Who is to say the recent weather has ever behaved normally?
But... for some reason, she always felt a chill on her back, the overly quiet environment outside carried a dead silence, making her complexion appear somewhat pale, and her tightly pursed lips transmitted a cold chill.
Qinling could feel her heartbeat pounding rapidly, as if only her heartbeat echoed through the whole quiet environment, the more she listened, the more anxious she became.
The feeling as if something was pressing straight down on her made her canât help but lean closer to Xu Changâan.
"Phew..."
After getting close to Xu Changâan, Qinling felt her discomfort dissipating a lot, she blinked.
She couldnât comprehend this feeling, thought for a moment, and felt it was because having Xu Changâan, this junior, deliver a "love letter" for her was quite embarrassing, and thinking that Miss Zhu might read those shameless words she wrote and would resent her, despite knowing Miss Zhu wouldnât, it still made her anxiously want to die.
But there was no other way.
This was indeed a great opportunity since Xu Changâan was a young man that Zhu Pingniang liked very much, even if for his sake, she would accept the letter.
At this moment, the Junior Master trembled under the pressure of the prevailing situation.
Xu Changâan was still thinking about the Strengthening Pill.
Qinling coughed, moved slightly in the opposite direction of Xu Changâan, and whispered, "Xiaochangâan, you mustnât look at what Iâve written."
Xu Changâan snapped back to reality and said helplessly, "Master, what are you saying."
No matter how you think about it, he wouldnât peek at the Junior Masterâs love letter, right?
"No, what I mean is..." Qinling calmly remembered a certain possibility and shivered: "When you give the letter to Miss Zhu, remember not to let her open it on the spot, otherwise... she might read it out loud in front of you."
Qinling saying such words to Xu Changâan showed that she truly hadnât thought of preserving her dignity in front of the junior.
"Master, Senior Zhu wouldnât do such a thing, right?" Xu Changâan widened his eyes.
"Thatâs for you." Qinling recalled some past events and sighed lightly: "Think about the girls in the brothel, sheâs not exactly a decent household in these matters. I troubled her, and I donât know how sheâll embarrass me."
Moreover, Qinling hadnât forgotten that the Jade Dew Wine originally meant for Li Zhibai ended up in her hands... sheâd definitely be displeased.
Though sheâd think of ways to coax her afterward, it might just be the girlâs wicked sense of humor.
"... I understand." Xu Changâan nodded, indicating that he knew, reassuring Qinling.
Qinling looked at Xu Changâanâs serious expression and said with Xu Changâanâs puzzled gaze: "Then... will you stay to have a drink with me?"
Having obtained the Jade Dew Wine, of course, she should have a proper drink.
"Master, I think Iâll pass, itâs getting late." Xu Changâan shook his head.
"Itâs just a polite remark." Qinling gave Xu Changâan a shallow sidelong glance: "Youâve helped me a lot today, do I really need to say... you should leave instead of spoiling my drinking mood?"
"Master, if you speak more directly, it would be easier for Changâan to understand." Xu Changâan said helplessly.
"You rascal, alright, Iâll owe you a favor this time, a few Elixirs arenât enough, Iâll keep an eye out for good things for you in the future." Qinling waved her hand and her eyes were fixated on the opened Jade Dew Wine by Li Zhibai.
"Changâan bids farewell." Xu Changâan, with a slight smile, looked longingly at the kitten resting in the corner of the room, then turned to leave.
ââ
"..."
After Xu Changâan left, the overwhelming pressure of the situation once again bore down, like fully armed prison guards watching over the villain Qinling.
But looking at the alcohol, Qinling wasnât afraid at all, she solemnly dressed up, tied her black long hair into a low ponytail, then picked up the wine cup, brushing the hair falling beside her ear to the back with one hand, and carefully took a sip.
The taste of the wine... couldnât really be tasted, it just added a blush to her face.
Qinling suddenly thought of Xu Changâan.
