After the incident of the "blue hair and red string", Li Ying and Lu Xunguang understood each other tacitly. Even when they met, they both put on a bitter face.
A Man couldn't help rolling her eyes and snorting every time. Her intention was to secretly mock the two of them for pretending so well and keeping everyone in the dark.
But in the eyes of others, this appearance seemed like a hot - blooded girl standing up for her elder sister.
Within half a day, the whole village knew that this once - in - a - lifetime couple, Li Ying and Lu Xunguang, had finally come to the end of their relationship, just like a beautiful beginning but a sad ending, with deep love but shallow fate.
Amid people's sighs, Inspector Lin arrived as promised.
He came in a soft sedan chair. From afar, he heard that Li Ying had come to greet him in person. With a beaming and amiable smile on his face, he slowly got out of the sedan chair.
"Boss Li, long time no see. How have you been?"
Li Ying bowed respectfully to him. The sunlight was bright above her head. She lowered her head, meek and submissive, quietly hiding the half - shadow cast on her face.
"Thanks to your good fortune, I've managed to get by."
Inspector Lin's smile remained. He was obviously very satisfied with her docile appearance. Then he waved his hand, and the young servant behind him immediately presented a brocade box and held it in front of Li Ying with both hands.
"Boss Li and I have known each other for some time. We're old acquaintances. Today, this is not the court, and I'm just an ordinary guest on a 'holiday' with my family. Boss Li, don't be so formal."
Mrs. Lin also said, "That's right. I heard that Boss Li's happy event is approaching. The things in this box are just a little token from our couple. Consider it as a gift for our acquaintance and to add to your dowry."
Facing this undisguised probe, Li Ying naturally had to put on a dejected and heart - broken look. She briefly told them about Lu Xunguang's change of heart and politely declined the "kindness" of Inspector Lin and his wife.
The group chatted as they walked into the village. Li Ying had already ordered people to prepare wine and dishes to welcome them. During the feast, she personally held the wine pot to serve Inspector Lin, playing the role of a submissive and obsequious person to the fullest.
She drank generously, one cup after another, never refusing. Even Shi Hu, who was sitting beside her, couldn't help being secretly shocked.
Such a reckless way of drinking. Although he had traveled far and wide, he had only seen it in Lu Xunguang.
But in the eyes of Inspector Lin and his wife, Li Ying's appearance meant something else.
Wasn't she drowning her sorrows in wine because of love?
When Li Ying's face was slightly flushed and Inspector Lin was already a bit drunk, Mrs. Lin looked dazed, obviously enjoying the wine. It was a happy gathering for both the host and the guests.
Li Ying arranged for the two of them to stay in the oyster - shell house. She personally and repeatedly instructed the servants, taking care of every detail. Only then did she finally feel relieved. She slowly returned to her own kitchen, washed her face with cold water, and immediately her eyes were clear.
She knew she couldn't hold her liquor, so she had prepared in advance. The "wine" she drank was just sugar water, which wouldn't get her drunk. All her previous actions were just a ruse.
As the saying goes, one should go all the way when acting. Tomorrow morning, Inspector Lin and his wife would surely have a headache from the hangover. At this moment, if she served them two bowls of carefully cooked noodle soups, she would surely be able to further win his favor.
She had already prepared all kinds of fresh seafood. All the shellfish had been put in water with clear oil and nails to spit out the sand. They only needed a simple wash and a few cuts before they could be cooked.
Li Ying rolled up her sleeves. Although Inspector Lin seemed to be an honest official who didn't pay much attention to food, in fact, he was extremely picky.
The first bowl of noodles after a hangover must taste simple and heart - healing to both conquer his taste buds and show her good intentions and dedication.
Tonight, she would have to stay in the kitchen and boil the soup for the whole night.
Li Ying sighed. It was really annoying to go to so much trouble for this corrupt official.
She propped her head up and stared intently at the flames in the stove. In a daze, she heard two soft knocks on the window lattice.
Before she could react, a cold breeze suddenly blew behind her. Li Ying instinctively shrank her neck and turned around. Lu Xunguang, tired and dusty, was as thin as a waning crescent moon. His dejected figure blocked the starlight.
"Lu..."
Before Li Ying could softly call his name, Lu Xunguang quickly closed the window and tightly hugged her in his arms.
His lips were slightly cold, blocking all the words Li Ying hadn't said yet. His embrace was like an iron wall, tightly imprisoning her and not allowing her to breathe.
"A Ying, do you know that when Shi Hu told me that you were drinking recklessly just to please Inspector Lin, my heart felt like it was being sliced bit by bit. I was in so much pain!"
He eagerly took her hand and couldn't wait to pour out his heart in her ear.
He was usually reserved and rarely spoke so directly. A sweet feeling welled up in Li Ying's heart. She lowered her voice and said playfully, "I don't have a single bit of alcohol smell on me. What is the great master Lu afraid of?"
She intended to tease him, but suddenly felt a pain on her lips. The man exerted a little force and nimbly entangled her tongue.
"The great master Lu?"
There was a dark and unclear shadow in his eyes, like a bottomless lake. At the bottom of the lake, there were faint glimmers of underground fire.
The rising tone of the word "master" was slightly hoarse, like a gently vibrating string, making a weak buzzing sound.
In the room, the only sound was the gurgling of the boiling soup, the rising and falling bubbles, which made Lu Xunguang's undisguised desire for possession and encroachment even more obvious.
Li Ying's face instantly turned red. She quickly softened her voice and begged for mercy, "Lu Lang, Lu Lang!"
Lu Xunguang rubbed her boneless body fiercely, wishing he could blend her into his bones and blood. Finally, he reluctantly took another sip on her lips.
"It's good that you're okay. I was so afraid that you would suffer from the hangover. Grandma Sun is old, and A Man doesn't know her limits. I'm always worried when they take care of you."
He added, "A Ying, don't worry. I was extremely careful on my way here. No one noticed me."
Li Ying nodded. He looked at the pot of soup and considerately took off his cloak and put it on her.
"A Ying, you've been busy for several days. You might as well take a short nap first to recharge your energy so that you can deal with that old fox, Inspector Lin, tomorrow morning. I'll take care of the fire. There won't be any mistakes."
Li Ying leaned in his arms. The familiar warmth and smell of Lu Xunguang lingered around her nose. Her originally clear eyes couldn't help but feel sleepy. She slowly nodded, found a comfortable position on her own, curled up like a cat, and soon fell asleep contentedly.