Chapter 6: Fairy

Gao Xun and Li Yu had prepared a birthday celebration for old Madam Gao in advance, so they didn’t go to the front yard at the moment but instead wandered in the backyard.

Originally, they intended to go to the study, but halfway there, they saw two little girls in front of them, spinning around like headless flies. Gao Xun thought they might be little thieves from somewhere and approached with a stern inquiry. To his surprise, they turned out to be such delicately adorned girls. When one of them turned her head, he felt the whole mansion brightening up.

With jade-like tender cheeks, resembling pure white pear blossoms, she was clear and translucent.

Suddenly, he thought of the description of little fairies in mythology; probably, they were as beautifully exquisite as her.

While Gao Xun was still in a daze, the little fairy approached in a lively manner, smiling sweetly and charmingly. He thought she was going to talk to him, nervously cleared his throat, ready to respond. Unexpectedly, she headed straight for Li Yu beside him, her voice soft and pleasant, “So, little brother is here. I’ve been looking for you for a long time!”

He turned his head and saw Li Yu instinctively taking a step back.

Li Yu swallowed and asked dryly, “What do you want with me?”

Young Master Li’s mood was not good at all because he couldn’t avoid her no matter where he hid. This troublesome girl, why is she everywhere?

Speaking of this girl named Xie Zhen, she was annoyed. Her tone was resentful, “Little brother never comes to my house. Auntie Song said you’re not in good health, so I didn’t disturb you. Last time, when I sang for you, you got angry. Shuangyu said it’s because you don’t like listening to songs. Actually, I can play the flute too. Do you like listening to the flute?”

Li Yu wasn’t angry because of that at all. He remembered his sorry state at that time, and his finally healthy face turned pale again. “I don’t want to listen.”

Disappointed, Xie Zhen pouted, “Why don’t you want to listen? What do you like to listen to then?”

She misunderstood his gender last time and genuinely wanted to apologize to him, but he never appreciated it. She also had a temper!

Xie Zhen pursed her lips. She had been pampered by her parents since childhood and received a lot of attention due to her attractive appearance. When has she ever been so ignored? Little brother really didn’t know how to appreciate kindness.

Li Yu lied, “I don’t like anything.”

Why would someone not like anything? That would mean there’s no joy in anything!

Xie Zhen didn’t believe it, “How about I teach you to play the flute? It’s easy to learn, and you’ll definitely enjoy it.”

Li Yu, trying to be clever, shook his head and refused, “No need…”

The two of them were so engrossed in their conversation that they completely ignored the presence of others. Gao Xun was left aside, looking somewhat awkward. He wanted to strike up a conversation with Xie Zhen but couldn’t find the right opportunity. If it weren’t for Xie Xian coming over, he probably would have gone unnoticed by Xie Zhen for a while.

Xie Xian tugged at Xie Zhen’s sleeve, “Sister, shall we go to the kitchen?”

Xie Zhen then remembered the original purpose and stopped bothering Li Yu, changing her question, “Does little brother know where the kitchen is?”

Li Yu remained silent, and Gao Xun on the side asked casually, “Why are you looking for the kitchen?”

Finally, Xie Zhen shifted her gaze to him, tilting her head with a puzzled expression, “Who are you?”

The little fairy finally noticed him. Gao Xun’s heart raced with excitement, but he maintained a calm demeanor, “This is my home, and I’m Gao Xun.”

Oh, Xie Zhen nodded, smiling brightly, “I’m Ah Zhen.”

Gao Xun was captivated, joyfully repeating Ah Zhen several times, probably looking too silly, earning a strange look from Li Yu.

*

Upon learning the reason, Gao Xun didn’t hesitate. He immediately instructed the servants to bring various dishes and snacks to his study.

As the legitimate son of the second wife, he was well-favored by old Madam Gao, even having a separate study. Outside the study, there was a low couch with a felt mat on the floor, suitable for sitting on the ground. Currently, four people sat around it, with Gao Xun as the host sitting at the top. On either side were Li Yu and Xie Zhen, while Xie Xian sat beside Xie Zhen.

This arrangement inevitably placed Xie Zhen and Li Yu face to face.

Xie Zhen blinked at him, and he immediately looked away.

On the table, most of the dishes were similar to those at a banquet. Xie Xian, having eaten her fill, remembered her mother’s advice this time and continuously picked dishes for Xie Zhen. “Sister, eat to your heart’s content.”

Having just learned to use chopsticks, Xie Xian struggled to hold them most of the time, spilling food on the table several times.

Feeling frustrated, Xie ian exclaimed, “Why don’t the chopsticks listen to me?”

Xie Zhen handed her own chopsticks over, saying, “Mine listen well; you can use mine.”

The sisters indeed exchanged chopsticks.

Whether it was a psychological effect or not, Xie Xian surprisingly became much more adept, and there were no more mistakes when picking up food.

Gao Xun watched in astonishment, thinking, could she really be a little fairy? Does she possess magical skills too?

He didn’t have lunch with Li Yu either. Originally, he planned to go to the study, grab a book, and then go back to eat. Unexpectedly, he met the two of them on the way, so they decided to eat together in the study. Xie Zhen was already about sixty to seventy percent full. She didn’t take a few bites and put down her chopsticks, saying, “I’m taking Ah Xian back. Mother will be worried if she doesn’t see us.”

Expressing gratitude to Gao Xun, she took Xie Xian and prepared to leave.

Gao Xun quickly stood up, blushing, and said with reluctance, “I… I can accompany you back. Weren’t you lost just now?”

Well, that’s true. Thinking back to the scene just now, Xie Zhen nodded gratefully.

Since Gao Xun wanted to accompany them, Li Yu couldn’t sit down to eat alone. He had to follow them, walking slowly behind. Xie Zhen, however, had set her mind on him, occasionally turning back to talk to him, making Gao Xun quite envious.

