Waking up from a deep sleep, Qin Yuanxi felt a bit hungover, pressing his slightly throbbing temples. He deeply regretted his carelessness, realizing he had overestimated himself and, at the same time, underestimated Zhao Tuo.
“Feeling uncomfortable?”
The moment Qin Yuanxi moved, the person beside him reacted swiftly, rushing to bring him a cup of tea. “Soothe your throat.”
“I—” Qin Yuanxi began to speak, then instinctively covered his throat. What had happened last night to leave his voice sounding so broken today?
With faint memories lingering in his mind, Qin Yuanxi glanced at Zhao Tuo, who seemed visibly embarrassed, even blushing a bit. Suppressing a smile, he leaned in, “Did I take advantage of you after getting drunk last night?”
Not exactly taking advantage, but Qin Yuanxi had been quite enthusiastic and proactive after getting drunk. The two had tumbled and frolicked in the sheets for most of the night. Initially, Zhao Tuo managed to maintain some control, but eventually, he let loose completely, leaving Qin Yuanxi with a hoarse voice.
“Why are you so embarrassed?” Qin Yuanxi had a thick skin, leaning in to give Zhao Tuo a peck. “It’s just a natural thing between people. If I don’t tease you, then who should I tease, right?”
His tone made it sound as if he were the one doing the teasing rather than being on the receiving end.
“Mm,” Zhao Tuo leaned in, deepening the kiss, then pulled Qin Yuanxi into his arms. “Tired?”
“Not at all.”
Not only was he not tired, but Qin Yuanxi also felt remarkably energetic. After a good night’s sleep, he enthusiastically dragged Zhao Tuo out of bed to tidy up, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside. “I saw a little river in the valley. How about we go fishing? We can have grilled fish for dinner. What do you think?”
Where could be bad about that? Looking at Qin Yuanxi now, Zhao Tuo’s eyes returned to the indulgent and doting gaze from before, brimming with tenderness, as if it could melt away like water.
Qin Yuanxi wasn’t a fool; he could clearly see Zhao Tuo’s change. Taking the initiative, he wrapped his arms around Zhao Tuo’s waist and planted a kiss on his lips. “Really good.”
As long as things gradually improve, as long as Zhao Tuo can slowly find himself, discover his true feelings, for Qin Yuanxi, it’s a great stroke of luck. He doesn’t really care about what identity this person is accompanying him with; what Qin Yuanxi desires is simply a lover.
That’s it.
Beside the flowing river, fishing didn’t seem feasible. The fishing rod Qin Yuanxi had busily prepared turned out to be useless, leaving him somewhat disappointed.
“The water’s flowing too fast, we can’t fish here, and who knows if there are any fish in there. Probably not.”
Excitement turned into a bit of a letdown upon seeing the reality.
“There are fish, we can go down the river to catch them,” Zhao Tuo suggested, rolling up his pant legs and sleeves in preparation to go down to the water. Seeing this, Qin Yuanxi followed suit, rolling up his own clothes. “Then I’ll go too, let’s catch fish together.”
However, before Qin Yuanxi could roll up his sleeves completely, Zhao Tuo intervened, “The water’s cold, you just stay on the bank and watch, don’t go down. What if you get injured?”
“It’s okay, the weather’s getting warmer bit by bit, it’s refreshing to play in the water,” Qin Yuanxi shrugged off Zhao Tuo’s concern, completely unconcerned. It was almost June, and the water felt perfectly cool. Just seeing it made him crave some close contact.
Seeing Qin Yuanxi still eager, Zhao Tuo didn’t dare to be careless. He directly pulled him to a large rock further from the shore, placed his own clothes on the rock, and gestured for Qin Yuanxi to sit. “No, you can’t. It’s only been a short while since you gave birth to Xiao Bao. There are still wounds on your body, you can’t neglect your health just for the sake of coolness.”
“But—” Qin Yuanxi listened to him, fingers clutching Zhao Tuo’s sleeve tightly, hesitating for a moment before asking, “Do you remember Xiao Bao?”
It’s not surprising that Qin Yuanxi asked this question. Zhao Tuo had indeed forgotten about Xiao Bao before, not even realizing that the child was theirs. He even got angry when Qin Yuanxi bought toys for the baby back then. In Zhao Tuo’s eyes and heart, the entire world revolved around Qin Yuanxi, with no one else.
