Confessing love

To be honest, Gu Jinning didn't know Fang Fan's background.

All that is known is that twenty years ago, Fang Fan was eighteen years old, full of youthful vigor, and single-mindedly wanted to go to the capital to take the imperial examination, but unfortunately he failed.

After that, he went into the mountains and forests, declaring that he would no longer read the classics.

He settled in the mountains, devoting himself to the study of herbal medicine, and possessed extraordinary talent. However, he only made medicines and never went out of the mountains to treat people; even if he achieved something, he only admired it in solitude.

Ten years ago, she caused trouble at the mountain village and ran all over the place. She accidentally hid in this desolate mountain and discovered a wild man covered in grass, which scared her away.

The next day, she summoned Xiao Heng'an, "Look, it's that savage."

Fang Fan brushed aside his messy hair and said his first words to them, "You're the wild kids."

And so, they became friends. A strange young man in his early twenties, a mischievous little devil, and a taciturn guardian.

Gu Jinning disliked Fang Fan growing grass, so she deliberately tricked him into going into the water and washed him clean.

Fang Fan was very angry. But after that, he resumed his scholarly attire, his face was no longer covered in mud, and he looked clean and fresh, truly like a scholar.

When Gu Jinning got tired of playing at the villa, or when she was being chased, she would drag Xiao Heng'an to the mountains to find Fang Fan.

Three years ago, they were summoned back to the capital. Before leaving, the two of them worked together to renovate Fang Fan's dilapidated thatched hut and plant a large bamboo grove.

"Xiao Heng'an, do you think Fang Fan won't be lonely living in the mountains his whole life?"

Gu Jinning had asked Fang Fan this question before, but Fang Fan had not responded.

Xiao Heng'an said, "Everyone's state of mind, choices, and perceptions are different. If he gets tired of it, he will come out of seclusion."

Gu Jinning muttered, "I'm afraid he doesn't have the courage."

Xiao Heng'an said, "Perhaps it was before, but now he enjoys it more. After all, you, his big benefactor, are what made his medical expertise possible."

Gu Jinning said proudly, "That's right. I've made up my mind. Once my Thousand Faces Sect becomes famous, I'll invite him to be the number one pharmacist."

As the sun sets and the sky is ablaze with the colors of the sunset, the orange glow is reflected in the spring water, drifting gently with the murmuring sound of the water, like flowing silk.

Gu Jinning sat on a rock by the stream, handing Xiao Heng'an a piece of wood while indulging in endless daydreams.

She wanted to build her sect into a magnificent and resplendent place, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people, surpassing all other sects in the martial arts world.

At that time, she will host a banquet for all the heroes and valiant warriors of the world, and swear brotherhood with them through blood. In this way, she will be able to dominate the martial arts world.

"Hey, you absolutely must come then. I'll treat you as the VIP and guarantee you'll be the center of attention."

Xiao Heng'an listened quietly and smiled, "Your Thousand Faces Sect's business is probably not suitable to be too ostentatious."

"I don't care. As long as I have a clear conscience, I have nothing to fear. I do legitimate business, and my principle is to promote good and eliminate evil."

Xiao Heng'an asked, "How much did you earn?"

Gu Jinning counted on her fingers, "The previous money is all gone. Recently, Xiao Liao gave 1,500 taels, Ji Lin gave 3,500 taels, and I have to pay back Aunt Hua 3,000 taels... Oh dear, it's still not enough to build bricks."

In Xiao Heng'an's hands, the rosewood was transformed into neat wooden planks. He joked, "The princess really knows how to make and spend money."

Gu Jinning waved her hand, "No, it's just so-so."

Mentioning Ji Lin, Gu Jinning leaned closer to Xiao Heng'an and asked, "Ji Lin, what are you going to do?"

As early as when Ji Lin went to Baiweizhai, she received a message from Chu Lang. Afterwards, Ji Lin was able to easily produce three thousand taels of silver notes and then spend five hundred taels to hire her. Later, she was taken to the academy by Xiao Liao to testify, which was enough to prove that she had a connection with Xiao Liao.

Ji Lin's plan to enter the Prince of Jin's mansion to find a place to stay was not wrong, but she shouldn't have been greedy and wanted to benefit from both sides.

