Chapter 44: Sweet-Talking

Ning Yin originally couldn’t be bothered, but this Xue surname guy took himself too seriously.

“I’ll give you a chance to choose. How about it?”

The youth lifted his ink-black eyes and said, “Why not take a look at how much weight she holds in your heart?”

“What…”

Before Xue Cen could finish his sentence, a sudden gust of wind swept by.

Following that, a cold light flashed, and a chilling short blade appeared horizontally at his neck. The blade was thin as autumn water, cutting off a strand of hair behind his ear, floating gently to the ground.

Pressing tightly against the wall, Xue Cen stiffened all over, his face turning rapidly from red to pale.

“Do you want to live, or do you want your second sister?”

Ning Yin held the short blade, as if playing some amusing game, calm and elegant, “I’ll count to three. One.”

For these twenty years, Xue Cen had lived as a refined and elegant gentleman. Not to mention swearing, he rarely spoke harsh words. In this life-threatening situation, after a long silence, he could only squeeze out two trembling words, “Shameless!”

Ning Yin squinted, “Two.”

“I’ll report you…”

“Three.”

Xue Cen, who prided himself on his proper and elegant demeanor, saw all his humility and composure crumble in front of this ruthless and barbaric youth.

His adam’s apple moved, and he said with difficulty, “Let me go.”

“Choosing to live?”

The cold light of the blade reflected in Ning Yin’s eyes, indifferent and chilly.

This was the childhood friend, the one that Yu Lingxi was willing to risk punishment to protect; this was the Second Young Master Xue hidden in her heart…

Miss, I gave him a chance to choose.

It was him who gave up on you.

“Just a joke, don’t be mad.” In Ning Yin’s laughter, there was both pity and disdain.

Yu Lingxi didn’t let him kill Xue Cen, so he truly didn’t. Just a scare, it wasn’t a big deal.

Look, he’s being obedient now! Ning Yin praised himself in his heart. But Xue Cen obviously didn’t think so. With the thin and cold blade still against his neck, he couldn’t believe that it was just a joke.

For a brief moment, this youth had genuinely intended to kill, forcing him to make a choice against his will.

His lips trembled, and after a long silence, he uttered in a hoarse voice, “Despicable.”

He kept cursing with only two words, “shameless” and “despicable,” and Ning Yin had grown tired of it.

“Second Young Master Xue, why not try using different words, like animals, livestock, or someone with a wolf’s heart and a dog’s lungs?”

Ning Yin continued, “But for someone like you, who hides behind a grand facade but is actually foolish and incompetent, these words hardly qualify as insults.”

Now, the way Xue Cen looked at him was as if he were dealing with an unreasonable madman.

“If Second Young Master wishes to meddle again in the future, consider today’s choice,” Ning Yin said. He retracted the blade into his sleeve, calm and composed, and asked with a smile, “Ask yourself one more question: Are you worthy?”

Xue Cen’s face turned pale. If someone else had mocked him like this, he would have surely retorted and questioned whether the other could make a better choice. However, this youth had once chased after Yu Lingxi’s crazed horse during the spring hunt, and risked his life to protect her when she fell off a cliff, using his own blood to save her…

But must one be ruthless and barbaric to truly love someone?

For a whole decade, he had watched his second sister grow from a tiny girl into the elegant and graceful woman she was today. If she were in danger, he would not hesitate to step forward and protect her in his own way. The choices presented were meaningless.

How could such a ruthless youth be a suitable match for his second sister?

Xue Cen refused to accept the idea of her bright eyes lingering on another man. “Ah… Why am I lying on the ground? Ah, my chest hurts so much, as if someone stepped heavily on it.”

The servant who had been knocked out slowly woke up. Seeing Xue Cen standing stiffly beside him, he quickly got up and said, “Second Young Master, why is your complexion so bad? What about that guard?”

Xue Cen remained dignified and elegant, but his eyes held a trace of exhausted despair. He closed his eyes and said, “Back to the mansion.”

