The night breeze was cool, giving Meng Ruyi a start. All the muddled thoughts in her head were blown away, leaving only speechless embarrassment. Song Huaizhi looked at the girl in front of him with a half - smile. He couldn't help but chuckle silently in his heart, but remained calm on the surface. His dark eyes were fixed on her.
When people are embarrassed and nervous, they always tend to do some inexplicable things. For example, Meng Ruyi couldn't explain what she had just been doing, and why she had grabbed Song Huaizhi and run. In fact, nothing had happened, but running like this only made the situation more embarrassing.
"Um..." Meng Ruyi's eyes darted around. She glanced at the bare tree beside them and awkwardly changed the subject. "Brother Song, let's go back quickly. It's cold outside. Don't catch a cold."
Really...
Seeing the blush on her face, Song Huaizhi originally wanted to ask something else, but looking at the guilty - looking girl in front of him, he gave up the idea.
It was the Chinese New Year. He'd let her off this time.
On the way back, Meng Ruyi was much quieter because of her guilt.
Song Huaizhi hesitated for a rare moment and then casually asked, "Why do you feel guilty towards Gu Ling?"
"You can't control what happened to the Gu family. Don't get yourself into a dead end."
"Okay." Meng Ruyi replied in a low voice. She still felt a little sad. "I know, but seeing their fate, I can't help but worry."
"Don't be afraid." Song Huaizhi comforted her. "Anyway..."
Halfway through his words, Song Huaizhi caught sight of the red lanterns beside them. He suddenly remembered that it was Chinese New Year's Eve. What he was about to say might be inauspicious, so he swallowed the words back.
Meng Ruyi sighed helplessly.
After they got back, they sat beside the heating stove.
Compared with the outside, the room was so warm that people felt drowsy and wanted to lie down on the ground the next second.
Song Huaizhi was discussing the shop business with Meng's parents. When he turned around, he saw Meng Ruyi propping her chin with her hand, nodding like a pecking chick. Her eyes were almost closed, and her small mouth was slightly open.
"This child..." Xu Fanglian laughed. She winked at Lianqiao, asking her to get a thin blanket and cover Meng Ruyi with it.
Meng Ruyi was so sleepy that she was unconscious. When she felt the blanket on her body, she immediately slumped down on the table.
Song Huaizhi looked at Meng Ruyi, and the corner of his mouth involuntarily turned up with a smile he didn't even notice.
Seeing this, Xu Fanglian exchanged a glance with her husband, and there was a hint of a smile in their eyes.
"You've worked hard, Huaizhi." Xu Fanglian said to Song Huaizhi after seeing that Meng Ruyi was sound asleep. "It must be troublesome for you to take over these things now. Are you too stressed?"
"It's okay." Song Huaizhi came back to his senses and smiled faintly. "I should thank Uncle and Aunt for giving me this opportunity, and I should also thank YuYu for saving me. Otherwise, I don't know where I'd be now."
YuYu?
Realizing that Song Huaizhi had changed the way he addressed Meng Ruyi, Xu Fanglian let out a sigh of relief. She sighed to Song Huaizhi, "Oh! You child! Don't be so polite to us. We already regard you as one of our family."
Song Huaizhi smiled faintly. He picked up the teapot on the table and poured tea for both of them, then said calmly, "Then Uncle and Aunt, don't be polite to me in the future either."
Xu Fanglian looked at him.
Since Meng Ruyi was asleep, one of the candles on the table was removed, and some of the others were also extinguished. The bean - sized candlelight was a bit dim, making the young man's side face look even more handsome.
Coupled with his bearing, it was obvious that he was not an ordinary person. Xu Fanglian thought that her daughter was really lucky. Fortunately, she had met Song Huaizhi, who had saved her twice. They had picked up a "cousin" for free.
Now, the couple didn't dare to fantasize about keeping Song Huaizhi as Meng Ruyi's right - hand man in the future, and they didn't have any other ideas. Xu Fanglian knew her own daughter well. She knew that Meng Ruyi was a girl who was easily contented and home - loving.
This small town was too small to hold Song Huaizhi's future. Once he grew strong, he would surely go further.
Thinking like this, Xu Fanglian looked at the sleeping Meng Ruyi again. Looking at the flush on her face, she turned to Song Huaizhi and said gently, "YuYu is a sleepyhead. She said she wanted to stay up for the New Year's Eve, but she can never hold on every year."
"Huaizhi, why don't you go back and sleep first? Otherwise, you'll have to go to the temple tomorrow."
"It's okay." Looking at the kindness in Xu Fanglian's eyes, Song Huaizhi felt a faint ripple in his heart. "I've always had good energy, and I'm not tired today."
"Okay. Then if you're tired, just tell us anytime."
...
Meng Ruyi woke up early in the morning and only then realized that she had fallen asleep early last night and hadn't been able to stay up for the New Year's Eve.
Meng Ruyi was still angry. When she saw Song Huaizhi, she couldn't help but cast a complaining glance at him. Her small face was puffed up, looking like a kneaded dough ball.
Seeing this, Song Huaizhi couldn't help but laugh. Looking at her, he said, "YuYu, have you forgotten? I patted you last night, but you snapped at me."
What!?
Meng Ruyi was shocked. She panicked and turned to look at Lianqiao. She saw Lianqiao nodding while trying not to laugh, and answering, "It's really like that."
Song Huaizhi saw Meng Ruyi's face flush instantly. She stammered and couldn't say a word. After holding it in for a long time, she finally walked up to him and said, "I'm sorry, Brother Song. I was being unreasonable."
As she said this, Meng Ruyi looked guilty. Her eyes dodged, but she still tried not to turn her head away.
Song Huaizhi didn't say a word. He just smiled and shook his head to indicate that it was okay.
Meng Ruyi: ... What should I do? I feel even more guilty.
After breakfast, the whole family packed up their things and got on the carriage to go to the temple outside the mountain.
Meng Ruyi had only been to that temple once and couldn't even remember its name. This time, she had come up with such an excuse, but she really couldn't think of a proper one. She just had to find a way to stay there for a few days when they got there. Fortunately, the temple was very popular, so there were said to be many people going there on weekdays, and there were also several wing - rooms. So Meng's family could stay there for a few days.
She wondered what was going on with Gu Ling's family?
Thinking like this, Meng Ruyi said to Xu Fanglian, "Mom, how many days are we going to stay in the temple this time?"
Xu Fanglian had discussed it with the others last night, but Meng Ruyi was asleep and didn't hear it.
"About three days." After Xu Fanglian finished speaking, she touched Meng Ruyi's forehead. "But it depends on the situation. You'd better stay there for a few more days to get rid of the bad luck."
Meng Ruyi nodded, feeling a little relieved.
The noise from outside came into the carriage. Meng Ruyi couldn't help but lift the curtain. Seeing this, Song Huaizhi, who was sitting opposite her, casually glanced outside, and his eyes suddenly froze.
"Uncle, Aunt." Song Huaizhi blushed slightly and smiled. Then he said, "Can the carriage stop for a while? I'll go buy something."
"I'll meet you at the city gate later." Xu Fanglian was a bit confused, but she still nodded, indicating the carriage to stop. Then she said to Song Huaizhi, "Huaizhi, be careful. Don't hurry. We'll wait for you at the gate."
Meng Ruyi looked up in confusion.
What was Song Huaizhi going to do?