019 Relationship Heats Up
He avoided her gaze somewhat hastily, turning his body to look out the window.
Li Yang saw that his ears were red from anxiety and smiled silently.
The quieter the carriage became, the more awkward and unbearable Yuan Chongjing felt. He touched the carriage window, then lowered his head to smooth the hem of his clothes, refusing to look at her. Fortunately, the carriage arrived at the gate of the Yuan residence at that moment, and Bei Hai's voice calling them to get out of the carriage came through.
Yuan Chongjing moved swiftly and nimbly, not at all like an injured patient. He lifted the carriage curtain and got off the carriage, not even letting Bei Hai help him, and hurriedly entered the mansion gate.
Bei Hai scratched his head in confusion. Seeing Li Yang come down as well, he asked, "Young Madam, the Second Young Master's health... healed so quickly? This miracle doctor is truly amazing!"
Li Yang chuckled and agreed, "Indeed impressive." Then, with a mysterious yet helpless expression, he shook his head and followed Yuan Chongjing into the mansion.
Just then, Doctor Tao was giving the Yuan family members their monthly pulse diagnosis. Madam Yuan called them over: "Jing'er, you've had acupuncture for two days now, how are you feeling?"
With outsiders present, the burning heat on Yuan Chongjing's face subsided somewhat. Afraid of facing Li Yang alone again upon returning, he went over to Madam Yuan when she called out, saying, "Much better."
“How much better? Never mind, sit down first,” Madam Yuan said impatiently, pulling him to sit down. “Let Doctor Tao take your pulse.”
Yuan Chongjing glanced back at Li Yang, and only after receiving her nod did he extend his hand for Doctor Tao to examine.
Madam Yuan noticed his subtle actions and her face lit up with joy. While Doctor Tao was taking her pulse, she whispered to Li Yang, "Yang'er, have you seen that miracle doctor? Can you give Jing'er another son?"
No matter how softly she spoke, she couldn't escape Yuan Chongjing's ears. He called out helplessly, "Mother! Can we please let this matter drop?"
The maids and servants were all in the hall, and Madam Yuan felt somewhat embarrassed by Yuan Chongjing's words. She said, "How could I not mention it? I was just worried about you."
Li Yang waved for everyone else to leave. She helped Madam Yuan sit down and comforted her, "Mother, don't worry. Jing-ge just finished acupuncture and may be feeling a bit uncomfortable. Mother, you don't know, the doctor said that the acupuncture these past two days is to disperse the blood stasis, which is especially painful and uncomfortable. Jing-ge has been enduring it, and his clothes are soaked with sweat."
Madam Yuan's attention immediately shifted to acupuncture. She grabbed Li Yang's hand anxiously and said, "Really? What should we do? Can you brew some medicine to relieve Jing'er's pain? It's not a good idea for her to endure this pain like this."
Li Yang said, "The miracle doctor said I can't take any medicine, otherwise it will affect the effectiveness of the acupuncture. Doctor Tao, don't you agree?"
Today wasn't the day for his monthly pulse diagnosis. The fact that Dr. Tao came today, specifically choosing the time after she and Jing Ge had their acupuncture treatments, gave Li Yang a pretty good idea of what he was up to. Since that was the case, she figured she had to make good use of him.
Doctor Tao was studying the prescription given by the divine physician in conjunction with Yuan Chongjing's pulse when he suddenly heard Li Yang's words and saw the scrutinizing look in her eyes. Doctor Tao's heart skipped a beat, and he didn't care what she had said before. He quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, the young mistress is right."
Li Yang withdrew her oppressive gaze and instead gently reassured Madam Yuan, "Mother, don't worry. I believe the divine physician knows what he's doing."
Madam Yuan nodded: "There's nothing we can do about it. Jing'er, after you recover, you must remember this lesson and never do anything dangerous again."
Yuan Chongjing, growing impatient, gave a perfunctory reply. Seeing that Doctor Tao was no longer taking his pulse, he stood up and said, "I'm going back to rest."
He took a couple of steps, then, seeing that Li Yang was still whispering something to Madam Yuan, he called out, "Li Yang! Come back with me!"
“Tsk tsk,” Madam Yuan looked at him with disdain, then turned to Doctor Tao and laughed, “Look at them, they’ve been married for so many years, and they’re still so clingy.”
Doctor Tao smiled and said, "The second young master and his wife are truly a loving couple."
Madam Yuan wasn't really disgusted with them; upon hearing Doctor Tao's compliments, her smile deepened.
Seeing this, Li Yang feigned shyness and walked out of the hall with her head down. Once outside, she regained her composure and asked, "Why did you call me out?"
Yuan Chongjing said, "What, do you still want to hear your mother nagging?"
Li Yang immediately shook her head, took two steps after him, and then smiled with narrowed eyes, "Brother Jing, are you doing this on purpose?"
Knowing she didn't want to listen to Madam Yuan's nagging, he deliberately put on a cold face and rescued her from the hall.
Yuan Chongjing was no longer troubled and strode forward: "You helped me once, so we're even. Nobody owes anyone anything." If she hadn't changed the subject in front of Madam Yuan, he would definitely have had a fight with her.
Li Yang curled her lip and said sarcastically, "You really are a grateful person."
