Chapter 16

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Yan Zhi lowered his head to look at Li Mianyu. The golden light cast upon his face softened his sharp features somewhat. Crystal-clear beads of sweat dripped from his brow, landing precisely on Li Mianyu’s cheek.

She blinked, still caught off guard when he reached out his hand and gently wiped the sweat away with his thumb.

The youth’s fingertips were rough and calloused, a stark contrast to Li Mianyu’s soft cheek, which sparked a ticklish sensation. She couldn’t help but raise her hand to rub her face, still staring at him with a serious expression. “Did you hear me?”

Yan Zhi looked at her, the corner of his lips twitching slightly as he replied affirmatively. Before Li Mianyu could fully register his words, he turned and walked into the kitchen.

When he emerged again, he no longer held the meat pie. He was wearing a dull gray martial robe, the collar neatly buttoned, the belt tied firmly, concealing his drenched flesh and body completely.

Li Mianyu exhaled and turned around. “Uncle Zhu!”

Zhu Dacheng stopped the ox cart in front of the small courtyard. The young lady seated atop the cart jumped down, curious as she looked over. She was dressed in a simple red skirt made of coarse cloth. Her sun-kissed skin glowed honey-gold from the sweat on her face. With arched brows and large eyes, she was delicate and charming… and notably well-endowed. As she jumped down, her chest quivered slightly, drawing Li Mianyu’s gaze repeatedly.

She truly was voluptuous and robust!

Yan Zhi was already walking toward the cart, lifting a bathing tub from it. Tall and upright, handsome and sharp-featured, the tub looked like a mere trifle in his hands. The young lady glanced at him several times, shy and hesitant.

Li Mianyu instinctively stepped forward, placing her fair hand on the tub.

Yan Zhi lowered his eyes to glance at her but said nothing, setting the tub down by the well.

Zhu Dacheng entered with the young lady. His beard had grown longer around his chin, and his strong build gave him a somewhat fierce appearance. Yet his voice remained honest and warm, friendly to the core. “This is the village chief’s young lady, Chen Chunhua. The ramshackle house here belongs to the village chief’s younger brother. I heard someone wanted to borrow it, so I came over, coincidentally bringing a bathing tub for young Yan.”

Of course, Zhu Dacheng had beautified the story. In truth, the kind-hearted old village chief had agreed to let Li Mianyu and Yan Zhi stay after learning that Chen Xiu’e had brought along a pair of young people. But Chen Chunhua, the village chief’s granddaughter, was opposed to it.

When Zhu Dacheng returned the ox cart, the young lady displayed a fiery temper, standing in the main room with hands on hips and a sharp voice. “My uncle, aunt, and younger brother only went out on urgent business and have only been gone half a month. They could be back any time. How can their house be lent to others, especially refugees? I don’t agree. I promised my brother I’d keep watch over the house!”

Chen Chunhua’s father had died in a hunting accident when she was young. Since then, she and her mother had been cared for by her uncle and aunt. She was doted on by them as if they were her second parents. Hence, she strongly opposed allowing refugees to stay in their home.

The old village chief was at a loss and decided not to lend the house. Zhu Dacheng then suggested bringing Chen Chunhua over to meet Li Mianyu and Yan Zhi, repeatedly assuring them of their good character. Though reluctant, Chen Chunhua came along.

Li Mianyu, unaware of the underlying tension, assumed Chen Chunhua was merely there to look around and greeted her with a shy, graceful smile, standing tall.

Seeing Li Mianyu adopt a princess-like poise, Yan Zhi lowered his head and pressed his lips together.

Sure enough, Li Mianyu then spoke softly and politely, with great courtesy: “Madam Chen, my elder brother and I seek temporary shelter here for no more than a few months. We will keep the place clean and cause no damage. We humbly beseech your consent and would be most grateful!”

Zhu Dacheng: “…”

Chen Chunhua: “…”

Both wore puzzled expressions.

