Hearing these words, Qi’er just smiled softly.
Here is the edited article:
Xu Wanzhi walked inside. The courtyard was unusually quiet; Shen Kuang hadn’t returned yet. A food box sat quietly on the table, and he was touched, knowing the child always kept him in his heart.
“Have you eaten?” Qi’er mumbled. Xu Wanzhi immediately realized it was a silly question and changed his words: “There’s nothing urgent now. Go have lunch.”
These words were already showing care, and Qi’er smiled, saying, “This servant isn’t hungry. Earlier, the Qu guard brought eight servants – six guards and two young servants – for your use. Would you like to arrange them?”
“Sent me people?” He frowned slightly, never feeling he lacked servants.
After half a day, Shen Kuang slowly returned, with a strange expression. Seeing Xu Wanzhi, he called in a low voice, “A Zhi.”
“What’s wrong?” His expression was so odd.
Shen Kuang sat down in front of him, watching him unpack the food box item by item, suddenly felt a sourness in his nose, and said, “Master, actually wants me to get married—”
“What?”
Xu Wanzhi was shocked, almost dropping the plate in his hand.
Seeing his reaction, Shen Kuang felt even more aggrieved: “Master only said it was an early agreement, asking me to find someone and deliver an important token. Today I met the person Master mentioned’s disciple. She said we have a marriage contract, and if I come to fulfill it, she’ll marry me.”
What a bombshell…
Arranging the dishes, Xu Wanzhi took a breath, regained his composure, served him a bowl of rice, and continued eating. After a moment, he spoke like an understanding sister: “The first time meeting a woman, naturally, you can’t like her. So, the master’s command is difficult for you?”
Hitting the key point, Shen Kuang nodded: “I was raised by my master.”
“So, how is this woman’s appearance and character?” He was curious.
Shen Kuang glared at him: “I was too shocked by her words to care about her appearance!”
“…Fair enough.” Xu Wanzhi nodded, finding the lunch’s taste particularly interesting, swallowing a bite and asking, “So, do you want my advice?”
While something huge had happened to him, the person opposite was leisurely eating lunch, speaking in a calm tone, though Shen Kuang could hear the underlying mockery. Suddenly feeling reinvigorated, he picked up his chopsticks: “A Zhi, you have more ideas. I want to hear yours.”
Xu Wanzhi, who only complained internally, hearing his dependent tone, maintained a stern expression and directly offered advice: “If you don’t want to marry this woman, don’t get entangled. Pack your bags and return home immediately.”
“What?”
Shen Kuang choked on his rice, staring ungracefully. He thought Xu Wanzhi might advise him to try communicating with the woman or break off the engagement. Instead, he simply suggested going home.
Glancing at him, Xu Wanzhi raised an eyebrow: “Otherwise, what would you do? Get entangled with her? What if she doesn’t accept your opinion? What if she insists on following her master’s command? What if she already loves someone else? Worse, what if after marriage, she mistreats you?”
“I…”
His master had always loved him and never discussed such things. Living simply, he couldn’t imagine these scenarios. Hearing Xu Wanzhi’s questions, he suddenly felt the outside world was as terrifying as when his master used to scare him, unable to speak.
Xu Wanzhi sighed: “True comfort comes from our familiar hometown and loved ones. Without guarantees, avoid uncertainties if possible.”
These words carried endless desolation. Shen Kuang looked at him, nodding thoughtfully after a long moment. Xu Wanzhi smiled and continued eating.
“Xu Wanzhi rhetorically raised an eyebrow, looking at his thoroughly attentive expression, then smiled: ‘Where the heart finds peace is the way home.’ He was searching and firmly believed he would find it. ‘A Zhi, your words always make so much sense,’ Shen Kuang praised, then seemed to untie an inner knot, lowering his head to immerse himself in the delicious food. This pure-hearted thought made the person opposite him smile silently.
Xu Wanzhi liked thunderstorm days, especially after crossing over. On such days, he would wash up and lie down early, listening to the intermittent thunder and rain outside from within the warm blankets, feeling an extraordinary clarity in his heart. Originating from the crossing over’s ‘thunder piercing’, if there was truly a thunderstorm, he would devoutly hope a sudden lightning bolt would strike him directly back. Although each time he ultimately only enjoyed a peaceful rainy night’s sleep.
The dark clouds had gathered since the afternoon. Qi’er saw a gradual calm joy emerging in his eyes and silently let him stand alone in the corridor for an entire hour, though worried about rain splashes and wind, still carefully not disturbing him. Having nothing else to do, Xu Wanzhi had an early dinner and went to bed after extinguishing the lamp.”
Outside, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled, yet he felt no fear at all, just quietly watching until he fell asleep.
Knock, knock, knock.
Clear knocking sounds mixed with the rain penetrated inside. He sat up and asked, “Who?”
Qu Xiaojue’s voice responded from outside: “A Wan, it’s me.”
After a while, footsteps could be heard from inside, and then the door opened. Xu Wanzhi, wearing a light garment, slightly raised his eyes to look at her in the night: “What is it?”
Qu Xiaojue stood in the corridor, her clothes slightly damp. She stared at him silently for a moment, then stepped inside. He frowned to block her: “Qu Xiaojue, I’ve already gone to bed. If there’s nothing urgent, please come back tomorrow.”
“Husband,” she called out to him, reaching behind him to close the door. Knowing he would resist, she pulled him into her embrace, tightly gripping his waist, and forcefully kissed him.
Xu Wanzhi was stunned, instinctively grabbing her waist and biting down hard. Qu Xiaojue winced and took a step back, looking slightly annoyed.
“Qu Xiaojue, how dare you come here and make a scene,” he exhaled and stepped back, frowning and scolding.
“I’m very clear-headed,” she looked at his angry expression and suddenly smiled, taking two steps closer, her voice unexpectedly clear: “I was afraid you’d be frightened on this rainy night, so I came.”
A standard drunk’s excuse! Unwilling to argue further, Xu Wanzhi looked toward the door: “Thank you for your kindness. I’m not scared. May I ask you to leave now?”
“I’ll naturally stay here with you,” she said matter-of-factly, suddenly and decisively grabbing his hand, pressing her thumb on his wrist pulse and forcibly leading him to the bedside. He twisted his hand, gradually feeling bodily weakness, and couldn’t help but cry out in alarm: “What are you doing!”
Qu Xiaojue tilted her head, just as a flash of lightning illuminated her face. Her smile carried an inexplicable wickedness: “Husband, we are a married couple sharing a bed. What do you think I want to do?” She caught his suddenly weakened body and carefully positioned him on the bed’s edge, looking at him with a teasing meaning, her slender fingers reaching out to brush away the loose strands of hair on his face with an oddly gentle movement.
Xu Wanzhi glared furiously at her smiling face, coldly growling: “Qu Xiaojue, let go.”
I don’t care what madness you’re up to, don’t you dare touch me!”
He had never imagined he would be “taken” by a woman like this?!
Qu Xiaojue leaned in, grasping his hanging hand, pulling his body toward her, meeting his wide-open eyes and sighing as she kissed him. “We are husband and wife.”
The body beneath immediately retorted: “No, we’re not!”
