"Keke, your mother is here!"
Li Mingke was pondering the intent of the Shattered Jade Sword, her mind churning with waves, when she suddenly heard Long Yinshuangshuang calling her from outside her window.
Mother's here?
These past few days, she had become familiar with everything around her, so she easily pushed open the door.
"Mingke!"
Li Zengqing opened her arms wide, and she rushed into her mother's embrace like a chick.
"Mother!" She smelled the pleasant scent of red seaweed on her mother's body, a reassuring fragrance.
When Li Zengqing saw the ribbon covering her eyes, his heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.
"Sister." Long Yinshuangshuang walked over with Zhao Yanmo.
"Thank you for your hard work, Shuangshuang." She nodded to Longyin Shuangshuang, then her gaze fell on the man behind her.
Zhao Yanmo also looked at her.
Their eyes met.
"Zhao Yanmo, the adopted son of the Valley Master of Shennong Valley, greets Lord Li." He bowed and clasped his hands in greeting.
“I am an old acquaintance of your godfather. Young Master Zhao is truly a man of great manners and handsome appearance.” She did not hold back her praise.
"Mother, Mother, Yanmo is my apprentice!" Li Mingke tugged at Li Zengqing's sleeve, behaving like a completely little girl.
She was quite proud, "My daughter is a master now! The moment Yanmo saw me, he knew I was no ordinary person and immediately wanted to become my apprentice. He begged me for a long time before I finally agreed!"
Li Zengqing laughed and flicked her little nose with his finger, "You're just talking nonsense!"
"I'm not making this up!" Li Mingke's cheeks puffed up in anger. "I'm telling the truth, you can ask Yan Mo if you don't believe me!"
Zhao Yanmo took a step forward. "Young Master Li is not wrong. I have indeed become her disciple."
Li Zengqing rarely remained silent.
"...What are you going to learn from her?"
"Playing the piano."
Li Zengqing began to look at him with strange eyes.
"You want to learn to play the zither from her? Hmm, that's good. The teacher I hired for her is one of the Five Masters of Daye, so her zither playing skills are definitely not a problem."
She looked at him again.
She had heard of Zhao Yanmo; after all, there was only one person who had been kicked out by both the Law Firm and the Illusionary Village.
Forget it, let's just assume they're joking.
Li Mingke shook his mother's arm, "Mom, Auntie said you've been very busy lately, how come you have time to come here now?"
Li Zengqing and Long Yinshuangshuang exchanged a glance, then she patted Li Mingke's head and said, "It's about the Heroes Tournament. Your sister Yue'er made it to the top eight, and she wants you to go watch the competition."
"Wow, Yue'er is amazing!" Li Mingke couldn't help but feel proud of his younger sister.
"But..." her mood plummeted again, "How can I go to watch the game looking like this?"
She couldn't see anything, and she couldn't appreciate her sister's heroic spirit. Although she was happy to hear that her sister was about to win the top spot, she still felt a little regretful.
Li Zengqing gently smoothed her furrowed brows. "So that my Mingke won't have any regrets, that's why I've come!"
"mother?"
Has Mother already found the right eyes for her in such a short time?
"Your mother is all-powerful! How could she come looking for you without being fully prepared?"
She took a brocade box from her sleeve, placed it in Li Mingke's hand, and guided her to open it.
In Li Mingke's hand were two round glass balls, about the same size as his eyeballs.
Unlike ordinary materials that feel cold to the touch, it actually has a warm feel.
"What is this?" Li Mingke held it in his hand, stroking it over and over.
"Your mother specially sought out a master blacksmith to make you a pair of eyes that are comparable to human eyes."
"There are actually forging masters who can make something like this?" Li Zengqing's words clearly refreshed Li Mingke's understanding.
“Of course, the world is a big place, and there are all sorts of wonders!” Li Zengqing said.
"Mother, when can I see it?" She couldn't wait any longer.
Although she hasn't felt particularly painful from being blind these past few days, it has still had a significant impact on her life. It's quite difficult to see or observe many things without using her eyes, relying solely on her imagination.
"Let's eat first, then we'll begin, okay?"
Although Li Zengqing was speaking to Li Mingke, her eyes were fixed on Zhao Yanmo.
