Chapter 18: Compensation: The beautiful house cat wandered outside and became a dirty little cat...
Dark clouds hung low, and strong winds brought heavy rain to the streets. The treetops on the street were swaying, and the sound of rain was crackling, constantly pushing the mood into deeper darkness.
It was barely three in the afternoon, but the sky was already as dark as night, and the rain showed no sign of stopping.
Only Mu Yan came to pick up Xue Zhiying, and there was still no sign of Xiao Yunqi.
Xue Zhiying sat alone in the carriage, with her head down and silent.
But her mind was full of thoughts, and it was difficult for her to forget her dashed hopes as quickly as she had as a child.
In fact, it was not her wish that was dashed. Going to Huining Temple was not her request in the first place. She just wanted to get a chance to leave the house and deliver the embroidery to the embroidery workshop.
Her goal had been achieved. She gave the embroidery to Yunniang and also got the cloth from Yunniang. It was a very fruitful harvest.
Well...
Xue Zhiying knew that she was cowardly trying to comfort herself again.
But the depressed mood always needs to be relieved. No one will comfort her, and she can't stay lost like this forever.
The western suburbs were clearly very far away, but it seemed as if the carriage arrived at the Xiao Mansion in the blink of an eye.
"Cousin, we're here."
There was no movement in the carriage for a long time, and Mu Yan had no choice but to speak out to remind people.
His voice, mixed with the rain, still brought Xue Zhiying back to her senses.
She started to get out of the carriage. She was obviously the one who had been waiting in front of the embroidery workshop for a long time, and she was only delayed for a moment, but she still whispered an apology.
Mu Yan looked up and said, "Cousin, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"
Xue Zhiying did feel uncomfortable, but how could she feel comfortable when she was in a bad mood?
The light was dim due to the rain and fog, so she just thought Mu Yan was being polite.
"I'm fine, thanks for taking me back."
But she didn't know that even in the dim light, her face looked pale, her hair was a little messy, and her expression was very haggard. She didn't look like she was okay at all.
Mu Yan couldn't help but say, "Why don't we call a doctor to Jingshuiyuan to take a look?"
Xue Zhiying moved her lips, obviously still wanting to refuse.
But she hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Mu Yan, has my cousin returned home?"
"Yes, the master has returned first."
"Can I see him?"
Xiao Yunqi may not care much about this, but in Mu Yan's opinion, they are in the wrong anyway.
He didn't know if his master was free at the moment, but looking at Xue Zhiying's timid appearance, he couldn't say no.
"I need to go and ask for instructions."
"I'll come with you, okay?"
Mu Yan: "This..."
"If my cousin is busy, I will go back. If my cousin agrees, you don't have to come back to call me."
"Okay?"
There's no way I can say no to this.
Mu Yan hummed and held up the umbrella for Xue Zhiying: "Miss, please."
Not long after walking, Xue Zhiying recognized that this was the road to Yunmozhai.
As expected, he was still handling official business and was not resting in the bedroom, but in the study.
Walking through the corridor, the candlelight reflected from Yunmo Zhai brightens the surrounding view.
Mu Yan stopped at the corridor and said, "Miss, please wait here for a while."
Xue Zhiying nodded slightly: "Thank you."
However, after Mu Yan turned and walked into Yunmo Zhai, Xue Zhiying also followed him.
She didn't want to wait in the corridor where she couldn't see what was happening in the yard.
When Xue Zhiying walked to the gate of the courtyard, Mu Yan just knocked on the door of the study.
From a distance, she heard the man's cold voice coming from inside the door: "Come in."
It's a pity that she wasn't allowed in.
Mu Yan pushed the door open and walked in.
The moment the door opened, Xue Zhiying's back stiffened and his eyes widened.
There is someone else in the study.
It's a woman.
How could there be a woman?
Xue Zhiying frowned unconsciously, staring at the room.
However, in just a moment, Mu Yan closed the door.
Xue Zhiying didn't see the woman in the room clearly, but she couldn't help but think of the person she met in the embroidery workshop.
She tried hard to stop herself from thinking too much, but the suppressed emotions made her feel dizzy.
Until the study door was opened again.
Mu Yan opened the door and stepped aside, and Xue Zhiying and the woman in front of the door met face to face.
It was a strange face, gentle and beautiful, eye-catching.
Not the woman from before.
The other party seemed stunned for a moment, then walked out, his expression returning to calm.
Xue Zhiying felt useless because she slowly lowered her eyes under the other person's gaze and clenched her fingers, as if she would not show anything unusual if he did not look at her.
"Cousin, the master wants you to come in."
Xue Zhiying came back to her senses and said, "Okay."
After Mu Yan relayed the message, he followed the woman's back and walked out of Yunmozhai, presumably to see the guest off.
The door of the study was slightly open, and light could be seen coming from inside.
In front of the desk, Xiao Yunqi raised his hand and rubbed his eyebrows irritably. When he heard a noise in front of the door, he put his hand down and looked up.
A very embarrassed figure appeared in front of the door.
Water droplets dripped from the wet skirt, instantly forming a puddle on the ground. Her hair stuck to her pale cheeks, and her clear and round eyes were filled with a bit of helplessness. For a moment, she didn't know whether to move forward or stop.
Like a stray kitten that has just been picked up.
The door is enough to block the wind and rain outside, and I dare not step into the bright candlelight anymore.
But it's obviously a house cat.
Xue Zhiying lowered her head and was still thinking about what to say.
Xiao Yunqi's calm voice came from the front: "Come here."
Xue Zhiying stopped thinking and walked slowly towards him.
The dirty little cat wet the house, leaving a winding trail of water on the floor.
