Chapter 42 Draft - Do Not Subscribe to Drafts, Please Await Revision
You Mingjiang did not drink water or drink it quickly.
She sipped the bowl of rice wine slowly, one sip at a time.
Besides not wanting to waste this pot of hand-brewed Shaoxing wine, there was also a slight sense of awkwardness, like "being timid when nearing home."
The time the two were apart was actually not too long.
It had only been a long autumn, yet somehow, when they looked at each other, they seemed like complete strangers. They had so much to say, but it all stuck in their throats.
She pretended to be tasting wine, but was actually secretly glancing at Lu Xiaojia.
The young man sat cross-legged opposite her, and placed the sprig of winter plum blossom diagonally into the chipped earthenware vase.
The delicate fragrance of winter plum blossoms mingled with the aroma of Fenqing liquor emanated from him.
He must have drunk quite a bit of Fenqing liquor, as his whole body was imbued with the scent of green apples, along with his own unique cool fragrance, like a desolate forest covered in snow.
“You…” You Mingjiang was stunned for a moment, then stopped speaking.
She rarely hesitated like that.
As she hesitated, a small, steamed taro appeared on the plate in front of her.
"What about me?" Lu Xiaojia picked up the half-bowl of wine, the amber-colored yellow wine, and gently swirled it.
At this juncture, things should have been harmonious, and she didn't want to spoil the good mood. But she had something on her mind, and she knew she would have to say it sooner or later.
You Mingjiang stroked the rim of the bowl, finally took a deep breath, and made his point clear: "I killed Ding Lingzhong."
“I know.” Lu Xiaojia took a sip of wine, her Adam’s apple bobbing.
Aren't you going to ask me why I killed him?
"I know."
“Since you already know,” You Mingjiang forced a smile, the smile not reaching his eyes, “draw your sword.”
"Why should I draw my sword?" Lu Xiaojia tilted her head back and drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp.
He put down the wine bowl, the bottom of which touched the table with a soft sound.
You Mingjiang pursed her lips, forcing down the bitterness in her throat, and said with a wry smile, "You know perfectly well why I'm asking..."
Lu Xiaojia looked at her and sighed softly, "Unfortunately, I can't do it."
You Mingjiang's breath hitched.
"If you can't do it, don't you care about brotherhood?"
“Brotherhood…” Lu Xiaojia suddenly smiled. It wasn’t a cold smile, nor a bitter smile, but a smile of relief.
Lu Xiaojia's feelings for Ding Lingzhong are complex; upon closer examination, they can be summarized as "hating his evil deeds and lamenting his depravity."
Even more regrettably, You Mingjiang beat him to it; he was the one who should have ended Ding Lingzhong's life with a single sword strike.
It was his complicated relationship with the Ding family that should have been resolved long ago; it was his failure to weigh the pros and cons, knowing that she had suffered and that Ding Lingzhong had done evil, that led him to hesitate and have unrealistic ideas, forcing You Mingjiang to take action.
Therefore, You Mingjiang is not wrong.
If anyone is to blame, it's Lu Xiaojia herself.
Thinking of this, Lu Xiaojia shook her head: "You didn't kill Ding Lingzhong."
Assuming he couldn't accept the truth, You Mingjiang gritted his teeth and said, "I killed him, stop deceiving yourself!"
Lu Xiaojia insisted, "I told you, you didn't kill him."
“Lu Xiaojia…you…” You Mingjiang stared at him blankly, her heart pounding.
“Because I killed him.” He hooked his fingers around his shirt and tore it open. The shirt slid down his shoulders to his elbows, revealing his strong upper body. His collarbones were sunken, and his muscles were not exaggeratedly bulging. His thin but resilient chest was covered with scars of varying depths and sizes.
You Mingjiang's eyes twitched.
Her lips slowly pursed into a line, and her gaze slowly fell on the new scar on his chest.
The new, reddish scar looked as grotesque as a centipede.
Lu Xiaojia tilted her head back and took a swig of wine. The wine flowed down her chin, over the scar, and stung painfully.
This sword strike was delivered by Ding Chengfeng.
