For a moment, Lu Qing’an was completely flustered. She pulled out a handkerchief and hurriedly stepped forward to wipe the tears from that tiny face.
“When you left, you left without even telling me!”
“And now that you’re back, you brought someone else with you, and you even gave her a present!”
Xia Qingyi crashed into Lu Qing’an’s embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around her, and said fiercely, “I hate you!”
Lu Qing’an hugged her back and repeatedly reassured her, “It’s my fault, it’s all my fault.”
Without them realizing it, Mother Lu and Ji Zhixing had already left the room, leaving only the two of them inside.
Holding the girl in her arms, Lu Qing’an lowered her eyes and comforted her in a gentle voice.
Xia Qingyi did not cry for long. She snatched away the handkerchief Lu Qing’an was using to wipe her tears with a bit of roughness.
“I will do it myself. I do not need your help.”
She glared angrily at Lu Qing’an, deeply embarrassed that this person had caught her crying.
She gritted her teeth in sheer annoyance.
Seeing her glare, Lu Qing’an knew she had returned to her usual spirited self, and a wave of relief washed over her heart.
Having played together with Xia Qingyi for so many years, this was one of the very few times Xia Qingyi had ever cried in front of her.
Xia Qingyi tossed the handkerchief back onto Lu Qing’an, the fiery anger in her eyes instantly evaporating the tears that had just welled up.
“Lu Qing’an, the second you returned to Lin’an City, you eagerly gave your Senior Sister a tassel, yet you have never given me anything!”
Holding out her open palm, Xia Qingyi demanded in a spoiled, domineering tone:
“I do not care. I want you to give me a present too!”
Lu Qing’an gently pinched the tassel stowed inside her tunic. Originally, she had planned to take her Senior Sister on a tour around Lin’an City.
Now, everything was completely ruined, and her Senior Sister had even witnessed her in such an embarrassing state.
Strictly speaking, it was not uncommon for her and Ji Zhixing to make fools of themselves on the streets.
Yet only this time did Lu Qing’an feel a burning sensation hot against her cheeks.
However, the most pressing matter right now was to deal with the person in front of her.
In a somewhat lazy and casual tone, Lu Qing’an asked, “So, what do you want?”
Xia Qingyi balled her palm into a fist, then extended a single finger and tapped Lu Qing’an on the chest.
She happened to touch the exact spot where the tassel was stored.
Lu Qing’an could feel the tassel being poked by her finger.
“I want you to give me a tassel too!”
Xia Qingyi gave a soft snort, her little tiger teeth flashing subtly as she spoke.
Her tiger teeth were exceptionally neat and symmetrical, noticeably sharper than ordinary ones.
Lu Qing’an raised an eyebrow and rather unceremoniously pushed her hand away.
“I gave my Senior Sister a tassel to use as a sword ornament. You do not even use a sword, so what do you need one for?”
Now that the girl had been coaxed back to good spirits, Lu Qing’an’s attitude was no longer as gentle as it had been moments ago.
Noticing the shift in her tone, Xia Qingyi rolled her eyes at her. “Just say whether you are giving me one or not!”
Lu Qing’an had just lifted her head and was about to nod when the willow brows of the girl before her knitted together sharply.
“Fine! You are not giving me one, right?” The fire in Xia Qingyi’s eyes flared up again.
Wait.
She did not mean that at all.
Xia Qingyi raised her voice, shouting loudly enough to shatter the roof: “Auntie Lu, Lu Qing’an is bullying me again.”
Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Qing’an swiftly covered her mouth with her hand.
“I will give you one! I will give you one! I never said I would not!” Lu Qing’an urged in a lowered, panicked voice.
She glanced guardedly toward the door, deeply afraid that Xia Qingyi’s shout would summon someone over.
Fortunately, there was no reaction outside.
She looked down at the person whose lips were sealed under her palm.
Held in her arms, the girl looked up at her with sly eyes, showing not the slightest intention of struggling.
She had been tricked again.
Lu Qing’an released her and promptly returned the eye roll Xia Qingyi had given her earlier.
