The night was as thick as spilled ink. Xie Yushu’s carriage came to a steady stop at the gate. She stepped down, her footsteps unconsciously light.
Just thinking of Su Chi, surely already asleep at this hour, his peaceful face vivid in her mind—Xie Yushu’s heart softened completely, and she quickened her pace.
The candle in the room had long been blown out. Only a few strands of moonlight filtered through the window lattice, laying a thin layer of silver frost on the floor.
Xie Yushu shed her cold-damp outer robe, washed her face, brushed her teeth with bamboo salt powder, and returned to the room she shared with Su Chi.
Her steps were gentle as she crept in. The room was utterly still, save for Su Chi’s soft, even breaths.
Finally seeing Su Chi after five days apart, Xie Yushu sat quietly on the edge of the bed and watched him in the pale moonlight.
Her eyes brimmed with love, her gaze tracing the soft outline of his slightly fuzzy face.
His sleeping face was as gentle as she’d imagined. His dark hair scattered across the pillow, half his face buried in the soft bedding, leaving only one plush cheek visible.
Xie Yushu sensed—perhaps—that his closed eyelids fluttered slightly at her presence.
She bent down, buried her face in his hair, breathing in his scent. Then she pressed a soothing kiss to his temple.
“I’m back,” she whispered, her lips against his skin, barely audible.
Then she lifted the corner of the quilt, slipped in, and closed her eyes, ready to sleep.
But less than two breaths later, the person in her arms stirred.
“Yu… Yushu, is it you…” Su Chi hadn’t opened his eyes, just sensed someone beside him—her familiar scent—and murmured as if in a dream.
Only then did he force his heavy lids open. Sleep-blurred eyes focused on her for a moment, then he was instantly more awake. Delight lit his face: “You’re back!”
He’d thought he was dreaming—but she really was here.
Xie Yushu tightened her arms around him and whispered, “I’m back. Did you wait too long?”
“Mm, you were gone so long this time.” His voice was nasal—whether from sleep or longing.
Xie Yushu was truly exhausted, and was just about to drift off when she sensed Su Chi moving.
“What is it? Where are you going this late?” she asked.
“You must be hungry coming back so late. Let me make you something.” Su Chi wriggled out of her embrace, reaching for an outer robe to go to the kitchen.
Before he could get out of bed, she pulled him back into her arms.
“It’s too late. Don’t bother—I’m not hungry anyway.” She pressed his head to her chest. “Be good. Sleep. We’ll eat tomorrow.”
Su Chi let out a soft “mm” and settled back down, drifting to sleep enveloped in her scent.
Xie Yushu slept in until late morning. Su Chi, loath to wake her, quietly prepared lunch for them to share when she woke.
There was also a plate of oil-drizzled squash shreds.
Su Chi reheated the braised intestines and pork cheek he’d made two days before. He sliced the intestines into rings, arranged them on a plate, and drizzled them with thick, glossy braising sauce.
The intestines were impeccably clean, with no trace of odor—braised until soft and flavorful, yet still chewy. They’d absorbed all that rich, dark sauce—beautiful to look at.
The fatty pork cheek, now tender and savory from the braising, was shredded into fine strips on another plate—a satisfying heap to pick up with one chopstickful.
Su Chi kept piling food into Xie Yushu’s bowl—meat, vegetables, everything. The greens were from the little garden he’d been tending—tender and crisp, stir-fried with minced garlic.
Whatever he served, she finished cleanly, eating with gusto and barely pausing to speak. Her towering bowl of rice was soon empty.
Su Chi ladled out a small bowl of yam and meatball soup, blew on it until it was just warm, then handed it to her.
Xie Yushu had been ravenous—after one bowl, she was only half full. Su Chi knew she’d eat a lot and had cooked extra rice. He got up to refill her bowl.
As he did, Xie Yushu said, “I need to tell you something.”
Su Chi, busy with the rice, asked softly, “What is it?”
“I’ll be home for only two days. Then I have to go to the prefecture.”
Su Chi’s hand trembled slightly as he scooped the rice. A hint of displeasure crept into his voice: “But you just got back last night.”
He brought the bowl over. Xie Yushu took it but didn’t eat right away—she took his hand and explained.
After hearing her out, Su Chi’s discontent eased somewhat: “The Xie family? Your mother’s family? They found you?”
Xie Yushu stroked his head: “Mm, my aunt from the Xie family found me and told me about my mother. I’m going back, for her sake—I have to face this.”
She meant the matter of Xie Lan’s passing years ago. She owed the Xie family that closure, and she believed the original Xie Yushu would have done the same.
