"That's not how it is, Xi'er, it's—" Zhou Jin was anxious to explain, not wanting their already awkward relationship to worsen further.
"Zhou Jin, are you really going to do this to me?"
Bai Lingxi's eyes were filled with tears, on the verge of sobbing. Her beautiful eyes seemed to hold endless emotions that she could not express. Zhou Jin felt a pang of pain in his heart, but still agreed.
In fact, Zhou Jin might not be unaware of Bai Lingxi's feelings, but he had a vague premonition that if he rejected Bai Lingxi this time, there would truly be no possibility between them.
“Okay, it’s almost the end of the year, and most of the markets are selling New Year’s goods, so let’s go and buy some.” Now that Zhou Jin had come to her senses, she didn’t want to argue with Bai Lingxi anymore.
After Zhou Jin finished speaking, it was obvious that Bai Lingxi's eyes lit up. Her clean and clear almond-shaped eyes were like those of a fairy who had fallen to earth, untouched by any dust.
"It's settled then!" Bai Lingxi smiled, her eyes crinkling like a child who had just received candy. She was incredibly well-behaved, which made Zhou Jin's gaze even more doting.
"Hmm." Zhou Jin nodded, but he couldn't go empty-handed. He had to arrange for some manpower in case of any unexpected situations.
The next morning, Bai Lingxi got up very early. Although she didn't have any plans, she was inexplicably excited.
She took small, quick steps and knocked on Zhou Jin's door: "Zhou Jin, Zhou Jin, are you up?"
"You're here." The man's deep voice came from inside the room, still hoarse from waking up, and strangely alluring, making Bai Lingxi's ears burn slightly.
"Squeak—"
The door was opened from the inside. Zhou Jin had just gotten up and had only had time to put on a padded jacket. His clothes were not very neat, revealing his broad chest.
He opened the door and immediately saw the little figure at the entrance, dressed in a festive red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a snow-white silver fox cloak over it. The little figure looked like a soft and cuddly dumpling, quite delicious.
"Xi'er, you're up so early?" Zhou Jin's expression immediately softened, and her voice became gentler, as if afraid of disturbing the delicate girl in front of her.
"Yeah, weren't we supposed to go to the market? Why aren't you up yet!" Bai Lingxi pouted unhappily, an unconscious gesture when she was being coquettish, which was incredibly cute.
"It's my fault. Why don't you eat something first, and I'll get dressed?"
Zhou Jin chuckled, not criticizing Bai Lingxi for getting up too early, but simply indulging her and spoiling her, even fearing that she wasn't doing enough.
"No, since you're not done yet, I'll go back to my room and wait. Be sure to call me when you're done!"
Bai Lingxi turned her head, glancing away from Zhou Jin's slightly flushed face, not daring to look at Zhou Jin's chest any longer. She left after saying a few words and ran away, her soft and sweet voice directly touching Zhou Jin's heart.
Zhou Jin looked at Bai Lingxi's back and gave a mysterious smile. He glanced down at his clothes and thought: So seduction works after all. Xi'er fell for it.
...
A short while later, Zhou Jin, dressed neatly, knocked on Bai Lingxi's door. The door opened immediately, and Bai Lingxi appeared in front of Zhou Jin, clearly having been waiting anxiously in the room.
"All done?" Bai Lingxi's face lit up with joy, her fair face full of anticipation, a sweet smile on her face. Even the fiercest person wouldn't dare to be harsh with Bai Lingxi like this.
"Mm." Zhou Jin nodded, his eyes fixed on Bai Lingxi, not wanting to miss a single movement, as if he wanted to etch her into his heart.
The mountain path was winding and the slope was not steep, but it still took a long time to walk. Zhou Jin led the horse and waited by the roadside.
A tall and upright figure led a fine horse, the man and the horse were quite harmonious. They were standing with their backs to Bai Lingxi, but their backs were cold and aloof.
"Zhou Jin!" As soon as Bai Lingxi's voice came out, Zhou Jin and his horse turned around at the same time. The moment the two met, it was as if ice and snow melted and all things grew.
Bai Lingxi had a sweet smile on her face, and those who saw her couldn't help but smile back.
Seeing that there was only one horse, Bai Lingxi's large almond-shaped eyes flashed with doubt, and she asked Jin, "Hmm? Why is there only one? Are we going to ride together?"
Zhou Jin went over personally and took Bai Lingxi's fair hand in his own: "Try it. If you can, I'll bring another one over."
The man's large hand, still warm from his body, casually and naturally took hers, though in reality, he had rehearsed this scene a thousand times in his mind.
Bai Lingxi was not unaware of this, but her mind was preoccupied with her escape plan, and she paid no attention to the hand-holding at this moment.
Zhou Jin carefully helped Bai Lingxi onto the horse. Bai Lingxi had just settled in and hadn't even had time to feel happy when the horse stumbled and she was about to fall off!
Bai Lingxi screamed in fear, clutching her head with both hands, bracing herself for the possibility of falling: "Ah—"
"Xi'er!" Zhou Jin had been keeping a close eye on Bai Lingxi. Upon seeing the sudden situation, he immediately flew over to protect her, using his lightness skill to lift her off the horse.
"Zhou Jin, I don't want to ride a horse alone, I'm scared—" Even after they reached the ground, Bai Lingxi still clung tightly to Zhou Jing's clothes, holding him close and burying her head in his chest.
Bai Lingxi was trembling in his arms. Her slightly trembling body startled Zhou Jin. It seemed like it had been a long time since they had been this close.
Zhou Jin snapped out of her daze and hugged Bai Lingxi tightly in return, patting her back soothingly with her large hand and leaning her head in to feel Bai Lingxi's body temperature.
At this moment, Zhou Jin felt a pang of longing; this was his happiest and most comfortable moment, and he wished time could stand still.
A cold wind howled from the valley, knocking off Bai Lingxi's hat and sending a shiver down her spine. Her feverish head cooled down, and she hurriedly got out of Zhou Jin's arms.
"What, you just throw it away after using it?" Zhou Jin's smiling eyes revealed his inner joy, but at the same time, they also concealed a trace of disappointment in his heart.
"No, you, you shouldn't talk to me!" Bai Lingxi put her hat back on, trying to cover her flushed face, and turned her back as if retaliating against the other person's joke.
Zhou Jin teased the other party until they were fuming, then shook her head with a laugh and began to make peace: "Alright, it'll be dark soon if we don't hurry on our way."
"Shall we ride together?" Sure enough, as soon as Zhou Jin said there wasn't enough time, Bai Lingxi could no longer care about being angry and hurriedly asked.
Zhou Jin smiled and nodded. The tenderness in her eyes made Bai Lingxi blush. She tugged at her sleeve with her small hand, a little gesture she made when she was nervous.
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