In Chapter 47, a faint hint of emerald light flickered in those indifferent, observing eyes.
I feel guilty for carelessly giving away the lanterns made by Li Xiao.
Li Xiao chuckled.
"What is this?" the boy muttered, smoothing his wet bangs and feigning surprise. "So, in your eyes, I'm such a stingy person?"
"No, loquat just felt..."
I hurriedly tried to explain, but in my anxiety, I started to stutter again, which was quite unusual for me.
Seeing that I looked like I had something to say but couldn't say it and could only stand there anxiously, Li Xiao squinted at me for a while, then suddenly reached out and put his arm around my neck, leaned down and pressed my head against his shoulder and stroked it gently.
Caught off guard by the boy's sudden action, I froze, helpless, and could only let him do as he pleased.
"Alright, alright, I'm a magnanimous young master, I won't hold it against you."
"..."
So, take it slow and relax.
His tone was gentle, with a touch of tenderness in his clear, youthful voice. Compared to his usual arrogant, unrestrained, and ruthless demeanor, he seemed like a completely different person.
Perhaps it's because I've just been pulled away from my mother's embrace in my memories.
I cherish this embrace and the tenderness I feel within it.
I couldn't help but close my eyes, listening to the soft sound of rain pattering on the eaves and the boy's warm breath brushing against my ear, and an indescribable sense of peace welled up in my heart.
Unfortunately, the rain always stops eventually, and a hug can't really last forever... especially on the street.
Although the streets were almost deserted due to the rain, we were still outside.
Hearing a soft thud from the corner, I immediately looked up and almost instinctively pushed Li Xiao away. The boy, caught off guard, stumbled from my push, but thankfully steadied himself by holding onto the door panel.
Li Xiao first gave me a strange look, and seeing that I was staring nervously in a certain direction, he also looked in that direction suspiciously.
"Who is it?" His tone was somewhat cold, probably because he had been pushed for no reason and was currently in a bad mood.
A figure emerged slowly from the dim light. It was a lean, middle-aged man dressed in plain clothes and a cloth hat, like an ordinary businessman. He was pushing a small cart and carrying a bundle of something tied together with a wooden stick on his shoulder.
When Li Xiao asked him that question, the man casually put down what he was carrying on his shoulder, and I then saw clearly that what was stuck on the stick was actually a candied hawthorn.
"Well... I'm just a sugar maker, a sugar painter, and a candied hawthorn seller. I was just passing by and taking shelter from the rain. I accidentally startled this young master and the young gentleman beside you. I really didn't mean to offend you. Please forgive me."
The man spoke repeatedly, probably because he could tell from Li Xiao's attire and overall demeanor that she was not someone to be trifled with, so he lowered his posture and spoke in a humble and ingratiating tone.
Li Xiao was probably used to seeing others act this way, so his expression remained calm.
But I couldn't help but think of the woman with the child from earlier—they, and the vendor in front of me, must be the me that Li Xiao used to see.
Confused and uneasy... Faced with the boy's haughty and indifferent demeanor, they were timid and hesitant, wanting nothing more than to keep the peace and avoid trouble.
...And what about Li Xiao?
What is Li Xiao thinking at this moment?
I couldn't guess, but I suddenly felt a little sad and reached out to tug at Li Xiao's sleeve.
The boy turned to look at me, his emerald eyes filled with a questioning look.
I pointed to the street outside the eaves: "The rain has almost stopped, so let's go back now."
Li Xiao seemed to only then notice this, reaching out to test it before quickly withdrawing his hand, like a cat tentatively probing the water's surface with the tip of its paw.
"Okay, there's nothing else to see anyway," Li Xiao said, sounding rather uninterested.
Seeing that Li Xiao agreed with my suggestion, I smiled and waved to the vendor who was still standing there at a loss: "Now that the rain has stopped, uncle, you should go home soon. Your family must be waiting for you to come back."
The vendor made two "oh" sounds, and I echoed him twice. He turned his car around and was about to leave when he was suddenly called back from behind.
"etc!"
The person who called out to him was Li Xiao. The young man looked very unhappy and took a few steps forward to block the other person's way.
Are they rushing to be reincarnated?
"this……"
The vendor was clearly taken aback by Li Xiao's actions and was momentarily speechless.
Li Xiao became even more impatient: "Someone like you, trying to do business?"
"These days the economy is bad. Even the small ones are just trying to make a living and support their families, so they think about starting their own small businesses."
The vendor gave a nonsensical answer, seemingly completely unaware of what he had done to offend this young master, hence his extreme panic and helplessness.
