You… What Did You Just Call Me??
After Xu Mei and Su Jingyang had their little “hehe-huo-huo” moment, he ran off to chat with Ling Li again. He held Ah Xuan in his arms and kept praising the kid for being handsome and adorable, even saying Ling Li should become in-laws with him in the future. He also earnestly invited Ling Li to open a restaurant near Wangyue Manor, so he and Mu Jin could go eat there often.
Mu Jin and Xu Mei left behind wedding invitations. They invited not only the three of them, but also included one for Rong Hua. Xu Mei even specifically reminded Su Jingyang, “Make sure Murong comes if she has time. Your friend is my friend. I really want to meet her!”
Su Jingyang nodded and agreed. Xu Mei had only just left with Mu Jin, reluctant to part, when Rong Hua arrived right after. Rong Hua picked up the invitation and read it over and over, looking quite pleased. “Wangyue Manor? I’m going, I’m going. I’ve never gone somewhere this far!”
Once she saw the date, her face immediately drooped. She turned and gave Rong Ci a gloomy look.
One month later, Rong City would be holding a sacrificial ceremony. With her status, she had to attend. With Rong Ci not around, she definitely couldn’t leave.
Rong Hua couldn’t go. She looked unhappy, cradling the sweet soup Ling Li made as she sat off to the side, eating in a sulk. Before long, something else stole her attention. She noticed the subtle little change in the way Rong Ci and Su Jingyang interacted. After watching in stunned disbelief for a while, she finally confirmed it. Rong Ci had exposed his feelings.
Rong Hua slapped her thigh in excitement. Perfect! Rongcheng’s happy event was definitely coming soon.
Since it would take nearly ten days to reach Wangyue Manor, Su Jingyang decided to leave half a month early. With plenty of time, they could play along the way and maybe find another chance to collect a lot of energy.
After Ah Xuan went to Rongcheng for another round of treatment and returned, Su Jingyang and Ling Li began packing, planning to leave early the next morning.
Ling Li finished bundling their things. He turned back and looked at Su Jingyang, who was folding clothes and humming a little tune, clearly in a pretty good mood. After hesitating for a moment, Ling Li asked, “Jingyang, is Ah Yi coming with us?”
Su Jingyang didn’t even think. His expression fell at once and he blurted out, “Let him go by himself. I don’t want to travel with him.”
Su Jingyang’s attitude toward Rong Ci was simple. He avoided him whenever possible. They were neighbors though. With the wall between their courtyards gone, they kept running into each other.
If Su Jingyang didn’t go looking for Rong Ci, Rong Ci would come looking for him anyway. Every time, Su Jingyang would lift his chin, tilt his nose to the sky, and refuse to look, listen, or respond. He tried hard to act like a cold, heartless man. The result was usually… his cold, heartless act never lasted long.
Rong Ci would provoke him with a few lines, Su Jingyang would bristle and blow up, and everything would snap back to the way it used to be, the two of them bickering again.
Every time Ah Xuan saw them arguing, he’d flee into the house like he was escaping for his life, afraid he’d get caught in the crossfire.
For this trip to Wangyue Manor, Rong Ci had also received an invitation. Su Jingyang had no intention of traveling with him though. There was no need to sneak off early either. Su Jingyang simply shouldered his pack the next morning, took Ah Xuan by the hand, and swaggered out of the house. Ling Li followed behind to lock the door.
Su Jingyang’s gaze drifted toward the side out of habit. There wasn’t the slightest movement. A faint sense of something being off flickered through his mind, yet he didn’t dwell on it. The carriage and driver he’d booked were already waiting at the main entrance. Su Jingyang got on with Ling Li and Ah Xuan and leisurely set off.
When they reached the market, Su Jingyang remembered the candy Ah Xuan wanted. He had the carriage stop by the roadside and went into a shop to buy some.
When he came back, Su Jingyang immediately stiffened his face.
The driver had been swapped out.
Rongci wore austere black clothing, holding a horse whip in his hand. His long limbs were relaxed as he sat there casually, posture unrestrained. His dark eyes looked at Su Jingyang as he tilted his head slightly, a faint, almost-there smile on his face.
“Why are you here?!” Su Jingyang demanded, eyes wide.
Rong Ci gestured at him with his gaze. “Get on.”
