Wisps of white steam still seeped from the edge of the cup lid, the warm, sweet aroma of Longjing tea lingering gently.
A lifetime together can't always be a life of luxury and excitement; there will always be the mundane details of daily life, the little things that are tedious and drawn-out. Is this what the old man is worried about? Nie Qingyue wasn't sure if she was sure, but it was always good to have the right attitude. Life should be lived like life, starting with the small things.
She didn't know if she had guessed correctly, but she knew that from the moment she entered the small hall again, Yan Shu's bright and piercing gaze and increasingly intense smile were about to steal away most of her focus.
The night is deep and quiet, a perfect time for a good night's sleep.
Nie Qingyue was awakened by something pressing uncomfortably against her chest. She reached out and touched it, finding it hard and warm to the touch.
When she regained some consciousness, she remembered that it was the love lock that Madam Yan had put on her after their long talk. It was carved with jade in the middle and was said to be a family heirloom. She had originally intended to take it off and put it away properly as soon as she went out, but Madam Yan had kept her talking until 9 PM. She was really sleepy, so as soon as she came out, she stumbled into her room and collapsed onto the bed.
The problem is, right now... it seems like there's no solution.
Nie Qingyue's eyes were blurry and she couldn't open them. She followed her fingertips and fumbled for the thin chain clasp on the side of her neck. She couldn't untie the clasp in a few tries, and instead, she got her hair and the strap of her pocket tangled in it.
"Fine, I've got you all messed up. You can't untangle it now, even if you open your eyes." Nie Qingyue let out a desolate howl in her heart, a sense of helplessness welling up within her at the thought of having to get up in the dead of winter night and unlock it by the light of an oil lamp.
The lamp outside the tent was still lit, and the dim, soft light filtering in made it difficult to see clearly.
She got out of bed with a pained expression, her feet trembling as she touched the cold ground but couldn't find the shoes she had carelessly rubbed off before going to sleep. Barefoot, she struggled to move, but before she could go a meter, Yan Shu, who was reading at the table, picked her up and put her on his lap.
"Why didn't you put on some clothes?" Yan Shu held her with one arm and pulled a robe from the table over her feet with the other. The medical book she had been clutching was now tossed aside.
"I'll go back to sleep soon." Nie Qingyue lowered her head, struggling with the silver chain around her neck and in her hair.
Yan Shu glanced at the delicate lock on her chest and smiled faintly: "You got it in just half a day?"
"That's right, everyone loves me, Madam." She seized the opportunity to boast, but her fingers started to tie knots. The thin ribbons and hair became tangled together and tightened. Nie Qingyue calmly analyzed the situation, and after a while, she tugged at her ribbon and concluded: "Scissors, scissors." She then tried to climb out to find scissors, but before her legs even touched the ground, Doctor Yan pulled her back.
"How can you be so impatient, Madam?"
Yan Shu leaned closer, holding her in one arm, while his other hand wrapped around her hair, gently tugging at the thin locket as it cascaded down her dark lock. "Don't rush, it'll be a waste to break your hair," Xu Xu whispered patiently and earnestly, her hands around her waist tightening restlessly.
Nie Qingyue vaguely sensed something was wrong and was about to look up to speak when she was kissed on the lips.
A kiss, carrying the unique fragrance and bittersweetness of herbs, was tender and persistent, lingering between her teeth for a long while before gently descending down her neck. Warm fingers deftly twisted the tightly bound knot of her bodice, biting the thin ribbon and pulling, freeing the bodice from the knot and letting it hang limply down her collarbone.
Nie Qingyue's hands rested weakly on his shoulders, her waist tightly encircled, unable to move an inch. This shouldn't be happening, she thought silently, yet she was trapped by his tenderness, unable to break free.
His slightly calloused fingertips caressed her cheek, then traced her neck and collarbone, lingering on her soft, delicate skin, the tips radiating a burning heat. She didn't know what he pressed on the lock at the end, only hearing a soft "click" as the lock and silver chain detached, freeing her tangled black hair, leaving only a thin red thread tying the warm, dark green jade pendant to her neck.