I couldn't stand it anymore, but Li Xiao sneered, his face full of disdain.
"How dare you say such a thing?" he said disdainfully. "You have a customer right in front of you and you don't even greet him, instead you push your shabby little cart and run away. Are you being chased by a ghost, or are you afraid that I'll buy something and then you'll have to pay me back?"
"..."
Upon hearing this, the vendor was clearly stunned, his mouth agape in surprise. He glanced at me, who stood to the side looking somewhat helpless, as if trying to confirm something.
Li Xiao had already picked out a string of candied hawthorns with the best color and the plumpest size, and waved it at me.
"How is it?" he asked.
"It looks delicious," I replied.
The boy nodded in satisfaction and gestured with his chin toward me: "You're welcome."
So I obediently took out the change I had received from eating the dumplings from my purse and handed it directly to the vendor.
The vendor received the money, blinked as if waking from a dream, looked down at the coins in his hand, paused, and seemed about to say something.
But I shook my head and smiled at him, and without waiting for his reaction, I quickly walked a few steps to Li Xiao, who was waiting by the roadside.
"What are you doing? It's just a simple payment, why are you taking so long?" Li Xiao complained in a low voice.
"This is money I borrowed from Young Master Li. Since it's Pipa's own money, of course we have to be careful with it," I replied half-jokingly.
Li Xiao scoffed, "You make it sound so nice, but you're just stingy." He paused, then, as if suddenly finding a loophole, asked, "What...what did you call me just now?"
"Li...Li Xiao?"
"That's more like it."
The rain stopped, leaving puddles of water on the stone path, small pools reflecting scattered lights and the hazy moonlight. We didn't know when it had started, but the surroundings were completely silent; there wasn't a single person in sight except for us.
The road was quiet, and a mist gradually began to spread.
The scenery is the same, but it looks completely different during the day and at night.
It was like accidentally stumbling into another unfamiliar world.
Recalling the panic and unease I felt watching the boy disappear into the crowd, I unconsciously quickened my pace to keep up with Li Xiao.
Li Xiao suddenly stopped in his tracks.
I couldn't stop in time and crashed headfirst into him, but luckily he reached out and blocked it.
Li Xiao was still clutching the newly bought candied hawthorn in one hand, leaving the other hand free, which was the one that had previously lost its grip on the spoon.
With that block, my head was fine, but Li Xiao himself gasped in pain.
"Are you... alright?" I asked Li Xiao nervously.
"It's nothing, no need to make a fuss."
Li Xiao waved his hand dismissively, but his face seemed to grow even paler. When he saw my furrowed brows and worried expression, he laughed heartlessly.
"Look how scared you are, anyone who didn't know better would think your head is made of stone. Don't worry, even if you really were made of stone, I'm not tofu, I can't be easily broken. Here. Take it."
As he spoke, he shoved the untouched candied hawthorn into my hand.
Then, to my bewilderment, she took my hand again.
"Look at your silly, clueless look. If you get lost and end up hiding in a corner secretly wiping away your tears, that would be really bad luck."
As he spoke, the boy looked at me with a hint of mockery and blinked: "Besides, the Lantern Festival isn't over yet."
...Yes, as Li Xiao said before, he wouldn't let go until the end of today.
He didn't let go, and if I hadn't pushed him, things probably would have really turned out the way he had predicted.
Looking back, Li Xiao does seem to be a very trustworthy person. Although his thought process often seems quite different from ordinary people, and he likes to be unforgiving when he is right, he never seems to have ever boasted.
On the contrary, he has always kept a low profile in his actions within the building.
Aside from the time he personally taught that old bastard a lesson, and the time he scattered gold leaves upstairs, these were the only two exceptions, and the purpose of both was to "stand up" for Young Master Lan.
If, as Li Xiao himself said, he didn't have any particularly inappropriate feelings for Young Master Lan.
So, perhaps the reason they were able to go to such lengths was not only out of friendship, but also because they had made a promise to Madam Lan...
"Are you overthinking things? Why are you staring at me like that?"
After holding his hand and walking for a while, I suddenly heard Li Xiao speak.
I was a little startled and wondered where his eyes came from.
“I was thinking, Li—” I paused, swallowing back the “Young Master Li” that was about to come out, and raised the candied hawthorn in my other hand, “Aren’t you going to eat this candied hawthorn?”
Li Xiao seemed to have just remembered that she had bought such a thing, and let out a soft "ah".
He showed a somewhat conflicted expression.
