Chapter 3: Arch-enemies

Li Yu didn’t lie; he was indeed a boy.

They were about the same age, with Li Yu being only half a year older than Xie Zhen. Due to being weak and sickly since childhood, coupled with the fact that boys generally develop later than girls, he not only wasn’t taller than Xie Zhen but was even slightly shorter. No wonder, at first sight, Xie Zhen thought of him as a sister…

Now the truth was out, and the two little ones felt a bit awkward.

Xie Zhen, after all, was still a child. Feeling a bit sorry for her random touch, she muttered while hiding her hand behind her back, “It’s not my fault; it’s because you’re so pretty…”

Li Yu’s face finally returned to normal after considerable effort, but upon hearing her words, it turned pale again. “You can’t…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he found himself at a loss for words.

He had come as a guest with Song Shi, sitting bored in the main hall for almost half an hour. Feeling the need to use the restroom, he was led out by a maid. Unexpectedly, just as he stepped out, he encountered such an unreasonable little girl.

Xie Zhen was indeed at fault. She was used to acting cute and clever, not thinking too much at the moment. She approached and grabbed Li Yu’s hand with a smile, “Don’t be angry. How about I sing a song for you?”

With her soft and sweet voice and a charming smile, Li Yu realized she was quite cute. He then hummed to himself, thinking, what’s the use of being good-looking if she still touches him!

Seeing that he didn’t refuse, Xie Zhen enthusiastically pulled him to the corridor, cleared her throat, and began to sing, “Peas white, I come again, usually staying to cut flower wood…”

She learned this song on the way to Qingzhou. When a group of children ran past on the street, they were singing this song, and Xie Zhen remembered it instantly. Her singing voice was soft and pleasant. Although she was born in the capital, her voice was even more tender than southern girls. When she sang with a lingering tune, it melted people’s hearts.

Li Yu’s hand was still held by her, and he was reluctant the whole time. He had no favorable impression of her.

As she sang, Li Yu carefully examined her face. He noticed her bright, dark eyes fixed on him, and suddenly his face turned red, and he turned away.

“Where to go? To the river, where there are loaches in the river…”

A cool breeze swept through the corridor, carrying the drifting petals of the Qiong flowers from the courtyard, with the fragrance of flowers accompanied by a sweet milky scent. Li Yu’s neck felt sore, and he had to turn his head again. At a glance, he saw her gazing attentively at the Qiong flowers in the courtyard. Her face was as white as a peeled chicken egg, unlike any little girl he had seen before. None of them were as good-looking as her, crystal clear, and flawless.

She was indeed beautiful, but a bit lacking in cleverness.

Feeling a sudden tightening in his lower abdomen, Li Yu suddenly remembered the main reason for coming out this time and tried to pull his hand away, “I need to go…” 

To the restroom…

Xie Zhen didn’t let him go, a bit anxious, “Wait, I haven’t finished singing…”

She was interrupted earlier and wanted to continue.

Li Yu felt like crying. Although she sang well, he had an urgent matter now!

After struggling a bit, but due to his recent recovery, he didn’t have much strength, and he couldn’t break free from her clutches. The maids on both sides were in a bit of a dilemma. Both of these little ones were young masters of the mansion, and offending either of them was not acceptable. They didn’t know what to do.

Finally, Li Yu’s maid stepped forward tactfully, “Second Miss, our young master…”

She spoke a bit too late, as Li Yu couldn’t hold it any longer.

Before Xie Zhen could react, Li Yu pushed her away with a lot of embarrassment, “Don’t touch me!”

Caught off guard, Xie Zhen took a few steps back.

The Shuangyu quickly caught her from behind, preventing her from falling to the ground.

Seeing Li Yu turning away, Xie Zhen looked at the twins in confusion, “Why is he angry?”

The Shuangyu coughed lightly. Children also have their dignity, and Li Yu seemed to be a child with strong self-esteem. It was better to keep it from her, “Young Master Li probably doesn’t like listening to songs.”

Xie Zhen nodded thoughtfully. If he doesn’t like it, he could have just told her directly, right?

She didn’t think her singing was bad at all.

In the main hall, Li Yu returned with a pale complexion.

Song Shi was startled at the sight. Why did his face look so terrible? She quickly asked the maid what had happened, but due to Mrs. Leng also singing, the maid hesitated and couldn’t explain clearly, “Young Master met Miss Xie…”

Li Yu glanced at her and told her to shut up.

The maid immediately fell silent.

He stood in front of Song Shi, lowering his head, “I feel uncomfortable, Mother, let’s go home.”

Unexpectedly, after going out for a while, he seemed like a different person. Song Shi was puzzled and touched his forehead nervously when she heard this, “Is it another fever?”

Her palm felt warm, and there were no signs of a fever.

She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Madam Xie, “The child is ignorant, and I apologize if it inconvenienced Madam. If Madam hadn’t provided that remedy last time, I’m afraid Yu’er wouldn’t have recovered so quickly.”

She once again asked Li Yu to thank Madam Xie.

