Shangguan Wenyan wore a black brocade robe, its hem fluttering, like a solitary ink bamboo standing alone in the dark night, his posture upright and exuding a sense of unrestrained freedom.
He followed Ma Lihua at a leisurely pace, his eyes always following her every move.
Seeing the natural concern she showed for Li Xin, his heart softened like a lake being touched by a spring breeze.
She couldn't help but shake her head slightly, a doting smile playing on her lips. She secretly marveled at how innocently lovely the pear blossom was, every move she made exuding a pure and innocent kindness, like a pure elf dancing lightly in this mundane world.
Li Wen, Li Su, Li Xin, and Li Yu, who were still immersed in the fatigue and daze after their work, were now as if they had been frozen in place, staring straight at Ma Lihua with amazement and blankness in their eyes.
The woman seemed to have stepped out of a painting; her skin was like jade, with a rosy complexion, and her eyes were like the shimmering water of a lake in spring, full of liveliness and playfulness. Her nose was delicate and straight, and her lips, naturally red, were like the delicate buds of spring in early bloom.
Her jet-black hair was piled up like dark clouds, held up lightly with a single jade hairpin, and a few stray strands fell beside her fair neck, adding a touch of languid charm.
They stared intently, their breathing unconsciously becoming softer, as if afraid of disturbing this dreamlike beauty.
"Hey! What are you standing there for? Come over and pay your respects to your aunt!" Li Xin's loud and energetic shout broke the silence.
Li Wen snapped back to reality, his voice rising sharply in shock, cracking with disbelief: "What? Aunt?"
His words were full of astonishment, and the other three looked at each other, their eyes filled with doubt.
"What are they doing...?"
Just as Ma Lihua was about to ask a question, Li Xin, like a child eager to share a secret, began to explain at length.
“Auntie, they are the grandsons of Grandma’s two older brothers, which means they are my cousins. You can’t be wrong to call them Auntie.”
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with excitement, like twinkling stars, filled with joy and affection for her aunt's return home.
"Oh! You've come to celebrate the New Year! It's afternoon, time for dinner. Xin'er, go and call everyone back for dinner, I'm going to see Grandma."
Ma Lihua parted her lips slightly, her voice soft, sweet, and clear, like a nightingale singing in a valley, carrying the thoughtfulness and warmth of her host family.
“Okay, Aunt, I’ll go right away.” Li Xin agreed readily, turned around and strode away, his figure agile and full of youthful spirit.
The four of them then came to their senses and hurriedly followed Shangguan Wenyan, but their eyes couldn't help but linger on him repeatedly.
His features were like exquisitely carved jade, with deep contours, sword-like eyebrows that slanted upwards to his temples, and deep, unfathomable eyes that exuded a coldness that kept people at a distance. Yet, his skin was as white as jade, and his every move carried an indescribable noble elegance, making him so beautiful that it was hard to tell whether he was male or female.
They secretly wondered how such a beautiful man could exist in this world, and even the absurd idea of him being a "transvestite" flashed through their minds.
But looking at his demeanor, she felt it was impossible. Filled with curiosity, she followed closely behind Ma Lihua, hurrying towards the hall, hoping to uncover the identity of this mysterious man as soon as possible.
Ma Linghua had been pacing anxiously in the hall. Hearing footsteps, she hurriedly looked up and saw Ma Lihua. She rushed forward, tightly grasped Ma Lihua's arm with both hands, her eyes full of worry, and her brows furrowed into a deep frown.
Her voice was full of concern and anxiety as she asked in a trembling tone, "Pear Blossom, you're back. How are you? Are you feeling alright?"
His gaze seemed to scrutinize Ma Lihua closely, leaving no stone unturned, hoping to find evidence on her face that she was unharmed.
Ma Lihua's expression was calm as still water, like a deep pool without ripples. She simply nodded slightly and replied softly, "Grandma, I'm much better. There's just... there's something I need to tell you."
She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions within them. Her hands unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, as if she were carefully choosing her words, but when the words reached her lips, they carried a hint of determination.
"What's up?"
Ma Linghua's heart skipped a beat, sensing that something big was about to happen. Her eyes widened as she stared intently at Ma Lihua.
“I slept with Brother Wenyan, you can go and propose marriage! This is perfect, Grandpa can see me get married, he can die without regrets.”
Ma Lihua spoke calmly and clearly, yet the content was like a bombshell, instantly exploding in the hall.
Just then, Li Zhongguo came out of the room, paused, his lips twitched violently, and his face darkened. He wondered what Lihua was talking about. He was still standing here, perfectly healthy, so how could she be talking about "dying without regrets"?
"Huh? Slept...slept with? With...with whom?"
Ma Linghua seemed to have been struck by lightning. Her body swayed, and she asked again in disbelief. Her voice was broken and intermittent, and every word was filled with shock and panic. Her eyes instantly reddened, and she stared at Ma Lihua in astonishment, as if trying to see from her face that this was a joke.
"Shangguan Wenyan! What's wrong, Grandma? Is it not okay?"
Ma Lihua looked on in bewilderment, not understanding what was going on, as Ma Linghua suddenly lost control of her emotions.
"What do you mean, 'okay'? He's a lecherous old man. He's clearly eyeing me, yet he's trying to seduce you. What a damn vixen! Ugh! Shameless."
Ma Lingyue instantly flew into a rage, her hands clenched into fists, her knuckles turning white, her teeth clenched so tightly they looked like they were about to break. Her face was full of anger, and her chest heaved violently. She looked as if she wanted to drag Shangguan Wenyan over immediately and cut him into a thousand pieces to vent her hatred.
Ma Hehua burst into the hall in a flurry of activity. Before she could even stand still, her loud voice boomed like thunder: "What? You slept with that Shangguan kid? Not bad, well done! Our daughters! If you like someone, just go for it!"
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