She stretched out her index finger and poked his chest without courtesy, criticizing his actions: “Lou Shan Yan, what’s wrong with you? Don’t you know how to cherish and protect women? You’re punishing a young lady with three days of fasting for such a small matter. Are you trying to starve her to death? What’s going on? Could it be that all your gentleness before was just an act?”
Lou Shan Yan was both amused and exasperated. He had tried to help her seek justice, but instead was accused of being cold and unfeeling. He truly didn’t know how to deal with her.
Jie’er stepped forward, wanting to help the kneeling woman up, but the other party easily avoided her outstretched hands, stubbornly keeping her head down: “This is my mistake. I willingly accept punishment. No need for others to plead on my behalf!”
Jie’er felt even more frustrated. What kind of person was this? She had a rare moment of conscience and wanted to be kind, but she encountered a masochist!
“Han Xue, go prepare some hot food. We’ll discuss the punishment later!” Lou Shan Yan glanced at the disgruntled Jie’er and waved his sleeve at the woman on the ground.
“Yes, understood!” Han Xue promptly stood and left, without a trace of extra emotion.
“Does it hurt?” Only after Han Xue’s figure disappeared around the corridor did he gently hold Jie’er’s hand, carefully massaging the bruised area, his gaze so tender it could drip water!
“I’m fine!” Jie’er felt uncomfortable under his gaze and tried to withdraw her hand, but he held it firmly.
Lou Shan Yan softly stopped her: “Don’t move. Han Xue is a martial arts practitioner, her grip is naturally strong. If the bruise doesn’t dissipate, it will definitely swell tomorrow!”
Oh my, is it really that serious? Jie’er obediently stopped moving, thinking to herself: Damn, we have no grudge, so why be so harsh?!
……
Fragrance and Tears Fall Before the Gentleman (6)
After a while, Lou Shanyan withdrew his hand and said calmly, “Hanxue is just worried about my safety, not intentionally trying to harm you. Don’t blame her!” Hmph, now that everyone’s gone, he wants to play the good guy, but where was he earlier?
Jie’er stared at him uncomprehendingly, “If you already knew, why did you impose such a heavy punishment just now? Isn’t this deliberately making her look like the bad guy?”
Lou Shanyan’s pitch-black pupils looked somewhat dim, with a hint of self-reproach: “I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to see you get hurt again, especially in my place. If I can’t protect you here, what right do I have to say I’ll take care of you!”
Then, he raised his tone and laughingly tapped Jie’er’s forehead, “Besides, you just had a face full of resentment, looking like you wanted revenge and hinting that I should help you get justice. How could I show favoritism!”
Jie’er was speechless. So he did all this for himself. After thinking for a while, she finally said, “But, but you didn’t need to punish me so severely!”
“Severe?” Lou Shanyan shook his head dismissively. “Compared to physical punishments, this is nothing. Or do you, Yue’er, have a better suggestion?”
Jie’er shook her head, suddenly realizing she didn’t understand him at all, not one bit. Compared to Ye Lüsheng and Lu Xuhan, he had clearly hidden too much. Though she had no intention of breaking through that mystery, she inexplicably felt uneasy. The previous assassination, his unusual identity, and this cold courtyard – everything seemed to foreshadow something bigger about to happen. Yet, she still wanted to stay by his side…
Thinking of the anxious figure pacing at the gate earlier, the hidden unease in her heart grew. Jie’er asked worriedly, “A’yan, has something happened?”
“Nothing, Yue’er, don’t worry. You must be hungry. I’ll take you to eat!” Lou Shanyan comforted with a smile, but his smile clearly revealed helplessness and pallor.
He approached and gently held Jie’er’s hand. Jie’er tenderly gripped back, saying, “You promised to always be by my side and protect me. So, no matter what happens to you, I’ll stay by your side and help you share the burden!”
Lou Shanyan said nothing, just giving her a complex look before softly saying, “Let’s go!”
…
Lou Shanyan carefully observed Jie’er’s reaction, and then, as if afraid she might get angry, added: “But don’t worry, I will definitely hurry back.”
From his appearance, one could guess that this trip was not simple. Jie’er inexplicably felt a trace of unease, pulling his sleeve and asking: “You said that as long as I’m willing, you’ll accompany me anywhere, is that true?”
“Yes, as long as Yue’er speaks, I’ll follow wherever you go!” He nodded firmly, making a serious promise, then suddenly seemed to remember something and changed his tone: “But—”
“No buts!” Jie’er naturally knew what he was about to say, interrupting him preemptively: “Alright, I now decide to go where you’re going. Don’t forget to protect me! And, and, don’t forget to bring enough money. You know traveling costs a lot, and I have none, so you’ll be responsible for all expenses along the way!”
Jie’er spoke while throwing him a look that said, “I’m poor, don’t expect me to spend a single penny.”
“You really want to come with me?” Lou Shanyan was very surprised by her decision.
Jie’er nodded very confidently: “Of course!” Some things, some people need time to forget; leaving might not be a bad thing, just consider it a chance to relax!
“Won’t you miss anything?” Lou Shanyan hinted.
Jie’er smiled faintly, thinking what is there to miss for someone already detached from worldly affairs? Then, shrugging indifferently, she said: “What’s there to miss? I’m just leaving temporarily, it’s not like I’m not coming back!”
……
At this moment, Hanxue brought a white coat and approached, the white coat emitting a faint glow. Jie’er couldn’t distinguish its material, only knowing it was beautifully styled!
The coat was adorned with sparkling pearls, with light emanating from those pearls. It seemed both people in the courtyard loved white, with no other color on them. Perhaps no one in the world was more suited to white than them – pure, ethereal, untouched by dust, like walking in a fantasy.
“Yue’er, are you… really sure?” Lou Shanyan carefully draped the coat over her, his handsome features not clearly visible in the moonlight.
“Mm!” Jie’er nodded lightly, using the night to hide the subtle melancholy between her brows, pulling Lou Shanyan’s sleeve and softly pleading: “A’Yan, sing me a song!”
Lou Shanyan’s handsome face immediately flushed with embarrassment, hesitating: “This… Yue’er, I can’t sing!” How could someone with such a beautiful voice not be able to sing?
He must be shy!
Jie’er persisted: “Don’t worry, it’s just the two of us, no one else will hear. I promise I won’t laugh, okay?” To be more persuasive, she even raised her right hand as if swearing.
Shanyan’s face completely fell, helplessly begging: “I really can’t! Yue’er, just let me off!”
Seeing he didn’t seem to be lying, Jie’er disappointedly sat on the marble steps, looking up at the starry sky, silent and stubborn, sitting on the cold steps!
Unable to bear her disappointment, Lou Shanyan spoke: “How about I tell you a story?”
Jie’er rolled her eyes, “Do you think I’m three years old?” Please, she was long past the age of listening to stories…
“Then…” Lou Shanyan was at a loss.
Jie’er said, “Forget it, I’ll sing for you instead!” She thought she hadn’t sung for a long time, and today she’d indulge this guy.
“Okay!” Lou Shanyan agreed quickly, earning another eye roll from Jie’er before she began to sing Hu Ge’s “Forgetting Time”.
[The song lyrics are included in the original text]
Singing, tears involuntarily slid down her cheeks. Talking about forgetting, about letting go – easier said than done…
……
