Chapter Forty-Five: Dream of Returning South
"Madam." Yun Yao called out softly as she looked at the lady who had gotten up and was coming over.
The lady walked up to him, picked up the hairdryer on the table, and naturally began to dry Yun Yao's hair.
During the three years that Yun Yao had been by his wife's side, he had come to know that she sometimes had such tender and ordinary moments, so he obediently lowered his head and let her do with his wet hair as she pleased.
In less than two minutes, his hair was dry. The lady put the hairdryer aside, cupped Yun Yao's slightly flushed face, and planted an intimate kiss on his lips.
Yun Yao and his wife gazed at each other, his eyes glistening with tears, tender yet tinged with melancholy. His wife loved him like this, and couldn't resist leaning in to kiss him passionately again and again.
Yun Yao gently embraced his wife and asked with some concern, "Madam, are you feeling better? I heard you called the doctor over again last night."
The lady smiled and nodded. She looked at Yun Yao with gentle eyes and said, "I'm much better, don't worry." She then brushed aside a strand of his soft, jet-black hair and asked softly, "Did Yun'er's dance class go well today? Did you enjoy it?"
Yun Yao hummed in agreement and led his wife to sit on the soft sofa. His wife leaned on his shoulder, holding his fingers in her palm as if she were holding a piece of warm jade, reluctant to let go.
Recalling her encounter with the Third Miss at the courtyard gate, Yun Yao said to the Madam, "Madam, are you aware that the Third Miss wants to participate in a six-month international medical humanitarian event?"
The lady glanced at Yun Yao gently and said with a smile, "What, did the Third Miss invite you here as a mediator?"
Yun Yao sighed and said softly, "You know the Third Miss's temperament, Madam. I ran into her at the door, and it was the first time I'd seen her so downcast and troubled. She doesn't want you to worry, but she can't give up on her dreams."
Yun Yao looked up at the madam, her eyes filled with unspeakable sorrow. "Everyone has things they can't let go of in their hearts. Madam, the Third Miss is still so young. If she is forced to give up like this, she will probably always be thinking about it in the future. Such a regret is very heartbreaking."
The lady's eyes flickered slightly. After a moment, she sighed softly and said, "Third Miss is a responsible and good child. It's rare that she would do something she absolutely had to..."
When Yun Yao heard his wife's words, he knew that the matter of the Third Miss was probably going to be settled, and he was happy for her.
At this moment, the lady raised her hand and gently stroked Yun Yao's hair, which was still slightly damp from being blow-dried, like caressing a soft and adorable kitten or puppy. Looking at Yun Yao's rosy lips, which were still moist from his bath, she couldn't help but pull him into her arms and give him a deep, more intimate kiss.
There are always two things in this world that even someone like her cannot resist: the gentle breeze that lingers in her ears and the captivating moonlight in her eyes.
The lady held Yun Yao tightly, as if embracing her boundless beauty.
...
The high-quality velvet on the sofa was wrinkled from being handled, and the lady gently stroked Yun Yao's forehead, which was sweating again.
Her lips brushed against his flushed cheek, caressing him like a butterfly gently touching a trembling flower. Then, as if teasing a drop of water, the butterfly slowly moved to his soft earlobe, as if sucking on a lychee.
Only after Yun Yao blushed and pleaded softly to call her "Madam" did she release the beautiful flower.
The lady whispered affectionately in Yunyao's ear, "Yun'er, your birthday is in a couple of days. How about we have a birthday banquet on the cruise ship in Jingjiang, so everyone can get together and celebrate your birthday?"
Yun Yao sighed inwardly. For the past three years, his wife had celebrated his birthday every year, but no matter how lavish and lively the birthday banquet was, or how many precious gifts he received, Yun Yao had never been truly happy. What he wanted most in his heart was never these things.
But he couldn't refuse his wife's kindness, nor did he want to spoil her mood, so he said, "Madam, there's no need for such trouble. We can just gather in the West Garden. The lotus flowers are in bloom, and we can all enjoy them together."
