"Here, these are for you."
Qiao Mu handed him a one-hundred-tael silver note, as casually as if it were a piece of toilet paper.
Shi Jing was startled.
"Fine, consider it a loan from me."
Qiao Mu nodded: "Okay, I'll write a note, and you sign your name."
Shi Jing called over the waiter and had paper and ink laid out.
Qiao Mu picked up his pen, bit the nib, glanced at him a few times, and then lowered his head. Shi Jing noticed that when he lowered his head, his eyelashes were incredibly thick and long. Sigh, it seemed a bit of a waste that they were on a man's face, even though he was very handsome.
The document was written very quickly and handed to Shi Jing. Shi Jing took it and was stunned.
The document contained only one sentence: Even if everyone in the world says I'm bad, you must say I'm good.
"This...this counts as a promissory note?"
"Yes, this is the IOU. Will you sign it or not?"
Shi Jing stared blankly at Qiao Mu, his eyes filled with expectation, his gaze as clear and bright as a spring, shimmering with indescribable light. After a slight hesitation, he picked up his pen and signed his name, Shi Jing, on the "IOU." When he looked up again, he saw that Qiao Mu's eyes were brimming with tears, tender and gentle.
He paused for a moment, thinking it was a bit of a waste that such beautiful eyes were on a man's face.
Qiao Mu folded the paper, tucked it into her sleeve, and then leaped down from the window, landing in the shade of a willow tree by the street. Shi Jing quickly leaned out and asked, "Where are you going?"
Qiao Mu looked up, the March sun shining on him, making him appear as bright and dazzling as a rare pearl.
"Until we meet again. If you dare not recognize me then, humph, don't blame me for being impolite!"
Shi Jing stared blankly at the handsome young man as he walked further and further away along the willow-lined riverbank, disappearing like a wisp of smoke. A very strange feeling welled up in his heart.
Side Story – Shi Jing in His Youth (Part Two)
Upon arriving at the residence of Master Mingxiang in the capital, Shi Jing gave his name, and a young boy led him into the courtyard.
This is a simple courtyard house. Weapons and implements are placed in the four corners of the garden. A tall sycamore tree in the courtyard provides ample shade, its lush foliage dotted with pale purple blossoms that emit a faint, delicate fragrance. This humble little courtyard stands apart from the hustle and bustle of city life, exuding a rustic and tranquil charm.
Shi Jing entered the main hall and respectfully bowed to Master Mingxiang, saying, "I am Shi Jing, and I have come to retrieve the Shaoguang Sword on my uncle's orders."
Master Mingxiang was taken aback: "The Shaoguang Sword? It was taken by Master Yuanzhao's nephew a few days ago. You, who are you?"
Shi Jing was stunned!
"Zhao Yuanyang is my uncle. He told me to bring silver to retrieve the Shaoguang Sword. How could someone have taken it?"
“That’s strange. A few days ago, a young man came with silver to collect the sword, saying his name was Shi Jing and he was the nephew of Master Yuanzhao. I believed what he said, so I gave him the sword.”
A boy? Shi Jing gasped. Could it be that Qiao Mu impersonated him to take the sword? It must be him. He had told him everything during their casual conversation on the way, but who would have thought that he would impersonate him to take the sword!
This child is really mischievous; he just loves to tease him.
Shi Jing looked distressed and dejected. Where could he find him? Qiao Mu wanted the sword, so he could have simply left the silver and had Master Mingxiang forge another one for him. Why did he have to take the Shaoguang Sword? How was he going to explain this to his uncle?
Shi Jing, headache.
"Master, do you know where that boy went?"
Master Mingxiang shook his head: "I don't know about that. However, he also ordered another short sword from me and arranged to send someone to pick it up next month."
Shi Jing was overjoyed: "Really?"
"Yes, the sixth day of next month."
After leaving Master Mingxiang's courtyard, Shi Jing found a small inn in the nearby alley and planned to stay until the sixth day of next month, waiting for Qiao Mu to arrive.
On the sixth day of the lunar new year, Shi Jing brought a pot of fine wine early in the morning and delivered it to Master Mingxiang's house. Then he moved a small stool and sat under the paulownia tree, waiting for the rabbit to come to him.
At dawn, the sun shone brightly, dappling the ground through the trees. Sparse patches of light fell on his clothes, making him appear clean-cut and elegant, with a pure and otherworldly air. After two months apart, Shi Jing missed the boy a little. Even though he had teased him, he couldn't bear to say a word to him when they met again.
A soft knock came from the door. Before the boy could open it, Shi Jing hurriedly jumped up from the stool, cheerfully opened the door, and showed an eagerness to see Qiao Mu.
He didn't know whether he should be disappointed. Outside the door wasn't Qiao Mu, but a young girl! She was as ethereal as a piece of ice crystal, exquisitely beautiful and radiant beyond compare. So, there really are girls in this world who look like fairies!
Shi Jing felt his eyes were dazzled by a bright light, but he couldn't look away.
The girl walked past him without even glancing at him. A very faint fragrance, like orchids but not quite, wafted past his nose and vanished in an instant.
It was just a fleeting glance, yet time seemed to pass by in a dream. Shi Jing snapped out of his daze, his face flushed with embarrassment. He had opened the door and stood there grinning foolishly, staring straight at her. She must have thought he was a lecherous man, right? How incredibly rude of him!
She entered Master Mingxiang's room. The door was open, and Shi Jing could hear their conversation clearly.
"I've come to retrieve the Spirit Wood Sword; this is my payment."
"Okay, sure. By the way, did you see that young man under the tree by the gate who's been waiting for you for a month?"
"Look, is that the idiot?"
"Oh, it's him."
Shi Jing's face was burning hot.
The girl walked out of the house with the short sword in her hand. This time, she seemed to glance at him unintentionally.