"Since you bought it, you should eat it." Finally, he said softly as if giving up, then looked at me with a hint of struggle, his green eyes sparkling with hope. "But if you really want to eat it, it's not impossible for you to have it."
"..."
I don't understand. He doesn't seem to like it at all; on the contrary, he seems to be in pain. So why force himself to buy it and suffer like this?
It couldn't possibly be to support the business of the candied hawthorn vendors, could it?
No, based on my understanding of Li Xiao, he's not that kind-hearted. Or rather, he probably doesn't even realize that the vendor might need that kind of help.
So why would he buy a dessert that he doesn't like, or even feels disgusted by?
Considering how picky and willful Young Master Li is when choosing food, this is truly unbelievable.
After much thought, I can only attribute this behavior to Li Xiao's whim.
But the boy's next words shattered all my assumptions.
"It must have been a long time ago. Someone bought me a skewer like this, around the Lantern Festival. That must have been the first time I ever ate candied hawthorn."
The boy's voice was somewhat ethereal, perhaps because he was lost in memories, and his face showed an expression of reminiscence and longing.
"I remember the taste, and I remember the happy feeling when I received the candied hawthorn. Although I don't like hawthorn and hate sourness, I just really like that indescribable feeling. So every year on the Lantern Festival, I would buy a string of candied hawthorn."
At this point, he looked away and smiled at me: "Oh, by the way, this year is different. This year, you bought it for me."
"Is that so?" I replied absentmindedly.
Because I remembered that dream I had before, in which Yu Qingzhou also gave a string of candied hawthorns to the boy who looked just like Li Xiao.
The boy also seemed not to like it very much, but he still stubbornly accepted it and ate it despite the sour taste.
—Is it a coincidence?
Or did I actually witness something happening in another remarkably similar time and space?
Senior sister, Lan, that girl named Li Nian, and the boy Yu Qingzhou knew who looked remarkably like Li Xiao… all these people seem to correspond one by one with the people I know in reality, so perhaps they really do exist.
However, within these similarities lie many subtle differences.
Like Senior Sister Yingxue, who is a woman, and the young man from the Shen family, like Li Nian and Lan, whose appearances and mannerisms respectively match Young Master Lan, and like that boy with heterochromatic eyes...
I still remember what he said to Yu Qingzhou in my dream.
The boy said that once something has been given to him, it belongs to him. Even if he doesn't like it, he won't allow the person who gave it to him to take it back casually, let alone give it to someone else.
In comparison, Li Xiao seemed less possessive of her food; if she couldn't finish it, she would even ask me if I wanted some. However, this difference in attitude might also be due to the different people delivering the food.
The person who gave me the candied hawthorn in my dream was Yu Qingzhou.
In reality, the person Li Xiao mentioned who made him eat candied hawthorn for the first time was naturally not me.
What are you racking your brains about?
Seeing that I was keeping my head down and not saying anything, Li Xiao couldn't help but ask.
I just shook my head. It wasn't that I could hide it, but I really didn't know where to begin. If Li Xiao knew that I was seriously pondering things in my dream, he would definitely laugh at me mercilessly.
Seeing this, Li Xiao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up at the night sky and said, "If there's anything you want to know, you can just ask me directly. It's better than someone silently getting stuck on something in a rut."
He paused, then, as if he had thought of something, added earnestly.
"Otherwise, over time, it will cause problems with your brain."
"..."
"That's true. You're not exactly a bright one to begin with. What would you do if you really went crazy?"
Li Xiao sighed helplessly, but said in a serious tone, "I'm afraid he won't even be able to find someone to live with. In the end, he'll just be all alone, hugging his knees and crying in a corner, not even daring to cry out loud. Sigh, just thinking about it makes me feel sorry for him."
"Since Young Master Li is so kind-hearted, if that day ever comes, please don't forget to pick up the loquat and keep it in your mansion like a cat or dog. Consider it an act of good deeds for yourself."
I was just half-jokingly agreeing, but I didn't expect Li Xiao to think about it seriously after hearing it.
"It's not impossible," he said. "Anyway..."
He paused for a moment, then said instead, "Don't even mention cats or dogs, even if there were a few more of you, I could still afford to raise you."
Even though I knew Li Xiao was joking, something still felt off to me.
I said, "I can work. If that day ever comes, I'll just get paid the same as everyone else."
Li Xiao was taken aback by my seriousness, paused for a moment, then smiled nonchalantly: "What's the difference? Aren't they all the same..."
He didn't continue, perhaps because he noticed my expression was off.
"With your temper, it's only because I'm too lazy to argue with you."