Long before Lu Xiaofeng persuaded him, Lu Xiaojia had already taken the blame for killing Ding Lingzhong from Ding Chengfeng.
From this day forward, his feud with the Ding family is over.
There is no more "Ding Lingzhong" in this world, whether he was real or not.
You Mingjiang choked up.
She reached out with trembling hands, her fingertips hovering over the new scar. She ran her fingers over it lightly, as if tracing its outline, but ultimately dared not touch it.
She had considered countless scenarios and countless possibilities.
I imagined his anger, his questioning, his pointed blade; I imagined Lu Xiaojia would coldly draw his sword and say, "The grudges are settled, let's meet again in the martial world," and I even imagined this was a trap he had set...
But I never imagined he would do this.
"...It must hurt a lot, right?" You Mingjiang lowered her head, tears falling onto the back of her hand, splashing out tiny droplets.
"Why are you crying?" Lu Xiaojia straightened his clothes. His voice was soft, but every word was clear, "This is what I owe the Ding family, it's karma flowing in my blood, and I have to repay it."
After speaking, Lu Xiaojia leaned forward and reached out to wipe her wet eyes. You Mingjiang stared at him blankly, never expecting that this cold-blooded killer in the eyes of others would say such a thing.
"So now..." her voice trembled slightly, "you don't owe me anything anymore?"
"I've already paid off what I owed." Lu Xiaojia looked at her, reached out, and gently touched her cheek.
“But you,” he said in a low voice, both reassuring and probing, “killed him, for my sake?”
You Mingjiang's eyelashes fluttered, and she turned her face away: "...Not entirely."
Lu Xiaojia withdrew her hand, chuckled softly, and did not expose her.
Yu Mingjiang's eyes welled up with tears. He poured a full bowl of rice wine, held it steadily with both hands, and said softly, "I will punish myself with three bowls."
Lu Xiaojia was stunned.
She suddenly grabbed the wine bowl, tilted her head back, and poured it down.
The liquor spilled from the corner of his mouth, trickling down his neck and leaving a dark stain on his clothes.
"Cough cough cough..." She kept pouring the liquid down her throat, making it even harder.
Lu Xiaojia's expression suddenly changed, and he reached out to press down on her wrist. "Don't drink anymore." His voice was low, but it was firm and unyielding.
You Mingjiang shook his head: "Ding Lingzhong deserves to die. I still don't think I'm in the wrong. I'm drinking the penalty wine because I feel that I hurt you, so I'm giving you an explanation."
Lu Xiaojia stared at her intently for a long while before softly saying, "Since Ding Lingzhong is dead, why should we live in hatred? You have already given everyone an explanation..."
"Now, I only have one question for you: can you give me an explanation that is solely my responsibility?"
You Mingjiang paused, pondered for a moment, and asked, "What kind of explanation do you want?"
.
The river water splashed against the gunwale of the boat.
"This wine contains the most incurable poison in the world. You've just drunk it, and there's no escape now."
You Mingjiang was taken aback at first, then burst out laughing.
She said softly, "This is wonderful! Didn't you also drink this poisoned wine? If we're going to die, let's die together, so we can keep each other company on the road to the underworld."
Lu Xiaojia's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.
That's exactly what he was waiting for.
“You said it yourself,” he stared intently at You Mingjiang, enunciating each word clearly, “I don’t ask to live together, but I ask to die together. From now on, don’t even think about getting rid of me.”
You Mingjiang's face froze.
So that's what they were waiting for her to do. I shouldn't have been so impulsive in striking up a conversation...
Yu Mingjiang panicked and quickly turned her head away, her eyes darting around, hoping to find a reason to change the subject.
Her voice trembled uncontrollably: "You just said this poison is the most incurable in the world, so at least it should have a name, right?"
Lu Xiaojia said leisurely, "Longing."
Isn't lovesickness a kind of poison?
There is no antidote for this poison; it's like it's growing in the cracks of your bones, slowly gnawing at your heart.
.
The moment those two words entered her ears, it felt like her heart had been violently struck.
There's no way to pretend you don't know now; they've made their point crystal clear.
