Chapter 15
News of Shi Mingyue's shipwreck quickly reached the Shi family.
The night was still deep, and the main road in the southern suburbs of Yuedu was illuminated by car headlights as if it were daytime.
A dozen or so carriages escorted Shi Mingyue, their roar like angry drums, until they reached the gates of the mansion, which were adorned with vermilion beast-head rings.
"Master—the pleasure boat sank, but fortunately the young lady received timely treatment and is now out of danger."
The lights in the main hall of Mingyue Manor suddenly blazed on, and Shi Mingyue's father, Shi Ke, standing on the blue brick floor, wearing a black fox fur cloak. A few strands of gray hair fell down, and the teacup he had been holding suddenly tightened in his hand. With a "crack," the teacup shattered on the ground, shards scattered everywhere.
"What do you think is the probability of a small boat exploding? Seal off that area, the merchants, the event organizers, and the passersby who were suspected at the time—none of them will escape." Shi Ke's voice was not loud, and when he looked up, his eyes were as cold as iron at the bottom of a well.
"Immediately investigate the source of the gunpowder, check the shipwrights' register, and investigate all the unfamiliar faces from tonight!" The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Shi Ke slammed his hand on the rosewood table, and the jade lion paperweight on the table shattered into dust.
"What should we do now, Miss?" The butler lowered his head. It had been agreed before the Lantern Festival that Miss Shi was not allowed to take the boat, and now Wen Yuan had been dragged away to be punished... What about Miss Shi?
"Don't let her go out until the matter is cleared up. She's my only daughter, and what they're doing is going to wipe out my family line."
In the rain, Shi Ke's deep voice gradually faded away. In the distance, three drumbeats sounded, and torches, winding like dragons, sped along the riverbank. With this command, the lights of the entire Lantern Festival night were transformed into a chilling spectacle.
...
"If I'm not mistaken, Shi Mingyue shouldn't be able to get out now. Once her father finds out she's injured, he'll definitely investigate all the suspicious people in Yuedu."
After school in the afternoon, Yun Zhan secretly slipped out of the school.
She grabbed a shared bike on the roadside and, while riding, analyzed the situation with 21: "If I don't go see Shi Mingyue, she probably won't be able to come out to see me for at least half a year."
Having finally gotten to know Shi Mingyue, Yun Zhan was truly unwilling to let this opportunity slip away. She had to make time to see Shi Mingyue again.
As they approached Mingyue Manor, a luxurious mansion, tightly bound by layers of gold nails and jade locks, gradually came into view.
From the outside, the outer wall of Mingyue Villa is over two zhang high, with a circle of electrified iron hooks embedded in the bulletproof wall, and security guards wearing bulletproof vests patrolling around the outside of the wall.
The main gate has three layers, with vermilion-lacquered bronze-studded beasts carved on it. After nightfall, the darkness seems to be gently blurred by ink, and all the lights in the back garden of the villa are extinguished, leaving only a few lanterns swaying on the eaves, casting dappled light like scattered gold.
"Shi Mingyue is right here. By the way, aren't you really afraid of getting caught? You might get beaten to death with sticks or something..." 21 was a little scared. Yun Zhan was really brave.
"But I can't let her forget me. I have to say just a few words and then leave." Yun Zhan squatted down in front of Shi Mingyue's door and window.
The west window of the embroidered pavilion is half-rolled up with a light gauze curtain.
Shi Mingyue was wearing a moon-white nightgown, her long, black hair cascading down to her waist, and the lamplight cast a thin halo on her shoulders.
The girl's slender fingertips held the white paper on which the poem had been written that day. The warm yellow light fell into the girl's crystal eyes, causing a thin layer of mist to rise.
Shi Mingyue sighed, gently folded the paper, and put it into the cabinet. It had been almost a week since she last saw Yun Zhan, after their parting on the bridge.
"If Father confines me for half a year, will Yun Zhan forget me...?" Shi Mingyue sat at the table, burying her head in her arms, only revealing her almond-shaped eyes that were still moist.
Suddenly, she heard three very soft knocks on the window lattice. Shi Mingyue's breath hitched, and her fingertips paused on the curtain for a moment before slowly lifting it—the moonlight and the person fell into her eyes at the same time.
Yun Zhan smiled at her, and like a kitten, he used his head to open the curtain, calling her "Shi Mingyue" in a low voice, as if afraid of disturbing the stillness of the night.
Shi Mingyue's eyes suddenly reddened, but she simply stepped aside to let Yun Zhan climb in through the window. As Yun Zhan landed, he casually knocked down a few crabapple petals, which fell at their feet.
Yun Zhan's eyes shone brightly as he stood in front of her and said, "Shi Mingyue, I've come to see you."
The room was dimly lit, with only the bright moonlight filtering in through the window.
Shi Mingyue looked up at the radiant person in front of her, and heard a rapid yet restrained heartbeat in her ear.
Helpless, her fingertips touched her waist. The piece of mutton fat jade was still pressed against her clothes, its warmth penetrating through the thin fabric.
Shi Mingyue's eyes traced the contours of Yun Zhan's brow bone, her voice as low as a wisp of smoke: "I've been grounded... I thought it would be a long time before I could see you again."
Yun Zhan grasped her wrist, his fingertips cool with the night dew, yet leaving burning circles on her pulse points: "You can lock the gates of the mansion, but you can't lock in the moonlight."
"Yun Zhan... did you write the poem on the paper?" Shi Mingyue approached Yun Zhan. The breath he exhaled carried the fragrance of plum blossoms, as well as the ink scent from the young man's paper. It seeped into her lungs and took root there, making it unforgettable.
