klisemfg Chapter 30 Horseback Riding in the Suburbs of Beijing (2)
Chapter 30 Horseback Riding in the Suburbs of Beijing (2)
Cheng Ying and Qin Yaoyao spent the entire afternoon together, chatting about everything under the sun. The conversation eventually turned to the Fifth Prince. Qin Yaoyao teased, "Hey, tell me what happened between you and the Fifth Prince! I heard your meeting was quite an interesting story!" Cheng Ying paused slightly, then looked at Qin Yaoyao with a hint of reproach and softly replied, "Yes, there is a story." She then proceeded to recount the small conflict she had with the Fifth Prince to Qin Yaoyao in detail.
After the story was finished, Cheng Ying complained angrily, "Tell me, is he out of his mind? Is he a lecher?" Qin Yaoyao comforted her gently, saying, "Actually, he meant well. Maybe he mistakenly thought you also wanted to hang a wishing ribbon, so he thought of helping you."
However, Cheng Ying wasn't buying this explanation. She retorted dismissively, "I don't need his help! I never even considered hanging a wishing ribbon!" Qin Yaoyao couldn't help but ask curiously, "If that's the case, then why are you standing under the wishing tree without hanging a ribbon?" Cheng Ying replied confidently, "Can't I just look? Is that illegal?" Qin Yaoyao smiled helplessly and responded, "It's not illegal, but it's easy for people to misunderstand! Who would expect someone to be holding a wishing ribbon and just standing under the tree in a daze?" Cheng Ying countered, "Even if I wanted to hang a wishing ribbon, I have hands. I can hang it myself. Why would I need him?"
Qin Yaoyao ruthlessly exposed her: "Then let me ask you, can you even get up there and hang up yourself?"
Cheng Ying was about to retort, but after thinking about it, she shut her mouth. She really couldn't climb up, not for any other reason than that the tree was simply too tall.
Qin Yaoyao then said earnestly, "They know martial arts, so naturally they saw that you couldn't get up there and wanted to help you. Not only did you not appreciate it, but you also insulted them. That's going too far!"
Cheng Ying retorted, "It's his own fault for not asking before grabbing it. I only scolded him; he's lucky he didn't hit him, humph!"
Qin Yaoyao looked at Cheng Ying, who was pouting, and quickly said, "Yes, yes, he was wrong. He should have asked you if you needed help first. How could he just start doing it?"
Cheng Ying replied, "That's right!"
The two looked at each other and laughed. Their laughter echoed in the air, seemingly painting everything around them with a joyful hue. Sunlight streamed down, illuminating them and outlining their youthful figures. This little incident became an unforgettable memory in their friendship. Perhaps in the days to come, whenever they recalled this moment, they would smile knowingly. And the person Cheng Ying had scolded might, somewhere, silently reflect on their behavior and learn to communicate and interact with others better. After all, every experience is an opportunity for growth; whether it's laughter or tears, it all makes us more mature and resilient.
As dusk approached, Qin Yaoyao turned to look out the window, then turned to her maid, Banxia, and said, "Go and bring up dinner!" She then said to Cheng Ying, "Sister Cheng, please have some too!"
After dinner, they enjoyed some of the pastries Banxia had made. Qin Yaoyao chatted with Cheng Ying while eating the pastries, and before they knew it, a long time had passed.
When Qin Yaoyao noticed that it was getting late, she glanced at Cheng Ying, then stood up and said, "It's getting late, Sister Cheng, you should go back and rest early!" Cheng Ying also stood up, smiled and nodded in agreement.
After seeing Cheng Ying off, Qin Yaoyao returned to her room, washed up, and then sat quietly on the bed. She had a strong premonition that her brother Yanxi would come to see her tonight. Therefore, she secretly resolved to seize the opportunity tonight and have a good talk with him.
Qin Yaoyao lay on the bed, closed her eyes, and pretended to be asleep. But soon, she began to drift off to sleep. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she suddenly smelled a familiar, cool fragrance. This fragrance instantly woke her up.
She kept her eyes tightly shut, pretending to be fast asleep, wanting to see what Yanxi would do. She waited quietly, feeling both nervous and expectant.
After a while, she felt someone walk to her bedside and sit down. She knew it must be He Yanxi. She held her breath, afraid to make a sound, lest he discover that she wasn't actually asleep.
She waited silently, hoping He Yanxi would make a move. However, a long time passed, and He Yanxi remained silent. Qin Yaoyao grew anxious; she didn't know what He Yanxi was thinking. Was he just visiting her? Or did he have other motives?
