Taohong, with her head hanging low, led the way in front for the Madam of the house and Song Tinyun.
She could tell that Madam Yue Wenxiu really liked Song Tinyun. But if Madam liked him and the young Miss did notââthen Miss was going to be troubled again.
Taohong speeded up, and at the doorway notified Cui Xiaoxin, who was reading, âMiss, Madam is here, Young master Song Tinyun of the Song family is also here.â
Cui Xiaoxinâs attention seemed to be still focused on the contents of the book, leaning against the soft couch next to the fire, there was a pondering and confused look on her face.
After a while, it wasnât until Mother Cui, Yue Wenxiu, had come in and stood in front of Cui Xiaoxin that she snapped out of her thoughts and sprang to her feet, bowing. âMother is here.â
She lifted her head up to take a glance at Song Tinyun, eyelashes fluttered, then bowed again, saying, âpays respect to Song familyâs older brother.â
âXiaoxin, you were lost in thoughts again?â Yue Wenxiu said with a smile on her face. Although she talking to her daughter, she cast a side-long glance to Song Tinyun, as if boasting about the fact that her daughter loves to read.
âYes.â Cui Xiaoxin closed the scroll in her hand.
âXiaoxin, itâs been a while since I last saw you.â Song Tinyun greeted Cui Xiaoxin with a smile. âExcuse me for visiting, I didnât bother you, did I?â
âNo.â Cui Xiaoxin answered.
Yue Wenxiu felt the atmosphere was a bit too âcoldâ and not too good.
She tried to ease the atmosphere by saying with a smile: âLook at you two, you two were glued to each other when you were young, and no one can drag you two away from each other. Now that you two have grown up, you are awkward with each other.â
Song Tinyunâs lips curled into a smile and laughed. âAt that time I made Aunt Yue worry.â
âYes, how can I not worry? You yelled that you want to make Xiaoxin your bride, and said you want to get married immediately. You even refused to leave our house.â Yue Wenxiu began to use her tricks.
âHaha, I rememberâââ Song Tinyun laughed, turning his head to look at Cui Xiaoxin. âXiaoxin, do you remember?â
âIâââ Cui Xiaoxin blushed shyly when she hard this, the peach red colour spreading instantly from her face to her neck. âI remember a little, some I do not remember.â
Yue Wenxiu took the scroll from her daughterâs hand and urged, âXiaoxin, why donât you invite Tinyun to sit down? The older you get, the more you forget courtesy? Taohong, serve tea.
âYes, Madam.â Taohong answered, scurried out and became busy.
Cui Xiaoxin cleared the complex emotions in her heart, becoming much calmer and composed than she was before, then made an invitation gesture to Song Tinyun, saying: âSong familyâs elder brother, please sit down.â
âYou used to call me Older Brother Tinyun.â When Song Tinyun was sitting down, he said while looking at Cui Xiaoxinâs beautiful and moving eyes.
Cui Xiaoxin smiled slightly, then the smile spread out on her face as she softly said: âIt was many years ago. Things change, and people are also changing, why bring the past up?â
Song Tinyun shook his head. âThe world changes, but it is not easy for the heart to change. At least, I, Song Tinyunâs heart, has not changed.â
This sentence was somewhat putting the blame on Cui Xiaoxin. My heart had remained the same, but your heart has changed.
Cui Xiaoxin was sat opposite of Song Tinyun, looking at his handsome face, she suddenly felt that he was a little unfamiliar.
It was not unfamiliarity in distance, and not unfamiliarity in time.
Instead, as she looked into his face, there was always another face in her mind. As a result, Song Tinyunâs face was not real, blurred and vague, and as though it may be replaced by another face at any time.
âXiaoxinâââ Yue Wenxiu couldnât help yelling out when she saw her daughter staring dazedly at Song Tinyunâs face.
It was only then when Cui Xiaoxin snapped out of the trance, and asked Mother Yue Wenxiu. âMother, can I talk with Song familyâs elder brother alone?â
Yue Wenxiuâs expression slightly stiffened, and then she smiled: âYes, yes, thatâs right, you young people should have a chat, I wonât get involved.â
As she was leaving, she reminded Cui Xiaoxin in a hushed tone: âXiaoxin, treat a guest well. You must not be disrespectful to Tinyun.â
âMother, I know.â Cui Xiaoxin uttered, expressionless.
When Yue Wenxiu left, Cui Xiaoxin looked at Song Tinyun sitting opposite, and said: âSong familyâs elder brother, how about we take a walk around the courtyard? Itâs too boring in the room.â
A trace of anger flashed in Song Tinyunâs eyes, which dyed away immediately. She did not mean it was boring in the room but it was too âboringâ being with him.
When you are with a woman, you canât just listen to their literal meaning, but think deeper about every word she says.
Luckily, he was a man who was not stupid.
