0107 Jade Waist Slave (Part Six)
When Zhan Yaoguang first learned that Shu Fu's maid named A Jian had also come to the villa, he was furious. When he heard that A Jian wanted to accompany Shu Fu to see the lanterns, he could no longer suppress the flames in his heart.
He urged Shufu, "Otherwise, I'll knock her out, and then we can go out and play."
Shu Fu was startled and quickly reassured him, telling him to go ahead and wait for her outside Chang'an City, and that she would find a way to come out and meet him. They would then enter through Mingde Gate and stroll along Zhuque Avenue to enjoy the lantern festival.
Zhan Yaoguang couldn't dissuade her, so she had to go out first. Before it got dark, she had already arrived at her destination.
To match Shufu's red dress, he also chose to wear a bright color today.
The young man wore a brocade robe with a double-lapel collar and narrow sleeves, and a seven-ringed gilded belt that accentuated his good waist. He wore a pair of black leather boots. He was not yet of age and therefore could not wear a formal hat. Instead, he tied his hair up high with a red beaded cord, which made him look even brighter and more radiant, like a blazing fire, extremely eye-catching.
Zhan Yaoguang leaned against a willow tree on the bank, idly playing with a few pebbles. When he had had enough, he aimed at the ditch and threw it, creating ripples of golden light in the water.
Just then, a clear, melodious voice came from behind him: "Does my lord have some free time?"
Looking at her from the side, she was a graceful young woman with a floral crown covering her face. Her black hair was styled in a single spiral, and she wore a short-sleeved blouse made of brocade satin with narrow sleeves. A shawl with gold floral patterns was draped over her arm, the end of which hung in the air, fluttering in the wind, moving gracefully and charmingly.
Zhan Yaoguang stared at her for a moment, and almost without thinking, he knew who she was, but he didn't reveal it. After thinking for a moment, he deliberately lowered his voice and adopted a light and indifferent demeanor:
"What's up?"
"I am seeing off a friend here and wish to give him a willow branch as a gift, but the willow branch I have chosen is too tall, so I would like to ask you, my lord, to help me."
Zhan Yaoguang nodded: "I have nothing else to do right now, so I can help you with this. Which branch do you want to pick?"
The girl paused for a moment, then turned to the side and pointed upwards: "That's it."
Zhan Yaoguang followed her finger and looked over, only to see green willows, bright and misty, but she couldn't tell which branch it was.
But he knew in his heart that she didn't really mean to give the willow branch to someone when she asked him to break it off, so he just pretended to understand and casually grabbed a willow branch.
Is this it?
The girl slowly nodded.
Zhan Yaoguang then broke it off and handed it to her.
The girl hesitated for a moment before reaching out and gently grasping the other end of the willow branch.
The gift had clearly been given, but Zhan Yaoguang still wouldn't let go, still clutching the willow branch. The two faced each other, and the atmosphere was rather somber.
After a long while, the girl suddenly tugged hard at the willow branch in her hand. Zhan Yaoguang stumbled as she was pulled, and instinctively reached out to catch her on the shoulder.
The girl suddenly snorted, flicked her shawl, and turned to leave.
"What a frivolous young man! I only asked you to help me break off a willow branch, and you dare to treat me so disrespectfully! Would you treat any young lady who comes to you like this?"
She moved extremely fast, and in just a few steps she was several shots away from him.
Zhan Yaoguang was stunned for a moment, and before she could sort out her thoughts, she chased after her, blurting out "Afu" and unconsciously grabbing the shawl under her arm.
She paused, as if a bird had its wings tethered, forced to walk alongside him.
"You knew it was me?" Shufu peeked at him from behind her mask.
Zhan Yaoguang glanced down and saw that she was still holding the willow branch in her hand, so he loosened the shawl and instead took the end of the willow branch.
“You’re so obvious,” the boy said casually. “The crown you’re wearing is one you drew yourself, and the mask you drew for me has always been tucked into your waistband. I spotted it immediately…”
Shu Fu was awakened by his words, and quickly took off the parrot crown tied around her waist and handed it to him. She then gestured for him to lower his body and went behind his head to carefully put it on him.
"So you figured it out all along? I thought you were fickle, two-faced, and unfaithful..." She wasn't the kind of person who was naturally suspicious; she was just teasing him, so she spoke without thinking and said whatever came to mind.
At the same time, she stroked his thick black hair with her fingertips, held the tied strands in her hand, and then wrapped the mask's ties around it from below, finally putting it on properly.
Zhan Yao's eyes narrowed, and he glanced at her briefly before saying seriously, "You know I wouldn't do that."
Shu Fu tied the knot and gave three perfunctory "hmm"s.
Zhan Yaoguang then threw down the willow branch, his expression serious: "You've wronged me again, you should at least offer something in return."
Shu Fu glanced at him, and he said matter-of-factly, "I don't want to pinch a dry willow twig. How about I hold your hand instead?"
Shu Fu neither refused nor agreed, so Zhan Yaoguang walked beside her, constantly glancing at her, making half of her face burn with desire.
After walking together for a while, she finally managed to peek out a fingertip from her narrow sleeve.
Zhan Yaoguang was quick-witted and nimble, following the fingers to grasp them, almost completely enveloping her left hand in his palm.
It's a bit funny, but two people who have been extremely close don't usually hold hands.
At first, Zhan Yaoguang brazenly held her hand tightly in his palm, but Shu Fu didn't like the feeling of being held so tightly and couldn't help but struggle a few times.
He naturally noticed, but he was reluctant to let go, so he relaxed a little and cooperated, letting her do as she pleased.
Until finally, Shu Fu's fingertips accidentally slipped between his fingers, and the two of them froze for a moment, then realized what had happened—
There is another way to hold hands in this world.
Zhan Yaoguang turned his face away, his eyes reflecting the shimmering lights not far away. He took a deep breath and gently hooked his finger upwards.
The moment their palms met, their hearts skipped a beat, as if they had been gently struck twice with a small hammer. They fell silent and walked together toward the inner city of Chang'an.
———
Our first time holding hands while shopping… (òó)
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