Chapter 86: It Had to Be Her

Imagine a youth enveloped in an aura of cool detachment, distant as the moon in the sky, giving you a faint smile—wouldn’t your heart scream with excitement?

Moreover, this youth not only possesses flawless, breathtaking beauty from every angle but also a sharp mind and meticulous cunning. Isn’t that just too perfect?

Wen Nuan Nuan had never been one to chase celebrities, nor did she often spend money on celebrity merchandise. But if someone like Leng Xiao existed, she’d be willing to use the hard-earned money from her diligent work to support him. He was just too good-looking.

Indeed, looks reign supreme.

His appearance was simply unbeatable.

Maintaining a calm expression while her heart was screaming, Wen Nuan Nuan was caught off guard when a bundle was suddenly thrust into her arms.

Still processing what had happened, she stammered, “What’s this?”

“Eldest Brother hunted it last time. It’s been prepared and brought back this time. Go inside and open it.”

Hearing Leng Xiao’s words, Wen Nuan Nuan immediately understood that Eldest Brother hadn’t heeded her instructions. She looked at Leng Xiao suspiciously and asked, “You didn’t listen to my instructions either, did you?”

He had nodded in agreement!

“We did listen. Eldest Brother and I both listened. We used the roe deer fur to make short boots. Only the rabbit fur was used for yours.” Dressed in a faded, washed-out long robe, Leng Xiao spoke with a low, clear voice, his demeanor still carrying a hint of scholarly refinement, as if doubting him would be unreasonable.

If Wen Nuan Nuan hadn’t read the original book and known he was a cunning wolf in sheep’s clothing, she would have believed him completely!

“There were only three roe deer pelts in total. What could they be used for?” she thought. In contrast, although rabbits were small, there were at least eighty or ninety pelts. Combined, they might have been enough to make a lined jacket for each of the four of them.

Leng Xiao’s expression remained unchanged as he replied earnestly, “They were enough to make four pairs of short boots and four Snow Hats. The leftover scraps were used to make two pairs of hand warmers. Together with the old ones, it’s sufficient.”

Alright, Wen Nuan Nuan had nothing more to say.

When Leng Xiao decided on something, he always had a reasonable explanation. There was no arguing with him.

Besides, no matter what, they were doing their best to treat her well. She felt grateful for this kindness and would do her best to repay it in return.

Wen Nuan Nuan hugged the bundle and turned to walk into the house.

Suddenly, the bundle was taken from her arms. She looked up to see the tall, straight-backed youth beside her lowering his gaze. “I’ll carry it.”

Wen Nuan Nuan, who could change a barrel of mineral water by herself, thought, “Young man, are you underestimating my strength?”

But then she remembered the power this person beside her would wield in the future. Fine, let him underestimate her.

The temperature inside the house was worlds apart from outside. As soon as she entered, Wen Nuan Nuan took off her Heavy Cloak and hung it on the simple, homemade coat rack. Turning around, she poured a cup of pear soup from the iron kettle warming on the red clay small stove and handed it to Leng Xiao with a smile. “It’s sour and sweet, not just plain sweet. Want some?”

The four of them had very different tastes. Leng Yun, like her, loved all kinds of food, was adventurous in trying new things, and had a particular fondness for sweets.

Leng Chen and Leng Tian would eat anything without being picky—everything tasted good to them.

Leng Xiao only drank tea or plain water, practiced restraint in his diet, and cared little for material comforts. Even now, with ample food and sufficient silver, he lived as austerely as an ascetic.

Was this the state of “holding a vast sea within the heart, untouched by worldly desires”?

Wen Nuan Nuan couldn’t understand it, but she was deeply impressed.

After the shock, she continued sipping her fruit tea, floral tea, and homemade milk tea—delicious and flavorful. Hmm, she truly was a worldly person.

