: The letter contains no mention of him, but his heart is filled with him.

Liang Shanbo was holding a coarse cloth handkerchief and wiping the sweat from his face.

He went to the outer room and saw Zhu Yingtai sitting at a long desk under the south window, her face streaked with tears and her eyes red. On the desk was a roll of unrolled yellow hemp paper covered with writing.

His gaze held a hint of concern, and his voice was gentle: "Brother."

Zhu Yingtai stiffened slightly, quickly wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand, put away the family letter on the desk, and then looked at Liang Shanbo, forcing a smile.

"Brother Liang." Her voice was a little hoarse and nasal.

Liang Shanbo's gaze was gentle: "Brother, what's wrong?"

Zhu Yingtai took a deep breath to compose herself before speaking, "Receiving my elder sister's letter made me miss my family."

Liang Shanbo nodded, paused for a moment, and said, "I miss my family just as much. I've been away from home for a month, and I've spent my days reading, listening to lectures, and exchanging ideas with my classmates, so I haven't found the days too difficult. But every night, lying on my bed, I think of my mother."

He paused, gazing out the window: "My mother lives alone in our home in Shanyin, weaving and managing the household. I don't know if she's tired or sick. On the day I left, she stood at the door, smiled at me, and said, 'Go,' just two words. But I know how much she didn't say in her heart."

A warm feeling suddenly welled up in Zhu Yingtai's heart.

It turns out that Brother Liang also misses his mother, and he also has his own attachments that he cannot let go of.

She suddenly felt that she wasn't so lonely anymore.

"Brother Liang," she called softly.

Liang Shanbo turned his head and looked at her.

She looked at him with gentle eyes, filled with gratitude and comfort.

Liang Shanbo smiled slightly and said, "My dear brother, longing is bitter, but it is also a good medicine. It reminds us that there are still people in this world worth caring about, and places worth returning to."

He paused, then said, "Tomorrow is a day off. Brother Sun has invited us to go to Qiantang Lake. You can take this opportunity to relax and unwind. The scenery of the lake and mountains is truly delightful."

Zhu Yingtai nodded and said softly, "Okay."

A moment later, the two, along with Yin Xin, went to the cafeteria for their usual meal.

Zhu Yingtai walked beside Liang Shanbo, her steps slower than usual.

She turned her head to look at Liang Shanbo, then looked away and down at the bluestone pavement beneath her feet.

She suddenly remembered a passage from her sister's letter—

"Although you are dressed as a man, you are still a woman of noble birth. Men and women are different, and they should not touch each other. When you study with men, you must be mindful of your words and actions..."

She lived in the same room with Brother Liang every day, ate side by side, and studied together. On her days off, she would go shopping with him in the county town and take a bath in the house rented by the Zhu family.

Thinking of this, she felt a pang of shame, yet she also felt that there was nothing wrong with it.

The two entered the dining hall, scooped water from the stone well to wash their hands, and then went into the main kitchen. Each took a food tray, went to the cook Zhang, and ordered two servings of millet rice, two servings of chicken, and two servings of vegetable soup. They would not eat wild rice or mutton stew today.

The meal was eaten quietly.

After finishing their meal, the two left the dining hall and returned to their dormitory.

Zhu Yingtai took out a writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from her book box and spread them out on the long desk under the south window.

She was going to write a letter home. A reply to her sister.

She picked up a rabbit-hair brush, dipped it in ink on the inkstone, and then began to write with her wrist suspended.

Her handwriting was neat and symmetrical, and she wrote—

"Sister Yinghua, if you are well:"

I received your letter and read it with tears in my eyes.

My mother often came to my old house and looked out the window, my father often asked if I was eating well, and my sister burned incense and prayed every night. I am doing well in Qiantang, so please don't worry.

Wansong Academy truly lives up to its reputation. The area is densely forested with pine trees, their rustling leaves echoing day and night like waves crashing on the shore. The academy houses a thousand volumes, encompassing classics, historical records, and the writings of various philosophers—a truly magnificent collection. I spend my days reading in the library, surrounded by the fragrant aroma of books; it is indeed one of life's greatest pleasures.

Among the teachers at the academy, Mr. Meng Wenlang was the most outstanding. Mr. Meng was erudite and versatile. When lecturing, he quoted extensively from classical texts and drew upon a wide range of sources. He was also able to transform profound principles into simple analogies, which enlightened the students.

Whenever I listen to Mr. Meng's lectures, I feel as if I'm drinking fine wine, and I become intoxicated without realizing it. Mr. Meng is also a kind and gentle person. I received a lot of care from him at the school, so you don't need to worry, sister.

The students at the academy were all very polite.

I have been away from home for a month, and my longing for my family grows stronger with each passing day. Every night before I fall asleep, I see my mother leaning against the door, my father reading by lamplight, and my sister embroidering in the courtyard. The loquat trees in the courtyard have borne fruit especially early this year, laden with fruit like yellow buds. Reading my sister's letter brought tears to my eyes.

I have kept my elder sister's words of advice in mind. While studying abroad, I will certainly conduct myself with integrity and sincerity, so as not to fail my parents' kindness in raising me, nor to disappoint my elder sister's earnest expectations.

Words cannot fully express the feelings conveyed in writing.

May my elder sister be safe and happy.

Handwritten by my younger sister

Please convey my regards to my brother-in-law.

She finished writing the last character, placed the pen on the inkstone, and gently blew on the ink on the paper.

The ink was still wet when her gaze lingered on the letter for a moment, and she read it over again from beginning to end.

In the letter, she described the scenery of the school, Mr. Meng's scholarship, and her longing for her family.

But she didn't write about Liang Shanbo.

Liang Shanbo is only hidden in the sentence "The students of the school were all very polite".

She didn't write about her sworn brotherhood with Liang Shanbo at the Grass Bridge Pavilion, nor did she write about them sharing a room...

It's not that I forgot. It's that I dared not.

She knew in her heart that if her family knew that she had become sworn sisters with a man at the academy, lived in the same room with him, and spent every day with him, even if the man was a virtuous gentleman and did not know that she was a woman, her family would not allow her to continue staying at Wansong Academy.

She will be called back.

She will return to that house in Shangyu, spending her days embroidering, reading, and waiting to get married.

She lived that kind of life for many years, and now she doesn't want to go back to it.

She wanted to stay at Wansong Academy and stay by Brother Liang's side.

He is not mentioned in the letter, but he is in my heart.

……

……

The next day was a day off.

Sun Yuangui invited several friends to visit Qiantang Lake today, including Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai, Yu Yanzhi, and Jia Boyang.

In fact, Liang Shanbo disliked Jia Boyang, but he was friends with Sun Yuangui, and Jia Boyang was also friends with Sun Yuangui. This time, it was Sun Yuangui who invited Jia Boyang to travel together, so he couldn't stop him.

The group walked along the bluestone path in front of the school, through the pine forest, and toward Qiantang Lake.

On a summer morning, the sun was not yet scorching, but shining warmly.

In the pine forest, the scent of pine resin permeates the air, carrying a hint of bitterness and a refreshing coolness. Occasionally, one or two squirrels leap from the branches, their bushy tails flashing before they disappear from sight.

Sun Yuangui walked ahead, his steps light and quick, humming a little tune, off-key but cheerful nonetheless.

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai walked side by side at the back, not saying much, and their pace was the same.

After walking for a short while, the view suddenly opened up before us.

We've arrived at Qiantang Lake.