We led the horse slowly down the street. Everyone’s face changed in fear when they saw us. It seemed this blue-haired curse was deeply rooted among the people of the Mirror Kingdom. I couldn’t help but ask, “Suo, what does blue hair on women mean in the Mirror Kingdom?”
“Want to know?” He deliberately teased, raising an eyebrow. I nodded, “Will I also take the world?”
He laughed, his gaze drifting forward, then suddenly turned to look at me seriously: “If you want the world, I’ll take it for you!”
“Hehe…” I was satisfied and laughed.
“Long’er, these past two days are the most peaceful I’ve lived,” he smiled relievedly.
My heart ached. The hidden scar was suddenly exposed. I pretended not to hear and turned to look at the street vendors’ goods.
Whatever I picked, he would follow and throw silver. When I could no longer hold anything, he pulled me, a hint of regret in his eyes for his previous words, but still insisted: “Long’er, don’t be like this. I absolutely won’t regret the choice I made… I’m even grateful because you walked with me. Can we spend the last carefree days together?”
I thought for a moment, pouted and glared at him, then put back everything I was holding, telling the vendors: “I’m not buying anymore, return my silver!”
“Miss, you…” The vendors looked helpless, finally reluctantly returning my silver.
“Who does this?” Ye Suo lightly laughed, embarrassedly turning his gaze elsewhere.
I’m not new to him, I pursed my lips: “I’m hungry, let’s eat!”
“Okay. The horse is tired too.” Ye Suo settled the horse, and we entered an inn. Everyone inside stared at us. The innkeeper and a skinny waiter pushed each other for a long time, finally the waiter came to our table: “Two honored guests, what… dishes would you like?”
I stared unblinkingly as he stammered. I mimicked his trembling voice: “I want pig heart, bear heart, sheep heart, chicken heart, cow heart… bring all heart-nourishing dishes. We’re staying at the inn tonight.”
“Okay, okay…” The waiter hurriedly nodded and turned to leave, unexpectedly falling due to weak legs. The inn, which had been silent because of our arrival, suddenly erupted in laughter.
“You’re doing this on purpose,” after the waiter stumbled away, Ye Suo looked up and reproached me.
I leaned on the table, chopsticks in my mouth, hearing him speak, I found it like a joke and grinned.
“High-level beast?” He repeated, his brow showing dissatisfaction at being teased. He stretched out his long fingers and pinched my nose playfully, scolding with a touch of doting, “Stop talking nonsense.”
My nose was tickled, so I could only surrender and smile: “Yes, yes, you, Master Ye, are not a beast. I am the beast.”
He raised his eyebrow satisfactorily, releasing his hand from my nose tip, solemnly agreeing: “Hmm, little beast.”
Several waiters had already brought dishes to the table. Looking at the table full of heart-nourishing ingredients, I was somewhat stunned. Would we really eat all these hearts? I looked at Ye Suo. He was holding chopsticks and frowning at the array of dishes.
Catching my gaze, he returned an incomprehensible look, then suddenly understood, raising his eyebrow triumphantly.
I pouted, picking a bit of each dish into his bowl, piling it up like a small mountain. Seeing his furrowed brow, I smiled triumphantly: “Please taste, Young Master Ye. I never serve dishes to others.”
“Thank you,” he said stiffly, stirring the dishes in his bowl with chopsticks, childishly glaring at me for the first time: “Truly a little beast.”
I laughed out loud, having never seen the usually reserved Ye Suo so childlike before, which suddenly made me feel more relaxed and at ease.
“Shall we go out and walk around after breakfast?”
“Okay,” he agreed without objection, still stirring his chopsticks.
On the street, people’s curious yet cautious gazes fell on me and Ye Suo, causing traffic to repeatedly jam.
I tugged Ye Suo’s sleeve, muttering glumly, “They’re looking at us like we’re extinct zoo animals.”
“Feeling uncomfortable?” Ye Suo’s misty eyes glanced at me sideways, his face completely nonchalant.
“Of course.”
“Then hide in my arms.” Ye Suo smiled wickedly, quickly reaching out to pull me close. I unexpectedly pressed against him, the people’s gaze becoming even more intense. I buried my face deeper into Ye Suo’s chest.
“You’re still laughing…” I whispered, certain he was doing this to get back at me for calling him a “beast.”
“Move! Move! Are you blind? Move!” An arrogant voice accompanied by horse hooves approached. I looked up to see a carriage recklessly charging toward the dense crowd.
People panicked and quickly retreated to both sides. An old woman, carrying a vegetable basket, limped to the side…
“Damn old woman! Are you seeking death!” The carriage’s occupant shouted, making no attempt to stop.
The grandmother seemed to hear nothing, slowly walking as if the carriage didn’t exist. Ye Suo rushed out with lightning speed, swiftly scooping up the grandmother and kicking the horse’s leg. The horse knelt in pain, and the carriage violently shook.
“Ye Suo is so cool!” I excitedly jumped up. The surrounding crowd began to cheer loudly. A nearby aunty looked at me enviously, “Miss, your husband is amazing. If not for him, Grandma Zhang would have been crushed under the carriage.”
“Of course, he is Ye Suo, he is my…” My proud smile froze. My husband?
us to my frozen expression, continued admiring Ye Suo’s heroic pose, “Miss, having such a husband must be so wonderful, right?”
I raised a happy, satisfied smile. “Yes!”
The carriage driver, embarrassed, climbed up from the ground, glaring at Ye Suo. Seeing Ye Suo’s sharp gaze and blue hair, he didn’t dare look again and fled with his carriage.
The crowd’s cheers grew louder, gathering around Ye Suo, no longer treating us like outsiders.
There’s no way around it, this town has only one carpentry shop.” Listening to the mother-in-law’s words, a lightning-like brilliant idea flashed into my mind, and I snapped my fingers triumphantly, “I know how we’ll survive here!”
“I want to open a department store where you can buy everything – food, daily necessities, clothes…” I counted on my fingers and spoke confidently.
“Okay?”
“Can I say no?” Ye Suo put on a thoughtful expression. I pouted dissatisfiedly, and he chuckled, “Long’er says it’s fine.”
“Hmm.” Looking at Ye Suo’s exceptionally doting gaze, I felt sweet inside. I turned to the crowd, cupped my hands in a martial arts hero pose, “Fellow villagers, my husband and I have just arrived in this place and decided to open a small shop. You must come and support us!”
“I bought four shops, connected them into one large storefront, and “Blue Night Department Store” was bustling to life, with help from neighbors to stock various goods, and hiring a few salespeople. I was indeed quite professional.”
hui Sha repeatedly wiped the newly arrived “Blue Night Department Store” sign, smiling at the memory of choosing the name.
“Night Store!” Ye Suo said coldly.
“Blue Store!” I insisted.
“Night Store!”
“Night Store sounds like it’s only open at night,” I argued.
“Night Store!” He remained uninterested.
“Blue Night!” I began to compromise…
“Night Blue!” Was he compromising too?
“Fine, Night Blue it is, since you won’t listen to me anyway.” I turned away, feeling wronged.
“Blue Night!” He helplessly agreed, my sneaky plan successful, and I smiled triumphantly.
Ye Suo held the signboard and did a flip out the door. I picked up the red silk cloth and chased after him. He hung the sign on the door with one hand. I waved the silk, “Cover this up and unveil it on opening day!”
