Seeing his astonished expression, Chi Yan's mockery intensified. He knew perfectly well that Chi Jingyu had used his essays as his own to gain favor with the Director of the Imperial Academy and become his prized student.
Therefore, he never felt that Chi Jingyu was innocent. Whenever the other party put on the airs of an older brother and scolded him for being ignorant, he only felt irony.
After all, Chi Jingyu knew perfectly well why he had become like this, didn't he?
The difference between him and Lady Hou is that he is more hypocritical.
"You feel at ease using something stolen, brother." Chi Yan ignored his livid face, skipped the bow, sneered, and turned to leave.
After a long while, Chi Jingyu finally came to his senses, staring at the direction Chi Yan had left, his fingertips clenching tighter and tighter.
*
The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain. Chi Yan jumped off the carriage first and turned to help Chen Tangning: "I remember the last time we came here was a year ago."
Time really flies.
She stopped, looked up at the ancient temple hidden halfway up the mountain in the verdant hills, and her heart calmed down: "Yes, you hadn't participated in the autumn examinations yet."
The two walked up the mountain. Climbing a mountain is physically demanding. In no time, Shen Tangning's forehead was covered in fine sweat, and her cheeks were powdered.
There were few people coming to worship today. Chi Yan saw her struggling to lift her skirt and panting, so he went over to tease her: "How about you call out 'husband' and I carry you up?"
Shen Tangning glared at him, but because of her disheveled appearance, she wasn't very intimidating.
He chuckled softly, "Why are you glaring at me? You're the one who's profiting!"
She was genuinely tempted, glancing around before lowering her voice with a hint of hesitation: "What nonsense are you talking about! Wouldn't that be cheating, making us seem less devout?"
Chi Yan was overjoyed, his shoulders trembling: "Sincerity is key. Besides, didn't you used to disbelieve in this?"
She stammered, unable to answer, but it would be foolish not to take the shortcut, and her legs were really sore and weak, so she slowly leaned over and said, "Then carry me."
Chi Yan crossed his arms, slightly raised his chin, and glanced at her sideways: "Hmm?"
It was clear they weren't going to let her get away with it.
Shen Tangning rarely asked for favors, and she wasn't used to lowering herself even to those close to her. Her face slowly flushed red, and she bit her lip lightly: "...Husband."
Her voice was soft and melodious, like a feather brushing against one's heart, stirring a tingling, itchy feeling. Chi Yan's lips curled up, and he knelt down in front of her, speaking succinctly:
"Come up."
Looking at the broad back in front of her, Shen Tangning carefully climbed up. Chi Yan stood up and lifted her up a bit, which startled her so much that she instinctively hugged his neck tightly.
He said in a light and cheerful tone, "Hold on tight."
He walked steadily, and even carrying someone on his back did not seem to be a strain. Shen Tangning rested her head on his neck, feeling his strong heartbeat, and her expression became somewhat dazed.
As a child, she greatly envied the children on the street who were being carried or held by their fathers; it was an experience she had never had.
Shen Chang didn't have the patience to coax her, at most he would use some toys to appease her, but he didn't mind giving Shen Xiwei special treatment. She would envy Shen Xiwei when she saw Shen Chang lifting her onto his shoulders, a feeling she had never experienced before.
Years later, this lingering regret was finally resolved with Chi Yan.
She had been lost in thought for quite a while, so when Chi Yan asked her again what she was thinking about, she blurted out:
You look like my dad.
"..."
Chi Yan's face darkened instantly.
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