However, now that he voluntarily brought up Xiao Bao, Qin Yuanxi felt a warmth in his eyes.
Zhao Tuo lowered his head, gently kissing Qin Yuanxi’s forehead, and then whispered, “I remember a lot of things, all jumbled up. Xiao Bao is there too. He’s very well-behaved and beautiful, just like you.”
“Not at all, Xiao Bao looks like you,” Qin Yuanxi felt like crying and laughing at the same time. He could sense that his facial expression must be quite amusing and quickly urged Zhao Tuo, “Hurry up and catch some fish, catch a few more. I want to have grilled fish.”
He remembered the first time they escaped the palace when Zhao Tuo stayed by his side. On that night, they camped by the roadside, and Zhao Tuo grilled chicken for him. There were no fancy seasonings, just simple grilled chicken, but Qin Yuanxi was completely satisfied.
Perhaps from that moment, this person had settled in his heart, making Qin Yuanxi willingly dedicate everything for him.
Watching Zhao Tuo in the water, messing around with a sharpened twig, occasionally splashing water on his side face, that moment seemed to freeze in time. Qin Yuanxi thought, all he ever wanted in life was peace, joy, and having the person he loved by his side—simple and pure.
Maybe because his gaze was too focused, Zhao Tuo turned around, and their eyes met. Then, they both smiled at each other, a moment that felt eternal.
“Wow, Ah Tuo, you’re so amazing.”
Carrying a bucket, after a busy afternoon, the bucket was now filled with a bountiful catch. The two of them, with fishing rods in hand. Qin Yuanxi linked arms with Zhao Tuo, humming a tune as they walked back, intending to grill the fish.
This time, with all the right seasonings, Zhao Tuo showcased his skills. When the aroma of the grilled fish wafted in the air, Meng Yu also flew over.
Meng Xuan wasn’t at home, and Qin Yuanxi hadn’t seen Meng Yu. He had no idea what she was busy with. The entire Cangnan Valley was vast, and Qin Yuanxi didn’t know how she smelled the scent and came running.
Satisfied with her unplanned feast, Meng Yu, who received a delicious grilled fish, didn’t hold back her praise. “It smells so good. I didn’t expect Ice Block to be so skilled.”
After taking a few bites, she realized something was off, “Where did you catch these fish? It wouldn’t happen to be that river behind, would it?”
Qin Yuanxi’s hand holding the fish seemed a bit awkward. The moment Meng Yu spoke, he felt something was amiss. In situations like this, it’s highly likely that the fish might not be suitable for consumption. Who knows, it could be some rare species, a precious catch that could save lives.
After Meng Yu’s words, Qin Yuanxi suddenly felt the fish in his hand becoming quite valuable. He wondered if the money he brought along for the trip would be enough for compensation.
“Uh, we just caught a bucket, not much, around seven or eight fish. Is this fish expensive?” Qin Yuanxi’s attitude was quite good. “Ignorance is not a crime. We didn’t know that this fish shouldn’t be caught. How much should we compensate, you tell us. If it can’t be measured in money, we can figure out another way to compensate. Just let me know, as long as it’s feasible, it’s not a problem.”
“What are you talking about?” Meng Yu laughed. “The fish aren’t raised by our family; catch as many as you want. No need for compensation.”
“No need?” Qin Yuanxi breathed a sigh of relief, and the fish in his hand regained its fragrance. “The way you said it just now scared me.”
Beside them, Zhao Tuo, grilling the fish, observed Qin Yuanxi’s expression. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he flipped the fish. This was probably his most glorious moment in the fish-grilling career. The fish was grilled perfectly, with excellent color, aroma, and taste. Ah Xi would surely love it.
“Not really,” Meng Yu explained while nibbling on the fish. “The fish in that river are like spirits, slippery and elusive. They’re particularly challenging to catch. I don’t know if it’s because they’re hard to catch or due to the water quality, but the fish in that river are exceptionally delicious. It tastes amazing. Ah, if only my sister were home. She loves it; what a pity.”
