Chapter 52 You Who Already Have All of Me "I said, there has to be..."
"I said, we should at least meet the parents."
Xi Lian thought for a moment, "Although you and Aunt Odatta are already quite familiar with each other, things are different now. Perhaps Bai E might want to... take things a step further?"
Sometime after that day, the three of you were playing a divination game in Xi Lian's courtyard.
Bai'er has become even more clingy. You have no idea where he gets so much energy every day. After finishing his morning exercise and harvesting wheat, he still has the energy to accompany you to the market and read books. It's as if he has more than 24 hours in a day. It's enough to scare people with low energy levels to death.
Just like now, he's sitting upright next to you, looking very serious, but his large hand under the table slips down your wrist into your glove, lifts the black fabric, and affectionately rubs your fingertips before completely holding your hand in his large palm.
You glare at him, but he just smiles at you like nothing happened.
You rubbed your forehead with your free hand, deciding to ignore him for now and answer Xi Lian's question:
"Visiting your aunt and uncle is fine, but I'm wondering if it's too early to talk about something deeper... We're still young. Maybe after we leave the Secret Pavilion and travel around, our perspectives will be different?"
Xi Lian teased, "From what you're saying, he already has this idea?... I knew it! Who confesses their love by giving a ring? If you two go out and broaden your horizons and suddenly don't want to be together anymore, I can understand. Your happiness comes first."
Bai E, who had been listening quietly, immediately became unhappy and said in a wronged tone, "Hey, how can you joke like that?"
“And, and he even said he wanted to leave me…” He looked down at you, his eyes drooping like a dejected, droopy Samoyed. “Let’s not talk about this anymore, okay? It’s not funny at all.”
Before you could say anything, Xi Lian laughed in surprise.
"Can't even mention it?" She crossed her arms. "By Euryss, Bye, I never expected you to be so... uh... how should I put it, a little scary. Even if someone really wants to leave you, can you stop her from going?"
She meant it as a joke, but the air fell silent.
Bai E didn't speak.
The autumn wind swept across the fallen leaves piled up in the yard.
You looked at him in confusion, moved your hand, trying to pull it out, but found that he was holding it even tighter and you couldn't move at all.
You recall him saying something like, "My proudest body part is my arms."
The muscular arms, the arms that cut wheat so quickly, the arms that could easily lift you up at night... can now hold you firmly, giving you no chance to escape.
Bai E subconsciously licked his lips, his eyes darkened, his pupils became deep and dark, and his aura became terrifying, as if the sharpness he usually suppressed could no longer be controlled.
This guy seems like a perfect gentleman when he's not angry, but once he gets angry, people realize just how terrifying his well-trained arm strength is.
Whenever he imagined that possibility, he thought...
Your wrist is so fragile, isn't it? What if they took away your weapon and restrained your wrist like before...?
After a long silence, Xi Lian lowered her arms, realized something, and her expression became strange.
But this outward display of emotion was only momentary. Soon, Bai'er's reason prevailed.
“…How could that be?” He laughed as always, suppressing that fleeting thought. “My partner can do whatever she wants, I won’t stop her. Besides, I’m very good at controlling myself… Even if I had such thoughts, I wouldn’t do them.”
He cursed himself inwardly, "Bai'er, how could you think like that?"
...Freedom is a part of you, it is your nature. When [Meneta] bestowed love upon this world, she also revealed to everyone what true love looks like—if Ceres was unwilling to accept her, she would wait like a butterfly on a pilgrimage to its beloved flower.
The same applies to you as to Bai Er.
Every intimate touch, every glance into your eyes... it's a communication of souls, a devout pilgrimage.
You nodded, puzzled, but Xi Lian exclaimed "Oh dear!" A look of surprise and understanding flashed in her equally blue eyes.
"..." She looked at you, "This guy isn't as innocent as he seems on the surface. If you encounter any danger, be sure to tell me."
You slowly nodded, signaling Bai E to lower his head as well. He pursed his lips and leaned in, obediently and indulgently letting you pinch his soft cheeks.
You joked, "Who else could I be with besides Xiaobai? Xiaolian? That's not impossible either."
Xi Lian blinked. "It's only natural to like someone~ Of course, if you come to me crying, I won't refuse you."
Bai E grumbled and protested, "Trying to steal my boyfriend right in front of me!?"
He turned to look at Xi Lian, then at you, and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Xi Lian...you're not serious, are you?"
The pink-haired girl shifted her gaze.
Who knows?
*
Odatta knew how much her son liked that girl.
Although she may seem not to care much about this aspect and only treats him like her own daughter, she is actually very clear-headed. The few times her husband deliberately sent her away, she realized the special situation of her son.