“Wait until I finish speaking with my mother, and then I will go buy things for you.”
As she spoke, Lu Qing’an sat down on a chair, picked up the teacup on the table, lifted the lid, and casually blew on the rising steam with composure.
She looked completely like someone who had no intention of carrying out what she had just said.
Watching her actions, Xia Qingyi felt anger flare up inside her. “What is the meaning of this?”
She sat down on another vacant chair, her brows knitting into a small knot. “You are not planning to go back on your word, are you?”
Seeing her grow anxious, a subtle smile curled up the corners of Lu Qing’an’s lips.
She had scored a point back.
She took a sip of the hot tea.
“Lu!”
Before she could even swallow, the voice across from her grew loud again. Lu Qing’an’s throat hitched.
The scolding hot tea went straight down her throat before it had even cooled down.
Disregarding the burning pain on her tongue and in her throat, Lu Qing’an hurriedly begged for mercy: “Alright, alright, alright! We will go buy it right now!”
On the main street, Xia Qingyi pointed her finger. “I want you to buy it for me from this shop!”
Lu Qing’an looked up to see that it was the very same shop where she had bought the tassel for her Senior Sister.
She looked at Xia Qingyi and weakly suggested, “How about we pick a different shop?”
Before the words could fully leave her mouth, Xia Qingyi had already bounced up the steps.
Lu Qing’an doubted she had even heard what she said.
Resigned, she lifted her foot and entered the shop as well.
Xia Qingyi wandered around inside, touching a jade pendant here, examining a hairpin there, pacing back and forth endlessly.
Lu Qing’an’s eyes settled on a set of light green cross-collar ruqun robes. The sleeves and lapels were delicately embroidered with patterns in dark and light shades using a light green thread that differed subtly from the fabric.
With her taste, she was certain it would suit Ji Zhixing exceptionally well.
She waved to the shopkeeper and purchased the outfit.
Noticing her action, Xia Qingyi curled her lips in displeasure. “You bought that for your Senior Sister again, did you not?”
Lu Qing’an raised an eyebrow in surprise. “How did you know?”
With a scoff, Xia Qingyi did not answer her question. “Have you picked out the tassel you are buying for me yet?”
Lu Qing’an’s mind had been entirely focused on the clothing just now, so how could she have spared any attention to look at tassels?
However, she did not dare say those words aloud.
She walked over to the counter where the tassels were displayed. Originally intending to pick one at random just to get it over with, a unique and special design caught her eye.
She picked up a tassel adorned with a dark green jade peace buckle and handed it to Xia Qingyi.
“Here. Do you like it?”
The threads of the tassel were crafted through some unknown technique, shimmering with a subtle white glow under the sunlight.
The contrast between the dark green jade and the faint white radiance complimented each other perfectly.
Xia Qingyi clearly adored it, keeping her eyes fixed on it all the way back to the Lu residence.
Seeing that she seemed to have eyes for nothing other than the tassel, Lu Qing’an felt secretly pleased with herself.
Her taste had always been impeccable.
Riders on fast horses occasionally galloped past on the street. Seeing that Xia Qingyi was not paying attention to where she was walking, Lu Qing’an sighed and guided Xia Qingyi to walk on the safer, inner side of the road.
The moment she saw Mother Lu, Xia Qingyi held the tassel up high. “Auntie, look! Lu Qing’an bought this for me!”
In the main hall, Mother Lu and Ji Zhixing were engaged in conversation.
With the dialogue abruptly interrupted, Mother Lu instinctively looked toward Ji Zhixing, but could not discern any particular reaction from her face.
Smiling, she invited Lu Qing’an and Xia Qingyi to sit down.
“Miss Ji was just telling me that you have now become a disciple of the Liuyun Sect.”
“My child has truly grown up.”
Looking at the person before her whom she had not seen in a long time, a wave of bittersweet emotion surged in Mother Lu’s heart.
Ever since this child was born, she had never been separated from her.
