Shangsi (1st)
"Don't be afraid, he's just taking you to eat. I'll go back to find you as soon as I finish taking care of some small things here! Just follow him obediently."
After Bai Ziming walked away with Cangjue, who kept looking back every few steps, and the sound of his footsteps disappeared outside the moon cave door, Qingshan spoke again, his voice clearly reaching the ears of the two still trembling maids:
"I'm truly sorry for what happened just now. I asked this... friend to come here and retrieve an important item that I accidentally left behind. He was impatient and had only rudimentary martial arts skills, so he didn't know how to control his strength. I'm sure he scared you. I apologize to you two on his behalf."
His tone was sincere and apologetic. As he spoke, he bent down, picked up the empty food box that had fallen to the ground, gently brushed off the dust on it, and handed it to one of the maids.
When they realized what was happening, he continued, his tone gentle but firm:
"This is all a misunderstanding. Since it didn't disturb Miss Bai, let's just leave it at that. I won't bother you two any further. Goodbye."
After saying that, he stretched out his hand very naturally and grabbed He Shu, who was still frozen in place, not knowing how to respond. Without much force, he pulled him to a secluded place aside.
He Shu was led by Qingshan all the way, walking on the path where the snow had not been completely cleared, one step deep and one step shallow.
Qingshan's back swayed silently in front of his eyes. He didn't know if he was angry because of his naughty and reckless behavior.
He was a little flustered. He lowered his head and stared at the compacted snow under their feet. He opened his mouth and tried to explain several times, but he felt he was at a loss for words and didn't know where to start.
Suddenly, he realized that he hadn't changed out of his incongruous maid's clothes yet! He still had his hair in a bun!
Now, the most embarrassing and funny look of my life was seen by Qingshan!
A strong sense of shame rushed to his head instantly, making his cheeks, ears and even neck quickly turn red.
He Shu began to struggle hard, trying to free his wrist from the other person's grasp.
"Qing, Qingshan..."
He pleaded guiltily, whispering,
"You, you let me go first... I, I need to... change these clothes..."
A low, audible hum of laughter came from the front. Qingshan followed his instructions, released his hand, stopped, and turned around.
What caught He Shu's eyes was not the anger or blame he had expected, but a face full of helplessness and a warm smile.
That smile was like the spring sun melting snow, instantly dispelling most of the anxiety in his heart.
"If you want to come together, why not tell me?"
Qingshan looked at him, his tone was a little funny, but also a little indulgent,
"Why do you have to follow me so secretly? Not only do you have to torment yourself, but you also make Master Cang worry with you."
His gaze fell on He Shu's double spiral bun, which had not yet returned to its original shape, and the smile in his eyes deepened, almost overflowing.
Unable to resist laughing, he raised his hand, gently stroked the slightly crooked bun, and whispered:
"But...this kind of Wuming, even though he's being silly, has a different kind of charm... well, very cute."
"Don't laugh at me!"
When He Shu saw that Qingshan not only did not blame him but teased him, the remaining uneasiness in his heart completely disappeared, replaced by a complex emotion of shame and secret joy.
He suppressed the tendency of his mouth to curl up, tilted his head back, and pretended to be embarrassed.
He snorted softly and pretended to slap away the fingertips that were still "making trouble" in his hair.
Qingshan withdrew his hand, and bent his index finger naturally and intimately. He smiled deeply, gently scratched his slightly wrinkled nose, and said softly:
"Okay, okay, I won't laugh at you anymore. Hurry up and change back into this outfit. We have to hurry to the front yard for the banquet. Don't keep the host waiting for too long."
Upon hearing this, He Shu nodded hurriedly as if he had been pardoned.
He quickly made a hand gesture with his fingertips, and a flash of light passed by. The awkward apricot yellow vest on his body disappeared instantly, and it turned back into the pear-colored straight robe he was originally wearing. The double spiral buns on his head also returned to the simple bun style of a man, and he suddenly felt a lot more at ease.
"I heard that the chef invited to the Bai Mansion's banquet today is a famous chef from Chaisang City. There are many dishes that you have never eaten before, so it's a good opportunity to try them."
When Qingshan saw him change back to his original appearance, he smiled, turned around and continued walking forward.
"Very good!"
He Shu responded happily, with a lightness in his voice.
The "crisis" just now was successfully resolved, and he was in a very good mood because he received Qingshan's gentle tolerance.
He couldn't help but quicken his pace and soon caught up with the tall figure. It was even the other way around. He exerted a little force, pulled Qingshan's wide sleeves, and walked excitedly towards the noisy voices and tempting fragrance that could be faintly heard from not far away.
"nameless……"
As I was walking, I suddenly felt a strong force on the wrist I was holding, and the person behind me seemed to stop.
He Shu looked back in confusion, only to see Qingshan standing there, his eyes gentle but with an indescribable sense of distance.
