Chapter 27

Ning Qingxi slept until six o'clock in the afternoon, and when she woke up, she felt like the sky had fallen.

The alcohol didn't cause her to black out, it just made her a bit rebellious; she was thinking one thing but doing another.

Therefore, she remembers them all.

Including Huo Yanci's question, "What's wrong? Did you bite it too hard?"

Ning Qingxi suddenly realized that alcohol was harmful and she didn't want to live anymore. She planned to sneak out to find something to eat under the cover of night, but as soon as she went out, the door next door creaked open.

Ning Qingxi: "..."

Huo Yanci: "Oh, you're awake?"

Ning Qingxi: "Your hearing is so good? You can hear this too?"

Huo Yanci gave a rather cheerful "hmm": "Want to go out for something delicious?"

Ning Qingxi: "Are you treating?"

Huo Yanci: "It's my treat."

Ning Qingxi didn't stand on ceremony and walked away.

The summer nights are sweltering, with heat rising continuously from the ground, making the world feel like a giant steamer.

Ning Qingxi was unusually dignified, dressed in a refreshing green outfit. Her hair was styled in a girlish bun instead of braided, adorned with a lily hairpin. Everything seemed new and interesting to her: "What's that?"

Huo Yanci glanced at it: "The bayberries are juicy, sweet and sour, and they sell well in the summer when there's ice inside."

"Buy me a bowl."

Since there was no takeout available, the two of them simply ordered some hot food nearby and ate it there.

While eating, we watched the people coming and going, as well as the iron fireworks being performed along the river on the other side of the street, which was extremely lively.

Ning Qingxi asked, "Is there some kind of festival today? Why is it so lively?"

"No," Huo Yanci said. "These past few days have been hot, and the houses have been exposed to the sun all day, so they're stuffy. After people finish eating, they have nowhere to go, so they go to the street. Because there are people, all kinds of businesses are operating on both sides."

Ning Qingxi nodded, so engrossed in watching the commotion that she forgot to eat. After finally finishing her meal, the two of them strolled around with the crowd.

The streets were filled with the aromas of various delicacies and cosmetics, and everywhere was as lively as during the New Year. Ning Qingxi turned her head and saw that even lanterns were on display, painted with rabbits from the New Year period. For a moment, it made people feel as if the days were still back then.

However, there were no candied hawthorns left, so Ning Qingxi held a sugar painting in her hand. She didn't really like eating things that were so sweet they made her teeth hurt, but she felt that since the atmosphere was right, it would be strange not to take something.

Huo Yanci also found it strangely novel—but she found Ning Qingxi's appearance novel.

Ning Qingxi had been stared at by him the whole way, and she felt her face burning with embarrassment. She thought if he looked at her a couple more times, her face would probably catch fire. She glared back and said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Huo Yanci said casually, "It's nothing, I just feel that you are quite amazing."

"?"

"She ate so much, drank all my sweet soup, and even wanted to eat sugar paintings."

"Don't you know? At times like this, you need something in your hand, something like candied hawthorn, sugar painting, or lantern. That's an ironclad rule!"

"Why?"

"Because it makes me look cute." Ning Qingxi said, placing the sugar painting next to her face. She looked lively and playful, as if she had stepped out of a New Year's painting, with an extra touch of festive joy.

Huo Yanci hesitated for a moment: "Then I will too..."

Looking at his face, Ning Qingxi suddenly had a wicked idea.

She reached into the flower shop next to her and picked up a peach blossom branch: "Take this."

Huo Yanci looked at the flower branch and asked in confusion, "Why?"

Ning Qingxi held up the flower branch to him, indicating that he was wearing a peach-pink outfit today, just like the flower branch.

Huo Yanci smiled, her eyes narrowed, and asked, "Would you call this fate?"

Huo Yanci untied her purse, tossed a few coins to the flower girl, and then pouted, "Isn't this fate you forced upon yourself?"

“If you can force something, it means there is still a connection. Things that are not meant to be can not be forced,” Ning Qingxi said. “No need to be modest, if there is a connection, then there is a connection.”

So the two of them, one holding a sugar painting and the other holding a peach blossom, continued to parade through the streets, seeing many novel things along the way. Ning Qingxi was in a great mood. After finishing the sugar painting, she threw away the stick, grabbed Huo Yanci's hand, and plunged into the crowd.

So, Huo Yanci's sleeve pocket was touched countless times throughout the night. Fortunately, he kept his purse tightly in his arms, otherwise, the price of going out would have been too high.

