flamboyant - Chapter 32
Feng Ning glanced at him, very dissatisfied: "No sincerity. Even when you apologize, you have to smile."
Her tone and expression made Long Sanzhong burst into laughter. The stable was smelly and full of horses and hay, but with Feng Ning there, the place seemed lively.
The moonlight shone on Feng Ning's face. Her big, dark, bright eyes rolled around, and she pouted, her little face serious as she complained. Long San found it both interesting and... adorable.
His laughter earned him a hard punch from Feng Ning. Long San gritted his teeth and took it, saying, "Not angry anymore, huh?" Feng Ning hesitated again and again, then said, "Then I don't want to stay here." She had lost face in front of his friends, and she felt very uncomfortable.
Long San nodded: "Okay." He led the horse out: "Let's go, let's go somewhere else."
Feng Ning was surprised: "You're skipping out on your debts?" This doesn't seem like something Third Master Long would do.
Long San sighed, "I'm not someone else. I just realized that someone was gone from the room, so I knew it was time to check out of the inn and leave."
Feng Ning chuckled. Long San pulled the horse out, saddled it, and then suddenly noticed Feng Ning's belly, falling silent. Feng Ning looked down, thought for a moment, and pulled out the large oil paper package: "Why don't you help me return it?"
Long San pretended not to hear, pulled his horse and quickly left. Feng Ning quickly mounted her horse and chased after him: "It's good that you don't return it. We'll have breakfast tomorrow."
Long San, who was both deaf and mute, focused intently on riding his horse. After a long while, Feng Ning suddenly said, "Long San, if you leave like this, won't your friend be angry?"
"No, I told them I had to leave first. They're all old acquaintances, we have a good relationship, it'll be fine."
"Long San, you have so many friends. But I don't have a single one." Her tone was truly mournful.
“You have me.”
"Mmm." Feng Ning nodded vigorously, finding some comfort in the gesture.
After a while, Feng Ning spoke again: "Long San, you're quite the ladies' man, aren't you? I see you know quite a few girls. Do they have any feelings for you?"
Long San immediately went deaf and mute again. He focused on the road, spurred his horse, and galloped up. Feng Ning followed closely behind him, muttering to herself, "Is it not even allowed to ask like this?"
Author's Note: Haha, the prime-time drama is back as promised, let's give it a round of applause!
twenty four
24. Encountering the enigmatic Third Madam Long again...
Long San took Feng Ning to another inn. He only asked for a superior room, and Feng Ning felt a sense of satisfaction from being affirmed. She happily checked in.
Long San pulled out a bundle of files from somewhere and sat in the room reading them intently. Feng Ning lay on the bed for a long time, unable to sleep. She hugged the blanket and looked at the man under the lamp, full of questions: "Long San, where did all these things come from?" He clearly had nothing else on him except the sword he was carrying and the bundle hanging on his horse.
"If you travel around a lot, you'll need to set up some bases."
"Oh." Feng Ning didn't want to pry anymore; these seemed to be rather secret arrangements. She then asked, "Long San, is everyone at home blaming me? If I go back with you, will they give me a hard time?" She kicked the blanket twice and said, "If that's the case, I don't want to go back. I've thought about it; if no one likes me, I don't want to stay there. If you want to send me back to my parents' home, then go ahead."
Long San paused for a moment: "I have already written to them and explained the whole story. They will not blame you for this matter anymore."
Feng Ning felt a little relieved: "Then, will you still send me back to my parents' home?"
Long San turned to look at her. She was clutching the blanket, her big eyes staring at him, her small face illuminated by the candlelight, revealing a hint of vulnerability. She was skilled in martial arts, yet even when neglected and wronged, she never resorted to violence. During her escape, he inquired along the way and learned that, apart from the injuries caused by the bandits who pursued her, she had not harmed a single innocent person.
This kind of personality just doesn't match the unlikable Feng Ning in his mind at all. Long San couldn't help but get up and walk to the bedside, patting her head: "If you want to go back, I'll send you back. If you still want to stay in the Long Mansion, that's your home."
Feng Ning stared into his eyes, confirming that he was telling the truth, and couldn't help but smile. She rushed over and buried her face in his chest: "You said it yourself, I'm willing to stay, so you won't kick me out."
"Mm." Long San couldn't help but smile; she was always quick to cheer up.
"Then promise me that when I go back to my parents' home, you will personally take me there. If they treat me badly, you will take me back home, okay?"
"Um."
Feng Ning was very satisfied with the answer. She giggled for a while, moved back to her pillow, closed her eyes, and said, "Since you're good to me, I'll forgive you."
Long San raised an eyebrow and tucked the blanket around her: "Thank you for your magnanimity, Madam."
Feng Ning laughed again, wrinkling her nose: "That's right, I have a big heart, a hundred times bigger than Second Uncle." She was convinced that Long Er was the stingiest person she had ever met.
Long San chuckled: "Go to sleep. Tomorrow I'll take you to meet someone."
"Who are you going to see?" Feng Ning opened her eyes, curious.
"The person you dreamed about chasing you had a square face, triangular eyes, a wide mouth, and a big nose..." Before Long San could finish, Feng Ning suddenly sat up and nodded: "Yes, that's the person. Did you find him?"
"I just received the news when I arrived in Baiqiao City that someone saw him in Jiangling. Jiangling is not far from here, and I can get there tomorrow."
Feng Ning immediately grabbed Long San's hand: "Let's go now, in case he runs away."
"Don't rush, you should rest first. I still need to make some arrangements. Someone will help me keep him here, don't worry."
Feng Ning stared at him for a long time before finally nodding, "Alright, I'll listen to you. Long San, we'll definitely catch him, right?" She lay back on her pillow, her heart pounding. If they caught that man and found out the truth, would she be able to find herself again?
"You should rest well, I'm here. I'm also investigating those men in black who were chasing you, the truth will come out eventually." He stroked her eyes and urged her to sleep.
Feng Ning reached out and took his hand: "Long San, I'm scared."
"What are you afraid of? Our Long family will not abandon you."
"If I'm worse than you imagine, will you still protect me?" Feng Ning opened her eyes: "If I really did some terrible things, will you still protect me?"
Long San remained silent for a long time before saying, "I promise that as long as you are still the same Feng Ning, I will protect you."
Feng Ning became agitated and gripped Long San's hand tightly. "Don't lie to me. I don't know anyone. I don't even remember what my parents look like. I have no friends or relatives. I'm really scared." She choked up as she spoke. "No matter what I did in the past, as long as I am the same as I am now, please be good to me."