Su Chi took her hand and sat down, genuinely curious: “Then why did Mother refuse to go home back then? And why did she never tell you about the Xie family?”
It was strange—could it be that she’d stayed away all these years just because she disagreed with an arranged marriage? And never even told her daughter she had grandparents?
It didn’t make sense by any normal reasoning.
Xie Yushu felt a little wistful: “I’m not entirely sure why. Mother never mentioned them to me—I only learned I still had living relatives this time.”
In the original Xie Yushu’s memories, Xie Lan had never brought up the Xie family. But she’d never shown any hatred toward anyone either.
She’d been reasonable, a good manager of the household, doting on her husband and loving her child—the picture of the best mother in the world.
“Then… then…” Su Chi hesitated, finding it hard to ask.
He wanted to ask if she’d take him with her.
She’d just returned, only staying two days before heading to the prefecture.
He knew she had urgent matters to attend to—he couldn’t be so willful. He didn’t want to be this clingy either…
But… he would miss her.
His eyes were too easy to read—like a little kitten frantic at the thought of being abandoned. Xie Yushu’s heart softened, and she reassured him:
“I’m not taking you this time. I don’t know what kind of people they are yet. What if they’re bad? What if they bully you? I’d never forgive myself.”
In her eyes, Su Chi was a tender little lamb. Sending him into a den of tigers like the Xie family—what was that if not sending a lamb into a wolf’s den?
These past few days in Tang’an County, she’d heard more or less about the Xie family’s reputation. On the surface, they sounded good, but which wealthy household didn’t have dirty secrets behind closed doors? They were good at putting on a show. She’d only know the truth once she got there.
Hearing that, Su Chi was instantly reassured. He linked his fingers with hers and obediently agreed: “Alright.”
These two days, Xie Yushu wouldn’t go to the base. Ye Youchun would come to her if anything came up. She’d just stay and keep Su Chi company.
At naptime, she noticed some red eggs in the kitchen she hadn’t seen before and asked Su Chi about them.
She’d eaten a lot at lunch, and Su Chi had joined her, so his head was foggy and drowsy. He mumbled: “Those are from the Huang family at the end of the lane—their fulang had a baby. Everyone in this part of the lane got some.”
Xie Yushu understood: “I see.” She added, “When the baby’s full month, we should give them a red envelope.”
Su Chi agreed: “Alright.”
But when she just acknowledged it and said nothing more, Su Chi woke up a little—annoyed and a bit hurt. He turned away from her, ignoring her.
Didn’t she want a baby at all when she saw others having one?
Xie Yushu, completely unaware she’d been resented, hugged him from behind, chin resting in the crook of his neck, ready for a cozy nap—not noticing anything amiss with her fulang.
His body warm in her embrace, Su Chi felt both frustrated and sorry for her. Frustrated that she seemed unconcerned, but also sorry she’d traveled so far and worked so hard. Before long, he’d talked himself back around and turned to hug her in return.
The next day, Su Chi packed for Xie Yushu.
This trip was different from Tang’an County—she was going to the prefecture, a day and a night’s carriage ride away. He couldn’t help worrying. Not about disaster or danger, but that she’d get tired and bored on the way.
“Is Youchun coming too?” Su Chi asked as he packed—if she was, he’d need to prepare more.
Xie Yushu shook her head slightly: “Not this time. My aunt is sending someone to pick me up.”
She saw him folding soft cushions and stuffing them into the bundle and laughed: “You don’t need to bring all that—it’s just a day’s journey. I can handle it.” He was treating her like she was made of spun sugar, stuffing in anything soft and comfortable.
Su Chi didn’t stop: “A whole day and night is too much—you have to bring these.”
She came up beside him: “I’m leaving tomorrow. Is there anything you want to say to me?”
Su Chi was folding clothes, seeming to find her in the way. He waved a hand absently, brushing her elbow, and said casually: “Come back soon.”
“That’s it?” Xie Yushu was surprised to be brushed off so carelessly.
Su Chi added, without looking up: “Be careful.”
His tone made it sound like the Xie family was truly a den of wolves.
“And?” Xie Yushu still wasn’t satisfied.
Only then did Su Chi look up and say solemnly: “Then remember to bring me back plenty of seaweed snacks.”
Xie Yushu deflated completely. She’d waited all that time, and all he cared about was packing—she was apparently less important than a few sheets of roasted seaweed.
“Alright, I understand.” She pinched his soft, plump cheek. Her fingers touched smooth skin, and she decided to drop it—her voice resigned: “Little greedy cat.”
Yesterday, she’d given Su Chi some seaweed snacks to try, and he’d fallen in love with them on the first bite.