Now, seeing her return home safe and sound, uninjured, with plump cheeks, looking as though she had suffered no hardships out in the world, Mother Lu felt at peace.
Looking at Lu Qing’an with maternal affection and distress, Mother Lu asked softly, “How many days do you plan to stay now that you are back?”
Meeting her mother’s eyes, tears instantly welled up in Lu Qing’an’s gaze. She lowered her head, unwilling to let her mother notice.
“Just for the afternoon. I should leave this evening.”
The air fell silent for a moment.
Even Ji Zhixing had not expected this answer, glancing at Lu Qing’an in surprise.
Lu Qing’an picked up her teacup, the gently rising steam veiling her emotions.
As the hot vapor warmed her face, she forced her tears back down and took a sip of tea to cover her composure.
“Is it absolutely necessary for you to go to that sect, Lu Qing’an?”
Xia Qingyi was the first to break the atmosphere. She slammed her hand against the table with a loud smack. “Are you planning on abandoning Auntie Lu?”
“Do you have any idea how much Auntie Lu missed you?”
She slammed the table once more, producing a thunderous sound.
“You really have no conscience!” Xia Qingyi glared at Lu Qing’an, huffing with rage. If eyes could kill, Lu Qing’an would already be dead by now.
Lu Qing’an drank her tea in silence.
She missed her mother too.
Mother Lu took Xia Qingyi’s hand, furrowing her brows in concern as she looked at the reddened skin on her palm.
After ordering someone to fetch some salve, Mother Lu spoke gently, “Qing’an, are you living well out there?”
Hearing those words, tears welled up in Lu Qing’an’s eyes once again.
She gulped down the hot tea in her cup all at once, the heat burning her so badly that she sprang straight up from her chair.
In an indistinct voice, she stammered out, “Rest assured, rest assured! I am living exceptionally well out there!”
Only then could her tears fall under a valid excuse.
She wiped her face haphazardly, sticking out her tongue to pant, and said with a grin, “Mother, this tea is truly hot.”
It was clearly a ridiculous scene, yet no one present could bring themselves to laugh.
Looking at her state, Xia Qingyi felt both angry and distressed.
A crimson glow tinted a corner of the sky, spreading into a wide expanse that eventually covered half the heavens.
Mother Lu sat on the chair, while Lu Qing’an sat on the ground, resting her head against her mother’s knees.
The sunset reflected softly in both of their eyes.
“Mother, I am heading out now.”
She stood up and flashed a playful smile at Mother Lu.
It was as if she were merely stepping out to play for a little while.
“Stay safe,” Mother Lu replied, offering her a warm, gentle smile in return.
The moment Lu Qing’an stepped past the main gates of the Lu residence, the tears she had held back all afternoon could no longer be contained and fell freely.
Ji Zhixing had already been waiting there. Seeing Lu Qing’an’s eyes filled with tears, she furrowed her brows in deep sympathy. “Qing’an, we can stay here for a few more days before leaving.”
Lu Qing’an shook her head. “No.”
Xia Qingyi suddenly leaped out from behind a stone lion.
Her eyes were practically spitting fire, her jaw clenched tightly as the words seemed to be squeezed right through her teeth. “Lu Qing’an, since you cannot bear to leave either, why must you go so soon?”
“I cannot bear to leave mother, and mother cannot bear to leave me.”
“The longer I stay at home, the harder it will be for mother to let me go.”
“When the time for parting comes, mother will suffer even greater pain in her heart.”
Listening to Lu Qing’an’s explanation, the fire in Xia Qingyi’s eyes flared even brighter.
“Excuses! They are all excuses! Can you not just stay?”
Lu Qing’an closed her eyes and shook her head, a few strands of her bangs sticking to her eyelids.
Staring at Lu Qing’an, her eyes slightly red, Xia Qingyi spat out a few cold words: “Just you wait. I will definitely come looking for you!”
“I want to see for myself what is so good about the Liuyun Sect that it has stolen your entire heart away,” she added.
“To the point where you are not even willing to stay at home for a few extra days.”