Chapter 41: She cried because she was by his side
A table of food was brought into the house.
Xue Zhiying's thoughts were still in a mess, but she didn't bother to sort them out. She sat at the table with Xiao Yunqi and started eating.
The atmosphere seemed weird, or maybe she was the only one who felt it was weird.
Xiao Yunqi was not affected at all. He picked up his chopsticks slowly and leisurely, eating the simple meal elegantly.
Xue Zhiying chewed for a while and couldn't help asking, "Where are you going when you say detour, Young Master?"
"Yuexiang."
Xue Zhiying stopped all her movements and her breathing stopped at the tip of her nose.
Xiao Yunqi didn't even raise his eyelids, as if giving an honest and frank answer.
But there is no such coincidence.
"What about you?" Xiao Yunqi asked.
"Didn't you say you were going back home to discuss marriage? Why did you leave after staying in Ningzhou for a few days?"
His tone was as calm as casual conversation at the dinner table.
But he obviously knew everything.
I knew she'd given the excuse of returning to her hometown to discuss marriage in order to leave, I knew she had no plans to stay in Ningzhou, and I didn't even know her next destination...
Xue Zhiying continued eating with her head down and didn't say anything.
She was enveloped by a feeling of helplessness, not knowing what to do.
There was a long silence, and the meal was coming to an end.
She remembered that Xiao Yunqi would sleep here tonight.
A servant came into the room and took away the dishes.
Xue Zhiying stood in front of the only space in the guest room where a bed could be made for a long time without moving.
Xiao Yunqi didn't urge him either. There was freshly brewed tea in the teapot on the table.
He poured a cup of tea and looked at her quietly.
After a while, Xue Zhiying finally took action. She walked slowly to the cabinet, opened it and took out the thick quilt inside.
That is a quilt used in winter. Although it is a little chilly in early autumn, we still don't need such a thick quilt.
So these quilts have not been used for a long time, and when you open them you can smell an indescribable strange smell.
Xiao Yunqi might not have smelled it because he was far away, but Xue Zhiying frowned slightly as she stood in front of the cabinet.
She hesitated for a moment, then held her breath and took the quilt out of the cabinet.
As soon as the bedding was taken out, a low voice came from behind: "What's that smell?"
Xue Zhiying: "...The wood of the cabinet isn't very good, so it might have a bit of a smell."
She wanted to add that the quilt had no smell, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Xue Zhiying shook out the folded quilt and wanted to quickly make the bed on the floor.
Unexpectedly, when the quilt was shaken, a cloud of dust flew out under the candlelight.
The fallen quilt revealed Xiao Yunqi's expressionless face.
Xue Zhiying opened her mouth slightly and wanted to say against her conscience that she could sleep.
The next moment.
A-choo——
She sneezed while holding up the quilt, then lowered her head and buried her face behind the quilt.
As soon as she smelled the dusty and musty smell, she sneezed again.
Two consecutive sneezes brought out rational tears from the corners of her eyes.
Her hand suddenly felt light, and when she looked up, she found that Xiao Yunqi had walked over to her. He grabbed the quilt in one hand, gently pulled it from her hand, and threw the quilt back into the cabinet in a mess.
He walked over and closed the cabinet door, then opened the window to ventilate.
The early autumn evening breeze blew away the unpleasant musty smell and the dust floating in the house.
Xue Zhiying: “…”
Xiao Yunqi turned around and walked back to her.
Xue Zhiying said: "How about..."
"Let's sleep together." Xiao Yunqi replied in a calm voice.
If it weren't for his calm tone, he would have responded so quickly that one would have thought he had been waiting here for a long time.
…
The candles in the house were extinguished, and the dark shadows by the window were cast in a cold white circle of light by the moonlight.
Xiao Yunqi asked: "Close the window?"
A dull whisper came from the bed: "Open it."
Xiao Yunqi nodded, and the sound of his gentle footsteps was particularly obvious in the quiet room.
Xue Zhiying turned over on the couch and faced away from the bed.
I heard a rustling sound behind me, and soon I felt someone lying down.
