Chapter 95 Useless Efforts Brother Li, I truly do like Miss Nian Nian. ...
Her long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. She turned around slowly, gazing at the boy who had already reached the other side.
The man's dark hair was tied up high, and he reached out to grasp the hair ribbon that was wrapped in the wind.
A pale blue Shu brocade wrapped around his well-defined hands, intertwining with the blue veins. As he suddenly turned his head, a thin layer of sweat slid down his nose and landed on his bright yellow outer robe.
The man rode his horse at full gallop, never once pulling on the reins. His narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes were fixed on her, his gaze intense. Only her tangled hair ribbons fluttered in the shadows of the trees.
The sound of horses' hooves pounded on the ground. Nian Nian subconsciously moved forward, but before she could take even half a step, Li Xunhuan grabbed her wrist.
Suddenly, with extreme force, she gripped the hand so tightly that Nian Nian frowned. Where could she find that dashing young man in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse when she turned around?
Niannian bit her lip in anger and muttered, "They stole my hairband and won't give it back. How can anyone be like this?"
Niannian glared at Li Xunhuan again, "Why are you pulling me? It's not like I stole it from him. Are you afraid I'll cause trouble?"
Li Xunhuan suddenly released his grip, unconsciously curling his fingers, and said in a soft voice, "That man was riding so fast that he must have something important to do. It was just a hair ribbon."
"...He seems like a江湖客 (jianghu ke, a person who travels the martial arts world), it would be bad if he got into trouble."
She usually liked to befriend wandering swordsmen, but she was afraid of causing trouble if she went up to ask for her hairband back.
Niannian pushed him away and ran to the carriage. "Call him your cousin, and then ask him if he'd like to marry you."
A faint blush instantly spread across Li Xunhuan's handsome, fair face. He lifted his leg and chased after her, whispering, "Niannian, you're talking nonsense again!"
“Cousin, don’t be angry. It’s just a Shu brocade hairband. I’ll give you a cloud-mist silk one too, okay?” He sat upright in the carriage, but his eyes couldn’t help but glance at her.
Niannian rested her chin on her hand, unwilling to speak. If she wanted her hairband back, she could reconstruct her dream with a mere thought.
She had granted his wish, spending over a decade with him in this dream world where time blurred, yet he still only saw her as a younger sister. How long would it take before they could finally get married?
The anxiety in her heart burned through her flesh, making her sway uncontrollably.
Was she spoiling him too much?
The carriage came to a stop amidst the swaying. Li Xunhuan got up to help her, but Nian Nian dodged him by stepping to the side.
Someone outside the carriage was already shouting: "Seeking pleasure, Niannian!"
Upon seeing Granny Sun come to greet him, Li Xunhuan had no choice but to abandon his thoughts for the time being.
"It's better to be lucky than early. Today, several of your Uncle Tie's sworn brothers have gathered together, so it's a good opportunity to make some friends!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xunhuan finally smiled.
Uncle Tie saved his and his cousin's lives, and his brothers must be heroes of the martial arts world! It would be a great honor to get to know them.
Before the two even stepped into the threshold of the mountain courtyard, they could hear laughter and conversation coming from inside.
Grandma Sun led the two of them through the door and said with a smile, "Look who's here. This young-looking fellow is none other than the 'Little Flying Dagger' who has recently gained fame in the martial arts world."
The figures at the table stopped, and one of them strode forward, exclaiming, "Heroes have always emerged from among the young! So this is Young Hero Li!"
......
People in the martial arts world are unconventional; after a few rounds of drinks, they can become close friends, especially since everyone in the courtyard is known for their forthright and uninhibited nature. The group ate and drank while chatting about their experiences in the martial arts world, thoroughly enjoying themselves!
After finishing a jar of wine, Second Brother Song put down his cup and slammed his hand on the table, saying, "Youngest brother is always the most impatient, why isn't he here yet?"
Before he could finish speaking, someone outside the courtyard laughed and said, "How could I be as impatient as my second brother? I've prepared plenty of wine, meat, and dishes."
The voice was cheerful and bright, full of youthful vigor, and sounded like someone who wasn't very old.