Actually, she took those pills when she was alone.
Itâs like how unused clothes arenât placed in the cabinet at hand, unused Jiaodan wouldnât be cleanly put away either, right?
So those Jiaodan with the effect of Strengthening Pill were precious to her.
But... why did she give those pills to Xu Changâan?
Naturally, because there were better things.
Qinling looked at the ordinary liquor rippling in the cup and thought that this was Zhu Pingniangâs gift, even if it wasnât for her, her heart raced to the point of her ears turning red, like having taken "Elixir" or "rouge."
Obviously, this jar of wine was the best fine thing for her.
"I suppose, itâs the same for Miss Yun." Qinling muttered, then chuckled.
"Xu Changâan... is really a silly boy."
He truly doesnât understand a womanâs heart.
Qinling still remembered when she made a night visit to Yun Qian earlier, Yun Qian "bragging" about Xu Changâanâs handwriting had a similar expression to herself looking at the Jade Dew Wine.
So, these things were the best fine things.
Itâs likely Xiaochangâan wonât realize this.
Qinling put down the wine cup, entirely unregretful about giving the Jiaodan to Xu Changâan, after all, seeing this young coupleâs relationship strengthen was an interesting matter.
Qinling suddenly couldnât help but laugh.
Because she discovered that the girls on Muyu Peak, including Zhu Pingniang, were all hiding the matter of Jiaodan being used as rouge, this was amusing, but was broken by herself.
She believed that was the main reason why Zhu Pingniang might scold her.
Very strange.
Qinling found it strange.
Xu Changâan was clearly a man, yet practically everyone wanted to protect him.
Donât be fooled by the women being unrestrained in private, in front of Xu Changâan, they wouldnât even say one unclean word, knowing the boundary very well.
Somewhat excessive.
Muyu Peak, to begin with, was a place of impurity, there wasnât a need to disguise it, nor was there a need to worry heâd be negatively influenced.
Qinling trusted him, this trust reached its peak when she saw the reassuring look Xu Changâan gave her when he heard Zhu Pingniang might read the love letter aloud...
Indeed, he was a pure young man, like the snowflake of the Northern Ice Domain.
Clear and dazzling.
She couldnât describe the sunlight-like brilliance she felt when interacting with Xu Changâan, only knew the radiance was about to melt her.
Qinlingâs eyes were deep and she suddenly felt the wine wasnât tasty anymore.
In front of Xu Changâan, she was simply a vile wicked woman, itâs no wonder Miss Zhu favored him and overlooked herself.
Giving the fine thing to Xu Changâan, harboring the thought of making him less dazzling...
"I am indeed a villain."
Qinling said.
ââ
Outstanding people rarely notice their own brilliance because they self-reflect, so they know their own darkness better than anyone.
Xu Changâan believed that the Junior Master Qin he pursued, revered, and loved was extremely dazzling.
He himself... was a hopeless, timid person.
If Xu Changâan knew he was seen as pure snow by the Junior Master, he would probably give a wry smile and say nothing.
He believed only those who didnât understand him would consider him a clean person.
Being promoted to a steward naturally had issues.
He might indeed be like a snowflake, but even if snowflakes appear clean, whether it becomes clear or turbid when it melts into water is uncertain.
Xu Changâan is like this now.
"..."
He walked calmly by the lakeside of Celestial Bright Peak, watching the lone boat on the distant lake, with very slow steps.
After taking a look at the Jiaodan Qinling gave him, Xu Changâan let out a deep sigh, bent over to pick up a stone, threw it into the lake, watching the ripples spread, the undulating intention seemed to scatter all the way to his heart.
He said he wanted to be a proactive person.
At this moment, the girl was waiting for him at home, bored, she might even eat some of the fruit he sliced.
Xu Changâan knew this well.
But at this time... Why did Miss feel more like fruit in his heart?
He didnât want to be fruit.
He wanted to be the person who eats the fruit now.