Xie Jiang let out a long sigh. "Perhaps it's left some after-effects?"
Xu Hengyan asked, puzzled, "What are after-effects?"
Xie Jiang's voice sounded rather troubled. "Before, when we were stranded in the mountains, I always slept leaning on you. So now, even though I know you're right beside me, I feel uneasy if I don't hold you."
Xu Hengyan couldn't quite tell how much truth there was in her words.
He believed she had been scared by him and that it had left a lasting trauma. She had indeed been frightened by him, and not just once.
He still remembered her eyes, red as a rabbit's.
Every time she was groggy from sleep, she would reach out to touch his head and face, wanting to know if his fever had subsided.
He had also noticed more than once that she would secretly check his breath, fearing he might have died silently…
Xu Hengyan guessed it might have something to do with her experiences when she was young.
Had a companion died in front of her then?
And she was left all alone as a child.
Xu Hengyan couldn't bear to reopen her wounds.
But the mere thought of her possible childhood experiences made pity well up uncontrollably in Xu Hengyan's heart.
Xu Hengyan sighed silently and extended an arm. "Then you..."
He had barely spoken when she rolled towards him, tucking his arm under her head.
Even though she hadn't said a word, he felt as if he could sense her joy, and he could even imagine her smiling face.
Xu Hengyan sighed inwardly and raised his other arm, helplessly covering his eyes.
Sometimes, even knowing she was faking it, that nine-tenths of it was false, he still couldn't bring himself to be hard-hearted towards her, even if just one-tenth was true.
He…
Xie Jiang had long since discovered that Xu Hengyan, despite his aloof appearance, was actually the most soft-hearted.
She hadn't even begun to act, and he had already surrendered.
~
"Where is Xie Jiang? Where did she go?"
Early the next morning, Lu Baohong received a report: those three young men had come again last night, and Xie Jiang had left with them.
As for the elite guards watching them in the eastern woods, they were all found lying on the ground, unconscious with bloody heads.
Lu Baohong immediately rushed to the adjacent property. Standing outside the low wall, he angrily said to Xu Hengyan,
"Young Master Xu, it's because of you that I haven't excessively restricted your movements. But this Xie person has done this time and time again. Does she really think I, Lu Baohong, am made of mud!"
Xu Hengyan, just finishing washing the bowls in the kitchen, slowly rolled down his sleeves and calmly replied, "Lu Baohong, have you perhaps misunderstood something?"
Lu Baohong frowned. "What is it?"
Xu Hengyan said, "I willingly surrendered myself to be exchanged for Xu Hengyi. It's true that I am your bargaining chip, but Xiao Xie is not. We've told you this many times. She came along merely to keep me company."
"I am your bargaining chip, which is why I have stayed in this small courtyard and have not stepped out. She is not a usable bargaining chip for you, so you cannot restrict her freedom."
"I've never heard such absurd talk!" Lu Baohong couldn't accept such a ridiculous statement. "Since Xie Jiang wants to keep Young Master Xu company, she naturally has to stay in this courtyard with him!"
Lu Baohong was so angry his nostrils were almost smoking. Hands on his hips, he paced furiously outside the low wall. "Xie Jiang is in league with Young Master Xu. What is she doing running out? Colluding with the people of the East Village against me?"
Xu Hengyan said coolly, "Xiao Xie has a restless nature. She just went out for a walk. You don't need to overthink it."
Just went out for a walk? Lu Baohong roared, "Do you think we're idiots!"
Xu Hengyan said, "Xiao Xie is alone and frail. What can she possibly collude with the East Village about?"
Even if she possessed some personal bravery, would the East Village even notice her?
The East Village had always rejected outsiders. To the East Village, what difference did they have from Lu Baohong?
Even if Luo Shou was closer to them, Luo Shou was just a half-grown child and didn't have much say in the East Village.
As for the fact that they had saved Luo Shou, Xu Hengyan would not tell Lu Baohong. Xu Hengyan would also not tell Lu Baohong that they had underestimated Xie Jiang from the very beginning.
Xu Hengyan stood with his hands behind his back in the shade of the large locust tree, like a jade tree rising from the ground. Even the dilapidated courtyard seemed to gain style and charm.
"You know best what your ties are with the West Village. Even if Xiao Xie stayed in the courtyard and didn't step out, you and the East Village would have been at loggerheads long ago."
Meeting Xu Hengyan's clear, cold gaze, Lu Baohong suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
That look seemed to see through all their schemes and calculations.
The East Village indeed couldn't make much of a splash. The West Village alone could suppress them.
With the West Village and Luo Zhongtong around, he wasn't afraid of the East Village either.
Xie Jiang was merely a turtle in his jar, whom he couldn't deal with conveniently for now, but whose neck he would eventually wring!
Xu Hengyan's words made sense. It was debatable whether the East Village would even pay attention to Xie Jiang. Even if they did collude, they wouldn't be a match for them and the West Village.
Even if the East Village were blind enough to want to collude with someone like Xie Jiang, it would be too late.
A few more days…
His anger and dissatisfaction stemmed from Xie Jiang's constant defiance of his control! Her utter disregard for him! With her life in his hands, how dare she be so arrogant!
Xu Hengyan said, "I have no enmity with the Lu family. I don't care whether your Lu family members live or die. Since I've fallen into your hands, I will cooperate and obediently be a bargaining chip, but you must also be sensible."
Lu Baohong understood the implication of Xu Hengyan's words, which was essentially a warning not to touch Xie Jiang, and perhaps even not to displease his little sweetheart.
"As long as Xie Jiang behaves herself and doesn't scheme, I naturally won't do anything to her." Conversely, if Xie Jiang intended to cause trouble, then he wouldn't hesitate to kill her.
Xu Hengyan nodded. "That's good."
Xu Hengyan seemed to tacitly agree that Xie Jiang wouldn't cause trouble.
Lu Baohong was skeptical.
Xu Hengyan pointed to the large vat in the courtyard. "I need water. Have someone fill both vats here."
Since Lu Baohong wouldn't let him leave the courtyard, fetching water naturally fell to Lu Baohong.
Lu Baohong waved his hand, telling his subordinates to handle it.
Xu Hengyan was someone they couldn't afford to offend too deeply, or rather, they couldn't afford to offend the Duke of Wei's estate at the moment. While they could still scrape by with the court issuing warrants for them, if the Duke of Wei's estate wanted them and their fathers dead, they would truly have no way out.
"I will have someone bring you brush and ink shortly. I would trouble Young Master Xu to write a letter to the capital."
Although the news of Xu Hengyan falling into his hands would have undoubtedly been sent to the capital immediately, they at least had to let the Duke of Wei's estate know that Xu Hengyan was unharmed in their custody.
They would not harm Xu Hengyan in any way, only seeking to exchange him for members of the Lu clan. They had no intention of opposing the Duke of Wei's estate.
Xu Hengyan said, "Alright."
Since Xu Hengyan was being so cooperative, Lu Baohong felt he had to show some sincerity.