A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

However, Qian Wenbai's hopes were dashed once again, and he failed the provincial examination again.

Everyone knows Qian Wenbai's abilities. He's not stupid; in fact, he's quite shrewd in managing his family business. But when it comes to studying, he's not exactly the kind of quick learner who grasps things immediately.

Moreover, he gets nervous during exams and can't perform at his usual level. He also lacks confidence and often says he will do his best, as if he has already prepared a way out for himself.

Qian's parents were open-minded; they owned a restaurant and could afford to support his studies. Since he wanted to take the exam, they supported him.

Fortunately, he was still young, and no one said anything if he failed the exam. He could just try again next year. So when he came to Kaifeng again, he still had a smile on his face, just like usual.

Because of his failure in the exam, Amber was worried that he would feel depressed, so she would talk to him whenever they met, and the two of them are becoming more and more familiar with each other.

Life went on as usual. He continued to visit Wang Yanning's house as usual, sitting in the courtyard talking to Hu, as if the failure of the exam had never happened.

His personality is the exact opposite of Wang Yanning's; Qian Wenbai is usually relaxed, but becomes tense when he's on stage.

Wang Yanning, on the other hand, could keep herself awake until the exam, but once she entered the exam room, she calmed down.

This autumn, in August, Wang Yanning will participate in the provincial examination. Fortunately, the autumn examination is held in Kaifeng Prefecture, where all the candidates from the province flock. Unlike Qian Wenbai, he doesn't have to travel back and forth.

However, the examination hall is a place where you are confined for nine days. You have to bring all your own food, clothing and supplies. You can't be careless with bedding, clothes, writing brushes and ink, dry food, candles and charcoal braziers. Bringing too much is a burden, and bringing too little is not enough. You have to figure out the right amount yourself.

These days, he's been visiting Chen Wanxing more often than usual. Sometimes he comes in the afternoon, sits for a while, and then leaves; other times he comes in the evening, eats there around dinnertime, and then goes home.

They didn't say anything important, they just wanted to stay here, sometimes chat about everyday things, sometimes just sit for a while, and leave when they'd had enough.

Chen Wanxing didn't ask. She knew what he was thinking, and she also knew that at this time, nothing she said was better than letting him process it on his own.

That morning, the sun hadn't risen high yet, and the courtyard was cool. Chen Wanxing was enjoying the cool shade in the courtyard when she heard a knock on the door. She looked up and saw him standing at the gate.

"You're here?"

Wang Yanning nodded, walked in, and sat down in his usual spot. Chen Wanxing poured him a cup of tea and pushed it towards him.

He took it and held it in his hands. The two of them sat there without saying a word.

Wang Yanning sat for a while, then suddenly spoke in a low voice: "Seven days left."

He lowered his head, his fingers slowly tracing the rim of the teacup, as if talking to himself: "I will enter the examination hall in seven days. Before the exam, I will be alone."

I read indoors, and when I get tired, I sleep. When I wake up, I continue reading. I don't feel anything special about it; I'm used to it.

He paused here, and after a long while, he spoke again, this time in a lower voice: "With you by my side this time, it feels so different."

Wang Yanning raised his head, glanced at her, and then lowered his eyes again. He didn't say anything, but that glance said it all.

Chen Wanxing's heart softened. She got up and walked over to him. Wang Yanning was sitting, and she was standing, a head taller than him. Sunlight shone from behind her, casting a soft shadow over his face. He looked up at her.

She lowered her head, met his gaze, looked at him for a moment, then raised her hand, placed her palm on his forehead, paused for a moment, and then withdrew it.

Wang Yanning could feel the warmth of her palm seeping through her, seeping in from her forehead, down her brow bone, bridge of her nose, and cheeks, warming up wherever it touched.

He could even smell a faint scent of soap emanating from her sleeve, mixed with her usual clean fragrance, wafting into his nose almost imperceptibly.

Wang Yanning sat there with her back straight, not daring to move an inch, even her breathing was soft, for fear that any movement would startle the hand away.

"No fever," she said, putting her hand down. "Then it's not an illness."

Wang Yanning was a little confused by her lifting and putting down movements. It took her a while to react, and her ears turned red.

Chen Wanxing asked seriously, "So you're nervous?"

Wang Yanning paused, nodded, then shook her head, and finally said in a low voice, "Yes, a little bit. I sometimes have trouble sleeping at night lately."

He lowered his eyes and his voice murmured, "I dreamt even when I was asleep. I dreamt that I was in the exam hall, my pen broke, the ink dried up, and the exam paper got dirty. After that, I couldn't fall back asleep. I tossed and turned, waiting for dawn."

Chen Wanxing sat down next to him, very close enough to see the fine blood vessels in his eyes; he definitely hadn't slept well.

"Listen to me," she began, her voice gentler than usual. "You've studied for so many years, from Ruyang to Kaifeng, from a Xiucai to a Juren. You've made it all on your own. You're already incredibly accomplished."

I'm glad you're willing to share your anxiety with me. Although I may not have any real way to help you, I can still do something like this—just chat with you.

Wang Yanning looked at her, her eyes filled with a jumble of emotions: "I'm afraid of failing the exam."

Chen Wanxing nodded: "I know, but even if I really fail the exam, so what?"

Wang Yanning was taken aback, as if she hadn't expected her to ask that question.

"What will happen..." he repeated, his voice low, "It will make my classmates laugh at me, it will disappoint my family," he said, then looked seriously at Chen Wanxing.

"I'm more afraid of letting you down."

"Wait a minute," Chen Wanxing interrupted him, "You can say them one by one."

Wang Yanning looked at her.

Chen Wanxing stretched out his hand and counted on his fingers for him: "Will your classmates laugh at you? Who would dare to laugh at you? Everyone who knows you knows that you passed the imperial examination at the age of eighteen."

Besides, people who laugh at their classmates are of questionable character, so why bother caring about their opinions? Take Young Master Qian, for example; he failed the provincial examination twice, would you laugh at him?

Wang Yanning opened her mouth.

Chen Wanxing counted on another finger: "Your family is disappointed? Don't wrong them. When I went back to Xiahe Village last time, I met Uncle Wang and Aunt Cui."

When they saw me, all they cared about was how I was feeling and whether I was tired. They didn't ask a single question about my studies; they just told me to remind you to take care of yourself.

As for me, I'll only say one thing," Chen Wanxing paused, looking at him, "When I met you, you weren't even a scholar yet."