Xiao Heng'an was focused on whittling wood and didn't want to answer her question. Instead, he said, "The letter sent to my camp, you forged it, didn't you?"

Xiao Heng'an turned his head and stared at her as if he could see through everything.

Gu Jinning suddenly felt guilty, and her eyes began to dart away. "When did you find out?"

Xiao Heng'an said, "I've always known. I returned to the capital not because of your forged will, but because you needed me."

Gu Jinning's heart suddenly raced, her whole being lost in his sincere eyes, unable to move or escape.

She needed him back, so he came back. She wanted him to save Ji Lin, and he did. He always played along with her act, played along with her antics. Whatever she wanted, he tried his best to make it happen. Always, always.

This is such a profound bond, filled with countless indescribable emotions that one can never sever ties with for a lifetime.

Gu Jinning smiled gently, resting her chin on her hands to admire his handsome face, "Xiao Wangshu, didn't I often praise you for being cute before?"

"Whenever I cause trouble, you get angry, but you have no choice but to clean up the mess for me. I like seeing you helpless against me."

“Sometimes, I deliberately cause trouble. You’re usually so quiet and reserved, like an old man, not lively at all.”

She tilted her head and looked at him intently, her eyes curving like two bright crescent moons. "It's much better now. I think I like it even more."

As the sunset fades and the full moon hangs low, the world is bathed in silvery light.

The moonlight softened Xiao Heng'an's rugged features, casting a gentle veil over them, making him appear hazy and tender.

Gu Jinning was mesmerized. "Xiao Wangshu, may I kiss you?"

Xiao Heng'an's pupils flickered slightly, but before he could react, Gu Jinning had already cupped his face and given him a quick kiss on the cheek.

She used to kiss him like that when she was little, and he would always find it offensive. When she was around ten years old, her grandmother, who took care of them, warned her that girls shouldn't kiss people indiscriminately as they grow up. Only then did Gu Jinning begin to restrain herself.

But when she saw Xiao Heng'an in front of her, she just wanted to kiss him. There was no one around in the middle of nowhere; a kiss wouldn't hurt.

Gu Jinning smiled contentedly, but suddenly the back of her head was bound, forcing her body, which was about to sit back down, to be pressed back down, touching the place she dared not offend.

Her mind went blank for a moment, her pupils widened in astonishment, as if everything had stopped, and she could only feel each other's heartbeats and the breaths lingering around each other's noses.

Gu Jinning seemed drunk, her face flushed, but she held that face in her hands and refused to let go.

The night was so gentle, the moonlight just right. A gentle breeze blew, stirring two sincere hearts.

The moon hangs high, the stream murmurs, frogs croak among the reeds, and crickets chirp softly on the grass.

The two embraced, enjoying this brief moment of beauty and tranquility.

Zuo Wenzhong's amputation was very successful, and the wound was treated very well. He only needs to take internal medicine and apply external medicine for a few days to nourish his body and he will be able to regain his former complexion.

To facilitate Zuo Wenzhong's recuperation, Gu Jinning entrusted him to Fang Fan.

Fang Fan was unwilling to accept it; he disliked people who called themselves scholars and great masters.

Gu Jinning threatened to set the house on fire if he didn't accept the money. Fang Fan accepted it while cursing, and Bai Sheng stayed to help.

Gu Jinning and Xiao Heng'an descended the mountain and arrived at the mountain villa where they had grown up.

After they returned to the capital, the village gradually stopped attracting young men from the city and became an ordinary village where people lived a peaceful life.

At the southernmost gate of the village, an old woman sat on a low wooden stool. Her hair was completely white, her body was thin and hunched, her bent back leaning against the wall, holding wild vegetables in her hand.

"Grandma."

Gu Jinning ran over, squatted down in front of her, and called out loudly, "Grandma, I've come to see you."

She was eighty years old, hard of hearing, and had failing eyesight. Gu Jinning called her several times before she responded, squinting at her for a long time before suddenly grinning.

"Oh, Ning'er, what brings you here?" She was delighted at first, then frowned slightly. "What mistake have you made this time? I'm too old to walk anymore, I can't take care of you."

Gu Jinning pouted, "How could I keep making mistakes? I just missed you and came to visit you. Look, who did I bring you?"

