Chapter 14: Tripping Up

“Get up.” Su Mu helped Xie Yi up from the ground, “It’s just a broken bowl, what’s the big deal? You don’t need to kneel to me.”

Xie Yi still looked guilty, his eyes fixed on the snow-soaked plum blossom wine on the ground, “But the wine is spilled too.”

“Snow-soaked plum blossom wine is nothing rare. It’s sold at the stalls on the street, so it doesn’t matter.” Su Mu casually took a dry handkerchief and covered it, letting the handkerchief soak up the water.

Before Su Mu could bend down to clean up, Xie Yi squatted down first to clean up the mess.

“But I knocked it over, so Sister Mu has nothing to drink. Didn’t Sister Mu say that person’s cooking skills are the best?” Xie Yi wiped the floor while squatting, a trace of sourness that he himself didn’t even realize seeping into his tone.

“That person? You mean Lin Xiaoxing?” Su Mu didn’t hear the vinegar coming out of Xie Yi’s words and nodded, “Before I got married, Xiaoxing did often bring wine for me to drink, and it tasted quite good.”

Hearing this made Xie Yi extremely uncomfortable.

This silly woman probably doesn’t even know what it means when someone personally delivers wine to your door.

Obviously, that person has taken a fancy to you, but you had to enter the Yan family as a husband. Now that you just got divorced, that person came following the scent, wanting to show goodwill to you and gain the upper hand.

Yet you still think that person is just innocently delivering wine. You’re really a bookworm who only knows how to study.

If he really returned to the desert, Su Mu would definitely be devoured alive by the predators in the Central Plains.

He clutched the handkerchief tightly in his hand and said with his head lowered, “Since Sister Mu likes it, I’ll go learn it and brew it for you to drink.”

“For me?” Su Mu was slightly surprised, then smiled, “You’re leaving in a while, what’s there to learn?”

A casual remark suddenly made Xie Yi realize that once he left, he and Su Mu might be separated by great distances, never to see each other again in this life.

And Su Mu might marry that damned Lin Xiaoxing. That ugly monster, what right does he have to be so lucky!

Xie Yi felt even more uncomfortable in his heart than if he had swallowed a fly. An inexplicable anger suddenly surged out from somewhere.

“I want to learn. I want to repay Sister Mu.” Xie Yi stared fixedly at the plum blossom petals on the ground.

Su Mu couldn’t resist him and compromised helplessly, “Alright, since you insist on learning, I’ll take you to see Xiaoxing tomorrow. But as for whether he’s willing to teach you, I don’t know.”

“Mm, Sister Mu is the best.” The dark clouds in Xie Yi’s eyes instantly vanished and he smiled. He cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks and happily took them to the kitchen to wash.

When Xie Yi came out after washing the dishes, he saw Su Mu spreading out a book, as if completely immersed in reading, writing something while reading.

The candlelight flickered, casting a layer of hazy soft light on her profile.

Xie Yi stared in a daze and slowly sat down on a small stool in the hall, propping his chin and quietly watching her.

In his mind quickly flashed the scenes of his parents being shot dead by stray arrows after his hometown fell into chaos, him running into the desert to survive but being captured and sold to a human trafficker.

In the trafficker’s hands this past year, he had instantly fallen from heaven to hell. Several men who were abducted together, in order to preserve their chastity, all pushed him, the most beautiful, in front of those filthy women to be toyed with.

Fortunately, the trafficker knew he could sell for a good price, so he didn’t let those men succeed. But Xie Yi fiercely remembered the humiliation in his heart. Those men who harmed him, the more they cared about their chastity, the more he made sure they couldn’t keep it.

Unfortunately, revenge didn’t bring him much pleasure. He was soon sold to Scholar Li’s house. Scholar Li coveted his beauty but feared the power of the Scholar Husband’s family.

In the struggle, he became the sacrificial victim.

The Scholar Husband’s methods of torture were even more ruthless than his own. Humiliation, torture, the hatred deep in his bones, that year was the darkest year of his life… until he met Su Mu.

Her appearance was like a beam of light shining into his world. Unfortunately, this light was something he had tricked out of her.

Xie Yi’s heart suddenly turned gloomy.

“Sigh—” Su Mu put down the brush and rubbed her eyes. Reading for a long time in a dimly lit place made her eyes sore and shoulders uncomfortable.