Yuan Chongjing either didn't understand or he did but didn't care: "Thank you for the compliment."
The two seemed to be secretly competing, not saying a word, and hurriedly walked towards their courtyard, their steps flitting past each other. Xia He was guarding the door, and seeing the two return, she quickly got up to greet them: "Young Madam, the Second Young Master is back."
Li Yang glared at him arrogantly, then walked past him and entered the courtyard first, nodding to Xia He: "Where's Xiao Taozi?"
Xiahe followed her into Xiaotaozi's room: "She ate some cheese and is now asleep."
Yuan Chongjing walked silently behind them.
Li Yang's attention wasn't on him; instead, she continued to ask Xia He, "Did you cry this morning?"
Xia He said, "I shed a few tears when I found you and the second young master were not here this morning. I was fine afterward. Young Madam, Miss Taozi is in your and the second young master's room."
Li Yang stopped and turned to their room: "I'll go take a look."
After saying that, she remembered Yuan Chongjing and turned to him, saying, "Xiao Taozi is sleeping on your bed. How are you feeling? Do you want to take a nap? Why don't you go to Xiao Taozi's room first?"
Yuan Chongjing shook his head: "No need, she still needs to take her medicine later. I'll go check on her first."
Li Yang didn't try to persuade her otherwise; they had neglected Xiao Taozi these past few days. She'd be very happy to see her parents when she woke up.
The two entered the room one after the other. Little Peach was lying on their big bed, fast asleep, the small blanket covering her had been kicked aside. Li Yang picked up the blanket and covered her up, then sat on the edge of the bed and quietly watched her.
Yuan Chongjing stood some distance away, looking into Li Yang's loving gaze, and found the scene before him strangely harmonious. A faint feeling stirred within him: perhaps he had misjudged Li Yang before, perhaps before his amnesia, the three of them might have lived a happy life. Perhaps he did harbor feelings for Li Yang.
After acknowledging the matter, Yuan Chongjing immediately felt much lighter. The unknown, heavy pressure in his heart dissipated completely, like clouds being parted.
If life was really like that, then that would be great.
Yuan Chongjing smiled, walked to the bedside, and said to Li Yang, "You go and rest first, I'll watch over her."
He had no experience taking care of children, and his voice was a bit loud. Before Li Yang could stop him, she saw the little peach on the bed tremble and slowly open her eyes: "Ugh... Mother, Father!"
Li Yang patted Xiao Taozi's body a couple of times to comfort her, then picked her up and asked, "Xiao Taozi, are you awake? Do you want to sleep anymore?"
Little Peach snuggled against her affectionately, wrapped her arms around her neck, and said in a soft, childish voice, "Mother, don't sleep."
Li Yang picked her up and let her sit on her lap: "Are you thirsty? Let me get you some water."
Little Peach pouted; she didn't want to leave her mother's embrace, but her mouth was very thirsty.
Seeing this, Yuan Chongjing walked to the table, poured some hot water, and handed it to Li Yang, saying, "Here you go."
Li Yang touched the side of the water glass but didn't take it: "It's too hot, pour some cold water to neutralize it."
"Huh? Oh, okay."
Seeing him standing there blankly as he went to pour water, Li Yang smiled and shook his forehead against Xiao Taozi's: "Daddy's clumsy, isn't he?"
"Silly!" Little Peach chimed in, chuckling along with her.
As they were talking, Yuan Chongjing had already prepared the water and brought it over. Upon hearing this, he said, "You're so smart."
After saying that, he noticed Xiaotaozi's gaze and continued to praise, "Xiaotaozi is smart too."
Little Peach lay in Li Yang's arms, gulping down her water cup. As Li Yang wiped her mouth, she mumbled, "Daddy is smart too."
After drinking the water, her little lips were rosy, and she said sweet things to them, "Daddy is smart, and Mommy is smart too. Mommy looks so beautiful today!"
Li Yang chuckled and pinched her little nose: "When is Mommy not pretty?"
Little Peach blinked: "Mommy is beautiful every day, but today she's the most beautiful! Daddy, don't you think so?"
Li Yang smiled, thinking Yuan Chongjing wouldn't answer. She was pinching Xiao Taozi's chubby cheeks when she heard him say seriously, "Yes, you're the prettiest today."
Li Yang looked up at him with some surprise, only to find that he was also looking at her, his gaze seemingly carrying a hint of...
deep feeling?
Li Yang felt she was really exhausted lately, to the point that her eyesight was failing. She squinted and looked again, only to find that he had already shifted his gaze to the little peach in her arms, who was covering her mouth and giggling.
She kept this in mind and secretly observed Yuan Chongjing for a long time, finally discovering something amiss.
Especially when the whole family was having dinner together, when the maid brought out the food, Yuan Chongjing would get up seemingly unintentionally to help set the plates, and then quietly place all the dishes she liked in front of her seat.
Watching this smooth sequence of actions, Li Yang's first feeling wasn't joy, but rather fear and unease. Others might not know the extent of her feelings for Yuan Chongjing, but she knew it perfectly well. Regardless of whether Yuan Chongjing had amnesia or not, he could never be so attentive and considerate towards her.
She suspected that Song Xi's acupuncture was not helping Yuan Chongjing regain his memory, but rather turning him into a different person.
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