Chapter 55

The last long journey Yiling took was when her parents sent her to Qingyang.

At that time, she was already heartbroken, and the journey was arduous. It felt like there was no hope, and she almost cried every day.

This time, the conditions on the road were even worse than before.

The food was simple and bland, and the inns they stayed at were progressively worse with each stop.

Yiling felt that, at present, she was merely surviving, not even living as a person.

However, strangely, her mood was still relatively calm.

Perhaps it was because Xie Hengzhi was traveling with her, eating and staying in the same conditions, without secretly enjoying any privileges.

In any case, on this journey, Yiling’s view every day was either barren mountains or wild ridges.

Sometimes, dark clouds would cover the sky, and she could hardly distinguish between day and night.

After traveling for five or six days, they finally arrived at a town where they could rest.

Yiling didn’t even know where they were but hurriedly got off the carriage and ordered her servants to prepare hot water as she wanted to bathe and refresh herself.

“By the way!” Yiling turned to her maid and said, “Go and find out if there’s a good restaurant in this town. I haven’t had a decent meal in a long time.”

By the time dusk arrived, Yiling had finally changed into clean clothes and comfortably stepped out of the bath.

“Do you know where we are now?” Yiling looked around the room, nodding in approval. “It seems to be a wealthy place. It’s much better than the inns we’ve stayed in the past few days.”

“I don’t know, Madam,” Mallow replied. “Should I ask the master?”

“There’s no need,” Yiling waved her hand. “Don’t worry about it. Let’s take some guards and go out for a walk. It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to stretch our legs.”

Mallow blinked and suddenly said, “But Madam, today is New Year’s Eve. The markets are already closed.”

“New Year’s Eve?”

It felt as though a bucket of cold water had been thrown over her, and Yiling immediately froze.

The light in her eyes dimmed.

She and Xie Hengzhi had set off the day after the New Year, and upon counting the days, today was indeed New Year’s Eve. No wonder it felt particularly quiet when they entered the city, as there were hardly any pedestrians around.

But for some reason, upon learning that today was New Year’s Eve, Yiling’s mood became particularly low.

Perhaps it was because every household was closed off, celebrating the New Year, and she alone was still busy.

Or maybe it was because New Year’s Eve, for everyone, was a time for family reunions, but Yiling knew deep down that she would never experience such moments again.

The memories of spending New Year’s Eve with her parents and younger brother seemed covered in dust, so unfamiliar that Yiling doubted whether she had ever truly experienced such carefree times.

Instead, it was the cold looks and indifference she received two years ago during the New Year celebration at her grandfather’s house in Qingyang that still lingered vividly.

Sigh. She wondered if Yi’s household was still as lively as it once was and if Yiyun was doing well at the edge of Chiqiu.

Her chest felt heavy as if a giant stone were pressing down, and Yiling struggled to breathe. Naturally, she had no desire to go out.

How long passed, she wasn’t sure, but soon the night had darkened like ink.

When Xie Hengzhi entered the room, he saw Yiling sitting silently at the table, with a faint sadness on her face.

The meal sent in for her by the servant lay untouched on the table.

Xie Hengzhi stood at the door for a long time, openly scrutinizing Yiling. She didn’t notice at all.

He crossed his arms and slowly entered, asking, “Is the food not to your taste?”

Yiling jumped in surprise when she heard the voice.

Turning around and seeing Xie Hengzhi, her brows drooped again.

She couldn’t even be bothered to deal with him and merely muttered a dull “Hmm.”

Xie Hengzhi’s gaze fell on her face as he approached, only then realizing that her eyes were red.

“Should I have someone make it again?”

Yiling rubbed her eyes and turned her face away.

“No need to go through the trouble.”

“Then just take a few bites.” Xie Hengzhi picked up a bowl, ladled some hot soup, and held it out to her. “Tomorrow we leave this place, and you won’t even get to eat these dishes anymore.”

Looking at the soup Xie Hengzhi offered, Yiling frowned.

Was he treating her like a child?

“I told you I don’t have an appetite. I don’t want to eat. You don’t need to worry about me.”

She said it politely, but her expression seemed to shout “Don’t bother me” loud and clear.

Xie Hengzhi put the spoon down and stared at Yiling.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Yiling turned her head and refused to look at him or speak.

What was wrong with her?

She simply missed her family on New Year’s Eve.

But she knew she no longer had a family.

Xie Hengzhi waited for a long time but got no response from Yiling.

The quiet room was filled with a heavy, oppressive atmosphere, and Xie Hengzhi’s patience wore thin.

She was the one who insisted on coming out, and now she was being all moody and difficult.

After a moment, Xie Hengzhi stood up and left.

Just as he stepped out of the guest room, a sudden, loud noise of fireworks erupted outside.

Xie Hengzhi paused and listened for a while, realizing that people were setting off firecrackers.

Firecrackers…

It was New Year’s Eve?

Xie Hengzhi’s gaze froze, then he turned back to look at the guest room.

The dim light cast her shadow on the old window, lonely and solitary.

So, she missed home.

He lowered his eyes, and complex emotions swirled in his gaze, but in the end, he said nothing and quietly left.

When he reached the small pavilion in the courtyard of the inn, the continuous sound of firecrackers had not yet ceased.

Xie Hengzhi sat down and stared at the occasional flashes of light in the dark night, silent for a long time.

Soon, light footsteps were heard as Li Chun approached.

“My Lord, I found you here!”

“What is it?”

Li Chun scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed, and said, “The Madam asked me earlier to go out and buy some firecrackers for her…”

Xie Hengzhi responded, “Mm.”

“Mm? What ‘mm’?”

Li Chun stared at Xie Hengzhi in disbelief.

