As long as shе wаs with Cheng Сhi, Zhou Shaоjin didn’t mind whеrе thеу wеnt.
The twо of them slowly made thеir wаy аlong thе trее-shаded mоuntаin раth tоward thе back hills.
Aрril wаs the bеst season in thе caрital—clеаr skiеs strеtсhing fоr milеs, a wash оf рure bluе. Тhе mountаins werе fillеd with namelеss wildflоwers, а riot of cоlors, brilliant and vivid. Вuttеrfliеs flutterеd among the blоssоms, bеes buzzеd busilу gаthеring nесtar, аnd thе mountаin spring wаter gurgled аnd chimеd.
Zhоu Shаojin hаd nеvеr knоwn the scenеry behind Daxiangguо Templе was so bеautiful.
Сhеng Chi рointed to a large bluestone by the side of the path and said, “Shaoji, let’s sit and rest for a while.”
Zhou Shaojin rarely walked this much and was already lightly sweating.
She replied softly and obediently, “Alright,” and, holding Cheng Chi’s hand, sat down on the bluestone.
Beside the bluestone stood an old locust tree with a spreading canopy, like an umbrella sheltering her from above. A morning breeze blew through the woods, bringing a pleasant coolness. Looking into the distance, she could see the white pagoda behind Daxiangguo Temple and the golden tiles of the temple’s main hall, nestled among the green trees, creating a sense of peace and tranquility far removed from the world.
“This place is wonderful!” she said, shifting to the side to make room for Cheng Chi to sit as well.
Cheng Chi smiled at her and said, “I stumbled upon this place once when I visited Xiangguo Temple. I’m glad you like it.”
Zhou Shaojin was surprised.
A flicker of triumphant satisfaction crossed Cheng Chi’s brow as he said gently, “Sit here for a while. I’ll go fetch some water for you. I didn’t expect we’d come up the mountain, so I didn’t bring any.”
No matter how beautiful the scenery was, without Cheng Chi, she would feel afraid alone.
“Where are you going?” she asked nervously.
Sitting on the bluestone, Zhou Shaojin was at eye level with the standing Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi gently embraced her and pointed behind her. “Look, there’s a small stream over there. I’ll be right there.”
Only then did Zhou Shaojin’s expression relax.
Was she really this dependent on him?
Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised, yet it also felt like a natural outcome.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have had the courage to refuse Song Mu.
In her heart… he might be even more important than he had imagined.
Cheng Chi now felt a twinge of regret.
If Shaojin hadn’t mustered the courage to refuse Song Mu, or if Song Mu had stubbornly refused to give up on her for the sake of his pride, and he had simply handed Shaojin over to someone else… would she have withered away like a flower?
The thought alone made him shudder.
His voice softened even more as he spoke to Zhou Shaojin, a change he didn’t even notice himself. “Be good, sit here and don’t move. Be careful not to fall.”
Zhou Shaojin nodded repeatedly, sitting there properly, looking as obedient as could be.
She was like dough in his hands, ready to be shaped however he wished.
Cheng Chi couldn’t hold back. Holding her, he pressed his lips to hers.
The sensation—gentle, delicate, and slightly cool—flooded his mind, and only then did he realize what he had done.
Cheng Chi cursed himself inwardly.
He quickly lifted his head, kissed her cheek, and whispered, “Shaoji, be good, sit here and don’t move.”
Zhou Shaojin was stunned.
She hadn’t done anything. Why would Uncle Chi kiss her in broad daylight?
It wasn’t until Cheng Chi released her that she snapped back to reality. Her gentle, good-natured disposition made her murmur an “Oh” and lower her eyelids.
Seeing that she didn’t react too strongly, Cheng Chi still felt uneasy. He patted her head.Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but lift her gaze to quickly glance at him.
The corners of his eyes and brows revealed a relaxed and contented ease, as if satisfied.
Was it because he had kissed her?
Zhou Shaojin thought back to when Cheng Chi had pressed her against the door and teased her... he had seemed very happy then too.
Her face instantly burned, and she didn't dare to look up.
Seeing Zhou Shaojin lower her head as if shy, Cheng Chi felt as though his heart skipped a beat. He felt somewhat breathless.
Was Shaojin... slowly beginning to adjust to him?
Cheng Chi turned and walked toward the stream.
He took several deep breaths before his emotions calmed down.
Even when he heard about the sinking of the Thirteen Hongs' ship last time, he hadn't felt this nervous. No—it should be said that he hadn't felt this nervous in a long time.
Cheng Chi's steps involuntarily lightened.
The stream was just as he remembered, with a few water lily leaves floating on the surface, though they were more abundant now than when he had last been here.
Cheng Chi suddenly thought of the phrase "spreading branches and leaves."
He smiled and shook his head. Picking a leaf, he washed it clean, scooped up some water, and headed back.
The dappled light filtering through the forest fell on his face, allowing Zhou Shaojin to clearly see his handsome features and the joy radiating from the corners of his eyes and brows.
She couldn't help but purse her lips and smile along.
Uncle Chi had told her not to let her emotions show, yet he himself... made it obvious to anyone that he was happy.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly remembered what the incense vendor had said earlier.
Uncle Chi... was he her father or her uncle... Uncle Chi must have been furious at the time... otherwise, he wouldn't have cared so much... Uncle Chi had probably never been so embarrassed in his life.
Even though she knew she should forget about it, inexplicably, whenever she thought about how Uncle Chi had been embarrassed for her sake, she couldn't help but want to laugh, and she couldn't suppress the sweetness in her heart, as if she had eaten honey.
