Chapter 41 Tang Hui Discovers the Pavilion Feels Too Much Like Home

The problem with Qin Yue’s statement was that it was completely accurate.

Tang Hui realized this the next morning when she instinctively reached for tea during consultations—

and found it already prepared at the perfect temperature.

She stared at the cup suspiciously.

Then slowly turned toward Gu Beichen.

The man sat near the pavilion windows reviewing sword manuals quietly while waiting for Lin Qingyue to finish medicine hall duties nearby.

Perfectly normal behavior.

Except for the fact that he now occupied the pavilion so naturally that nobody questioned it anymore.

Even the disciples had adapted disturbingly fast.

“Senior Brother Gu, the western shelf needs more paper slips.”

“Senior Brother Gu, the lantern string loosened again.”

“Senior Brother Gu, Senior Sister Tang forgot breakfast.”

Traitors.

Every single one of them.

Tang Hui pointed dramatically toward the disciples crowding the consultation area.

“You people became far too comfortable here.”

One disciple blinked innocently.

“But this pavilion feels welcoming now.”

Tang Hui opened her mouth automatically—

then paused.

Because annoyingly enough, the statement was true.

The pavilion had changed over the past months.

What began as a crooked matchmaking stall now resembled something alive.

Warm lanterns hung from polished wooden beams. Consultation tables filled the central hall while disciples gathered comfortably near the windows drinking tea between conversations.

The shelves overflowed with organized consultation records, spirit paper, and gifts from grateful clients.

Someone even placed flower pots near the entrance recently.

Tang Hui still did not know who.

More importantly—

people smiled here.

They relaxed here.

Some disciples visited without even needing consultations anymore.

Just to exist somewhere softer than the rigid pressure surrounding cultivation life constantly.

Tang Hui looked around the pavilion quietly.

Then immediately became suspicious of her own emotions.

Dangerous.

Before she could spiral further into unwanted sentimentality, a nervous disciple hurried toward the main consultation table clutching communication talismans anxiously.

“Senior Sister Tang!”

Ah.

Work.

Excellent distraction.

Tang Hui straightened professionally.

“What happened?”

The disciple sat down heavily while looking deeply distressed.

“I think I ruined everything.”

Standard opening sentence.

Tang Hui folded her hands calmly.

“Explain.”

The disciple lowered his voice dramatically.

“I confessed to Senior Sister Yu last night.”

Nearby disciples immediately pretended not to listen while obviously listening.

Tang Hui ignored them.

“And?”

“She said she needed time to think.”

Tang Hui blinked once.

“…That sounds reasonable.”

“But she hasn’t responded since!”

“How long ago was this?”

The disciple hesitated.

“…Twelve hours.”

Dead silence.

Tang Hui stared at him.

The surrounding disciples also stared at him.

Finally Tang Hui spoke carefully.

“You confessed to someone unexpectedly…”

“Yes.”

“And after only half a day without an answer, you concluded disaster occurred?”

“…Maybe?”

Tang Hui physically leaned back in her chair.

Cultivators truly lacked emotional endurance.

“She probably needs time to process,” Tang Hui explained patiently. “Not every romantic decision resolves instantly.”

The disciple looked unconvinced.

“But what if she hates me now?”

Tang Hui pointed toward him firmly.

“You need to stop imagining catastrophic outcomes every time someone pauses before answering emotionally.”

Several nearby disciples suddenly looked personally attacked.

Good.

Educational atmosphere thriving.

Tang Hui continued calmly.

“People think carefully when something matters to them.”

The disciple slowly relaxed slightly after hearing that.

Before he could leave, however, another disciple nearby raised a cautious hand.

“Senior Sister Tang…”

“Yes?”

“How do you know when someone truly cares about you?”

Ah.

The pavilion quieted subtly again.

Not dramatic silence.

Just attentive.

Tang Hui noticed these moments happened more often lately.

People no longer came here only for romance strategies.

