Xue Niang asked Third Brother, "In the next life, will Xiao Shan and I still be together?"
Third Brother replied, "Our blood has already seeped into each other; naturally, you will be together."
He would follow, protecting this only sister.
Xue Niang was reassured.
"A Yin, accompany me out of the valley for a walk."
Upon returning this time, Third Brother seemed a little strange.
The siblings left the valley, standing against the wind. The summer heat subsided, bringing immense relief.
Third Brother raised his hand, facing Xue Niang, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Xue Niang looked at him curiously.
She saw his peripheral vision glance to the side. Xue Niang followed his gaze and saw a girl in red standing there.
The girl was radiantly beautiful, like a blooming rose, possessing alluring charm and deadly thorns.
However, after their eyes met, for some unknown reason, the passionate fire in her eyes gradually extinguished, and she turned and left decisively.
Third Brother also turned at that moment: "Let's go back!"
"Third Brother, did you get into some romantic trouble outside?"
Third Brother didn't look back. He left her halfway and ran off.
Was he feeling guilty?
Xue Niang wanted to find Third Brother to clarify things, but she couldn't find him for several days. Later, she heard from Tang Men's Long Chi that Third Brother had left the valley again.
"He drank with me for two days without saying a word, then left the valley on the third day."
"Do you think he's troubled by love?"
"That... can't be, can it?" Long Chi recalled, "He did seem to be lost in thought quite often."
Third Brother was accustomed to his freedom outside, and since he couldn't be found, Xue Niang decided not to bother. Seeing what Long Chi was holding, she asked curiously, "What are you doing with this?"
"Rose Dew. Girls like to use it. The market price outside is a hundred taels a bottle. I have some ready-made, I'll get you a bottle."
As Long Chi went inside to get it, he emerged with a small porcelain bottle, a hint of confusion on his face. "Strange, I made five bottles, why are there only three?"
Xue Niang opened it. "It smells wonderful. You're amazing, you can concoct poisons and this too."
No wonder his skin was as good as a woman's.
As they were chatting, Xiao Shan walked in with a blank expression and took Xue Niang's hand. "Let's go back."
"Hey..."
Xue Niang was pulled out the door. It wasn't until they reached their living quarters that Xiao Shan let go of her. Then he seemed to want to speak but stopped, stood up, sat down again, and paced back and forth like a caged bear.
Xue Niang fiddled with the fragrant dew, not initiating conversation.
Xiao Shan finally stopped pacing and stared at her blankly.
"You don't like me anymore."
He said it with obvious sadness.
Xue Niang suppressed her anger and waited for him to continue.
"You don't give me the nourishing soup anymore, and you don't let me touch you."
"You..."
He stopped talking.
Nourishing soup? She was the one who needed nourishment!
Xue Niang lazily looked up. "Why did you stop? I'll finish for you. Back in Bozi Village, you had Qing He prepare medicine for you so that I could never get pregnant again. And now, I am pregnant."
Xiao Shan's body tensed abruptly, his eyes widening like copper bells, his arms clenching until veins bulged.
This was it, but it was impossible. He didn't believe it.
She couldn't possibly be with anyone else.
"I guess you had Qing He examine you, so now you believe it?"
"I don't believe it!" he roared. "I'll never believe it!"
"If you don't believe it, why are you acting like this? Shouting loudly means you lack confidence. Are you suspecting something between me and Long Chi? Thinking I'm pregnant with someone else's child? Look at you, like a jealous bear!"
"I... Xue Niang, please don't be like this. It makes me feel so bad." He slumped his shoulders, his head hanging low.
It had been over a month. She had stopped him from touching her, saying she was pregnant.
But he had already taken the medicine and couldn't possibly get her pregnant again. He didn't believe it, but seeing her talk to that pretty boy made him overthink.
Forget it, Xue Niang thought, I'm really indebted to him. She gently patted his head.
"Of course, I'm not pregnant. I was just tricking you."
Xiao Shan's tiger eyes suddenly lit up. "I knew it!"
But why would she trick him?
"Don't you know what you did? That day, you were like a madman. I fainted. I... have I been spoiling you too much? You tormented me to the brink of death. Is it that I don't like you, or that you don't treat me like a person?"
Xue Niang said this, her tears falling with grievance.
He was truly too fierce. She had begged him to stop until her voice was hoarse, but he had shown no mercy.
She was truly terrified of him touching her again, trembling uncontrollably.
"I..." Xiao Shan's mind flashed with some images.
He remembered, of course. That time he had indeed been frenzied, losing all reason. But it turned out he had hurt her so badly?
"The lotus on your back was about to appear. I... I was blinded by obsession. I only thought about making it bloom, making it bloom..."
It had indeed bloomed, under his frenzied thrusts.
It bloomed dazzlingly, like a fleeting epiphyllum.
He lay on her back, observing it for a long time until the flower gradually faded. When he looked again, Xue Niang was already asleep. He didn't know if she had fainted.
He hadn't meant to.
At that moment, his mind was blank, with only the captivating red lotus.
Xiao Shan fiercely slapped himself twice.
"You've spoiled me too much. Next time, just stab me with a knife."
"There's a next time?"
"No, no, I won't dare again. I absolutely won't dare again." Xiao Shan grabbed her hand and repeatedly promised.
"If you ever do this again, I'll never let you touch me again."
"That's impossible. I swear." He cherished her too much to do that.
The month-long cold war ended, and the couple reconciled. The sun shone brightly, matching the beautiful scenery.
While the children were out playing, Xiao Shan also prepared his painted boat and took Xue Niang for a lake tour.
At the end of the lake, mist swirled, green mountains were charming, and the sky was clear.
A peerlessly beautiful woman sat at the bow of the boat, dressed in snow-white, her features like a painting. A gentle breeze blew, her robes fluttering, like a blooming snow lotus.
"Wife, come down!"
Xiao Shan emerged from the lake, crystal clear water droplets rolling down his robust chest.
He spread his arms, swaying with the gentle waves, waiting for his wife to embrace him.
Xue Niang curved her lips into a smile, kicked off her shoes and socks, shed her outer robe, and her fair, jade-like body leaped without hesitation, throwing herself towards him.
Where the heart leads, the body follows.
A song drifted from a distant place—
Wild are the creeping grasses, dew-laden and abundant.
There is a beauty, with clear, bright, and graceful eyes.
A chance encounter, and my heart's desire is met.
Wild are the creeping grasses, dew-laden and glistening.
The End
Epilogue:
I am a fallen deity, waiting for salvation in the ice and snow—Feng Ling Yao
I will warm your soul with my blood, your guardian deity from a past life—Xiao Shan
After six months, Xiao Shan and Xue Niang's story finally concludes. Thank you to all the sisters who accompanied me along the way, making my writing journey less lonely. The novel has many shortcomings, and I am grateful for your valuable suggestions.
A new novel is in preparation. I will summarize my experiences and embark on the next journey.
Love you all, and to all the little darlings who are waiting for love and being loved! I hope you all find beautiful love.
See you in the next story!