"Leave?"
Bai You'an sank back into the chair. "This humble one will not be leaving today."
"Why?"
Song Qingchao seemed rather agitated.
Bai You'an narrowed his eyes. "Why is Miss Song so nervous?"
"I am not."
Song Qingchao flicked her sleeves and moved to sit on the other side.
She hadn't eaten much earlier, so she picked up two washed sweet potatoes from under the table and placed them in the fireplace to roast.
"It's just that ordinarily, when Mr. Bai visits, he leaves before staying a single night, so this little lady asked out of curiosity."
"Mmm."
Bai You'an hummed softly, his voice languid.
"Today is a festival. I've already spoken with Zuo Suiran and am here to find my temperamental beauty with fine wine and delicacies."
Song Qingchao saw no point in responding.
"Your capricious Miss Zhong should be sleeping with Zhe'er now. Turn left out of here, go into the fourth cave, and it's the twelfth room on the right."
Song Qingchao helpfully pointed the way for him.
His finger, stained with wine, also lifted and pointed indifferently, issuing a polite dismissal.
Bai You'an acted as if he didn't understand. He leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table, his hand cupping Song Qingchao's palm. His words were ambiguous, "Miss Song, are you perhaps mistaken? The beauty I desire is only you?"
Song Qingchao, unsure of her own thoughts at that moment, nevertheless hooked her fingertip and drew circles on Bai You'an's palm.
"A man's words are not to be trusted."
"Not so."
His hand was suddenly gripped by Bai You'an, and then the man's breath washed over her.
It was warm, fragrant with wine and a hint of perfume.
"Miss Song, you can trust my words."
As Song Qingchao smelled these mingled scents, a nameless annoyance rose within her again.
"What do you want me to believe?"
Song Qingchao retorted crossly.
"A few days ago, I took Zhou Si out."
Went out...
Bai You'an's eyes, hidden behind his spectacles, darkened for a moment, his voice becoming somewhat unnatural, "Went out?"
Song Qingchao nodded, not denying it.
"I went to look for you, but I didn't see you."
The taut string in Bai You'an instantly relaxed. "Perhaps I was busy at the time and had to go out. You came, and happily, why didn't you tell me?"
"What were you busy with?"
Song Qingchao was deliberately pressing him, so she ignored his question about Zhou Zhengxi.
"I suppose I was probably at Zuo Suiran's residence. This person is too vigilant; he never allows me to bring Zhou Zhengxi with me."
If it were any other time, Song Qingchao would have believed this.
But it just so happened that Song Qingchao knew where he had been.
The more he didn't say, the more it implied he had something to hide.
"Oh, really?"
Song Qingchao's voice grew a little colder.
Bai You'an sensed it but truly didn't know what was wrong with Song Qingchao.
He gave a low "Mmm," and said nothing more.
He leaned in, but Song Qingchao dodged him.
Bai You'an opened his eyes, his brows furrowed slightly. "What's wrong?"
"I..." Song Qingchao turned her face away. "It's late today; you should rest quickly. I imagine General Zuo won't let you stay here for too long."
Bai You'an realized she was genuinely sulking.
So, he let go of her wrist.
His gold-rimmed glasses couldn't hide his disappointment. "I thought after not seeing each other for a few days, Chao Chao would miss me terribly. Now, you won't even let me kiss you..."
Song Qingchao: "..."
She petulantly pulled her hand out of his large one and whispered.
"We are not yet married; some things still need to be controlled."
Bai You'an, who had been feeling dejected, instantly perked up.
"Chao Chao's words mean..."
"I didn't say anything!"
Song Qingchao quickly reached out and covered Bai You'an's mouth.
"Mr. Bai, speak cautiously!"
Song Qingchao had only intended to placate Bai You'an, but she hadn't expected him to completely misunderstand.
She instinctively covered Bai You'an's mouth.
Good heavens, this silenced Bai You'an, but the warmth beneath her palm and his smiling eyes made Song Qingchao feel ashamed.
She couldn't bother with anything else.
Quickly, she let go and darted into the bedroom.
"It's late, Mr. Bai. Please rest well!"
Bai You'an, left behind, merely curved his lips and shook his head.
He hadn't intended to say anything.
He did want to get married, but the current situation forced him to reconsider the matter.
He was already mired in a quagmire, and to drag Song Qingchao, a floating reed, into it for his own selfish desires was already too much.
But now, he couldn't bear to give up Song Qingchao.
Since he couldn't let go, all he could choose was to hold her tightly.
Moreover, he had already made a promise.
To protect Song Qingchao's peace for a lifetime.
It seemed his affairs needed to be resolved quickly, no longer to be delayed.
The next morning,
Song Qingchao had tossed and turned the previous night. By the time she was about to fall asleep, dawn was breaking.
When daylight came, after a brief acquaintance with the surroundings, she saw Aunt Fang busy in the outer room.
Upon seeing Song Qingchao, she placed a plate of roasted sweet potatoes on the warming stove.
"Mistress, Mr. Bai instructed this morning that you wished to eat sweet potatoes. These two are just roasted; please eat them while they are hot."
Song Qingchao looked at the two fragrant sweet potatoes, her face flushing.
"I understand. You may go."
She had already forgotten about last night's events.
That darn Bai You'an was actually reminding her with sweet potatoes.
...
It seemed she had truly taught Bai You'an a lesson.
After consuming them retaliatively, Song Qingchao left the house.
She had a purpose.
She directly found Zhou Si and dragged him into the cave dwelling, handing him a set of night-traveling clothes.
Zhou Si: "???"
Taking the night-traveling clothes, he tilted his head to look at the bright sky outside. "Mistress, aren't we preparing a bit too early?"
Song Qingchao bit her lip and shook her head. "Not early. After we change, we'll go out!"
Saying this, she left Zhou Si behind and returned to the inner room to change.
...
"Mistress, aren't we too conspicuous like this..."
Song Qingchao and Zhou Si crouched behind a low bush.
"It's alright, trust me."
Zhou Si: "..."
Mistress, are you sure this decision was made after careful consideration!!!
Clearly, Song Qingchao had not.
She had brought Zhou Si out on impulse.
Of course, leaving wasn't just for Bai You'an's sake; she also had some other matters to attend to and wanted to get them done during the holiday.
The two of them squatted until nearly noon when Song Qingchao finally found an opportunity to move.
She nudged the drowsy Zhou Si with her elbow. "Move out!"
Zhou Si startled awake and instantly entered a combat-ready state.
But just as he was about to move, he let out a hiss and gasped.
"What's wrong?"
"Mistress, my leg has gone numb..."
Song Qingchao: "..."
As she prepared to move, she also hissed. Seeing Zhou Si's curious gaze,
Song Qingchao felt a bit embarrassed.
"I'm a bit frozen..."