В Цзянху есть Сяо Чань

Глава 65

"You're talking nonsense again. What kind of behavior would you have if someone heard you?"

The wailing grew louder: "You really only care about her feelings and don't care whether I live or die, oh my god!"

Unable to bear it any longer, he pulled her into his arms and silenced her with a kiss: "Alright, alright, I'll go and find a way to put your mind at ease right now."

She immediately transformed into a gentle little lamb, nuzzling his face lightly: "Holly, holly, I love you, just like a mouse loves rice!"

"…………" What kind of nonsensical metaphors are these?

Lu Ziqi stood up, pinching his brow. As he walked to the door, he suddenly remembered something and turned to Song Xiaohua, who was following him obsequiously, and said seriously, "However, you have to agree to one condition first."

"Speaking!"

"Never, ever teach Ling'er any poetry or songs!"

"make a deal!"

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Xue Yuhan came to visit her nephew Lu Ling, so Nianyuan should naturally host a banquet in his honor.

As Lu Ziqi's close friend and Lu Ling's actual mentor, Huo Nan was naturally a guest of honor at 'Nianyuan'.

These two natural enemies proved the rationality and truth of the age-old adage that "there is no such thing as a good banquet" through their actions.

For example, it's one thing for them to be sarcastic and argumentative while talking, but they even started fighting halfway through the meal.

Actually, it's partly Lu Ling's fault.

The little guy has admired Huo Nan's martial arts skills since he was a child. As a result, he watched helplessly as his idol was defeated by his delicate aunt in one move. Naturally, he developed a deep and endless admiration for his aunt.

This was truly unbearable for Huo Nan, who had suffered such a humiliating defeat. So he slammed his fist on the table and insisted on having a fair and square competition with Xue Yuhan.

After a fierce contest, before the outcome could be determined, Lu Ziqi's cherished set of tableware was already mostly broken.

His pained expression made the two of them feel somewhat embarrassed, so they decided to turn their fight into a drinking contest instead of a physical one.

Seeing the fine vintage wine being wasted like a cow chewing on a peony, Lu Ziqi finally covered his face and left the table, wishing he could stay away from it all.

Song Xiaohua also excused herself, fearing that the sight of the scene would evoke painful memories of her future as a novice at drinking parties. Of course, her main purpose was to decipher the true meaning of a poem...

When they arrived at the courtyard where the banquet was held, they found the table and floor littered with cups and plates, and three completely drunk men and a dog.

Song Xiaohua stared in disbelief at Lu Ling and Song Wuque, who were sleeping in each other's arms on the floor: "They...they are..."

"He's drunk!"

"You...you actually...children drinking alcohol will damage their brains!"

"That brother-in-law's brain must be completely rotten. I remember Uncle Lu was feeding him wine when he was still an infant!"

"...Xiao Han, actually, your memory doesn't always have to be this good..."

Xue Yuhan sat steadily at the table, resting her chin on her hand, her face flushed and her eyes misty, yet her gaze remained clear and sharp.

Meanwhile, Huo Nan, sprawled out at her feet, was snoring loudly and completely unconscious, a silly grin on his face...

Lu Ziqi was surprised but also deeply impressed: "Your drinking capacity has increased dramatically in just a few years! You actually managed to defeat this kid!"

“Brother-in-law, you really flattered me. What defeated him wasn’t my drinking capacity, but…” Xue Yu pulled out a small bottle, shook it, and smiled both proudly and modestly: “A sleeping potion.”

"...It seems you've really learned a lot these past few years in the southern borderlands..."

Song Xiaohua busied herself picking up Lu Ling, then instructed the servants to carry Huo Nan back to her room and Wu Que to the dog kennel, and hurriedly prepared a hangover soup. Before leaving, she didn't forget to pinch Lu Ziqi's waist and give him a wink.

The once bustling courtyard had become quiet in the blink of an eye, leaving only two people, one sitting and one standing, with the lingering aroma of wine still in the air.

Looking at the face that resembled his deceased wife, Lu Ziqi couldn't help but feel a little dazed and remained silent.

Looking at the face she had sketched in her mind a thousand times, Xue Yuhan couldn't help but feel a sense of unreality, as if in a dream, and fell silent.

After a long silence, they all sighed in unison, then laughed in unison.

Xue Yuhan braced herself against the table to stand up, but her body swayed suddenly. Seeing this, Lu Ziqi hurriedly stepped forward and reached out to support her, but she slumped and leaned, so he instinctively let go and stepped back. Unexpectedly, her body really did slide to the ground as if it were boneless.

He quickly knelt down and helped her up: "Xiao Han, are you hurt?"

Her eyes shimmered as she gazed at him: "Brother-in-law, why didn't you wait for me to grow up?"

"You're drunk."

"Yes, I've been intoxicated since I was five. That year, you made a beautiful wreath for my sister, and when you saw me staring at it longingly, you took out a pale pink flower from the center and gave it to me. I don't remember what you said then, but I will always remember your smile, as radiant as the sun. From that moment on, I could never forget you. However, from that moment on, I already knew that your future bride would not be me."

Xue Yuhan's voice was gentle and ethereal, as if she were narrating a story completely unrelated to herself, or as if she had calmed down after great pain: "Later, my sister passed away. Seeing how heartbroken you were, I was so sad that I wanted to die too. How I wished I had the power to bring back that bright smile to you. But, at eleven years old, I could do nothing."