Time ticked by, and Qin Yaoyao's feelings grew increasingly complicated. She didn't know what to do and could only remain silent, waiting for He Yanxi's next move. Just when Qin Yaoyao thought He Yanxi would make no further move, he finally did. He Yanxi slightly raised his right hand and slowly extended it towards Qin Yaoyao, his eyes filled with tenderness and pity. When his fingers touched Qin Yaoyao's hair, the movement was so gentle, as if afraid of waking her. He Yanxi whispered, "Yao'er, I'm truly afraid that everything that has happened these past few days is just a dream. If it really is a dream, then let me stay in the dream a little longer..."
Hearing He Yanxi's words, Qin Yaoyao could no longer pretend to be asleep. She quickly sat up and threw herself into He Yanxi's warm embrace, tears welling up uncontrollably in her eyes. She hugged He Yanxi tightly, her voice trembling with sobs, and said, "Brother Yanxi, this isn't a dream! It's all real! I truly love you..."
He Yanxi was startled by Qin Yaoyao's sudden action; he hadn't expected her to still be awake. When Qin Yaoyao lunged at him, he instinctively reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms.
He Yanxi looked down at Qin Yaoyao in his arms and asked softly, "Why aren't you asleep yet?" Qin Yaoyao hugged He Yanxi's neck tightly and replied coquettishly, "I have a strong feeling that Brother Yanxi will definitely come to find me tonight. So, I've been waiting for you here..."
After hearing Qin Yaoyao's words, He Yanxi's face lit up with an ecstatic smile, and his voice carried a hint of disbelief: "Yao'er, is what you said true? You've really been waiting for me all this time?"
Qin Yaoyao nodded gently and said sweetly, "Of course! Otherwise, why wouldn't I be sleeping? I'm waiting for you, Brother Yanxi! So, Brother Yanxi, if you want to come find me, just come directly. You don't need to be so careful and wait until I'm asleep. I miss you so much, brother."
Hearing Qin Yaoyao say this, He Yanxi was filled with joy and emotion. He excitedly replied, "Okay, then I will come to visit Yao'er every night from now on. Don't you think I'm too annoying?"
Qin Yaoyao laughed happily and quickly shook her head, saying, "How could that be? I wish my brother could come to see me every day!"
However, just then, Qin Yaoyao suddenly remembered her promise to Cheng Ying that afternoon—to go horseback riding together in two days. She hadn't had a chance to tell He Yanxi yet, so she looked up and stepped out of He Yanxi's warm embrace.
He Yanxi was immersed in happiness when he suddenly felt his arms go empty, and a sense of loss welled up in his heart. But when he heard Qin Yaoyao want to talk to him, he immediately perked up and asked gently, "What is it, Yao'er?"
Qin Yaoyao looked at He Yanxi with a smile and said softly, "This afternoon, Sister Cheng came to visit me. I made an appointment with her to go horseback riding together in the outskirts of the capital in two days. I wonder if you will be unhappy about this?" As soon as she finished speaking, Qin Yaoyao's gaze was fixed on He Yanxi's face, carefully observing his every subtle expression.
Despite He Yanxi's best efforts to conceal it, his emotional shifts did not escape Qin Yaoyao's keen observation. When he heard Qin Yaoyao inviting others to go on a trip again, a clear sense of disappointment appeared in his eyes. However, this subtle emotional fluctuation lasted only a moment, yet it was still accurately captured by Qin Yaoyao, who had been watching him intently.
He Yanxi replied, feigning composure, "No, since you are close friends, it's perfectly fine for you to go out together."
Qin Yaoyao gazed at his forced smile, secretly amused, and decided to stop teasing him. So, she said gently, "I heard from Sister Cheng about what happened between her and the Fifth Prince a year ago. I feel there seems to be some misunderstanding between them. Therefore, I hope you can invite the Fifth Prince out as well, so they can have a chance to be honest with each other and completely clear up the misunderstanding. Perhaps, this could even lead to a happy marriage." Hearing this, He Yanxi's eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, "So that's why you invited Miss Cheng to come along?" Qin Yaoyao smiled mischievously and said coquettishly, "What else did you think it was, Brother Yanxi?" He Yanxi blushed slightly and stammered, "I...it's nothing. Okay, I'll explain it to him tomorrow."