"Um."
"It really is you, your writing is truly excellent..." The girl lowered her eyelashes, her eyes trembling uncontrollably, like butterfly wings fluttering in the spring breeze. Her snow-white cheeks flushed red, the blush spreading all the way to her ears.
"Actually, I came here today to confirm something."
Yun Zhan glanced at the pale white skin on Shi Mingyue's wrist.
When she took Shi Mingyue's pulse on the shore before, she found that her body was unusually weak, which should be due to some problems with her immune system... She came here this time to try to resolve this issue.
"What is it?" Shi Mingyue blinked her almond-shaped eyes and obediently stood in front of Yun Zhan.
"May I touch your wrist?"
"Hmm...okay." Shi Mingyue nodded gently, then hesitated before extending her hand.
Yun Zhan grasped her soft, delicate hand. Shi Mingyue dared not look up, only stealing glances at the hand held by Yun Zhan out of the corner of her eye.
His fingertips were so white in her palm that they were almost transparent, like a snowflake falling into spring water, melting away inch by inch.
Yun Zhan touched her wrist, the cool sensation feeling unfamiliar to Shi Mingyue. It was the first time someone had touched her wrist so delicately, and even the tips of her ears turned bright red, but she quietly relaxed her fingertips, letting Yun Zhan hold them.
“Your body is indeed very weak. I have prepared some medicine for you. Taking it on time will be good for your health.”
Yun Zhan noticed Shi Mingyue trembling and assumed she was cold, so he closed the window.
"Are you feeling unwell?" Yun Zhan leaned closer to examine her complexion. The faint fragrance emanating from him brushed against Shi Mingyue's cheeks with the gentle breeze, and Shi Mingyue felt a tingling sensation spread through most of her body.
Too close... Shi Mingyue bit her lower lip. To her, such intimate behavior was already extremely bold... But Yun Zhan didn't seem to understand this. The bolder Yun Zhan became, the more apprehensive she became.
However, Yun Zhan's hand was still on her wrist.
"Let me take a closer look, don't move around too much." Yun Zhan held her hand and focused intently on examining her body.
Shi Mingyue's other hand froze in mid-air, unsure whether to place it on the table or bring it back to her side; in the end, she timidly grabbed a piece of cloth on the corner of the table, gripping it very lightly yet very tightly.
Her heartbeat was erratic and erratic, each beat pounding against her eardrums, so loud that Shi Mingyue forgot to breathe properly, and the only sound in the large room was her own heartbeat.
She dared not let Yun Zhan hear it easily.
She wanted to turn her face away, but was afraid that the movement would disturb something; she wanted to raise her eyes, but only dared to fix her gaze on the top button of Yun Zhan's collar, her eyes wandering along the gold trim, but never daring to look up.
Her eyelashes trembled like butterflies in the rain, each flutter sending a light tickle down Yun Zhan's neck and making her own fingertips even colder.
The warmth of her palms seeped through the thin fabric of her clothes. Her fingers curled up and then relaxed quietly. She felt a breeze blowing past her ears from time to time, making her body tense.
Finally, she tugged at Yun Zhan's sleeve, her voice barely audible: "Yun Zhan... are you done...? I'm a little nervous, I don't know where to put my hands."
That shy breath brushing against his neck softened Yun Zhan's heart more than any other touch.
This subtle sense of intimacy spread between the two of them.
Shi Mingyue was unaware that Yun Zhan had only ever touched her hand like that.
Yun Zhan was unaware that this was the first time Shi Mingyue had her hand touched by an outsider.
They looked up and their eyes met unexpectedly.
The moonlight, like a still pool of water, hung between the two of them.
Shi Mingyue raised her eyes first—her eyelashes still clung to the lingering dread. With a gentle lift, her eyes shimmered with a watery hue, like a lake after the rain, both clear and trembling.
Yun Zhan lowered his eyes to meet his gaze, his eyes a deep, dark pool that, in the instant they met Shi Mingyue's gaze, was ignited by the lamplight, reflecting a soft, warm gold.
Their eyes met, and though no sound was heard, it was like two jade chimes gently striking each other, the clear sound spreading out in circles.
Shi Mingyue subconsciously wanted to lower her head, but her pupils seemed to be held back by a thin thread, turning only slightly to the side before quietly turning back.
Yun Zhan's gaze was so gentle...
Her gaze didn't approach, but quietly enveloped her, like the softest mist on a spring night, seeping into her breath inch by inch.
"Hmm... the medicine is in this bag. If you're worried, you can have your family doctor check it." Yun Zhan belatedly realized that he hadn't noticed the fleeting look of helplessness in Shi Mingyue's eyes as he withdrew his hand.
"Huh?...Um..." Shi Mingyue looked at her empty palms, lowered her eyes and asked, "Will you come again next time?"
"Yes, I will. I'll come in a few days. I'm worried about your health." Yun Zhan packed his things and prepared to go back.
"Worried about me? Yun Zhan, please leave me your contact information before you leave. I'll want to get in touch with you..." Shi Mingyue suddenly tugged at her sleeve and handed her the paper and pen on the table.
The girl's eyes held a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, and her fingers, gripping the pen and paper, were slightly unsteady.
"Okay, I'll wait for you to contact me."
After seeing Yun Zhan write down the phone number, the panic in Shi Mingyue's eyes slowly melted away, turning into a very faint smile that floated deep in her pupils.
Between their eyes, the moonlight, the sound of the wind, the fragrance of flowers, and the beating of their hearts all receded into the distance.
Only two gazes remained, intertwined gently and restrainedly, like two interlocking jade pendants, inseparable once they touched.
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