Wen Nuan Nuan had originally intended to just go through the motions, but unexpectedly, Leng Xiao’s slender fingers reached out and took it, slowly turning it over in his palm, which was covered in fine scars. Since entering, his phoenix eyes, deep as a lake, had been carefully examining every detail.

Feeling somewhat guilty for occupying his room, Wen Nuan Nuan knew there was no way around it—this house only had two rooms with a kang, and no matter how they arranged things, she would inevitably occupy one of them.

“Should I switch to Little Brother’s room? There are more of you, so you could sleep here?” Wen Nuan Nuan, aware that taking Leng Xiao’s room was inappropriate, proactively suggested.

“No need.” Leng Xiao’s gaze turned cold. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the thin window gauze, casting what should have been a soft glow, yet his tall figure seemed as if encased in a layer of frost.

Wen Nuan Nuan anxiously wondered: Leng Xiao’s words didn’t match his demeanor.

Should she tactfully switch rooms, or listen to him and stay put?

She had thought she’d never have to decipher a superior’s intentions again, but now she realized she’d encountered someone even more profound and difficult to read.

Compared to Leng Xiao, her previous work challenges were child’s play. This was a true master of depth and subtlety.

Impossible to figure out!

Leng Xiao’s gaze swept over the clean, tidy floor, lingering on the soft, comfortable bed for a long while before shifting indifferently to the long table placed by the window.

At one end, a small stove simmered with fruit tea, accompanied by a snack box and an iron grill—likely used for roasting food.

In the middle lay a notebook made of uniformly cut rice paper bound with thread, filled with various numbers. According to her, these were arithmetic problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division?

He had privately asked Little Brother and, after learning it, found it incredibly useful—more convenient and faster than an abacus.

Beside the notebook were the strange pens she had made: slender bamboo tubes with finely ground charcoal at the tip. The way she taught Little Brother to use them was different too, yet more practical.

Where had she been all these years?

Why were her temperament and habits the same, yet her actions so different?

And she had forgotten him.

He had struggled with whether to write to Jingcheng and ask her parents what had happened to her over the years, but ultimately decided against it. No matter what, she had returned.

It was enough that it was her. It had to be her.

Seeing Leng Xiao staring intently at the arithmetic notebook she had made, his expression cold and grave, Wen Nuan Nuan worried: Was he grateful she had taught Little Brother arithmetic, or did he resent her for teaching him messy, useless things?

But no matter how she looked at it, Leng Xiao didn’t seem pleased.

No, she had to save herself!

“This is very practical and will benefit Little Brother in the future.”

Unexpectedly, Leng Xiao’s cold, heavy expression lifted as he raised his eyes, nodding in clear approval. “Yes, I know. I’d like to learn too. Can you teach me?”

Wen Nuan Nuan was stunned, her mouth agape in disbelief. The shift had been too abrupt, leaving her completely unprepared.

It seemed that trying to guess his thoughts by observing his expressions didn’t work with Leng Xiao.

She had never guessed correctly even once!

“Is that okay?”

Wen Nuan Nuan nodded vigorously, a radiant smile spreading across her face. “Yes, yes! It’s very simple—I guarantee you’ll learn it right away!”

She had originally planned to teach Little Brother and have him teach the others, but she never expected Leng Xiao to take the initiative to ask.

Since he had taken the initiative to bring it up, it would be inappropriate to refuse.

Fortunately, the winter was long and uneventful. Leng Yun had memorized the mantra in just a few days, and with Leng Xiao’s almost supernatural intelligence, it would surely be a matter of minutes!

It was an easy favor to grant, so Wen Nuan Nuan agreed without hesitation.

She felt that her relationship with the powerful minister had grown a little closer.

Leng Xiao reluctantly shifted his gaze to the sewing kit at the other end of the wooden table, and then to his summer clothes?

Before he could ask, Wen Nuan Nuan eagerly took the opportunity to boast: “I sewed two hidden pockets.”

Leng Xiao responded with a faint, somewhat distant hum.