Back then, Shen Ci was nineteen—young, brilliant, and already going places—and Li Funing was seventeen, unmarried and waiting at home.
Paired together, they'd have made quite the story.
Shen Ci was the only son of the Shen household, and Old Master Shen spared no effort. To hand the family business over to his son soon enough, he dragged the boy day after day into the company of every official and merchant worth knowing—all so the Shen family might grow ever grander.
Those people, coming to dine, usually brought their daughters along.
So every dinner party quietly became a matchmaking event.
Shen Ci was sick to death of it, but courtesy had to be kept on his face regardless.
At his age—old enough, not old enough—most men his age already had wives, and at the very least a bed-warming maid or two. If he didn't pick someone soon, his parents would start questioning his preferences.
To keep a long night from breeding bad dreams, the couple spent one day asking after some family's daughter—her age, her marital prospects—and the next inviting some other young miss to visit the Shen residence. Shen Ci's quiet days were gone for good.
Outside of his studies, his great love in life was cricket fighting. The moment he scented free time, he'd carry his prized champion out to the street and challenge anyone to a match.
The outcome was predictable. Barely a few rounds in, the family servants would drag him home, where he'd resign himself to flipping through the portraits of eligible girls his parents had chosen.
Objectively speaking, his parents had excellent taste. A pity his heart was already spoken for; he had no eyes for anyone else.
He did wonder, though—after all this choosing, why was Li Funing's portrait never among them?
He asked about it one day, offhand, and got a cold scoff from his father. "That Li Chen? I made inquiries recently. The man's still angling for a higher post—what would he want with a modest household like ours!"
Tch. So eager to sell his own daughter.
His father's words didn't crush his resolve. Sit for the imperial examinations? As if that were any real difficulty for him.
Then word came that a matchmaker had gone to the Li household yet again, and Shen Ci couldn't sit still.
What if he passed his exams only to find Li Funing already married off? Then all this effort would amount to nothing.
He began plotting a meeting. She had to know he'd been striving toward her all this time—and that he was the man from that night.
Another year, another lantern festival. He took out the rabbit lantern, kept in perfect condition, ready to carry it through the streets.
But would she come?
He knew the Li family's rules. Li Funing rarely left the house, and now, with matchmakers wearing out the doorstep, her father would surely let her show her face even less.
After long thought, he took up his brush and had a letter delivered.
"A year has passed. Does Miss Li still remember me? Tonight is the lantern festival, and I have brought the rabbit lantern. Meet me."
His heart hammered the whole way there.
This was the first time he'd ever written to a woman—his first time ever asking one to meet.
He had no idea whether Li Funing remembered him at all.
And if she realized that the man from that night and the man before her were one and the same—what face would she make?
Shen Ci was quietly looking forward to it, a faint smile spreading across his face.
That night, many of the town's common folk bought a lantern, wrote a blessing for family or beloved on its inner wall, and set it adrift on the lake—trusting the flowing water to carry their wishes up to the immortals.
Those who couldn't write had to hire someone to write for them.
Which meant that Qin Zheng's stall drew a crowd every single year.
Shen Ci spotted him and raised a brow. "You really can turn your hand to anything."
Qin Zheng nodded. "Qin's one great love is making money."
He was about to needle him some more when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Miss Wang—the girl who'd been pressing him for meetings these past days. Shen Ci jolted, suddenly flustered.
Even a virtuous woman tires of a persistent suitor—and the same holds when the sexes are flipped.
After one single meeting, this Miss Wang had haunted him like a lingering spirit, even sending servants to track his daily whereabouts.
He simply couldn't bear it. If she caught him meeting Li Funing today, the whole thing would fall through—and his face would suffer for it.
Urgent, urgent, so urgent! He was the one in a hurry here!
Shen Ci set the rabbit lantern straight down on Qin Zheng's stall. "I'll be right back, Brother Qin—mind it for me!"
And without waiting for an answer, he plunged into the crowd.