Xiao Yunqi's presence is always very strong, let alone on this not-so-large bed in the guest room.
The bed was old and made a slight creaking sound as the man got on it.
Then there were several more creaking sounds, which were obviously and inexplicably uncomfortable.
Xue Zhiying couldn't help but said, "Don't move around."
The man, who hadn't yet fully lain down, paused slightly, his words lacking emotion: "If you don't blame this broken bed, why blame me?"
"This sound sounds..." a little strange.
A man's voice suddenly came to my ears: "What are you listening to?"
Xue Zhiying was startled and turned around suddenly, and was caught off guard by the eyes nearby in the darkness.
"Don't get so close. You agreed not to touch me."
Xiao Yunqi snorted, reached out and held her neck, and lifted her head up to look outside.
Xue Zhiying was caught off guard. With a low cry, she saw Xiao Yunqi lying on his side, his body already on the edge of the bed. If he turned over and lay flat, half of his body would be exposed.
Xue Zhiying was stunned.
How could this be? She had clearly given him a lot of space.
Xue Zhiying lay back down amidst another creaking sound.
"Then you can sleep in a little longer, I'll give you some space."
As she said this, she started to go to the bed.
As she moved, Xue Zhiying couldn't help but wonder whether she was too petite or Xiao Yunqi was too big.
It seemed as if this bed couldn't accommodate both of them.
Just as she was thinking about it, before her body moved far, an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist.
The hot temperature and familiar scent came from the back, like a spread net, tightly wrapping the person up.
Now it was Xiao Yunqi's turn to say, "Stop moving around."
The creaking sound of the bed stopped after Xue Zhiying was held down and twisted her body.
Xiao Yunqi's embrace was not unfamiliar to her. After the man hugged her, there was no other movement. Xue Zhiying gradually relaxed, with a faint cool breath lingering in her nostrils. She closed her eyes without saying a word.
It was just a short while after I closed my eyes, and before I felt sleepy, I heard some subtle sounds through the wall.
Because the room was so quiet, the subtle sound was particularly obvious.
The woman let out a sweet laugh, and the man spoke in a high-pitched voice.
I couldn't hear what it was exactly, but the sound dispelled the slight sleepiness I was feeling.
Xue Zhiying listened to the noise and turned over unconsciously.
When she turned around, she suddenly met Xiao Yunqi's gaze that was staring at her.
"What are you looking at?"
"I just can't sleep."
"Did you hear that noise, too?"
Xiao Yunqi didn't answer, but just moved his body slightly and changed the way he held her.
Xue Zhiying's small movements did not make any noticeable sound, but Xiao Yunqi's movement caused a sudden squeak.
Xue Zhiying subconsciously grabbed his arm and said, "Don't move, or someone will hear you."
Xiao Yunqi laughed.
"I just turned over, so what if I heard it?"
It was obvious that Xue Zhiying was guilty.
She couldn't help but feel a little hot on her face, and she pursed her lips and kept silent.
But before the two of them could remain quiet for long, things next door started to heat up.
The creaking sound was not as obvious as the sound of the bed in the room, but it was still rhythmic and clear to the ears, accompanied by the ambiguous moans of men and women.
This is more embarrassing than having your own voice heard.
Xue Zhiying's body stiffened slightly, and she didn't move, until she felt the arm around her waist tighten a little for no reason.
She looked up and saw that Xiao Yunqi's face looked unhappy.
I don’t know how long the noise from next door lasted, and it was so loud that it completely disregarded others.
Xue Zhiying couldn't sleep anymore because of this. She stayed in the same position for a long time and then wanted to move again.
She had just moved her legs a little when she suddenly bumped into something.
"you……"
Xiao Yunqi frowned slightly and simply closed his eyes, looking like he didn't want to say anything.
Not to mention holding her, even just lying in bed with her, it was natural for him to react.
Not since the last time they did it before he left.
He had been busy outside for a month and a half, and had to travel to Ningzhou overnight for several days. He had not had time to think about it, and now he was so excited that he could not control himself even if he didn't have to think about it.
