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Chapter 25: Growing Up

After returning home, Xie Zhen felt down for several days. Li Yu left without a word, not even bothering to say goodbye. Does he really dislike her? Then why did he invite her to fly kites in the other courtyard? Xie Zhen couldn’t figure it out despite thinking for several days. In the end, she ended up making herself sick, lying in bed for over ten days. Her little face became thin, and it pained anyone who looked at her.

Her once plump and round cheeks now felt a bit bony to the touch. After recovering from her illness, Xie Zhen ordered the large goose kite to be stored in the warehouse and forbade anyone from bringing it out again. Once, as she passed by a corner of the backyard, she had someone bring a ladder, climbed up alone, looked for a long time, and then silently climbed down, nestling in Leng Shi’s arms without saying a word.

Leng Shi  felt both distressed and helpless. “Li Yu has left, but isn’t there still Gao Xun? Gao Xun has been coming to see you often these days. Why don’t you meet him?”

Since Gao Xun learned about Li Yu’s sudden departure, he had complaints against him to the core, scolding him from head to toe. Xie Zhen replied gloomily, “Mother, I feel uncomfortable.”

At such a young age, she understood what it meant to feel uncomfortable. Leng Shi couldn’t help but find it amusing, kissing her forehead. “What’s the matter? There will be more people leaving you in the future. How can you attend to every one of them? My dear, do you know what it means for people to come and go?”

She lifted her dewy eyes. “Are there many people?”

Leng Shi nodded, praising her for being clever. “There are many people everywhere. Some come, some go; they leave and then return. This is a normal situation that we can’t avoid.”

Xie Zhen didn’t understand. “What does normal mean?”

Leng Shi explained, “It means a very usual thing.”

After thinking for a while, Xie Zhen wondered if Little Yu’s departure was a very usual thing. She hugged Leng Shi’s waist, holding onto another lingering concern. “But Little brother Yu said he dislikes me.”

Leng Shi gently tapped her nose, trying to comfort her bit by bit. “Haven’t you often said you dislike Little Yu brother? Do you really dislike him?”

Xie Zhen didn’t speak, carrying a bit of childish stubbornness. “I didn’t dislike him before, but now that he’s gone, I dislike him.”

Leng Shi chuckled, pretending to let out a sigh of relief. “Well, now it’s settled. You’re even now; neither owes the other anything.”

Xie Zhen looked up, blinked her eyes, and suddenly felt that Leng Shi’s words made a lot of sense.

Her gloomy mood of the past few days started to lift, and she smiled, leaning towards Leng Shi, saying in a spoiled manner, “Mother.. kiss…”

Leng Shi sighed, “You, really,” with an expression of helplessness, but a smile played on her face.

* 

Gao Xun had come to the Xie residence seeking to meet Xie Zhen several times but never managed to see her. On this day, he persistently came again, unexpectedly receiving an invitation from Xie Zhen to Spring Flower Pavilion. Surprised and delighted, he hurried over and found Xie Zhen leisurely swinging on a swing.

Approaching her, he joyfully called out, “Ah Zhen!”

Xie Zhen looked up, smiled slightly at him, making him feel that the flowers around were not as beautiful as she was.

The swing carried her forward, then swung back gently, gradually coming to a stop. It was then that he noticed she had lost some weight; her face had slimmed down, and when she smiled, dimples appeared on both sides, stunningly beautiful.

Xie Zhen pointed to another swing and generously said, “Ah Xian isn’t here. You can use her swing.”

Gao Xun sat down, planted his feet on the ground, and swayed back and forth. “I thought you would never want to see me again.”

Curious, Xie Zhen tilted her head. “Why?”

He touched his nose, gazing at the Li family’s courtyard across. “Because I have a good relationship with Ah Yu… You like Ah Yu, so you played with me.”

Now that Li Yu has left, the little connection between them has disappeared, and she is definitely not willing to see him again. So when Xie Zhen agreed to meet him today, he was extremely happy.

