CHAPTER 265: CHAPTER 262: CAN’T BEAR TO LEAVE

Listening to Song Xian talk about these things, Xie Liangchen felt her mind in turmoil for quite a long time, as if she had no thoughts at all, but also as if she had thought of many things.

She sensed Song Xian’s intentions and had tried to avoid them, pretending nothing was happening, thinking everything would return to normal once it was over.

She was somewhat apprehensive and worried, afraid that once everything was revealed, they would both feel awkward and unable to interact in the future.

But when Song Xian finally said it out loud, it was more natural than expected, as if it was meant to be this way, without any embarrassment or awkwardness between them.

Perhaps after he pestered her once while drunk, going through these things isn’t as difficult anymore?

But this is different from being drunk; no matter how drunk one gets, they won’t remember anything after sobering up. Now, he isn’t drunk and won’t forget what he just said.

Xie Liangchen had never encountered such a situation and didn’t know what to do. Song Xian was right; if he had said these things to her earlier, she would have instantly rejected him and distanced herself from him.

Yet after some time passed, without even realizing it, she felt a subtle change in how she viewed Song Xian.

Xie Liangchen instinctively reached for the teapot in front of her.

"Don’t move, it’s hot."

Just as her fingers were about to touch the teapot’s body, Song Xian spoke up to stop her and pulled the teapot away.

Xie Liangchen then came back to her senses, realizing she had done something foolish, reaching for the body of the pot rather than the handle.

The pot contained boiling hot water.

Xie Liangchen’s face flushed slightly: "I wasn’t trying to take it."

Song Xian’s face was full of smiles: "I wanted to take it because I’m thirsty and want to drink some water."

Xie Liangchen regretted it, wondering why she emphasized that when the situation was obvious, giving him a chance to cover up.

Song Xian filled the tea bowl in front of him, then drank half of it, particularly joyful today, with his eyes full of uncontainable laughter.

Song Xian said, "Did I call you ’Sister’ when I was drunk the other day?"

Just as Xie Liangchen was about to calm down, her emotions surged again. She raised her eyes and said, "You remember?"

"Vaguely," Song Xian said softly, "I’m not too sure."

Xie Liangchen said, "General Song, it’s best not to drink in the future. Once you know what happens after drinking, you’ll surely regret it."

Song Xian nodded: "If you don’t let me drink, then I won’t drink."

Xie Liangchen’s forehead throbbed; Song Xian was different today, and she didn’t want to talk to him.

Song Xian grasped the key point in her words: "What happens when I’m drunk?"

Xie Liangchen feigned calm and said: "It’s nothing." It was just that he got hit twice, once on the nose, and once...

To avoid continuing this topic, Xie Liangchen said: "Have you eaten yet, sir?"

Song Xian shook his head: "I was hungry but didn’t dare to make a scene, afraid you wouldn’t let me stay for a meal."

Xie Liangchen avoided looking at Song Xian: "Since you’re here in the Chen Family Village, we can’t be uncourteous. I’ll go to the kitchen to make some simple food so you and the household general you brought along can eat before leaving."

Song Xian watched Xie Liangchen stand up and walk towards the door. She didn’t agree, nor did she reject him outright, yet things were still not the same.

Just like now, she evades his gaze, and doesn’t have the heart to let him leave Chen Family Village hungry.

Song Xian stood up and followed her out.

Xie Liangchen looked at the burning firewood in the stove and lost herself in thought again.

Outside came the voice of Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng.

"I said General Song was in the courtyard, but Brother Geng insisted the General was at the village entrance," Old Mrs. Chen said with a hint of complaint, "Now we’ve ended up running around and wasting time."

A thought flashed through Xie Liangchen’s mind; if her grandmother and young brother had come earlier, Song Xian might not have had the chance to say those words.

Even at a crucial moment, her brother was unreliable.

As she thought, Old Mrs. Chen’s voice came again: "General, put that down; why are you doing this?"

Xie Liangchen turned her head to look and saw Song Xian half-squatting at the kitchen door, repairing a small stool in his hands. Perhaps knowing she’d look over, Song Xian raised his head just in time for their gazes to meet.

They didn’t speak, just a brief entanglement of glances. Song Xian smiled slightly, and Xie Liangchen looked away.

Such eye contact had occurred before, but somehow, now it felt like there was something more to it.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Don’t bother fixing it, General; this worn-out thing isn’t worth your effort."

Song Xian smiled: "This little stool is actually quite comfortable to sit on."

Really? Old Mrs. Chen scrutinized the stool. It was indeed their stool, small and narrow - how could it be comfortable? If she sat for too long, her legs would ache, her back would hurt, and she’d need someone to help her stand.

"Brother," Chen Zigeng squatted next to Song Xian, showing no intention of helping, "Isn’t the Capital City far away? Is this journey exhausting?"

Song Xian said: "For a few days, we traveled and encountered rain midway."

Chen Zigeng asked with concern: "Did you get drenched?"

Song Xian nodded: "Yes, I did."

Xie Liangchen in the kitchen thought of Song Xian’s shoulder injury and looked over, seeing him moving his arm. This journey probably aggravated his old ailment, and he was likely out of pig fat.

This time, she and Mr. Xu added some blood-activating and stasis-dispersing ingredients to the pig fat; she should give it to Song Xian later.

Chen Zigeng and Song Xian were talking about something else.

Chen Zigeng said in astonishment: "Brother, you didn’t go to the government office nor return to the Prefecture? You came straight to our village? Were you concerned about us?"

Song Xian said: "Yes, in the Capital City, I would think of Chen Family Village every day."

Xie Liangchen wasn’t sure if the kitchen was too hot; her face felt a bit warm, while the person speaking seemed exceptionally calm.

Just as she was about to call Chen Zigeng inside, wondering why everyone was so talkative today, Old Mrs. Chen stepped into the kitchen first.

"What are you cooking?"

Xie Liangchen said: "Making some noodles, quick and easy."

"No, no," Old Mrs. Chen said generously, "General Song has traveled a long way, worried about the spinning wheel, and came to Chen Family Village... We can’t let him eat this; your second uncle’s ducks are fattened, I’ll have Hei Dan go catch one."

Hei Dan moved swiftly and soon sent the cleaned duck into the kitchen.

Xie Liangchen cooked the glutinous rice, sautéed salted pork, dried bamboo shoots, and mushrooms, then filled the duck’s stomach with them, steaming it in a large pot.

After busying for quite a while, she finally had a moment to look outside, and couldn’t help but smile seeing Song Xian sitting with several children outside the kitchen.

Hei Dan had just spoken: "Does the General like sitting by the kitchen door too? I do, especially when Sister is in the kitchen, the smell is really nice."

Song Xian said: "It does smell very nice."

Someone’s stomach growled with a "glug glug" sound, making the children laugh immediately.

Song Xian lifted his head towards the kitchen, only to see Xie Liangchen holding a tea bowl by the stove, her eyes curved, with a faint smile on her face, touching his heart instantly.