But he was very unhappy when she misunderstood that he was listening to other people's noises.
Xue Zhiying didn't know what he was thinking. Seeing him close his eyes, she stopped talking too. She quietly nestled against his chest, trying to let his heartbeat cover up the annoying noise next door.
"Xue Zhiying."
In the darkness, Xiao Yunqi suddenly called her in a low voice.
"Um?"
When I looked up, before I could see his face clearly, a very light kiss fell upon me.
Xiao Yunqi lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. He did not move in, but he did not pull away either.
He tentatively held her lips, his tongue between her teeth.
Xue Zhiying belatedly turned her head away: "Don't kiss me."
The hand that was behind her moved down and cupped her buttocks.
Xue Zhiying tried to grab his hand again: "Don't touch there..."
Xiao Yunqi didn't move anymore, but just asked in a low voice nearby: "Are you really not going to go back with me?"
Xue Zhiying paused for a moment, then shook her head, still giving the same answer as before.
Xiao Yunqi's description is beautiful enough to bewitch people.
But even if she had begged and requested for it on her own, all she got was a casual glance from him when he was free and bored.
He often forgets me and often abandons me.
How could she let the success she had worked so hard to achieve be ruined in such an illusion with no clear future?
Xiao Yunqi hummed, and even withdrew his hand from her waist. He lay flat on his back and closed his eyes again.
"Go to sleep."
At this time, the noise from next door also stopped.
It is late at night, darkness envelops me. I close my eyes and let my thoughts wander and finally empty themselves.
*
The next morning, when Xue Zhiying opened her eyes, she was greeted by a handsome face so close to her that her eyes flickered in surprise, and she almost couldn't suppress the exclamation that surged in her chest.
But she quickly came to her senses, thinking back to yesterday, and the thoughts that had been lingering in her mind before going to bed came to life at this moment.
She silently stared at the man's peaceful sleeping face for a moment, and then moved carefully.
She slowly moved her arms away from her waist, and then slowly moved away from his hot chest.
It was already bright outside, and Xue Zhiying could clearly see that although the bed was not spacious, it was more than enough to accommodate two people.
Xiao Yunqi and she lay together in the middle of the bed, and it would be enough for the two of them to move half a body length to the side.
She only took a glance and then looked away.
Now is not the time to think about it.
While Xiao Yunqi was still asleep, she headed out.
You need to step over his body and then move your legs towards the bed.
"ah--"
With a scream, Xue Zhiying lost her balance and fell back with her waist held up.
"What are you doing sneaking around?"
"…Nothing to do. It's dawn and I should get up."
Xue Zhiying quickly steadied herself and nimbly stepped over him and got off the bed.
Her thin undershirt was a little messy, and her black hair was loose, and her chest was rising and falling with her unstable breathing.
Xiao Yunqi glanced at him with deep eyes, then looked away and sat up.
Xue Zhiying wanted to run away just now.
While he is still asleep, get out of here.
However, this is obviously not easy to achieve and has not been achieved.
She lowered her eyes to hide her expression and turned her back to get dressed.
"My Lord, you should follow your words yesterday and not come to see me again. Then we will part ways now, and I will also be leaving."
Xue Zhiying felt that what he said might be useless, so she had the urge to leave without saying goodbye just now.
She had a hunch that Xiao Yunqi would not let her go just like that.
Whether it is the ambiguous following at the moment, or the unpredictable behavior that will extend over time.
He wanted to take her away, and from the moment he found her in Ningzhou, he made this intention clear.
Xue Zhiying was uneasy about this, so she wanted to leave as soon as possible.
But unexpectedly, Xiao Yunqi didn't say anything more. He just nodded slightly, got off the bed, and began to dress himself.
Xue Zhiying quickly gathered herself together.
She walked to the table and poured herself a cup of tea. After drinking it all in one gulp, Xiao Yunqi called her.
"Want to have breakfast together?"
Xue Zhiying looked at him strangely, not understanding why he said such abrupt words.
But she still shook her head and answered him: "No, I still have to set off on my journey. I can eat on the way. I won't delay any longer."