The lady smiled upon hearing this, affectionately kissed the corner of his lips, and sighed, "Yun'er, you are always so well-behaved. How can I not feel sorry for you?"
Yun Yao closed his eyes briefly. He did have his own purpose this time. It had been three years since he was forced to come to the north with his wife, and he had never been able to return to his hometown in the south. In the past two years, because he had to take care of his wife and because of the changing situation in the garden, Yun Yao had not been able to find an opportunity to ask to go back to his hometown.
The situation has stabilized somewhat this year, and Madam's health has improved. Yun Yao wondered if she would be allowed to ask Madam to return to Nanhang at the birthday banquet.
He was a caged bird, unable to control his own destiny, his comings and goings not even his own. Those riches and treasures were merely ornaments in the cage; no matter how beautiful or dazzling they were, how could they truly bring him happiness?
He has retreated again and again, and now all he wants is to be allowed to return south once.
Soon it arrived at Yun Yao's birthday.
That day, as dusk crept over the eaves of Muxi Garden, the entire garden was bathed in a golden light. Two palace lanterns outside the vermilion gate were as tall as a person, their crimson gauze covers embroidered with lotus patterns. A breeze blew through the hall, and the light and shadow shimmered like a flowing river on the bluestone floor.
The pavilion by the lotus pond in the West Garden was already brightly lit, with crimson gauze lanterns hanging along the delicate stone bridge. The warm yellow light shone through the lanterns and fell on the water, overlapping with the blooming lotus flowers, like someone had laid a flowing brocade on the bottom of the pond.
As Yun Yao walked along the bluestone path, the hem of her dress swept across the reeds by the pond, startling a few fireflies that had been resting on the lotus leaves.
At that moment, a figure was waiting for him in front of the moon gate; it was the second young master, Xu Zhi. Yun Yao stopped in his tracks, but before he could speak, Xu Zhi pointed to the sky with a smile. Just then, a sharp "whoosh" sound came from afar.
As everyone looked up, the first burst of fireworks exploded directly above the waterside pavilion. A golden-red waterfall of light cascaded down, illuminating the river lanterns in the lotus pond. Yun Yao instinctively took two steps back, but Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, it's for you."
Before the words were even finished, another string of fireworks shot into the night sky. This time, it was a shower of silvery stars, fluttering down onto the upturned eaves, as if someone had shattered the Milky Way and scattered it down. The exclamations of surprise from the guests mingled with the cheers of the young people, intertwining with the lights reflected in the lotus pond and the music playing under the eaves.
Xu Zhi then walked to Yun Yao's side and whispered, "Yun Yao, I misspoke last time, and I apologize. The fireworks today are a birthday present I prepared for you. Do you like them?"
Yun Yao felt helpless. He really didn't want to have any entanglement with this second young master, but he couldn't say anything bad at this moment. He could only look at Xu Zhi and say, "Second young master, you've gone to a lot of trouble."
At this moment, Butler Xing came over and told Yun Yao that everyone had arrived and was just waiting for him, the birthday boy. Yun Yao didn't want to keep others waiting, so he quickly said something to the second young master and walked into the garden with Butler Xing.
When Yun Yao stepped into the banquet hall, the noise throughout the garden seemed to be silenced.
He wore a plain-colored shirt today, the buttons at the collar shimmering with tiny silver light, as if the starlight that hadn't yet fallen last night had been sewn into the fabric. The shirt fit him perfectly, outlining his slender yet upright figure, the lines of his waist as if traced by moonlight, soft yet containing a touch of resilience.
The banquet lights made his simple clothes look like they were plated with a warm gold. Although it was the most ordinary attire, the clear light in the young man's eyes made him more moving than any gorgeous clothes.
