He subconsciously clenched his fist, his Adam's apple bobbed twice, and he carefully raised his hand.
Ling Yunxi was still unsettled. When she saw him reach out, she cautiously moved her whole body behind the rock.
Xiao Mingyan paused, and seeing her resistance, a complex emotion surged deep in his eyes.
He explained, "The lady's hair is messy, let me fix it for you."
“Oh,” Ling Yunxi composed herself and raised her hand to refuse, “No need.”
His fingertips froze in mid-air, then he silently withdrew his hand and clenched it into a fist. His eyes darkened, and he lowered his head so that his expression was not visible. His voice was somewhat muffled.
"...I was being presumptuous. Let's go back."
"Hmm." Ling Yunxi got up, picked up the animal skin bag and a bundle of grass from the ground, and walked away.
Xiao Mingyan was slightly taken aback when he saw her carrying those two items alone. She would never have done it herself in the past.
Coming to his senses, he chased after them, instinctively taking the animal skin bag from them; it felt rather heavy.
"Huh?" Ling Yunxi asked in a short, puzzled voice as the thing in her hand was suddenly snatched away.
"Let me help you carry it," Xiao Mingyan said, his deep voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible earnestness.
"Yes, thank you," she said gratefully.
Ling Yunxi was still a little weak from what she had just experienced, so she let him take it.
Xiao Mingyan frowned slightly when he heard the words of thanks; his mistress would never say such things to her...
On the way back.
Xiao Mingyan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he couldn't help but break the silence, "Mistress, today is the first day at school..."
He hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "How are you feeling?"
Ling Yunxi recalled what had happened from morning to afternoon, gave a cold laugh, and said indifferently, "It's alright."
Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, Xiao Mingyan sighed almost imperceptibly, "That's good..."
Its tail swayed behind it as it cautiously asked, "What's in the bag? It's so full."
“These are all useful.”
He stared at her profile, lost in thought; she had never been so mysterious before.
She wouldn't be so gentle; she always scolds him before answering his questions.
Or they respond impatiently.
They looked at him with disdain.
The female protagonist now seems to have become a completely different person since she drowned.
“It’s useful…” he repeated her words, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, “Can’t you tell me?”
Ling Yunxi was slightly taken aback, not expecting him to be so curious.
“It’s just some herbs and wild vegetables,” she explained.
"Mingyan, are there any bird eggs left at home? I remember seeing a few in the kitchen this morning."
“I do have some female masters, but I’ve already used up a few, so I don’t have many left.” Xiao Mingyan’s eyes flashed with joy when she finally took the initiative to talk to him.
"What does the female want the bird's eggs for?" he asked, observing her expression as he answered.
"It's nothing," Ling Yunxi said. "I picked some wild vegetables, which can be used to make a dish with bird eggs."
A hint of surprise flashed in Xiao Mingyan's eyes, but a warm feeling rose in his heart.
"I didn't expect... that the female master can cook." His ears turned red, and his tone became lighter. "Then I'll go back and get the female master some bird eggs."
"etc."
As they crossed the stream, Ling Yunxi grabbed the hem of Xiao Mingyan's clothes, who was walking ahead of her.
"What's wrong, Mistress?"
Xiao Mingyan's breath hitched, and the blush from the base of his ears quickly spread to his cheeks. He looked down at her hand that was holding the hem of her clothes, and even the tip of his tail trembled slightly.
"Is there... anything else?"
"Let's go wash these herbs clean," Ling Yunxi said, pointing to the stream beside them.
"Okay." Xiao Mingyan turned around and followed behind her, staring blankly at her back.
She would never have been so peaceful with me before.
Once they reached the stream, Xiao Mingyan rolled up his sleeves. "I'll wash," he said, his voice slightly hoarse. "You rest over there."
Ling Yunxi didn't respond to him directly. She also squatted down by the stream, untied the animal skin bag, and took out the contents.
"Wash that bundle," Ling Yunxi said, pointing to the bundle of herbs.
"good."
Xiao Mingyan loosened the rope, his gaze sweeping over the large leaf and paper in her hand. He caught a glimpse of the animal script on them, and a barely perceptible look of doubt flashed in his eyes.
"These... did you bring them back from the Beast Academy?" He glanced at her casually, his curiosity growing.
"Hmm." Ling Yunxi tidied up the paper and leaves and put them aside, then picked up the herbs and began to wash them skillfully.
Xiao Mingyan stared in a daze at her skillful movements; she had never done these things before.
His thin lips parted slightly, words caught in his throat. Watching her wash so diligently, he stopped talking and quickly followed suit.
A moment later, Ling Yunxi and Xiao Mingyan quickly washed the herbs and wild vegetables.
After repackaging, Xiao Mingyan carried the bag full of herbs, while Ling Yunxi picked up the large leaves and paper beside her.
It was already evening, and the crimson sunset illuminated the entire world.
The place wasn't far from where they lived, and the two quickly returned home.
"Put the wild vegetables in the kitchen, and the herbs here," Ling Yunxi said as she entered the courtyard.
"Okay." After putting it down, Xiao Mingyan went to the kitchen and picked up the bird eggs.
Ling Yunxi then laid the herbs out to dry in the courtyard.
Watching Ling Yunxi's series of orderly actions, Xiao Mingyan felt that she was somewhat unfamiliar, yet he couldn't help but want to get closer to her.
He stood to the side, his tail wagging helplessly. Just as he was about to come over, Ling Yunxi had already finished tidying up the herbs.
"Give it to me," Ling Yunxi said when she saw him holding the eggs.
"good."
Xiao Mingyan silently handed her the bird egg, his gaze following her figure: "I... I'll be right next to you. Call me anytime if you need anything."
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