Chapter 85 The Small Boat Rocks "It's clearly wetter here, you're just pretending..."

Xue Chan chuckled softly and shook her head: "Neither."

She lifted Jiang Ce's sleeve, winked at him, and Jiang Ce opened his palm.

My fingertips slid across my palm, forming the character "峤".

Jiang Ce looked at the invisible words in his palm, smiled, and murmured them two or three times.

As if he had just thought of something, he looked directly into Xue Chan's eyes and said with a smile, "Qiao means a high and pointed mountain."

Xue Chan said softly, "This was the name my mother gave me. It was because I was sickly when I was born, and they were always worried about me. So my mother chose this name, hoping that I would be as healthy and upright as the mountain behind my house."

Jiang Ce said softly, "Your parents have high expectations for you, and their words are full of beautiful phrases."

Xue Chan watched as the sun gradually set in the west. The entire Tongxin Lake, which was originally half azure and half golden, now had its gentle blue waters shimmering with a golden hue.

She told Jiang Ce a story from her childhood: "When I was little, I went out to play once and found an egg in the countryside. I kept it in my room. Later, a little snake hatched, and I put it in a jar and cuddled it while sleeping. Then one day, my cousin Cheng came to play, found the snake, and was so scared that she cried. That's when my parents found out that I had actually kept a snake."

"But my cousin got so scared that she developed a fever, and I felt really guilty. But my mom didn't blame me; she took me to release the snake back into the wild."

Jiang Ce said, "I imagine your mother must be a very gentle person."

gentle......

When he mentioned those two words, Xue Chan couldn't help but laugh and said, "Actually, my mother is a very straightforward person, and even quite 'fiery' in many ways."

“My mother was my first teacher. She taught me from the time I was very young. Whether it was learning to read, write, or read, my mother taught me everything. She not only taught me to read, but she also liked to take me out to the mountains and streams to see the mountains and rivers, and to recognize the flowers and plants. So no matter what she is like, I feel very lucky to be her daughter.”

The past is too distant, yet it feels so beautiful when we talk about it.

Therefore, Xue Chan's expression was not sad, but rather as indifferent as the clear autumn sky.

Jiang Ce listened quietly as she recounted many stories from her childhood. The two sat at the bow of the boat, peeling lotus pods and eating lotus seeds.

This was the first time Xue Chan had told him about her past.

Life that would never have intersected, collided as we moved forward, and together we sailed on the same lake, heading in the same direction.

So he tentatively moved closer to Xue Chan.

"Xue Chan, may I call you by your childhood name?"

His gentle voice drifted across the water's surface, mingling with the delicate fragrance of lotus blossoms.

Xue Chan looked up and met his staring eyes.

His voice was tentative and soft, but his gaze and posture were forward and slightly intrusive.

On this small boat, Xue Chan had nowhere to hide.

She didn't answer immediately, lowered her eyes, and turned her head slightly away, as if pondering whether the request should be granted.

Jiang Ce, however, remained patient, waiting as he pushed off from the boat and moved closer to her. His robes completely covered the hem of her skirt, and their shoulders were only a hair's breadth apart.

Xue Chan smelled a faint, lingering fragrance, but she couldn't tell if it was his scent or the fragrance of flowers.

A gust of wind swept from the mountains to the lake, instantly creating a vast expanse of blue waves, causing the small boat to rock violently.

The two swayed with the boat, and Xue Chan's hair hit the edge of the cabin with a loud "thud" on the water. She quickly leaned over the bow and exclaimed, "My hairpin!"

But the jade hairpin had already fallen into the water, and it was impossible for her to reach it back.

Jiang Ce steadied her shoulders and asked, "Is that hairpin very important?"

Xue Chan even became anxious: "That belongs to my mother—"

Before he could finish speaking, the space beside him suddenly disappeared as Jiang Ce leaped into the water, his figure vanishing beneath the emerald green.

She gradually snapped out of her daze and realized that Jiang Ce had jumped into the water to retrieve the hairpin.

But Jiang Ce didn't come up for a long time.

Even after the sun had set behind the western mountains, and the azure sky was mostly tinged with orange-red, he still hadn't come up.

She and half a boat of lotus flowers were on the small boat.

Xue Chan couldn't help but get nervous, clinging to the bow of the boat and calling out twice.

"Second Young Master!"

"Jiang Bozhou!"

"Jiang Ce!"

Xue Chan called out to the water several times, but only the rippling water responded. As dusk fell and the lotus flowers swayed, his figure became increasingly indistinct.

