Chapter 14: Creating Obstacles

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

Xie Yi still looked guilty, his eyes fixed on the spilled snow-infused wine on the ground: “But the wine is also spilled.”

“Snow-infused wine is not something rare, it’s sold at small stalls on the street, it’s not a big deal.” Su Mu casually took a dry cloth and covered it, letting the cloth absorb the liquid.

Before Su Mu could bend down to clean up, Xie Yi had already crouched down to deal with the mess.

“But I spilled it, so Su Jiejie won’t have any to drink. Didn’t Su Jiejie say that person’s craftsmanship was the best?” Xie Yi crouched on the ground wiping, his tone tinged with a hint of sourness he wasn’t even aware of.

“That person? You mean Lin Xiaoxing?” Su Mu hadn’t yet noticed the jealousy in Xie Yi’s words, and nodded: “Before I got married, Xiaoxing did often bring me wine to drink, the taste was quite nice.”

Xie Yi felt extremely uncomfortable hearing this.

This foolish woman probably doesn’t know what it means when someone personally delivers wine.

It’s obvious that he has taken a liking to you, but you just married into the Yan family. Now that you’ve just separated, he’s come sniffing around, wanting to show you his goodwill and gain the upper hand.

Yet you still think he’s simply coming to deliver wine, you’re such a bookworm who only knows how to study.

If he really went back to the desert, Su Mu would definitely be devoured alive by the wolves and tigers of the Central Plains.

He gripped the cloth in his hand tightly and said with his head lowered: “Since Su Jiejie likes it, I’ll learn how to make it and brew it for you to drink.”

“For me?” Su Mu was slightly surprised, then smiled: “You’re leaving in a few days, why bother learning?”

An inadvertent remark made Xie Yi suddenly realize that once he left, he might be separated from Su Mu by great distances, never to meet again in this life.

And Su Mu might end up marrying that whatever Lin Xiaoxing, that ugly freak, why is he so lucky!

Xie Yi felt worse than if he had swallowed a fly, an inexplicable anger suddenly surged up from somewhere.

“I want to learn, I want to repay Su Jiejie.” Xie Yi stared fixedly at the petals on the ground.

Su Mu couldn’t persuade him otherwise and reluctantly compromised: “Alright, since you insist on learning, I’ll take you to meet Xiaoxing tomorrow, but I don’t know if he’ll be willing to teach you.”

“Mm, Su Jiejie is the best.” The dark clouds in Xie Yi’s eyes instantly dissipated as he smiled, tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, and happily carried them to the kitchen to wash.

When Xie Yi finished washing the dishes and came out, he saw Su Mu had spread out her books, seemingly completely absorbed in reading, while also writing something.

The flickering candlelight cast a soft, hazy glow on her profile.

Xie Yi was a bit dazed looking at her, slowly sitting down on a small stool in the hall, resting his chin on his hand as he quietly watched her.

Memories flashed quickly through his mind of how, after his homeland was ravaged, he first witnessed his parents being shot dead by arrows, and then ran into the desert to save his own life, only to be captured by merchants and sold to human traffickers.

In that year with the human traffickers, he instantly fell from heaven to hell. Several men who had been kidnapped along with him, in order to protect their own chastity, all pushed him, the most beautiful one, in front of those filthy women to be molested.

Fortunately, the human trafficker knew he could fetch a good price and didn’t let those men have their way, but the humiliation was deeply etched in Xie Yi’s heart. Those men who had harmed him, the more they cared about their chastity, the more he would make sure they couldn’t keep it.

Unfortunately, revenge didn’t bring him much satisfaction, and soon he was sold to the Li scholar’s household. The Li scholar coveted his beauty, but feared his husband’s family’s power.

In the struggle, he became the sacrifice.

The scholar’s husband’s methods of torture were even more vicious than his own. Humiliation, torment, hatred that seeped into his bones, that year was the darkest of his life… until he met Su Mu.

Her appearance was like a beam of light shining into his world, but unfortunately, this light was obtained through his deception.

Xie Yi’s heart suddenly became gloomy.

“Sigh—” Su Mu put down her pen and rubbed her eyes. Reading for a long time in dim light made her eyes sore and her shoulders uncomfortable.

Xie Yi immediately stood up from the stool, deftly took the lamp shade and covered the candlestick, making the light softer.

He then skillfully poured a basin of hot water, scalded a cloth, folded it neatly and placed it on Su Mu’s eyes.

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

“Su Jiejie, this will make you feel better.” Xie Yi’s voice sounded near her ear.

Su Mu relaxed, feeling the cloth covering her eyes, it felt like a warm current was flowing along the meridians around her eyes, very comfortable.

“It really is comfortable.” Su Mu unconsciously softened her body, her straight back leaning against the chair. She held the cloth with two fingers to keep it from falling off, and said: “I can hold it myself.”

Xie Yi shook his head: “Su Jiejie, let me massage your shoulders.”

As he spoke, his hands were already on Su Mu’s shoulders, gently kneading. His hands applied moderate pressure, pressing on the sore spots felt indescribably good.

Su Mu couldn’t help but let out a comfortable “Mm” sound: “You’re really troubling yourself.”

Xie Yi chuckled softly, his tone gentle: “It’s no trouble at all.”

He continued to massage, and because Su Mu’s eyes were covered by the cloth, Xie Yi finally had the opportunity to look at her unrestrained, no longer needing to pretend. He carefully examined Su Mu, her facial features and skin were delicate, unlike the ruggedness of desert women. She was just like those celestial maidens in storybooks who were so enchanting that immortals were willing to give up their immortality to marry them.

His hands slowly moved downward, from her shoulders to her arms. Xie Yi’s gaze followed, falling on Su Mu’s hands.