Xie Yi immediately stood up from the stool and nimbly picked up a lamp cover to cover the candlestick, making the light slightly softer.

He also skillfully poured a basin of hot water, heated the handkerchief, folded it neatly and placed it on Su Mu’s eyes.

Su Mu was just resting with her eyes closed when she suddenly felt darkness in front of her eyes and struggled a bit.

“Sister Mu, this will make you more comfortable.” Xie Yi’s voice sounded by her ear.

Su Mu relaxed, feeling the handkerchief covering her eyes, as if a stream of heat was nimbly circulating along the meridians of her eyes, making her very comfortable.

“It is indeed very comfortable.” Su Mu unconsciously softened her body and leaned her upright back against the chair. She held the handkerchief with two fingers to keep it from falling off and said, “I can hold it myself, it’s fine.”

Xie Yi shook his head, “Sister Mu, let me massage your shoulders.”

With that, his hands were already on Su Mu’s shoulders, starting to gently knead them. The force in his hands was just right, pressing on the sore shoulders felt indescribably comfortable.

Su Mu couldn’t help but let out a comfortable “mmm” sound, “I’m really troubling you.”

Xie Yi chuckled softly, his tone gentle, “Not troublesome at all.”

He continued to knead. Because Su Mu’s eyes were covered by the cloth, Xie Yi finally had the chance to look at her wantonly without having to pretend anymore. He carefully observed Su Mu. Her features and skin were delicate, unlike the ruggedness of desert women. She was just like the scholar’s wife in the storybooks who could enchant celestial maidens to willingly give up their immortal status to marry.

His hands slowly moved down, massaging from her shoulders to her arms. Xie Yi’s gaze also followed, falling onto Su Mu’s hands.

These hands, apart from some calluses on the fingertips from holding a brush for a long time, had no calluses at all on the palms and finger pads.

Even though Xie Yi was doted on by his parents at home, he wasn’t nobility after all and had to do chores, accumulating a layer of thin calluses on his hands.

Su Mu’s hands were even more precious than those of young masters and ladies raised deep in the inner chambers, beautiful without a single flaw. Even the slight calluses on her fingertips were lovely.

The more Xie Yi looked, the more infatuated he became. He felt that there was nothing about Su Mu from head to toe that wasn’t good or perfect. Even her handwriting was stunningly beautiful.

Xie Yi couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, “Sister Mu’s handwriting is really good.”

Su Mu removed the handkerchief covering her eyes and laughed softly, “You can’t even read. How do you know my handwriting is good?”

Xie Yi took the handkerchief from her hand and smiled faintly, “Although I can’t read, I just feel that Sister Mu’s handwriting is beautiful.”

He held the handkerchief. The steaming water had cooled, leaving only some warmth where it had touched Su Mu’s eyes. He gripped it in his hand, feeling very warm and comfortable.

“I heard that people in the Central Plains value scholars the most. When Sister Mu becomes a scholar, there will definitely be many men coming to propose. What kind of men does Sister Mu like?” Xie Yi tightly clutched the handkerchief.

“I have already given up on the idea of romance.” Su Mu said softly.

In her previous life, her chaotic married life with Yan Jiyue made Su Mu fear marriage. She had finally divorced with great difficulty, so why rush to jump into another pit of fire?

Women should still focus on their careers. Only by establishing themselves can they shelter others from the wind and rain. Not like her, who couldn’t even protect Xie Yi who died for her in the previous life.

Xie Yi lowered his head, his mood inexplicably a bit gloomy.

Logically speaking, since Su Mu didn’t want to get married and actively cut off those flirtatious men outside, he should be happy for her, after all, those were all rotten peach blossoms.

But he couldn’t bring himself to be happy, feeling gloomily cold.

She didn’t want to get married because there was no one she liked around her, not a single one, including…

The night grew deep, the caged lantern beside the moon.

The next day, the weather finally cleared.

Xie Yi got up early to make breakfast for Su Mu and washed the clothes.

After breakfast, Su Mu finally took Xie Yi to visit Uncle Yang.

Because they were asking for a favor, Xie Yi also brought the peony syrup and lychee paste that Su Mu bought for him yesterday.

Su Mu praised him for being considerate.

