The wooden longsword hangs on the wall, with a brand new cushion below it.
"What happened to my room?" Xu Changāan asked, puzzled.
"The arrangement here... it looks a bit like..." Yun Qian frowned.
"Like how Mr. Sword Hall arranges his main hall, right?" Xu Changāan had no intention of hiding anything. "I originally replicated sirās room, but now..."
Xu Changāan sighed.
Li Zhibaiās room had completely changed to accommodate Miss Yun.
He was really quite unabashed, fully confident in his understanding of Yun Qian with no intention of hiding anything.
Would any usual man tell his wife that his room is a replica of another womanās room?
"Is this what youād call a red herring?" Yun Qian suddenly said.
"?"
A question mark practically flew over Xu Changāanās head as he looked at Yun Qianās earnest expression, feeling a headache coming on.
Gritting his teeth.
Itās over.
Yun Qian actually started to care about this "red herring" business, just as she had begun to care about having a daughter back then.
How could Xu Changāan not know that it was because his nervous reaction upon hearing that term piqued Yun Qianās interest? If he had remained calmer before, the girl would probably have forgotten all about any apricot trees by now.
What drew Yun Qian wasnāt the red herring, but his reaction.
Realizing this, Xu Changāan was filled with regret, deep regret.
"Miss, I assure you, thereās no red herring at all." Xu Changāan tried hard to keep his reaction normal, hoping desperately not to inadvertently reignite Yun Qianās curiosity.
"I was just saying it casually."
Indeed, once Xu Changāan began properly answering her questions without evasion, Yun Qian, unable to see his "embarrassment," became much more normal. She wrapped one arm around Xu Changāanās arm and, with the other, pointed at the cushion on the floor: "Why doesnāt this room have a bed?"
"I used to live here alone, and at night, I would meditate and rest, so I didnāt need a bed," Xu Changāan explained.
Yun Qian raised her eyebrows slightly: "No bed, where will we sleep?"
"Itās still daytime now." Xu Changāan blinked more frequently: "Weāre meeting with sir tonight."
Upon hearing this, Yun Qian turned her head to give Xu Changāan a serious look and said, "I mean, when I come to live here in the future, where will I sleep?"
"... Iāll make arrangements then," Xu Changāan quickly replied, showing no sign of his previous misunderstanding.
He couldnāt help it because the matter with the red herring made him think about Miss Yun wanting children, wanting children... so his mind couldnāt quite catch up instantly.
"Alright," Yun Qian nodded, then yawned: "Iām a bit tired."
"Sit down and rest..." Xu Changāan began to say, but seeing the low cushion on the floor, swallowed the latter half of his sentence.
Why hadnāt he arranged for any furniture before?
"Miss, the cushion is quite soft too."
"You go ahead."
"Iāll be back soon, Miss, please hold on a bit."
Watching Xu Changāan as he left almost in a hurry, Yun Qianās lips curled up.
Would she dislike this cushion?
Of course not.
"More than a year... just sitting here." Yun Qian lifted her skirt, squatting down, and gently poked the cushion on the floor, resisting the urge to pick it up.
Yun Qian raised her skirt a bit higher again, then sat on the cushion.
She had already asked her husband for a longsword; a lady should learn to be content and not overly greedy... so she refrained from taking the cushion for now.
After all, if she took the cushion, where would Xu Changāan sit in the future?
While pondering, Yun Qian heard a noise. She stood up and walked to the door, only to meet eyes with a tabby cat who was climbing the wall, just about to jump over.
By now, only a drizzle remained from the rain, and the catās fur carried a bit of moisture.
Xiaohua: "..."
Li Hua lay on the wall, its two hind legs hanging down, and upon seeing Yun Qian, it seemed shocked for a moment in a very human-like manner. Its hind legs slipped, and with a "thud," it fell to the ground.
The kitten rolled over on the ground, looking at Yun Qian warily.
Yun Qianās expression remained calm as she took a few steps forward, thinking this must be the "Xiaohua" Xu Changāan had mentioned to her numerous times.
In the stunned gaze of the tabby cat, Yun Qian pinched its head and lifted it off the ground.
The tabby cat looked at her face up close, its body frozen as if it was held immobile by something, unable to move a muscle.
Perhaps itās because it was the first time seeing a woman in Xu Changāanās room?
Nonetheless, being held by Yun Qian made it instinctively uncomfortable. Its cat legs kicked twice and, in the blink of an eye, it was held at Yun Qianās eye level, staring face to face.
"Xiaohua?" Yun Qian softly said, "Is it pear blossom or Li Hua..."
This statement was quite odd, but the tabby understood and let out a meow, as if to distinguish itself from the bad woman surnamed Wen.
It didnāt recognize Yun Qian, and since it belonged to the Demon Race, its fierceness suddenly showed. Sharp teeth exposed to the air, its body writhed violently, attempting to bite Yun Qianās wrist to force her to let it down.
"Donāt move," Yun Qian frowned. "Iām about to lose grip on you."
Listening to Yun Qian, the tabby suddenly calmed down, allowing her to hold its head and carry it into the room. However, if looked into carefully... the catās eyes were full of fear.
"..."
Xiaohua trembled, wondering how in its favorite courtyard appeared someone even scarier than Wen Li.
It had clearly come looking for fun, thinking Xu Changāan was back.