CHAPTER 242: CHAPTER 242: JOYFULLY OBTAINING A PAIR OF DRAGON AND PHOENIX PENDANTS

At the same time, Tang Xiaowan woke up in Lingxiao Manor, her eyes half-closed as she realized she was in her bedroom, her face suddenly flushed with a wave of heat.

Oh my, why am I so unlucky!

Just got confessed to by Huahua and then fainted into the fountain, totally ruining my perfect image.

To cover up her embarrassment, she quickly closed her eyes again and murmured in her mind, "I’m sleepy, I’m sleepy, keep sleeping, keep sleeping."

However, this little movement did not escape Leng Lingxiao’s gaze. Since changing clothes, he had been holding Tang Xiaowan’s hand, sitting beside her bed, his eyes filled with tenderness and guilt.

Suddenly, a kiss landed on her lips.

Although very light and gentle, it still threw Tang Xiaowan into a flurry. Her fingers trembled slightly in Leng Lingxiao’s palm, and her heartbeat quickened considerably.

Oh my, how fragrant!

The legendary... manly scent?

Alas, if it was not Li Zishen, my first kiss would have been Huahua’s, that thief.

How outrageous, he actually kissed me forcibly!

The more Tang Xiaowan thought about it, the angrier she became, hating that she had been too weak to resist at the time.

In fact, the forced kiss by Li Zishen was not Tang Xiaowan’s first kiss at all; her true first kiss had been sneakily given to a drunken Leng Lingxiao on her coming-of-age day, but due to amnesia, she had forgotten the tumult of her youth.

Did Leng Lingxiao himself know?

Of course, he knew, but he just didn’t dare to open his eyes, for fear of scaring Tang Xiaowan away.

He quite enjoyed the feeling of being taken care of by her.

She loved him, little realizing that he loved her even more, just always waiting, waiting for her to grow up.

Then, Leng Lingxiao gently caressed Tang Xiaowan’s cheek, whispering, "Why haven’t you woken up yet? Looks like I’ll have to resort to the old-fashioned way, a kiss every 3 minutes, or every 2 minutes if that doesn’t work."

No sooner had he spoken than Tang Xiaowan’s eyes flew open, meeting Leng Lingxiao’s fiery gaze, and the atmosphere instantly became delicate.

"Huahua, I mean..."

"Are you hungry?"

Leng Lingxiao looked at her with utter adoration, scooped her up in his arms, and headed straight for the door.

"What are you doing, where are you taking me?"

"To eat."

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaowan realized they were heading downstairs.

Oh no, to go downstairs for a meal and still be carried like this, others will surely laugh their heads off.

Tang Xiaowan blushed and protested softly, "Put me down quickly, I’m already fine, there’s no need to carry me, it’s so embarrassing."

"You’ll get used to it."

"Stop fooling around, please just do it."

At this moment, her face was pressed against the man’s chest, her voice sweet and particularly tender.

Is this enjoyment or shyness?

Definitely both, absolutely!

Leng Lingxiao couldn’t help but laugh secretly, but finally, he slowly put her down, replacing the embrace with holding hands.

This time, Tang Xiaowan cooperated very well.

"Where’s Grandma, I haven’t seen her, where did she go?"

"Isn’t my company enough for you?"

"Tell me!"

"Grandma has already eaten; she’s in the study now. We’ll go there in a bit."

With that, Tang Xiaowan breathed a sigh of relief.

For a moment there, she had been worried that Grandma had left without saying goodbye again.

"Right, Grandma really is a prophet; she said you’d wake up soon and it was time to prepare lunch. And really, haha," Leng Lingxiao quickly added, seeing Tang Xiaowan’s anxious expression.

"Of course, Grandma is amazing!"

Leng Lingxiao raised an eyebrow, "So am I."

"Indeed, indeed, like the maze, you’re so incredible. Shall we go play in it again this afternoon?"

Tang Xiaowan looked at Leng Lingxiao with anticipation; she truly enjoyed it there, full of challenges and surprises, each level designed so ingeniously and thoughtfully.

"Oh! I had actually planned to take you to see the sea, it’s nearby, at most a half-hour drive, but let’s go tomorrow then."

"The sea, go to the beach?"

Leng Lingxiao nodded with a smile, "Yes!"

"Going to see the sea sounds great, let’s go to the beach then, let’s happily decide on that, right, can Grandma come with us?"

Tang Xiaowan lowered her voice.

At this moment, they had already reached the first floor, where servants were pruning bonsais and another was wiping antique vases, seemingly all new faces.