“Lu Xiaojia, calm down…” You Mingjiang’s voice was so low it was almost inaudible, “The road ahead for me is going to be very difficult, and you shouldn’t be with someone like me…”
"Why?" Lu Xiaojia interrupted her. "Am I not generous enough?"
"No." Eight hundred thousand is a considerable sum.
"Am I not strong enough?"
"No." He was already considered a top-tier expert in the martial arts world.
Am I not handsome enough?
"no."
Lu Xiaojia is quite good-looking.
He had high brow bones, a straight nose, and a sharp jawline, which should have given him a very heroic appearance. However, he was born with a pair of phoenix eyes with upturned corners and a faint bluish tint under his eyes, which added a touch of weariness and fragility, softening his cold and aloof appearance. He was both beautiful and fierce.
“You are very important to me. I have an idea. Why don’t we go and lock up…” You Mingjiang thought for a moment and was about to use the same trick again.
Lu Xiaojia, however, preemptively interrupted her:
"The sworn brotherhood method won't work on me... Don't you like me at all?"
He suddenly chuckled, "Don't I know Mingjiang's personality? If she dislikes someone, she'll feel uncomfortable even just glancing at them, let alone being alone in a room with them."
You Mingjiang didn't speak, she just stared at him intently.
After a long while, she suddenly spoke: "Lu Xiaojia."
“I like you very much, I like you so much. On that rainy night at Jingyang Ridge, on the cliff edge of Longhu Mountain, in the moonlight by the reeds, in that moment when you held me tightly… But can you understand? This liking alone is not enough…”
Lu Xiaojia paused, her fingers stroking the rim of the bowl.
His slightly swaying reflection was shown on the surface of the wine.
"Is it the same as liking Fu Hongxue?" He clearly didn't listen, his focus had wandered off.
He asked casually, but his eyes were fixed on You Mingjiang.
“It’s different.” You Mingjiang sighed and shook his head. “To him, it’s pity. To you, it’s seeing another version of myself.”
Lu Xiaojia suddenly smiled.
"That's great. Even my own parents don't like me, and you're the first person to say you like me."
A tear glistened on her eyelashes as Lu Xiaojia whispered, "When I was little, I was out in town once when my master and I ran into my father picking out a golden ruyi for Ding Lingzhong... The braised pork that night was the hardest thing I've ever eaten..."
You Mingjiang didn't speak, but reached out and caught his tears. She leaned closer and carefully wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
Lu Xiaojia was stunned for a moment.
So warm.
A person like him shouldn't have any attachments.
Now that I have it, I won't let it go.
.
Lu Xiaojia's voice was hoarse: "Do you still remember that almond?"
It was the kernel of the apricot that the two of them shared.
"Remember."
You Mingjiang was taken aback, then took out the almond wrapped in a handkerchief from the space in the bamboo medicine basket. Unwrapping the handkerchief, the still-intact almond's skin became even drier and smoother, gleaming with a honey-like sheen.
“Here it is.” You Mingjiang handed him the almond.
Lu Xiaojia's hand covered his, but she didn't take it away immediately.
The almonds were slightly warm in their clasped palms.
"So you've been... keeping it all along. Remember when I said that if you were willing to give it a chance, it could grow into an apricot tree?" Lu Xiaojia lowered her head and slowly closed her fingers. "I heard that apricot kernels should be buried deep, until next spring..."
You Mingjiang pulled her hand away, pretending to be dumbfounded: "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Lu Xiaojia raised her eyes, her gaze darkening, and without warning, she lunged forward.
You Mingjiang was taken aback, subconsciously thinking that he had something private to say, and obediently tilted her ear slightly.
Lu Xiaojia suddenly leaned closer and unexpectedly planted a kiss on her cheek.
A fleeting kiss, like a dragonfly skimming the water.
You Mingjiang opened her eyes wide. The kiss landed very lightly, but it startled her so much that she shrank back and bumped her back against the cabin.
“You…” Her cheeks burned as she stared at him blankly, still reeling from the shock.
A pool of water floated beneath the boat's awning, trembling gently.
Her earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.