“No. I’m not riding with you. You take your single-plank bridge, I’ll take my broad, sunny road!”
Rong Ci’s gaze darkened, yet the smile stayed. “Get. On. Otherwise your broad, sunny road will be harder to walk than a single-plank bridge.”
Su Jingyang felt threatened. He cursed through gritted teeth, “Scoundrel.”
Ling Li lifted the carriage curtain, worry in his eyes as he glanced outside. Su Jingyang let out a cold snort. He hesitated for a long moment and still climbed into the carriage.
Rong Ci stayed focused on driving. Apart from speaking a few lines when they stopped to rest, things were fairly calm.
That day they stopped again to eat. Su Jingyang opened the water flask and found it empty, so he volunteered to go find water.
He filled the flask at a small stream. When he turned around, he found Rong Ci had come as well. Su Jingyang frowned. “Why did you leave Ah Li and Ah Xuan back there by themselves?”
“Ling Li said he didn’t feel at ease about you and told me to come check,” Rong Ci said. He reached for the flask in Su Jingyang’s hand and got his hand slapped away, so he just walked beside him with empty hands.
Su Jingyang had no idea what this guy was plotting. They walked for a bit, and then Rong Ci suddenly “caught” his foot on something. He claimed he’d twisted his ankle and couldn’t walk, insisting Su Jingyang carry him.
Su Jingyang was irritated. If your acting is that bad, don’t show it off, all right? Su Jingyang obviously refused. Rong Ci gave a cold, mocking laugh. “On the day it snowed, how long did I carry you? I’m hurt now and you won’t carry me? Su Jingyang, do you even have a conscience?”
Su Jingyang fired back instantly, “No!” He lowered his head and ran forward. After running a short distance, he stopped and turned back. Rong Ci was still standing where he was, arms folded, not moving a step. He faced slightly to the side, gaze turned away, his whole body radiating a disappointed chill.
Su Jingyang’s heart jolted. For no reason, he suddenly felt like he’d gone too far. A thought followed right after. Was Rong Ci actually hurt?
Su Jingyang hesitated, suspicious, and still went back. Rong Ci cut him a glance, pressed down the corner of his mouth that wanted to lift, and kept his face blank, saying nothing.
Su Jingyang’s eyes were still full of doubt, yet he handed the flask to Rong Ci to hold anyway, then hoisted him onto his back.
Rong Ci looked slim, yet Su Jingyang found him heavy enough to be a struggle. Rong Ci hooked his arms tightly around Su Jingyang’s neck, eyes curving as he nuzzled and rubbed messily against Su Jingyang’s shoulder a few times.
Su Jingyang vaguely knew he’d been tricked. Rong Ci was right about one thing, though. Rong Ci had carried him before, so Su Jingyang considered this paying him back.
Su Jingyang staggered forward with difficulty, teeth clenched, and called out to him, “Hey, Rong Yi!”
This sudden address caught Rongci off guard that he let out a short laugh. “You… what did you just call me??”
Su Jingyang was exhausted, his face flushed red. He gave a cold harrumph and launched into a neat, logical analysis that sounded thoroughly “I’ve got everything under control, so don’t underestimate me.”
“I called your name! Hmph. Don’t think I don’t know. Those thugs who set the fire, and Liu Yun too, they all acted like they were possessed and confessed their crimes. That was definitely your doing. You’re from Rongcheng. You know witchcraft.
I quietly asked Murong before, and people who can use that kind of witchcraft are really powerful. The most powerful witchcraft in Rongcheng belongs to the bloodline of the Rong clan. You’re also rich as hell, and you could even get Grand Shaman to treat Ah Xuan. Put all this evidence together, and it’s enough to prove you’re definitely surnamed Rong. That means your name is Rong Yi!”
Rong Ci couldn’t help laughing at that tone. After a moment, he answered seriously, “Yes, I’m called that. Hey, how are you getting smarter and smarter?”
“Of course I am! I’m going to use all my intelligence on you so you can’t hide anywhere!” Su Jingyang’s real point came next. He asked solemnly, “You’re not going to plant gu in me or use witchcraft to control me and make me like you, right?”
