Chapter 159 Going All Out: "I can go perform for money."

The scorching summer night was sweltering and the heat was particularly thick, making it difficult for people who had worked hard to sleep. Only in the bedroom of the inn did a refreshing coolness emanate from.

Every spring and summer, mosquitoes are everywhere. To prevent bites, thin gauze curtains are hung over the beds in each guest room, through which one can vaguely see the intertwined figures of people.

His breathing was sometimes rapid, sometimes slow, and a few tantalizing sucking sounds could be faintly heard in his panting.

A slender wrist tied with red silk dangled from the gauze curtains, limply resting on the edge of the bed. Then another long, strong hand followed, reaching out from behind the curtains. The back of the hand, with its well-proportioned knuckles and pale blue veins, grasped the wrist tied with red silk and pressed it against the hard couch.

(……………………I can’t lift it up, you know why……………………)

Zhou Ya's heart was pounding, the heat of his chest pounding against her chest. Bai Yuan calmly felt it for a moment, and when the lingering sensation in her body subsided slightly, she mustered up some strength, raised her hand to brush away a strand of wet hair from his forehead, and whispered, "Sleep."

Zhou Yaren tilted her head and leaned closer, her lips brushing against her neck, giving her a light kiss, her voice hoarse and languid after their lovemaking: "Is that enough?"

Bai Yuan retorted, "Haven't you had enough?"

"I originally wanted to take it a little longer this time." But I couldn't resist.

Bai Yuan smiled upon hearing this, his fingers sliding down to his chin: "It's almost Yin Shi (3-5 AM), go and sleep for two hours to recharge."

We still have to get up early to travel, so we should get plenty of rest. Zhou Yaren put his arm around her waist, buried his face in her neck, and inhaled the unique, cool fragrance of Bai Yuan: "I'm a little thirsty."

A pot of cold tea sat on the table. Bai Yuan rose, lifted the gauze curtain, and reached for his robe, only to find a white garment neatly folded at the head of the bed. It felt incredibly light and silky, clearly made of the finest silk, as pure and white as frost and snow.

"Qi silk is like clouds, and Lu silk is like smoke. Both are famous throughout the world. They are not only royal tributes, but most of the 'white silk' transported through the Western Regions comes from Qi silk and Lu silk." Zhou Yaren lay on her side on the couch, propping her head up with one hand, and said lazily, "I specially made a set for you. Try it on."

Bai Yuan recalled that Zhou Yaren had gone out before nightfall to buy this outfit for her.

The white silk is delicate and smooth, like smoke or mist. When draped over the body, it feels like a clear spring flowing over the skin, cascading and rippling like water. Its ethereal and light texture makes Bai Yuan appear graceful and otherworldly.

Zhou Yaren looked at her with a smile in her eyes, and reached out to take a piece of plain white ribbon: "It looks good, is it comfortable?"

The outfit Bai Yuan wore before was also bought by him. Bei Qu's shop didn't have many good materials, so it couldn't compare to this outfit.

"It is indeed comfortable," Bai Yuan turned to pour him tea, "It must have cost a lot of money, right?"

This time he really went all out.

When Zhou Yaren took the tea, a thin layer of frost was clearly visible on the rim of the cup. He took a sip, and the coolness traveled from his throat to his stomach: "We're almost out of money. I'm thinking, since it's the height of summer, should we sell some ice or herbal tea along the way?"

The people are suffering from unbearable heat and urgently need relief from the heat. Bai Yuan can turn water into ice, making it an extremely profitable and risk-free business during this sweltering season.

Bai Yuan was somewhat taken aback: "Are you serious?"

Zhou Yaren finished her herbal tea, put down the teacup, rummaged through her pile of clothes and pulled out a money pouch, stuffing it into Bai Yuan's hand: "See, we're really out of money. We still need to eat and stay on the way."

When Bai Yuan confessed, he only had two pieces of silver and seven or eight copper coins left in his palm, which was far from enough for travel expenses.

Zhou Yaren seemed quite reliable. Bai Yuan never thought he would be so unplanned, actually spending all his money to buy her this outfit.

"You're really something. If I couldn't turn water into ice..."

It didn't matter at all, Zhou Yaren didn't care at all, he still had a skill to rely on: "I can go and perform for money."

What kind of performance do you do?

“Playing the piano and composing music, there’s always a way to make money.” As he said this, Zhou Yaren took Bai Yuan’s slightly cool hand. He had made up his mind. “We have a long life ahead of us. We can make a living like this. We can go anywhere, to the ends of the earth.”

Bai Yuan paused for a moment, then smiled subtly.

Who knows what will happen in the future?

After Zhou Yaren fell asleep, Bai Yuan went to the window on the second floor of the inn and saw the noisy loom that had been running all night in the opposite courtyard.

The people who had been working hard at night had already rested, and the loom was empty, but the basket was still filled with plain white silk threads.

Bai Yuan could still see the woman, bathed in moonlight and by the light of an oil lamp, her feet on a pedal, her hand weaving a shuttle through layers of silk and hemp, creating smooth and fine silk fabrics, working tirelessly and endlessly.

Bai Yuan stared blankly at the loom until dawn broke, her mind replaying Zhou Yaren's words. Before she could even feel happy, a sense of melancholy arose within her.

She thought: I also hope that the days ahead will be long.

Everything's fine, so why talk about the future?

Life is unpredictable; whatever happens, happens...

"A white injustice."

A soft call suddenly sounded behind her; it was Zhou Yaren waking up in the morning light.

In his daze, he felt his way to the half-empty bed and, still not fully conscious, pulled back the gauze curtains: "Aren't you asleep?"

Bai Yuan, dressed neatly, turned around and leaned casually against the windowsill, saying, "You're awake."