The wind of the night, like a pair of cold and unpredictable hands, brushed against his black hair, as if plucking the strings of the darkness.
He stood on the edge of the roof, the upward curve of his lips like a bewitching flower quietly blooming in the dark night. Bathed in moonlight, it exuded an elusive joy, his excitement seemingly about to overflow his heart and spread throughout his body.
Immediately afterwards, he leaped up, like a black feather carried by the wind, landing lightly without making a sound, his every move as swift and ghostly as a ghost.
Gently push open the door, and a creaking sound suddenly rings out in the quiet room.
Ma Lihua sat on the bed, her eyes glazed over, her thoughts seemingly lost in a thick fog. How did she end up sleeping in the same bed as Shangguan Wenyan?
Fragments of memory are like shattered glass; no matter how she tries to piece them together, she can never find the complete picture. Yet, the unfamiliar and burning afterglow on her body is as scorching as a branding iron.
"Pear Blossom, are you awake? I've boiled water, you can take a bath now. I used some medicinal herbs, it's very good for your health."
Shangguan Wenyan's voice was so gentle it seemed to melt away, flowing into the awkward room.
But his eyes were like a crocodile hiding in a deep pool; seemingly gentle, they held threads of desire, like a net lurking in the shadows, quietly coiling around Ma Lihua.
Ma Lihua suddenly felt her cheeks burning, as if peach branches in spring had caught fire, and her voice trembled as softly as a mosquito's buzz: "You go out, I'll get dressed."
"Let me help you put it on!"
Shangguan Wenyan stepped forward, his expression earnest to the point of piety, but the lust in his eyes was like a wildfire that could engulf anyone who wasn't careful, burning away all reason and filling the small space with a seductive yet dangerous atmosphere.
"Get out of here, or I'll hit you!"
Ma Lihua's eyebrows were raised, her almond-shaped eyes were wide open, and her cheeks were puffed up like ripe red fruits from embarrassment and anger.
Although her memory was hazy and she couldn't figure out how she ended up spending the night with Shangguan Wenyan, she had heard a lot and seen a lot about matters between men and women, even though she had never done it herself.
I remembered my grandmother's saying: "If you don't beat a man for a day, he'll be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles." If he didn't listen to me right now, his fists wouldn't discriminate!
The sound was crisp and clear, carrying an undeniable resolve, like a sharp blade that cleanly severed the delicate beauty within the room.
Shangguan Wenyan pressed his tongue against his cheek, took a deep breath, and finally swallowed the burning desire, suppressing his resentment. He nodded and replied, "Alright! Be careful, call me if anything happens."
His words were gentle, yet they carried a hint of helplessness.
Dressed neatly, Ma Lihua stepped out of the room. The fine rain, like silk threads, wove a hazy veil.
Under the eaves, Shangguan Wenyan stood quietly, admiring the rain. His posture was as straight as a pine tree, and his profile was as if carved by a knife, so handsome that it was almost unreal. He was even more handsome and good-looking than his father, and his demeanor was even more noble and extraordinary.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her thoughts drifted for a moment.
"Pear Blossom, you're out? Go to the bathroom for a medicinal bath, it'll be good for your health." Shangguan Wenyan turned around at the sound of her voice, his concerned gaze fixed on her.
"Okay! I understand."
Ma Lihua hurriedly lowered her eyes, her voice barely audible, her steps hurried, as flustered as a startled fawn, her heart pounding with shyness and trepidation.
"By the way, this year during the Spring Festival... I'm asking my grandma to propose marriage. You... you just need to prepare a generous dowry."
After saying this, she fled as if her life depended on it, her skirt swaying and her steps unsteady, like a petal being swept away by the wind.
Shangguan Wenyan stood there, his brows furrowed, his face full of astonishment.
"What does 'pear blossom' mean? Her grandmother is here to propose marriage? There's no such custom!" Muttering to herself, she pondered the matter of the "dowry" and was even more confused.
After thinking for a moment, he quickly relaxed, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said nonchalantly, "Whatever, I have plenty of money. If Pear Blossom likes it, I'll just give it to her."
_
The plane roared through the cold sky above Beijing and landed steadily.
Li Panmei was swept up in the flow of eight family members as she stepped out of the cabin. The chill felt like fine needles, instantly piercing through her clothes.
I had hoped to catch a glimpse of my sister's familiar figure upon arriving in the capital, but all I got was emptiness. A cold wind whistled down my neck, making me shiver.
"Dad, isn't Auntie coming to pick us up?"
Li Erfa hunched his neck, exhaling puffs of white breath, his eyes filled with confusion and grievance, his voice distorted by the wind.
Li Panmei glared at him, clicked her tongue, and said, "It's so cold, is your aunt going to be exposed to the northwest wind? What if she gets cold?"
The image of his mother's angry face at home, her raised hand, her sharp scolding, his father's follow-up kick, and his brother-in-law's sarcastic and veiled sarcasm—just thinking about it sent chills down his spine, a chill that was even stronger than the cold wind around him.
Want his sister to pick him up at the airport? Dream on! Anything can happen in dreams.
"Alright, let's call two taxis!" Li Panmei made a quick decision, waving her hand like a general commanding a vast army.
The family has no elderly, weak, or children; they are all capable adults, so there are no dragging-out troubles.
The group filed toward the taxi area, their hurried steps causing the wheels of their suitcases to rattle and clatter on the ground, creating a frantic "drumbeat."
Li Panmei stood by the roadside, her eyes sharp as a hawk, watching the passing vehicles intently. She raised her hand to stop a car, her posture displaying a certain bravery, as if she were "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand cannot pass".
As soon as one car came to a stop, he called to his family, quickly assigned seats, stuffed their luggage into the trunk, gave them a few more instructions, and then rushed to another car.
The wind scattered his words, but it couldn't dispel his enthusiasm for heading to his destination. In the blink of an eye, the two cars merged into the bustling traffic of the capital, speeding towards their warm destination.
"Oh right, Panmei just called me and said she's almost home."
Li Zhongguo put down his chopsticks, took a tissue, casually wiped his mouth, looked up at Ma Linghua, and said slowly.
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