After the acrobatic performance ended, Ning Qingxi cheered a few times, gave a few coins, and the crowd dispersed. Her hair was already a mess, like a bird's nest. After squeezing around for so long, she was also sleepy and stood there yawning. As soon as Huo Yanci suggested going back, Ning Qingxi immediately agreed.

The next day, Ning Qingxi went to draw when the sun was high in the sky. When she entered, she saw Zhuo Miao still working on the abacus and greeted her, "Good morning, why are you here so early?"

Zhuo Miao smiled shyly: "I wasn't planning on taking a vacation, I just wanted to sort out the bills before I left."

Ning Qingxi nodded and casually asked, "What are you going back for?"

"The matchmaker introduced me to a girl, and I went back to meet her."

Ning Qingxi looked up: "How old are you?"

"twenty."

Ning Qingxi: "You're so young and you're already getting married?"

Zhuo Miao is even two years younger than her, and is the same age as Huo Yanci.

Are young people nowadays all desperate to get married?

Ning Qingxi was a little unsure, feeling that there was a generation gap between her and them.

Zhuo Miao said, "You're twenty, not young anymore. My mother is waiting to hold her grandson, and she keeps nagging me about it every day... Speaking of which, Miss Ning, doesn't anyone want to find you a husband?"

Ning Qingxi thought back carefully for a moment.

It's hard to say whether the original owner had any, but when she came, there definitely wasn't any. After that, I don't know, but no one came looking for her.

Ning Qingxi: "..."

Is she really that undesirable?

Ning Qingxi was having some existential questions when Huo Yanci walked in. She overheard Zhuo Miao asking, "Has no one tried to find you a spouse?" and raised an eyebrow.

Upon seeing this, Zhuo Miao immediately chuckled and said, "That's right, Miss Ning already has Prince Jing, why bother with marriage proposals?"

Ning Qingxi looked up and saw Huo Yanci standing there. Suddenly, she felt playful and teased Zhuo Miao, "Speaking of which, hasn't anyone tried to find you a spouse?"

"It's up to you, isn't it?" Huo Yanci said ambiguously. "If you need it, I'll have someone talk to you about it tomorrow."

Ning Qingxi was caught off guard by his sudden flirtation, and her ears turned red. Zhuo Miao, standing to the side, was wailing and complaining that he was unable to work because of the disruption to his Dao Heart.

Huo Yanci shrugged: "Besides, I haven't even reached adulthood yet. Who would be so blind as to tell me that?"

Ning Qingxi then realized she had overlooked a detail: "When is your birthday?"

She herself was already of marriageable age, born quite early in winter, just a few days after the New Year. When she suddenly heard that Huo Yanci hadn't reached adulthood yet, she felt a sense of guilt for deceiving a minor, but she also felt a vague thrill.

Huo Yanci said, "It will be soon, on September 8th."

Ning Qingxi asked, "What's the date today?"

Huo Yanci: "August 9th."

Zhuo Miao: "Isn't the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner?"

Huo Yanci nodded and looked at Ning Qingxi: "Miss Ning, would you do me the honor of going out for a meal during the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Miao let out a wail.

Ning Qingxi looked back, resting her chin on her hand: "Wow, Your Highness, if you talk like that, I might misunderstand."

Zhuo Miao let out another wail, prompting Huo Yanci to click her tongue and ask, "Doesn't your throat hurt?"

With Ning Qingxi in charge, Zhuo Miao wasn't too worried: "It doesn't hurt. I drank two glasses of water this morning to soothe my throat."

Ning Qingxi also clicked her tongue: "Weren't you supposed to be on vacation? Why aren't you leaving yet?"

Zhuo Miao picked up the ledger and shook it: "It's not finished yet, Miss Ning. It's not right to be in such a hurry."

"..."

The way this person was talking was really off; it sounded like they were going to do something unspeakable after he left.

Ning Qingxi: "I'm not in a hurry, you old man."

Zhuo Miao grinned and said, "Don't be like that. If you talk like that, you might get my grandpa killed."

Ning Qingxi: "..."

She was truly impressed.

Unable to win an argument with Zhuo Miao, she simply changed the subject: "How are we going to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival? Are we just going to parade through the streets with lanterns?"

Huo Yanci raised an eyebrow: "How do you plan to live?"

Ning Qingxi peeked out and looked at Zhuo Miao: "Of course, it's something a bachelor can't handle."

