Lovable Beauty

After the matter was settled and the elders stopped playing matchmaker, Xie Lanqiao continued to shop with Jiang Xingzhou, and Xie Lanyin devoted herself to learning horse riding with Jiang Huaizhou. Once Xie Lanyin was interested in something, she was a rather quick learner. After just a few days, for the first time, she was able to ride horseback all the way through the city from the ranch.

Back in the Jiang family’s mansion, she met Lu Chi who had returned from a trip.

Xie Lanyin was always accompanied by Lu Chi whenever she’d go out in Hangzhou. After not seeing him for a long time, Xie Lanyin missed him quite a bit, so she ordered one of the servants to take her horse while she casually said to Lu Chi, “What have you been up to these days?”

Lu Chi was dressed in a finely made gray robe. Because Jiang Huaizhou was present, he acted more courteously than if he were alone with the lady, answering respectfully, “I went back to my hometown, visited my grandparents’ graves, and did some other errands.”

He was an orphan adopted by Lu Yao, the keeper of Madam Jiang’s dowry, so the hometown he mentioned naturally referred to Lu Yao’s hometown.

The man’s tone was relaxed, and Xie Lanyin felt bad for him as she thought of his terrible experiences. When she was young, she only knew how to run all over the place while Lu Chi, who was five years older than her, always followed her around, meticulously. In her heart, Lu Chi was a trustworthy retainer and her friend.

“The day after tomorrow is your birthday, so let’s go shopping in the city, and I’ll choose a gift for you,” Xie Lanyin invited with a grin. There is a temple fair in Hangzhou City on the 24th of March every year that she never failed to attend. When she was eight years old, she accidentally found out that Lu Chi’s birthday was the same day, and because of this coincidence, she remembered it quite clearly.

The young girl had a sweet smile and warm eyes. Besides his adoptive father, she was probably the only person in the world who remembered his birthday. Lu Chi’s heart felt as if it was encased in warm water, warming him from the inside out. Not wanting others to know, he lowered his eyes to hide the emotion inside them. “That the young lady remembers my birthday is the best gift for Lu Chi. You don’t need to buy anything else.”

Knowing that he was being polite, Xie Lanyin looked up at her cousin and said with a smile, “I’m not just going to buy you a gift. On the 25th, we’re going to Mount Tong together. I want to add a few things. Third Cousin isn’t free that day, so I want you to go with me.”

Lu Chi laughed. “Okay.”

Jiang Huaizhou was with Lu Chi the entire trip and knew that he was a steady young man and was familiar with all the places in Xi’an, so he was completely at ease to entrust his little cousin to him.

When the day came, Xie Lanyin went out with Lu Chi at the brink of sunrise and went to eat spicy cold noodles first thing on the list.

The local custom was to eat a bowl of longevity noodles on the morning of one’s birthday. With so many famous foods in Xi’an, Xie Lanyin chose the spicy cold noodles to celebrate Lu Chi’s birthday.

Lu Chi knew the way, got out of the carriage, and not long after, they arrived at the Chens’ Noodles Shop suggested by Jiang Huaizhou.

The shop wasn’t very big, but the shack outside that had several rows of rosewood tables laid out was already fully seated with customers. Xie Lanyin thought the noodle shot looked clean and tidy and was pleased by it. But when she walked through the doors of the shop with Lu Chi, she saw there were about ten tables inside, and none of them were empty, making her crescent-like eyebrows frown.

As expected of a place her cousin highly praised, it seemed to be quite popular with the commoners.

Xie Lanyin was tired from riding on horseback the last few days and was famished. She was running on an empty stomach all this time, and she didn’t want to wait. She was just about to suggest a different restaurant when someone inside suddenly waved to her.

Xie Lanyin’s eyes widened. What a coincidence for them to meet once again!

Lu Chi saw her look and asked in confusion, “Young Lady knows him?”