At this moment, a breeze suddenly blew into the hall. Yun Yao raised his hand to tuck the stray hairs behind his ears, revealing a section of his fair neck. The stand-up collar of his shirt accentuated his jawline, but when he turned his head, the curve of the corner of his eye was as soft as a willow in the spring breeze.
Everyone had long heard of this favored figure in the Osmanthus Garden, but rarely had they seen him. Today, the lady had specially hosted a banquet, and the scale of the event was so grand that everyone naturally understood the implication. Holding their wine glasses, they surrounded Yun Yao and led him to the main table where the lady was seated.
The lively and lavish birthday banquet began. However, the second young master, Xu Zhi, walked in somewhat dejectedly. Yun Yao had walked too fast with Butler Xing and hadn't even seen the fireworks display that he had meticulously prepared for so long.
The most spectacular part comes after the fireworks. The shape of the fireworks will change into a giant red rose, with petals layered upon layered and unfolding in the twilight. Even more special is the string of giant letter fireworks he prepared, "YUN", which is the abbreviation of Yun Yao's surname. Each letter has a long golden tail and will streak across the sky like a shooting star.
At this moment, the eldest young master walked in from outside the hall with a gloomy face. He did not go to the madam and Yun Yao, but went straight to the second young master, Xu Zhi.
Before Xu Zhi could even greet him, the young master stared at him sternly and snapped, "What are you doing? Did you prepare those fireworks outside?"
Xu Zhi rarely saw his elder brother so angered. He was stunned for a moment and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Why are you so angry, brother?"
The young master's dark eyes flickered. He seemed to realize his mistake and instantly suppressed his emotions, saying in a deep voice, "Aunt is still here. You better behave yourself. If anything is discovered, you know the consequences."
Xu Zhi laughed indifferently upon hearing this, "What's there to be afraid of? If they really investigate, I'll just say I'm pursuing a new girlfriend and confessing my feelings to her. Is that not allowed?"
"I think you've gone mad," the eldest young master coldly commented on the second young master's insane behavior.
At the banquet, the lady held Yun Yao's hand under the table. She looked gently at the third young lady, Ming Xiao, who was sitting on the other side, and said slowly, "Ming Xiao, I heard that you want to sign up for an international doctor program?"
For a moment, the third young lady, Ming Xiao, was startled. She glanced at her relatives who were watching her from the left and right. As if she had made up her mind, she looked up at the madam and replied firmly, "Yes, madam, this is something I have always wanted to do. But I will not forget my identity and responsibilities. I will definitely come back in six months."
The lady nodded with a smile. Under the table, she gently squeezed Yun Yao's hand, but her expression remained calm as she looked at the relatives around her and said in a calm tone, "Ming Xiao is a good child, and we should always give young people like her a chance to try."
As soon as the lady finished speaking, it was like a final decision; the obstacles that had previously hindered Miss Mingxiao no longer existed.
The third young lady, Ming Xiao, could not hide her excitement. She secretly glanced at Yun Yao, who was sitting next to the madam, her eyes filled with gratitude.
She knew that Yun Yao must have persuaded the lady on her behalf. She owed him a huge favor.
Yun Yao smiled faintly at her. He was also happy for her, that she could freely pursue her dreams and do what she wanted to do.
At this moment, the eldest and second young masters returned to their seats. The madam looked at them and asked about the second young master's family's investment in the technology company. Then she asked in more detail about the eldest young master's plan to go to the northwest to accumulate military merits. After listening to their detailed answers, the madam nodded.
At this moment, the lady looked at her beloved beside her and said softly, "Yun'er, today is your birthday. You can tell me anything you want."
A multitude of gazes, some envious, some jealous, some with complex emotions, fell upon Yun Yao. Yun Yao took a deep breath, looked up at his wife, and said slowly, "Madam, thank you. Today is my birthday, and I was reminded of my mother. I haven't returned to Nanhang to pay my respects to her for three years. Madam, the lotus flowers at Xiling Lake have already bloomed this year, and I would like to return to Nanhang for a visit. Is that alright?"
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