"...That's going too far! How can you resort to personal attacks?"

Ning Qingxi had teased him enough, and contentedly lowered her head to continue drawing.

Several sheets of Xuan paper were already piled on her table. Huo Yanci picked one up and glanced at it. Although she couldn't make out what it was, she could still tell that the style was different from the ones here.

Why the change in style?

Many buildings here are hidden in the bushes, which is quite like a shy and demure young lady.[1] But the buildings in the drawings are much grander, with tall pavilions and spacious areas, more than enough for a dance troupe to dance in, and bigger than the courtyards of many people.

Ning Qingxi said, "If we make them this small, people will go in to escape the heat, and when they turn around, they'll see a few people still standing outside in the sun. That would be terrible. When we're about to exterminate my entire family, we'll find out that one of our own is among them."

Huo Yanci: "...Is death the only option?"

Ning Qingxi pondered for a moment: "Living is fine too."

Huo Yanci: "I remember telling you that you should avoid making prophetic statements."

Ning Qingxi spat twice, clearly not being sincere: "Children's words are innocent, let the wind blow them away. Is that alright?"

Huo Yanci was barely appeased and asked, "How long will it take you to finish this?"

"I definitely won't be able to get out before your birthday. It would be good if I could finish it before the new year... What's wrong? Don't you trust me?"

"No, I'm just curious," Huo Yanci said. "With the way you paint and spend your money, are you sure you can make enough to live on all year round?"

Ning Qingxi pretended not to hear and focused on drawing the blueprints.

After days of polishing, although only a small section was used, it was still hard work, even if it didn't amount to much. The blueprints piled up in a thick stack.

The style must be completely different from the garden currently under construction. It must be grand and magnificent, and most importantly, all the details that she can remember must be included.

Ning Qingxi copied and guessed, drawing without any fear.

Before you knew it, the Mid-Autumn Festival had arrived. Everyone was given a half-day off in advance so they could go home and reunite with their families. Ning Qingxi was the first to do so. No sooner had she made the announcement than she dragged Huo Yanci out.

Mid-Autumn Festival is a big day. Before it gets dark, the shops on the street have already hung lanterns. Zuixianlou is the most extravagant, with a huge rabbit lantern on the roof, which is very lifelike and looks down on everyone.

Ning Qingxi hesitated for a moment: "Logically speaking, the Mid-Autumn Festival should be a time for family reunion."

Huo Yanci: "Hmm."

Ning Qingxi: "Do you want to see Ning Qingyuan and Ning Qingshan?"

"If you'd like, we can have a family reunion dinner tonight, and then come out together to stroll around the lanterns."

Ning Qingxi nodded: "Then let's do it this way."

With nowhere to go in the afternoon, the two of them found a teahouse, ordered two pots of tea, and sat on the second floor to listen to the storyteller.

Ning Qingxi pondered that it was nothing more than the love story of Hou Yi and Chang'e. She picked up an apple from the dried fruit dish and ate it dry, while listening intently to various stories of talented men and beautiful women.

Chang'e and Hou Yi, Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying, and Huo Yanci.

Wait a minute!

Ning Qingxi stiffly looked up: "What nonsense is this old man spouting here?"

"They're making fun of us." Huo Yanci didn't react much, and even commented, "You know what, it's actually quite convincing."

"How is it similar? If you say a few more words, it'll sound like a ghost story." Ning Qingxi was a little doubtful of his brain. "When did we ever have this kind of 'you love me, but I don't love you' plot?"

Huo Yanci: "What's the point of living if you don't bring joy to others? Everyone laughs at me, and I laugh at everyone; we should have a spirit of dedication."

Huo Yanci, who was particularly dedicated, ate and watched, and seemed to be very happy all afternoon. Ning Qingxi listened to the story, which was not very reasonable, and looked constipated, but fortunately, the tea in this teahouse was particularly delicious and the dim sum was also good.

Huo Yanci listened with great interest, and Ning Qingxi ate with great enjoyment. When they left, she was still rubbing her stomach, feeling a little unsatisfied: "We should have asked them to buy some tea."

Huo Yanci flicked her fan: "The ones at home are better than these."

Ning Qingxi was furious: "Fine, you won't give it to me?"

Huo Yanci said innocently, "You didn't ask me either."

"Can't you be a little more perceptive?"

"...My mistake."

"Good to know!"

It wasn't completely dark yet, but the shops on both sides had already lit lanterns. The two of them joked and teased each other as they walked home along the road.