Rong Ci said, “Anyone who falls for it easily has a crooked mind and wicked thoughts. Someone like you, with a head full of…”
Su Jingyang’s steps abruptly stopped. If Rong Ci dared say his head was full of water, Su Jingyang would toss him straight to the ground.
Rong Ci continued slowly, “Someone like you, with a mind so pure there’s nothing in it, is hard to exploit. Besides, if I wanted to do anything, would I have waited until now?”
Only then did Su Jingyang relax.
Seeing how hard Su Jingyang was struggling to carry him, Rong Ci patted his shoulder halfway and told him to put him down. Su Jingyang expected as much and didn’t get angry. He took the flask back and walked ahead on his own.
Su Jingyang noticed his progress bar had begun to slowly drop again, down to 4.1%. That meant System #2 had absorbed a lot of resentment and offset his energy. Su Jingyang didn’t feel discouraged though. He still couldn’t help feeling it was a shame.
After that, he didn’t run into anyone else he could help. He also had no mood to sightsee. He had the carriage speed up, and they arrived in Liyang, where Wangyue Manor was located, three days before the wedding.
Mu Jin had told them they could stay at Wangyue Manor once they reached Liyang, but Mu Jin and Xu Mei were surely busy, so Su Jingyang didn’t go bother them. He found an inn and settled in first. He took Ah Xuan and Ling Li around to eat and play. Rong Ci came along too. He didn’t deliberately look for chances to get close to Su Jingyang. He talked to Ah Xuan more instead.
After going to Rong City a few times, Ah Xuan was still a little clumsy with long sentences. Other than that, he looked no different from an ordinary child. Aside from Su Jingyang and Ling Li, the person he clung to most was Rong Ci.
Liyang was many times more prosperous than their town. There was so much good food and fun that Ah Xuan’s eyes dazzled, and he still refused to go back even when night fell.
Ling Li held Ah Xuan’s hand as they looked at lanterns by the stalls. Ah Xuan pointed at a rabbit lantern and said to Ling Li, “Papa, we have one at home too.”
Ling Li smiled and patted his little head. He turned his eyes toward Su Jingyang, and Su Jingyang was staring in a certain direction, making a small sound of surprise. It turned out the way they’d been running around after the child had brought them close to Wangyue Manor.
Su Jingyang had another discovery too. He even suspected his eyes were playing tricks on him, because he saw… Hao Jiasheng. Hao Jiasheng was walking toward Wangyue Manor’s main entrance right within Su Jingyang’s line of sight.
It hadn’t been that long, yet Hao Jiasheng seemed taller. His back was held straight and his gaze sharp. He wore simple cloth clothes, but somehow it made him look faintly extraordinary. Compared to that sleazy, useless look from before, it was like he had been reborn.
At a spot some distance from the gate, he stopped and stood still. He lifted his eyes and stared at the plaque of Wangyue Manor and the festive red silk. A heavy, bone-devouring sorrow suddenly spilled into his gaze.
Su Jingyang found it strange. Hao Jiasheng moved again. He went up to the guards and spoke quietly with them, left something with a small motion, then pulled a bamboo hat down and disappeared into the crowd.
Su Jingyang was intensely curious. How did Hao Jiasheng have anything to do with Wangyue Manor? A steward-like man came out right then. The guards handed him what they’d received.
Su Jingyang wanted to stretch his ears out to catch what the guard was saying. Rong Ci, standing beside him, spoke up. “He said that person admires Wangyue Manor’s reputation and specially came to give a gift to share in the joyous occasion.”
Su Jingyang couldn’t make sense of it. He also felt it had nothing to do with him, so he tossed it aside and didn’t take it seriously.
On the wedding day, they went early. Su Jingyang thought it would be impossible to see the newlyweds before the auspicious hour, but Mu Jin came on his new spouse’s orders and politely brought Su Jingyang and Ling Li into the room where Xu Mei was waiting.
Xu Mei was already stunningly pretty. Dressed in bright red wedding robes, he looked even more radiant and alluring, so beautiful it took the breath away. Su Jingyang praised him repeatedly in his heart.
Seeing Xu Mei’s face overflowing with happiness made Su Jingyang truly happy for him. When Xu Mei heard Murong had matters to attend to and couldn’t come, he looked a little disappointed for a while.