...Bai E, you've really grown up.
Odatta discussed the matter with her husband while peeling a banana:
"Tell me, if this girl marries into the family, what gifts should we give her? These two young men are both decisive and capable; I think they might not wait until then and will leave this small village..."
"You're already worrying about this?" Hilonimos put down his kitchen utensils and thought for a moment. "Putting everything else aside, we can't treat them unfairly just because they grew up together. I think we should ask the children directly."
"Besides—" He smiled, thinking of his son's worried face a few days ago, "that kid will never have a chance to make her suffer."
Odatta agreed with her husband.
She said, "Those three kids are probably playing games at Xilian's house right now, aren't they? They have such a good relationship. It's a great blessing in life to have close friends who understand and support you."
A thought flashed in her eyes.
"Oh, right, honey—didn't this kid keep a diary when he was little?... Writing about his wishes and daily life. It's just a pity that the notebook is long gone. That won't do; it's such a meaningful keepsake..."
With that, Odatta turned and went into the house, making a clattering sound as she rummaged through things in the master bedroom.
"Odatta, do you need my help?"
"No need—let me see if I can find it…! This is Little White's little wooden sword, these are the clothes he wore when he was born, this is—"
"Ah! Found it!"
...
—Year and Month of Closure—
Today is the beginning of the new year! My partner and I found mice in the barn... These mice are nasty! They almost ate all the grain, but luckily my partner and I found them in time. As expected of us, we are the most coordinated swordsman duo in the Ai Li Secret Pavilion!
But my partner seems terrified of mice. She jumped all over me, yelling, "Little White! Little White! Chase it away!" Although I felt a little embarrassed and inexplicably happy to be so close to her, I still hoped she wouldn't show such fear. Seeing her like that hurt my heart... So, let's hope the mice never appear again!
(A line of small print): It's strange, why am I especially happy when I'm with my partner?
—Year of Cultivation Month—
Today I went to plow the fields with my parents. I walked behind them, shooting birds, and saw that my parents were covered in sweat. I felt so sorry for them; they must be working so hard. I need to grow up quickly and become the tallest and strongest person in the whole village…!
My partner walked beside me, poked at the hole in the ground, and asked what kind of food I had planted. I said tomatoes, and she blankly said that she wanted to eat tomato stew with pork ribs.
It's decided! Starting today, I'm going to get special culinary training from my dad! ...But my partner can't know about this. I want to surprise her, hehe.
—The Month of Conflict in xx Year—
Xi Lian said she wanted to make maltose herself because her partner couldn't resist seeing maltose whenever they went out.
I told my partner to pay attention to their dental health, because the teacher said that eating too much sugar can cause cavities. My partner glared at me and said I was a bad person and that Xilian was a good person.
Well, actually I was just worried that she would be in pain... Okay, if she insists on eating it, then I'll stay with her. If we both suffer together, won't the pain be lessened a bit?
But I'm not a bad guy! I'm clearly the great hero of Elizabeth's Secret—but my partner is always right, she's always right. Eh, so am I a bad guy or a good guy...?
...
Odatta and Hilonimus leaned against each other as they read this childish diary.
Odatta flipped through a few more pages, and without exception, they all said:
My partner likes to eat this today... so I... I need to remember!
Partner, partner, partner, partner, partner...
Odatta: ...
Hilonimos: ...
Hilonimos covered his face:
"Why does this kid keep talking about that girl?"
Just then, a familiar, cheerful voice came from outside the door.
"Mom and Dad! I'm home!"
Bai E pushed open the door and entered the house.
However, there was no usual greeting coming from inside today; instead, it was completely quiet.
He took a few steps forward, scratching the back of his head, and heard several suppressed laughs coming from the main house.
"What are you laughing at?"
He went inside and saw his mother holding a small booklet, a tiny booklet with yellowed pages.
Some memories that had been forgotten in a corner of the mind suddenly flashed back.
Bai E's face flushed red instantly.
"Dad, Mom...!"
"Bai'er, you know what, this is actually quite interesting, it's just that your 'partner' content is a bit too high, hahaha—"
"Pfft, Hilonimos, stop laughing at him. Didn't you see his face turned red?... But, if you're so young and already have feelings for someone, when are you planning to marry her?"
Bai E touched the tip of his nose, recalling your words from this morning, "But we still have to wait, wait for her to agree..."
Odatta closed the notebook and handed it to him.
Looking at her son, who was growing taller and taller than her, she sighed and said gently:
"Give it to her when the time is right. It's a part of you, and I think she'll be interested."
Bai E gripped the notebook tightly.
“…Yes, I will,” he said. “Let’s not even talk about how this is just a part of my memories…even if I were to give up everything, she already has it all.”
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