Chapter 32 This is the Jianghu I want

This single word instantly stirred up a thousand waves in Tang Xiaoning's heart.

Her heart sank suddenly, and her fingers, gripping the hem of her skirt, tightened unconsciously, her fingertips turning slightly white.

Could it be... could it be that Minghua has feelings for Liu Yiyi...?

“I find it troublesome,” Li Minghua added immediately, his tone filled with pure incomprehension and confusion, as if he were analyzing a logically flawed problem.

Why waste your time and energy on hopeless things? It only adds to your troubles and wastes your time.

It benefits neither oneself nor others.

Her words contained only rational judgment, without the slightest hint of emotion.

Tang Xiaoning: "..."

She almost choked on her own saliva. Her tense body suddenly relaxed, and a feeling of being both annoyed and amused welled up inside her.

Okay, this is so typical of Li Minghua!

It was the same Li Minghua she knew, the one who was oblivious to romance, the female knight-errant whose mind was only focused on "efficiency" and "whether it was worth it"!

The tiny, insignificant knot in her heart was instantly smoothed out, and she couldn't help but secretly curl the corners of her mouth into a smile.

Before her smile could fully bloom, a bolder, more personal question slipped uncontrollably from her lips.

She suppressed her racing heartbeat, filled with unprecedented nervousness and anticipation, her voice barely audible, like a mosquito's hum:

"Then...if, I mean if, one day there are others like me..."

She paused, mustered her courage, and started counting on her fingers: "...I talk to you every day, share delicious snacks with you, and drag you to watch the stars and stroll in the park with me...don't you find it...troublesome?"

After asking the question, Tang Xiaoning's cheeks were so hot they could practically fry an egg on them.

She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously digging into the cold tiles beneath her, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground, too afraid to look at Li Minghua's expression again.

Oh no, that question was way too direct!

Will Minghua think he's too...too shameless?

The expected silence or misunderstanding did not materialize.

Almost the instant she finished speaking, Li Minghua turned her head.

The moonlight, like water, clearly reflected Tang Xiaoning's appearance at this moment:

Her delicate earlobes were flushed red, her thick eyelashes trembled violently like the wings of a startled butterfly, and the skin on her profile was as smooth as fine porcelain, etched with nervousness, shyness, and anticipation.

Li Minghua's gaze was fixed intently on her face, his eyes sharp and direct, as if they could penetrate all appearances and reach her heart.

"No." Li Minghua's answer was decisive and swift, without the slightest hesitation.

This unexpected answer made Tang Xiaoning turn around abruptly in surprise, meeting Li Minghua's deep eyes: "W-why?!"

Her voice rose slightly with excitement, filled with unbelievable ecstasy.

Li Minghua continued to look at her, his eyes open and clear, simply stating: "Because it's you."

Her voice was not loud, but each word was clear, carrying a resolute certainty: "Different from others."

"boom--!"

Tang Xiaoning felt a surge of heat instantly engulf her entire body, all the blood rushing to her head, her cheeks burning as if they were on fire.

Her heartbeat was like a rapid war drumbeat, pounding wildly in her chest, making her eardrums buzz.

The starlight and gentle moonlight lost their brilliance at this moment, melting into scalding honey that flowed into her heart, cloyingly sweet and incredibly hot.

Her mind went blank, with only Li Minghua's four words echoing repeatedly: Because it's you... different from others... different from others...

"W-what's different..." she asked almost instinctively, her voice barely audible, as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

She lowered her eyes in a panic, not daring to look into Li Minghua's eyes that seemed to see through everything, and her fingers dug even harder at the tiles.

Li Minghua seemed oblivious to the turbulent emotions she was experiencing and the almost overwhelming shyness she felt.

She tilted her head slightly, and with the same earnest tone she used to analyze sword techniques, began to explain clearly and logically:

“Although you are also…” she hesitated, seemingly searching for the most accurate description, “…lively, sometimes quite loud, but your proximity…”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Tang Xiaoning's shoulder, which was so close to hers, "It doesn't make me feel uncomfortable; on the contrary..."

She seemed to be confirming an inner feeling, "It's become a habit. The food you share,"

She thought of those cloyingly sweet desserts, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly before relaxing. "Even if it's too sweet, I... am willing to try it. The things I do with you,"

Her gaze swept across the rooftops and the starry sky, "Even if it seems to have no grand significance, the process..."

She paused again, seemingly recalling those "meaningless" moments, "but...it wasn't too hard to bear."

She looked at Tang Xiaoning with a concluding gaze, her eyes focused and serious, as if making a final statement: "So, if it's you, then it's not a problem."

This is probably the closest Li Minghua can come to expressing "love words".

There are no fancy rhetoric, no sentimental vows, only a simple list of facts and comparisons based on personal feelings.

But because of its unique and undisguised honesty, it possesses a power to move people and, in turn, brings them joy.

To Tang Xiaoning, each of these words was a thousand times more powerful than any of the tender vows and promises in the stories.

An immense sense of happiness and satisfaction exploded in my heart like fireworks, dazzling and splendid.

She suddenly raised her head, her eyes involuntarily welling up with tears, but her lips curled into a smile, and her voice, once again choked with joyful emotion, trembled:

"Li Minghua! Do you know that sometimes... you might be a little slow, but you're really good at talking!"

