Chapter 34: The man she was waiting for did not show up...
Xiao Yunqi lost control of the strength in his hands, causing Xue Zhiying to frown in pain.
But he still didn't let go, looking at her calmly: "Why don't you want to?"
Of course Xue Zhiying didn't want to.
She had just made so many preparations, and she would be extremely busy for the next few days, so it was not the time to have fun.
What's more, after she really leaves the Xiao Mansion, she can go wherever she wants, so why should she follow Xiao Yunqi at this time?
But of course I couldn't say these things to him.
"I..." Xue Zhiying twisted her neck impatiently.
Unable to break free from his shackles, the words of explanation came to her lips, but she could only tremble: "It hurts..."
Xiao Yunqi's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his eyes to look at his fingers.
He tightened his lips and withdrew his hand.
He has already asked once, he won't ask again.
The carriage fell into silence.
Xue Zhiying turned her gaze away from Xiao Yunqi with a guilty conscience.
When the carriage curtain swayed, she saw a bustling street scene and could not help but reach out and lift a corner to look outside.
She didn't know the roads in the capital, but she could tell that this didn't seem to be the way back to the Xiao Mansion.
Xue Zhiying turned around and said, "Cousin, aren't we going back to the Xiao Mansion?"
As soon as these words came out, the man's originally expressionless face darkened a little.
Xue Zhiying's lips moved slightly, and she slowly moved into his arms.
Until she leaned in completely, she put her arm around his waist and asked, "Cousin, do you have other official business to attend to?"
Xiao Yunqi didn't look at her and didn't respond to her actions.
But he answered her out loud: "No, I'm going to eat."
"Are you eating out today? Should I go too?"
Xiao Yunqi said coldly: "You don't want to eat?"
“…”
Xue Zhiying raised her hand and placed her palm on his chest, which was soft when he was relaxed. Her fingertips circled and she said in a gentle and good-natured voice, "I'm just worried about disturbing my cousin at work. If it were just the two of us, I wouldn't miss it. I enjoy doing anything with my cousin."
The chest felt numb and soft, causing the muscles to tense unconsciously for a moment, then relax again.
Xiao Yunqi said nonchalantly, "Really?"
He took hold of the hand that was disturbing him and put it back on his waist.
"It's not an office, and there's no one else around."
Xue Zhiying leaned on his shoulder and let out an inaudible sigh of relief.
It seems that the incident just now was also explained.
However, she was puzzled as to why Xiao Yunqi suddenly changed his attitude and took the initiative to suggest taking her on a long journey.
This time it wasn't that she asked anything of him, nor was it that he assigned her a task.
It can't be that this is to compensate her for not being able to go to Huining Temple last time.
No matter how you think about it, it seems unlikely.
At this time, Xiao Yunqi moved and pushed the person away from his arms.
Xue Zhiying was stunned when she heard him say, "We're here, get off."
"……oh."
She always felt that Xiao Yunqi was weird.
But I can’t tell.
Xue Zhiying got off the carriage first. When he looked up, he saw the bright sign of Zuiyue Tower in front of him.
She had heard Xiao Yuanxiang talk about this place before, and she had heard that this restaurant was very famous in Beijing.
However, she just treated such a luxurious and expensive place as a distant story in a storybook.
A servant came to greet me at the door.
Before Xiao Yunqi showed up, the servant was already respectful and attentive when he saw the carriage from the Xiao Mansion.
Mu Yan stepped forward and said a few words to the man. The servant nodded repeatedly and bowed to invite them in.
Seeing this, Xue Zhiying couldn't help but take a step forward to follow.
She thought that she should go in separately from Xiao Yunqi, otherwise people would see them.
Unexpectedly, he had just taken one step.
Suddenly, someone grabbed the back of his neck like a chicken.
Xue Zhiying stumbled backwards, and an arm blocked her waist to catch her.
She turned around in surprise and saw Xiao Yunqi had gotten off the carriage at some point.
Xiao Yunqi whispered, "Stand firm."
As soon as he finished speaking, he withdrew his hand.
Xue Zhiying quickly came back to her senses and stood up unsteadily.
"Sir, please come in."
The servant greeted him even more warmly than before.
Xiao Yunqi nodded and walked in, and Xue Zhiying lowered her head and quickly followed him.
When she entered Zuiyue Tower, she realized that her worries seemed unnecessary.
This place is not like other restaurants, where the lobby is spacious and crowded.
There was no lobby in Zuiyue Tower, so there was no possibility that she and Xiao Yunqi would be seen entering and leaving the building together, as she had initially thought.