His earnest explanation came quickly, his voice clear amidst the clamor:
"I agreed to Miss Qiaochun's request today only because... I thought of Qinglan..."
He paused, a hint of gloom flashed across his eyes.
"In my previous life... I died too early. I didn't get to see her put on her wedding dress and find a good partner. Ultimately... I was left with a regret..."
As he spoke, his long eyelashes slowly drooped, casting a faint shadow under his eyes, and his tone was inevitably tainted with a hint of sadness at the passage of time.
When He Shu heard this, his heart was touched, as if a soft string was gently plucked.
Restraining his joyful expression, he gently patted Qingshan's slightly drooping shoulder, and said soothingly in a deliberately softer voice:
"After you left in your previous life... by chance, I met Sister Qinglan a few times. Although she was always saddened by your sudden passing, she later... did find a loving husband who treated her very well, and they lived in harmony and peace. You... please don't let this matter bother you anymore..."
"Of course, everything is over..."
Qingshan sighed softly, feeling relieved but still a little melancholy.
He raised his head again, stretched out his hand, and gently caressed He Shu's slightly cold cheek with his warm palm, his fingertips carrying a tender warmth:
"I'm not dwelling on the past, or unable to let go of those times that have already passed. It's just that seeing Brother Ziming get married today, I felt a little emotional. This can be considered as... indirectly fulfilling a broken wish. From now on, all the affairs of the Bai Mansion, the past, will have nothing to do with me anymore."
"Wuming, you can rest assured that I will not leave you."
"I-I'm not worrying about that!"
He Shu seemed to have been told what was really on his mind. His cheeks flushed slightly. He slapped Qingshan's hand away in embarrassment and annoyance, stiffened his neck, and retorted in a pretentiously tough manner.
Then, he seemed to suddenly remember something, his eyes wandered, and he asked casually:
"By the way... what did you talk about with Bai Ziming just now? You two were laughing so happily..."
"It's nothing serious."
Qingshan looked at Heshu, who was obviously concerned but pretending to be casual, and raised the corners of his lips quietly, explaining patiently,
"It's just that the Shangsi Festival is approaching, and Brother Ziming and his friends want to hold a Liushang banquet by the Qushui River outside the city, where they'll recite poetry, write couplets, and drink spring wine. They specially came to invite me to join in the fun."
"Oh... Shangsi Festival... It's coming up so soon..."
He Shu lowered his head, his toes unconsciously crushing the pebbles on the ground, muttering to himself.
Suddenly he raised his head again, looking straight at Qingshan, unable to conceal the nervousness in his voice, and asked:
"Then... then did you promise him, Qingshan?"
Qingshan looked at him cautiously and tentatively, his heart softened, he shook his head, and the smile on his lips was so gentle that it could drown people.
He suddenly leaned over and gave He Shu a kiss as soft as a feather, which fell on the corner of his eyes, which were slightly wide open in surprise and were blinking in an attempt to hide his thoughts.
There was a warm breath in the kiss, and tenderness and sweetness in his eyes that was almost dripping out.
"My wife is so clingy at home that she can't leave me alone for even a moment."
The voice was low and tender, with a hint of teasing.
"Of course I will stay at home and spend the holiday with him. I won't go anywhere."
"Who is your wife?"
He Shu's face turned red at this straightforward kiss. He covered his eyes and jumped away. He turned around and ran forward angrily, but the smile on the corner of his mouth grew higher and higher uncontrollably.
"Wuming, are you reacting like this to blame me for not following the proper etiquette of the mortal world, signing three letters of engagement and six times, and marrying you formally?"
Qingshan followed slowly.
"Of course not!"
He Shu suddenly stopped and turned back, with his hands on his hips. His bright eyes sparkled under the light. He raised his eyebrows and said:
"I don't care about all that red tape! What about the three letters and six engagements, the eight-man sedan chair? I just want Qingshan, just Qingshan himself!"
He spoke decisively, proudly, and seriously. After he finished speaking, he took two steps forward and leaned close to Qingshan's ear. His voice was low, but it revealed a small sense of pride that he couldn't hide:
"Of course... If Qingshan really wants it and feels that's the only way to make it perfect... I can also learn the etiquette and rules of ordinary people and arrange it perfectly. I will definitely marry you home in a grand and lively manner... Qingshan!"
After saying that, he quickly pressed a kiss on Qingshan's cheek, and with a "chirp" sound, he curled his eyes in triumph like a cat that had successfully stolen some fish.
Without waiting for Qingshan to react, he jumped away again, regaining his lively and energetic appearance, skipping ahead, not forgetting to turn around and urge, his voice full of joy:
"Qingshan, hurry up! If you dawdle any longer, all the delicious food at the banquet will be eaten up by others!"
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