Chapter 218: Evening Breeze (8)
She held her breath and didn't answer. Instead, she looked at him with a smile.
Ming Zhouhe blinked, and just before the curtain was lifted, he sat upright beside her, two fists away.
Lin Tingwan smiled with her eyes curved, then hid her obvious pride.
Yuzhi and Yuling sat somewhat awkwardly across from the two men, trying to minimize their presence. Although their future son-in-law often smiled, his aura still made them hesitant to approach.
Ming Zhouhe glanced at them, turned over the upside-down teacup on the small table in front of him, and poured a cup of tea for Lin Tingwan. "Want some?"
Lin Tingwan shook her head. "No, I didn't drink. My second sister Ming fed me a lot of soup, cakes, and tea today. I'm not thirsty now."
Ming Zhou drank a few sips with her and chatted with her casually.
When they arrived in front of the Lin Mansion, Yuzhi and Yuling got off the carriage first and waited downstairs.
After waiting for a while and seeing Ming Zhouhe not coming down, Lin Tingwan got up by himself.
Ming Zhouhe grabbed her wrist, his eyebrows slightly raised, and his tone was still a little casual: "No hurry, you haven't replied to my previous question yet."
He didn't mean to embarrass her, he just teased her casually and pulled her back to sit down, "It seems I have to show some sincerity. When you feel your sincerity is enough, tell me. I can suppress my curiosity."
The fingers around her wrist were not delicate and were rather warm, so Lin Tingwan struggled.
"I'm sorry." Ming Zhouhe released her hand, saying something offensive, but his expression didn't show it. He opened the secret compartment in the carriage, took out a box, and placed it in her palm. "This is one of my sincere gifts. The red color will complement you."
After he finished speaking, he stood up and got off the carriage to pick her up. "See you on the day off, or will you come to our house again?"
"Speak later." Lin Tingwan couldn't hide her smile. She turned and took two steps. Then she came back and said shyly, "Zhou He, you haven't called me by my name today."
The young man laughed softly, his voice clear and melodious, "Tingwan, go back."
Her boldness always prevented him from properly appreciating her blushing cheeks every time she was with him when they parted.
"Okay." She responded almost silently, turned quickly and walked into the mansion.
Lin Tingwan lowered her head and opened the box in her hand after entering the room. A red satin hairband was revealed, and it felt smooth to the touch.
On her day off, Lin Tingwan wore a red short-collared top with a white long skirt. She asked Yuling to weave the hairband Ming Zhouhe had given her into her hair and pinned a rose tassel hairpin in her hair.
Ming Zhouhe was waiting outside the mansion. When he saw the girl walking towards him gracefully with bright eyes and brows, a smile appeared in his eyes.
His eyes fell on the headband in her hair, and he asked, "Because I said red suits you, so you wear red when you see me?"
"I think red suits me too." Lin Tingwan nodded slightly.
"Well, it seems I'm overthinking it." Ming Zhouhe helped her onto the carriage and asked, "You asked me to go on a spring outing. Is it really just a spring outing? You haven't prepared anything?"
"Should I prepare anything?" The curtain was lifted. While answering him, Lin Tingwan saw Zhiyuan on the couch in the carriage and sat down next to Zhiyuan.
Ming Zhouhe went up and said, "The wind is gentle today, perfect for flying kites."
After the two maids got on, the carriage headed towards the outskirts of the city.
It is a little chilly in early spring, but the greenery is flourishing, the grass is lush, and the scenery looks bustling from a distance.
There are many people in the suburbs of the city. Kites are already flying in the sky. Girls are holding hands and laughing, while boys are chatting with each other.
After giving the kite to Xuanyuan, Mingzhou and Lin Tingwan took a walk together. From time to time, they met people they knew who came up to say hello.
Not wanting it to be troublesome, Ming Zhouhe took her to the side and waved to Xuanyuan to bring the kite and let it fly.
After the kite took off, he handed the rope to Lin Tingwan.
Lin Tingwan took it and continued to let out the rope. After it reached a certain height, she turned her head and met his gaze.
She turned her head back to looking at the kite in the sky, thought for a moment, and then answered his question from yesterday: "The first time I saw you was at the East City Gate. On May 25th of last year, I had just arrived in the capital. While the carriage was waiting to enter the city, I boredly lifted the curtain and saw you. I fell in love with you at first sight."
Ming Zhou and Chen Chen pondered for a while, their voices unchanged: "Really? I'm a little bit unconvinced."
Lin Tingwan suddenly turned her head to look at him, and the string in her hand was released three times at once. The spring breeze blew, and the kite was carried higher into the sky. She was pulled by the inertia that followed and involuntarily took two steps forward.
Ming Zhouhe strode forward, stretched out his hand to grasp the rope pulley, and placed his palm on her white knuckles. His gaze slowly returned to her face, and he raised the corners of his lips, speaking slowly and pleasantly: "You say these passionate words, but you don't look at me. How can I know whether your eyes are directed at this kite or at me?"
As he expected, she fell into his arms.
Then, he smiled and said, "I'm honored to receive Ting Wan's favor. Coincidentally, I also remembered you the first day I met you. How can this not be considered another first time fate?"
Hearing the slight vibration of his chest caused by his smile, Lin Tingwan blinked, trying to blink away the tears in her eyes, "My name is Zao Zao, can you call me that?"
"Early?"
Lin Tingwan's ears and cheeks were red, "Yeah, early in the morning."
"Then you should say, I want to hear you call me by my nickname, early in the morning. To your fiancé, as long as you say you want me, I will agree." Ming Zhouhe raised his hand and touched her cheek with his fingers. His voice was a little low with a smile, "You blush so easily."
The cheeks are soft.
Lin Tingwan's face flushed instantly, and her whole body seemed to be suffocated by the heat. She was at a loss in his arms.
Ming Zhouhe supported her shoulders and helped her stand up. He stopped teasing her and released his hand that was holding the rope pulley and her fingers. He warned her, "If you let the rope go too fast, be careful not to pull you down when the wind is strong."
Lin Tingwan lowered his head and did not respond.
Seeing that she was still shy, Ming Zhou saw a few young men from the second house of Jining Marquis' Mansion not far away, so he went over to say hello, chatted with them for a while, and then came back.
Seeing her complexion return to normal, Ming Zhouhe smiled at her and stretched out his hand, "Do you want to take it back?"
Lin Tingwan nodded and handed him the pulley.
Ming Zhouhe took some time to retrieve the kite and handed it to Yuling who was standing behind her.
He turned and asked, "Are you hungry?"
"I'm hungry."
"Take you back to the city for lunch?"
"Okay." Lin Tingwan nodded, followed him, and hooked her fingertips around his sleeves.
Ming Zhou and Pian Tou said, "Is there something you want to say?"
She looked up at him, smiling, but with a hint of shyness in her eyes: "I want to call you Ah He."
He couldn't help laughing. "If you've been wanting to call me that for a long time, then go ahead. In fact, on the night of the Lantern Festival, when I asked you what you wanted to call me, I wanted to hear this name."
"Then why don't you just let me call you that?"
"I'm asking you because you want to know how close you can be to me if we don't meet often, or how close you want to be to me." His words were full of purpose.
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