Lu Xiaojia succeeded with a kiss and finally took the almond from her palm.
"That's what I wanted to say. Next spring, we can watch this almond tree take root and sprout together."
You Mingjiang clutched her chest, and it took her a while to calm down.
She turned her face away, her cheeks flushed: "I've said it before, I like you a lot, but that's not enough. I don't want to be the kind of almond that grows wherever it's buried. I want to drift away with the wind and land in more fertile soil."
"I knew you were like this all along."
Lu Xiaojia took another step forward, and seeing that she was still about to retreat, she said with a burning gaze, "But you must understand that no matter where you drift, you will never lose me."
"What you will receive is an almond that will take root and sprout along with you."
Even if you drift across thousands of mountains and rivers, I will still land in the soil beside you.
.
.
Lu Xiaojia is a very stubborn person.
If I choose him, he will never let go. It might even drag him down with me.
After much thought, You Mingjiang took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, and her lips parted slightly.
The words of refusal will be uttered in the next moment.
Lu Xiaojia, quick as a flash, picked up a piece of braised pork with preserved mustard greens and, without a word, fed it to her.
"Hot..." she said, her voice thick with the sauce as she took the trembling slice of meat into her mouth.
Just as she swallowed, she saw Lu Xiaojia's chopsticks poised to strike, and she picked up another slice of meat and stuffed it into her mouth.
They seem determined to achieve their goal no matter what.
After eating several pieces, she quickly waved her hand and said, "Let me think about it, okay?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaojia frowned deeply and said with dissatisfaction, "Don't try to fool me with this. Based on our past experience dealing with each other, your so-called consideration is actually just an excuse to avoid the issue."
He suddenly leaned forward, and the shimmering water outside the ship's side came into view. "It's my turn to have a lucky break."
Yu Mingjiang tried to appear sincere: "This time is really different, I promise."
Lu Xiaojia crossed her arms and said with a serious expression, "Unless you're willing to seriously consider our relationship."
You Mingjiang was both amused and exasperated: "You're forcing me, aren't you? You're making the ox drink water even though it doesn't want to! So you're just forcing me to agree?"
“You’ve misunderstood.” Lu Xiaojia shook her head slightly and said proudly, “I just want you to really see my heart clearly. Anyway, there’s plenty of time, so just keep testing me.”
You Mingjiang's eyes darted around, and she tentatively posed a difficult question: "What if my test is too hard and you can't complete it?"
Lu Xiaojia reached out and gently turned her shoulder: "I know, I'm willing to wait for you, I can wait. True gold fears no fire. If it doesn't work this time, I'll try again, again and again. I refuse to believe I can't get past you!"
Unexpectedly, Lu Xiaojia was quite stubborn.
You Mingjiang sighed.
Seeing that she still had doubts, Lu Xiaojia reached out and pulled You Mingjiang into his arms. He silently thought to himself, "Now that I've taken her hand, there's no reason for me to let go."
She struggled slightly, but Lu Xiaojia's arm didn't budge; instead, it tightened its grip even more. "Don't move."
Lu Xiaojia's breathing was right next to hers.
His voice was low and husky, and his warm breath brushed against her ear.
The cabin suddenly became eerily quiet. Even the air in this small cabin seemed to have thinned.
You Mingjiang was slightly taken aback, her body stiffened for a moment, and then relaxed, gently resting her head against his chest.
The sound of her heartbeat came through her clothes, thumping loudly and steadily, each beat striking her ear.
“If…” Lu Xiaojia suddenly said, “If I leave you, I might not be happy, maybe I will. Life is only 30,000 days long, it might be a little tough, but I can always get through it. I’m telling you this now not to ask for your pity. If you’re determined not to want me, why would I force you?”
You Mingjiang suddenly called out to him, "Lu Xiaojia."
"Um?"
"Thirty thousand days is too short. I want to live forty thousand or fifty thousand days, the longer the better."
A burst of sparks flew from the charcoal brazier, illuminating his suddenly bright eyes. Lu Xiaojia suddenly laughed, "You mean... I'll take that as a yes!"