He was determined to find out the true origin of that youth.

Fifteen minutes later…

Chewing on the melted taffy, Ning Yin followed the direction where the paper kite fell and stood outside the back door of a house. Looking over the wall, he saw a tall gingko tree in the courtyard, with a kite hanging weakly on the top branch.

The low wall posed no challenge for Ning Yin as he effortlessly leaped over it. Walking to the thick trunk of the gingko tree, he raised his hand and lightly pressed it against the rough bark.

With a clap, the trunk shook, and the kite, along with the rustling leaves, fluttered down, swaying into his palm.

Frowning slightly, he clicked his tongue in regret, “Wings are broken. Need to fix them to fly again.”

Footsteps approached from a distance. It was a child from the house, running over with a pinwheel in hand. Seeing a stranger in the courtyard, the child froze in place.

“Kid, if someone else sees me doing something bad, they might lose their lives.”

Ning Yin held the paper kite behind him and coolly said.

The child sniffled, chewing on their finger, staring at him blankly.

“But, I need to go back and make repairs urgently. I won’t eat children.”

Ning Yin raised a finger, gesturing for silence.

Then he opened the door and walked away casually.

Tomorrow is the Duanwu Festival, and servants hang mugwort at the door and sprinkle realgar. Every year at this time, Lady Yu would instruct the kitchen to make many rice dumplings, along with bonuses, to be given to the servants and maids in the mansion.

The servants and miscellaneous workers line up to receive their rewards, creating a lively scene in the front yard. With some free time, Yu Lingxi personally weaved five longevity threads and gave one to each family member.

Leaving one behind, she kept it in her sleeve. When the noon hour arrived, which happened to be the last day for taking medicine, although her body was no longer overheated today, for safety reasons, it was still appropriate to finish the last pill.

Knowing Ning Yin’s character, he would surely disdain joining the celebration in the front yard with everyone. After some thought, she had the maids prepare some freshly made rice dumplings and a pot of Acorus calamus wine, packed in a food box, which she personally carried to the backyard.

When Yu Lingxi entered, Ning Yin was carefully washing his hands. On the table were a jar of cooled paste, as well as a brush, paper, and pen.

“Wei Qi, why are you making paste?” Yu Lingxi gently placed the food box on the table and asked with curiosity.

Ning Yin didn’t answer, just shook off the water from his hands, sat down, and said, “Take it yourself.”

Yu Lingxi knew he meant today’s dose of medicine. Staring at the pale-colored thin lips for a moment, she finally held her breath lightly, propped herself on the table, and leaned toward Ning Yin.

Thinking it would be the same as yesterday’s “take,” she gave him a bite, as she found out, to her surprise, that there was nothing between his teeth or lips.

Ning Yin’s breath momentarily stagnated, then he laughed quietly.

Yu Lingxi, who spent the whole day training birds but got pecked by a goose, misunderstood for the first time. Blushing at the tips of her ears, she pouted and said, “You lied to me?”

“Miss flung herself at me, shamelessly flirting, and even bit me. Isn’t that unreasonable?”

Ning Yin blinked very slowly, raising his wet hands to show his innocence. “My hands are wet; I just wanted Miss to take the medicine herself.”

It was a simple task to give her the medicine, and there was no need for so many tricks.

Helpless, Yu Lingxi asked in a soft voice, “Where is it then?”

Ning Yin lowered his eyes, “In my arms.”

Yu Lingxi reached out and explored into his robe. “On top, a little to the left.”

Ning Yin hissed, “Miss, where are you touching?”

“I didn’t! I haven’t touched you at all.”

He managed to make everything sound like it meant something. Yu Lingxi softy glared at him.

Finally getting the medicine bottle, Yu Lingxi sighed in relief. Swallowing the pill in one go, she was still choked by the huge bitterness for a moment. Hastily pouring a cup of tea, she gulped it down to wash away the bitterness and took the medicine.