Without that remedy, Li Yu might not have died, but he wouldn’t have recovered so quickly. Moreover, if the fever continued, who knows if it would damage his brain? Therefore, Song Shi was genuinely grateful to the Xie family.

Madam Xie shook her head, “Please, stop thanking me. Our two families are neighbors, and we should help each other.” Glancing down, she saw Li Yu still bowing his head and not speaking. “Since Young Master felt unwell just now, why not invite the physician to take a look?”

A warm feeling surged in Song Shi’s heart. She embraced Li Yu and stood up, “Thank you for your kind offer, Madam. However, there is a physician in our mansion… it’s getting late, and this humble woman should take her leave.”

They had been there for quite a while, and it was now lunchtime.

Madam Xie had intended to invite her to stay for a meal, but since she insisted on leaving, she didn’t force her to stay.

As they were leaving, Xie Zhen appeared from somewhere, sticking close to Leng Shi’s leg, blinking her curious almond-shaped eyes as she looked at Song Shi.

Last time when she visited the Li family, Xie Zhen wasn’t there. Leng Shi introduced her, “Gao Gao, this is Auntie Song.”

Understanding the situation, Xie Zhen obediently greeted, “Auntie Song.”

Suddenly, a little doll with delicate face appeared, and Song Shi almost hesitated to leave. The members of the Xie family were indeed blessed with excellent conditions, each one stunning, making others feel inferior.

Mrs. Leng said, “This is the young master of the Li family, half a year older than you. You should call him ‘Brother.’”

Xie Zhen nodded, “Little brother Yu.”

Li Yu’s face changed several times. Thinking about the embarrassment he had just experienced in front of her, he didn’t want to see her again.

Seeing her son silent, Song Shi smiled apologetically, “Yu’er is naturally shy and doesn’t like to talk much with others. Second Miss, don’t take offense. As he gets to know you better, he’ll become more talkative in the future.”

Xie Zhen didn’t mind at all, “Little brother Yu is really handsome. Even if he doesn’t talk, he’s still good-looking.”

Li Yu, like a cat stepped on its tail, suddenly glared at her.

When Song Shi left, Xie Zhen stood at the door with a cute smile, repeatedly inviting them to come and play at her house. Song Shi agreed, and they entered the Li residence.

As soon as Li Yu returned home, he locked himself in his room and changed his clothes alone. From that day on, he secretly determined not to have any further dealings with the Xie family, especially that annoying girl. Even if she were cute and sang well, he didn’t like her!

*

Seeing off Song Shi and Li Yu, Xie Zhen happily bounced back to the main hall with Leng Shi.

Before they entered the room, Leng Shi stopped and turned around, looking at Xie Zhen with a deep and unreadable expression. “Gao Gao, what exactly happened just now?”

Confused and puzzled, Xie Zhen blinked her big eyes, “What does Mother mean?”

Leng Shi recalled Li Yu’s attitude just now and the unfinished sentence from a Li family maid. “Have you met Young Master Li?”

She nodded honestly and pointed to the corridor, “I met him there.”

Now it made sense why Li Yu acted unusually. It must be because her good daughter provoked him and eventually angered him. Leng Shi sighed; Gao Gao had always been mischievous and playful since childhood, and even though she wanted to discipline her, she couldn’t bear to do so because of her innocent and pitiful act.

At first, Leng Shi thought the two children were just playfully fighting, but after learning the whole story from Shuangyu, she realized it was not as simple as it seemed.

This, this Gao Gao…

No wonder Li Yu left that day with such a pale face!

The poor child probably left with some lingering shadows…

Leng Shi’s guess was correct. In the next two months, although Song Shi visited the Xie residence several times, Li Yu was not seen again.

Xie Zhen, still puzzled, asked her, “Aunt Song, why doesn’t Little brother come?”

Upon remembering Li Yu’s firm refusal, Song Shi gracefully smiled and said, “He hasn’t been feeling well lately and needs to stay home to recuperate.”

Xie Zhen nodded, seeming to understand, and didn’t inquire further.

Two months later, as the sweltering heat transitioned into early autumn, the weather became significantly cooler.

Xie Liqing had recently taken up a position in Qingzhou as an official. Initially busy with various tasks, he now had everything in order and could finally take some time off. Thinking of taking his family for a walk outside the city, he received an invitation from the Gao family. Gao Qing, the head of the household, was a military officer in charge of records. In a few days, his mother would be celebrating her seventieth birthday, and they were hosting a grand feast at the mansion, inviting many officials from Qingzhou.

Having recently moved to Qingzhou, they needed to socialize in various circles, and this event provided an excellent opportunity to meet more people. Xie Liqing informed Leng Shi about this, and she began preparing for the birthday celebration and selecting suitable attire.

On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, Madam Xie woke up the three children early.

Xie Zhen, clearly not fully awake, snuggled into Leng Shi’s arms, “Mother, why so early…”

Leng Shi pinched her small face and asked Shuangyu and Shuangyan to take her and Xie Xian to freshen up while she chose their clothes. Since it was the first time her two daughters would be appearing, they had to be dressed beautifully.

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