Chapter 46

In the night, occasional bird calls echoed through the temple, while mist enveloped the distant mountains. The air was sparse with human voices. The branches on either side stretched too far, so whenever Sang Yao passed through, her sleeves would brush against the lush green leaves.

Xie Yun held her wrist and walked ahead, his steps slow and steady. But perhaps due to his long legs, Sang Yao still had to quicken her pace to keep up with him.

She tried to struggle, but Xie Yun showed no intention of letting go. Since there were people living all around the temple, Sang Yao didn’t want to disturb anyone, so she just let him lead the way.

After holding back her tears for a while, Sang Yao quickly wiped her cheeks with her sleeve while Xie Yun wasn’t looking. After exhaling a breath, she softly asked, “Where are you taking me?”

Sang Yao’s tone always had a natural softness to it, but this time, it also carried a hint of grievances, blending into the night like a spoiled child.

From her voice, to her soft body, and even the jasmine scent he had grown accustomed to, everything about her seemed intriguing.

It was hard to describe this feeling.

He wanted to touch her again after just touching her once, and he wanted to hear her voice again after just hearing it once. It was quite strange.

Xie Yun ignored her.

Sang Yao puffed up her cheeks, wondering why this person always ignored her. She felt somewhat passive being dragged by her wrist. She spoke again, “Xie Yun.”

“Where are you taking me? I still need to go chant sutras.”

Same tone.

Finally, Xie Yun spoke, without turning his head. “Firstly, can you understand the scriptures?”

She couldn’t.

He asked casually, but his words hit Sang Yao’s sore spot. She held her breath, intending to give Xie Yun a chance to finish speaking. Suppressing her anger, she continued to ask, “What’s next?”

The two had already walked out of the leafy path and arrived at a relatively spacious courtyard where stone lamps flickered with dancing flames.

They hadn’t encountered anyone along the way, only occasionally passing busy young novices, who paid them no mind.

Xie Yun stepped onto the steps and said, “Next, please don’t act spoiled with me.”

Sang Yao: “…”

Xie Yun pushed open the door and led Sang Yao inside.

Sang Yao freed herself from Xie Yun’s grasp. She was truly speechless and said, “Who’s acting spoiled with you?”

The door closed behind them, and Xie Yun’s tall figure enveloped Sang Yao’s body.

The closed room made Sang Yao feel somewhat afraid. She looked up at Xie Yun’s face; he seemed indifferent, a bit cold.

He was accustomed to being like this.

Sang Yao glanced around the room. Even the windows weren’t open. She thought, could this person want to lock her up and do as he pleases? Otherwise, why bring her here in the middle of the night?

Xie Yun asked again, “What do you want to eat?”

Her fear was instantly overridden by hunger. Sang Yao asked uncertainly, “Can I still order dishes?”

Xie Yun nodded, “Of course.”

Sang Yao thought, privileged people like Xie Yun are indeed different. They’re in a temple, yet they can still order dishes?

She swallowed nervously and asked eagerly, “What’s available?”

Xie Yun replied, “Everything.”

Sang Yao said, “Then, do you have chicken legs?”

Presumably, there wouldn’t be any. Temples don’t serve meat.

But Xie Yun just grunted in acknowledgment.

Sang Yao widened her eyes in surprise. But after some consideration, even if they did have them, it might not be appropriate to eat chicken legs in a temple. She turned to Xie

Xie Yun said, “I want to eat eight-treasure tofu and sticky rice cakes.”

Pause mid-sentence, she softened her gaze and lowered her eyes—what a beautiful thing to read?—she tried, “Isn’t that a bit too much?”

Xie Yun gently replied, “Not at all.”

Sang Yao was overjoyed. She gratefully looked at Xie Yun and said, “Xie Yun, you’re so kind.”

But even so, she wouldn’t allow him to do whatever he wanted later, she thought sternly.

Xie Yun nodded and sat down on the grand chair.

Shortly after, the novice bringing the food walked in.

He bowed his head, placed the porcelain bowl on the table, and then backed out.

Sang Yao happily walked over, only to find that the table didn’t have the eight-treasure tofu and sticky rice cakes she wanted. Instead, there was a steaming bowl of plain noodles with clear soup, accompanied by a few strands of fresh green vegetables.

Though it was vegetarian, it smelled wonderful. It was the first time Sang Yao had smelled such delicious plain noodles.

For Sang Yao, who had been hungry for half a day, it was very tempting.

But what she wanted just now was not this.

She looked at Xie Yun, then back at the plain noodles in front of her, finally realizing that Xie Yun had been teasing her.

Although she really wanted to eat the noodles, why was this man so annoying? Clearly, he only had noodles, but he still had to ask her.

Feeling embarrassed and angry, she pointed at Xie Yun and said, “Were you just lying to me?”

Xie Yun denied, “The emperor brought the royal chef, and he really has everything there.”

He glanced at the noodles in front of Sang Yao and continued, “Don’t you like it?”

Sang Yao suppressed her anger, slowly sat down, and whispered while holding the bowl of noodles, “…I like it.”

She ate the noodles while Xie Yun sat across from her in silence.

At first, Sang Yao ate quickly because she was hungry, but then she suddenly realized that Xie Yun seemed to be watching her, so she slowed down.

As she ate slowly, she wondered if her eating manners were acceptable.

After eating about half, Sang Yao couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Xie Yun.

Their eyes met.

Sang Yao’s heart skipped a beat.

Avoiding eye contact now would make her seem like she was peeking, so she forced herself to meet his gaze, then she put down her chopsticks and sincerely thanked him, “Thank you.”

Actually, she wanted to say if he ever needed her help in the future, he could just ask, but she had said it too many times before, so she held back.

Xie Yun seemed unlikely to ask for her help anyway.

Xie Yun just nodded, accepting her thanks calmly.

Sang Yao felt she should say something more.

She remembered the matter she had asked Lu Li before, but he hadn’t given her an answer yet. Sang Yao suspected he might have forgotten.

Actually, the answer didn’t matter to her at all. She wasn’t interested.

And it sounded too fake. It wasn’t worth asking.

But what if?

What if it was true? Then she would have to consider finishing her meal outside.

Should she ask? It wouldn’t hurt.

She tried to start a conversation, but she wasn’t good at chatting. She didn’t understand the art of conversation at all. She blurted out awkwardly, “How have you been lately?”

What kind of question was that?

It sounded so strange.

Xie Yun replied, “I’ve been fine.”