"Hmm." You Mingjiang beckoned to him with her finger, "Come closer, I'll tell you about the test I'm going to give you."
.
Lu Xiaojia laughed and brought her ear close to You Mingjiang.
"You can't go back on your word. No matter what I ask, you have to do your best," You Mingjiang said softly.
Lu Xiaojia nodded and said, "I will never go back on my word."
You Mingjiang pursed her lips slightly, a sly smile curving her lips, and slowly said, "I want you..."
Lu Xiaojia's heart was in her throat. She held her breath, afraid of missing a single word from her.
In the blink of an eye, You Mingjiang bit his earlobe hard, her sharp little tiger teeth piercing his earlobe and drawing out a string of fine beads of blood that slowly slid down his neck and into his clothes.
Lu Xiaojia trembled all over, her Adam's apple bobbed violently, and the muscles in her back were taut.
His eyes welled up with tears, he was breathing heavily, and he reached out to grab You Mingjiang's arm.
You Mingjiang had already leaped out of the cabin, and with the help of the bamboo pole on the water, she lightly flew to the shore with a few quick taps of her feet.
She laughed heartily: "You little rascal, you're still too green to take advantage of me!"
Standing at the bow of the boat, Lu Xiaojia watched her figure turn away without a trace of regret, and her heart turned ice-cold.
If these things aren't enough to get her to give him a chance, then he really has no chance at all.
Just then, a shout came from the shore: "Hey, listen carefully—"
"My test is to find me when others can't find me."
"Three times is enough for you to pass!"
Lu Xiaojia looked up in surprise and saw her smiling sweetly at her.
He murmured, "Three times...whether it's thirty times, three hundred times, three thousand times..."
His eyes grew increasingly determined: "I will find you."
.
.
The next day, at the rouge shop.
The counter was no more than three feet wide, lined with a row of rouge boxes. Ye Kai leaned back in the elm wood armchair, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, his gaze fixed on Ding Linglin.
Ding Linglin was extremely meticulous when picking out lip rouge.
She pursed her lips, bent down to pick out lip rouge, and lightly dipped her fingertip into the glossy rouge, testing the color on the back of her hand.
The shopkeeper's wife was a quick-witted and eloquent woman who charmed Ding Linglin, making her beam with joy and her interest soar even higher.
"Young lady, look at this 'Pomegranate Delight,' its color is so bright, when applied to the lips it's like a ripe pomegranate seed, so luscious and tempting; and this 'Tender Wu Fragrance,' so delicate and refreshing, it suits a beauty like you perfectly..."
Suddenly, the curtain rustled open, sending in a gust of cold wind.
The shopkeeper's wife quickly turned around, greeting them with a smile: "Honorable guest! What are you looking at, sir? Our rouge is the most fashionable in the entire Qingyuan Prefecture. Pomegranate Delight, Tender Wu Fragrance, Sacred Sandalwood Heart, Ten Thousand Gold Red..."
Lu Xiaojia was stunned. The shopkeeper's words kept echoing in his ears. He had thought that rouge was just rouge, nothing more than a girl's face for weddings and funerals. He had no idea that there were so many intricacies involved. He was completely confused by what the shopkeeper's wife meant by "Pomegranate Beauty" and "Tender Wu Fragrance".
Looking him up and down, the shopkeeper's wife saw that he was a young and wealthy man and thought to herself that he was probably a generous spender.
really.
"I want the best." Lu Xiaojia's voice was clear and crisp, her words brief and decisive, "The most expensive."
"That means I want the Jia-style lip rouge." The shopkeeper's eyes lit up, secretly delighted that a lucrative deal was about to be finalized.
"Sir, are you here to add to your dowry, or to ask for a marriage proposal?"
What's the significance of this?
Lu Xiaojia hesitated.
"For your sweetheart?" The shopkeeper's wife blinked, a hint of slyness in her eyes.
He answered readily: "Yes."
Hearing that it was for her sweetheart, the shopkeeper's wife smiled even more warmly, her wrinkles radiating warmth as she took out several rouge boxes decorated with gold and colorful designs.
