Chapter 37 1/2

Huo Shu closed the window, and the room immediately became warmer.

“It’s not a problem to leave the window open.”

Taoyu took off the soft hat from her head and felt the furry seam. She raised her face and asked, “Where did you get this, Wotuer?”

“I saw it in the city this afternoon and brought one along.”

Taoyu happily hugged the hat to her chest upon hearing this.

Seeing her joy, Huo Shu’s gaze softened. “Leave me a note if there’s anything you need to tell me.” Taoyu noticed that Huo Shu’s hair and body were covered in fine droplets of water, so she took out a cloth and moved the charcoal brazier closer to him, then poured a cup of hot water.

Huo Shu watched Taoyu bustling around the room without responding, “Is there something missing?”

“Just wiping.”

Taoyu handed over the cloth.

“It’s just a little rain; it’s fine.”

“It’s the prime of your life; you shouldn’t recklessly harm your body, or you’ll regret it later.”

Taking the cloth, Huo Shu said, “If you’re concerned about my health, why make me come out in the rain at this hour?”

Seeing him say that, Taoyu pursed her lips and said unhappily, “If you’re not willing to come, then don’t.”

Unable to resist the sight of the sulking person, Huo Shu reached out and poked her pale face. In that moment of fingertip contact, it felt as soft as he had imagined.

Taoyu pushed Huo Shu’s hand away.

“Not unwilling; I was just teasing you.”

“Knowing that I haven’t seen you for days, you still say these annoying things.”

Taoyu pouted; apparently she was the only one who cared.

Seeing the person turning her face away, Huo Shu moved a bit closer. “Don’t be angry; didn’t I buy you a hat?”

Taoyu glanced at Wotuer in her arms upon hearing this, unable to resist touching the soft, short rabbit fur again.

“Then… will you take me to the city tomorrow?”

Huo Shu’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “What for?”

“Outside, they say there’s chaos, and I haven’t been to the city for a long time. Besides, Mother said there’s not enough time to sew the wedding dress herself, so she wants to go to the city fabric store. I’ll go directly there and pick the fabric according to the measurements.”

Taoyu looked at Huo Shu and asked, “Have you finished yours?”

“No,” Huo Shu replied, looking at his playful daughter. “Then let’s go to the fabric store ten miles away and tell Wu Lianhe on the way that we’re getting married.”

Seeing that Huo Shu agreed, Taoyu became happy again.

“At what time tomorrow morning, and where should we meet?”

Huo Shu, listening to the sound of rain hitting the window mullions, didn’t know if it would rain tomorrow.

“I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow morning.”

Upon hearing this, Taoyu squinted her eyes.

The next day, before dawn, Taoyu took out the warm pot from under the quilt, waited for it to cool down, and reluctantly got out of bed.

After washing her face and hands, she rummaged through the winter clothes, picked a coat she was barely satisfied with, and fiddled with her dressing table.

Finally, she put on the cloak and realised the clothes didn’t match.

Seeing this, Taoyu turned in front of the bronze mirror and took off the cloak.

When she was ready to leave the house, it was already bright outside.

There was no rain this morning, but the sky was still somewhat foggy and not very clear.

Huang Manjing saw her daughter in a light-colored coat with cloud-like patterns, her hair neatly tied, and she even wore a jade hairpin.

She looked at her daughter in surprise and asked, “Why are you so spirited at home today?”

Taoyu quickly went over and took the breakfast from Huang Manjing’s hand and walked into the hall, saying, “Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

Huang Manjing shook her head, calling Ji Yangzong to eat breakfast together.

Early in the morning, Da Niu took two steamed buns and went to the neighbouring village with Ji Yangzong to prepare for the banquet.

The three of them sat at the table, each with their own thoughts.

Huang Manjing was thinking about what else Taoyu’s dowry lacked and how to make up for it.

Ji Yangzong was planning how many dishes to prepare for the banquet and where to buy the poultry.

Just as they were absorbed in their thoughts, there was a sudden knock on the door outside.

“Who’s there, this early in the morning?”

Ji Yangzong put down the steamed buns and got up to check, only to find someone following behind him.

He was about to eat properly when he saw Huo Shu in the yard.

Ji Yangzong spoke kindly: “Why are you here? Is there something wrong?”

“I’m here to accompany Taoyu to the city to buy the wedding dress.”

Before Ji Yangzong could respond, Taoyu rushed back into the house, saying, “Right away, I’ll grab the cloak and come.”

Ji Yangzong cleared his throat and said to Huo Shu, “Come in and have some breakfast together.”

“I’ve already eaten.”

In a moment, Taoyu came back with the cloak in her arms and ran to Huo Shu, saying, “I’ll come back after measuring the size at the fabric store.”

Huang Manjing followed them out, seeing that the two of them didn’t seem to have spent much time together, but they were close.

Ji Yangzong also waved his hand, “Go early and come back early.”

Watching the two of them leave, Huang Manjing said, “You’re quite sure that Taoyu will go out with him; aren’t you afraid of people in the village seeing and gossiping?”

“What’s there to say? I’m afraid they won’t say it. Let alone that both of them are engaged; they’re having the banquet on the eighth day; not even a month has passed. I don’t believe Huo Shu would back out like the You family did.”

Huang Manjing thought about it and didn’t say anything more. The two of them returned to the house together.

“I said I dressed up so beautifully early in the morning because I was going to the city with Huo Shu.”

“But how did he know that Huo Shu was coming to pick her up?”

“This child…”

As they left the Ji family’s door, Huo Shu looked at the girl in the light-coloured coat walking ahead of him and reached out to her.

Taoyu suddenly turned around and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Huo Shu took the cloak from her, bent it down slightly, and tied it around her. “It’s a bit cold outside; put it on.”

Taoyu didn’t move anymore at the words, letting Huo Shu drape the cloak over her, his rough, big hands tying a not-so-neat knot around her neck.

Huo Shu gently patted the cloak, which was darker than the coat, and put the hat on Taoyu.

“It’s been raining for a few days; the road is muddy; let’s ride.”

Taoyu felt a bit flustered at these words: “But I don’t know how to ride.”

“It’s okay.”

With that, Huo Shu brought over the big black steed from the gate and checked the saddle.

Taoyu, seeing that she had no choice but to ride the horse, was a bit unwilling but couldn’t resist, so she slowly approached the big black horse.

Just as she was about to climb up, she felt a tightness around her waist and turned her head to see Huo Shu, who had already put her on the horse.

Under Taoyu was a sturdy living creature, and she immediately tensed up again, frantically trying to decide whether to grab the reins or the handle on the saddle first.

With her face turning pale, a gust of wind passed by, and immediately, something heavy pressed against her back, stabilising her.

Turning her head, Taoyu met the slightly stubbled chin of Huo Shu, who blinked at her, causing her heart to beat faster.

Huo Shu took hold of the reins, his arm only slightly raised, the cloak hanging on one side, enveloping Taoyu completely in his body. From behind, one couldn’t even see that there was still a person in front.

Only the girl, who was a bit shorter than Huo Shu, could be seen from the front.

Huo Shu urged the horse forward, glancing down at the girl with pursed lips and innocent eyes looking straight at him. “Are you still afraid?”

Taoyu now felt like the hand holding onto the saddle had loosened, feeling as stable as lying in her own bed.

But she said, “But isn’t this inappropriate?”

“There’s nothing inappropriate. We’ll be sharing a bed next month, so what’s wrong with riding a horse together now?”

Taoyu’s face suddenly turned red. “Who… who said we’d be sharing a bed next month?”