Unexpectedly, Xie Zhen shook her head and said firmly, “Even without Little Yu, I will still play with you!”

Gao Xun’s eyes sparkled. “Really?”

She nodded, “Really!”

Gao Xun finally felt relieved, grinning foolishly. His little fairy was willing to talk to him, willing to smile at him, not because of Li Yu. This made him feel content.

Thinking of Li Yu, he felt a bit indignant. “But Ah Yu actually left without a word, really lacks loyalty! If I see him again in the future, I will definitely give him a good beating.”

Turning his head, he asked Xie Zhen, “Ah Zhen, how many punches do you think I should give him?”

Xie Zhen thought seriously, “You beat him, and I’ll watch!”

Gao Xun agreed, swinging his fists and imagining the scene in his mind. His father had recently hired a martial arts master for him, waking him up every morning for martial arts practice. He had been diligently learning, and given some time, he was sure to knock Li Yu down and make him howl.

After imagining it, his mood improved a lot. He circled behind Xie Zhen, grabbed the two ropes of the swing, and said, “I’ll help you push. Do you want to fly?”

Without waiting for Xie Zhen’s response, he took a couple of steps back, gently sending her forward. Back and forth, with each swing, Xie Zhen soared higher.

The wind whistled past her ears, and with each ascent, she could see a vast landscape. Looking far into the distance, the clear blue sky and gentle breeze made her say to Gao Xun below, “Higher, higher!”

Upon hearing this, Gao Xun pushed even harder.

Her clothes fluttered, and the pleated flower-patterned skirt drew an arc in front of him. Accompanied by her cheerful laughter, this scene was deeply etched in his heart. For many years to come, he couldn’t bear to forget it.

*

The fact that Li Yu left did indeed make Xie Zhen feel sad for a while. However, after she came to terms with it, she gradually started to forget.

She is busy growing up, and her little head can’t remember so many things. Moreover, Gao Xun comes to the Xie mansion every two or three days, either bringing her small gifts or delicious food. He would also tell her jokes, making her burst into laughter.

In the blink of an eye, almost eight years have passed, and she has grown from an innocent little child into a charming young girl.

She rarely even thinks about the name Li Yu now.

On her fourteenth birthday, after having a meal with her family, Xie Zhen insisted on comparing her height to Xie Rong’s. She stood in front of Xie Rong, raised her hand to measure, and eagerly looked at Xie Rong beside her, “Have I grown taller? Have I?”

Xie Rong, holding a cup of almond tea, honestly shook his head, “Sister, you haven’t grown taller.”

She sighed disappointedly, looked up at Xie Rong, and asked, “Why is my brother getting taller, but I haven’t grown at all in these two years?”

She used to grow fast as a child, almost the tallest among her peers. At that time, she was proud, feeling superior wherever she went. Unexpectedly, after the age of twelve, it seemed like she had stopped growing. Other girls around her were still getting taller, but she remained the same as when she was twelve.

Not that she was short, but standing next to the tall and straight Xie Rong, she appeared a bit petite.

Xie Rong, at the age of nineteen, had matured features, handsome and radiant, with the same cold eyebrows and eyes as his childhood. In the past two years, he had reached the age to marry, and many noble families in Qingzhou were interested in betrothing their daughters to him. However, the Xie family had not made a decision yet, causing some hidden anxiety.

Xie Zhen was a mischievous girl, once asked Xie Rong what kind of girl he liked. After thinking for a while, he only said two words, “Compatible.”

Xie Zhen intentionally asked, “What about a girl with a square face?”

Xie Rong fiercely threw two chestnuts at her.

She was still the same as when she was a child, full of mischievous ideas, often making people unable to resist. If there was any change, it was probably her face, losing the baby fat, breaking out of the cocoon like a butterfly, making it increasingly hard to look away.