Some paintings depicted mandarin ducks playing in the water, others showed twin lotus blossoms, and still others featured dragons and phoenixes symbolizing good fortune. Lu Xiaojia's gaze swept over them one by one, finally settling on a pattern of peonies and stamens.
“①The peony enjoys the favor of spring, why should it envy the peony?” The shopkeeper’s wife deliberately showed off a few words, shaking her head and quite proudly, “This peony and stamen pattern represents a special affection, which is most suitable to give to the beloved.”
Lu Xiaojia hesitated. Although peonies symbolize a deep and devoted love, their short blooming period and tendency to wither easily seem unlucky and lack a sense of longevity.
Seeing this, the shopkeeper's wife quickly handed over a red bean and peach blossom, her eyes full of expectation: "Red beans represent longing, and peach blossoms symbolize good fortune. This is our best-selling item."
Lu Xiaojia's eyebrows had just relaxed slightly, and she was just starting to feel a little tempted when she heard the word "hot selling". A sense of resistance welled up in her heart for no reason: How could she be allowed to use such a common style?
He looked around, tapped the table lightly with his long knuckles, and asked, "Do you have any with a wild goose pattern?"
Wild geese are loyal birds with noble character, and they can be given as gifts between friends, so she naturally had no excuse not to accept them.
.
Ye Kai and Ding Linglin exchanged a glance and then turned around at the same time.
That familiar figure standing against the light...
Who else could it be but Lu Xiaojia?!
What kind of scene is this, a tiger sniffing a rose?!
The two were so shocked that they stopped breathing for a moment.
The newly bought rouge box fell to the ground. Looking at Lu Xiaojia's phoenix eyes, which were exactly the same as her own, Ding Linglin's throat tightened.
The person in front of her was her third brother.
Her foster brother, with whom she spent every day, treated her like a precious jewel; her blood brother, with whom she shared a blood tie, treated her with utmost care.
They are both named "Ding Lingzhong".
My father's letter said that the real "Ding Lingzhong" in front of me killed the "Ding Lingzhong" I had adopted...
That's so cruel.
But……
Even though her father said in the letter that Lu Xiaojia had personally confessed that he had killed her third brother, Ding Linglin still couldn't hate him.
While his third brother was enjoying a life of luxury, where was Lu Xiaojia? He was switched at birth and became the apprentice of the assassin Jing Wuming. Perhaps he was lurking in some dark corner, spying on the Ding family's "reunion" and "happiness"? On holidays and his birthday, was Lu Xiaojia just waiting for a bowl of clear soup noodles?
What was Lu Xiaojia's childhood like?
How did he get through all of this from childhood to adulthood?
This thought, like a fine needle, unexpectedly pierced her heart.
The Ding family has never been fair in dealing with this matter.
The dead are gone, the living remain.
Please forgive her for this little bit of selfishness.
Ding Linglin's heart involuntarily tipped slightly towards her blood-related older brother.
"Brother Lu...?" Ding Linglin called softly for a moment, but the last syllable turned into a sob.
Lu Xiaojia pursed her thin lips slightly and softly hummed in agreement.
Catching a glimpse of the bright red teeth mark on his earlobe, Ye Kai vaguely guessed what was going on, but didn't say anything. Seeing Lu Xiaojia's relaxed posture, her shoulders naturally drooping, neither depressed nor wallowing in resentment, Ye Kai's heart finally settled.
Ye Kai listened to Ding Linglin explain the whole story.
He was surprised that Lu Xiaojia would take the blame for Dr. You.
Although a servant witnessed that the perpetrator was a woman, the Ding family had no choice but to accept Lu Xiaojia's irrefutable testimony. They couldn't afford to lose an adopted son and then kill their own biological son.
Over the years, Ding Chengfeng has covered up enough for Ding Baiyun, and Lu Xiaojia has endured enough for Ding Lingzhong.
Since Lu Xiaojia was willing to take the blame, the Ding family should remain silent. However, due to Ding Baiyun's madness from the pain, Lu Xiaojia could never return to the Ding family.
Of course, Lu Xiaojia didn't seem to want to go back either.