Ning Yin, losing the chance to “physically” relieve her bitterness, seemed quite regretful, caressing his abdomen in a somewhat disappointed manner.

Ignoring his small schemes, Yu Lingxi, after overcoming the bitterness, brought out the rice dumplings and Acorus calamus wine, placing them on the table.

“Tomorrow is Duanwu, specially inviting you to celebrate together.”

“And stretch out your hand.”

Ning Yin tilted his head, unsure of what she was up to again. Nevertheless, he obediently extended his left hand, placing it flat on the table.

Yu Lingxi, with sharp eyes, noticed that the apricot-white ribbon on his left wrist was gone. Upon careful consideration, she realized that she hadn’t seen the ribbon on his wrist for the past few days.

She casually asked, “Where’s your keepsake?”

Ning Yin immediately understood and slowly raised his eyes to look at her. He replied, “Discarded it.”

Yu Lingxi burst into laughter.

If he had truly discarded it, his expression would have been very indifferent. He wouldn’t have observed her reaction like this. However, if he didn’t wear that ribbon to avoid reminding her of what happened in the secret chamber of Jinyun Temple over ten days ago, Yu Lingxi felt grateful.

She smiled lightly, blinked her eyelashes, and said, “If it’s discarded, then so be it. I’ll give you an even better one.”

Finishing her words, she took out the longevity thread hidden in her sleeve and gently tied it around Ning Yin’s wrist.

His skin was cold and pale, and the multicolored longevity thread tied around his wrist added an indescribable beauty.

Lowering his eyelids, Ning Yin stared at her agile and delicate fingertips without blinking and asked, “Did Miss make this?”

Yu Lingxi nodded confidently, “Yes.”

“When you asked me to figure it out yesterday, I did give it some thought while weaving this longevity thread. There was nothing major happening in the mansion yesterday, just some idle gossip from the servants about my marriage, which I have already reprimanded…,” she explained.

As the hand placed on the table tightened slightly, rubbing the fingertips.

Yu Lingxi, who caught his subtle reaction, continued, “I currently have no intention of marrying. Perhaps I won’t like another man in this lifetime. As for Xue Erlang, it’s only a brother-sister affection from childhood.”

The hand that was rubbing the fingertips stopped for a moment. Yu Lingxi changed to a more leisurely posture, tapping the table casually, again and again.

“Why does Miss need to explain these?” Ning Yin, supporting his head, looked at her. His tone was faint, but noticeably warmer than the coldness of yesterday.

“It doesn’t hurt to explain. What if someone actually believes it?” Yu Lingxi suppressed a smile, raising her eyes to look into Ning Yin’s deep gaze. “Well?”

Ning Yin raised his hand and waved it, shaking the longevity thread on his wrist. A longevity thread on the wrist of someone like him, it was almost like a mockery to the gods. However, it felt good.

“Colorful.” He scorned, but his eyes held a five-colored light, dispersing a subtle and gentle arc.

“No matter how colorful it is, it looks good on you.” Yu Lingxi retorted.

This statement was not flattery but an honest truth from two lifetimes.

Ning Yin shook the knot again, chuckling softly, “These three days of medicine were not in vain. Miss’s words are becoming sweeter.”

Thinking of the two thrilling medicine-feeding incidents, Yu Lingxi’s cheeks flushed. She cleared her throat, attempting to steer the conversation to a more serious topic, “For the Duanwu Festival, we are supposed to drink the mugwort wine, newly brewed at the Wangxian Tower. You should try it.”

Today, Ning Yin was probably in a good mood, showing some respect. Following her words, he took out a wine jug and poured a cup—using the same cup she had used for tea earlier.

“Oh, this is the cup I…” Yu Lingxi was about to remind him to use a new cup, but she saw Ning Yin lift the cup, turn it around, and sip from the place where her lips had left a faint mark.

The lip print on Ning Yin’s lips left a subtle hue, and he tasted it with his tongue, swirling it away.

“…Drank from.” Yu Lingxi finished her sentence in a daze.

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