The lock and jade were separated, and she felt a burning sensation on her chest, while the warm jade pendant against her skin brought the only coolness. The thick, soft touch behind her replaced the cold air, as if she had been carried back to bed.
His hot breath lingered around her as he gently nibbled at her delicate, white earlobe, his hands moving to remove her already disheveled blouse. He sensed a slight tremor in the person beneath him, and looking down, he saw her eyes tightly closed, her face turned to the side, her cheeks flushed.
Suddenly, a feeling of pity arose in her heart. The light leaked in through the half-closed curtains, and it seemed as if she could see her eyelashes trembling slightly even with her eyes closed.
He sighed softly, pulled the quilt over her body, and gently stroked her body from beneath him. He then withdrew his hand, which had been teasing her, and looked for her hand that was tightly gripping the quilt. He slipped his fingers between hers and they intertwined tenderly.
"Qingyue, you are my wife." His voice, husky with emotion, fell gently and clear as ever in my ear.
Nie Qingyue opened his eyes in a daze, only to see that his dark and deep eyes were now incredibly clear, with a soft light shining brightly and movingly.
Finally succumbed to temptation, she used her free hand to pull down his neck and kissed him lightly, like a dragonfly skimming the water.
As if greatly encouraged, he paused slightly, then his lips pressed against hers passionately, their advances becoming increasingly intense and passionate. Each touch was gentle yet forceful, as if he could swallow even her faint breaths, leaving nothing untouched.
His palm seemed to burn with flames, tracing down her delicate curves, sometimes pressing lightly, sometimes gently, stirring the string in her mind that was about to snap.
Nie Qingyue felt like she was drowning, her fingers digging tightly into his shoulders. In the end, she simply stopped thinking about anything, her eyes and heart filled only with those dark, gentle eyes, which kept flashing before her eyes.
His touch on her waist was gentle yet firm, and he gazed deeply into her eyes. Though he didn't utter a sound, Nie Qingyue felt as if she heard him whispering in her ear, "Madam."
Her long eyelashes were still damp with mist, and she blinked gently, responding almost inaudibly. In a moment, that soft moan, accompanied by a pained cry, was swallowed up by his deep kiss, almost touching her throat.
The faint, bitter medicinal scent lingering in the air was still so gentle and mild, so tranquil that it brought peace of mind.
She felt as if she had been thrown into a huge wave, only knowing how to rise and fall with his rhythm, every breath she took was breathtaking and stirred up huge waves.
...until he couldn't help but let out a soft sob, until he kissed her eyes and brows tenderly, his hand still intertwined with hers, as if their bond would last forever.
But it's all about growing old together (The End)
As the first rays of sunlight stream through the window in the early morning.
"Madam, please don't bite the blanket."
"..." The blanket was pulled away, and Nie Qingyue frowned.
"Sleeves are not allowed either."
"..." Well, the clothes I just put on are gone again.
"It's best to avoid the lower lip as well."
"..." Nie Qingyue was furious and pounced on Doctor Yan, taking a hard bite on his chin.
Yan Shu chuckled lightly, neither backing down nor yielding, but the moment she bit down, he increased the force of his grip.
Nie Qingyue immediately let out a soft moan, then weakly shrank back to cover her face with the blanket, and grabbed a pillow to throw at him: "What... what are you doing?"
"Applying medicine, my lady?" He remained calm, and after a moment, he withdrew his long finger, which was still damp and fragrant with the ointment, and used a cloth to wipe it clean. Seeing that she was still hiding under the covers and showed no intention of getting up, he smiled, reached out and pulled the covers down, and kissed her forehead: "Sleep a little longer."
Nie Qingyue squinted and waited for a while, until she heard his footsteps fading away and the door closing, before blushing and peeking her head out from under the covers. The bedding still bore traces of disarray, and her undergarments were scattered all over the floor.
She looked around and noticed a set of new clothes neatly arranged by the bedside. She immediately put them on before getting out of bed. She went around to the screen to have a cup of tea, but saw the person who should have come out of the room sitting leisurely at the round table, holding a cup of tea for rinsing his mouth, with a smile on his face and gentle eyes.