Brother Song laughed loudly, "Yuanzhi has kept us waiting for so long, and he still wants to eat meat. Let's have a big feast!"
Another thin man also stood up and said, "It's fine that the youngest told us to wait, but we also have two other young friends today, and you've arrived so late!"
Amidst the teasing banter of the crowd, the young man in the yellow shirt slowly stepped out of the shadows under the eaves, his hair tied high with the ribbon around his wrist. He had striking features, with bright eyebrows and starry eyes, his hair tied up high, and his phoenix eyes were even more dazzling than the blazing sun.
His gaze swept over the crowd, landing on Nian Nian's temple, and he suddenly paused.
Niannian's eyes widened, and she blurted out, "It's you?"
Ignoring her surprise, she stretched out her hand and said bluntly, "Give me back my hairband."
Li Xunhuan pursed his lips and said, "Niannian, you mustn't be rude."
She had just pouted when the young man in yellow cupped his hands in apology, "It was my fault for offending Miss Nian Nian."
He removed the light blue ribbon from his wrist and was about to put it back when Li Xunhuan stood up and stepped forward, saying calmly, "It was my cousin and I who blocked this young hero's path. I am Li Xunhuan."
"My surname is Fang, Brother Li, you can just call me Yuanzhi." Fang Yuanzhi gently raised his wrist, and the carefully folded hair ribbon had to be handed to his cousin.
Li Xunhuan nodded and tucked the hair ribbon into his sleeve.
"Now that everyone's here, what are we standing around for? The younger ones have gained some friends of their own age to keep them company today; they're sure to have a great time. Though we're young, we can't escape the wine!"
"Let me refill your wine!"
......
Fang Yuanzhi refilled the wine cup, raised it, and said, "Brother Li, let me toast you again."
He had barely begun to speak when someone teased, "You only see Yuanzhi respecting Brother Li, but why don't you see him respecting us older brothers?"
Brother Song laughed and scolded, "What kind of old codger are you? Yuanzhi is actually trying to befriend you!"
“Yuanzhi and Xunhuan are close in age, so it would be fine for them to become sworn brothers!” Uncle Tie laughed loudly.
The hair ribbon in his sleeve was crumpled. Li Xunhuan pursed his lips and drank the light wine in his cup in one gulp.
Grandma Sun's wine was certainly delicious, but now he couldn't taste any flavor at all, and just drank it down like a cow.
No matter how much he drank, he couldn't suppress the irritability and discomfort in his heart.
Of all the gifts he could have given, he had to choose his cousin's hairband.
If the first encounter between a young lady from a noble family and a young swordsman from the martial arts world were written into a storybook, they would surely fall in love for a lifetime.
As he rode past, Li Xunhuan was already very unhappy—if you guard someone like a dog, how could you not notice the covetous eyes of others?
Grandma Sun couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, "Yuanzhi has grown up. This is just a pretext!"
Li Xunhuan absolutely wouldn't allow Niannian to be impolite in front of others, and besides, they had only met a handful of times, so she simply assumed they were ordinary cousins. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could become a couple?
As soon as she said this, the wine in Li Xunhuan's cup soaked his clothes.
The translucent white wine seemed to burn into his heart, making his throat dry and sore. He gripped the cup tightly and suddenly looked up at Niannian.
The atmosphere at the dinner table changed, and everyone teased Niannian and Yuanzhi, finding them a perfect match.
Fang Yuanzhi's face flushed slightly. He turned his head and saw that Nian Nian's face showed no displeasure. He couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips and said restrainedly, "Don't talk nonsense!"
Niannian, of course, couldn't understand the implied meaning in those words, and just kept poking at the grains of rice in her bowl.
Everyone else just assumed the girl was shy, so they winked at Fang Yuanzhi and Li Xunhuan and said, "Looks like you two are going to be brothers!"
"The youngest son is handsome, so they are quite a good match!"
......
A few words were thrown at Li Xunhuan, one after another, and a bitter feeling and intense discomfort choked his heart, the more he tried to stop it, the more painful it became.
He suddenly stood up, his clothes slipping from his hand and knocking over the wine pot on the table. His hand, gripping the wine cup, had turned white from the force.
