Lanting

Kapitel 185

These two brothers are so charming!

The white rabbit sighed inwardly.

Standing opposite them were Cai Bo'an, Lei Yongxiang, Lin Feng, Li Anguo, He Zhiqiang, and Liu Xicheng. Qingfeng was having a heated discussion with Lei Yongxiang about something, while the others listened attentively. Bai Yiting entered, and Lu Qingcheng immediately left the large table and went to the window. Bai Yiting followed, and the two leaned against the window and began to talk in hushed tones.

A voice came from outside announcing, "The young master has arrived."

A flash of silver lightning, and the white fox suddenly rushed in from outside.

The white rabbit called out, "Fox."

She reached out to touch it, but the white fox suddenly stepped back, causing her hand to miss its mark. The white fox held its beautiful head high, its golden eyes looking down on her with disdain. The white rabbit was so angry that she put her hands on her hips, her almond-shaped eyes wide open. With a series of light footsteps, Qingjian Yue gracefully entered.

The white rabbit couldn't help but open its mouth wide again, thinking to itself: It's only been a short time since I last saw him, and he's become even more handsome.

When Qing Jianyue entered, Lu Qingcheng didn't even look up, as she was discussing something with Bai Yiting. Wang Jie brought over some water, and Qing Jianyue washed her hands. Wang Jie then brought over a plate with two strings of candied hawthorns and some other snacks. Qing Jianyue picked up a string and stuffed it into her mouth. Suddenly, she noticed the white rabbit drooling over her and couldn't help but wink at it amusedly.

"Want some? No, you can't have any."

He spoke in a mumbled voice because he had a candied hawthorn in his mouth.

The white rabbit really wanted to laugh out loud, but because of the different place, she could only desperately hold it in. Good heavens, what does it mean to say that "it's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature"? This is it.

Qing Jianyue, eating a candied hawthorn, walked over to greet everyone, and they all smiled and said hello. After greeting them, Qing Jianyue used his finger to pull Qingfeng and Cai Zhonghe aside.

"You've been discussing this all morning, what did you come to? Qingfeng, handsome brother, did you even try to persuade Qingcheng? I just don't understand why he's suddenly become as stubborn as a bull."

Big Bull?

When Qingfeng and Cai Zhonghe heard him describe Lu Qingcheng like that, they couldn't help but laugh.

"I've been thinking about this for the past few days, I've almost racked my brains. This morning while riding a horse, I came to a conclusion: Qingcheng is definitely plotting something behind my back." Qing Jianyue's eyes widened, like a cat eyeing two mice, and those two mice were none other than Qingfeng and Cai Zhonghe. His tone was like an old woman pretending to be the Big Bad Wolf to scare a child who wouldn't go to sleep. "Tell the truth. If you dare to lie to me, I'll never speak to you again."

Qingfeng and Cai Zhonghe exchanged a glance, their faces showing a strange expression.

Cai Zhonghe smiled and said, "Your guess was correct." Qing Jianyue had an expression that said, "I knew it." Qingfeng then said gently with a hint of pity, "However, we think it would be better if your cousin told you." Qing Jianyue looked unhappy, as if to say, "If he were willing to tell me, why would I ask you?"

At this moment, Lu Qingcheng's clear and steady voice rang out, "If there's nothing else, you may leave."

The sounds of laughter and conversation in the study faded, followed by the murmurs of everyone taking their leave. As Qingfeng and Cai Zhonghe departed, they gave Qing Jianyue strange looks, but remained silent. Qing Jianyue was puzzled.

Lu Qingcheng walked towards him; at this moment, only the two of them remained in the study.

Kiyomi Tsuki cut to the chase: "Do you have something to say to me?"

Lu Qingcheng stopped in front of him, gazing at him with tender and affectionate eyes, "Are you still angry with me?"

Qing Jianyue's heart raced, and he hurriedly lowered his head. He still had so much to say and didn't want to be distracted like this. He said in a low voice, "I've thought about it for a long time. I was too hasty. You must have your reasons for not letting me go to Tianlong Fortress."

Because Lü Xiu kidnapped Qing Jianyue, Guo Gang and his wife were also expelled by Lu Qingcheng. Qing Jianyue, considering the need to establish good relations with Tianlong Fort and Fengyue Manor, proposed to personally go to Tianlong Fort to clear up the misunderstanding. Strangely, Lu Qingcheng refused no matter what. No matter how Qing Jianyue tried to persuade her, Lu Qingcheng was as determined as a mule and simply wouldn't agree.