Her face is exquisite, every feature perfectly balanced, with skin as fair as snow, and she looks graceful like a fairy.

However, she is not the little fairy as described by Gao Xun; instead, she’s a bit like a little fox. With a sidelong glance, she can capture one’s heart and soul. Sometimes, she acts coquettishly with Xie Rong, and even Xie Rong finds it challenging to resist. He earnestly tells her, “Gao Gao, you can’t talk to everyone like this in the future.”

She is puzzled, “How should I talk?”

Xie Rong thinks for a long time but can’t find a more suitable description. Her voice is naturally soft and sweet. If she drags her tone and acts coquettishly with someone, any man would melt away.

Especially with her beautifully shaped face, just this alone attracts the desires of countless men.

The Xie family, especially Lord Xie, has become more cautious about the two daughters, rarely letting them go out. Even when they do, they must wear veiled hats, covering themselves tightly, not allowing anyone to see. So, although others know that the Xie family has two stunning daughters, the exact extent of their beauty remains a mystery.

*

Over the past two years, Xie Zhen has experienced growth, albeit in a particular aspect.

During the night, she feels discomfort and swelling in her chest, and a gentle touch makes that area tremble with pain. It’s quite agonizing… If her mother hadn’t reassured her that it’s a normal process, she might have worried she was ill.

This discomfort makes her hesitant to wear tight clothing to bed, fearing that any pressure on that area would exacerbate the pain. Despite this, those two flesh masses continue to grow rapidly, surpassing the size of her hand within six months. Madam Xie has stitched several chest wraps for her during this time, leading Xie Zhen to feel embarrassed. She expresses her intention to handle it herself in the future, saying, “Mother, I’ll take care of these on my own…”

Madam Xie looks up with a smile, “Why? Can you sew?”

She says she can’t and snuggles up to Madam Xie, “I just don’t want to tire you, Mother.”

Concerned that the pillow might be uncomfortable for her, Madam Xie instructs the maid to move more comfortable pillows. She gently touches the hair by Xie Zhen’s temple and sighs, “In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown so big. Do you know how much your mother worries about you?”

Xie Zhen smiles, playfully embellishing herself, “Mother, don’t wrongly accuse me. I’ve always been worried about you.”

Madam Xie shakes her head, chuckling.

After chatting for a while, a maid enters and says, “Second Miss, Master Gao has arrived and is currently waiting in the main hall.”

The “Master Gao” mentioned by the maid is Gao Xun. Over the past two years, their interactions have become less frequent compared to their childhood. However, Gao Xun still occasionally visits, chatting or having tea together, resembling old friends.

Xie Zhen releases Madam Xie’s hand, stands up, and says, “Mother, I’ll go and see him.”

As she prepares to leave, Madam Xie stops her, hesitates for a moment, but ultimately says nothing. She waves her hand and says, “Go ahead.”

As her daughter grows older, reputation becomes crucial for a young lady. Madam Xie is concerned about how Xie Zhen interacts with Gao Xun. She wants to ask for her opinion. If Xie Zhen is genuinely interested in Gao Xun, Madam Xie plans to discuss the matter with Lord Xie and finalize the marriage proposal with the Gao family, preventing any gossip that might harm her reputation.

Madam Xie watches Gao Xun, knowing that he is a well-mannered and decent young man. Having silently loved Xie Zhen for seven or eight years, if Gao Xun marries her daughter, there wouldn’t be much to criticize.

On the other side, Xie Zhen arrives at the main hall, lifting her skirt and ascending the steps. At a glance, she sees the tall and robust figure in the room. Possibly due to martial arts training, Gao Xun’s body has become more robust day by day. At the age of sixteen, his back view already resembles that of a capable man.

His broad back, with wide shoulders and narrow waist, exudes a martial spirit without appearing rough.

Upon hearing her footsteps, Gao Xun turns around, and his gaze falls on Xie Zhen’s face, displaying unabashed admiration and astonishment.

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