When Xie Lanyin was playing outside, she had no desire to meet acquaintances. After all, it wasn’t proper for a young lady to run around outside. Wanting to pretend not to know them, she turned around to leave, but Ge Jin seemed to have guessed what she was thinking and came out to invite her with a beaming smile, “Young Master, you’re here to eat noodles too? What a coincidence! My master was also recommended by the Third Young Master to come here. If Young Master doesn’t mind, you can sit with us.”

The owner of the noodle shop was a grizzled lady. Seeing a new customer coming in, she enthusiastically asked Xie Lanyin and Lu Chi what they wanted to eat.

Xie Lanyin couldn’t refuse anymore as she glanced at the man who had his back turned to her all this time and led Lu Chi inside.

Ge Jin followed at the very back. After closely examining Lu Chi’s clothing, he rested his worries.

“Young Master Yuan, we meet again.” Walking to the table, Xie Lanyin pushed back the strangeness of the repeated encounters and greeted him with a smile.

Xiao Yuan hadn’t been there long and the noodles that were ordered haven’t been brought out yet. He was surprised to meet Xie Lanyin there too and nodded at the two of them, motioning for them to take a seat. Hearing Xie Lanyin introduce him to the man who was dressed like a retainer, Xiao Yuan nodded his head in acknowledgment. Without any further heed to Lu Chi, he asked Xie Lanyin, “Why isn’t Third Young Master with you?”

“He’s busy with business,” Xie Lanyin replied casually. Seeing the  shop lady coming over, she and Lu Chi ordered their noodles first, and then asked, “Master Yuan is interested in coming to such a small place?”

Xiao Yuan smiled, his eyes fell on one side politely. “I just came to Xi’an not long ago, so I’m curious about every little place.”

When he was talking, he noticed that Lu Chi was looking at him. Xiao Yuan lifted his eyes and they crossed eyes with one another. Lu Chi smiled generously before looking away. Xiao Yuan noticed Xie Lanyin and Lu Chi were sitting so close to each other that they were barely separated by an arm’s length. Xiao Yuan’s eyes darkened.

Everyone in the Jiang family was shrewd, and this retainer named Lu Chi must have some skills to be qualified to go out alone with her.

After chatting for a few words, Xiao Yuan’s party’s noodles came out.

When the large porcelain bowl was placed on the table, the oil inside was still sizzling. Xiao Yuan didn’t move his chopsticks for the time being, and asked her, “Where are you going afterward?”

For men and women who don’t know each other well, it was a bit impolite to ask like this. Xie Lanyin pursed her lips and replied perfunctorily, “Just walking around and buying a couple of things if I like it. If there’s nothing I like, I’d just amuse myself with looking around.”

Xiao Yuan’s hand resting on his lap moved, and his index finger tapped lightly.

Of course he knew that he should not rashly inquire about a young lady’s plans, but he liked her voice, and knowing that she would leave Xi’an soon and the two of them might not have the chance to meet again, Xiao Yuan wanted to hear as much of her voice as he could while she was still here. He didn’t want to bully others with his power. He won’t cage her like his pet oriole, so at least let him hear his fill.

“It just so happens that I have the same plans. Will you allow me to follow you? We aren’t familiar with this place.”

Xiao Yuan looked up and looked directly at the girl for the first time today.

His request was bold, but his eyes were upright as if he was just ignorant of the world, rather than shameless.

Xie Lanyin recalled the few times they met. Apart from his unparalleled appearance, Xie Lanyin’s only impression of him was of his arrogance and conceit. She didn’t know much about his temperament. Thinking about how her cousin valued him, Xie Lanyin decided to do him this favor in her cousin’s stead, and said happily, “Alright, Master Yuan and my cousin are friends. Since my cousin isn’t here today, it’s only proper of us to show him hospitality.”

“Thank you.” Xiao Yuan smiled politely and waited for Xie Lanyin and Lu Chi’s plates to be served before picking up the chopsticks.

The noodles were still very hot, but Xie Lanyin was too hungry, so after stirring the noodles together, she hurriedly picked up one strand and blew lightly with her mouth.

