"elder brother?"
Shen Muqing was awakened by the noise from Lan Jin in the room. She opened her eyes groggily, her voice still sounding groggy from not being fully awake.
"Awake?" Lan Jin brought her her clothes for the day, scooped her out of the blankets, and gently smoothed her messy hair as she slept.
"How about wearing this outfit today?"
"Um."
She raised her fair arm, rubbed her eyes, buried her face in Lan Jin's chest, and unconsciously rubbed her head against him, muttering, "When are we leaving today?"
"Wait until you finish eating."
"good."
Lan Jin helped her get dressed and put on her shoes, without a trace of impatience in his eyes. Instead, a smile played on his lips, showing his joy at the moment.
As Shen Muqing moved, the clinking of silver ornaments filled the air, crisp and clear. Hers and his were entangled together, their intimacy palpable.
"Brother, what color clothes am I wearing today?"
"Purple." Lan Jin tied a silver chain around her waist one last time. Looking at the dressed-up girl, he felt very proud. She was his, and could only be his.
After the two finished their breakfast, Lan Jin helped her downstairs, preparing to set off again.
"Please wait, esteemed guests!"
Upon reaching the horse, Lan Jin first helped Shen Muqing onto it. As soon as Shen Muqing sat down, she felt that her bottom was very soft, completely different from yesterday. Sitting like this was much more comfortable than before.
"Qingqing, will it still get hard?"
"Thank you, brother."
Shen Muqing was deeply moved. She had thought Lan Jin wouldn't know, but she was surprised that he not only knew but also changed his ways. A warm feeling welled up in her heart. In this world, Lan Jin was the best person to her.
"I forgot, siblings don't need to apologize to each other."
"Uh-huh."
Lan Jin went to buy this saddle early in the morning, comparing the materials from several stores before choosing the softest one.
As he passed by the jewelry shop in town, he picked out a few silver hairpins and headdresses that were very suitable for Shen Muqing. His originally indifferent expression softened when he saw the jewelry on Shen Muqing's head.
He thought these would look great on Qingqing, so he bought them all.
When he saw a hairpin made of purple jade, he thought for a moment and bought it too, as it matched the clothes he had put together for Qingqing today.
The shop owner saw Lan Jin off like a god of wealth. Few people in the town came to buy jewelry; it was always the same few people, and it was rare to see a stranger.
"Please come again next time, young master!"
The shop owner was all smiles, acted decisively, and didn't haggle—he was practically a god-like customer.
"Brother, aren't you coming up?" Shen Muqing asked in confusion, wondering why he hadn't mounted his horse after all this time.
"You can't ride horses in town, so I'll lead you by the hand."
"good."
On the street, a handsome young man led another beautiful woman on horseback, a scene of idyllic bliss that one couldn't bear to disturb.
Shen Muqing gripped the rope on the saddle; fortunately, Lan Jin was moving very slowly, so she felt that the horse wouldn't sway.
"Qingqing, is there anything you'd like to eat? Let's buy some as provisions for the journey."
"I want to eat mung bean cake and candied hawthorn."
"Okay, I'll buy it for you."
After buying all sorts of dry food, Shen Muqing and his companion officially set off, traversing through the forest.
Shen Muqing listened to the whistling wind and the occasional birdsong in the forest, and the fresh scent of nature filled her nostrils, feeling utterly content.
The discomfort between my legs gradually disappeared. Although it was so painful last night that I couldn't walk, it miraculously stopped hurting today.
On the way, Lan Jin would occasionally encounter some rare animals and describe them to Shen Muqing, who would respond with a happy expression.
"The sika deer has beautiful antlers."
"Really?"
"A very beautiful little bird just flew by, with blue feathers."
How beautiful?
Lan Jin lowered her head and looked at her intently before answering her question:
"They're so beautiful that people try every means to catch them, then keep them in a golden cage and raise them carefully."
"Huh?" Shen Muqing raised her head, and her pair of lifeless, pure eyes came into Lan Jin's sight.
"I was just kidding. Such a beautiful little bird should be soaring freely in the sky, don't you think, Qingqing?"
"right."
Shen Muqing didn't know what he was babbling about, but she felt sleepy again. The journey was so boring. She couldn't see, and all she knew was that she was moving.
"Are you tired? Do you want to get down and rest for a while?"
"Is it okay?" She was a little tired.
Lan Jin slowed down and finally stopped by the river. She tied the horse's reins, found a clean tree, and helped Shen Muqing sit on the tree root.
"Would you like some grilled fish?"
"Yes!" Shen Muqing had absolutely no resistance to barbecue. Just thinking about eating fragrant grilled fish later made her mouth water uncontrollably. She kept swallowing and licking her slightly dry lower lip with her pink tongue.
"Wait here, I'll go catch a few for you."
"good!"
"I'll leave the silver with you." Lan Jin summoned the silver from her sleeve. The silver, with its big eyes, understood its master's meaning and couldn't wait to snuggle into Shen Muqing's arms.
Lan Jin merely glanced at Yinzi, and Yinzi's snake body trembled. It understood its master's meaning: if anything happened to the mistress, its snake life would be in danger.
"Okay, go catch some fish." Shen Muqing reached out and took the silver. The silver snake, its tongue flicking, was wrapped around Shen Muqing's arm like a silver chain. You couldn't tell it was a snake unless you looked closely.
"Um."
Although the tree where Shen Muqing was sitting was only a hundred meters away from the riverbank, Lan Jin was still worried and kept looking back at Shen Muqing, afraid that she would run away.
"Qingqing, just sit here quietly and don't move around, okay?"
"good."
Hearing Lan Jin's voice still ahead of him, Shen Muqing urged him to hurry up and catch fish, "Brother, hurry up, I'm a little hungry."
"Okay, okay."
Lan Jin replied indulgently, then found a stick and patrolled the riverbank. While searching for fish in the river, he looked back at Shen Muqing and was relieved to see her still sitting obediently in the same spot.
Shen Muqing felt very comfortable under the tree. Fortunately, the place Lan Jin found was cool, with the leaves blocking the harsh sunlight and a gentle breeze.
"Host, I'm back."
The long-lost Egg appeared in Shen Muqing's mind, and Shen Muqing was so happy that she cried tears of joy.
"Egg! You've finally appeared! When can I leave this world?"
"I'm sorry, host, you'll probably have to stay for about a year. The system is currently being repaired, so please don't rush."
"What? You're saying I have to go blind for another year? Do you know how painful it is to be blind?"
Shen Muqing wanted to cry but couldn't. It was really painful not being able to see anything. What was the difference between this and being dead?
"Don't worry, host. I can apply for a cure for your eyes, but you'll have to wait."
"Then hurry up and apply for it for me. I've had enough of being blind."
"OK!"
After talking with Egg, Shen Muqing's unease completely disappeared. Just hold on for another year, and she could leave this world in a year.
Shen Muqing's eyes were closed, as if she were asleep, and she was very quiet.
When Lan Jin returned with two fish, this was the scene he saw. The woman under the tree gave him a feeling that she was untouchable and could leave him at any moment.
In a dreamlike state, he quickly walked to the tree and hugged Shen Muqing tightly. His eyes were filled with a morbid obsession. He wouldn't allow it; as long as he was still alive, Shen Muqing could never leave him.
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