This is a place where dignitaries often hang out, and it is extremely secretive.
The servant took them to the private room on the second floor.
After entering the private room, she and Xiao Yunqi were the only ones there.
Xiao Yunqi walked to the table and sat down. After sitting down, he looked up and saw the figure still standing in front of the door.
"Are you going to hold the door for me there?"
Xue Zhiying walked towards him: "Cousin, why are we coming here to eat today?"
As she walked, she looked around slightly.
He almost walked past her, but Xiao Yunqi pulled his wrist and made her sit next to him.
Xiao Yunqi said calmly, "It's just time for dinner."
This seemed to contradict the fact that he had come all the way here and that he had specifically instructed that she should be picked up at 9:00 PM.
But Xue Zhiying didn't ask any more questions. She nodded obediently and sat at the table waiting for the food to be served.
If possible, she actually wanted to go back to the Xiao Mansion directly.
She had a lot on her mind and no appetite. After a sleepless night, her eyelids began to droop in the quiet atmosphere. She also had a lot of things to do and wanted to share her feelings with Xiao Yuanxiang...
"Xue Zhiying, what are you daydreaming about?"
"……ah?"
Xue Zhiying blinked and changed the subject calmly: "I was wondering how long it would take for my cousin to come back from Beijing this time."
"Just thinking about it will give you the answer?"
Xue Zhiying pursed her lips and then asked directly, "When will my cousin come back?"
"As short as half a month, as long as a month."
"Well, that's been so long."
Xue Zhiying frowned slightly, as if thinking about something.
In Xiao Yunqi's eyes, she looked reluctant to leave him.
He looked at her quietly, without looking away or continuing to speak.
Until the girl's hand reached out from under the table and gently hooked his fingers.
It was clearly a private room where only the two of them were, yet she still made such sneaky little moves.
But this little gesture pleased him.
Xiao Yunqi relaxed his fingers and let her hook them.
She said softly, "Cousin, have a safe trip."
He pinched her fingertips.
Xue Zhiying: "Have a safe journey."
I was pinched again.
"Cousin, have you worked hard?"
Even the palm of his hand was pinched.
"...I'll wait for you in the capital?"
Xue Zhiying looked at the man's handsome profile. She saw no change in his expression, only an ambiguous gloom in his eyes.
She thought for a moment, hooked her hand tightly around his under the table, and leaned forward with her head tilted back.
She kissed the corner of his lips lightly, opened her beautiful lips slightly, and said in a gentle voice: "I miss you every day..."
Suddenly, there was a sound at the door.
Two knocks on the door——
Xue Zhiying's expression changed, and all the warmth in her body disappeared. As if her tail was stepped on, she suddenly pulled her hand away and pushed Xiao Yunqi in the chest, then took a big step back.
“…”
Xiao Yunqi's face was dark and his jaw was tense.
He looked gloomily at the girl who retreated to her original position with her head lowered and shoulders hunched.
He remained silent.
The atmosphere in the room was stagnant.
There were two more knocks on the door, which were obviously softer and hesitant than before.
Xue Zhiying reminded in a muffled voice: "Cousin, there's someone knocking on the door."
Xiao Yunqi still didn't speak.
I didn't dare knock on the door again.
Xue Zhiying had to raise her head: "Cousin, outside the door..."
Xiao Yunqi's eyes showed displeasure. He interrupted her directly and said in a deep voice to the outside of the door: "Come in."
Soon there was the sound of the door opening.
It's the waiter who serves the food.
Several people came in one after another carrying dishes, all with their heads lowered, not even looking around the room.
After serving the food, they quickly left, but with the sound of the door closing, the atmosphere just now was no longer there.
Xiao Yunqi said, "Eat."
Xue Zhiying originally had no appetite, but seeing the table full of delicious food still aroused her appetite.
This should be her first time dining at the same table with Xiao Yunqi.
But because the food she was eating was so delicious, she almost forgot to pay attention to the man beside her.
She thought as she chewed in small bites.
During the time that Xiao Yunqi was away from Beijing, she probably had no chance to leave the house again.
By the next time, it would be enough for her to finish most of the fabrics she had and exchange them for silver.
But this is far from enough.
I wonder if she can ask Xiao Yunqi for another sum of money before he leaves.
But I just asked him for fifty taels this morning, and now I ask him for it again. Will he give it to me?
Xue Zhiying's eyes fell on the dishes on the table. She saw Xiao Yunqi slowly pick up his chopsticks and take away a piece of transparent vermicelli-like food that she couldn't even name.
I'm afraid that today's table of food will cost more than fifty taels of silver. It shouldn't be a big deal if she asks for a little more.
