CHAPTER 372: 0235 BEAUTIFUL THINGS (2-IN-1)_2

"It’s too late now." Xu Chang’an smirked. "Alright, Miss, don’t take it to heart. I was just talking casually... For now, let’s find a place to rest. This snow looks like it’s going to continue for a while... Sitting down and enjoying the snow up close is the proper thing to do, and we can go for a walk anytime, later."

Lies.

This dream has lasted a long time, but it definitely won’t hold until the "later" he mentioned.

But Xu Chang’an isn’t exactly lying.

Because near his residence on the Celestial Bright Peak, near Qinling’s place, there’s a tall bamboo grove, where he can leisurely wander with the real Miss Yun in the North Garden.

"...Hmm." Yun Qian listened to Xu Chang’an. After a moment of silence, Yun Qian softly stepped into the snow and said, "The sound of stepping on snow is very pleasing."

Especially Xu Chang’an; every step he took pressed the snow down with a crunching sound.

Because it’s soft, it leaves a mark.

And because it leaves a deep mark, the footprints won’t be covered again by the wind and snow but will be treasured by Yun Qian as one of her many cherished items.

"The sound of stepping on snow is indeed pleasing, as long as your shoes don’t get wet." Xu Chang’an smiled. "I also like this feeling, which is why I suggested Miss should come out for a walk."

"Walking in the snow is easy." Yun Qian said earnestly.

Looking at the string of footprints, both she and Xu Chang’an had been walking this long without losing breath.

"Walking in the snow can be more exhausting." Xu Chang’an, feeling Yun Qian’s body warmth, couldn’t help but laugh wryly: "It’s easy for you because you’re hanging onto me."

"Is that so? But you’re warm, and you said you’d hold me." Yun Qian wasn’t shy; rather, she felt there was logic to it.

Thinking like this.

Holding and carrying would be even easier.

"I know. I’m not complaining; I was just talking... just talking." Xu Chang’an deliberately shifted his gaze far away. "All in all, since Miss doesn’t dislike the snow, and quite likes it... then us coming out today is worthwhile."

"Hmm." Yun Qian’s tone showed no fluctuation, responding, "Stepping on it... so soft, I like it."

Stepping on it... like?

Like?

Does the lady like other things?

"Then..." Xu Chang’an, not knowing what came over him, suddenly said, "Compared to stepping on me."

Yun Qian: "..."

The umbrella surface lifted slightly, residual wind gradually spiraling, stirring a swirl of fine snowflakes.

???

Even Miss Yun’s eyes showed an unnoticeable glimmer of peculiarity.

Clusters of snow fluttered down, floating and falling from the dim sky, turning the originally green courtyard into a sheet of white. Xu Chang’an shivered and suddenly snapped back to reality.

What strange things he had said with that sudden stroke of "inspiration."

"Ah... Miss, I... what I meant was, compared to the feeling of stepping on my back... Forget it, I won’t explain anymore." Xu Chang’an hissed.

"I don’t really understand these." Yun Qian sensed Xu Chang’an’s fluctuating emotions trying to avoid her, so she tightened her grip to prevent him from leaving.

Thinking it over, Yun Qian lowered her voice and said near Xu Chang’an’s ear, "Should I say... I prefer stepping on you?"

Xu Chang’an: "..."

The farce ended here.

Xu Chang’an didn’t let her continue.

That damned competitiveness made him say strange things.

Trying to save face.

——

The courtyard on the island is large, with a corner featuring a wooden structure and a glazed tile-top pavilion, originally meant for resting after flower viewing and for Yun Qian’s brief respite, but Yun Qian often reads at the stone table in the middle of the creek, seldom visiting here.

Resting with Yun Qian here feels quite novel.

Speaking solely of enjoying the snow, it’s a great place.

Not only does the spacious pavilion shield the snow and wind, but it also offers a broad view, capturing a wide swath of scenery.

At the moment, Xu Chang’an and Yun Qian sit within the pavilion, a fire basin at their feet, a pot of ginger red sugar tea warming in front of them.

