Chapter 20

Instead of returning to the Xi residence with Leng Xueran in tow, Xi Yimin took a carriage and headed towards the southern suburbs of the Xi residence. Ten miles south of Fengcheng, there was a mountain with countless pear trees, which were in full bloom.

Inside the carriage, Leng Xue Ran remained silent. Xi Yi Min looked at her and softly asked, "Xue Ran, did you hear what I said in the study?" Leng Xue Ran looked up at the gentle man before her, her mind racing. Finally, she sighed and said slowly, "Let me go before you become dependent on me. It's better for both of us." Hearing this, Xi Yi Min became somewhat angry. He looked at Leng Xue Ran with resentment and sneered, "Now I can't live without you. If you want to leave, it's impossible unless I'm willing to let go." Hearing such domineering and unreasonable words, Leng Xue Ran retorted angrily, "If I really want to leave, what can you do to me?" Xi Yi Min suddenly took the woman's hand, his expression anxious yet gentle. Rou said, "But I am Xue Ran's fiancé, how can Xue Ran leave me?" Hearing this, Leng Xue Ran hesitated, ultimately not uttering the hurtful words. Perhaps she still didn't want to hurt this person who might deeply love her, even if she was a woman, even if it was so shocking. In the end, she asked in a calm tone, "Where are you taking me?" Xi Yimin didn't hold onto his previous displeasure. Looking down at the woman who hadn't broken free from their grasp, he said softly, "Xue Ran will know when we get there!" Hearing that she didn't want to say, he didn't ask any more questions. He raised his free left hand to lift the carriage curtain, looked at the trees by the roadside, saw nothing special, lowered the curtain, and closed his tired eyes. Leng Xue Ran had left at Chenshi (7-9 AM), and it was already Shenshi (3-5 PM). How could she not be tired? Xi Yimin saw this and felt extremely sorry for her. He gently put his arm around the woman's shoulder and pulled her into his arms. In the end, she couldn't resist her weariness and didn't struggle, letting him hold her. She fell asleep soon after. Xi Yimin looked down at the woman in his arms, his eyes overflowing with love, as if they were about to spill water. Love arises without warning, and runs deep—this was the essence of it all. He didn't know how much time had passed when Leng Xueran woke up to find the carriage had stopped. Xi Yimin had been quietly holding her, waiting for her to wake up. His heart softened, and she pouted, "Why didn't you wake me?" Xi Yimin's eyes were full of tenderness. He reached out and tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, then gently pressed his cheek against hers. This gesture made her blush, and she looked away, afraid to meet his tender gaze, fearing for her life. But then she heard Xi Yimin say, "The timing was perfect. We didn't miss the sunset, so I didn't wake Xueran. Xueran, come with me." With that, he got off the carriage and reached out to help Leng Xueran up. The woman had just bent over to stand up when she suddenly... The car lurched towards the exit, and Xi Yimin quickly caught the woman. Looking at Xi Yimin holding her, Leng Xueran felt embarrassed and quickly pulled away. Xi Yimin smiled at her, "Xueran, are your legs a little numb? Perhaps I can carry you over?" She was about to object when she looked up and saw nothing but white blossoms—pear blossoms in full bloom, stretching as far as the eye could see, dazzling her eyes. Touched, she turned to look at the man behind her, who was smiling gently at her, "Xueran, do you like it?" The woman looked at him, her eyes full of tenderness, "How can I bear to treat you like this?" Xi Yimin smiled brightly, "Just stay by my side! Call me Yimin, okay?"

"Yimin!" Without hesitation, she called out so naturally, perhaps she had called out it a thousand times in her heart, but this time she spoke it aloud. Hearing this, Xi Yimin's heart fluttered with joy, and he hugged the woman before him tightly. "Xue Ran is so good, she was moved by so little. I'm a little worried, though. If someone else treated you like this, I'm afraid Xue Ran would also be moved and fall into someone else's arms!" Hearing this woman's silly words, she was secretly pleased. "So Yimin must treat me a thousand times better, ten thousand times better, so that no one can surpass me, and I will not be moved by anyone else!" She tightened her arms, hugging the woman in her arms even tighter, as if afraid she would run away. "I will definitely not let Xue Ran down!" She released the woman in her arms, took her soft hand, and slowly... They walked slowly into the depths of the pear orchard. The setting sun cast long shadows of the two figures as they walked side by side, their silhouettes warm and romantic. The pear orchard seemed endless, with no end in sight. They stopped, and Xi Yimin turned to look at the woman beside him. The setting sun cast a golden light behind her, making her appear like a fairy descended from heaven, beautiful and captivating. Xi Yimin was mesmerized. He gently raised his hands and placed them on the woman's face, his head slowly drawing closer. Their breaths were almost touching, rapid and disordered. The woman's face flushed slightly, as if frozen in place. She wanted to back away, but stood there motionless, watching the handsome face before her draw closer and closer. Finally, she closed her eyes, letting him approach.