The water was calm and still. She lay on the bow of the boat, her hands gripping the hull tightly. Her tightly pursed lips and furrowed brows betrayed her worry and fear.

This place is too far from the palace; even if we go back to find someone, it will most likely be too late.

The sky gradually blazed up, turning even the azure lake water red, yet no one dared to leap out.

Fearing that he had been underwater for too long and was exhausted, or that he was entangled and unable to escape, Xue Chan simply braced herself against the bow of the boat and prepared to jump.

"Whoosh---!"

A sudden sound of water breaking rang out.

Jiang Ce leaped out of the water, clung to the bow of the boat, and wiped the water from his brow bone and nose.

He looked up and finally saw Xue Chan kneeling at the bow of the boat, only to feel two warm drops of water fall on his face.

How could the lake water be hot?

Jiang Ce floated in the water, looking up at Xue Chan. Only then did he notice that her eyes had suddenly reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes, splashing onto the water.

He paused, forgetting even to move his hand that was reaching for the bow of the boat.

But a moment later, he laughed.

"Xue Chan, are your tears for me?"

Xue Chan turned her face away, wiped away her tears, and said softly, "Who is shedding tears for you? I am crying for myself, crying that I am going to be a widow before I am even married."

Hearing her slightly choked and hesitant voice, Jiang Ce's smile deepened.

"You're not even married yet, and you're already thinking about becoming a widow for me?"

He actually had the mind to laugh at her at this moment. Xue Chan couldn't help but snort coldly, but she didn't respond.

Jiang Ce just smiled, holding onto the bow of the boat with one hand and showing her the other, with a jade hairpin lying horizontally in his palm.

"Look, what's this?"

Xue Chan gently wiped away her remaining tears, took a breath, and her voice softened slightly.

Thank you.

She reached out to take the jade hairpin from his palm, but as soon as her fingers touched it, Jiang Ce pulled back and clenched his fist.

Xue Chan was somewhat confused and frowned.

Jiang Ce then inserted the jade hairpin into her hair, then gripped the bow of the boat with both hands, looked up at Xue Chan and smiled.

Do you know why I stayed in the water for so long?

Xue Chan said, "The twilight is dark, and the hairpin is hard to retrieve once it falls."

“No,” Jiang Ce shook his head, his eyes tender and gentle. “Actually, I got the hairpin very quickly, but when I was about to come up, I suddenly remembered a line of poetry from the ancients.”

Xue Chan looked down at him.

Jiang Ce swayed gently in the lake water, his face unusually clean. Residual water clung to his brow bone and nose, highlighting his beautiful bone structure and smooth, supple skin.

He looked up at her with a smile, waiting for her to ask.

Xue Chan thought somewhat inappropriately: "Like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice," this description is most fitting for this moment.

"What poem?"

The sky gradually glowed with a warm orange hue, illuminating the shimmering lake. Half a vibrant blue, half a crimson red, birds reflected in the setting sun. Two silhouettes were reflected in the water, rippling and merging, yet also parting and reuniting.

Jiang Ce smiled brightly, his wet eyes sparkling with tears.

"She wanted to speak to her lover, but lowered her head and smiled; her jade hairpin fell into the water."

Xue Chan found it somewhat absurd and funny, but after laughing, she felt a wave of soreness wash over her.

She said softly, "The water is cold, come up quickly."

After saying that, she moved to make room at the bow of the boat and sat down inside the awning.

Jiang Ce gripped the hull with both hands, pressed down gently, and flipped himself onto the boat.

He was tall and imposing, now standing at the bow of the boat, wringing out his robes, soaked to the bone. The waterlogged robes clung tightly to his body, outlining smooth, graceful lines. As he wrung out his clothes with his back to her, the cuffs were rolled up, revealing his arms. The effort of wringing out the water caused the veins to struggle and emerge from his skin, crisscrossing from the back of his hands down his arms before disappearing into his sleeves.

Xue Chan's gaze traveled upwards, taking in the clearly defined yet indistinct strong arms and broad shoulders, followed by a waistline that narrowed downwards, connecting to two long and powerful legs.

It's like... bold ink sketched on plain paper. Only the ink lines, no color needed, are captivating.

Xue Chan felt her heart skip a beat, and unconsciously slowed her breathing. For the first time, she found herself feeling a pang of voyeurism, which surprised her somewhat.

