Walking to Mo Xu’s door, I quickly composed myself, hiding the anxiety and sorrow on my face. Her ability to read people’s true intentions was exceptional, and I absolutely could not show any flaws tonight.
A harmless smile, the one I usually wore, appeared on my face. I held the tray and knocked on the door, pushing it open after getting permission. Mo Xu saw me and quickly stood up to greet me: “In the middle of the night, what are you fussing over now?”
“I made some tangyuan for a late-night snack. Give them a try.”
I placed the bowl on the table. She looked at the tangyuan with an expectant face, her smile warm and gentle, as if the cold conversation I had overheard was nothing more than a false auditory hallucination.
“That’s very thoughtful. I must taste your handiwork.”
“Eat them while they’re warm.”
She scooped up a spoonful of the tangyuan, blew on it to cool it, and slowly ate it, nodding in approval from time to time. I tilted my head, watching her satisfied expression. For some reason, I felt an urge to cry.
Seeing the discomfort in my expression, she paused her movement and asked with concern: “Sijie? What’s wrong?”
I sniffed and shook my head, looking straight into her eyes: “Nothing, nothing. I’m just thinking that I’m leaving soon, and I feel a little reluctant.”
She used the spoon to stir the tangyuan back and forth, sighing slightly: “I can wait for you to come back.”
I deliberately and unapologetically led the conversation to Sixiao: “If I go to Shundu and cannot find Xiaozhi’s father, I will adopt him as my son and raise him properly until he’s an adult.”
Mo Xu’s hand paused again. She seemed confused but didn’t speak. I rested my hand on my head and casually asked: “Is it to your liking?”
“Mm, it’s quite delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it. I was worried it wouldn’t suit your taste.”
“Sijie…”
Mo Xu called my name hesitantly. I tilted my head, waiting for her to continue.
“Do you have someone you favor?”
Her sudden question caught me off guard. Someone I favor? Excuse me, I am emotionally starved and truly don’t have anyone I like.
“No.”
“If you don’t go to Shundu… will you stay by my side?”
Sigh. I still couldn’t avoid this complicated emotional topic. I couldn’t give her a definitive, responsible answer, because if I said yes, the lie of agreeing to be with her would torment me, and if I chose to reject her outright, it would hurt her deeply.
Only by choosing silence would everyone feel a bit better. So, she smiled, a rather lonely smile.
“I forgot to pick up my new clothes.”
Changing the subject, I stood up and embraced the large stack of clothes lying on the chair next to me. She just nodded slightly, continuing to quietly eat her late-night snack until she finally drank the last of the fermented rice wine soup in the bowl.
Looking at the empty bowl, I forced a bitter smile. Well then, Mo Xu, if you plan to make things difficult for me in the future, I absolutely won’t be soft-hearted. Sixiao carries the hope of Handan’s dying wish. His survival is the coexistence of two lives. For the sake of this child, I can only choose to run away from all your kindness toward me.
…
🏃 Midnight Preparations
…
I got up very early. While Sixiao was still asleep, I secretly packed my bags and hid them under the bed. After quickly washing up outside, I hurried to the stables and found my old friend, the horse.
I gently stroked its forehead, muttering incessantly: “Big Brother Horse, whether we can escape safely tomorrow depends on you.”
After a moment of silence, I left the stable and looked toward the front left. There was a wooden door that seemed to lead somewhere unknown. As I got closer, I found that the door wasn’t locked. I pushed it open and curiously peeked out left and right. It was a narrow alleyway, just wide enough for a carriage, and at its end was the main road.
I rested my chin on my hand and pondered for a moment. If it leads to the main road, why wouldn’t they lock the door? Aren’t they worried about thieves? It’s very suspicious.
“Young Master Ji?”
A sound suddenly came from behind me, startling me completely. I couldn’t show any sign of a guilty conscience. I turned around calmly, staring at the man in front of me with a confused look: “You are?”
“I am Wei Huang. May I ask what Young Master Ji is doing here?”
“Wei Huang…? Oh, oh… We’ll be setting off for Shundu in a few days. I came to check the carriage. The journey is long, so I’m preparing in advance to prevent any issues.”
So, this was the fellow whose voice I heard but whose person I didn’t see in Mo Xu’s room last night. He was wearing a pure black long robe, belted at the waist, with a long sword tucked into his left side. If I guessed correctly, this man must be skilled in martial arts. He clasped his hands and bowed: “I will be accompanying you on the journey. You can leave the preparation work to me. The road will be bumpy, so Young Master should focus on resting and conserving his energy.”
