Chapter 284:
By now, the sky had long brightened, and the maidservant on night watch had heard the movements inside and was inquiring concernedly outside the door.
Xie Wanning called for someone to come in, “Where is Ran’er?”
“At this hour, the young master should have gone to the academy,” Old Woman Ma saw her facial expression wasn’t good and exclaimed in alarm: “Madam, is something wrong? Should we call the young master back?”
Xie Xiuran was already four years old, usually very close to Ji Chengfeng, and at the beginning of the year, Ji Chengfeng had personally given him enlightenment.
Later, Xie Wanning really couldn’t bear to see the dignified prefect personally teaching lessons to a small child, and thinking that young children need peers to play with, she specially sent the child to an academy in Bianzhou City.
In this short while, Xie Wanning had calmed down some. She pondered for a few breaths, shook her head and said: “No rush. You go to the front courtyard first and see if Chengqian is in the residence. Ask him to come over.”
After four years of care, even if he was returning to the capital city, he should at least bid a proper farewell.
Something like leaving without a word, Xie Wanning couldn’t do.
Old Woman Ma went at an unfortunate time; upon asking in the front courtyard, Ji Chengfeng had just left the residence.
By the time he returned, it was already afternoon.
Hearing that Xie Wanning had summoned him, he turned his steps without hesitation and went to the inner courtyard.
Over four years living under the same roof, their initial unfamiliar politeness had long faded.
Except when official duties were too busy to return to the residence, they always dined together.
Not a couple, but still family with deep friendship.
In the deep winter, the afternoon’s warm sun was especially precious.
A rocking chair was placed under the wutong tree, Xie Wanning lay on it, covered with a thin blanket, sunlight spilling over her body.
Warm, peaceful.
The familiar clear cold snow pine breath filled her nostrils, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
The man as refined as bamboo stood to one side, gazing down at her.
Their eyes met, and he smiled faintly, “The weather is pretty good today. Why didn’t you call people for a game of cards?”
In those bright pupils, the feelings once hidden deep in his heart were now undisguised, blatantly revealed.
—Completely and utterly all for her.
Over these years, his affection was something they both knew well.
Those undercurrents surging, just one layer of paper to pierce, and they should naturally be together.
Even four-year-old Xie Xiuran could see that his maternal uncle liked his mother.
And now, Xie Wanning sat up straight and said: “I have something to tell you.”
She avoided his gaze.
Ji Chengfeng’s heart sank, the smile on his lip fading some, “What is it?”
He squatted down to meet her eyes levelly.
This was a somewhat humble posture, but he did it very naturally.
Facing those warm, affectionate eyes, Xie Wanning felt like a sinner who had let down true heart.
Utterly heinous!
If, if only…
She gently closed her eyes, forcing down the guilt and said: “I want to return to the capital city.”
As the words fell, the air stagnated for a moment, and Ji Chengfeng’s facial expression also stagnated for a moment.
“…Why,” after a few breaths of silence, he difficultly parted his lips, “Didn’t you say you weren’t going back?”
“I regret it.”
Thinking of that madman, Xie Wanning’s heart panicked terribly, dull ache, twisting pain.
“…Sorry, I broke a promise,” she sniffed, saying softly: “I realized I still can’t let go of him.”
This ‘him’ didn’t need to be stated; both knew who it was.
Ji Chengfeng lowered his eyes, looking at her hand gripping the thin blanket.
Those jade-like white finger joints had turned white from the force.
He looked for a while, then said: “Why so sudden.”
Yesterday, they had still dined together.
Except for not lying in the same bed at night, these two years, they were like the most ordinary couple; if adding Xie Xiuran, they were a happy family of three.
He could feel that she wasn’t unmoved at all.
Even if just for a moment, she must have seriously considered accepting his feelings.
Having seen the dawn of hope, how could he watch it extinguish.
Even someone as steady and calm as Ji Chengfeng couldn’t easily give up on the person he had guarded for years.
He wanted a reason.
Xie Wanning parted her lips, “Last night, I had a dream, dreamed of some bad things, and then I realized I can’t let go of him…”
She raised her eyes to look at the man squatting in front of her, seriously saying: “So, I have to go back to find him.”
Their gazes met, each able to see the emotions in the other’s eyes.
She had made up her mind.
After a long silence, Ji Chengfeng nodded gently, “Can you tell me my ending in that dream?”
Hearing this, Xie Wanning’s pupils shook, before she could speak, her wrist was seized.
Ji Chengfeng pried open her fingers gripping the thin blanket one by one, slowly held her hand, then smiled at her and asked: “Was it that in the spring six years ago, I was betrayed by my attendant, contracted the plague, and died?”
“Don’t be afraid,” feeling her hand trembling, Ji Chengfeng gently squeezed it, soothing: “I’m just guessing; after all, your reminder back then was too accurate.”
He wasn’t stupid.
After falling for her, he had earnestly inquired about her previous marriage engagement.
She and that man were childhood sweethearts, deeply in love.
That concubine, the Lu Family had also agreed to send away; by reason or emotion, there shouldn’t have been cause for her to so firmly break the engagement and hastily marry someone else.
There must be some hidden story others didn’t know.
Plus her almost prophetic reminders, and now suddenly deciding to return to the capital city because of a dream.
Everything pointed to an absurd conclusion.
And now, her reaction told him his guess was right.
Ji Chengfeng didn’t press for the details of ‘in the dream,’ just tightened his grip on her hand, “Have you thought it through? Really going back?”
His tone was fatally gentle.
Xie Wanning felt somewhat uncomfortable.
She pursed her lips, nodded.
“Good,” Ji Chengfeng smiled gently, “Then go back.”
As the words fell, he suddenly leaned in close, opened his arms, and pulled the young lady on the chair into his embrace.
This was their first hug; before this, they had kept emotions in check and propriety, never once overstepping, so Xie Wanning was completely unprepared.
By the time she reacted, her chin was already resting on his shoulder, thoroughly enveloped by his clear cold snow pine breath; she froze for a moment, about to push him away, when she heard him say: “Don’t say sorry.”
“You are free; from beginning to end, you never promised me anything,” he murmured softly, “It was just me wishfully loving you.”
Xie Wanning was stunned, pursed her lips uncomfortably, wanting to say something, but inexplicably felt a bone-chilling cold.
She instinctively looked up, and at the courtyard gate, a tall slender figure, familiar yet strange.
He didn’t know when he had stood there, gazing unwaveringly this way.
He didn’t come in, just stood outside the door, looking at her from afar.
Xie Wanning couldn’t see his expression, not even his facial expression clearly.
But she knew who he was.
Her whole body instantly stiffened, and reacting, she urgently pushed away the person beside her.
Two thousand words, updated three days’ worth in one go today, hehe, no saying the author is lazy now…
Some monthly tickets, let me see those readers eagerly waiting for more～