These hands, apart from the thin calluses on the fingertips from long-term pen holding, had no calluses at all on the palms or fingerpads.

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

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

The more Xie Yi looked, the more entranced he became, feeling that every part of Su Mu from head to toe was perfect and flawless, even her handwriting was breathtakingly beautiful.

Xie Yi couldn’t help but exclaim: “Su Jiejie’s handwriting is really beautiful.”

Su Mu removed the cloth covering her eyes and laughed softly: “You can’t recognize characters yet, how do you know my writing is good?”

Xie Yi took the cloth from her hand and smiled faintly: “Although I can’t recognize characters, I just feel that Su Jiejie’s writing is beautiful.”

He held the cloth, the hot steam had already cooled, only the part that had touched Su Mu’s eyes still retained some warmth, held in his hand, very warm and comfortable.

“I’ve heard that people in the Central Plains value scholars the most. When Su Jiejie becomes a scholar, there will surely be many men coming to propose marriage. What kind of man does Su Jiejie like?” Xie Yi gripped the cloth tightly.

“I’ve given up thoughts of romance now.” Su Mu said softly.

The tumultuous married life with Yan Jiyue in her previous life had made Su Mu develop a fear of marriage. She had finally managed to separate, why rush to jump into another fire pit?

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

Xie Yi lowered his head, his mood inexplicably gloomy.

Logically speaking, he should be happy for Su Mu not wanting to get married, actively cutting off those frivolous external relationships, after all, those were all bad matches.

But he couldn’t be happy, feeling gloomy and somewhat cold.

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

The night deepened, the lantern shone with the moon.

The next day, the weather finally cleared up.

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 Yang Shu.

Since they were asking for a favor, Xie Yi also brought the peony honey pastries and lychee paste that Su Mu had bought for him yesterday.

Su Mu praised him for being sensible.

A sweet smile rippled in Xie Yi’s eyes.

“You’re too polite, child, bringing pastries and such. Xiaoxing, come out quickly, your Su Jiejie has come to see you.” Yang Shu’s eyes were full of joy when he saw Su Mu personally come to visit.

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

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

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

Su Mu left reassured.

As soon as Su Mu left, Yang Shu’s enthusiastic expression faded slightly, but the corners of his eyes were still creased with smiles as he pulled Xie Yi to his side and chatted warmly: “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.

Yang Shu held his hand and asked again: “Has she touched you? Is your virgin mark still intact?”

Xie Yi blinked, his deep green eyes revealing innocence and bewilderment.

“Ah! He’s still a mute half-deaf who doesn’t understand the Central Plains language.” Yang Shu directly rolled up Xie Yi’s sleeve, and only when he saw the bright red virgin mark on his arm did he finally breathe 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 Central Plains language, he felt no need to be secretive.

Yang Shu happily waved to Lin Xiaoxing: “Come quickly and see the pastries your Su Jiejie brought specially for you.”

Lin Xiaoxing put a piece of peony honey pastry in his mouth, the faint floral fragrance and sweetness lingering. Thinking that this was sent by Su Mu made it seem even more fragrant and sweet.

“How is it?” Yang Shu asked with a smile.

Lin Xiaoxing ate the peony honey pastry, nodding with both shyness and joy: “Delicious.”

Yang Shu gently pulled Lin Xiaoxing to sit beside him: “I’ve already verified, that man is still pure. It seems your Su Jiejie really intends to send him back to the desert.”

Lin Xiaoxing smiled shyly: “Su Jiejie is just kind-hearted and benevolent.”

Yang Shu patted his hand: “It’s because she’s good that you need to seize the opportunity while she’s just separated. I’ve also heard that Su Mu has become motivated after separating, and participated in the prefectural examination. She might even pass the scholar exam.”

Lin Xiaoxing tried another piece of lychee paste, smiling extremely happily: “Even if she doesn’t pass, it doesn’t matter. If Su Jiejie is willing to be with me… we can live a simple life together.”

“You!” Yang Shu tapped his head: “But you’re right, what we admire is Su Mu’s character. She lived here for half a year before, I know her temperament best. Nowadays, there aren’t many women like her who can remain chaste with a beautiful young man by her side. She’s a good woman you can entrust your life to.”

“But I’m worried Su Jiejie won’t look at me favorably.” Lin Xiaoxing said with self-deprecation.

Yang Shu said: “Nonsense, my son is gentle and sensible, perfectly matched with Su Mu. Su Mu previously suffered at Yan Jiyue’s hands, and now can’t stand to see that kind of arrogant man. As long as you frequently visit her, demonstrate your virtuous character, I guarantee she’ll take a liking to you.”

Lin Xiaoxing clutched his handkerchief, finally gaining a bit of confidence: “Father is right. I… although my family background and looks can’t compare to Yan Jiyue, when it comes to personality and temperament, Yan Jiyue can’t compare to me.”

“Exactly.”

Xie Yi sat quietly to the side, watching the show.

It was as if Su Mu was their possession as long as they wished it, how ridiculous.

Xie Yi spent the whole morning at Yang Shu’s place learning to make snow-infused wine.

When it was almost noon, Su Mu was preparing to cook for herself when she suddenly heard a commotion outside – anxious voices, crying, all in chaos.

As soon as Su Mu opened the door, she saw Yang Shu wiping away tears.

Neighbors nearby were quietly discussing: “The Lin siblings were horsing around on the street. It had just stopped raining, so the ground was slippery. They stepped on an apricot and fell, hitting the back of their heads. They were just carried back. I heard they’ll need at least a month to recover.”

“That’s why they say when your luck is down, even drinking cold water will chip your teeth.”