The identity of "Ding Lingzhong" is now completely dead. Between the Ding family and You Mingjiang, Lu Xiaojia chose the latter.
Ye Kai sighed softly.
The martial arts world is inherently a place of right and wrong, and it is already difficult to find a trace of warmth in such a place.
People in the martial arts world each have their own obsessions.
Forcing the truth only makes one look foolish.
Some things are best viewed through a fog.
.
There was one thing that Ye Kai thought about for a long time but couldn't figure out.
Shouldn't Fu Hongxue and Doctor You be a couple?
How did it become Lu Xiaojia now?
Lu Xiaojia and You Mingjiang don't usually interact much, so how did they end up together?
Tsk, the world is so unpredictable, it's really hard to fathom.
.
Lu Xiaojia tucked the rouge box into her leather pouch before looking up at the two of them and saying calmly, "Let's go."
He casually tossed a peanut into the air, a slight smile playing on his lips. "I'll treat you to a drink today."
At that moment, he felt exceptionally relaxed.
He also wanted to share this rare joy with his blood relatives.
.
Inside the tavern, the fire was blazing, the flames leaping merrily in the hearth, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The smoky wine swirled gently in the glass, filling the air with the aroma of wine and roasted meat.
Lu Xiaojia suddenly said, "I'm very happy today."
Ye Kai nodded: "I'm happy too."
Ding Linglin looked Lu Xiaojia over and felt that he was acting a little strange today. After thinking about it for a while, she suddenly realized: he had stopped eating peanuts.
This is truly a case of the sun rising in the west.
Actually, the reason is very simple.
When you have nothing, when you can't change anything, you can only hold on tightly to what you can still grasp.
For example, peanuts.
Seeing his relaxed expression, Ding Linglin suddenly felt a sense of relief. She raised her hand to smooth her hair and smiled with a sense of peace.
It seems that this third brother has let go of his obsession.
As long as he's doing well, that's enough.
Thinking of this, Ding Linglin said sincerely, "I'm happy for you."
Lu Xiaojia paused, her usually relaxed shoulders straightening as she gave her younger sister a deep look.
Lu Xiaojia raised her glass, covering her reddened eyes, and, fighting back a sob, whispered, "Thank you."
He tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
A glistening drop of water slid down his chin and gently landed on the back of his hand.
That was probably a drop of bar.
A drop of scalding, restrained, and sincere bar drink.
.
They drank and chatted for a while longer.
Lu Xiaojia glanced at Ding Linglin unintentionally.
A keen eye noticed that even in the dead of winter, Ding Linglin's hands and face remained delicate and smooth, without a trace of chapping.
He couldn't help but think of You Mingjiang.
Lately, no matter what he does, he thinks of her.
You Mingjiang's earlobes were red from the cold, and her hands, calloused and thin, were always made with only one jar of her homemade Ziyun ointment. The ingredients for Ziyun ointment were just the most unremarkable medicinal herbs, and even the best-made version cost no more than thirty or fifty coins.
Thinking of this, he felt a pang of reluctance.
You Mingjiang is a contradictory person. She doesn't seem to have many desires, yet her eyes are full of ambition.
She always made do with herself, without ever considering it a compromise. To her, a box of Ziyun ointment cost thirty or fifty copper coins, enough to buy half a dan (a unit of weight) of pure white rice!
She'd probably just laugh and say, "In this world, what ordinary people wouldn't even dare to dream of, isn't that the ultimate luxury?"
He could almost picture her manner of speaking and her tone of voice.
The more Lu Xiaojia thought about it, the more bittersweet she felt.
.
Lu Xiaojia took a sip of wine and casually asked Ding Linglin, "What do you usually wear on your face?"
"Almond honey!" Ding Linglin proudly took out a small porcelain box, dipped her fingertip in the snow-white balm, and gently dabbed it on the back of her hand. "No matter where your skin is chapped, almond honey is the most effective."
As she spoke, she gently pinched Ye Kai's nose and said coquettishly, "I've used up all my almond honey. I must buy some when I go to Yangzhou this time. Don't pretend you forgot!"
Ye Kai smiled bitterly and shook his head helplessly, saying, "A beautiful woman's fragrance is worth half a month's food for a poor man."
