Chapter 42 042 Yuanjun, Happy Winter Solstice, cheer up...

Lu Yuanyuan opened her eyes in surprise, only to be pressed down onto the other person's lap.

Although they were both women, Yin Xiaozhu's frame was a full size larger than hers. When she held her on her lap, it felt as if she could completely envelop her in her arms.

What's even more unfair is that the other person's legs are significantly longer than hers. Even normal-looking legs appear short in comparison. She sat sideways on the other person's lap, her shoes barely touching the ground.

Realizing this, Lu Yuanyuan tried to wriggle down, but she wasn't strong enough to get down. At that moment, she noticed Yin Xiaozhu glance down and, seeing that neither of her feet touched the ground, actually laughed.

Although it was very soft and short, with the last syllable swallowed in her throat, she heard it very clearly.

Lu Yuanyuan: "...???"

Is this mockery? This is absolutely mockery! It's outrageous!

Lu Yuanyuan clenched her fists, furious and embarrassed, and struggled even harder. But it was no use; the arms around her waist tightened even more. At the same time, her shoulders sank.

This height was perfect for resting one's chin on her shoulder, and Yin Xiaozhu did just that, closing her eyes and saying lazily, "Don't be angry, I wasn't laughing at you."

For a split second, Lu Yuanyuan instinctively wanted to say her standard answer, "I'm not angry." However, Yin Xiaozhu's words about her being insincere suddenly flashed through her mind.

Trying to decipher the tone of the other person's voice that day, Lu Yuanyuan pursed her lips, turned her face away, as if she was still sulking: "I'm not deaf, you're laughing at me for being short."

She didn't deny that she was angry, but she stopped struggling and gently placed her hand on Yin Xiaozhu's shoulder.

She admitted that she had a slight intention to test the waters.

Before going to the Lingbao Secret Realm, having overheard Yin Xiaozhu's secret, she didn't want to get into trouble and had already secretly considered how to cut off her plan to become best friends with her.

Originally, she planned to find an opportunity to get away from Yin Xiaozhu after returning.

But she never expected that the hidden storyline of "Bitter Night" would be so long. Before this hellish ordeal ends, she fears it will be difficult to completely sever her ties with Yin Xiaozhu.

Moreover, after returning, Yin Xiaozhu didn't do anything bad to her, nor did he kill her to silence her. In fact, you could say he treated her quite well.

Since we can't leave for the time being, it's better to take the initiative than to keep avoiding it.

She was like a rabbit forced into a cage with a wild beast, cautiously extending her front paws to test how much sincerity and how much pretense the other party had. By understanding the landscape shrouded in that veil more clearly, she wouldn't be so passive in the face of any unexpected situations that might arise in the future.

Seeing Lu Yuanyuan turn her head away, looking sullen, Yin Xiaozhu seemed to be taken aback, and then burst out laughing again.

Hearing even more undisguised laughter, Lu Yuanyuan glared and suddenly turned back, only to have her cheek pinched by a hand with considerable force: "What's wrong? Why are you so easily angered tonight?"

The moment the other person opened their lips, the faint scent of alcohol became even more mellow, seeping into the night breeze. Lu Yuanyuan felt the damp warmth clinging to her neck and involuntarily shrank back.

Perhaps because she was drunk, Yin Xiaozhu seemed a little different from usual. She had lost some of her dignified and gentle "white moonlight" temperament and became somewhat... frivolous and casual?

Lu Yuanyuan brushed away the hand that was pinching her cheek, lowered her head, and rubbed her cheek. Feeling her shoulder sink again, Yin Xiaozhu lowered his eyes and rested his head on her shoulder: "Don't move, I'll lean on you for a while, I'm dizzy."

This reminded Lu Yuanyuan of how her best friend would act coquettishly towards her. The only difference was that her best friend wasn't as tall as Yin Xiaozhu, nor would she hold her on her lap while chatting.

Lu Yuanyuan stopped rubbing her face and muttered, "If you're feeling dizzy, don't drink so much."