She’d brought back two packets of Qin Fulang’s work—one for her base workers to taste, and one all for Su Chi.
Su Chi had never seen such a thing before. Curious, he turned it over in his hands, sniffing it here and there, then cautiously took a bite.
Crunch—the crispy seaweed sheet snapped in half. A salty, sea-briny flavor mixed with a light oil fragrance immediately filled his mouth.
The novel texture made him eat several pieces in a row, chewing happily, his eyes curving into crescents: “Delicious.”
Xie Yushu reached out, brushed the crumbs from the corner of his mouth, and licked the tiny fragments off her fingertip—salty, paper-thin.
She ruffled his hair gently: “I didn’t bring much this time. The workshop in the county is rushing production—soon you’ll be able to have some every day.”
The next morning, a carriage was already waiting at the Xie household gate—far more impressive than the one Ye Youchun had rented. It was sent by Xie Qi to take her to the prefecture.
She’d given Xie Qi their address in Songwan Town; the carriage must have arrived before dawn.
Before parting, they were still in the courtyard. Su Chi patiently explained the purpose of each item in the bundle, rambling on about many things—but Xie Yushu couldn’t focus on a single word.
She only saw his rosy lips parting and closing, unconsciously recalling the warmth of last night’s kisses, and the softness of his waist. Something tugged at her heart—she really didn’t want to leave.
“Are you even listening to me?” Su Chi frowned slightly, tugging at her sleeve when he saw her distracted.
Xie Yushu hurriedly said, “I heard you,” then suddenly leaned down and pressed her lips to his chattering mouth.
Su Chi froze—and in that moment of surprise, her tongue had already slipped past his lips, coaxing his tongue into a gentle suck. He couldn’t resist her. He held her back and tilted his head up, receiving this farewell kiss.
Only when someone outside began urging them did Xie Yushu reluctantly let him go.
Su Chi was left breathless, cheeks flushed, looking at her with a mix of shyness and reproach.
That look made her want to stay even more. But in the end, she steeled herself, wrapped an arm around his waist, and bit his earlobe gently, whispering: “Wait for me.”
His warm breath brushed his ear. Su Chi’s nose tingled with emotion. He buried his face in the crook of her neck—but only for a moment before pulling back: “Alright.”
·
The carriage had been specially commissioned by the Xie family—lined with soft cushions and thick quilts, clearly a thoughtful preparation. Xie Yushu settled in, leaned against the wall, and closed her eyes, bracing for the day-and-night-long “carriage torture.”
Her aunt must have already arrived at the Xie household, which was why she hadn’t come to pick her up personally.
She was relieved—she didn’t want the Xie family to meet Su Chi so soon anyway.
The wheels rolled on, carrying her toward a family she’d never met.
·
In the Xie household’s front hall, the lights blazed—several tall candles made the room as bright as day.
Servants stood silently in the corridors, hands at their sides, waiting for instructions. The water on the tea stove boiled and cooled again, cold tea after cold tea was replaced with freshly brewed cups.
Several family members sat restlessly, anxiously waiting.
The head of the Xie household’s husband, Wen Fulang, leaned back in a plain rosewood armchair, dark circles under his eyes—clearly he hadn’t slept well for days, his face etched with exhaustion.
His voice was hoarse as he asked every so often: “When will my little Shu arrive? Wasn’t she supposed to come today?”
Xie Qi hurried over to comfort him: “Father, it’s at least a day and night from Songwan Town to here. I think she’ll be here soon. Why don’t you go rest in your room? I’ll come get you when she arrives.”
At the mention of Songwan Town, Wen Fulang’s eyes reddened immediately.
His eldest daughter, his Lan—how could she have died so young?
The grief of losing a child still ached in his chest, even two days later. If it weren’t for the chance to see his granddaughter, he’d still be lying in bed, refusing to see anyone.
His voice caught. He pressed a handkerchief to the corner of his eye: “She should have been our Xie family’s precious young lady, my dear grandchild—how did she end up in such a backwater place?”
Xie Mu, the head of the Xie family—Xie Qi’s mother—sat rigidly in the main seat, her expression stern, sipping from a cup of cold tea as if the chill could quell her inner agitation.
Seeing her husband was about to collapse, she spoke: “A Qing, take the master back to his room to rest.”
Wen Fulang was stubborn: “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll wait here for my granddaughter.” He gripped the armrests of the chair, afraid of being dragged away.
Xie Mu glanced at him, sighed, and said nothing more.
Two quarters of an hour later, a servant came running in, out of breath:
“She’s here! She’s here! The young miss is here!”
“She’s walking this way now!”
Leave a Reply