"I also wish you a safe journey, Young Master."
"Are you going to Yuexiang?"
"No, I'm not going there."
"Where are you going then?"
Xue Zhiying felt more and more strange, not only because of Xiao Yunqi's inexplicable words at this time.
besides……
Her vision suddenly became blurry, and when she looked up she realized that she couldn't see the face of the figure walking towards her.
It was Xiao Yunqi who approached, but she couldn't see his expression clearly.
"If you don't go to Yuexiang, where are you going?"
Xiao Yunqi's voice asked again nearby.
Xue Zhiying tried to clench her hands into fists under her sleeves, her nails digging into her palms, but it didn't help her recover much.
Her body began to weaken, and she moved her lips with difficulty: "What did you do to me..."
Before he could even finish his sentence, Xue Zhiying's eyes went dark and he fell forward without support.
Xiao Yunqi reached out to catch her with a calm expression, lowered his eyes to look at An Ran's face with closed eyes in his arms, tightened his arms, and picked her up gently and slowly.
*
Xue Zhiying seemed to wake up from a dream, but she couldn't remember what she dreamed about.
Only the depressed mood caused by the dream did not disappear with the end of the dream.
His body was shaking slightly, and he could hear a steady heartbeat and the sound of wheels rolling over the bluestone ground.
Her eyelashes trembled and she opened her eyes with difficulty.
What caught my eye was a piece of black cloth, which was a man's chest.
"woke up?"
A familiar voice came from above my head.
Xue Zhiying felt so weak all over that she couldn't even raise her head. Only when her chin was lifted by a finger did she see Xiao Yunqi's face.
"Where is this?" She asked with a wary tone, but her voice was weak.
"In the carriage." He reached for the kettle beside him, opened the lid with one hand and brought it to her lips, "Drink some water first."
His voice was so gentle, like the soothing voice that calmed one down when one woke up confused and bewildered.
But Xue Zhiying tensed up and raised his hand to wave away the kettle.
The full kettle spilled water from its spout due to the sudden shake, and most of the warm water wet the man's clothes.
Xue Zhiying held her breath, not bothering to see if his face darkened because of this. She tried her best to support her body, and with difficulty she broke away from his arms and leaned against the hard backrest of the carriage.
The curtains of the moving carriage fluttered on their own without her having to lift a finger.
She turned her head to look outside. It was an unfamiliar mountain road and she had no idea where it was leading.
The surroundings were as desolate as when she arrived. The cool autumn breeze blew on her face, trying to help her regain some sanity.
Xiao Yunqi put down the kettle and didn't look at his wet clothes. He looked straight at her, as if waiting for her to look outside and then look back at him.
But no.
Xue Zhiying kept staring out the window. She couldn't tell where she was, but she just kept staring stubbornly.
Her thoughts gradually came back to her mind, and she couldn't even recall that vague dream for no reason.
She dreamed that she was grabbed by the wings and placed in a tightly fenced birdcage.
Xiao Yunqi said: "This is the way back to Beijing."
He succeeded in making her turn her head.
Xue Zhiying's eyes were slightly hot, filled with complex emotions, until they turned completely red.
Xiao Yunqi reached out and put the person back in his arms.
The effect of the drug had not yet worn off, and she had no strength to resist at all.
Because she didn't resist, she seemed very obedient, just like every time she leaned in his arms in the past.
Xiao Yunqi's voice was therefore a little softer than before: "We will arrive in the capital before the end of the month. When you return, you can live in the villa in the mountains."
There was no answer.
Xue Zhiying obediently did not resist, but did not say a word either.
Silence spread in the carriage.
This seemed to be the situation they often encountered when riding in a carriage together in the past.
But Xiao Yunqi felt depressed.
She was taken away by him, against her will, and she should have asked.
During the time she was unconscious, Xiao Yunqi had already anticipated her reaction after waking up, and even thought about how he would answer her when she asked.
But he hadn't expected such silence.
Xue Zhiying felt her chin being pinched, and he lifted her head and forced her to look into his eyes.
"Nothing you want to ask?"