His lips parted slightly, and the turmoil in his chest almost burst forth.
Uncle Tie got up to steady the wine jug, frowning and smiling, "Why is your cousin more impatient than your cousin!"
Li Xunhuan was speechless for a moment. Uncle Tie had saved their lives, so why make everyone lose face?
However, if a few words are offensive in the conversation, it can be resolved by talking it out later.
Despite trying to comfort himself, he couldn't bend his stiff legs.
Fang Yuanzhi was patted on the shoulder, and immediately stood up with his wine glass in hand, his face flushed, and said, "Brother Li, I truly like Miss Nian Nian... I hope Brother Li will grant my wish."
Niannian released her chopsticks, raised her cat-like eyes, and gazed at Li Xunhuan in the distance.
She didn't say a word, only stared at him with her unblinking cat eyes, the shimmering water within them seeming to say: You just let them match me with other people like this?
Li Xunhuan was almost scalded by the scalding autumn water. He gripped the smooth Shu brocade in his hand tightly, as if he were holding red-hot iron.
The air around his nose grew thinner and thinner, and he fell completely silent under everyone's gaze. A thousand words surged to his lips, only to be firmly locked away by some colorless shackle.
He tried his best to open his mouth, but he couldn't inhale a single breath.
At this crucial moment, which he considered incredibly important, his mind went blank, as if transparent threads were binding his heart and locking his throat.
She is my fiancée.
The moment those seven words were uttered, a thick sense of strangeness and disorientation arose in his heart.
He slightly opened his mouth, and the guillotine hanging above his head dropped an inch.
In a daze, it even seemed as if all my organs and internal organs were beating in unison, each screaming: You can't marry her!
His face suddenly turned pale, an extreme sense of powerlessness washed over him, and his body suddenly sank as if drowning.
The gazes of those around him grew increasingly strange, and Li Xunhuan noticed that they were muttering something between their lips.
For a moment, he felt that these people were as stiff and cold as puppets.
Just as a chill was creeping into his heart, the cup in his hand was suddenly snatched away.
He staggered half a step, and in the midst of his daze, Nian Nian suddenly tiptoed and poured the remaining half-cup of wine into his lips.
"Hmm..."
Her pink tongue pried open his stiff teeth, and the light wine mixed with the sweet and fishy taste in the girl's mouth burned with a sweet aftertaste in her throat.
The translucent liquor trickled down his chin and into his collar. Nian Nian clung to the back of his neck, biting his lip, and pulled his hair back with her right hand, coldly asking, "Cousin, what is our relationship?"
The flesh between their lips was already burning hot, and Li Xunhuan was forced to raise his head, panting and staring at her with red eyes.
A commotion erupted around him, and Li Xunhuan's ears rang. Suddenly, he dared not scrutinize how their lips opened and closed.
Niannian slowly raised her eyes, tightening her grip, and said with a smile, "Tell them about our engagement. Don't forget, my cousin wrote me a written agreement."
Memories flooded back, and as if he had found a lifeline, he struggled to speak, "I..."
He had barely begun to speak when Nian Nian suddenly chuckled softly, "Cousin, I don't want to hear it anymore."
“I hate doing useless work. It seems that getting married and consummating our marriage is the most important thing.”
The chaotic courtyard suddenly dimmed, and countless lights and shadows were crushed and reconstructed.
......
"Seeking pleasure—"
The calls in his ears grew more urgent, and Li Xunhuan suddenly opened his eyes.
The crimson bed curtains almost fell into his eyes. A gentle and quiet woman's face lightly touched his forehead and said reproachfully, "You child... You're getting married today, why didn't you rest earlier last night?"
marry?
He seemed to hear the sound of bronze bells ringing in his ears. Li Xunhuan was momentarily bewildered, but when he frowned again, his mind was filled with a jumble of memories.
Betrothal gifts, setting the wedding date, choosing wedding attire...
Just as he was covering his forehead, Madam Li had already ordered a servant to help him up, saying urgently, "If you don't change your clothes now, you'll miss the auspicious time."
-----------------------
Author's note: Nian Nian is furious and has turned evil.
The forced DNA implantation—Nianbao has remembered this grudge.
Always keep revenge on your to-do list
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