Xu Mei insisted on personally pouring tea for Su Jingyang and Ling Li. Nobody could stop him. When Xu Mei handed a teacup over, Su Jingyang’s gaze accidentally flicked to the red mole on Xu Mei’s palm. The color looked much darker than before. Su Jingyang held the cup and forgot to drink.
He knew pregnancy for a shuangrenzi wasn’t like a woman’s. There was no need to take a pulse. Usually, in five to ten days, you could tell from the color of the mole. With how it looked now, it was obvious. Xu Mei was already pregnant.
Su Jingyang couldn’t help admiring their speed. He also felt relieved that Xu Mei now had Mu Jin, someone who truly treated him with sincerity, instead of stubbornly staying trapped in his former husband’s household and throwing away his whole life.
The wedding was grand and lavish, guests filling the place. Su Jingyang stood in front of the ceremonial hall, eyes bright as he looked around. When the couple bowed, Su Jingyang saw Mu Jin’s parents were smiling broadly, clearly happy from the heart. It didn’t look like they held any grudge about Xu Mei being divorced before. Su Jingyang let out a breath for Xu Mei’s sake.
Rong Ci suddenly asked in a low voice beside him, “Envious?”
Su Jingyang snapped his gaze back and immediately erased the smile at his lips. His tone was firm. “Not envious. I’m not getting married.”
Rong Ci smiled and said nothing more.
Su Jingyang heard someone shout that the rites were complete. His heart clenched. He stood there rigid, not moving, silently waiting for the progress bar to shoot up. When it stopped at 6.3%, a flash of disappointed emotion passed through Su Jingyang’s eyes.
It wasn’t surprising. It wouldn’t succeed that easily.
Su Jingyang refused Xu Mei’s invitation to stay overnight at Wangyue Manor. After the evening banquet ended, they all returned to the inn together.
Ling Li carried the drowsy Ah Xuan upstairs first. Rong Ci suddenly grabbed Su Jingyang’s wrist. Su Jingyang was about to shake him off when Rong Ci asked, “What’s wrong, hmm? You look disappointed.”
Su Jingyang thought he had hidden it well, yet Rong Ci still saw through it. Su Jingyang lifted his face and met Rong Ci’s unusually gentle, calm gaze. His lips moved, and he couldn’t say anything. He pulled his hand free and went upstairs.
Back in the room, Su Jingyang sprawled on the table and stared at the wavering candle flame for a long time. Then he suddenly howled softly, “I really want to go home. I want to go home.”
Su Jingyang sensed something off and immediately sat up straight. Ling Li had entered at some point, eyes fixed on him. Su Jingyang froze. He didn’t know if Ling Li had heard it, but Ling Li looked normal, so Su Jingyang felt a little more at ease.
Ling Li had brought him noodles. He said Su Jingyang hadn’t eaten much at dinner, so he’d borrowed the inn kitchen and made him a bowl.
“Thanks, Ah Li!” Su Jingyang hadn’t eaten Ling Li’s cooking in half a month. He grabbed his chopsticks and devoured it without holding back. Ling Li sat to the side and watched. His mouth seemed to be smiling, yet deep worry had already settled over his eyes.
Su Jingyang had only eaten half the bowl when someone suddenly burst in through the slightly open door, startling both of them at the table.
Su Jingyang threw down his chopsticks and sprang up, yanking Ling Li behind him. The intruder shut the door from inside, then frantically searched for somewhere to hide. After finding a place that could block him from view, he crouched there and pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture at Su Jingyang, asking them not to make a sound.
Su Jingyang and Ling Li both saw the intruder’s swollen pregnant belly. Ling Li didn’t speak. Su Jingyang also stayed silent, but he didn’t lower his guard. He feared it might be some kind of trap.
At that moment, extremely slow, extremely light footsteps sounded in the corridor outside. The person hiding in the room went rigid, his face turning even worse.
Not long after, someone knocked on the door. A pleasant, gentle voice came through. “Ah Qian, be good. Come out. Don’t disturb other people’s rest.”
Author’s Note:
Instead of urging pregnancy, you’re urging identity reveals now. I really can’t predict the reveal timing, so stop urging. You all just wait… until the story’s complete to read. Those who think my current progress is slow and unimportant can also skip ahead. I seem to always repeat these things in my author’s notes ￣▽￣
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