I am born a beauty, and I am supreme

Chapter 136

Chu Gexing agreed, but remained seated.

Tang Leyan walked to the table and slowly sat down: "What, is there anything else you want to say to me?"

Chu Gexing raised his eyes and stared at her for a moment.

Tang Leyan reached out and touched her face: "What? Have you finally discovered my beauty? You're staring at me so intently?" She smiled and looked back at Chu Gexing.

"Hmm." Chu Gexing hummed, his tone somewhat ambiguous.

Tang Leyan, however, was in a good mood. After looking at him for a while, she asked with a smile, "Did you buy any souvenirs to take back?"

"Souvenirs?" Chu Gexing was taken aback.

"Yes, after all this trip to Fengcheng, how can we not bring back some meaningful little things as gifts?" she said cheerfully, unfolding her fan.

Chu Gexing looked into her sparkling eyes: "What do you want to buy?"

"Buy some fun things, some good food, everything." Tang Leyan looked at him and sighed, "You can't do this. Judging from your expression, you haven't bought anything. You have followers, of course you should buy something for Chu Gexun to take back. He'll be very happy..."

Chu Gexing's eyes flickered.

Tang Leyan smiled and continued, "Of course... you don't need to worry about Chu Zhen, I'll deliver it myself." She looked at him with some concern, thinking, "You mustn't buy it for Chu Zhen, so that it will show that she is unique and that her feelings are appreciated."

Upon hearing this, Chu Gexing let out another cold snort. Seeing her anxious expression, as if he could read her mind, his gaze turned somewhat unfriendly.

Seeing that he was still unhappy, Tang Leyan coughed and advised, "There's still some time now. It won't be good once night falls. You should take advantage of this time to act quickly, or you won't have time until tomorrow. Remember, just buy it for Chu Ge."

"Childish tricks." Chu Gexing glared at her. "Who would be like you?"

Tang Leyan was taken aback. She then said, "Wrong, wrong, wrong, you've misunderstood. It's a matter of personal sentiment. Besides, winter has already arrived, and the New Year is just around the corner. It would be perfect as a New Year's gift. It's killing two birds with one stone. Don't think that Chu Gexun won't care. If it's really something you bought for him, he'll definitely be happy."

Hearing her say that, Chu Gexing felt a little relieved, and Tang Leyan saw his expression soften. She closed her fan and said, "How about it? Don't say I didn't warn you, here I am... Xiao Di's, Mo Zhudi's, Shi Shu's, Beitang Yujian's, the Emperor's, and of course... Chu Zhen's, hahaha..."

Chu Gexing didn't know why she had thought of everything so thoroughly, even Beitang Yujian. What was especially ridiculous was that when she mentioned Chu Zhen, she inexplicably added three "hahaha" sounds, which sounded so smug and particularly grating.

Feeling annoyed, he slammed his hand on the table and snapped, "If you want to prepare, then go and prepare it yourself, hmph."

He got up and wanted to walk outside.

Seeing that his temper was still so bad, Tang Leyan wasn't angry. She raised her eyebrows, stood up, and said nonchalantly, "Forget it. You're so heartless. It's really unlucky to be your little brother. I was thinking of helping you pick out a gift, but since you're like this, I'm happy to save myself the trouble."

She turned and walked towards the bed. But Chu Gexing stopped behind her.

"Will you help me choose?" He slowly turned around.

Tang Leyan stopped. "What's wrong? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don't try to drag me out again. It's getting dark, I need to go to bed early so I can be radiant tomorrow." She reached out and patted her face with a touch of self-admiration. "Everyone says Fengcheng has good water quality, I wonder if I've become even more beautiful..."

Chu Gexing shuddered and said in a low voice, "...What an idiot."

The night air was a bit chilly, but the busiest street in Fengcheng was brightly lit.

Chu Gexing followed Tang Leyan slowly, watching the person in front of him holding a folding fan in one hand and a bowl of soup in the other, drinking as she walked. Suddenly, he realized that this seemingly difficult person was actually quite easy to please.

For example, now, a bowl of soup is enough to bribe her to obediently lead the way to buy so-called "souvenirs".

However, for Chu Gexing, his true intentions were not what they seemed.

Right now, all I need is to be with her.

While he was lost in thought, he heard Tang Leyan call out, "Chu Gexing, come here!"

She rarely called him by his name recently, but now that they were in a crowd, she had to call him by his full name to avoid suspicion. Chu Gexing was taken aback and looked up. In the dim light, Tang Leyan stood in the surging crowd, holding a fan in one hand and a bowl in the other, waving to him.

Night had fallen, and the wind was a bit chilly, making her face an unnatural red from the cold. But her eyes were clear and brighter than any lamplight.

She stood there, seemingly feeling the cold, stamped her feet, and waved at him.

Chu Gexing quickened his pace and walked over: "What's all the fuss about?"

"How about this?" Tang Leyan glanced at him, then turned around and squatted down, picking up an object in her hand.

Chu Gexing looked down and saw that there was a small stall selling trinkets next to her. Tang Leyan was holding a gourd-shaped object with a very peculiar design.

He didn't bother to squat down and look at it, glancing at it indifferently before asking, "What is this?"

"A musical instrument that can make sounds," Tang Leyan sincerely recommended. "Chu Ge is looking for fun, why don't you buy this for him to play with?"