Li Minghua was somewhat bewildered by her alternating crying and laughing, and by her sudden "accusation."

She blinked her eyes, which always seemed too calm, and said honestly, "I'm just telling the truth."

"Yes! It's the truth that's most touching!" Tang Xiaoning was overjoyed, all her reserve and shyness were swept away by this immense joy.

She couldn't help but snuggle closer to Li Minghua, like a little animal seeking warmth.

Their shoulders finally pressed firmly together, and through the thin summer clothes, they could clearly feel the temperature and contours of each other's bodies.

She could feel Li Minghua's body stiffen noticeably the moment she leaned in, like a rock suddenly tensing up.

But this time, Li Minghua did not avoid or move away as she had done before when she accidentally touched it.

She simply remained in that slightly stiff posture, letting Tang Xiaoning's warm and soft shoulders lean against her.

The night breeze seemed to be getting cooler, carrying a hint of moisture.

Tang Xiaoning subconsciously shrank her exposed shoulders and neck.

The next moment, a simple outer garment, still warm from her body and faintly scented with soap, was gently draped over Tang Xiaoning's shoulders.

Li Minghua took off his coat almost without hesitation.

Her movements were swift and quiet, with a sense of natural care.

"It's chilly at night, be careful not to catch a cold." Her voice was still calm and even, revealing little emotion, but it warmed Tang Xiaoning's heart more than any words of concern.

Tang Xiaoning quickly wrapped her outer garment, which carried Li Minghua's unique scent and warm body temperature, tightly around herself, as if she wanted to be hugged by her.

The faint scent of soapberry mixed with Li Minghua's unique aroma wafted into her nostrils, making her feel warm and soft all over.

She sighed contentedly, tilted her head slightly, and buried half of her face in the soft fabric, secretly absorbing the comforting warmth.

Looking up again at the brightest star in the night sky, Evening Star, the starlight seemed to have become even gentler.

She suddenly felt that the dreams of sword fights and chivalrous revenge that she once longed for had become distant and blurry.

What chivalry, what fame and fortune, none of these can compare to this moment, to the quiet, unassuming person beside her who shelters her from the storm and gives her unparalleled indulgence through his actions.

“Minghua,” she said, tilting her head slightly toward Li Minghua, her voice soft and gentle, as if sharing a sweet secret that belonged only to the two of them, “I think it’s fine as it is.”

"Hmm?" Li Minghua turned her head to the side, the moonlight outlining her smooth jawline.

She gazed at Tang Xiaoning's serene profile bathed in starlight and moonlight, awaiting her next words.

"And so, every day I'm with you, practicing swordsmanship until I'm all crooked and clumsy, reading until I doze off, wandering around the garden until I get lost, or...

Even just sitting quietly like this, watching the stars... doing nothing at all would be nice.

She paused, then continued, "I think this is the 'jianghu' I've been looking for. Wherever you are, that's my jianghu."

Li Minghua listened quietly, the night breeze ruffling her dark hair that fell over her shoulders.

She didn't answer immediately; her deep gaze shifted from the starry sky back to Tang Xiaoning's eyes.

Time seemed to flow by in stillness for quite a while.

Just as Tang Xiaoning thought that her old habit of being clueless about romance had resurfaced, or that the words were too sentimental, and was about to say something more,

She then heard Li Minghua's deep and clear voice, like a rock settling down: "Okay."

There was only one word, without any fancy embellishments or unnecessary promises.

But it acted like a solid anchor, firmly anchoring Tang Xiaoning's heart, which was floating on the clouds of happiness.

That was a solemn promise, a complete acceptance and protection of the little "world" she had described, a world that belonged only to the two of them.

This is so Li Minghua.

Tang Xiaoning's lips curved into the sweetest, happiest smile, and her eyes welled up with tears again.

This time, it wasn't because of nervousness, but because of overflowing joy and peace of mind.

She gently rested her head on Li Minghua's shoulder, which now seemed to be no longer tense and stiff.

Strands of hair brushed against Li Minghua's neck inadvertently in the breeze.

This time, Li Minghua's body only paused slightly, and then, from an angle that Tang Xiaoning couldn't see, her shoulders slowly relaxed, shedding all her defenses and aloofness.

With a silent indulgence and protection, she allowed that warm and sweet weight to lean on her, embracing all her dependence.

Under the starry sky, on the rooftop, two slender figures nestled together, creating a picturesque scene in the cool moonlight and gentle starlight.

At that moment, in the shadows of the corridor below the attic, Xiao Cui, who had been ordered to find her mistress to go back to her room to add clothes, was clutching her pounding chest, staring wide-eyed at the two figures on the roof who were snuggling so closely together, as if they had become one.

The moonlight clearly illuminated the outer garment Li Minghua draped over the young lady's shoulders, and the young lady's profile, showing utter dependence and contentment as she rested her head on Li Minghua's shoulder.

Xiao Cui's face instantly turned bright red. She quickly covered her mouth, which was about to cry out in surprise, her eyes widened like saucers, and then a smile of barely suppressed excitement spread across her lips.

She retreated cautiously and tiptoeing, even breathing very softly, for fear of disturbing the couple on the rooftop who were immersed in their own world.

Oh my goodness! This is really... incredible!