Didn’t he find this whole thing particularly ridiculous?

It was late at night, New Year’s Eve, and everyone had their doors shut to celebrate the New Year.

Where was he supposed to go to buy firecrackers?

Li Chun added, “It’s already past the time for setting off firecrackers, and the town—”

“Buy them for her.”

Li Chun protested, “But—”

“She’s not asking for the stars from the sky.”

Li Chun: “…”

He forced a stiff smile and mentally encouraged himself.

You can do this, Li Xiao Chun!

An hour later, Li Chun returned with a complex expression.

Xie Hengzhi glanced at him and asked, “Couldn’t you buy them?”

Li Chun shook his head. “My Lord, it’s impossible to buy them at this time. I searched the entire town.”

As expected.

Xie Hengzhi said, “Then forget it.”

Li Chun suggested, “Should I try somewhere else?”

“No need.”

Xie Hengzhi turned away, his back to Li Chun, and muttered, “You’re spoiling her.”

Li Chun had been silent for a long time without any news, and Yiling thought that this New Year’s Eve would surely pass in loneliness.

However, just as she was about to rest, Dao Yu came to her and said that Xie Hengzhi wanted her to go out.

“Now? So late…”

Yiling was filled with doubt. “Where to?”

Dao Yu smiled slightly. “Just come with me.”

Looking at Dao Yu, Yiling had a faint idea of what was going on.

She hadn’t originally planned to ask Xie Hengzhi for firecrackers because she thought it was childish, and asking him felt a bit like… acting spoiled.

So she had asked Li Chun instead.

But she hadn’t expected Li Chun to be so bad at hiding things. If she’d known, she wouldn’t have involved him.

On New Year’s Eve, the night was particularly quiet.

Dao Yu, along with Yiling and Mallow, slowly left the room and walked toward the back of the inn.

The road ahead was pitch black. Although Dao Yu was holding a lantern to light the way, Yiling couldn’t help but feel a little scared.

“Where are we going?” Yiling asked.

Wouldn’t the open space at the inn be perfect for setting off fireworks?

Dao Yu merely smiled and said, “We’re almost there.”

The three of them passed through a small forest, and what appeared before them was a desolate piece of land.

On this empty ground, the more than ten people who had come along with them had gathered, each holding a lantern—some high, some low—scattered like stars in the dark night.

Yiling looked carefully and saw that Xie Hengzhi was among them, standing with his back turned, watching her.

In the faint light, his figure was hidden in the darkness, with only his eyes reflecting the lantern light, gleaming brightly.

A cold wind blew by, and the trees behind them rustled with soft sounds.

Yiling turned her face away, avoiding Xie Hengzhi’s gaze. She walked slowly, pretending not to know why he had asked her out here.

“Why did you ask me out here?” she asked.

“Didn’t you want to set off fireworks?” Xie Hengzhi replied. “Li Chun has finished preparing it.”

Yiling looked up at the open space ahead. Li Chun and two men were crouching on the ground, fiddling with something.

“Late at night,” Xie Hengzhi said, “you’ve really worn him out.”

Yiling smiled slightly, tilting her chin up. “He has nothing to do tonight anyway. Besides, it’s New Year’s Eve. We must set off fireworks the louder, the better, to scare off the Year Beast.”

As her words fell, Li Chun finished arranging the things on the ground and waved for the others to stand back.

As he prepared to light the fireworks, Li Chun couldn’t help but glance at the distant Xie Hengzhi, who had taken Yiling a few steps back.

Li Chun thought, “…”

“Sir, are you sure this is a good idea?”

The moon hid behind thick clouds, casting only a faint, dull light.

The already silent wilderness became even quieter in anticipation of the fireworks about to be ignited.

Yiling clasped her hands tightly in front of her stomach, nervously watching Li Chun’s movements.

Since her youth, setting off fireworks had been something she looked forward to every New Year’s Eve. The loud bangs always felt like they could truly drive away evil spirits, bringing peace and smooth sailing in the coming year.

Though it rarely went as hoped, Yiling still placed her hopes on the ritual every year.

After a moment, Li Chun struck a firestone, and the first loud bang rang through the sky before his feet even hit the ground.

Yiling’s expectation turned into shock at the earth-shaking sound…

She had only wanted to drive away the Year Beast, but she hadn’t planned on annihilating it! The Year Beast’s life is still a life!

What was the meaning of this continuous series of deafening explosions? And what was this shaking that made the very ground tremble?

Anyone who knew would understand that these were fireworks. But to those who didn’t know, they might think Xie Hengzhi had started a rebellion in this desolate place!

Yiling stood there, stunned by the shock, while Mallow shrieked and ran around in panic. Yiling remained frozen, not even blinking.

Suddenly, warm hands covered her cold ears, and the warm breath of Xie Hengzhi surrounded her.

The deafening sound of the fireworks seemed to fade away in an instant, replaced by the pounding of her own heart.

Xie Hengzhi held her from behind. Their bodies barely touched, but the sensation connected them in a delicate way, making her fear disappear.

She didn’t know how long it had been, but eventually, the explosive sounds ceased, leaving only the lingering smoke in the air.

The noise near her ears didn’t stop for quite some time.

Staring blankly at the dissipating smoke, Yiling finally took a step back and turned to look at Xie Hengzhi in shock.

“Are you sure that was fireworks, not gunpowder?”

Xie Hengzhi smiled. “You’re very clever.”

Yiling was speechless.

Xie Hengzhi remained calm, looking ahead with his hands behind his back.

“Just tell me, was it loud enough?”

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but laugh, glancing at Yiling out of the corner of his eye. Seeing her speechless and glaring at him for a long while, he couldn’t help but smile back.

Though it was a smile born from irritation.