YBTGX 15

Chapter 15

Clothes Make the Man

In an instant, everyone’s gaze focused on Lu Lin. Some were looking forward to a show, some were gloating, and others held a hint of concern. The chubby boy held his chin even higher, his eyes full of provocation, while the young master, Liu Quan, looked Lu Lin up and down with utter disdain.

Lu Lin, however, had a clear head. He knew very well that the Mistress was weighing him. But what was there to brag about in winning against a brat? If he relied on a bit of cleverness to score a victory with his tongue, even if he won the argument, he would likely leave an impression on the Mistress as being arrogant and unsteady. That would truly be a failure of strategy.

Therefore, his goal was not to show off. Instead, it was to display a sense of composure and compliance beyond his years, making his superiors feel that he was useful and controllable. Having figured this out, Lu Lin didn’t take the bait. He met Madam Lin’s probing gaze without flinching, simply bowing slightly and kicking the ball right back to her: “I leave the decision entirely to you, Mistress.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Lin was slightly taken aback. Then, her phoenix eyes narrowed, and a flash of surprise crossed her mind. This child… He faced provocation without fighting back, and when faced with a choice, he was neither hurried nor impetuous. Where did a six-year-old toddler get such steady composure? She had originally thought that a prodigy capable of composing “Song of the Wanderer” must be arrogant, which is why she wanted to take him down a peg to keep him from losing his way. But now, it seemed she had been overthinking it. The child’s mental maturity was far beyond what she had imagined.

The chubby boy on the side, however, couldn’t understand these undercurrents. Seeing Lu Lin back down, the joy on his face could no longer be contained; his mouth was practically grinning from ear to ear. It’s done! The position of personal pageboy is mine for sure!

Just as he thought victory was in his grasp—having even imagined how he would behave in front of the Young Master—Madam Lin’s cold voice rang out once more, sealing the deal. “A decision once made shall not be easily altered. We have our house rules, so there is no need for further discussion. Lu Lin, from now on, you shall follow the Young Master, eating and sleeping in the same quarters.”

Eating and sleeping in the same quarters! These words carried even more weight than the announcement of him being the personal pageboy. The smile on the chubby boy’s face froze instantly, and he stood stunned on the spot as if struck by lightning. The boy grew desperate, his mouth opening to retort, “Mistress…”

But the moment the word left his lips, Steward Wang’s cold gaze swept over him. The chubby boy shivered, instantly snapping back to reality. If he dared to say another word, he wouldn’t just lose the position of personal pageboy; he likely wouldn’t even be allowed to stay at the Liu estate’s gates. He couldn’t be a personal pageboy, but at least he could still get fed at the Liu family home. If he were sent back home, he wouldn’t even have enough to eat. With that thought, his unwillingness was washed away by fear; he tucked his head in, not daring to make another sound.

The person who felt worst in the courtyard was Liu Quan. Hearing his mother’s decision, the Young Master’s little face collapsed. Eat and sleep in the same quarters? He didn’t want to eat and sleep with a little beggar. He glared viciously at Lu Lin, leaving unsaid only the words, “You just wait.”

Lu Lin didn’t even raise an eyelid at the Young Master’s hostility. A spoiled seven-year-old bully’s emotions came and went quickly; he had plenty of ways to deal with a brat like that. Furthermore, his goal had never been to compete for the favor of a child. As long as he could stay at the Liu family estate, gain access to the scholar system of this era, and have a chance to truly read and write, the status of personal pageboy was already enough. Everything else was just a minor detail.

Master Liu, sitting at the head of the table, hadn’t spoken from beginning to end. He didn’t even cast another glance at Lu Lin, simply holding his teacup and blowing on the steam in a leisurely manner. Having Lu Lin be the personal pageboy had been decided long ago; the drama just now was merely the Mistress’s impulse to weigh him. Lu Lin had performed with enough composure, but this was only the beginning. The road ahead was long.

After the matter of the personal pageboy was settled, Madam Lin’s eyes swept over the washed-out, old clothes on Lu Lin. “Since you have entered my Liu estate, you must abide by the rules. What you are wearing is unacceptable; do not disgrace the Liu family.” With that, she signaled to the servants. A nimble servant immediately hurried over, carrying a set of neatly folded new clothes.

Lu Lin was led by a servant to a side room. A moment later, when he emerged again, everyone’s gaze in the courtyard was instinctively drawn to him. He wore a sky-blue fine cotton long robe, tailored perfectly, which made his small frame look all the more upright. What had been hidden by the oversized, patched, old clothes was a frame that was far more well-proportioned than his peers’. The coarse hempen clothes had masked his spirit, but once he put on these clean garments, the innate aura of a scholar could no longer be hidden.

He was a year younger than Liu Quan, yet there was barely any difference in their height. One was as pretty as a doll but full of arrogance; the other was delicate and introspective, with calm eyes. Standing side-by-side, they gave the illusion that Lu Lin was the true young gentleman of letters raised in a scholarly family.

Under the corridor not far away, the two little maids were stretching their necks to watch. Lan Xiang, with her round face, couldn’t help but whisper in surprise, “Sister Mo Xiang, this little pageboy looks like a different person in those new clothes—he’s truly handsome.”

Mo Xiang’s gaze shifted back and forth between Lu Lin and their own Young Master, a strange look in her eyes. “You can say that again. Look at him standing next to our Young Master; if you didn’t know better, you’d think he was the Young Master.”

…

After the Master and Mistress gave their instructions, they left on their own. The servants also went about their duties, and soon, they dispersed. The courtyard, which had been so lively just a moment ago, returned to silence.

Steward Wang walked up to the remaining pageboys with a stern face, his gaze sweeping over each of them. “Don’t think that just because you’ve entered the Liu estate, you can sit back and relax. This is the Liu family, not a place for you to run wild. In this day and age, just having enough to eat is not easy. From here on out, keep your guard up. Be diligent, be respectful to your masters. If I find out that anyone dares to be lazy or underhanded…”

“The Liu estate does not keep idlers.”

He shifted his tone and looked at everyone. “One more thing: once you enter the Liu estate, even if you are a servant, you must learn to read and write. Every day, there will be time specifically for you to study. If you cannot learn well, you will be kicked out just the same.”

Once Steward Wang finished his instructions, he pointed at the chubby boy and the others. “You lot, follow me; I’ll take you to familiarize yourselves with your duties.” He then looked at Lu Lin. “You stay here and accompany the Young Master.”

With those words, Steward Wang turned and led the others away, their footsteps fading into the distance. In the vast courtyard, only Lu Lin and Liu Quan remained, staring at each other.