Li Xiao sighed, gently squeezed my hand, and muttered, "Your hands are soft, but your temper is tough."
I remained silent, letting him pinch my palm and knuckles intermittently, as if he had discovered some new and interesting toy.
After holding hands for so long, the boy's hand wasn't so cold anymore.
Originally, someone like Li Xiao, with such a background, must have been pampered and never done any heavy work, so logically his hands should have been very delicate and smooth.
But if you look closely, you'll find that although there are no obvious calluses, you can still feel some tiny scratches, probably from accidental cuts.
I can't think of anything that could leave such a scar. After thinking about it, I guess it's probably related to that lantern.
The wooden box on the bedside table flashed before my eyes, and Mr. Ajiu's earnest words still echoed in my ears.
That was... a token of his young master's affection.
So, could it be that Li Xiao also made that box?
If that's true, this young master's practical skills are much stronger than I imagined.
"Li Xiao".
"What's wrong?"
When he heard me suddenly call his name, Li Xiao paused in the action of pinching my fingers upwards.
"Have you thought about what you want to do in the future?" I asked.
Li Xiao was clearly puzzled by this question: "What do you mean, 'what'?"
"So, is there anything you particularly want to accomplish?"
Only after I actually asked the question did I belatedly realize that it was the same question that the boy who looked just like Li Xiao asked Yu Qingzhou in my dream.
It was as if I was struck by a strange sense of dizziness at that moment.
Reality and dreams are inverted, like a landscape reflected in water, with ripples stirred by a sudden night breeze.
While I was still in a daze, Li Xiao also gave his answer.
"I don't know, maybe I'll just drift through life like this, eating and waiting to die." He said in a nonchalant tone.
I was somewhat surprised... Living a life of idleness and waiting to die, is this Li Xiao's complete summary of his current life?
"Won't your family have any thoughts about this?" I couldn't help but wonder.
According to what I'd heard before, Li Xiao's father is very strict, so he probably wouldn't let his son do whatever he wants.
When Li Xiao heard me mention his family, he frowned and then smiled with a hint of disdain.
“My husband would love for me to be even less ambitious, preferably someone who just eats and drinks all day and does nothing, so he can have an easier time.”
Li Xiao bypassed his mother.
I think the old man he was referring to must be Li Xiao's father. Just like I'd heard before, their relationship doesn't seem to be very good.
"I'm not going to talk about me anymore, it's pointless." Li Xiao pouted and threw the question back at me as it was.
"And you? What do you want to do in the future?"
"Save money. Once I've saved enough, I'll buy myself out of this servitude," I said.
"I see. That's good." Li Xiao agreed, then thought for a moment and added, "If one day you were to be redeemed, is there anywhere you'd like to go?"
The moonlight peeked out from behind the thick clouds, its silvery glow gently falling upon the boy.
"...Is there anywhere you'd like to go?" I repeated his question, puzzled.
"that is--"
Li Xiao pondered, seemingly searching for the right words. It was rare to see him speak so carefully, and I found it quite novel at first.
Have you ever thought about going home to visit your family after you're free?
For some reason, there seemed to be an inexplicable awkwardness in Li Xiao's voice when he said this.
"Probably not."
I shook my head. At the same time, I felt my clasped hands relax a little.
"Why?" Li Xiao pressed, and seeing me staring at him with a puzzled look, he suddenly coughed lightly as if his throat was sore.
I knew this was an old problem of his, so I didn't pay much attention to it and simply answered truthfully, "I don't remember where my home is."
Apart from the fact that it was in the south and had an inconspicuous village name, nothing else was known.
"And—" I thought for a moment and added, "Even if I went back there, there wouldn't really be anyone I wanted to see there."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiao seemed to think of something, and his gaze towards me suddenly became somewhat complicated, containing surprise, sympathy, and pity.
"You wouldn't be..."
He was about to ask something when he seemed to catch something out of the corner of his eye, and suddenly shut his mouth.
I could clearly feel Li Xiao's body stiffen for a moment, and his hand holding mine tighten at the same time.
My hand was gripped so tightly it hurt a little, and I looked over in confusion.
Only then did we realize that, through all the twists and turns and our frequent stops, we had unknowingly arrived at a quiet and beautiful mansion.
With its white walls and green tiles, and a vermilion gate, two majestic and lifelike stone beasts stand on either side, appearing incredibly vivid under the glow of hanging red lanterns.
—None of these are the main points.
What's most eye-catching is that a tall young man is standing quietly under the spacious porch, silently looking this way.
In those indifferent eyes, there was also a faint hint of emerald green.
"Father……"
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