Besides, it has come to this point. She should take advantage of the fact that her relationship with Xiao Yunqi is still relatively harmonious to fight for more for herself. Otherwise, when he comes back in half a month or even a month, his ambiguous attitude may cause her some obstacles again.
Xue Zhiying was still thinking to herself with a sense of righteousness and was already hesitating to speak.
Just then, there was another sound at the door.
After Xiao Yunqi responded, Mu Yan walked in quickly.
After he bent down and whispered a few words to Xiao Yunqi, Xue Zhiying saw that Xiao Yunqi's expression changed slightly.
He put down his chopsticks and glanced at her sideways.
Xue Zhiying did not hear what Mu Yan reported, but she had already guessed that Xiao Yunqi might be leaving.
She opened her mouth, but the words she was thinking about just now were not the right time to say them, which made her hesitate again.
Xiao Yunqi had already spoken: "I'll have someone take you back after dinner."
When Xue Zhiying heard this, she subconsciously reached out and grabbed the corner of his clothes.
Xiao Yunqi's movement of standing up caused her arms to rise as well.
Mu Yan, who was standing nearby, inevitably saw this scene.
He was stunned for a moment, then quickly turned around and strode out of the room without looking back.
He hesitated in front of the door for a moment, and after thinking it over, he considerately closed the door for the two of them. However, if they delayed too long, he would have to open the door again.
Xiao Yunqi ignored the movement in front of the door and turned his head to the side and lowered his gaze.
Xue Zhiying looked at him eagerly and asked, "Cousin, are you going to go on official business again? Will you return to the Xiao Mansion tonight?"
"how?"
"My cousin is leaving Beijing tomorrow. Can I see him one more time before he leaves?"
The gentle and reluctant tone of his voice made it seem as if he would never come back. Besides, she didn't want to go with him.
The contradictory Xue Zhiying.
Xiao Yunqi thought so.
He asked, "How come you came sneaking around in the middle of the night?"
Xue Zhiying looked as if she had been hit on the horn.
In fact, this is the only way it can be.
Is it possible that she can go there openly?
Xiao Yunqi raised his hand and waved it away from her clothes.
Xue Zhiying's hand fell down, and panic appeared in her eyes.
Xiao Yunqi saw her expression clearly, but remained silent with a bad face.
Until he saw her reaching out her hand again without giving up, he curled his lip slightly and heard her quietly correct him: "It's not sneaky, it's cautious."
Xue Zhiying asked, "Then can I come?"
Xiao Yunqi brushed her hand away for the second time.
Before leaving, he left a sentence: "In that case, then wait here."
Xue Zhiying listened to these unclear words, and when she came to her senses, she saw him leaving the private room.
She took a few steps to catch up, and when she reached the door, she saw that all the followers who had followed him had left with him.
In the empty private room, the dishes on the table were still steaming.
Xue Zhiying pursed her lips, closed the door and quietly retreated back to the private room.
The feeling of loss that Xiao Yunqi had inexplicably abandoned him last time came back to him.
But she also knew that this time was different. She was the one who took the initiative to see him, and he also told her a few words.
But the feeling of having to bow down to others still made her feel uncomfortable.
Be patient a little longer.
A little longer.
Save a little more money.
With this mood, Xue Zhiying ate her meal slowly by herself.
She didn't know how long she had to wait here, so after the servant entered the private room and took away the dishes on the table, she curled up on the couch beside her.
She was very sleepy after a sleepless night.
At this time, her spirit had reached its limit, and the quiet atmosphere in the private room made her close her eyes and fall asleep quickly.
She had several dreams intermittently.
Sometimes he dreamed that she became rich, and sometimes he dreamed that she left the Xiao Mansion.
She dreamed that she saw her mother, but her face was blurry.
It seemed that she hadn't seen her for a long time and had begun to forget what she looked like.
Even my mother would forget.
Thinking of this, Xue Zhiying suddenly felt sad.
My heart is cold and my body feels cold too.
When I woke up, everything in front of my eyes was dark, as if it was shrouded in darkness, but there was a ray of light left, which attracted my attention.
Xue Zhiying turned her head slowly.
At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky red, and the windowsill was reflected with faint light, casting flickering shadows.
It is clearly a warm color, but it makes people feel lonely.
Xue Zhiying propped herself up and looked around, only to find that she was still in this private room.
The man who made her wait here did not show up.
Xue Zhiying stood silently for a moment. When the last rays of light from the setting sun faded away, she turned towards the door and left the private room alone.
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The author has something to say: The next chapter should be about leaving, so I’ll stop here for now.
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