Sang Zhi saw how much the other two were enjoying the pastries and took a bite himself. A faint fragrance tickled his nose. The texture was soft, chewy, and lightly sweet—it was truly delicious.

"Pretty good, right?"

"Mhm," Sang Zhi nodded.

’They’re much better than the pastries in the palace.’

"Where on earth do you buy these pastries?" Qian Zhuye absolutely loved the pastries Ye Qianning brought. She always had new varieties, and the taste was incredible.

"Nianyunjian."

"Once we’re on break, I’m going to Nianyunjian to buy some. They’re just so good."

Ye Qianning just chuckled, nibbling on her pastry and occasionally holding a piece to Sang Zhi’s lips.

Qian Zhuye, ever the glutton, would ask for a piece from time to time.

Before long, the other students in the room began to leave one by one as the sun sank behind the mountains.

Ye Qianning had even managed to take a nap. Yawning, she opened her eyes to see the little stick-in-the-mud still writing with intense focus. The characters on the stack of rice paper beside him were perfectly neat.

She stared at the boy. The sunset’s afterglow reflected on his cheeks, tinging his fair skin with a hint of red. He was already handsome, but at this moment, he looked almost like a banished immortal. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

He seemed to be wreathed in a blessed light, a pleasant sight to behold.

"It’s gotten so late." Qian Zhuye, who had also napped, stood up and stretched his arms lazily.

Ye Qianning’s brow twitched slightly. ’What a mood-killer.’

"I’m starving. Come on, let’s go get something to eat," Qian Zhuye said.

Ye Qianning didn’t move from her spot, still resting her head on her desk. "You ate all those pastries and you’re still hungry?"

"That was nothing! Besides, you barely spared me a few pieces." Qian Zhuye loved martial arts and was tall for his age, so he naturally had a bigger appetite than his peers.

Ye Qianning rolled her eyes. She slowly pushed her plump little body upright and stretched as well. She noticed that Sang Qi, surprisingly, was also still here.

He was still writing, brush in hand. ’No wonder my little stick-in-the-mud hasn’t budged,’ she thought. ’Sang Qi is just so competitive.’

Ye Qianning saw how focused Sang Zhi was and didn’t want to disturb him. Turning to the window, she called, "Luo Wen, the pastries."

Luo Wen’s figure appeared at the window. He walked in, carrying a box of pastries. "Luo Xuan just brought them up the mountain," he said. "They’re still warm."

Ye Qianning set them on the desk and unwrapped the package. A rich aroma immediately filled the air, the scent utterly tantalizing.

The fragrance drifted to Sang Zhi, and he couldn’t help but pause his writing to look over.

"Are your guards always this amazing?" Qian Zhuye stared, his eyes wide.

"It’s my only real passion, and they all know it." Ye Qianning picked up a piece and offered it to Sang Zhi first.

Sang Zhi didn’t refuse this time. He set down his brush and accepted it. He had eaten plenty of pastries in the palace, but none of them could ever compare to the ones she gave him.

Ye Qianning popped a piece into her own mouth, not forgetting to give one to Qian Zhuye as well.

Hanging around Ye Qianning these days, Qian Zhuye got to share delicious pastries every single day. It was starting to spoil his palate.

"Have you finished writing?" Ye Qianning asked between bites.

Sang Zhi chewed slowly and swallowed gracefully. Only after he finished the bite did he say, "I still have a little more to do."

"Then hurry up. Just eat while you write."

"I’ll stop eating for now." As Sang Zhi spoke, his eyes darted to the pastries. He pressed his lips together slightly before adding, "I’ll eat after I’m done writing."

"Just eat while you write. Here." Ye Qianning offered him another piece.

Sang Zhi hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. He picked up his brush and resumed writing.

’This little stick-in-the-mud is too uptight,’ Ye Qianning thought. ’A child should be carefree. He has too much on his mind.’ After a moment’s thought, she brought a pastry to his lips with her small hand. "You write. I’ll feed you."

Sang Zhi looked up to see Ye Qianning tilting her cherubic face up at him, her expression full of innocent expectation.

He couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

"There’s no one else here but us," Ye Qianning said with a smile. "Don’t worry, you can eat. We won’t say a word."

Sang Zhi opened his mouth and took a bite. Then he lowered his head and his brush began to move once more.