Chapter Twenty: Tokens of Love, Xiao Qingyan: I Like You
When Xiao Qingyan returned to the house, Xu Chumian had already packed everything. The biggest gain from the trip to Faxi Temple was that it changed the trajectory of Mo Zhen's past life.
As for what happens next... well, we'll just have to see how things go.
Xu Chumian stood on one leg, unable to put any weight on her left leg. When she saw Xiao Qingyan return, she could only look at him with her clear, peach-blossom eyes.
"Lord Xiao."
So pitiful.
Xiao Qingyan was secretly pleased; he appreciated Xu Chumian's dependence on him.
It will make him feel that the two of them are closer.
Mu Mu was extremely worried. She tugged at Xiao Qingyan's sleeve, pointed at Xu Chumian, and looked like she was about to cry.
Xiao Qingyan rubbed the little girl's head.
"Don't worry, I'm still here."
Xiao Qingyan approached Xu Chumian, his eyes smiling, and without saying a word, he bent down.
"Chu Mian, come on up."
Xu Chumian: "Qingyan, the road down the mountain is difficult to walk on."
Xiao Qingyan: "No matter how difficult the journey is, I will take you back."
Xu Chumian then leaned down and rested her head on Xiao Qingyan's shoulder. She gently wrapped her arms around Xiao Qingyan's neck, and the scent of peach blossoms still lingered on his body.
Delicate and fragrant.
The man has broad, strong shoulders and arms, giving a strong sense of security.
Once Xu Chumian was steady, Xiao Qingyan suddenly hooked Xu Chumian's legs around his back, protecting her firmly.
Xiao Qingyan carried her out on his back. The woman's soft hair clung to Xiao Qingyan's face and neck, exuding a subtle fragrance. Her voice was cheerful and clear: "Chu Mian, hold on tight."
Xiao Tao walked beside Mu Mu, holding her hand.
Xu Chumian couldn't help but smile and hugged Xiao Qingyan's neck tightly.
Mo Zhen waited for them outside, and the group went down the mountain together.
The carriage couldn't go up the mountain, but Xiao Qingyan carried Xu Chumian on his back as if walking on flat ground.
Xu Chumian wiped the fine sweat from Xiao Qingyan's forehead.
"Qingyan, are you very tired?"
Xiao Qingyan's voice was steady and calm, and his smile was beaming: "With your small frame, I could bring a prisoner three times your weight down the mountain."
Xu Chumian lay there peacefully, gazing ahead at the endless mountain peaks in the distance, the clouds drifting by, and the mountain breeze blowing through them. There had never been a more pleasant time than this.
When they reached the foot of the mountain, Xiao Qingyan carried Xu Chumian into the carriage.
In the cramped space, the two faces were very close. Xiao Qingyan was checking Xu Chumian's feet when he suddenly looked up and bumped into the woman's chin.
Xu Chumian hissed—
Xiao Qingyan frowned, carefully examining Xu Chumian's chin with his left hand, and asked anxiously, "Did you bump your chin? Is your tongue alright?"
Xu Chumian turned her head back, her face burning hot. The dim light inside the carriage obscured her red cheeks.
She whispered, "It's okay, I'm not in pain."
Just like he would with Mu Mu, Xiao Qingyan subconsciously blew on Xu Chumian's chin.
The two froze instantly.
Xu Chumian's bright peach blossom eyes met Xiao Qingyan's amber pupils, and something seemed to be flowing slowly inside the carriage.
Xiao Qingyan lowered his gaze, which gradually fell on Xu Chumian's crimson lips.
It's like a plump, glistening fruit, tempting one to pick it.
Xu Chumian held her breath, but the other person's breath sprayed onto her face.
The two were getting closer and closer.
Outside the carriage, Xiao Tao led Mu Mu back from buying candied hawthorns.
The little girl's bouncing and jumping interrupted the two people inside the carriage.
Xiao Qingyan snapped out of his daze, immediately took a step back, gave Xu Chumian a deep look, and then got off the carriage.
Xu Chumian sat there, seemingly still in a daze, but her flushed cheeks kept reminding her of what had just happened.