Jiang Ce turned around, and she quickly lowered her head, her hands clenched together under her sleeves.

After Jiang Ce finished wringing out his clothes, he turned around and saw Xue Chan quickly lower her head. Although her expression was calm, her posture was upright and slightly stiff.

He was initially puzzled, but then he saw his reflection in the water and silently smiled.

Jiang Ce sat down beside her rather brazenly. Xue Chan moved closer, but he moved closer as well, always staying close to her.

After retreating and advancing several times, Xue Chan couldn't help but feel annoyed. She raised her face, pursed her lips, and glared at him.

Jiang Ce helplessly spread his hands, his face full of innocence: "I'm wet, and it's a bit cold outside because of the wind."

Seeing that her tense body had softened considerably and she hadn't said anything, Jiang Ce smiled.

The two sat side by side without saying a word.

Before long, a handkerchief was handed to Jiang Ce.

"Wipe it off."

"My hands are wet."

As he said this, Xue Chan couldn't help but look up at him.

Jiang Ce's eyes were slightly lowered, and his gaze appeared somewhat deep and melancholy in the evening light.

Xue Chan seemed to sigh softly, folded the handkerchief in her hand, and raised her hand to him.

Jiang Ce obediently brought his face close to her hand, letting Xue Chan gently wipe his cheeks, which were now almost dry. Her movements were gentle as she wiped his brow bone, bridge of his nose, forehead, and temples.

When she was almost done wiping, she was about to withdraw her hand, but Jiang Ce immediately said quietly.

"The rest of the place is wet too."

Xue Chan felt that he seemed to be smiling, but his expression looked so serious, and his slightly pursed lips even revealed a hint of pitifulness.

She hesitated for a moment, and Jiang Ce looked somewhat disappointed.

"I know you don't want to, but that's okay."

It seems that even if she didn't wipe it for him, he wouldn't say anything, he would just be sad.

Xue Chan always felt that he was doing it on purpose, pretending to be so pitiful, but she just couldn't find any flaws. Just like the dampness on his body, she could clearly feel the moisture, but she couldn't see it.

She closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and reached out to wipe his neck and shoulders.

She had only wiped half of it when Jiang Ce suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him.

Xue Chan was somewhat shocked, and it seemed that she was about to become annoyed.

He moved her hand closer to his chest, then let go.

"It's already dried, but you kept rubbing it, and it hurt me."

Jiang Ce pointed to his chest: "It's clearly wetter here, are you pretending not to see it?"

Xue Chan felt that he seemed to have a hidden meaning in his words, so she took the handkerchief and slowly wiped away the water that could be wiped off his chest.

She wiped while glancing down.

The soaked robe clung to his chest, creating two full, bulging mounds. It was unclear whether the wet robe was too tight, or if his own body was stretching the robe, or perhaps both.

Even though the handkerchief was folded several times, I could still feel the beating in his chest.

Xue Chan always felt that she was making a lewd gesture towards Jiang Ce.

However, even though she was the one touching his body, she felt that she was the one at a disadvantage.

As the orange-red glow of the sunset gradually faded, the sky and earth grew darker, and the interior of the tent became even darker.

Just before it got dark, the sky and water outside were both a beautiful blue.

Jiang Ce sat inside the tent, with Xue Chan sitting sideways in front of him. Their dim figures had long since merged into one, and their originally different breathing patterns eventually became synchronized after several intertwined breaths.

He seemed to chuckle softly, slowly lowering his head, his breath ruffling the stray hairs at Xue Chan's temples.

Xue Chan couldn't stand it anymore, so she wiped it a couple of times and moved to the other side.

Jiang Ce, holding her sleeve, burst into laughter, his tone light and cheerful: "You were being so flirtatious with me just now, why are you trying to hide now?"

Xue Chan tugged at her sleeve: "Who made a fuss with you? You asked me to wipe it yourself."

After saying that, she kicked him twice.

Jiang Ce, having taken those two kicks, became somewhat shameless.

"It's true I asked you to wipe me down, but..." He chuckled softly, still clutching her sleeve, "Who wiping someone down like you stare at their body like that? You clearly..."

You were clearly lustful at first sight.

Perhaps these words exposed her, but Xue Chan did not become angry or retort.

Instead, she smiled and sat down next to the lotus flowers: "Even so, I should get something in return for wiping the water for you. What's wrong with taking a look at you and touching you a couple of times?"

"What, Lord Jiang, your body is so precious that I, a mere commoner, cannot even touch it?"

