Chapter 14

Chapter 14:  She Buried Half Her Face in His Palm, Tilting Her Head and Gently Rubbing Against It

The banquet was nearing its end. Wen Buyu straightened his collar and stood up, instructing Su Xueyin:

“A craftsman has presented a curious object to Lord Sang, and it just arrived today. He invited me to see it together. We’ll be back soon. Keep an eye on your senior sister and don’t let her cause trouble.”

Su Xueyin patted her chest. “Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I’ll take good care of Senior Sister.”

On the other side, Sang Nian and Chu Yao exchanged glances and buried their heads in their food.

When Sang Qiyan and Wen Buyu left the table, Sang Nian dismissed everyone. “You’re not needed here. Go eat.”

Chun’er led everyone out. Only the three of them remained in the water pavilion.

Sang Nian slammed her chopsticks down and raised an eyebrow. “Our Qingzhou wine is famously strong. Are you sure you can handle it?”

Chu Yao scoffed. “Whoever backs down is a dog.”

Sang Nian had been waiting for that. She brought out a medium-sized wine jar from the cabinet. As soon as she broke the mud seal, the rich aroma of the wine filled the water pavilion.

Chu Yao took a deep breath and nodded. “Not bad.”

“More than just not bad.”

Sang Nian poured the wine while introducing it. “This wine is called Cold Breeze Fragrance. The water used to brew it is the snow from the plum blossom buds in winter. It’s smooth and slightly sweet on the palate, but it’s a real strong wine. One cup can knock you out.”

Chu Yao said, “Impossible.”

“Try it and see,” Sang Nian said.

Chu Yao was about to pick it up, but Su Xueyin pressed down on her hand, her face full of disapproval. “Senior Sister, I promised Senior Brother I’d take care of you.”

Sang Nian probed. “So what do you mean?”

“How can you drink cold things? It’s bad for your health,” Su Xueyin said. “Of course, you have to warm it up before drinking.”

Sang Nian was speechless. She could only give a thumbs up. “You’re right.”

She found the small stove she used to enjoy the snow last year. Chu Yao cast a fire spell into it.

The wine warmed up quickly, and white mist rose.

The two of them clinked glasses excitedly and drank it down in one gulp.

“Thump!”

Both of them collapsed simultaneously, their eyes closed peacefully.

Su Xueyin, with an expression that seemed to say she had expected this, stretched her limbs. She hoisted one of them on each shoulder, like carrying sacks of grain. With a few leaps, she left the water pavilion.

Xianyin Pavilion.

Something was going on outside, and it was noisy like boiling water.

Xie Chenzhou just opened the door and bumped into a “mountain.” He instinctively took half a step back.

The only support of the “mountain,” Su Xueyin, saw him as if she had seen a savior.

She put down the Sang Nian she was carrying on her left shoulder and said awkwardly, “The maids in the courtyard were all scared and disappeared in a flash. Maybe they’re making hangover soup. Anyway, I still have to take care of my junior sister. I’ll leave Sang to you.”

Sang Nian’s legs were weak, and she fell straight to the ground.

Xie Chenzhou grabbed her collar and pulled her up, frowning. “Why are you leaving her with me?”

“Aren’t you married to Sang?” Su Xueyin was visibly nervous. “I heard the maids gossiping last night and found out. Is this a secret? Did I learn something I shouldn’t have? Will I be silenced?”

Xie Chenzhou: “… No.”

“That’s good,” she relaxed. “Then I’ll go now.”

Before Xie Chenzhou could speak, she didn’t give him a chance to refuse. With a tap of her toes, she was gone in a blink.

Sang Nian burped, opened her eyes drowsily, and patted Xie Chenzhou’s hand kindly. “Friend, I’m a little suffocated.”

Xie Chenzhou had no patience and let go of her hand. “Since you’re awake, go back yourself.”

“Of course, no problem.”