At this moment, Qin Yaoyao just silently looked at He Yanxi, a faint smile on her lips, but she didn't say a word. He Yanxi was a little confused by her gaze and couldn't help but touch his face, asking in confusion, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face?" Qin Yaoyao gently shook her head and softly replied, "No, there isn't." He Yanxi became even more curious and pressed on, "Then why are you staring at me like that?" A blush crept onto Qin Yaoyao's face, and she shyly lowered her head, whispering, "Because you're so handsome, brother. I'm deeply attracted by your beauty, and I can't take my eyes off you." Hearing this, He Yanxi felt a little embarrassed and was about to say something when he heard Qin Yaoyao continue, "Not only are you handsome, brother, but every part of you—your eyes, nose, mouth—fascinates me! I really want to taste them myself and see what they're like." Before she finished speaking, Qin Yaoyao didn't give He Yanxi any time to react, quickly leaning forward, raising her head, and kissing his lips without hesitation.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still for He Yanxi. He was completely stunned, his mind blank, unsure of how to react to the situation. However, under Qin Yaoyao's slightly shy and tentative touch, he quickly snapped back to his senses and acted without hesitation, turning the tables and deepening the sweet kiss.
Their lips were pressed tightly together, their breaths mingling, as if the whole world had shrunk to just the two of them. Time seemed to stretch on and become beautiful, until they were both slightly out of breath, at which point they slowly separated.
He Yanxi gazed at Qin Yaoyao's crystal-clear lips, his heart filled with satisfaction. Then, he said softly, "It's getting late, I should go home." After saying that, he made a promise to her that he would come again tomorrow, and then turned and left.
As he walked further and further away, Qin Yaoyao watched his departing figure, a warm feeling welling up in her heart, and a happy smile spreading across her face. She knew that this night would become an unforgettable memory for her.
As expected, He Yanxi kept his word and arrived on time the following evening. They chatted for a while, and Qin Yaoyao, unable to suppress her urge, wanted to kiss her handsome young man. She acted on it without hesitation, and the two reluctantly parted only when they were almost breathless.
He Yanxi paused for a moment, then said, "I've already talked to A-Feng today, and we'll go to the horse farm together tomorrow morning."
Qin Yaoyao asked curiously, "Did brother tell him that Sister Cheng will be going tomorrow too?" He Yanxi gently shook his head and replied, "No, let them resolve their own issues." Qin Yaoyao nodded obediently in agreement. He Yanxi turned to look at the sky outside the window and continued, "It's getting late, I should go back. I'll pick you up tomorrow." Qin Yaoyao smiled and nodded in response, "Okay."
The next morning, the sun shone brightly. Qin Yaoyao got up early and carefully dressed herself. Then, she and He Yanxi went out together. Before long, they arrived at the horse farm. As soon as they reached the entrance, they saw Cheng Ying and the Fifth Prince, who were already waiting there. Cheng Ying saw Qin Yaoyao approaching from afar, but when Qin Yaoyao got closer, she noticed that her expression was a little off. She asked curiously, "Sister Cheng, what's wrong? You seem a little unhappy."
Cheng Ying frowned and muttered in dissatisfaction, "Why is he here? You didn't even tell me beforehand. If I had known he was coming, I wouldn't have come!"
Qin Yaoyao sensed the resentment in Cheng Ying's words and quickly asked, "What's wrong? Did you two have another fight?"
Cheng Ying shook her head, replying with a hint of helplessness, "No, it's just that I feel annoyed every time I see him. I really don't want to have anything to do with him anymore. Okay, let's not talk about these annoying things anymore, let's go inside quickly."
So, the group entered the horse farm. As soon as He Yanxi entered, he immediately demonstrated his familiarity with horses. He skillfully selected a fine steed, clearly possessing considerable experience.
He Yanxi had originally intended to choose another horse for himself, but when he noticed that Qin Yaoyao didn't seem to be very good at riding, he changed his mind. He decided to personally teach Qin Yaoyao how to ride so that she could better enjoy the experience.
He Yanxi walked up to Qin Yaoyao and said gently, "Come on, Yaoyao, let me teach you how to ride a horse. Don't worry, I'll stay with you the whole time."
Qin Yaoyao looked at the tall horse with some nervousness, but encouraged by He Yanxi, she bravely climbed onto its back. He Yanxi carefully held the reins, guiding Qin Yaoyao to gradually adapt to the horse's rhythm.
Unbeknownst to them, He Yanxi and Qin Yaoyao's figures gradually faded into the distance, disappearing at the edge of the horse farm. Cheng Ying and He Mingfeng, on the other side, were completely unaware of this. By the time they came to their senses, He Yanxi and Qin Yaoyao were nowhere to be seen.
"Oh dear, where did they go?" Cheng Ying looked around anxiously.
He Mingfeng was also somewhat surprised: "Yes, they were just here a moment ago. Maybe they went to practice somewhere else. Let's go look for them."
So Cheng Ying and He Mingfeng began searching for He Yanxi and Qin Yaoyao around the horse farm. They walked and called out each other's names, hoping to get a response.
However, the horse ranch was simply too vast, making it no easy task to find the two of them. Cheng Ying and He Mingfeng walked further and further away, their worries deepening...