"Do you think he's a child?" Chu Gexing looked up at the sky, dismissive.

"I didn't think he was that old either." Tang Leyan stood up dejectedly after her sales pitch failed. "If you don't like him, then look at something else."

Chu Gexing turned around and saw that as she spoke, her breath turned into a light white mist at the corner of her mouth. After she finished speaking, she hissed and complained of the cold. The hand holding the bowl was red from the cold.

For some reason, at that moment, Chu Gexing reached out and took the bowl from her hand.

"What, you finally want to drink it too?" Tang Leyan let go and said with a smile, "Try it, it's a bit cold, but it's really delicious."

“What you’re drinking is full of saliva, I’m not drinking it,” he said coldly.

Tang Leyan stared at him in disbelief for a long time before finally saying, "Fine, I won't drink then, hmph."

Seeing her displeasure, Chu Gexing raised the corner of his mouth.

Tang Leyan turned and continued walking forward. Chu Ge took a couple of steps and suddenly asked, "What did you buy for... Uncle Zhen?"

I'll change it without thinking twice.

Chapter 175: The Quiet Night of Yanshui Road in Jiangnan

Why would you suddenly ask that?

Chu Gexing thought to himself.

The bustling city was so noisy that Tang Leyan didn't hear everything clearly.

He turned around and asked, "What did you say?"

Chu Gexing paused, shook his head, and said, "It's nothing."

Tang Leyan looked at him suspiciously for a while, then suddenly chuckled: "If you're not going to drink it, just throw it away. It's kind of cold to hold in your hand, and there's not much left anyway, plus it's cold."

Chu Gexing glanced at the bowl he was holding, sighed, casually placed it on the nearby stall, and continued walking forward with her.

"What exactly do you like?" Tang Leyan asked.

Chu Gexing thought for a moment and shook his head.

"Don't you have anything you like?" Tang Leyan looked at him.

"Mm," Chu Gexing replied simply.

Tang Leyan sighed deeply: "Chu Gexing, you really are a strange person."

Chu Gexing asked calmly, "This isn't the first time you've known me."

She murmured, "Although it's not the first day, ... it still feels unfamiliar."

Chu Gexing was startled.

Tang Leyan thought for a moment, tilted her head and said, "That's strange... why do I have this feeling? I've never had it before..." She suddenly seemed to remember something, her expression became a little awkward, she coughed twice, and ran forward, shouting, "Hey, what smells so good?"

Chu Ge walked behind her, watching the red dress flutter in the night, and suddenly felt a sense of desolation.

Why do I have this feeling—yet it always feels so unfamiliar?

They had known each other for a long time, yet she felt a sense of unfamiliarity towards him. In contrast, she knew Chu Zhen, whom she had known for much longer, as if they had known each other for eight lifetimes.

But if you ask yourself how good you really feel about her?

Suspicion, hostility, defensiveness, and even a hint of unspeakable bloodlust.

This made it almost impossible for Chu Gexing to face what he was really thinking.

Compared to him, her use of "stranger" is already quite kind.

Simple, clear, without hatred, resentment, anger, or closeness.

"Chu Gexing!" Her voice came from ahead again.

Chu Gexing suddenly felt that everything was gloomy and lifeless.

My eyes are fixed on the distance. The red-clad figure floating in the lamplight—yes, unfamiliar, and even more distant.

Is it going against the current, or in the middle of the water?

Countless lights converge into a river; he is on this side, and she is on the other.

Chu Gexing took a step back.

With a slight sway, he leaned back. Silently, using the crowd as cover, he disappeared into the vast night.

"Chu..."

Tang Leyan stared at the object in her hand with shining eyes. This thing was great. Chu Gexing would definitely like it. She could go back and sleep soundly after buying it; a sudden wave of drowsiness washed over her during the long night.

But after calling out twice and seeing no one come, he couldn't help but turn around to look.

A lonely figure could be vaguely seen flashing through the crowd before disappearing in sorrow.

Tang Leyan froze, and for a moment, a strange feeling welled up in her heart.

The thing held in his hand slowly loosened.

"Young master, young master, are you going to buy it?" the stall owner was still calling out.

"No..." Tang Leyan instinctively tried to blurt it out.

Her hand tightened, gripping the object tightly. She turned back, smiling, and said, "Yes. Please wrap it up for me."

"Good sir. Don't worry, I'll wrap it up nicely for you. Is it for your sweetheart? Hahaha, are you still shy?"

"Ah, yes, boss, you're so considerate. Remember to give me a discount!"

"Don't worry, young master, I'll definitely give you the best price!"

Carrying the spoils, he walked alone toward the post station, wondering to himself why he had bought these things to give to Chu Gexing.

She never does business that loses money.

Just as they were about to reach the entrance of the post station, an idea suddenly occurred to them... That guy took Chu Zhen's jade pendant back then and never intended to return it to her. Why not take this opportunity to return the jade pendant?

After figuring things out, I felt much better and quickened my pace toward the inn.

Upon returning to the inn, I heard that the deputy envoy had already returned.

Tang Leyan glanced at the room where the light was still on and could vaguely see that slender shadow reflected on the window.

He reached into his sleeve and touched something, intending to go straight there.