Chapter 66 Did he and Meng Yutong have a past...?
Meng Yutong paused, then looked up, her eyes seemingly filled with disbelief, or perhaps questioning his taste. "To be honest, Physician Ji, this is just something I embroidered in my spare time. The craftsmanship is poor, and I never intended to sell it; I just left it here..."
Ji Yun suddenly chuckled.
He rarely smiled like this. His usual icy coldness melted away in an instant, and the curve of his lips softened the sharp lines of his face. His eyes were clear and gentle, radiating a warm temperament that was completely different from usual, and even revealing a rare and clear spirit that belonged to his age.
“I think this one is very good,” he said sincerely, without changing his expression. “Its color is elegant, its shape is unique, and it has a touch of wildness and innocence, which is better than those overly crafted and exquisite objects.”
As he spoke, he very naturally extended his palm to Meng Yutong. Seeing that she was still hesitant to move, he couldn't help but chuckle: "What, Dr. Meng, are you reluctant to part with it?"
Meng Yutong's gaze fell on the 'half-finished' sachet.
This sachet was originally meant to be embroidered for Xiaoxue.
That day, seeing her alone in Ji'an Hall, mimicking a butterfly with hand gestures, she felt pity and wanted to give her a little trinket. However, she lacked talent in needlework, and even with Bai Zhi's hands-on teaching, she could only produce this "hybrid" mess.
If word got out, probably no one would know that she was embroidering a butterfly.
Well, this thing is already ruined anyway. Since Ji Yun has such unique taste, let's just give it to him.
After thinking for a moment, Meng Yutong stopped hesitating, picked up the butterfly sachet from the bottom of the basket, and placed it in Ji Yun's outstretched palm.
The finest Yun brocade has a delicate and cool touch. When it rests in your palm, it feels soft and fluffy, like holding a small piece of gentle moonlight or a wisp of warm, drifting cloud.
Ji Yun slowly closed his palm, and the wisp of cloud was gently held in his hand.
The scene before him inexplicably reminded him of his mother's birthday banquet, when the two of them had exchanged sachets in the courtyard of the Ji family mansion.
At that time, when she took the sachet from his hand, she carefully held the end of the ribbon, as if afraid of getting even a trace of him on her.
At that moment, when she placed the sachet in his hand, she simply held it casually, her posture relaxed and natural.
He withdrew his hand too quickly, his fingertips barely brushing against her cool fingertips, leaving only a subtle yet clear, feather-like tickle that quickly traveled from his fingertips to his heart.
Ji Yun subtly twirled his fingertips, then naturally lowered his head and tied the somewhat "abstract" purple butterfly sachet to his waist sash.
His gaze was lowered as he focused and slowed down his movements to tie the ribbon, a slight smile playing on his lips. The cold, unapproachable aura emanating from him seemed to have softened considerably, indicating that he was in a good mood.
Then, he reached into his sleeve and rummaged around, his face showing just the right amount of annoyance: "Dr. Meng, I'm so sorry, I don't think I brought any money with me today. When Yunzhou comes tomorrow, I'll have him settle the money with you."
Meng Yutong was tidying up the other sachets in the basket when she heard this and shook her head: "No need. This was just a practice piece that I messed up, it's not worth much. If Physician Ji doesn't mind, you can take it."
"In that case, thank you very much, Doctor Meng, for your generous gift of the pouch." Ji Yun readily agreed and accepted the gift without further insistence.
The two left the front hall and entered the quiet courtyard.
Ji Yun escorted Meng Yutong to the door of her house, which was located in the northeast corner.
As the two passed by, they saw a small tree, carefully wrapped in a thick black cloth, standing prominently in the night at the northeast corner of the courtyard. It was quite large.
Ji Yun's gaze fell on the tree, and he noticed that the dry soil exposed under the black cloth was slightly dry. So he spoke up to remind him, "Is this sapling going to be planted? Leaving it here all this time takes up space and it's easy to trip over at night. Doctor Meng, you need to be careful."
Meng Yutong nodded and explained, "This is a pomegranate tree. It was originally Mr. Wu Lin's idea. He said that the fire in the pharmacy's stove was burning constantly, and the fire element was a bit too strong. He suggested planting a pomegranate tree in the southwest corner of the courtyard, taking advantage of the fact that wood can generate fire and also restrain earth, to harmonize the yin and yang energy in the courtyard. The sapling was delivered two days ago, but recently the affairs of the pharmacy have been too complicated, and I really haven't had time to take care of it, so it has been temporarily left here."
"Look at the leaves, they're already starting to wilt and curl. If we don't plant them soon, I'm afraid they won't survive," Ji Yun said, observing the few leaves that were showing.