Xu Chumian fanned herself desperately, but it was no use.
After Xiao Tao got into the car, she couldn't help but ask, "Why is Miss's face so red?"
Xu Chumian pursed her lips and coughed lightly, saying, "It might be because it was a bit hot in the carriage just now."
Xiao Tao didn't think much of it.
Xu Chumian breathed a sigh of relief.
On the way back to the city, Xu Chumian never lifted the curtain on Xiao Qingyan's side again.
After parting ways with Mo Zhen's carriage, Xu Chumian and the others went straight back to the Xu family's courtyard.
Liu Da and Xiao Tao brought Mu Mu into the courtyard.
Xiao Qingyan had another case to follow up on that night, so he needed to go back to the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Xu Chumian had composed herself, and Xiao Qingyan carried her down from the carriage.
"Qingyan, wait a moment, I have something to give you."
After being exposed to the wind all the way, Xiao Qingyan finally calmed down. The unease he felt in the carriage was gone, and he regained his dashing and spirited appearance.
"good."
He silently added a sentence in his heart; he also had something to say to Xu Chumian.
Xu Chumian called out to Xiao Tao, and Xiao Tao immediately poked her head out.
"Take out the two boxes in front of my vanity mirror."
Xiao Tao moved quickly, gave it to Xu Chumian, and then rushed into the courtyard.
In one of the boxes was the jade pendant that Xiao Qingyan had forcibly given to Xu Chumian. The jade pendant's string was worn, and the jade itself was lustrous and translucent, suggesting that it had been frequently handled and kept for many years; it was time to return it to Xiao Qingyan.
The other box contained a gift from Xu Chumian to Xiao Qingyan.
"Because it was hard to find a thin string of a similar color, it was a few days late."
Xiao Qingyan was about to speak when he said, "Chumian, that piece was a gift from me—"
Xu Chumian shook her head, interrupting Xiao Qingyan, and beckoned with her finger.
Xiao Qingyan immediately moved closer to her.
Xu Chumian smiled and pulled Xiao Qingyan's belt, then fastened the jade pendant back on.
After fastening it, she patted the jade pendant, looking very satisfied.
Xu Chumian didn't feel there was a problem, but Xiao Qingyan was stiff all over, even more so than when he was in the carriage, as if a fire had directly burned his limbs and head.
Xu Chumian's face was fair and delicate, her smile warm and friendly. She parted her lips slightly:
"As for this, it's for you. Open it and take a look when you get back."
Xiao Qingyan's eyes shone brightly like stars. "Chu Mian, thank you."
Xu Chumian turned her head to look at him, "Qingyan, compared to what you've done for me, these are just small tokens of my appreciation."
Xiao Qingyan hummed in agreement. He didn't want to leave, but the time was almost up.
The idea that had been buried deep in his heart for so long was about to break through the soil.
Xu Chumian: "What's wrong?"
Xiao Qingyan grabbed Xu Chumian's shoulders with both arms, picked her up and spun her around, but dared not move too much, worried about hurting Xu Chumian's feet.
After being startled, Xu Chumian couldn't help but pat his shoulder, her voice full of laughter, "Qingyan, put me down."
Xiao Qingyan put her down, leaned forward slightly, his young face focused and serious, treating the person in front of him like a rare treasure.
He slowly began to speak: "Chumian, I fell in love with you at first sight. I... I really like you. Can you give me a chance to take care of you and Mumu? My family is very small, with only my father and brother. They are both very easy to get along with."
Xu Chumian's smile faded slightly, her gaze softened, and her expression remained serious. "Qingyan, my parents died early, and my second uncle's family took over my property. As you can see, that's all I have."
Xiao Qingyan felt heartbroken whenever he thought about what Xu Chumian had gone through over the years.
He lowered his eyes and reached out to embrace Xu Chumian: "Chumian, don't rush to reply to me. Take your time to think it over, and then reply to me when you've made up your mind."
Xiao Qingyan's embrace was warm and reassuring. Xu Chumian's eyes were slightly moist. She reached out and hugged him back, whispering, "Okay."
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