That was not the end; he even ignored her on purpose, which was simply too much.

To attract Xie Zhen’s attention, Gao Xun brought out his storytelling skills, sharing interesting stories and anecdotes he had heard. Unfortunately, Xie Zhen, being in the capital, had seen everything and heard all kinds of stories. She quickly became impatient, saying, “I’ve heard all of these. Is there anything I haven’t heard?”

Gao Xun, feeling a bit hurt, gritted his teeth and shared an embarrassing story from his childhood.

The gist of the story was that he was chased by a big dog for half a street and ended up wetting his pants in fear. Xie Zhen graciously burst into laughter, her bright eyes forming crescent moons, and her laughter sounding clear and pleasant.

“You wet your pants even at that age?” she asked, curious.

Gao Xun touched his nose, “I was only four at that time…”

She said, “Well, that’s not too young. Ah Xian doesn’t wet her pants anymore!”

At this, Li Yu behind them suddenly turned black, restraining himself from turning and walking away.

*

Back in the front courtyard, the banquet was almost over. Madam Xie and Madam Song were still waiting in their original spots, probably waiting for their respective children to return.

Xie Zhen and Xie Xian rushed over, each hugging one of Madam Xie’s legs. “Mother, we’re back!”

Leng Shi breathed a sigh of relief, patting the heads of the two. She looked up at the Xie Zhen and Xie Xian and asked, “Where did you two go? Why did it take so long?”

The Xie Zhen and Xie Xian explained the whole story, including getting lost and meeting Gao Xun and Li Yu on the way, and the impromptu meal they had together.

On the other side, Madam Song had already received Li Yu. Seeing his unpleasant expression, she asked with concern what was wrong.

Li Yu stubbornly refused to say.

Madam Xie thanked Gao Xun, and he, like a little adult, nodded, “Guests are guests. When Ah Zhen and Ah Xian come to my house, I naturally have to entertain them well.”

Madam Xie had quite a favorable impression of him and couldn’t help chatting with him a bit more.

To be honest, children like Gao Xun are the easiest to win adults’ favor. Sweet-talking, sensible, and polite. Even Leng Shi couldn’t stop praising him, and it’s easy to imagine how other elders would like him.

The birthday banquet dispersed, and most of the guests left. On the other side, Xie Liqing arranged the carriage and had the servants come to escort the three of them – mother and daughters.

The Xie family and the Li family were close, and after some discussion between the two fathers, they decided to return together. Before leaving, Gao Xun called Li Yu aside, and the two chatted quietly. When Li Yu returned, he walked behind Madam Song without changing his expression, ready to board their family carriage.

However, before he could get on, Madam Song asked, “Yu’er, where are you going?”

Li Yu was puzzled, “Isn’t this our family’s carriage?”

Indeed, it was their family’s carriage, but at the moment, Madam Song decided not to ride in it. Instead, they would use the Xie family’s carriage. She had a few more words to exchange with Madam Xie, and the Xie family’s carriage was spacious enough to accommodate both families. Madam Song didn’t want to leave Li Yu alone, so she called him over.

Li Yu was unwilling, pointing to their family’s carriage, “Mother, you go over there. I’ll take this one.”

Madam Song said, “This carriage is left for the maidservants.”

He was not willing to give up and suggested riding horses with Li Xiqing, but little did he know that his father and Xie Liqing had already ridden away on horses. With no other choice, Li Yu had to board the Xie family’s carriage.

Inside the carriage, Xie Zhen and Xie Xian had already sat obediently.

Both of them were a bit tired. Xie Xian nestled in Leng Shi’s arms, dozing off. Xie Zhen curled up like a cat, lying on the satin cushion with embroidered flowers, eyes closed, peacefully asleep. Perhaps hearing some noise, Xie Zhen rubbed her eyes, half-opened them, and mumbled, “Little brother Yu,” before turning over and continuing to sleep.

Throughout the journey, she didn’t pester him, quietly lying down and sleeping.

Madam Song and Madam Leng were discussing typical topics that women are interested in – children’s accessories and today’s observations. Li Yu found it uninteresting, so he turned his head and happened to see Xie Zhen’s tranquil sleeping face.

She looked even more adorable when she was asleep.

Gao Xun called her a little fairy, but why didn’t he feel that way at all? Apart from being a bit fairer and prettier, she had nothing to do with fairies.

As he kept looking, Li Yu noticed that she was indeed quite fair… Suddenly, he thought of the green onion tofu they had yesterday. He wondered if her face is as tender as tofu? He couldn’t help but want to poke it. His hand was halfway up when he abruptly put it down.

Is he going crazy? What if she wakes up?

Li Yu sighed in relief that he didn’t act impulsively. Throughout the journey, he occasionally looked at her face, and soon they arrived at the gates of the Xie and Li residences.

When they got off the carriage, Madam Song leaned close to him and asked in a low voice, “Yu’er, why have you been staring at Gao Gao?”

Li Yu justified himself, “The carriage is too small; I didn’t mean to look.”

Madam Song chuckled and lightly knocked on his head. Clearly, he was peeking at others, yet he stubbornly denied it.

Once at the doorstep, Xie Zhen was awakened and followed Madam Xie off the carriage in a daze. As soon as she saw Li Yu across the way, she instantly woke up, greeted him with a smile.

Li Yu didn’t respond, but Madam Song enthusiastically said, “Gao Gao, come to our house often in the future.”

She nodded, “Okay!”

After saying that, she followed behind her mother. After taking a few steps, she turned back and glanced. Seeing that Li Yu was still there, she playfully stuck her tongue out at him, mischievous and playful.

Li Yu frowned and turned away.

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