Sometimes they came because this was the only place in Qingyun Sect where emotional questions felt acceptable aloud.

The realization still surprised her sometimes.

Tang Hui rested her chin lightly against one hand while considering the question.

Then answered honestly.

“They remember things.”

The disciples listened carefully.

“Not just major events,” she continued. “Small things. Your habits. What stresses you. What makes your day easier.”

For some reason, her eyes drifted unconsciously toward the side of the pavilion.

Toward Gu Beichen.

Dangerous mistake.

Several disciples noticed instantly.

Tang Hui internally screamed.

Because Gu Beichen himself looked up at the exact same moment.

Their eyes met briefly across the pavilion.

And unfortunately—

he understood things frighteningly quickly nowadays.

The faint shift in his expression told her immediately.

Ah.

Wonderful.

Now she created problems personally instead of professionally.

Tang Hui looked away with the speed of someone escaping spiritual catastrophe.

“Anyway,” she continued briskly, “consistent care matters more than dramatic declarations most of the time.”

The disciples nodded thoughtfully.

Lin Qingyue, meanwhile, hid a smile behind her tea cup from the nearby records table.

Traitor.

Absolute traitor.

The consultations resumed afterward, though Tang Hui noticed the pavilion atmosphere remained unusually soft today.

Outside, warm spring sunlight spilled across the market streets while distant sect bells echoed faintly from the upper mountain paths.

Inside, tea steamed gently beside stacks of consultation slips while disciples talked quietly between sessions.

Peaceful.

Comfortable.

Home-like.

Tang Hui hated how much she liked that feeling.

Around midday, Luo Ming arrived carrying fresh pastries from the eastern market district.

Naturally, he immediately sensed the atmosphere.

“Oh?” he mused while leaning against the pavilion doorway. “Something interesting happened here already.”

Tang Hui narrowed her eyes.

“Why do you always sound like a fox spirit investigating chicken farms?”

“A poetic description.”

“An accurate one.”

Luo Ming laughed softly before placing the pastry boxes onto the nearest table.

Several disciples brightened instantly.

Apparently he started bringing food regularly too now.

Dangerous social influence.

Qin Yue arrived shortly afterward, expression calm as always despite Luo Ming immediately offering her the first pastry without hesitation.

Tang Hui watched automatically.

Professional observation only.

And yes—

there again.

That tiny pause before Qin Yue accepted it.

Not reluctance.

More like someone gradually becoming accustomed to being considered naturally.

Subtle.

Very subtle.

Luo Ming himself looked entirely unaware of how instinctive these gestures became around Qin Yue lately.

Tang Hui almost admired the irony.

These people would absolutely fail her own consultation tests if roles reversed.

While the pavilion settled into quieter afternoon conversations, Tang Hui reviewed several consultation records near the front desk.

Then paused suddenly.

Because without thinking—

she had started organizing future schedules.

Not temporary schedules.

Long-term ones.

Festival follow-ups.
Expanded consultation hours.
Potential pavilion renovations.

The realization struck unexpectedly hard.

Tang Hui stared at the notes quietly.

Months ago, she expected this pavilion to remain a survival tactic until eventual sect dismissal.

Now—

she was planning a future around it unconsciously.

A future here.

Within Qingyun Sect.

The thought felt strangely fragile.

Like something she still feared examining directly.

Before Tang Hui could sink deeper into dangerous self-reflection, movement near the pavilion entrance interrupted again.

An unfamiliar inner sect disciple approached carrying formal scroll cases.

Ah.

Administrative energy.

Immediate danger.

The disciple bowed respectfully.

“Senior Sister Tang.”

Tang Hui already disliked this conversation.

“…Yes?”

“I’ve brought the preliminary approval documents.”

The entire pavilion froze.

Tang Hui blinked slowly.

“…Approval for what?”

The disciple looked confused by the question.

“For the official establishment of the Matchmaking Pavilion, of course.”