But Xiao Yunqi just glanced at it casually and didn't care much.
"……cousin."
However, when the girl came closer and stopped, speaking softly, his expression changed subtly.
Xiao Yunqi: "Sit down."
Xue Zhiying felt uneasy.
Before coming here, she just felt that she had waited for so long, and there was no way to comfort herself. Instead of going back with a lot of anger, she might as well come to Xiao Yun and ask for an explanation.
This was different from her previous deliberate approach to him, so she should be considered to be in the right in this matter.
But when she really faced the calm and indifferent look of the man in front of her, she unconsciously wanted to retreat and could not withstand the momentum to denounce him.
Xue Zhiying could only sit down obediently.
She bent her knees in front of the chair to sit down, and when she looked sideways behind her, she saw the wet mark she had left behind. She suddenly became weaker and her movements became more hesitant.
Seeing that she couldn't sit still for a long time, Xiao Yunqi turned around to look at her.
The wet clothes stuck to her body, clinging to her figure and outlining her curves more clearly than when she was standing.
Her black hair fell as she bent over, sweeping across the undulating area in front of her body, and finally fell to one side, completely revealing her plump figure, which was completely different from her usual petite and slender figure.
Part of the gauze fabric clung to her round shoulders due to being wet, extending to the collar under her neck, revealing her soft skin. Her sunken collarbone was faintly visible, and a piece of lotus pink fabric seeped out from the edge of her heart.
After looking at the water stains, Xue Zhiying also noticed the tension in front of her.
She pursed her lips in annoyance.
Sitting like this will make you look fat.
She couldn't help but move her arms slightly to pull the fabric in front of her body, and rubbed her butt to loosen the hem of her skirt.
She tried hard to adjust herself, her buttocks already falling on the cushion, and she lowered her head to check her posture.
"What are you twisting?"
Xue Zhiying suddenly stopped moving and subconsciously denied: "I didn't twist it."
Fortunately, he didn't ask any further questions this time.
Xiao Yunqi looked away and said, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting for so long today."
Xue Zhiying breathed a sigh of relief, but was also surprised that he would take the initiative to talk about this.
Doesn't he have to apologize to her and admit his mistake without her accusing him first?
When I looked up, I saw Xiao Yunqi slowly turning to the next page of the book, without the apologetic look I had expected.
A feeling of dissatisfaction welled up in my heart, but I was unable to reach the highest point.
Finally, she could only whisper, "Well, I waited for you at the door of the embroidery workshop for a long time, but you didn't come."
These words did have a certain tone of condemnation, but to Xiao Yunqi they sounded like a coquettish act.
Her tone was soft and without any momentum. I wonder what kind of person would be so hurt by her words.
Logically speaking, he didn't need to pay attention to her little complaint. She had asked him for something and her schedule had changed, so she should follow the arrangements.
However, the arrangement was not good, and after half a day, the beautiful house cat became a dirty little cat after wandering outside.
It's time to comfort him a little.
"As compensation, I can grant you a request."
Xue Zhiying's eyes widened, thinking she had misheard: "Really?"
Xiao Yunqi asked slowly, "How do you want me to compensate you?"
The atmosphere was quiet for a moment.
Xiao Yunqi closed the book in his hand and finally looked up.
Xue Zhiying opened her lips slightly, but felt a little uneasy at the quiet gaze, so she simply turned her head away.
"Anything?"
A low laugh came from the front, as if he was being mocked again.
Xue Zhiying was unsure and turned back to look at him.
He was caught red-handed by Xiao Yunqi who was waiting there.
He suddenly became curious.
How far can she push her limits?
"Tell me about it."
Xue Zhiying's eyes trembled slightly, and her already weak arrogance was instantly extinguished.
My body was hot and cold for some reason, my mind was a mess, and I was soon overwhelmed by greedy desires.
She wanted a large sum of money, preferably to buy her a house, and then arrange for a carriage to escort her all the way away from the Xiao family.
Or help her get rid of Meng Chen, and don't allow Xu to interfere in her marriage again.
At worst, they could make up for the original trip another day, but she couldn't be alone, he had to accompany her.
If there was no other way, she actually wanted to know what the relationship between the woman just now and him was.
...Or, say sorry to her.
Xiao Yunqi looked at her quietly, taking in the constantly changing expressions on her face.
As he thought, he was greedy enough, but also cowardly enough.
Still as clumsy as ever, unable to hide his thoughts.
Then he noticed that her cheeks were slightly red, as if her color had returned, but she looked even more haggard than before.
Xiao Yunqi's slender fingers tapped the table lightly, making a dull sound, as if urging someone.
Until the girl frowned impatiently, the abnormal blush on both sides of her cheeks became more and more obvious, and her eyes gradually became blurred.
Xiao Yunqi paused and was about to speak.
Xue Zhiying's figure suddenly shook.
Xiao Yunqi stopped talking and looked at her body which rarely fell towards him. He stretched out his hand and held her shoulders to prevent her from falling.
The momentary sway made Xue Zhiying completely dizzy.
The answer that finally came to my mind was like gibberish: "I feel very uncomfortable and my head hurts. I want to go to your place."
Starting to act like a spoiled brat again.
Xiao Yun thought.
"I want to rest in your bedroom...is that okay?"
Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Xue Zhiying closed her eyes unconsciously, her eyelashes trembling violently.
But her words received no response.
She tried hard to open her eyes, but when her eyelids opened, her vision was blurry.
She couldn't hold on for more than a moment, and in the end, she couldn't see anything clearly. She just looked at the dark shadow in front of her, fell down and murmured: "You said you wanted to compensate me... I just want this."
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