Zhao Yanmo gave Li Mingke a deep look, seeing the excitement and anticipation on her face, and then nodded gently.
"Okay, let's start this afternoon!"
...
Li Zengqing cooked the meal himself.
Long Yinshuangshuang wanted to help, but Li Zengqing stopped her, saying, "Let me do it. This is what I should do."
"Sister..." Long Yinshuangshuang's voice trailed off.
Li Zengqing put down the spatula and asked her, "Are you heartbroken?"
Long Yin Shuangshuang immediately shook her head, "No, I just..."
"You just can't bear to do it?"
Long Yinshuang pursed her lips.
"Shuangshuang." Li Zengqing called her name. "Yanmo is a good child in every way. He has some minor flaws, but they are not serious. The Valley Master of Shennong Valley cares about him very much. Otherwise, he would not have sent him out of the valley first to see you."
She sighed, "Shuangshuang, he hasn't told you yet, has he? Actually, he found me before he came here."
"What?" Long Yin Shuangshuang was shocked.
“Shenjizi told him everything. His master asked him to make a choice. He could have refused, but he came anyway.”
"Why? Shuangshuang, I believe it's partly because of you."
“He…” Long Yinshuangshuang’s throat felt like it was blocked by a foreign object, “But he…”
But what? She couldn't say.
“If you have anything to say to him, go now!” Li Zengqing picked up the spatula again. The veal was being stir-fried in the pan, spices were being added, and a rich, enticing aroma filled the air.
Long Yinshuangshuang lowered her head, then suddenly made up her mind and left the kitchen without looking back.
"Zhao Yanmo!"
The man was playing the zither under the tree.
His loose clothes revealed his collarbone, and his long, unbound hair cascaded down to the ground. His eyes were closed, and although the music playing through his fingers wasn't exactly beautiful, he seemed completely absorbed in it.
She could vaguely see the shape of ribs under the collar.
Is he really that thin?
Her gaze shifted downwards, landing on his hands resting on the piano.
His wrist bones were prominent. Men are naturally larger than women in terms of bone structure, and he was already skin and bones, with his veins particularly noticeable.
He didn't seem to hear her call until she called a second time, at which point he opened his eyes.
The fingers stopped, and the trembling strings returned to calm.
"What's wrong?"
He gave a faint smile.
When he smiled, his eyes curved slightly, the sunlight was just right, and his long eyelashes cast a shadow on his eyelids. She was surprised to notice that he had a small dimple on the corner of his lips.
She walked towards him as if possessed, and gently poked his dimple with her fingertip.
Zhao Yanmo remained motionless, still looking at her with smiling eyes.
“I never noticed before, but when you smile, you have a dimple on the right corner of your mouth.”
"It's probably because... you never give me your full attention!"
He gently brushed aside a stray strand of hair that had been ruffled by the wind, the end of which brushed against Long Yinshuangshuang's fingertips, sending a shiver through her entire body.
"My master said that the women of the Dragon Roar Clan are the most ruthless, and it is indeed true."
He held her fingers. "Now, I think so too."
His hand gradually moved upwards until his dry palm completely enveloped her hand.
"Shuangshuang, do you know that I was the first one to leave the valley? Master has so many adopted sons, but I was the first one he released."
"When he saw me off from Xiangxiang, he told me that I had passed his test. At the time, I thought it was because I had learned something, but it was only much later that I realized it."
"Shuangshuang, there's nowhere else outside like Xiangxiang where it rains so often."
Long Yinshuangshuang tried to pull her hand back, but she didn't expect that such a thin person would have such terrifying strength.
"Rain falls on my hometown," this was a phrase my master often uttered when no one was around. I didn't understand it then, but now I truly understand its meaning.
"Shuangshuang, I'm afraid this will be my last words before I die!"
Long Yin Shuangshuang looked in horror at the blood trickling from the corner of the person's mouth.
"Zhao Yanmo... what's wrong?" Her breathing became rapid.
"Shuangshuang, this is the deal we made."
Li Zengqing emerged from behind the two of them at some unknown time.
“What…deal?” Her hands began to tremble.
"He used his eyes to exchange for some time with you."
“Otherwise, I would have gouged out his eyes the moment he came to see me.”
"……sister?"
“Shenjizi, although I hate him, I have to say that the person he chose for me is excellent.”
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