan, with a blank expression, silently turned back to continue reading, but he couldn't help but smile silently.

After Zita took the initiative to befriend Ruyu, Ruyu made it a point to come to him every evening without fail, engaging in casual conversations about various matters. Although he had only recently arrived in the capital, he was confident that the gossip he now knew surpassed that of many long-time residents of the city.

Later, he could no longer bear it and spoke directly to Ruyu, stating that the imperial examination was approaching and he needed to study diligently, thus he could not spend every day chatting with her

Because Ru Yu is a ghost and not a human, and due to their acquaintance, he does not need to exhibit the humility and caution expected of a scholar in her presence. His words and actions come naturally and comfortably. At times, he even makes some ambiguous jokes with her, which leave her both shy and annoyed. When provoked, she would blush and scold herself a few times, and regardless of how vulgar the colloquial expressions she uses may be, they do not come off as crude at all; instead, they are quite amusing.

Shao Jiyan had no choice but to concede defeat

As the days passed, the interaction between the person and the ghost became increasingly casual, to the extent that even when Shao Jiyan was bathing and drying himself, the two would chat and converse without any reservations, separated only by a screen

Ru Yu said loudly outside the screen: "You are not dirty either, there is no need to wash so often. Look at the blacksmith Song, he works hard every day and only washes once a month."

Shao Jiyan does not stay at home every night; sometimes he goes out for social engagements and returns very late. At such times, Ru Yu acts like a nagging housekeeper, pouting and saying: "Why are you so late? Where have you been? Why is your face so red? Hmm! You smell of alcohol, have you been drinking?"

We are merely drinking for enjoyment, how can we be compared to someone like him who is a slave to alcohol?

Ru Yu nodded vigorously without thinking, simply saying: "Yes, yes! You should work hard! Then I won't chat with you anymore." Shao Jiyan was about to breathe a sigh of relief when Ru Yu smiled foolishly again and said, "I will obediently sit in the room and absolutely won't talk to you, you go ahead and read."

No wonder

Did you go to watch that couple argue again yesterday

Pah! I have no interest in looking at him, filthy and stinking.

Ah, I see. Shao Jiyan teased, "My family member Ruyu only likes to watch me take a bath"