Meng Yutong adjusted her sleeves and carefully observed the sapling lying there. Her tone was somewhat helpless. "I wanted to hire someone to plant it right away, but Mr. Wu Lin insisted that things related to feng shui should be planted by hand to show sincerity, and that it would be unlucky to have them tainted by outsiders. Unfortunately, I've been so busy these past few days that I forgot..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ji Yun calmly replied, "There's no time like the present. If Doctor Meng is trustworthy, then leave this matter to me. Please bring the necessary planting tools."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yutong looked at him seriously: "Planting trees and flowers may seem simple, but it is actually hard work. Physician Ji is a refined and cultured person. I'm afraid he might not be able to handle such heavy work... It would be better to wait until Brother Liu and the others arrive tomorrow before making any plans."
Her words were tactful, but her meaning was clear. She simply thought that his refined appearance made him seem like the type of person capable of such menial work.
Most men in the world have a bit of vanity and competitiveness, and a bit of pride in not being looked down upon, especially when it comes to matters related to masculinity.
Even a seemingly aloof and refined young master like Ji Yun is not immune to the common occurrences.
Upon hearing this, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, and a rare, bright and sharp look appeared on his face. "Dr. Meng is overthinking it. When I was on duty at the Medical Academy, I once treated a patient who weighed over 200 pounds and was paralyzed in bed, unable to turn over on his own. I had to give him acupuncture and moxibustion every day and help him turn over and wipe him several times, all of which I did myself. Compared to that, planting a pomegranate tree is really not a heavy job in my opinion."
Seeing that he said that, Meng Yutong naturally said no more. She turned and went into the storage room next to her, and quickly retrieved the shovel, hoe and bucket needed for planting.
When she came out, Ji Yun had already easily moved the rather large pomegranate sapling to the southwest corner of the yard where he had chosen.
He even carefully compared the position of Meng Yutong's bedroom window and made slight adjustments before finally placing the sapling.
After selecting the location, Ji Yun took the shovel handed to him by Meng Yutong and began digging a tree pit with deft movements. He shoveled precisely and with even force, and soon dug a tree pit of suitable depth.
He then carefully placed the pomegranate sapling into the pit, straightened the trunk, and began to backfill it with the excavated soil, gently tamping the soil down with his feet.
The entire process was methodical and skillful, unlike that of a refined physician who spent his days with pen, ink, and medicine. About half an hour later, the pomegranate tree stood firmly in the courtyard.
Meng Yutong watched from the sidelines, sometimes wanting to lend a hand, but there seemed to be nothing that needed her help, so she could only watch quietly from the sidelines.
The pomegranate tree branches were previously tightly bound with hemp rope for easy transport. Now the ropes need to be untied to allow the branches and leaves to spread out.
Seeing this, Meng Yutong took two steps forward and stopped in front of Ji Yun. She reached out to the pomegranate tree trunk, pinched the knot that had become tight and hard after being soaked in rainwater and dried, and tried to untie it. After several attempts, the knot did not budge.
Ji Yun patted the dirt off his hands and approached her naturally from behind. His figure almost enveloped her, carrying the faint warmth of his work and a hint of refreshing herbal scent.
With a soft "snap," the tightly bound knot finally came undone with the combined force of the two people's fingertips.
As the hemp rope suddenly loosened, the pomegranate branches that had been tightly bound scattered in all directions with a 'whoosh'.
The closest ones, accompanied by the whooshing sound of the wind, swept straight towards Meng Yutong's face.
"careful!"
At the critical moment, Ji Yun reacted extremely quickly. He grabbed Meng Yutong's wrist and pulled her back swiftly, drawing her into his arms and narrowly avoiding the sharp branches.
The branches beside my ear suddenly snapped open, producing several sharp whistling sounds, but the expected pain did not come.
Meng Yutong let out a soft cry as her back bumped into a warm and firm embrace.
Her back was pressed tightly against Ji Yun's chest, and she could even feel the slightly rapid heartbeat coming from below. Each beat struck her eardrums, mingling with her own heartbeat, which was suddenly out of control, making it impossible to distinguish between them.
His palm, which held her wrist, was warm and dry. The warmth seemed to penetrate the thin fabric of her nightgown and pass through clearly without any obstruction.
The air was filled with the damp scent of freshly turned soil, the faint, astringent aroma emanating from broken pomegranate branches and leaves, and the lingering, cool, and slightly bitter medicinal fragrance emanating from him. The intermingling of these scents caused one's breath to catch slightly and one's mind to go blank for a moment.
Ji Yun's chin almost touched the top of her head, and the familiar cool and sweet scent of mint leaves enveloped him in an instant.
It seeps in everywhere, in every nook and cranny.
His action was taken out of desperation and was already improper. He should have immediately let go and taken a step back.
But the warmth in his arms and the familiar scent lingering around his nose brought a strange, bone-deep familiarity that made his arms around Meng Yutong almost freeze, unable to move for a moment.
His heartbeat gradually became erratic, and fragmented, bizarre images flashed uncontrollably through his mind... In a daze, it seemed that there had once been a woman... They seemed to have been so intimate, and he seemed to have smelled the same faint fragrance from her hair and neck, a fragrance that made his soul tremble...
