CHAPTER 577: 0340 JUST STAND THERE (TWO IN ONE)_2

Zhu Pingniang snorted, then slowly lowered her hand that was covering her face, revealing a pair of eyes questioning life in front of Miss Lu.

"Ni Zi, you really do like me."

Miss Lu couldn’t help but twitch her lips at these words, but since she was used to it, she didn’t bother to feel shy.

"I really do like you."

"Oh."

Zhu Pingniang lowered her eyes and whispered, "Oh no..."

Miss Lu not being able to see how beautiful Yun Qian was because of her own infatuation was quite normal.

Then... if she herself was left so awestruck by Miss Yun, could it prove that—

She, Zhu Tongjun, was not blinded by a leaf.

Li Zhibai had not become the one to obscure Zhu Tongjun’s eyes.

Could it be that her affection for Ah Bai paled in comparison to Miss Lu’s affection for her?

So, Zhu Pingniang started doubting life.

Even putting this aside for the moment.

The reason why Li Zhibai was so sure she was inferior to Yun Qian, did it prove that Li Zhibai had already discovered Yun Qian’s hidden charm before her?

"It seems Ah Bai’s relationship with this Miss Yun is closer than I thought." Zhu Pingniang pursed her lips, feeling a twinge of jealousy.

There wasn’t a single mention of it in the letter from Li Zhibai.

"Ms. Zhu, why the sour face?" Miss Lu waved a hand in front of her eyes.

"Didn’t hit you hard enough earlier?"

"It already hurts plenty."

"Pain helps you remember." Zhu Pingniang took a deep breath and held Miss Lu’s hand.

"By the way, sister, earlier you said you would trick Miss Yun into eating Red Lotus tonight, but with this change to a boat banquet, there’s no way the young master would bring a box of rouge to a banquet, right?"

"No worries, I prepared it myself. I’ll make sure she eats her fill."

"..."

The two people walked away under umbrellas, leaving only a carriage behind.

——

——

Xu Chang’an closed the courtyard door and then saw a paper crane soaked by rain flying towards him.

Upon opening it, Zhu Pingniang’s spiritual power flowed through, and Xu Chang’an read the message silently to himself.

——

Under the tree, Yun Qian stood alone with an umbrella, watching the young man quietly reading the message through the curtain of rain.

He just stood there, just by standing there, he was so good looking without needing to do anything.

Is this... what Miss Zhu meant by being blinded by a leaf?

Perhaps.

Yun Qian only knew that her husband was like a mirror reflecting her past.

"Senior, this is... forget it, better to just listen to her." Xu Chang’an finished reading the message, then put the paper crane away, looking at Yun Qian.

When his gaze fell on Miss Yun, Xu Chang’an discreetly pursed his lips.

Damn system.

Issued a strange task that made him realize how captivating the girl was at this moment.

But Miss Yun was truly too beautiful; even though he knew every detail of her body, he couldn’t help but be mesmerized by just one glance.

She just stood there, just by standing there... she didn’t need any embellishment at all.

No, she still needed it.

Because right now, the girl was standing alone under the tree, just as she always had.

Xu Chang’an felt as if he had returned to the first time he met Miss Yun, when he looked up and met her eyes in mid-air... back then she was clearly in front of him, yet it felt as though she was standing in a bright but lonely galaxy, untouchable.

But now, the girl was no longer alone.

"Miss?"

Xu Chang’an walked under the same umbrella with Yun Qian, using his spiritual power to create a transparent barrier above Yun Qian’s umbrella to shield her from the rain.

Although Li Zhibai had told him not to show his ability to block rain on the mountain, Xu Chang’an assumed it was ordinary rain in Beisang City, so he didn’t think much before shielding Miss Yun from the wind.

Feeling the warmth of Xu Chang’an’s fingers, Yun Qian blinked and then smiled.

At that moment, Xu Chang’an suddenly had an illusion, thinking that Yun Qian was very happy.

"What are you daydreaming about?" he asked.

Somewhat uncomfortable, Yun Qian glanced at her clothes and asked, "Is it strange, the way I’m dressed?"