Air, air, it's all air.
She sat down as if she were invisible, rinsed her mouth, washed her face, and since she couldn't find a mirror, she ran her fingers through her hair. She hadn't noticed the ambiguous situation on the bed earlier, but now every time she bent over or raised an arm, her whole body ached and felt numb.
Nie Qingyue thought about this carefully and deeply. Could it be that she hadn't exercised enough in the past two years? No, no, if it weren't for the fact that she turned over near dawn and was caught by someone who was eyeing her like a tiger, she wouldn't have felt so exhausted when she woke up.
"What are you thinking about?" Yan Shu put down the handkerchief he was using to wipe his face and saw his wife pursing her lips sadly, her face turning red and white in turns.
Nie Qingyue shook her head frantically, slammed down her teacup, scrambled to her feet, limped out the door, and walked away. Sharing joys and sorrows was one thing, but... well, that was another matter entirely. Right now, she just wanted to cover her face and disappear into a hole.
Stepping outside, all she could see was festive red; paper-cut couplets lined the walls and doors. ... She tilted her head and thought for a long time, guessing that it was New Year's Eve.
The Yan family was a small household in town. The two elders lived in a courtyard of a suitable size and did not hire servants. They prepared their meals and pastries early in the morning.
Nie Qingyue turned and slowly made her way into the kitchen, where she saw her parents-in-law with their sleeves rolled up, busy in a cloud of steam.
The small pot of water was boiling gently, making a warm, pleasant sound. Madam Yan rubbed flour in her hands while chattering away to Master Yan. Master Yan stood beside her, adding firewood and boiling water. Madam Yan's voice was soft, so he lowered his head and listened quietly, occasionally stroking his beard and offering a word or two of sympathetic reply.
Nie Qingyue stood by the door, staring blankly for a moment. It seemed like she remembered a similar scene. She couldn't recall making buns or anything else in the kitchen, and Yan Shu was standing beside her, boiling water for her. Back then, she had joked with him, saying that a gentleman should stay away from the kitchen.
My heart was gradually filled with a strange feeling, faint, ordinary, and a little touching.
As she was thinking, she suddenly felt a warmth on her waist. Looking down, she saw the arm that rightfully encircled her, with slender fingers peeking out from the wide sleeves of the blue robe, grasping her soft hand that was resting on her waist.
"Why are you looking at it so intently?" He rested his chin on her soft shoulder, his expression one of great satisfaction.
Moved, Nie Qingyue forgot her shyness and pulled him a few steps away before whispering, "I originally wanted to go in and help, but seeing them like that made me feel like I was disturbing them."
Yan Shu smiled, picked her up and carried her to the warm little hall, where he placed her on a bench and said, "Well, my father and mother have always had a very good relationship. They even got engaged when they were young before they got married."
Her eyes widened. A gentleman as gentle and refined as Master Yan would…
He nodded and smiled, pulled over a small heater and placed it in front of her, then squatted down and gently lifted her injured foot, deftly removing the thick gauze. Except for a small part of the skin and flesh at the edges being turned back, most of the wound was scabbed over, mixed with brown herbs and red marks, making her originally fair calf look a mottled mess.
"The scars can only be removed after the wound heals, which may take some time, since it has delayed the treatment." He felt a pang of heartache as he applied the cool ointment to a clean, soft cloth, then carefully warmed it over a fire before gently and carefully dressing her.
The leaping flames reflected a hint of orange light in his eyes, his focused expression serene and gentle.
“It doesn’t matter if you keep it,” Nie Qingyue suddenly laughed, and seeing his confusion, she slowly added, “You’re already married anyway.”
"What kind of logic is that?" Yan Shu chuckled, finished changing the medicine, and his hands, still wet with medicine, seemed about to deliberately rub it on her face. Nie Qingyue gasped and backed away, laughing as if about to start a fuss, when she suddenly heard something spill on the ground.
The two stopped and looked towards the door, where the elderly Yan family member, who should have been busy in the kitchen, was standing.
