Ning Yanzhi's cold voice betrayed a hint of urgency. Acting before he could think, he reached out and grabbed Qu Yue's slender waist.
The faint fragrance of honeysuckle wafting from the woman filled his nostrils.
The coarse linen of her outer robe scratched his palm, causing a stinging pain, but it was no match for the allure of her slender waist.
His large hand spanned across her waist, and he could easily hold it in his grasp.
It seemed that with just a little more force, he could break it.
Qu Yue's mind went blank. She didn't even understand how she could trip. Frightened, she tightly closed her eyes, waiting to kiss the ground.
But a sudden force at her lower back steadied her.
The sandalwood scent unique to men wafted over, seeping into her nostrils like a reassuring pill.
The violent heaving of her chest subsided, and she fluttered her eyes open.
Ning Yanzhi's face loomed large in front of her. The coldness in his eyes turned into icy arrows, shooting straight into her heart.
Instantly, she felt as if she had been stripped naked and thrown into the cold snow.
Not daring to stay a moment longer, Qu Yue quickly wriggled out of his arms. She clasped her hands together and bowed repeatedly, apologizing, "I'm sorry!"
In an instant, there was nothing left in Ning Yanzhi's palm. His hand, still hanging in the air, flexed its joints slightly, as if the scene just now had been a dream.
Only the lingering fragrance of the woman in his arms proved that it had all been real.
She seemed afraid that he would misunderstand. Her face turned pale with fright as she quickly distanced herself and bowed in a hurry to apologize.
Ning Yanzhi withdrew his hand. The hint of panic had already dissipated into his usual calmness. "Is this fun?"
Qu Yue's movement, halfway through, froze as if her wind - up key had been tightened. She couldn't react for a long time.
Fun?
Innocence filled Qu Yue's eyes. "I didn't do it on purpose..."
"I'm not interested in your actions." Ning Yanzhi's face showed impatience, and his figure under the moon exuded a faint sense of aloofness.
Qu Yue's words were interrupted. She felt at a loss and didn't know where to put her gaze.
He clearly saw that she had tripped over the stone bench...
Her moist lips moved several times. The words of defense welled up to her lips several times, but her tongue pressed against the back of her teeth, and she swallowed them all back.
She had thought that he didn't hate her that much.
It turned out that he was no different from others.
It would be better if she didn't go out to eat with him and avoid being annoying.
Qu Yue's fair face was filled with grievance. She took a step back, increasing the distance between them.
"Um..."
At the same time, Ning Yanzhi also spoke, "If you still want to eat, then come."
Qu Yue gathered her outer robe and forced a smile, raising her small face. "I'm not that hungry. I'll pass."
"As you wish." Ning Yanzhi subtly withdrew his gaze.
After saying that, he flicked his sleeve and turned around.
The man's steady steps landed on the overgrown winding path and gradually disappeared into the star - filled night.
But at the last moment, he stopped.
His cold and handsome features showed a hint of awkwardness. "Mu Yuan asked me to take care of you."
"If you starve to death, I'll be blamed."
Qu Yue didn't expect him to come back. The sadness in her heart lessened a bit, but she still didn't want to eat with him.
She waved her hand and hid back inside the house. "I just don't want to eat."
Ning Yanzhi pressed his fist against his lips and coughed lightly. "The wontons in Jing Shen Alley."
Qu Yue's words suddenly stopped. A faint salty aroma welled up on her taste buds.
These were her favorite wontons!
Since she married into the Marquis Mansion three years ago, she would always secretly sneak out at night to have a bowl.
One day, she was so craving them that she sneaked out during the day.
It was on that day that she was so unlucky to run into Ning Yanzhi, who discovered her secret of often sneaking out.
At that time, he had just passed the imperial examination with flying colors, becoming the Number One Scholar. He was extremely popular and well - known throughout the capital. Almost all scholars were singing praises of this legendary commoner - born noble.
But this newly - crowned, well - behaved and praised scholar was sitting in front of the wonton stall in a simple long robe, eating wontons just like an ordinary person.
When he caught sight of her in the corner, he walked over with a cold look on his face and sneered, "Sneaking out of the mansion without permission. You have no sense of propriety."
It was the most nervous meal of wontons she had ever had.
She was so afraid that when she got home, she would find that Ning Yanzhi had told on her and would be scolded by Mrs. Song.
But nothing happened.
For three consecutive days, everything was calm.
Even later, he would take her to eat wontons on his own initiative.
Well... maybe it's okay. After all, if she didn't eat now, she would cry all day tomorrow with an empty stomach.
Qu Yue, who had already suffered from the hard buns, salivated at the thought of the hot bowl of wontons.
She gently touched her empty stomach.
It was better to have a full meal than anything else. Qu Yue rolled her eyes slightly. "Okay, then."
Ning Yanzhi waited for Qu Yue to change her clothes. He walked half a meter behind her and they walked towards the side door together.
The moment they stepped out of the Marquis Mansion's gate, a sense of indescribable relief accompanied the evening breeze, caressing Qu Yue's hair.
Before she could stretch and enjoy this moment of leisure, an angry and suppressed voice came from the left.
"Sir, why did you bring her out?!"
Before Qu Yue could look over, the other person cowered under Ning Yanzhi's cold stare and obediently lowered his head, acting like an ostrich.
This was a teenage boy, about fifteen or sixteen years old.
Ning Yanzhi walked up to the servant Dengzi. "Since when do I need your permission on who I take?"
Dengzi regretted his words as soon as he said them, but now he had to continue under Ning Yanzhi's cold and snowy stare. "You don't need it, but taking someone out on the eve of a funeral... isn't it inappropriate?"
Since General Mu had left on the wedding night, the young master had always taken care of this young mistress from time to time.
Even... Oh! Forget it!
There were always gossips around a widow. He was afraid that the young master would get into trouble!
Ning Yanzhi curled his hand and tapped Dengzi on the forehead. "Shut up."
"Go and get the carriage."
"Ouch." Dengzi reluctantly got moving.
It was extremely quiet outside the Marquis Mansion. Their conversation fell into her ears word for word.
She lowered her eyes, and the thought of backing out drummed loudly in her chest.
Seeing her lower her head, Ning Yanzhi's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Want to go back?"
The threat in his voice scared Qu Yue into shaking her head quickly.
Her black hair was casually tied up at the back of her head. A few strands fell beside her cheeks as she moved, making her look even more fair - skinned and beautiful.
"I want to go with you to eat wontons."
Qu Yue trotted to the carriage. Her eyes shone brightly in the dark night. "I'm not going back."
This sentence inexplicably made Ning Yanzhi feel in a good mood.
He even lifted the carriage curtain on his own initiative. "You get in and sit first."
A roll of blue cloth blocked the resentful Dengzi outside the carriage.
He picked up the whip, raised it high, ready to lash it down to vent his anger. But then he was afraid of making a commotion, so he finally put it down meekly.
Since the young master was recognized back into the family, he had always kept a distance from women. He was only special to this woman.
Although it was on General Mu's instructions to take care of her, it couldn't go on like this.
After all, this young mistress was really beautiful.
Even he, such a strong - willed person, couldn't help but steal two glances just now.
Well, just two glances.
Dengzi drove the carriage all the way to Jing Shen Alley.
They were regular customers in the shop. As soon as they walked in, the boss came up with a big smile on his face.
He had probably drunk some wine. His face was very red, and he spoke without restraint.
"Little master, bringing your wife again today? What would you like to eat?"