Xue Zhiying pursed her lips and said nothing. She felt the arms around her gradually tighten as she remained silent.
They stared at each other silently, the atmosphere was stagnant.
Xue Zhiying was eventually defeated.
She had to ask: "Where is Chuntao?"
Xiao Yunqi frowned slightly, not satisfied with the question she raised.
After a pause he answered her, "In the accompanying carriage."
Xue Zhiying didn't show any sign of relief.
Xiao Yunqi asked: "Anything else you want to ask?"
Xue Zhiying turned her head away, not wanting to talk to him.
She felt that she didn't need to ask anything more, as she had already received all the answers.
Until a hope that shouldn't exist at all began to arise in my mind.
She said slowly, "Is there a deadline?"
"What deadline?"
Xue Zhiying's eyes reflected the man's calm face.
He just looked down at her, easily controlling her with one hand.
Even if she hadn't been drugged, she couldn't break free or resist.
Her success or failure depends on his decision.
Now, he dropped his disguise and arrested her anyway.
Xue Zhiying asked softly, "Will your punishment have a time limit?"
The fingers on his chin suddenly loosened, and Xiao Yunqi's eyes fell into a daze for a moment. Xue Zhiying lowered her head as her neck lost support.
Punishment?
Xiao Yunqi suddenly realized from her words that he had chased her all the way with the intention of punishing her for leaving without saying goodbye.
But during the pursuit, the moment he saw her, he forgot why he came.
Xue Zhiying was very weak, and he could easily control her, but he seemed reluctant to really punish her severely.
As long as she was willing to obey and repent of her mistakes, he would no longer hold it against her for leaving without saying goodbye.
At that time, he thought that she was used to acting like a spoiled child.
If he listened to her acting like that, it would be difficult for him to be angry with her.
He thought, then find her and take her away, and let things return to their original track.
Just like before he went on his journey, when he returned to Beijing, she appeared in front of him, sticking to him and pestering him again.
Thus, the anger that had risen in his head when he found out she had left dissipated without a trace in his self-dissolution.
But it was not until this moment that he seemed to truly realize it.
She didn't really seem to like him or want to be with him.
He should be angry at her for deceiving and taking advantage of him and decide again to punish her.
But he knew in his heart that he was not taking her away for this reason.
He just didn't understand why it was like this.
Why didn't she like him?
Xiao Yunqi saw her wet eyelashes and her tightly pursed lips from above.
He answered her slowly: "There is no deadline."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the strength of the girl in his arms was completely drained away.
Xue Zhiying always felt that what she wanted was just a very simple wish.
Live an ordinary life and meet ordinary people.
No one decides whether she stays or leaves, and no one controls her life.
But this is very difficult. She has made a lot of efforts but still cannot achieve it.
It was as if she was being declared to have failed in her attempt to leave the Xiao Mansion, leave all constraints, and find her own true life.
She would never be able to have such a wonderful dream again.
Everything has its success and failure, but Xue Zhiying didn't expect that her failure would be because of her initial connection with Xiao Yunqi.
Do you regret it?
Of course I would regret it, and inevitably think that it would have been better if I hadn't approached him in the first place.
But then she thought, in the current situation, if she hadn't sought Xiao Yunqi's help at the beginning, she wouldn't have had the opportunity to work hard for it later.
From the very beginning, she would fall into the hands of Prince Lin'an, be toyed with by him, and be in agony. When Prince Lin'an was caught, she might even be imprisoned because of her connection with him.
It seems that today's failure is just the former of bad and worse.
It seemed as if she could not change her fate no matter what or in what way.
Should she actually feel lucky about it?
Xiao Yunqi felt his clothes getting wet.
Not at the hem, but in front of the chest.
He lowered his eyes and saw a tear. This time he didn't need to reach out to catch it, as it fell right onto his fingers.
There was a wet circle on her fingertips, silently telling him that she was crying because she was by his side.
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The author has something to say: [Spreading hands] Well, send out red envelopes.
The deadline for leaving comments on this chapter is tomorrow and red envelopes will be given before the update~
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