Lu Xiaojia's ears turned a suspicious red, and she stammered, "Besides almond honey, what else do you girls use?"
At this point, Ding Linglin became more alert, and she keenly sensed a clue.
Is he possessed by some evil spirit?
Or is it...?
An unbelievable thought popped into her head, and she almost choked on her own saliva: Xiao Lu has someone he likes?!
Ding Linglin remained calm and introduced the products as if they were her most treasured possessions: "There's also snail-shell eyeshadow, rose water, peach blossom jade face cream..."
Lu Xiaojia listened quietly, finished her drink, suddenly stood up, the money clinking on the counter, and turned to leave.
Ye Kai teased, "Hey, aren't you going to ask Miss Ding if this thing is expensive?"
Lu Xiaojia smiled faintly and said nonchalantly, "No need." After saying that, he strode out.
He didn't care whether these items were expensive or not. As long as they could make You Mingjiang smile, he didn't mind spending more money.
Right now, he has only one thought in his mind: to see her as soon as possible.
Lu Xiaojia ordered ear warmers from a clothing store. They were fluffy and looked incredibly warm, preventing her ears from getting cold. He thought that if she wore these ear warmers, her earlobes wouldn't get red from the cold anymore.
.
Lu Xiaojia looked up at the sunlight.
The golden light shone on his face.
The winter sun is like a fleeting visitor, barely having time to dispel the chill before being obscured by clouds. But the brief moment of its light is enough to illuminate the entire world.
Lu Xiaojia's heart was burning with excitement, and she rode off on a fast horse.
The horses' hooves kicked up a trail of dust on the official road.
The smell of cooking smoke drifted on the wind, mixed with the fragrance of winter plum blossoms that had bloomed early in someone's yard.
What awaits him ahead?
Perhaps it's a thorny path, or perhaps it's a secluded paradise; Lu Xiaojia doesn't know.
All he knew was that she must be standing at the end of that road, waiting for him, to embark on a future together.
The so-called future is never about arriving at a certain place.
Instead, they finally found a direction worth pursuing at full speed.
.
.
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Author's note: [Good Luck Lotus] Quotation ①: From the poem "Peony" by Wang Zhenbai, a poet of the Tang Dynasty.
[Let me see] Thank you to the little angels for the nutrient solution:
[Heart] "Quiet" irrigation nutrient solution +1, "Hanhanhan" irrigation nutrient solution +20, "Drunken Dream" irrigation nutrient solution +7, "Good White" irrigation nutrient solution +1 [Heart]
[Qingxin] April 23, 2025 Revision: In the initial version, Ming Jiang did not kill Ding Lingzhong, but in the revised version, Ming Jiang does kill Ding Lingzhong. This needs to be addressed to explain the butterfly effect caused by Ding Lingzhong's death. [Laughing and crying with face covered] In the original work, Lu Xiaojia has a 1/2 God's-eye view; the only thing he doesn't know is that Ye Kai is the true son of Bai Tianyu. [Helpless] The Ding family is the sun, and Lu Xiaojia is the shadow. Lu Xiaojia sees himself as the protector of his family. No matter how bad the Ding family members are, Lu Xiaojia won't lay a hand on them. [Laughing and crying with face covered] Moreover, his concept of family hatred aligns with Ye Kai's, but contradicts Fu Hongxue's. The plot has put a lot of groundwork, including Lu Xiaofeng's attempt to enlighten Lu Xiaojia, and Lu Xiaojia's behavior logic should be kept as consistent as possible to avoid being out of character. Unless the villain kills Ding Lingzhong, the protagonist's motivation must be written very reasonably, and he must get past Lu Xiaojia's hurdle; otherwise, the couple will never be able to quickly reach a happy ending. This is my humble personal opinion. [Qingxin]
[Qingxin] Minor Setting: Characters will choose sides based on their affinity level. For example, Hu Tiehua will prioritize siding with Chu Liuxiang, while Ye Kai will prioritize siding with Fu Hongxue. Characters will make different choices based on their affinity level. [Qingxin]
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