“Mo Xu is very thoughtful. Then I feel relieved. I’ll leave the rest to Brother Wei Huang.”
“Young Master is too kind. It’s my duty.”
I put my hands behind my back, slowly walked toward the corner of the courtyard corridor, and made a show of leaving. After turning the corner and out of Wei Huang’s sight, I pressed my back against the wall. I could vaguely hear rustling sounds in the courtyard. After calming down for a moment, I risked leaning out to secretly observe.
It turned out the door did have a lock. Wei Huang stood with his back to me, locked the door, fiddled with the key in his hand, and finally buried it under a stone near the door. He truly understood the principle that the safest place is often the most dangerous one.
A complete escape plan began to form in my mind. I walked with steady steps, shaking my head toward the kitchen. Time to eat!
…
💋 The Kiss
…
The next day, I woke up early again, quickly grabbed the ready-packed bags, and threw them into the carriage in the stable. The gate was locked. I found the spot where Wei Huang hid the key and checked: yes, the key was still there, meaning no one had been by.
I looked around and noticed a wooden ladder placed in the corner of the courtyard. Heaven was helping me! This thing could be very useful.
This place was not safe for long; I had to leave quickly. Back in the guest room, the unaware Sixiao was immersed in his studies. This little guy was truly a scholar, diligently working on the homework I assigned him, often forgetting to eat or sleep. This was good; no fuss and no noise saved me a lot of trouble.
After spending some time with Sixiao, I went to Mo Xu’s room as usual. Entering the room, I found Mo Xu sitting at her dressing table. She was wearing a pale pink long dress. Her normally pinned-up hair was now flowing over her shoulders. With her eyebrows painted and face powdered, her already beautiful face was endowed with a few more alluring charms.
She heard me, turned her head, and smiled naturally: “You’re here.”
“Dressing up so beautifully. Is there an honored guest coming today?”
Mo Xu stood up and walked toward me. She naturally reached up to straighten my slightly wrinkled belt: “Aren’t you my honored guest? You’re leaving tomorrow, so I want to spend quality time with you today.”
Her hand began to slowly move from my waist to my arm, naturally linking with mine. I stared at her awkwardly, finally giving a helpless smile. The honey trap won’t work on me. I’m not into girls.
“You’ve gone to a lot of trouble for me, Mo Xu.”
“Sijie, don’t speak.”
Her finger tapped my lip. She leaned her cheek close and placed a kiss a finger’s width away from my mouth. This blatant act of seductive criminality was illegal! You can’t play like this! I was stunned by the suggestive kiss, standing rooted to the spot, unable to calm down for a long time.
Mo Xu, however, acted as if nothing had happened. She smiled, her brow relaxed like a spring willow swaying, and her eyes held a subtle affection. She rested her chin on my shoulder, deliberately exhaling warm air to tease my ear, and whispered: “Your blushing face is truly captivating. I can’t wait to devour you.”
She’s such a flirt! I’m afraid this Miss Mo Xu is an old hand at romance! If I had known this day would come, I should have learned a few flirting tricks from Handan back at ‘Chunsheng Tower’! A miscalculation, a huge miscalculation!
Reason fought fiercely with my nerves. The method to make her drop her guard was simple: follow her lead, let her happily drop her defenses. That way, escaping ‘Hui Chun Tang’ late at night would be slightly less difficult.
“Since I’m leaving, why don’t we seize the time and have a few drinks? This way…”
My hand stroked Mo Xu’s cheek. I faked a look of deep affection and gazed at her. She tilted her head and asked leisurely: “This way what…? Stopping mid-sentence is the biggest tease.”
I imitated her style, leaned my face closer, rubbed my lips against her earlobe, and said slowly with a deeply provocative intent: “This way, we won’t waste this rare beautiful night of romance and moonlight. It allows me to use sweet words to make you happy, which perfectly resolves the sorrow of our mutual longing.”
My provocation only resulted in her grabbing my lapel and forcefully pulling me down. The moment was utterly sudden. It turned out a woman’s lips could be so soft and elastic, even carrying a hint of sweetness, much like a chewy gummy bear. What a wonderful sensation!
Imagine me, Ji Sijie, having guarded my chastity for over twenty years (Does a twenty-year-old single person have the right to say that?), my romantic heart not yet awakened, and my first kiss just vanished like that? I just ate a gummy bear, and it was gone?!