Chapter 651 - One, Two, Three
At the other side.
Tang Si leaned her head against her palm as she pondered. Now that they have decided to journey back to the capital, what should she do?
It had already been a very long time since she had left Houliao to come to Great Lin. If she didn't go back soon, her father would surely send people out to look for her, and when they found her, she would definitely be skinned alive.
However, she couldn't bear to part with Mo Ruo! Her heart tied up in conflicted knots, she slapped the table decisively and went to look for Mo Ruo.
Mo Ruo was seated at the pavilion before the pond, drinking as he recited poems to the moon. "From daybreak till dusk, Xilong under the moonlight. A pot of good wine, full of gentle grace."
Mn. Good poem! He took a gulp of wine, then saw Tang Si running in his direction. His hand spawned and his pot of wine almost smashed onto the ground.
Mo Ruo's reaction was just as if he had seen a ghost. Such a woman truly wasn't one to be trifled with!
However, before he had a chance to make a run for it, she blocked his way.
"Why did you run when you saw me?" Tang Si demanded.
He flashed a superficial grin at her, "No I didn't. See, it's late already and we're going to leave tomorrow. I was just planning to go back and rest."
"Really? I thought you only wanted to run after you saw me."
"Of course not!" He quickly waved off that claim, "If there's nothing in particular, I'll take my leave first." He pried Tang Si's hand away, intending to slink away in escape.
"Wait." Tang Si stood in front of him, arms spread wide to block his way. "I have something to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Promise me first that you will tell me truthfully, without lying."
Eh? Mo Ruo swept a glance at her from top to toe. What's this brat playing at? He nodded and said impatiently, “Ask quickly then, I’ll tell you if I know it.”
Tang Si paused for a moment and worried at her lips, then looked intently and sincerely at him as she slowly asked, “Do you wish for me to go back to the capital with you?”
Do you wish for me to go back to the capital with you? Mo Ruo froze and looked at her suspiciously. “What kind of question is this? Why would you ask that?”
Tang Si bit her lip and gathered her courage. “You know, it’s already been a long time since I left Houliao to come to Great Lin. If I still don’t go back to Houliao, my father will surely come look for me and drag me back. So… I’d like to ask you if you would wish for me to go back, or would you rather I go with you to the capital and risk being chased down by my father.”
“Of course you should go back. You are from Houliao - do you wish to put down roots in Great Lin instead?” He didn’t even have to consider his answer. Go quickly! As quickly as possible!
Tang Si was upset and anxious. “So you mean that you wish for me to go home?”
“Of course! You’ve already said that your father will chase you down. Then why are you still wandering around outside? Quickly go home then.”
“But… what if that wasn’t a problem? What if my father wouldn’t chase me back to Houliao? Would you wish for me to go to the capital with you?” Tang Si’s eyes brightened as she looked at him hopefully.
Mo Ruo was at a loss for words with her questioning. He hiccuped and didn’t answer.
Tang Si’s heart couldn’t be at ease if he didn’t clearly state his stance, so she stepped forward to tug on his sleeve and started swishing it back and forth as she continued chasing him for an answer. “Speak up! Would you wish for me to return to Houliao or go with you to the capital?”
“What are you hesitating for? I’ll count to three to decide. If you wish for me to go to the capital with you, I will go with you regardless who would try to prevent it. But if you do not want me to go, when you leave for the capital tomorrow, I will return to Houliao.” She seemed to be getting angry.
Mo Ruo was speechless at her questioning. He was minding his own business, drinking his wine, and was even in the mood to recite poems. But when this lass arrived, his mood was totally destroyed and thoroughly confused by her questions.
His head felt like it was going to explode.
Tang Si also started her countdown. “One!”
Mo Ruo’s heart was being tugged in several different directions. This woman clung to him as closely as a piece of sticky candy and was very annoying. He often wished he could kick her away and throw her to the dogs.
“Two!”
But she had also once saved him and was his benefactor. She wasn’t really a bad person either but just had a tongue that was a little too sharp, was a little too noisy, and acted a little too crazily. And he seemed to already have a little… Mo Ruo quickly shook his head.
“Three!”
There was no reply.
Tang Si stared at him imploringly for a long moment, then finally, her hand slowly slid down from his sleeve. Disappointed. She hung her head, eyes glimmering with tears that she stubbornly swiped away. “I understand now.”
Eh? Mo Ruo thought to himself, what does she understand?
Then he saw how her head was lowered despondently, turning away from him listlessly as she prepared to leave.
When he saw that, a bell suddenly seemed to ring in Mo Ruo’s head and his mouth started to move unbidden. “Eh, you quickly go pack your things properly and don’t leave anything behind. If you complain that you forgot to bring something along halfway, I’ll throw you off the carriage.”
Eh? Tang Si jerked up her head, her eyes sparkling with delighted surprise as she turned around to face him. “What did you say? Repeat that again.”
“Repeat what again, aren’t you annoying? When we reach the capital, I must carefully examine you for an illness, to see just where you have damaged your brain.” He waved a hand, face scrunched up in disgust.
He still acted like he was full of scorn towards her. But what he meant, was that Tang Si should go to the capital with him.
A smile slowly spread across Tang Si’s face as her lips pressed together in a wicked grin. Her delicate figure spun towards Mo Ruo’s side. “Why didn’t you say so earlier! I thought…”
Haha. Such a delighted smile!
Mo Ruo wrinkled his nose and stepped back, pointing at the sky. “It’s late. Rest earlier since we have to travel tomorrow.”
“Also…” Before Tang Si could finish speaking, he was already starting to walk away.
However, before he could take more than two steps, someone suddenly hugged him tightly from behind. A shiver ran down his spine.
Tang Si didn’t know where she found the courage to just hug him either. She plastered her face to his back and closed her eyes with a shy smile on her lips.
At that moment, it seemed like time had stopped.
Mo Ruo stood there dumbly, as if someone had cast a spell to freeze him in place. He merely turned his head slightly to glance behind, but didn’t reach out a hand to push away that woman behind him. Instead, he let her continue hugging him.
Time slowly passed by.
Tang Si opened her eyes and drew in a deep breath before she released him from her arms. Then, she walked around to stand before him on her toes, lifted her chin and touched her lips to Mo Ruo’s face in a kiss. As light as a dragonfly skimming the water!
Immediately after that, she dashed off like a little child getting away after a bout of mischief and was gone in a flash.
However, her laughter could still be heard from a distance. She truly had taken great liberties from him!
But Mo Ruo was thoroughly dumbfounded.
Yes, he was the one who asked the lass to return to the capital with him, and he did admit that he had this tiny frisson of feelings for her. But isn’t this developing too quickly?
Couldn’t you have given me a little time to prepare for it?
The furrow between his brows deepened as he quickly used his sleeve to wipe away the wet mark left on his cheek.