Seeing two lotus lanterns placed beside his feet, Li Ying smiled and casually asked, "Since you're going to release lanterns and make wishes, why didn't you call me?"
Lu Xunguang looked at her with a hint of unease but didn't say a word. He just let out a sigh.
Li Ying made herself sit more comfortably and got straight to the point. "Lu Xunguang, you're not happy."
It wasn't a question but a certainty.
Her clear eyes looked directly at him without flinching.
Seeing that he still remained silent like a clam, an idea flashed through Li Ying's mind. Then she put on a look of aggrievedness as if on the verge of crying.
"Master Lu, everyone at the lantern festival today knows that you're the one destined for me. But now... Master Lu ignores me. Could it be that you're tired of me?"
She deliberately lowered her eyes. Her thick eyelashes cast a dim shadow on her face, and there was already a touch of sobbing in her voice. She was like a rabbit with red - rimmed eyes, extremely pitiful.
How could Lu Xunguang bear to see her so sad? He wished he could punch himself twice. He quickly said, "A Ying, don't think too much. I cherish and love you so much. How could I ever abandon you!"
He looked panicked, his face flushed, and he spoke without thinking. Li Ying breathed a sigh of relief, raised her head, and gave a sly smile.
"Since you don't want me to overthink, then Master Lu, quickly tell A Ying what you're worried about?"
The night wind was cold. Li Ying shivered involuntarily and naturally nestled into Lu Xunguang's arms, curling up beside him comfortably.
She was as docile as a well - fed kitten. Lu Xunguang smelled the faint floral fragrance of the hair oil on her hair, and his heart softened.
"A Ying, let me tell you a story."
"Once upon a time, there was a girl as innocent, lively, and resourceful as you."
"Although she was a woman, she was both brave and intelligent. She could always surprise people. Everything she did went smoothly, and all her wishes came true. At the age of eighteen, she was praised by the greatest Confucian scholar of the time and was exceptionally taken as his only female disciple."
Lu Xunguang spoke slowly, showing no attempt to hide the deep nostalgia and longing in his expression.
Li Ying understood immediately.
This amazingly talented woman must be his mother.
Li Ying had already guessed from the scattered words of Old Master Yan and Su Buchi that this "grandmother" she had never met must have been extremely outstanding in appearance and strategy.
But she didn't know why such an outstanding person died at a young age. Was it an accident or an illness?
Seeing that they always looked evasive when they mentioned her, although Li Ying was curious, she knew her boundaries and didn't inquire.
She said nothing but gently held Lu Xunguang's slightly cold hand, waiting quietly for him to continue.
"At that time, this girl became well - known. Countless scholars, literati, and heroes were willing to spend a fortune just to make her smile."
In Li Ying's mind, a picture of a young girl emerged. She was dressed in bright clothes, full of high - spirited energy, as radiant as a spring flower, making people yearn for her.
"But she regarded money as dirt. Instead, she took a fancy to a poor young man with nothing but an empty house. After they got married, the couple supported each other, and their business became more and more prosperous. They did live a good life for a few years."
"Later, she gave birth to a son. But unfortunately, this child was born with a weak constitution and was often sick. When he was young, he was almost bedridden every day."
"She devoted all her attention to raising her son. Her husband saw that this child might hardly survive, let alone inherit the family business. He scolded his useless son every day. She always protected the child, and the two of them had many arguments. Gradually, they became estranged. Finally, this heartless man had a new lover."
This young couple, who had once been in love, watched their prosperity rise, their guests gather, and finally, watched their world collapse.
Lu Xunguang's mother had already damaged her body during childbirth. She was proud - minded and couldn't bear such a tragic end. She died in melancholy.
"A Ying, do you think that if she hadn't married beneath her station, if she had chosen a devoted and well - matched young man, if she hadn't given birth to that useless and weak child, would she not have..."
Before Lu Xunguang could finish his sentence, Li Ying tightly hugged him.
He buried his head in the crook of her neck, looking like a down - and - out stray dog.
"This is not your fault."
She stroked his back gently, just like comforting a child.
Lu Xunguang was caught off guard by her gentle consolation.
Seeing that she had seen through his pretense, he was both ashamed and anxious. His ears and neck instantly turned red.
His body was strong and solid. Now he straightened his waist uncomfortably. Li Ying could easily feel his stiff spine, like a sharp and straight sword.
"This is not your fault."
She repeated gently.
"Lu Xunguang, although I've never met your mother, I know that you must be the treasure of her life. If she heard you think of yourself as a useless person and belittle yourself like this, she would be heart - broken."
Li Ying stared at Lu Xunguang firmly, with an unassailable determination in her voice.
No wonder when they first met at the dock, he was always silent every day, his eyes full of despair, as if he were a walking corpse.
No wonder he always seemed to feel ashamed in front of Su Buchi.
In this story, he regarded her as a bright pearl like his mother, saw Su Buchi as the devoted and well - matched lover, but placed himself in the position of a "useless person" who had achieved nothing and was unworthy.
"A Ying... I often think that you're so good. You deserve all the good things in the world. Although I'm a useless person with nothing, I believe that no one can love you more sincerely than me."
"Just when Su Buchi came, he's deeply in love with you, not less than I am. You two share common interests and have a good conversation. It really makes me jealous. I wish your eyes could always be on me. But then I think that if I really love you, I should let you have a better life..."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Ying gently covered his lips.
She rolled her eyes at him disdainfully and scolded playfully, "Oh, you're a grown man. Talking about jealousy. Aren't you ashamed?"
She carefully pried open each of Lu Xunguang's tightly - clenched fingers and solemnly stuffed her fair little hands into his palm, looking at him with a sweet smile.
"Lu Xunguang, if you say the word 'useless' again, I'll get angry!"
She had intended to sound a bit angry, but when the words came out, there was only heartache left.
This man endured everything. What kind of environment did he grow up in?
His father openly showed his disgust and verbally humiliated him. After his mother's early death, he lived in deep self - blame every day.
Li Ying couldn't help but want to question the heavens. Why did they treat the young man she loved so harshly?
She took a deep breath and exhaled the turbid air in her chest. Then she casually asked, "Lu Xunguang, where's your Cloud - Treader?"
Lu Xunguang was puzzled. He whistled, and the red - maned horse galloped through the clouds and the moon towards them.