Xiao Yuan sat across from her. Hearing the sounds, he looked over at him, just in time to see the girl pouting her rosy lips. The absurd scene from his dreams the night before appeared uninvited in his mind. Xiao Yuan quickly lowered his eyes, without stopping his movements of eating the noodle, but the noodles were only tasteless on his tongue.

He was nineteen already. He was about 14 or 15 when he had those dreams. It was all a haze to him and he could only what happened from the traces found on the mattress waking up in the morning. Only the two dreams he had of her, not only did he remember what she looked like, he even remembered every scene, especially her voice when she called to him…

Utter euphoria.

The whole bowl of noodles was eaten without any enjoyment. After the meal, Xiao Yuan sent Ge to pay the bill. “Thank you for bringing us along. It’s only right that I pay for this meal.”

Xie Lanyin didn’t refuse since it was just a small bill of a few dozen pennies.

Walking out of the noodle shop, Ge Jin and Lu Chi walked behind their respective masters, one with a happy face and one with slightly furrowed brows.

Xiao Yuan wanted to hear the young girl speak, but he didn’t know how to initiate a conversation. Xie Lanyin didn’t want it to seem like she was happy to go shopping with him, so she remained silent and turned her head to watch the bustle on the side of the road. The two were off in their own thoughts and didn’t feel it was awkward. Ge Jin was secretly worried for his master, and after walking for a while, he asked with a smile, “Is there anything the little master particularly wants to buy.”

Since they’re a party, Xie Lanyin didn’t need to hide it as she looked ahead and replied, “I want to buy a bamboo hat and a sword.”

On the way to Mount Tong, the bamboo hat would be used as a shade from the sun, and the sword…would be used to make herself look better.

Ge Jin was surprised and said, “Young Master, you know martial arts?”

Xie Lanyin was slightly stunned, and instinctively looked at the person next to her. Seeing the man with phoenix eyes looking over in surprise, her face became hot for some reason, and she spluttered some nonsense, “I learned a few moves from my father, and I usually just practice and play by myself.” She couldn’t just tell them the truth, could she?

Ge Jin thought it was true, and was excited that he found an opportunity for his master to get close to the beauty. “Master is good with swords. Why don’t you give the little master some advice, my lord?”

Xiao Yuan looked at the little girl’s blushing face, and his lips lifted in a smile, and asked her softly, “What do you think?”

Xie Lanyin shook her head without thinking about it and forced a smile. “Forget it, I dare not make a fool of myself in front of Master Yuan.”

Xiao Yuan glanced at the folding fan pinned to her waist and understood that this girl liked to be pretty.

Just as he was about to look away, he suddenly saw someone following them in the distance from the corner of his eye. It was by no means his undercover guards, and the smile in Xiao Yuan’s eyes instantly dissipated.

Has his identity been exposed?

He quietly accompanied the young lady to several sword shops and helped her choose a woman’s sword, then Xiao Yuan found an excuse to leave.

He didn’t go back to the mansion but went to a teahouse he secretly bought.

As he savored the tea on his tongue, about half an hour later, the secret guard who was on duty today came in disguised as a staff of the teahouse.

“Have you found out who it is?” Xiao Yuan put down the teacup and asked. His tone seemed like he was asking on how much they made on the books today.

The secret guard said in a low voice, “After the master left, I continued to follow him, and found the man’s target is most likely Miss Xie.”

Ge Jin heaved a sigh of relief. His master was very careful, so it was impossible for his whereabouts to be discovered so quickly. Then, he became suspicious. Who would follow a thirteen-year-old girl? Could it be that because of her outstanding beauty, she was targeted by traffickers?

“Continue to follow them. If the other party makes a move today, deal with it before Miss Xie finds out. Otherwise, find out the details and report back.”

Xiao Yuan turned the teacup in his hand, his face was like that of an angel but his voice was as cold as the king of Hades.

She was so lovely he barely held himself back from laying a hand on her. Who would dare to be more arrogant than him?