In fact, Jiang Ce had figured it out: Xue Chan was someone who couldn't stand being taken advantage of, and she absolutely couldn't be subservient to anyone. She was always adept at seizing any opportunity that was advantageous to her and suddenly turning the tables.

She had been quite shy just moments before, but now she quickly changed her tune and forcefully reversed the situation.

Although he was sitting there, his posture was proud and arrogant.

Jiang Ce chuckled to himself, then suddenly remembered how Yu Lang had scolded him for being unambitious and incompetent on the Dragon Boat Festival.

It's best to let go of pride when you shouldn't; the true principle is to be flexible and adaptable.

As for the methods...

Xue Chan sat down and saw Jiang Ce standing in front of her, looking down at her.

She looked up at him with a gentle gaze, showing no trace of fear or shyness, but rather a smile on her face.

"It's not that you can't touch it, nor that I can't touch it..."

Jiang Ce bent one knee backward, his gaze changing from looking down to looking straight ahead, and then, with one knee on the ground, he looked up.

"It's because I'm greedy and my desires are never satisfied."

He followed Xue Chan's lead, resting his hands on her knees and laughing openly and frankly, which made her lose her support.

However, Xue Chan is a person who, once she loses one reliance, can quickly find another one to rely on.

Since Jiang Ce offered her a ladder, she was naturally going to climb it; why not take advantage of the situation?

She gently lifted his chin with her finger and leaned down with a smile: "Oh, really?"

Jiang Ce replied with a smile, "Yes, so since I look so pitiful, shouldn't you grant me this little wish?"

Xue Chan pinched his chin and lifted it up: "What do you want?"

Jiang Ce smiled, straightened up, and looked up with a smile, saying, "I want to..."

He gradually went from kneeling to bending his knees, and placed his hands on either side of Xue Chan's knees. He slowly approached, demanding the lips that he had kissed many times in his dreams.

Xue Chan was pulled into his arms and embrace, and his face, reflected in her eyes, drew closer and closer.

He asked softly, "Is that alright?"

Even as he asked her questions, his movements of drawing closer never stopped. Their bodies pressed together, and his kiss was about to fall.

Xue Chan reached out and pressed her hand against his lips.

"Can't"

Rejected by her, Jiang Ce relaxed his movements and returned to his initial posture.

He kept his head down, so his expression was not visible.

Xue Chan asked him, "When I rejected you, were you angry or disappointed?"

Jiang Ce shook his head, looked up and smiled: "Xue Chan, I will not go against your wishes."

Xue Chan: Thank you.

Jiang Ce took the opportunity to grasp her wrist, tilted his head, and rubbed his hand against hers, saying, "You just asked me for the benefits of wiping the water, but the water is cold in late autumn. I went into the water to retrieve the hairpin for you, so I should at least receive something in return, right?"

Xue Chan asked, "What do you want?"

Jiang Ce looked at her with affection and a smile, turned his head, and gently kissed the back of her knuckles.

"I'll accept your payment."

It was just a gentle, light kiss, warm from the skin on the back of my fingers.

Xue Chan said softly, "It's getting late, let's go back."

"good"

Jiang Ce got up and went out, picked up a long pole and rowed back.

Xue Chan sat inside the boat, gently touching the finger he had just kissed, and slowly closed her eyes.

It was dim and quiet, yet not entirely dark.

On the contrary, the dark, inky blackness, mixed with a deep blue, appeared hazy, yet the sound of flowing water, the cooing of water birds on the shore, and the rustling of the wind through the grass and trees by the water were clearly audible.

The moon gradually rose, and even the ripples reflected on the water were silvery.

The journey home is always short and quick; the boat docked in no time.

Yun Sheng and Chu Tao sat in the pavilion with lanterns, waiting. When they saw the boat arrive, they got up to accompany Xue Chan back.

After Xue Chan stepped out of the boat and parted ways with Jiang Ce, she prepared to disembark.

Jiang Ce grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear.

"I forgot to tell you, I also have a nickname, Yue Lang, Yue as in moon."

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The author says: "Like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally beautiful without any artifice."

---Tang Dynasty, Li Bai, "After the Turmoil and Separation, I Remember My Old Travels in Yelang and Express My Feelings, Presented to Prefect Wei Liangzai of Jiangxia"

"She wanted to speak to her lover, but lowered her head and smiled; her jade hairpin fell into the water."

---Bai Juyi, Tang Dynasty, "Lotus Picking Song"