She wasn’t sure whether these words might be overheard by someone with ill intentions, causing trouble for her grandma.

"Of course, as long as grandma is willing."

Leng Lingxiao saw Tang Xiaowan’s concern and replied to her loudly.

Tang Xiaowan: "?"

"Is Huahua really okay now?"

Leng Lingxiao smiled and pinched Tang Xiaowan’s nose: "Silly, didn’t I tell you? This place is very safe, extremely safe, there’s nothing to worry about."

"Oh, I forgot, that seems right."

"You’re just befuddled from sleep."

They joked, and soon they reached the dining room, where a rosewood round table was laden with all kinds of food.

Different from breakfast, everything was spicy.

Tang Xiaowan’s eyes gleamed as she picked up a glove, ready to dig into the lamb chops Leng Lingxiao had served her, when she inadvertently caught sight of the luxurious clock across from her.

Oh my God, it’s already four o’clock. I’ve been unconscious for so long; no wonder grandma had already eaten.

Am I having lunch now?

At the same time, she spotted a familiar figure among the servants.

"Wow, Old Zhao, have you come back from the mountain?"

Zhao Renjie was startled at first, but then immediately replied: "Yes, Lady Tang, I’ve just arrived."

Tang Xiaowan nodded, oblivious to any undercurrents, and suddenly realized that since arriving at Lingxiao Manor the previous night, she had either probably or maybe not touched her phone at all.

She was completely immersed in joy.

Whether it was the reunion with her grandma, playing puzzle games, or accepting Leng Lingxiao’s confession, it was enough to fill her heart to the brim.

Besides, Tang Xiaowan wasn’t someone who was addicted to scrolling through videos.

"Huahua, where’s my phone? When we were on the plane, it seems like you took it?" Tang Xiaowan looked at Leng Lingxiao, her face filled with bewilderment.

"Wow, I forgot to take it on the plane!"

He burst into hearty laughter.

Leng Lingxiao hadn’t really forgotten it; he had done it on purpose. A man’s possessiveness is innate, and with such a wonderful vacation, how could he let random people interrupt?

In his eyes, Li Zishen was a third wheel.

Tang Xiaowan bit into a piece of lamb chop thoughtfully and said: "What about the plane?"

"It’s still parked in the same old spot, where we got off yesterday. Don’t worry, eat up. It won’t go missing. I’ll send someone to get your phone right now."

As he spoke, Leng Lingxiao passed a plate of boneless pork trotters to Tang Xiaowan.

"Oh, as long as it’s not lost, no rush then."

...

After the meal, Tang Xiaowan followed Leng Lingxiao to the fourth floor, where Tang Mei had been waiting in the study for a long time, her face adorned with a motherly smile.

"Grandma, let’s go to the beach, shall we?" Tang Xiaowan bounded into the room, smiling brightly.

"I’d rather not join the fun. I’m too lazy to go. Remember to bring me back a couple of big sea conches when you return, the prettiest ones."

"Come on, please, Grandma, let’s go together. We can pick sea conches, please?"

She was worried her grandma might slip away while they were gone.

Faced with coaxing, Tang Mei laughed, but still shook her head, then picked up a dark red wooden box from the coffee table.

Inside the box lay a pair of exquisitely crafted Dragon and Phoenix Pendants, so lifelike they seemed as if they might fly out at any moment.

Tang Mei handed the pendants, one each, to Leng Lingxiao and Tang Xiaowan, her eyes smiling.

"You both are good children, and it makes me truly happy to see you together. This jade pendant was left by my father and now I pass it on to you. I hope you will always cherish each other, stay together till old age, happy and joyful."

This signified acceptance and affirmation.

Leng Lingxiao and Tang Xiaowan took their respective pendants, glanced at each other, feeling the blessings and family legacy, their happiness clear for all to see.

"Grandma, thank you. I will definitely take good care of Tangtang, bring her happiness and joy, and stay by her side for a lifetime," Leng Lingxiao said, holding Tang Xiaowan’s hand, his gaze resolute.

Tang Mei nodded: "Good, that’s good."

"Grandma, why don’t you come with us to the beach? Please come, please."

Tang Xiaowan’s coaxing mode was on full display again.

"At my age, I prefer to stay at home, read books, and enjoy the flowers. Don’t worry, I won’t run away."

"Alright then, we’re off, and we’ll bring you back big sea conches, super large and super pretty ones."

"Good, I’ll be waiting. Go have fun."

Gradually, the study returned to silence, with Tang Mei standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought.

In her gaze flickered an indescribable and extremely complex emotion, as if she were recalling a long-sealed Chapter of her past.