The little girl’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “When my sister comes back, can you catch some more? Catch a few more so my sister can enjoy them too.”
“No problem, it’s not difficult at all. Ah Tuo’s skills are excellent. It’s just catching a few fish; it’s effortless.” Qin Yuanxi guaranteed, “As long as your sister can cure his illness, not to mention a few fish, I can set up a fishery here for you. Establish water management, specifically intercept those fish downstream. When you want to eat, just open the sluice gate, and the fish will swim over for you to catch. How about that?”
“Wow.” The little girl, being young, was easily persuaded by Qin Yuanxi. The thought of endless fish to eat made her ecstatic.
“However, do you know where your sister went? Why did she take so long?” Qin Yuanxi asked casually.
Having been here for a while, Qin Yuanxi probably had some understanding. Meng Yu was lively and occasionally ventured out of the valley for errands, but Meng Xuan was different. Whether it was because she was too beautiful and feared trouble outside or because she lacked martial arts skills and feared trouble, Meng Xuan rarely left the valley. Or rather, Meng Xuan hardly ever left the valley. Her absence for three days this time was indeed a bit curious.
“She went to see a bad man,” Meng Yu complained resentfully. “If it weren’t for my sister not agreeing, I would have stabbed that bad man with a sword!”
The little girl’s expression immediately changed, and there was even a hint of hatred in her eyes.
“Is it that guy surnamed Ye on the stone tablet at the entrance?”
“His name is Ye Qin. Sister met him during her travels outside the valley. Initially, they were just fooling around, and no one took it seriously. Later, when my sister exhausted her martial arts and ruined her voice to save Ye Qin, that bad man…”
“He betrayed your sister?” Qin Yuanxi hesitated to ask; this kind of storyline was quite common.
He didn’t expect that a woman as carefree as Meng Xuan could be troubled by love. Well, anyone, regardless of their temperament, could be entangled in emotions. It was normal for Meng Xuan, despite her free-spirited nature, to be a person with desires and emotions.
“Why did she still go to see him?” The question Qin Yuanxi had in mind was asked by Zhao Tuo before he had a chance.
Zhao Tuo had been silently grilling fish and hadn’t been involved in the conversation between Qin Yuanxi and Meng Yu. Now, suddenly speaking up, Meng Yu didn’t react much, but Qin Yuanxi glanced at Zhao Tuo a few more times.
“I don’t know; my sister insisted on going,” Meng Yu said gloomily. “She said he was someone she saved and couldn’t let him die like that. Even if he were to die, he had to die behind her. As long as my sister is alive, she will go to see him.”
“Is this Ye Qin suffering from a severe illness?” Qin Yuanxi asked.
“Yeah,” Meng Yu nodded. “If it weren’t for Sister, he would have died long ago.”
“Could there be a misunderstanding?” Qin Yuanxi, having seen too many melodramas, considered the possibility where one party, aware of their terminal illness, chooses to separate to avoid burdening the other. Although it might be melodramatic, sometimes it’s a last resort.
“Nonsense!” The little girl cursed angrily. “Even though he’s dying, he still clings to Sister, saying all those flowery words about dying under a peony flower and being romantic even as a ghost. He’s a scumbag who constantly surrounds himself with women! My sister doesn’t like him at all!”
As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes. Qin Yuanxi didn’t dare to say more and quickly changed the topic, coaxing the little girl to eat another fish. He managed to divert the conversation away from the sensitive topic.
Three days passed quickly, but Meng Xuan, who had promised to return, didn’t show up on time. Waiting until the fourth day, when Meng Xuan still hadn’t come back, Qin Yuanxi started feeling a bit anxious. However, he didn’t dare to show it openly. Perhaps something had delayed her outside, and waiting for a couple more days wouldn’t hurt.
While Qin Yuanxi patiently waited, someone couldn’t bear to wait any longer.
On the day Meng Yu left the valley, Qin Yuanxi was still a bit uneasy. Although the little girl was skilled, she was still young. In case something happened, it would be hard to explain when her sister returned. Qin Yuanxi was worried, so he arranged for the guards stationed outside the valley to accompany the little girl in her search.
Originally, he thought it would only be a slight delay, but he never expected that the person they found would be covered in blood, barely clinging to life.
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