Zhou Shaojin covered her mouth.
As Cheng Chi approached, he smiled and asked, "What's making you so happy?"
Zhou Shaojin naturally didn't dare to tell him. Hurriedly, she replied, "Nothing, nothing!"
Seeing that she was happy, Cheng Chi naturally didn't press for details. He lifted the lotus leaf holding water to her lips and said gently, "Here, have a drink. Be careful."
Zhou Shaojin didn't drink, but she was still thirsty. Besides, drinking water scooped with a lotus leaf was something she had never experienced in either of her lifetimes.
After a moment's thought, she gathered her courage, steadied herself by holding Cheng Chi's shoulder, and took a sip of water.
So sweet!
Zhou Shaojin took two more sips and pushed it toward Cheng Chi. "You have some too!"
Cheng Chi smiled at her and finished the remaining water.
Only then did Zhou Shaojin belatedly realize that Cheng Chi had drunk the water she had left.
Her face flushed red again.
Seeing this, Cheng Chi chuckled and asked, "Are you hungry?"
If she said she was hungry, what could Uncle Chi possibly do about it?
Zhou Shaojin couldn't help but blurt out.
Cheng Chi laughed heartily. "A little further ahead, there are peach trees. They should already have fruit this season." He added with a smile, "Since I brought you out, how could I let you go cold or hungry?"
Zhou Shaojin didn't want to be separated from Cheng Chi!
She said, "I'm not hungry. Besides, peaches don't agree with me."
Cheng Chi thought that if two people wanted to be together for a long time, it was better to be clear about what they liked and disliked.Zhou Shaojin was deeply infatuated with him, yet she would not become completely submissive because of it, nor would she abandon her own preferences.
He thought this was very good.
"I saw you bought some Miao embroidery patterns. Do you really enjoy embroidery?" Cheng Chi chatted with her.
Zhou Shaojin nodded.
The reason she could trust Cheng Chi so much from their first meeting was because she felt he was a tolerant person. No matter how disheveled she appeared, he would never mock her maliciously.
Later, as she interacted with him more, this feeling grew even stronger.
Besides, there was no embarrassing incident about her that he didn't know, so Zhou Shaojin found it easy to speak her mind to him: "I'm not good at anything, only my embroidery is somewhat decent. Gradually, I grew to love it."
"Is that so?" Cheng Chi smiled. "I think you're also very good at tending flowers. You even managed to cultivate 'Eighteen Scholars' and 'Black Chrysanthemums'!"
Zhou Shaojin blushed and said, "Because embroidered items can be given as gifts, but it wouldn't be appropriate to give someone potted flowers, right? And the flowers I gave them usually ended up dying under their care, which is such a pity!"
Was this little girl yearning for recognition yet unwilling to harm living plants?
Thinking of her childhood experiences, Cheng Chi's heart ached. He pulled her into his embrace and whispered, "It's alright! I'll accompany you to Fengtai when the time comes. We'll give flowers to those who understand and appreciate them, and ignore those who don't. Embroidery strains the eyes, but gardening can help relax. If you like, you can embroider for a while, then tend to some flowers and plants to give your eyes a rest."
Zhou Shaojin's body stiffened. She wanted to push Cheng Chi away, but remembering the relaxed and contented expression that had lingered in his eyes and brows just moments before, she hesitated again.
She stole a glance at Cheng Chi.
Indeed, he looked completely at ease.
Well... then let it be... since Uncle Chi is so happy...
Zhou Shaojin lowered her head, pretending nothing had happened, but her heart pounded violently, thumping like a drum. As a result, she didn't hear clearly what Cheng Chi said afterward, merely nodding obediently in response to his words.
Then Cheng Chi lifted her onto his lap.
As if holding a child.
She nestled in his embrace.
How did it come to this?
Zhou Shaojin was on the verge of tears.
She was so afraid Uncle Chi would... slip his hands under her clothes like last time...
Zhou Shaojin struggled to sit up.
But Cheng Chi behaved properly, merely patting her back gently, holding her tenderly as if soothing an infant in swaddling clothes.
Zhou Shaojin began to crave this warmth again.
What should she do?
She bit her lip.
Cheng Chi's clear voice sounded in her ear: "...Shaoji, how about it?"
Zhou Shaojin flushed deeply.
She had no idea what Cheng Chi had just said to her.
Cheng Chi secretly found it amusing.
The little girl's inner conflict was written all over her face.
She adored him to the core.
Probably, he would never meet anyone in his life who loved him more than Shaojin.
His Shaojin... he must cherish her properly.
As this thought flashed through his mind, his heart soared as if swept by a breeze.
"Shaoji," he repeated what he had just said, "Do you ever feel bored staying at home all day? Cheng Zheng is in the capital, and Cheng Sheng will come to the capital with her husband in a few days. Would you like to socialize with them?"
"No!" Zhou Shaojin refused without a second thought.
What identity could she possibly use to interact with them now!Cheng Chi immediately understood Zhou Shaojin's thoughts.
He felt deeply remorseful.
If he had known it would be like this, he should have settled everything before holding Shaojin!
Cheng Chi kissed Zhou Shaojin's temple and whispered softly, "Shao Jin, give me two more years. I will hold your hand and let you stand openly and honorably before everyone. Is that alright?"
Stand openly and honorably before everyone... Uncle Chi, does he mean to marry her?
Zhou Shaojin stared at Cheng Chi in astonishment.
Cheng Chi's gaze was profound and serene, like the vast, unchanging night sky.
※
Dear readers, here is today's bonus update.
Please check back tomorrow morning for the next update.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
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