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Her voice was hoarse, as if she were enduring something, "Xue Ran..." This "Xue Ran" made Leng Xue Ran blush. She had been so immersed in this person's kiss that she had almost lost her composure. "Yi Min, we shouldn't be like this." Xi Yi Min said plaintively, "What is Xue Ran worried about? Our wedding date is already set. Xue Ran is so... tempting, how can I resist!" The woman retorted, "That should only be after the wedding!" Xi Yi Min smiled at the woman's shyness, his heart itching even more. He took a few deep breaths and said gently, "But, I feel uncomfortable!" Seeing how shameless this person was, Leng Xue Ran no longer gave him a kind look. "You have to endure it even if you feel uncomfortable. Who told you to get up... serves you right!" Leng Xue Ran broke free from Xi Yi Min's embrace and slowly walked forward, taking a deep breath. Xi Yi Min followed, smiling, "Xue Ran, don't be angry with me. I was too hasty. Well... is that alright?" Leng Xue Ran stopped, looking at the person beside her. This person had truly caught her eye; she couldn't help but see him. So she went along with it, "That depends on Yi Min's performance. If he performs well, then..." At this point, Leng Xue Ran blushed and stopped speaking. Xi Yi Min persisted, "Then what?" Looking at the mischievous grin on his face, Leng Xue Ran ignored him and turned to continue walking forward. Xi Yi Min quickly took the woman's hand, amused, "Xue Ran, where are you going?"

"I want to see where this pear orchard ends."

"So we won't be able to see it today?"

Leng Xueran asked curiously, "Why?"

Xi Yimin smiled smugly, "Because there are pear trees all over this mountain, it would probably take half a day to walk all the way up. Now that the sun has already set, how can we possibly see them all? But how about we continue tomorrow?"

"Okay, let's go back now and come back tomorrow."

The more Xi Yimin looked at the woman before him, the more he felt he couldn't get enough of her. When had she been afflicted by the curse? If one day he lost his sight, would this curse take his life? Xi Yimin was somewhat worried. "Xue Ran, let's not go back tonight!"

The woman looked at the person in front of her warily. "Then where will we stay? Under the pear tree?"

Xi Yimin chuckled mischievously, "Why not?" Leng Xueran immediately retorted, "No!"

Xi Yimin pretended to be serious and said, "Why not? We stayed in the forest before, and besides, going back and forth would just waste time."

Leng Xue Ran looked at the person in front of her who was speaking seriously and said unhappily, "Last time there was no other way, but this time it's different. We can live indoors, why do we have to live in the open air? What if it rains?"

Xi Yimin smiled at the woman and pulled her to the left. "What's so difficult about that? Xue Ran, come with me." After crossing a small hill, a thatched hut appeared before them. Turning to look at the woman, Xi Yimin smiled and said, "Now we don't have to worry about the wind and rain."

Leng Xue Ran said coldly, "Xi Yi Min, you did that on purpose just now, didn't you!"

Xi Yimin laughed loudly: "I just wanted to see what Xue Ran would be like when she got anxious. I've seen her angry, I've seen her coquettish, I've seen her indifferent. I've slowly realized that Xue Ran has changed a lot. She's become more and more lively, and I can't live without her anymore. So, Xue Ran, don't leave me. I don't have the antidote for the curse you cast. I'm afraid I'll die if you leave me."

Seeing how serious the man was talking, Leng Xueran asked anxiously, "When did I cast a curse on you?" Xi Yimin just smiled and didn't say anything, pulling the woman towards the thatched hut.