She swayed back and forth in place, taking two circles. Through the half-closed door, she saw the familiar furnishings of his room and said happily, “My room is here. Master, please stop for a moment.”

Then, she didn’t know where she got the strength, but she slammed into Xie Chenzhou and staggered into the room.

Xie Chenzhou pressed down on his aching ribs and gritted his teeth. “This is my room. You’ve got the wrong one.”

Sang Nian stretched out her arms and fell onto the bed, not forgetting to pull a corner of the blanket to cover her navel.

“I’m going to sleep now. Good morning.”

He strode to the bedside. “Sang Yunling!”

No response.

The young woman’s cheeks were flushed, her sleeping face peaceful.

Xie Chenzhou pushed her. “Get up. Go back to your own room.”

She hummed and mumbled with her eyes closed. “No, this is my room. Don’t try to trick me.”

Xie Chenzhou: “.”

He fell silent, looking down at her from above, his gaze shifting.

Suddenly, he reached out and pinched her slender neck.

She seemed to sense it and opened her blurry eyes.

The two of them stared at each other silently, the air still.

After a while, Sang Nian took his hand off her neck and buried half her face in his palm, tilting her head and gently rubbing against it.

It was truly light, like a feather falling on water, creating a ripple.

Xie Chenzhou froze abruptly.

She curved her eyes and smiled, a little silly.

“Happy New Year, Xie Chenzhou. I want to give you something.”

He pursed his lips. “What is it?”

Sang Nian: “Thirty million.”

Xie Chenzhou: “Thirty million?”

Her tone was lively and full of emotion:

“Millions of happiness, millions of blessings, millions of health.”

Xie Chenzhou: “…”

He withdrew his hand and gave a dry chuckle.

“Miss Sang is so generous.”

Sang Nian rubbed her eyes and suddenly choked back a sob.

Xie Chenzhou frowned. “What’s wrong with you again?”

She covered her eyes with her hand, her voice thick with nasal tones:

“I want to watch the Gulala Dark God fight the Black-Skinned Gym Student.”

Xie Chenzhou: “…”

This woman was drunk and delirious.

He didn’t want to argue with a drunkard. He got up to call someone to attend to her.

Unexpectedly, she reached out and grabbed his sleeve, pulling it hard.

He swayed, falling towards her.

Just as he was about to fall on top of her, he managed to brace himself with his arms, stopping just in time.

The distance between them was instantly reduced. He could even see the small mole between her brows.

It was the color of rouge.

Xie Chenzhou’s eye twitched slightly. He wanted to get up.

Sang Nian held onto his sleeve, refusing to let go.

Tears rolled down her eyes, clear and bright, sliding down her cheek into her hair.

“I was so mean to you before. I wasn’t good to you. You suffered a lot. I, I…”

Xie Chenzhou was startled.

She was a little incoherent:

“You suffered a lot. You were hurt so many times. It was all because of me… No, not me, but it was me, but…”

At this point, she paused, wiped her tears with his sleeve, and said seriously:

“Xie Chenzhou, I won’t be bad to you anymore.”

Xie Chenzhou remained silent for a long time. “Do you think I’ll believe your sweet talk?”

Sang Nian was anxious. “I swear. If I lie to you, may I never graduate!”

Xie Chenzhou didn’t understand. He thought she was talking nonsense and asked softly:

“Then… how will you treat me from now on?”

Sang Nian blinked slowly, as if thinking.

Finally, she said:

“I’m going to take you to the beach to collect seashells.”

Xie Chenzhou tilted his head slightly. “Collect seashells?”

“Yes, collect seashells.”

Speaking of which, her expression was full of joy, her eyes sparkling, still containing a few scattered tears. At first glance, they looked like glass beads falling to the bottom of the water:

“I’m going to give Xie Chenzhou the biggest and most beautiful seashell. Then, I’ll hide him and the pearl inside. No one will find him.”

Xie Chenzhou: “… Why?”

“This way, I can protect you.”