Little sparks of the fire are whipped up by the wind, rapidly extinguishing.

Xu Chang’an embraced Yun Qian’s waist, listening to her words, feeling no cold when holding her.

And the lady indeed wasn’t cold anymore; her mood seemed evidently good.

"Here, it’s really beautiful. Why did I never notice before?" Yun Qian gazed at the two sides of the courtyard, where careful tidying revealed blooming vibrant pink plum blossoms on smooth branches but partially covered by snowflakes, showing a different kind of beauty.

The heavy snow obscured the view, yet it highlighted more... the incredibly beautiful reality that her husband was right beside her, within arms reach.

"There are many places you’ve not discovered, considering the island is so large, and Miss’s activity range is so narrow." Xu Chang’an drew a small circle with his hand, then said helplessly: "Besides, we’ve visited here before. Haven’t we passed by here on our way to the Northern bamboo forest and the Western flower garden? You’ve rested here and fallen asleep... Remember?"

Yun Qian thought about it really carefully, then said, "...I can’t recall."

Perhaps what he mentioned was something during her solitary activity, otherwise, if Xu Chang’an had been with her, she wouldn’t have forgotten even the smallest detail.

Xu Chang’an thought some things can only be truly appreciated when sitting down and calming one’s heart.

For example, during the walk, he didn’t feel it much, but now resting in the pavilion... his heart began to race.

No remedy, Yun Qian was just too close.

The lady wasn’t the type with a slender physique; when holding Yun Qian, Xu Chang’an could clearly feel her figure, not like those skinny waif-like girls.

This was the girl he’d nurtured through care, only describable with the word perfect.

Xu Chang’an felt very proud.

"What’s the matter?" Yun Qian could distinctly hear the thumping of Xu Chang’an’s heart.

Actually, if one listens carefully, her heartbeat was quite fast as well, only because her heartbeat coincided with Xu Chang’an’s, making it difficult to distinguish without attentiveness.

"Miss, you could be smaller." Xu Chang’an said earnestly.

"Smaller?" Yun Qian’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her gaze lowered.

"I mean your size." Xu Chang’an quickly explained.

"I know." Yun Qian nodded with some doubt, then said, "But... don’t men prefer..."

"Stop." Xu Chang’an’s fingers pressed against Yun Qian’s lips, halting her words, saying, "I meant if Miss was as small as Mao’Er, it’d be nice."

Like how he would often hold Xiaohua in his arms.

That kind of warmth in every way, the lady would surely love it.

"You want me to become... Mao’Er?" Yun Qian’s eyelash fluttering was more pronounced, revealing it was something she hadn’t thought of.

"Cough, typically the fantasies are of a girl changing into a Li Hua, not the other way around." Xu Chang’an clicked his tongue.

He was merely speaking off the cuff.

Moreover, imagining Yun Qian in his arms as a Li Hua cat helps reduce the stirring in his heart.

Yun Qian wasn’t bothered by it, musingly saying, "You’re right... If you became a tiny pet, I might find interest in these little creatures."

"You really are interested." Xu Chang’an looked at Yun Qian in surprise and then waved his hand. "Fine, once my cultivation improves, I’ll transform for you to play with."

"Hmm."

Yun Qian stretched lazily, this calm daily occurrence on the island bringing her satisfaction... She really liked it.

"Miss, have some ginger red sugar tea, warm your body." Xu Chang’an saw Yun Qian beginning to yawn, and poured a cup of the steaming tea for her.

Yun Qian looked at the tea cup on the table, frowning: "I want some wine."

"Wine. We’ll discuss it later." Xu Chang’an instinctively said: "Drink this first."

"First?" Yun Qian heard this, nodded, and took the red sugar tea offered by Xu Chang’an, sipping a bit.

Xu Chang’an glanced at the slowly falling snow scene again, then looked at Yun Qian sipping the tea.

He suddenly realized what he’d said.

He had just instinctively wanted wine, unlike his previous promise with the Jade Dew.

Hmph.

If blaming the lady’s good figure for his fluttering heart... That would be too scummy.