His thoughts surged like a chaotic tide, and his breathing involuntarily quickened.
Meng Yutong was the first to react. As if she had been burned, she jerked away from his embrace, staggering before regaining her balance. "Medical Officer Ji, thank you, I'm alright."
Ji Yun looked at her quietly, at the small mole under her eye, at her dark eyes, similar to those in his dream, eyes that seemed to hold a thousand words, yet remained silent.
Why does it feel so familiar?
Where does this inexplicable stirring in my heart come from?
"Physician Ji, are you alright?" Meng Yutong asked, noticing his dazed expression and the hint of doubt in her voice.
Ji Yun snapped back to his senses, as if he had just realized what was happening, and immediately took half a step back, creating a more appropriate distance.
His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice was deeper than usual: "It's nothing. I was quite rude earlier. How is Doctor Meng?"
"It's alright, I'm fine too."
Her voice and demeanor remained as poised and elegant as ever.
But his own ears were burning uncontrollably.
His breathing became slightly labored.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward. Both of them instinctively avoided each other's gaze.
“It’s getting late, the trees have been planted, Physician Ji should get some rest.” Meng Yutong broke the silence first.
"You should rest early too," Ji Yun replied softly, his gaze fixed on the newly planted pomegranate tree, without looking at her.
Meng Yutong turned to go back to her room.
"Dr. Meng," Ji Yun suddenly called out to her again.
Meng Yutong paused, turning back in confusion.
Under the moonlight, Ji Yun stood quietly beside the newly planted pomegranate tree, his elegant figure outlined clearly by the moonlight.
He looked at her, his gaze unfathomable, as if he had made some kind of decision, and said slowly, "From now on... Dr. Meng, may you no longer call me 'Physician Ji'?"
Meng Yutong was slightly taken aback, unable to understand her meaning for a moment: "Then what should we call him?"
“Since we are already friends, we can address each other by our first names. Doctor Meng calls me ‘Ji Yun.’ I will also address Doctor Meng by his first name,” he replied calmly and naturally.
In her view, there was no difference between 'Medical Officer Ji' and 'Ji Yun'.
Meng Yutong looked at him, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay."
Upon hearing this, Ji Yun's lips slowly curved into a very faint smile.
That smile was different from the usual coldness and aloofness. Under the interplay of the bright moonlight and the dim lights under the corridor, it seemed like the first melting of ice and snow, and the gentle ripples of spring water, carrying an indescribable, almost bewitching, tender power.
He said softly, "Get some rest, Yutong."
The name "Yutong" came out of his mouth in a low and clear voice, carrying a strange sense of intimacy, which made Meng Yutong tremble slightly.
Meng Yutong was completely stunned. When she came to her senses, she saw that the slender and tall figure had already turned around and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor with a calm step.
Only the newly planted pomegranate saplings in the courtyard swayed gently in the night breeze, and the name "Yutong" seemed to still echo in her ears.
Has Ji Yun gone mad?
She only allowed him to call her by her given name, but didn't say he could call her by her full name directly.
When did he become such a scoundrel?
Ji Yun stepped into the second-floor corridor and headed towards the room at the far left. After reaching the second floor, his steps seemed to lose the composure he had shown in the courtyard, and he unconsciously quickened his pace until he pushed open the door, slipped inside, and slammed the door shut behind him, his heart pounding louder.
He's been feeling strange lately.
First, Meng Yutong changed her personality and became hostile towards him. Then, his mother suddenly changed, and gradually, even he himself started acting strangely.
I often have strange dreams, and bizarre memories that don't belong to me suddenly flash through my mind.
But to say that the memory had nothing to do with him seemed not to be the case. For example, just now, for a moment he clearly saw that the person in the memory was himself.
He was just like that today, holding a woman tightly in his arms. In the scene, he appeared to be ill, lying in bed.
A woman prepared and fed him medicine, and stayed by his bedside every day.
She seemed extremely tired and fell asleep fully clothed, lying on her side in a corner beside his bed.
He awoke from his dazed state and, without thinking, reached out from behind him and gently pulled her into his arms...
The woman smelled the same as Meng Yutong...
He closed his eyes, and once again, those bright eyes, filled with sorrow and timidity, appeared before him through the rice paper, gazing at him quietly.
"I dreamt that Sister Meng married you and became my sister-in-law!" Ji Ming's panicked cries suddenly rang in my ears again.
Did he and Meng Yutong have a past?
Since it didn't happen in real life, could it be... something that happened in a previous life?
The idea was absurd and suddenly popped into his head, startling even himself.
He slowly walked back to the bedside, lay down fully clothed, untied the simple purple butterfly sachet from his waist, and took out another old apricot-yellow sachet embroidered with a soaring eagle pattern from his bosom.
He placed the two sachets side by side beside his pillow. The light and soothing fragrance intertwined and lingered, allowing his chaotic mind to gradually catch its breath.
In any case, he had to find out what exactly happened between him and Meng Yutong.
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