"But you didn't tell me anything, how can I not be anxious?" Qing Jianyue complained.

Lu Qingcheng sighed and reached out to pull him into her arms. "I want to tell you, but I don't know how to tell you."

Hearing him say this, Qing Jianyue recalled the strange looks Qingfeng and Cai Zhonghe gave her when they left, and felt uneasy. She asked, "What exactly happened?"

Lu Qingcheng kissed him on the forehead. "Calm down and listen to me."

Meanwhile, Cai Zhonghe, after leaving the Academy of Literature, talked with Qingfeng for a while about matters before parting ways and heading straight for the Finance and Accounting Institute. Just as he entered the institute's gate, a voice called out to him. He turned around and saw Xiaoqian. Xiaoqian, panting, ran up to him and grabbed his sleeve—a bold move that showed how excited she was.

Cai Zhonghe calmed himself down and looked at her calmly.

After a while, Xiaoqian finally calmed down, her red lips trembling, and as if she had mustered all her courage, she uttered a sentence.

"Second Master, I like you."

Cai Zhonghe was stunned. He never dreamed that she would suddenly confess her feelings.

After Xiaoqian finished speaking, she seemed relieved, and a smile bloomed on her face—a smile both sorrowful and poignant. Cai Zhonghe felt as if a gaping hole had been pierced in his heart; he said nothing, and could say nothing at all. Crystalline tears slid down her lotus-like beautiful face, and Xiaoqian slowly retreated.

Cai Zhonghe subconsciously reached out his hand, wanting to grab her and keep her, but halfway there, he withdrew.

Xiaoqian gave a sorrowful smile that broke one's heart. She lifted her skirt, turned around, and ran away quickly.

Cai Zhonghe stared blankly as she walked away, a sense of guilt washing over him. It wasn't because she had once saved his life, nor because she loved him. It was because he had given this poor girl unwarranted illusions. He had noticed her because of Jian Yue; and because he was the person Jian Yue liked, he couldn't help but pay attention to her. From beginning to end, it was all because Jian Yue liked her that he liked her too. And yet, his affection hurt her.

Self-blame, pain, distress, excitement—all sorts of emotions were kneaded together like dough and then tormented in a frying pan…

It was late at night, and Du Ping tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He finally got up, put on his clothes, and went out of his room. He wanted some fresh air, but as he walked, he reached Xiaoqian's courtyard. He hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to go in. He called out a few times, but no one answered. After thinking for a moment, he went around to the kitchen. Sure enough, he could see a light on in the kitchen from afar. Overjoyed, he walked quickly towards the door, but hesitated again when he reached it. So he turned and peeked through the window.

His guess was right. Xiaoqian was busy in the kitchen. She put the stewed bird's nest into a celadon jar, placed it on a carved tray, set out bowls and spoons, washed her hands, and took off her apron.

Du Ping sighed inwardly: How adorable! If she could become my wife, cooking for me every night, I would be ecstatic. Ah, wait, what am I thinking? I'm so thoughtless.

Remembering his purpose, he couldn't help but slap his head in self-reproach. He wondered if he had made a noise that might have alerted Xiaoqian. He hurriedly hid, but then thought, "Wait a minute, why am I hiding?" So he peeked inside again. What he saw made his face turn as green as a vegetable leaf.

Xiaoqian took out a small paper packet from her bosom, opened it, poured an unknown white powder into the ceramic flower jar containing bird's nest, and then stirred it with a spoon.

Du Ping trembled as if he had a fever, and began to poison her. Xiaoqian picked up the bird's nest soup and headed towards the kitchen door. Du Ping turned around like a puppet, and Xiaoqian left the kitchen. He raised his hand, which trembled as he pointed at Xiaoqian, his mouth squeezed as if something was pressing hard, distorting his face. Finally, after he uttered a single word, a hand reached out from behind him in the darkness, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.

The stars in the sky twinkled, and the white fox in the house blinked its golden eyes at the several pots of precious peonies sent from the peony garden. Not far away, Qingjian Yue lay on the table, her hands supporting her chin, watching the Lijiang performance across the street with a bored expression.

"Lü Xiu had an older sister named Lü Fanghua. Her beauty was so captivating that the wild geese flying in the sky would fall to the ground and refuse to leave, and the fish in the water would become intoxicated as if they had drunk wine."

"I know, she's stunningly beautiful, while you're more like a flower that hides its face in shame." Qing Jianyue said impatiently, "Please get to the point."

"Such a stunning beauty is naturally a match made in heaven with Young Master Long."