I followed my older brother to southern Xinjiang so that I could grow up faster, hoping that on the day we reunite, you would no longer see just a little sister in your eyes, but a woman who could stand shoulder to shoulder with you and spend her life with you. For this, I desperately tried to become strong and mature, even fighting like a man.

But just when I finally shed my childishness, I heard you had remarried. At that time, I hated you. I hated that you forgot your sister so quickly, and I hated even more that you couldn't wait for me to grow up. So, I spent almost a year learning those arts I had never been interested in before—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I wanted to become like my sister, I wanted to see how much she really meant to you. If… if she meant enough, I told myself I wouldn't mind being her substitute.

Today, you showed me how much your sister means to you. You also showed me that even if I were willing to be a substitute, it would mean nothing to you anymore. Because the smile you once lost has returned.

He paused briefly, then suddenly tilted his head and snorted, his previously somewhat vacant expression suddenly becoming lively: "I also see how ridiculous my decision was back then! I can't replace anyone else, nor can I become anyone else. The only result of trying so hard is 'trying to draw a tiger but ending up with a dog!'"

Lu Ziqi had been listening quietly to her story until this moment, when he couldn't help but smile.

Xue Yuhan snorted again: "No matter how drunk you are, you'll eventually sober up. It's been ten years, time to wake up." She clapped her hands, stood up gracefully, and glanced at him sideways: "Actually, if you think about it carefully, you're never going to be my Mr. Right."

"Oh? Then tell me, what kind of person should your ideal partner be?"

"Drinking wine from large bowls, eating meat in large bites, and fighting fiercely against the enemy; riding horses and whipping them, drunk and lying on the battlefield, my heroic spirit roars at the border!"

Lu Ziqi smiled slightly: "Xiao Han, you've really grown up." Then, the smile deepened: "Right now, there really is someone who fits what you've said."

"who?"

He didn't speak, but just looked at her with a half-smile.

At first, he was puzzled, then it dawned on him, and he jumped up in surprise: "Him?!"

He remained silent, but his smile held a hint of mischief, a touch of teasing, and a hint of amusement.

Xue Yuhan's face flushed red like two fiery clouds. She was about to lash out, but then seemed to remember something and changed her mind. She straightened her temples and composed herself: "Brother-in-law, my elder brother has something he wants me to tell you."

The sudden change startled Lu Ziqi. Just then, Xue Yuhan leaned closer and whispered in his ear, "Ling'er will always have the Xue family blood flowing in her veins. Even if the bones are broken, the tendons will still be connected."

After saying that, while Lu Ziqi was deep in thought, she tiptoed closer and almost pressed her lips to his cheek: "Brother-in-law, take care!"

Without waiting for a reaction, he lowered his head, turned around, and ran away.

Lu Ziqi was puzzled when he suddenly felt a gust of cold wind, and an ominous premonition arose in his heart. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw a familiar 'teapot' standing not far away, with faint white smoke swirling around its head.

So he silently gazed at the heavens.

Why didn't you just let him choke to death on that tea...?

According to You Rong's recollection, that night, for the first time ever, the Second Master slept in the study.

Author's Note: Please forgive my misinterpretation of your masterpiece, Li Shixian! I wasn't the one who started this, not me at all! Hallelujah, please let me do this...

I think Xue Yuhan's feelings for Lu Ziqi are a bit like the admiration and love we felt for a mature man when we were young. It might last a long time, maybe we'll never forget it, and we'd be willing to change ourselves for him, but we could never really be together, and we'd never even say it out loud. It was just a beautiful dream from our youth.

Originally, I wanted Xue Yuhan to be as infatuated as A Zi in the novel, but I didn't write it that way. The reason is that I've always believed that even for women, love is definitely not everything. Why go crazy for a man? We should live life to the fullest...

Chapter Sixty-Six: The Reason for the Crazy

When the sky is overcast, people feel listless, and even the dogs feel listless.

Lu Ling and Song Wuque were suffering from the aftereffects of drunkenness. Song Xiaohua, on the other hand, was suffering from insomnia; she really couldn't sleep unless a refined scoundrel was doing something beastly around her…

"Mother, I still feel dizzy~"

Nuomi Tuanzi hummed softly and snuggled into Song Xiaohua's arms, furrowing her brows and pouting her little mouth to show that she was uncomfortable.

Since enrolling in school, especially after taking on many "little brothers," Lu Ling has always been very strict with himself, striving to always maintain the demeanor of a "little boss." Therefore, he has almost never acted coquettishly like he is now, which made Song Xiaohua quite disappointed.

Holding his soft little body, she half-reclined in the rocking chair, forehead to forehead: "Come on, pass the dizziness to me, so Ling'er won't feel uncomfortable anymore!"

She quickly leaned back: "Ling'er, don't let your mother faint! Ling'er is all better now!"

"Silly boy!" He kissed him affectionately and hugged him tightly. "Will you dare to drink again in the future?"

"dare!"

"You still dare? Aren't you afraid of getting dizzy after drinking it?"

"My aunt says that a real man can drink at least ten bowls of wine in one go without passing out! Ling'er wants to be a real man!"