A hint of sweet smile rippled in Xie Yi’s eyes.

“You child are just too polite, bringing pastries.” Uncle Yang saw Su Mu personally coming to the door, his eyes full of delight.

Lin Xiaoxing hurriedly ran out from the room, nearly tripping over the threshold, his face flushed.

“Uncle Yang, I’ll leave Xie Yi in your care then.” Su Mu said.

“Don’t worry.” Uncle Yang smiled and patted Xie Yi’s shoulder, praising him with great friendliness, “Look at this child, he’s really handsome.”

Su Mu left with peace of mind.

After Su Mu left, the enthusiastic expression on Uncle Yang’s face faded slightly, but the corners of his eyes still crinkled with a smile. He pulled Xie Yi to his side and asked in a friendly chat, “I heard from Su girl that you’re going back to the desert in a few days, is that true?”

Xie Yi nodded, smiling innocently.

Uncle Yang held his hand and asked again, “Did she touch you? Is your virgin lock still there?”

Xie Yi blinked, his deep green eyes showing a hint of innocent confusion.

“Tsk! Still a mute and half-deaf who can’t understand the language of the Central Plains.” Uncle Yang directly rolled up Xie Yi’s sleeve until he saw the bright red virgin lock on his arm before finally breathing a sigh of relief, “Still a virgin, I really didn’t misjudge that Su Mu girl.”

But thinking that Xie Yi couldn’t understand the language of the Central Plains, he didn’t need to be secretive.

Uncle Yang happily waved at Lin Xiaoxing, “Come quickly and see, these are the pastries your Sister Su specially brought for you.”

Lin Xiaoxing put a piece of peony syrup in his mouth. The faint floral fragrance and sweetness lingered in his mouth. Thinking that it was sent by Su Mu, it tasted even more fragrant and sweet.

“How is it?” Uncle Yang asked with a grin.

Lin Xiaoxing ate the candied peony, nodding both shyly and happily, “Delicious.”

Uncle Yang gently pulled Lin Xiaoxing to sit beside him, “Dad just checked, that man is still chaste. It seems your Sister Su really intends to send him back to the desert.”

Lin Xiaoxing smiled shyly, “Sister Su is just kind-hearted.”

Uncle Yang patted his hand, “It’s because she’s a good person, so you have to seize the opportunity while she just got divorced. I also heard that Su Mu worked hard after the divorce and took the provincial exam. Maybe she can even become a scholar.”

Lin Xiaoxing tasted a piece of lychee paste, grinning happily, “Even if she can’t, it doesn’t matter. If Sister Su is willing to be with me… we can live a simple life together.”

“You!” Uncle Yang knocked on his head, “But you’re right. What we fancy is Su Mu’s character in the first place. She lived at my place for half a year before. I know her temperament best. Nowadays, there aren’t many women like her who can stay chaste and not be tempted even with a beautiful man by her side. She’s a good woman to entrust one’s life to.”

“But I’m worried Sister Su won’t fancy me.” Lin Xiaoxing said with an inferiority complex.

Uncle Yang said, “Nonsense, my son is gentle and considerate, a perfect match for Su Mu. Su Mu suffered at Yan Jiyue’s place before and can’t stand that kind of arrogant man the most. As long as you often visit her and show your virtuous character, she will surely take a liking to you.”

Lin Xiaoxing clutched his handkerchief, finally gaining a bit of confidence, “Dad is right, although my family background and looks can’t compare to Yan Jiyue, in terms of personality and temper, Yan Jiyue is no match for me either.”

“That’s right.”

Xie Yi sat quietly on the side watching the show.

As if as long as they were willing, Su Mu would be their prize, ridiculous.

Xie Yi spent the entire morning at Uncle Yang’s place learning to make snow-soaked plum blossom wine.

When it was almost noon, Su Mu was about to cook when she suddenly heard a commotion outside, anxious, crying, in a mess.

As soon as Su Mu opened the door, she saw Uncle Yang wiping his tears.

The neighbors beside him were whispering, “The Lin siblings were playing around on the street. The ground was slippery from the rain and they also stepped on an apricot pit and fell, hitting the back of the head. They were just carried back. I heard it will take at least a month to recuperate.”

“No wonder they say, when a person is unlucky, even drinking cold water gets stuck in the teeth.”