Двойная увертюра

Глава 64

Xiao Dao was deep in thought when he heard Xue Beifan cursing behind him. He turned around...

Xiao Dao opened her mouth, and Xue Beifan, dressed in all white, stepped across the threshold. His robes swayed with his movements, tracing two graceful arcs—the inner layer was silk, the outer layer gauze; the base was stiff, the outer layer soft. Xiao Dao stared blankly for a moment, feeling that Xue Beifan seemed like a completely different person, someone she didn't recognize. Something was off. Was it just because of the clothes? That makes sense; suddenly changing from black to white, if Chonghua suddenly wore all black, he wouldn't be recognized either… right?

"Hey." Xue Beifan snapped his fingers in front of Xiao Dao. "Shall we go?"

Xiao Dao looked him up and down again, then tugged at his sleeve, "Sit down!"

"What?" Xue Beifan asked, puzzled.

"You're so clumsy! You didn't even align the two lapels properly!" Xiao Dao walked to the back and helped Xue Beifan straighten his clothes, aligning the two lapels and adjusting his belt. He then sat him down at the stone table and took out a comb from his waist pouch.

"What are you doing?" Xue Beifan looked nervously at the comb in Xiao Dao's hand. "Are you trying to stab me to death with this comb?"

Xiao Dao was quite annoyed by him and reached out to slap his head, "Can't you be serious for once? Stop always grinning like that."

Xue Beifan looked aggrieved. "I have a naturally cheerful face. It's too difficult for you to make me look bitter and resentful."

Xiao Dao didn't speak to him. Instead, she untied his slightly messy hair, combed it, and then tied it back up. From behind, it looked quite good with his white clothes... right?

Xiao Dao stood behind him in a daze again, when Xue Beifan suddenly turned around and the two inadvertently looked at each other.

After a long silence, Xue Beifan asked, "Is it aligned?"

"Hmm..." Xiao Dao came back to her senses, feeling a little awkward. Xue Beifan suddenly smiled and reached out to gently touch her head.

Xiao Dao felt that Xue Beifan's palm was warm, dry, large, and gentle...

She quickly slapped his hand away, straightened her clothes, looked down at herself and then at Xue Beifan, pouted, and said, "You wait." After saying that, she ran into the house.

Xue Beifan was puzzled. He sat and waited, then casually picked up the small comb on the table to examine it. The comb was probably carved from peach wood and had been used for a long time; it was very smooth. Upon closer inspection, he saw a line of small characters carved on the comb's spine—"Yan Xiaodao" (Yan Little Knife).

The handwriting was crooked and childish. Xue Beifan raised the corners of his mouth, wondering if... He looked around, then tucked the comb into his pocket and hid it away, as if he had found a treasure.

A short while later, Xiao Dao came out of the house.

Xue Beifan finally understood. Yan Xiaodao had gone back to her room to change, and now she was wearing a white dress. Xue Beifan had never seen Xiaodao wear this dress before; the white gauze dress was very simple in style, cinched at the waist with a slightly wide belt. Unlike Xiaodao's usual lively self, the plain white dress made her appear much more serene. For the first time, Xue Beifan saw a hint of ladylike grace in this wild girl.

Xiao Dao walked up to him, looking up and waiting.

Xue Beifan met her gaze.

Xiao Dao looked up at him and continued to stare.

"Want me to kiss you?" Xue Beifan lowered his head, but Xiao Dao blocked it with a palm strike, and he pulled his hand back and rubbed his palm vigorously.

Xue Beifan touched his nose with an innocent look, "If you're tilting your head back, what are you asking me to kiss you for?"

Xiao Dao stormed out, while Xue Beifan shook his head with a smile behind him, "Ahem."

As Xiao Dao walked to the door, he heard the person behind him say, "A girl named Xiao Dao whose surname is Yan."

Xiao Dao paused for a moment, turned her face slightly, and gave him a sideways glance.

Xue Beifan laughed even more heartily, "It looks great."

Xiao Dao turned his face back, gently rubbing his cheek and pressing down on the corners of his upturned mouth. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and went back to the table to look for it.

"Aren't you leaving yet? It's almost dark."

"Where's my comb?" Xiao Dao asked anxiously.

"This?" Xue Beifan waved the comb in front of the knife.

"Ah! Give it back to me." Xiao Dao reached out to snatch it, but Xue Beifan quickly put it away, raising an eyebrow. "Mine!"

"Who said that!" Little Knife poked his nose with her sharp finger. "Give it back, or I'll hit you!"

"These characters are really ugly," Xue Beifan said with a mischievous grin. "Did you carve this yourself when you were a kid?"

Xiao Dao blushed slightly. "Give it back to me! This is my favorite!"

"Just ask me when you need it." Xue Beifan casually reached for his pocket, "I don't have a comb either."

Xiao Dao stamped his foot, "It was left to me by my father!"

Xue Beifan was taken aback, but seeing Xiao Dao's expression, he quickly and obediently returned it.

Xiao Dao grabbed the comb and hid it in his pouch, making a face at him. "Just kidding, you idiot." Then, he happily ran out.

Xue Beifan, who was behind, thought for a while and then burst out laughing. He shook his head and followed her out. He found it really funny that he was so easily distracted by the girl's expression that his mind immediately went blank.

Once outside, the two strolled leisurely down the bustling street.

Xue Beifan asked Xiaodao with great interest, "Would you test your future husband with poisoned wine?"

Xiao Dao glanced at him and asked, "Would you risk drinking poison for your future wife?"

Xue Beifan didn't answer, but instead asked, "Isn't that unfair? One has no risk, while the other has to risk their life."

Xiao Dao nodded. "Why not say that the Queen values love as much as life and death?"

"It seems there's no solution to this problem," Xue Beifan sighed. "If your mother were here, she might be able to come up with a way."

“Even my mother couldn’t think of a solution to this kind of thing.” Xiao Dao reached out and poked Xue Beifan’s chest. “Because the human heart is a bottomless pit. People outside can’t see the bottom, and people inside can’t see the entrance.”

Xue Beifan remained silent for a long time. "So pessimistic? There are also loving couples who hold hands and grow old together."

"Hmm." Xiao Dao nodded. "Do you know why some couples can grow old together?"