In Beisang City, she often wore elegant long dresses, and at home, she wore cute and contrasting thin clothes. This kind of unadorned, pajama-like plain outfit, she rarely had the chance to wear.

"It’s not strange. It’s already as beautiful as it can be."

Xu Chang’an immediately complimented truthfully.

Clothes were just ordinary clothes, but when worn by a specific person, they immediately gave off a sense of increased worth and extraordinary elegance.

Sometimes Xu Chang’an would think it would be better if his Miss wasn’t so stunning, that way he could be at ease and tone down his infatuation that perhaps scared her.

After all, beauty was just a bonus of Yun Qian for Xu Chang’an; it would not matter if it weren’t there.

Miss Yun didn’t need to be so beautiful; just standing there made him like her to the extreme.

"What should we do now?" Yun Qian asked.

"Go to the banquet."

"I want to share an umbrella with you." Yun Qian looked at her and Xu Chang’an’s separate umbrellas, then quietly closed her umbrella and stepped under Xu Chang’an’s.

"Okay, but Senior prepared a carriage for us. Once we’re inside, the umbrella won’t be needed."

"A carriage?"

"The road is so far, Miss wouldn’t want to walk."

"True."

Yun Qian linked arms with Xu Chang’an, thinking that Miss Zhu was indeed thoughtful in her considerations, easily making one feel favorable towards her.

——

At the bridgehead, following Zhu Pingniang’s instructions, Xu Chang’an saw a carriage in the rain.

The four sides of the carriage were wrapped in luxurious and exquisite silk, its windows covered with pale blue crêpe curtains, exuding elegance.

Xu Chang’an removed the Spiritual Barrier, helping Yun Qian into the carriage.

Though a bit small, the interior was extravagantly decorated; besides some crystal pendants, the plush carpet was soft, and the surroundings were embedded with Fire Stones like those on Muyu Peak, making it very warm.

After Yun Qian was seated, Xu Chang’an nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, Miss, you sit and rest for a moment."

Saying so, Xu Chang’an leaped down from the carriage, closed the curtain, placed a rain-proof seal, securely "imprisoning" Yun Qian inside.

His smooth actions left Yun Qian dazed for a few moments, "Why did you get off?"

Aren’t you coming with me?

Upon hearing this, Xu Chang’an took a soft whip from the carriage frame, gesturing at the empty driver’s seat.

"Miss, this carriage doesn’t have a driver... where am I supposed to sit?" Xu Chang’an’s face appeared through the window in Yun Qian’s view.

"You can drive?" Yun Qian blinked her beautiful big eyes.

It was the first time... she knew her husband could drive a carriage, for they had never traveled like this before.

"Always hoped to go on a self-drive tour with Miss, so I specifically learned." Xu Chang’an said nonchalantly.

"Mmh." Yun Qian nodded, using her teeth to peel a candied fruit, removing the pit with a handkerchief before handing the fruit piece to Xu Chang’an through the window.

"Too sweet." Xu Chang’an said after eating, shaking his head with a smile, then hopped on the carriage, handling the reins.

"Hold tight." Xu Chang’an turned back, his face showing slight excitement, "First-time driver getting started."

The hooves lightly tapped on the bluestone slab, the surroundings gradually changing as Xu Chang’an steered skillfully, the rhythmic sound of hoofbeats in his ears.

"...?"

Miss Yun thought, again, he’s speaking words she couldn’t understand.

But it didn’t matter.

It was also the first time riding his carriage; perhaps her first experience.

Miss Yun was looking forward to it.

The carriage, warm and spacious, with soft carpets.

Yun Qian held onto the handrail, leaning against the window, chatting with Xu Chang’an now and then.

"Drive—"

Suddenly, followed by the neigh of the horse, the carriage performed a graceful vertical body technique, the wheels leaving clear arc traces on the water-covered bluestone slab.

With a crisp snap, Yun Qian looked at the small piece of wood in her hand, slightly opening her cherry lips.

The carriage made a tail swing.

Having lost the handrail, Miss Yun... rolled inside the carriage.