"I'm happy today."

Lu Yuanyuan was taken aback and looked at her: "Because of the Winter Solstice? Did you eat your favorite food at the family dinner?"

Yin Xiaozhu remained silent. Lu Yuanyuan assumed this meant she was agreeing. But after a moment, she heard her voice: "Not only that."

Lu Yuanyuan was a beat slow to react: "Huh? What else?"

Yin Xiaozhu lowered her eyes and tugged at her lips: "The day my father found me in the demon realm and took me home was also the winter solstice."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuanyuan's fingers, which were resting on the other person's shoulder, curled slightly.

Yes, she remembered. Twenty-one years ago, the pregnant wife of the Shushan Sect Master had fallen into the hands of a demon. The Shushan Sect Master tried everything he could, but only managed to find his daughter. It was only thanks to Yin Xiaozhu's good fortune that she survived until her father found her.

So, what a coincidence that this also happened on the winter solstice?

This is the day Yin Xiaozhu reunites with her family, and it's only natural for her to be happy.

However, whether it was just her imagination or not, although Yin Xiaozhu said those words, Lu Yuanyuan vaguely felt that the other party's emotions were not quite right, and his tone was cold and indifferent, with a chill in it.

Why?

In this situation, if she wants to rekindle her best friend plan... should she take the initiative, or should she play dumb?

Lu Yuanyuan gripped her sleeve, hesitated for a moment, then turned around and said earnestly, "Yuanjun, I'm not angry that you laughed at me just now."

Yin Xiaozhu raised her eyes.

"If laughing can make you a little happier, then laugh. Because I feel like you're not very happy right now."

In that instant, Yin Xiaozhu's eyes seemed to change slightly; the effects of the alcohol wore off, and he became much more sober.

She slowly sat up straight, staring at her inscrutable, but still didn't say anything.

A thin layer of sweat seeped from Lu Yuanyuan's back.

When she said that, it was half sincere and half a test. Seeing the other person's expression, she wasn't really sure herself. But, what's done is done, so Lu Yuanyuan calmly steered the conversation back on track: "If not, just assume I'm overthinking it."

After a while, she suddenly felt the hands that were holding her waist loosen.

Yin Xiaozhu released her without answering her previous question, and simply told her to go back and rest: "Go back and get some rest."

Clearly, they didn't want to continue the previous topic.

Lu Yuanyuan's intuition told her that she should stop asking here and not delve any further.

She tightened her grip, then, taking advantage of the situation, grunted and turned to leave. After a few steps, she glanced back and saw Yin Xiaozhu still sitting alone in the courtyard. An idea popped into her head, and she ran back.

Seeing her return, Yin Xiaozhu looked up and saw two small hands quickly grab the wine pot from the table.

The other party seemed to have mustered up the courage to intervene: "Yuanjun, I know your cultivation is very high, but drinking too much is really bad for your health. You can't drink anymore today. I'll return half of this wine to you tomorrow, and the other half the day after."

"..."

Instead, she placed a small lamp on the table, then bent down, leaned over the table, and carefully struck the wick with the tinder stick inserted under the lamp.

Because of the night wind, she had to hold the lamp with both hands, looking serious, her little face warmed by the candlelight.

Upon closer inspection, it was just a cheap lamp, shaped like a thin bamboo branch, with an outer shell carved from dried orange peel, featuring openwork patterns. A maple leaf was also stuck next to it.

Only children would buy this kind of thing.

Yin Xiaozhu remained silent.

“This is a lamp I bought at the Temple of the God of War. I’m giving it to you. I also picked up the maple leaves. Sit here until it goes out, then go back to your room. You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.” Lu Yuanyuan smiled, her bright almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents: “Yuanjun, Happy Winter Solstice! Be happy!”

She grabbed the bottle, turned, and slipped away. Only when she reached the veranda did she hear a barely audible voice behind her: "You too."

Lu Yuanyuan stopped and turned around, only to find that Yin Xiaozhu had already gone back to her room, carrying the lamp she had given her.