Yan Zhi’s calm voice came at just the right moment: “Xiaoyu means that we won’t stay long, only a few months at most. We will cherish the house and not cause any harm. We hope Madam Chen will agree.”

Li Mianyu blinked at hearing Yan Zhi address her that way for the first time, then looked at him. Yan Zhi returned her gaze, and she rewarded him with a look of admiration before turning back to Chen Chunhua with refined elegance. “Madam Chen, may we?”

After Yan Zhi spoke, the lithe and robust young lady did not take her eyes off him. A blush rose on her honey-colored cheeks, shy and hesitant.

Li Mianyu: “…”

Her voice rose a little as she repeated, “Madam Chen, may we?”

Only then did Chen Chunhua come back to herself, cheeks flushed, clutching her skirt. Reluctantly, she tore her gaze away from Yan Zhi and looked at Li Mianyu, surprised again, staring at her for a moment.

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She thought to herself, these siblings must both be reincarnations of celestial beings! Lending her uncle and aunt’s house to them would surely bring blessings from the heavens!

“Y-yes!” Chen Chunhua glanced at Yan Zhi once more, shyly smiling, her voice softer than usual. “My uncle and aunt left in a hurry, so the house is messy and some things are missing. Would you like me to help tidy it up?”

Yan Zhi replied coldly, “No need.”

Such a blunt rejection pierced Chen Chunhua’s heart. She had never been turned down like this by a boy her age in the village.

Still, she couldn’t help sneaking glances at him, wanting to say something but at a loss for words. Her peripheral vision caught her sister glaring at her, so she blushed and stammered, “If you need anything, just come find me at my grandfather’s place. My uncle and aunt entrusted the house to me.”

Yan Zhi looked at Li Mianyu.

Li Mianyu nodded with a gentle pride.

Seeing the matter settled, Zhu Dacheng relaxed and invited Chen Chunhua back onto the ox cart to take her home.

Chen Chunhua nodded reluctantly as she climbed aboard, her thoughts lingering on the handsome youth, her mind wandering.

After they left, Li Mianyu looked toward Yan Zhi, but he had already turned to walk to the well. She hurried after him and stood by his side watching as he bent to fetch water and rinse the bathing tub.

Perhaps feeling Li Mianyu’s intense gaze, Yan Zhi tilted his head to look at her.

The youth’s eyes were serene and deep black, his stare unwavering.

Li Mianyu paused, squatted down, dipped her delicate hand into the well water, washing it slowly before saying, “Chen Chunhua likes you.”

Yan Zhi’s eyes showed confusion as he crouched beside her, tilting his head. “Who is Chen Chunhua?”

His gaze was clear and direct, his deep black pupils fixed on her.

Li Mianyu choked on her words, stopping her washing, eyes wide as she said, “She’s the young lady in the red skirt just now, dark but pretty and well-endowed! Didn’t Zhu Dacheng say her name was Chen Chunhua?”

Yan Zhi responded with an “Oh,” and resumed scrubbing the bathing tub. “I didn’t notice.”

Did he not pay attention to Zhu Dacheng’s words or to Chen Chunhua herself?

Li Mianyu felt a strange joy and repeated, “Yan Zhi, Chen Chunhua likes you.”

Yan Zhi’s hand paused, and he turned to look at her, seeming puzzled. “Why?”

Li Mianyu, experienced in such matters, said confidently, “I can tell—I have experience. I told you before, my feelings stir early. When she came over, she stared at you without blinking, and her face flushed shyly. That means she likes you.”

The youth’s dark eyes studied her silently. His voice was low and curious. “Staring without blinking, blushing shyly—means she likes me?”

Li Mianyu nodded firmly, looking at Yan Zhi. “I’ve seen Cui Yunqi stare like that too. He’s handsome, and I always want to look at him. That’s liking someone.”

She was enthusiastic, ready to tell her bodyguard about how she and Cui Yunqi had sealed their feelings—exchanging glances.