Madam Yan held a bowl of wonton soup, one foot still outside the door, the soup sloshing around as if she had spilled some as she stepped back. "I just came to let you know it's time for breakfast, there's no rush," Madam Yan said with a smile, then hurried away with the bowl of soup.
Nie Qingyue was both amused and exasperated. Yan Shu was holding her hand and leaning close to her, their posture naturally ambiguous: "Is there some misunderstanding?"
"Not really." Doctor Yan smiled slightly, lowered his head and stole a kiss on her lips: "Then let's turn the misunderstanding into reality."
Nie Qingyue was momentarily distracted, and the hand covered in ointment and medicine was smeared solidly onto her face.
So the two people in the small hall started rolling around and fighting like thunder and lightning...
The elderly couple squatted by the wall, listening to the clattering sounds inside, and sighed in unison: "It's so good to be young!"
The reunion dinner was a very pleasant and heartwarming experience.
With wine and peach stem soup, the old man, with white hair, sat in the main hall. After drinking the wine, the old man excused himself and went back to his room, leaving the task of keeping vigil on New Year's Eve to the younger generation.
Two years pass in a year, and the fifth watch of the night divides the two years. Although the custom of staying up all night to welcome the New Year has been widely spread, this was the first time she had actually done it. Nie Qingyue trimmed the New Year's candles and looked out the window at the clear and cold sky. The moon was not full, but it was still bright and beautiful.
Yan Shu sat beside her, keeping her company. A small red clay stove warmed the wine, and he would occasionally add more to her small cup to help her warm up. It seemed like this was the first time she had spent the New Year with him. Nie Qingyue sipped the wine slowly, the warm liquid washing away the chill as it entered her stomach.
"I always mistakenly thought my husband was an orphan." She rested her head on her arm, turning her face to look at his handsome features, which appeared exceptionally gentle in the warm light.
I'd heard plenty of outsiders' opinions of him: a solitary, elusive master of traditional Chinese medicine, he didn't make friends, gentle and aloof. Yet, he had a close friend with a face as beautiful as a lotus, a mature yet cunning apprentice, and kind, gentle parents. It seemed that with each day I spent with him, I learned more vividly and concretely than I had imagined, discovering a completely different, real him that surprised and delighted me.
"Actually, it's not really a misunderstanding."
"Hmm?"
“They’re not my biological parents, but they treat me like family.” He said calmly, reaching out to stroke her porcelain-white, delicate cheek, watching her blink without saying a word: “Surprised?”
She shook her head and grasped his hand in return: "I'm very happy." He was doing better than she had imagined, before she met him.
"Is it so good that my husband is an orphan that makes my wife so happy?" He lowered his eyes and deliberately misinterpreted her words, but his tone was amused.
"Mm." Nie Qingyue was in no hurry and nodded in agreement, patting his shoulder with a righteous air: "From now on, you'll be a married man."
He has a family, and he has her. Yan Shu smiled, pinched her nose, and said, "We'll go home to live after the New Year."
Returning to Wuhuang's home, her mood seemed to instantly soar. Tilting her head, she asked, "How long will I be staying this time?"
She longed to see the summer lotus blossoms of the new year, yet she still had fallen leaves to sweep from the yard, and the koi in the pond seemed unfed. So many small, warm, and unassuming things remained unfinished for her. She wanted him with her for each and every one of them, as if that was how life truly began, how it truly felt to live.
The sound of firecrackers at midnight rose like thunder in spring, loud and lively, instantly drowning out Yan Shu's reply. She only saw the gentle smile on his handsome face, his beautiful lips moving as he uttered three words, as if he hadn't heard anything, yet also as if he had heard everything clearly.
Yan Shu didn't actually speak aloud, only making simple mouth movements. The person before him had soft, shimmering eyes, and porcelain-white skin glowed pink from the candlelight. His heart softened, and he couldn't help but lower his gaze and kiss her.
As for what those three words actually mean, whether it takes ten or eight years, or a lifetime, he will eventually make her understand.
—End of text—