"Huh?" Grandma couldn't hear clearly, so she looked up with Gu Jinning and saw a tall, handsome young man. She exclaimed, "This young man is quite handsome. Who is he?"

Gu Jinning smiled, "Take a closer look."

Xiao Heng'an stepped forward to help his grandmother. The grandmother squinted and looked closely. She exclaimed, her hands trembling with excitement, "Isn't this our An'er? I haven't seen him for years. He's grown up and gotten stronger. I almost didn't recognize him."

She grabbed one in each hand and carried them into the house.

"You didn't even tell me you were coming, so I wasn't prepared at all."

Gu Jinning said, "No need to prepare, we'll cook for you. We'll stew the wild pheasant freshly hunted in the mountains until it's tender. We'll pick the sweetest fruit from the trees; I guarantee you'll like it."

"Great, great!" Grandma cried tears of joy. "Ning'er has become sensible and knows how to care for others."

She pulled the two of them to sit down, pouring tea and looking for food. No one usually came to the house, so there were no tea or snacks prepared.

Grandma hurriedly went to knead the dough.

“I remember you all love peach shortbread and osmanthus cake, I’ll go make some for you.”

Gu Jinning came over and pulled her, "Grandma, don't bother."

Grandma continued, "You haven't eaten yet, have you? I have to cook first. You're guests, so I can't let you do the work. You should go play, just like before. As soon as the food is ready, you'll come running back as soon as you smell it."

Grandma beamed with joy, as if a child returning home from afar. She was so happy, she had to get busy.

Gu Jinning wanted to help, but her grandmother wouldn't allow it.

"Don't let my age fool you, I'm in great shape and work incredibly fast. Go do your own thing, don't get in my way."

She pushed and shoved them, and before Gu Jinning and the other girl could even get comfortable on their seats, they were pushed out.

Gu Jinning was both amused and exasperated, and had no choice but to leave as she wished. However, she returned halfway there, still feeling uneasy, and peeked through the crack in the door.

She asked Xiao Heng'an, "Do you think Grandma is getting senile?"

Xiao Heng'an said, "She's old, but not senile. She's just too happy."

"That's right, she favors you the most."

Xiao Heng'an smiled. In his memory, he had never liked Grandma, because she was the Gu family's nanny and Gu Wenxiu's wet nurse. After Gu Wenxiu and his wife died, Grandma was so heartbroken that she asked to come to the manor to spend her old age in peace.

That year, he made Gu Jinning cry, and the Emperor banished him from the palace. It was the Empress who ordered him to be sent to his grandmother's place. That's why he was always wary of his grandmother.

At that time, he never thought that true feelings could really be exchanged for sincerity.

The mountain villa holds all his childhood memories.

On the reed slope behind the villa, large swathes of reeds spread out along the river, their tall stalks adorned with yellowish-brown ears of grass. In autumn, they burst into bloom, their fluffy, grayish appearance resembling giant feather dusters.

There was a eucalyptus grove by the reeds, which was where Gu Jinning and Xiao Heng'an frequented the most.

After countless days and nights of wind, sun, and rain, their eucalyptus sapling took root, sprouted, and grew into a tall, verdant tree.

The characters engraved on the tree trunk have cracked, forming mottled vertical lines, but the characters "舒" and "凝" can still be vaguely discerned.

Gu Jinning stared at the big tree and scratched her head, "I can't see anything anymore."

Xiao Heng'an wrapped his arms around her from behind, sharing a dagger with her, and said softly, "Then re-engrave it."

Engraving their memories and promises.

"Xiao Heng'an, shall I give you a courtesy name? You're too cold, like the bright moon in the sky, lonely and aloof, making it impossible for anyone to get close. So let's call you Wangshu."

"I want to be the cloud that drifts to your side, so you won't be so lonely. My name will be Qian Ning."

"Wang Shu and Qian Ning are truly a match made in heaven."

“Xiao Wangshu, this tree is our witness. If you dare to forget me, I will cut it down and use it as firewood.”

"Xiao Wangshu, if I marry you, can you go back to the capital?"

Wang Shu, Xian Ning.

The writing on the tree trunk gradually became clearer.

This time, they engraved it very, very deeply.