Yet Yan Zhi’s eyes remained fixed on her, unblinking, then he said seriously, “Then when you look at me, do you blush?”

Li Mianyu froze, heart racing inexplicably. She stared at him, hastily denying, “Nonsense! When have I ever blushed looking at you?”

Yan Zhi said nothing, only watching her.

Li Mianyu recalled something and her face flushed hot. She stammered, “That’s because… changing clothes is embarrassing! You must prepare a separate clean room for me!” Her voice rose slightly at the end.

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Suddenly, Yan Zhi lifted his wet hand and brushed his palm lightly across Li Mianyu’s cheek, barely touching.

Li Mianyu realized what he meant, too flustered to notice his hand still scrubbing the tub. She stood up quickly, wiped her face, puffed it out, and said loudly, “I don’t like you! I like Cui Yunqi.”

Cui Yunqi was the eldest son of the first noble family, carefully chosen by her imperial great-grandfather as her fiancé. He was brilliant and extraordinarily handsome, unmatched in the capital.

Yan Zhi looked up at her silently, then lowered his head and quietly resumed scrubbing the bathing tub.

The youth’s strong hand gripped the cloth, the blue veins on the back of his hand strikingly beautiful.

Seeing Yan Zhi’s lowered gaze and silent, seemingly disappointed expression, Li Mianyu suddenly felt guilty. After a moment’s hesitation, she knelt down beside him and spoke coquettishly, “It’s not that I don’t like you. You are my imperial great-grandfather’s bodyguard, so of course I like and trust you. But liking you is different from liking Cui Yunqi.”

The young bodyguard no longer looked at her or spoke. Li Mianyu noticed the sweat on his cheek about to drip into his eye. She instinctively reached out to wipe it away.

Feeling a gentle touch on his eyelid, Yan Zhi paused and turned his head to look at her. His deep black eyes were calm and soft, without any harshness.

Li Mianyu quickly withdrew her hand behind her back. “If you’re this hot, you should take off your outer robe.”

Yan Zhi asked, “Isn’t it improper to expose the body outside?”

Li Mianyu immediately replied, “Am I just a common girl? I am the proud Princess of Ningguo. How could I be disturbed?”

Yan Zhi lowered his head, then reached out to touch his lips.

He loosened his collar and untied his belt, casually draping his outer robe over the well’s edge.

Li Mianyu’s gaze flickered, falling on Yan Zhi’s soaked inner robe. She looked for a while before turning away as if nothing had happened. Then she realized Yan Zhi had bought her a bathing tub.

She remembered she hadn’t bathed properly in the tub for a long time, always washing by the creek outside. Suddenly overjoyed, her voice stretched out in delight, “Yan Zhi~ tonight I will bathe. Tomorrow is my coming-of-age ceremony. I want to be clean and fresh for my day!”

“Mm.”

“Yan Zhi~ I saw flowers on the back mountain. Later, you’ll go with me to pick some. I want to soak them in water.”

“Mm.”

“Yan Zhi~ tomorrow we’ll visit the town to see whose family has lost someone. I want to volunteer to recite the funeral eulogy!”

Hearing this, Yan Zhi finally looked up at her, his cat-like eyes curved, bright and clear, seeming to curl up slightly.

Li Mianyu was immersed in thoughts of her grand eulogy career and did not notice.

—

Around mid-afternoon, a group arrived in the village quietly, taking an unnoticeable path from the side of the mountain, heading deep into the valley.

About fifteen minutes earlier, Li Mianyu had followed Yan Zhi up the mountain behind the house.

Yan Zhi hung a woven fish basket at his waist and caught fish, shrimp, and clams by the stream, while Li Mianyu knelt nearby picking flowers.

“Tomorrow is my coming-of-age ceremony. Originally, Cui Yunqi said he prepared a gift for me, but I don’t know what it is. He wouldn’t tell me in his letters… Yan Zhi, will you give me a coming-of-age gift tomorrow?”