Chapter 38 

The girl Ning Yuan likes…

Brother Ning likes a girl… Ah…

This misunderstanding is huge.

After thinking about it, Ning Yuan planned to make a bold move.

He wanted to confess his feelings to Ah Qiao.

“Ah Qiao…”

“Yes?”

“What’s the matter, Brother Ning?”

Xu Lianqiao responded and met Ning Yuan’s gaze.

His dark brown eyes were beautiful, like clear spring water, hidden under thick eyebrows.

“Ah Qiao, I… you…”

Under the soft candlelight, Ning Yuan struggled to speak as he looked at Ah Qiao. His heart raced, and he was so nervous his throat became dry. His feelings for her were deep, and he’d never been more anxious in his life.

Unfortunately, before he could say “like,” a knock at the door interrupted him.

“What’s going on?”

Ning Yuan clenched his fists in frustration. He had never been so annoyed before.

“General,” the person outside hesitated, unsure if he should disturb the general.

“General, the child has been crying.”

Earlier that day, when they brought the little girl to the inn, she ate and then fell asleep. But as dinner approached, she woke up crying uncontrollably and refused to say why.

The person who came to report felt helpless and thought that only the general’s presence could help, as women were usually better at comforting children.

Ning Yuan was frustrated and wished he could silence the man. But with Ah Qiao present, he couldn’t show his anger. He forced a smile and opened the door.

The figure in black whom Ah Qiao had seen earlier stood there, bowing.

Xu Lianqiao, a bit embarrassed, stood up from the stool. She didn’t realize it, but she felt most relaxed around Ning Yuan.

Ning Yuan quickly spoke with the man, explaining the situation.

Xu Lianqiao overheard him muttering, “Why don’t you get someone else?”

“I came to you,” Yang Pingwei replied.

Ning Yuan grimaced. It seemed that he had been too kind to his subordinates.

Xu Lianqiao laughed softly and then offered to help.

“Do you want me to take a look?” she asked.

Ning Yuan turned and saw her leaning forward with a beautiful smile. Without thinking, he shifted slightly to block Yang Pingwei’s view.

“Ah Qiao, are you sure?” he asked.

Xu Lianqiao nodded confidently.

“But Ah Qiao, do you know how to comfort children?”

She smiled. “Didn’t I ask you to comfort me when I was a child?”

“Yes,” she said. “I understand little girls her age better than you do.”

Ning Yuan, though a little disappointed, reluctantly agreed.

_

In another room, dim candlelight flickered across the door and windows.

The door creaked open, and Xu Lianqiao entered, with Ning Yuan following her.

She immediately spotted the little girl hiding under the bed covers, still sobbing. The girl’s voice was weak from crying.

“Are you just going to leave her here alone?” Xu Lianqiao asked.

Yang Pingwei scratched his head. “I’ve been standing guard outside, but as a grown man, I can’t stay in the same room with a little girl. She’s only three.”

Xu Lianqiao sighed. While they’d been careful about security, they hadn’t considered that a three-year-old would be afraid of being alone after everything she had been through.

She quickly ran out and returned with a bowl of sweet-scented osmanthus cake.

“Brother Ning, let me take care of it. You two wait outside. Too many people will only make her more nervous,” she said, gently pushing them out of the room.

Ning Yuan hesitated, but in the end, he followed her request.

_

Xu Lianqiao walked to the bed and placed the plate of cakes on it. She squatted down and picked one up, taking a big bite.

Sure enough, the little girl peeked out from under the covers.

Seeing that she had been noticed, the girl quickly hid again.

Xu Lianqiao didn’t force her. She continued to eat the cake, hoping the child would warm up.

Eventually, the little girl could no longer resist and peeked out once again.

“Would you like some?” Xu Lianqiao asked.

The little girl nodded eagerly.

Xu Lianqiao handed her a small piece. “Would you like more?” she asked, after the girl finished it.

“If you do, can you tell me your name?” she asked gently.

The little girl hesitated but remained silent. Xu Lianqiao added, “If you tell me, I’ll get you more delicious food—red bean soup, candied haws, and toys like kites and bamboo dragonflies.”

The little girl finally spoke, “Mom said I can’t eat too much sweet food. It’s bad for my teeth.”

Xu Lianqiao smiled in surprise. “Wow, you’re so smart! My sister didn’t know anything like that when she was your age.”

The little girl seemed to relax a little.

Encouraged, Xu Lianqiao said, “My name is Lianqiao. Can you tell me your name?”

She offered another piece of cake.

But the little girl, still tearful, responded, “Where is my mother?”

The girl started crying again, but her sobs were softer this time.

Xu Lianqiao felt a pang of sadness. She had misjudged the situation.

_

Outside the room, Ning Yuan stood with Yang Pingwei.

Yang Pingwei, sensing the general’s unusual behavior, reported, “General, a letter came saying that Li Ming has been found and will be arriving in Yangzhou soon.”

Li Ming was the husband of Lin Rou.

“Alright,” Ning Yuan replied, distracted. He glanced at the door, wondering how Ah Qiao was doing.

Yang Pingwei noticed the general’s concern and realized he had never seen him care so much about anyone.

Curious, he asked, “General, I remember you have a fiancée. How did you two express your feelings?”

“Ah?” Yang Pingwei didn’t expect such a question.

“We were matched by our families,” he answered.

“Do you like her?” Ning Yuan asked directly.

Yang Pingwei hesitated. “She’s fine, I suppose.”

Ning Yuan frowned. “What do you mean ‘fine’? Either you like her or you don’t.”

Before Yang Pingwei could respond, the door opened, and Xu Lianqiao appeared.

She whispered, “She’s asleep now. I’ll stay with her tonight. You should go back, Brother Ning.”

“Are you sure she’s alright?” Ning Yuan asked, still doubtful.

“Yes,” Xu Lianqiao answered, though the truth was that the little girl had cried herself to sleep. Xu Lianqiao wasn’t sure how long the peace would last.

“Where will you sleep?” Ning Yuan pressed.

“In the same bed,” she replied.

“Really?” he asked, a little surprised.

“Yes, now please go!” she insisted, closing the door behind her.

Inside, Xu Lianqiao sighed with relief, sitting at the table and resting her head on her arms. Exhaustion quickly overtook her.

Later, she felt someone gently lift her. A warm sensation wrapped around her.