Song Tinyun stood up, keeping a smiling expression on his face. âGood. When we were young, we loved throwing snowballs in the snow, and we would refuse to go back inside even though our boots were soaked in snow. Come to think of it now, itâs been so many years since I have done that.â
âHeâs mentioning the past again.â Cui Xiaoxin thought to herself. âThose things just make the mood heavier and heavier, like a huge debt owed many years ago, and now, the debtor is here to collect the debtâââ
Taohong and Liulu came in with tea, watching the two masters stepped into the courtyard with one behind the other.
Song Tinyun pointed to a tiled jar and said, âBack then, we kept a red tailed fish there.â
Then his finger shifted, pointing to a Tiandu cherry blossom tree in the courtyard. âI remember we planted that Tiandu cherry tree together here. You like cherry blossoms the most. I remember you were playing in the house and when you saw the courtyard was filled with cherry blossoms, you begged me to dig up a space in the small yard to grow your own. Father also likes to grow cherry blossoms in his courtyard, so I secretly dug up one for youââIt has grown so tall.â
âAnd this Winter sweet treeâââ
âThatâs enough.â Cui Xiaoxin raised her voice all of a sudden.
Song Tinyun looked up to see Cui Xiaoxin gasping for breath, beads of sweat soaked her face, the smile on her face was gone, and her face also grew icy cold.
âIt seems that all those rumours out there are true?â
Cui Xiaoxin did not respond to the statement, instead uttered in a low voice, âI know what youâre here for. You donât have to worry, what I should do, Iâm ready for it.â
âWho asked you to be ready? Who asked you to be ready?â Song Tinyun raged.
Cui Xiaoxin was also pale and silent.
Song Tinyun moved his head closer, eyes staring fiercely in Cui Xiaoxinâs. âCui Xiaoxin, I know, the reason you are saying this to me, is hoping that I can take the initiative to give up. You want me to give you up, give up this engagement. And then you will be free, is that right?â
âI wonât do that, Iâm not going to be the struggling resister, Iâm not going to be that stupid person who sacrifices himself. Donât you like that Li Muyang? So youâre going to fight on your own. Youâre going to refuse the marriage, run away, elope with that manââdo what your Aunt did back then.â
Song Tinyunâs eyes were bloodshot like an infuriated wolf: âOf course, in the end your resistance will not have any significance. You will be taken back by the Cui family, the man who dares take the woman of the Cui family will be killed by the Cui family to the extent that not even his body or bones will be found. What about you? Your fate isââwhat everyone expects, you will marry to the Song family, become the Song familyâs daughter-in-law, become I, Song Tinyunâs wife. You will live with me in a false life and give birth to a few childrenââthis is the fate of your life.â
âThereâs the best example before you, do youââdo you want to follow her? Perhaps your fate will change as a result?â
A sarcastic smile curved Song Tinyunâs lips as he turned and walked towards the door.ã
Taohong and Liulu trotted over, supporting the pale Cui Xiaoxin who was about to collapse.
âMiss, Miss, are you all right?â
âMiss, donât scare me, say something, Missââ
âI want to see Li Muyang.â Cui Xiaoxin uttered, âI want to see Li Muyang.â
âBut, Miss, we canât go out, there are a lot more guards at the courtyard gateâââ â
âI want to see Li Muyang.â Cui Xiaoxin said, gnashing her teeth.
A bright red trickle of blood flowed down the corner of her lips. It was from her grinding her teeth togetherââ
âLi Muyang?â The gatekeeper stared warily at Li Muyang, âYouâre thatââLi Muyang of the Lu family?â
âYes, the Lu familyâs Li Muyang.â Li Muyang said with a smile.
âYou want to see our familyâs Miss Song Chenxi?â â
âYes I want to see Miss Chenxi.â Li Muyang said, nodding. Seeing that the gatekeeperâs expression was growing cold, his attitude worsening, Li Muyang added, âYour familyâs Miss Chenxi asked me to come over.â
âI canât decide.â The gatekeeper said. âI need to inform the steward, who needs to inform the main steward, then the main steward will inform the second masterââIf the second master agrees, then we can let you go see Miss.â
âSo troublesome?â Li Muyang widened his eyes.
Li Shinian, who was standing next to him, grunted impatiently. âBrother, letâs go back. The Song familyâs doorstep is too high, since they wonât let us in, then we wonât go in. Who would want to?â
Turning around again, she said to the doormen, âwe wouldnât have come if your lady hadnât asked my brother to come over. We wouldnât come even if you begged us.â
Li Shinian dragged Li Muyang by the arm, âBrother, letâs go back.â
âLetâs go back,â said Li Muyang with a smile. He looked at the doormen and said, âIf your young Miss asks, please say Li Muyang has come. I, Li Muyang, have never broke a promise before.â
With that, the two turned away towards their carriage.
âGongzi MuyangââGongzi Muyangâââ A clear and melodious voice sounded from behind. âGongzi Muyang please waitâââ