Chapter 15 “Would You Stay With Me?”…

Though she had promised to get along harmoniously with Xiao Rong, Si Jin actually had no idea how to achieve this.

Excluding their previous interactions that were merely performances, their last truly harmonious period dated back to their distant childhood years.

Si Jin couldn’t help but recall how they used to meet in quiet corners away from the crowds back then.

She was trying to escape the numerous banquets that made her uncomfortable, while Xiao Rong would already be waiting in those secluded spots, having been there for who knows how long.

Whenever Xiao Rong saw her, his expression remained unreadable, but he would always shift slightly to the side, waiting for her to come sit beside him.

In those sunless corners, Si Jin would play with her shadow appearing and disappearing at the boundary between light and darkness, while carrying on disjointed conversations with Xiao Rong.

There were no particularly memorable scenes, and the more Si Jin tried to recall, the less she could pinpoint what exactly had made Xiao Rong develop romantic feelings.

Lost in thought, Si Jin arrived at Songlan Courtyard, standing before the door of Xiao Rong’s main chamber.

The courtyard was sparsely populated again.

Before Xiao Rong’s injury, she hadn’t visited Songlan Courtyard often. Now that she came daily, she initially thought Xiao Rong had given some order to make the courtyard so deserted. Only later did she learn that Songlan Courtyard had always been like this.

Xiao Rong preferred tranquility and didn’t like having servants waiting in the courtyard when there was no particular need. The few remaining servants in the courtyard bowed to greet Si Jin when they saw her arrival.

After nodding slightly, Si Jin walked toward Xiao Rong’s main chamber.

The chamber door was wide open, as if knowing Si Jin would arrive at this time and welcoming her entry.

Si Jin peeked inside: “Xiao Chongyun?”

She called out to him but received no response, nor could she see anyone.

Was he not here?

Stepping across the threshold, Si Jin continued looking around.

The room was quiet, with no audible sounds.

Suddenly, Si Jin halted her steps and quickly turned around, saying indignantly, “You were clearly here! Why didn’t you answer me!”

A shadow moved slightly behind the nearby screen, followed by the soft sound of something being placed on a table.

“Changing the bandages is painful. I responded earlier, but you might not have heard me.”

Si Jin’s shoulders twitched slightly with her back to the screen.

She didn’t believe him – she truly hadn’t heard any sound earlier.

“Hiss—”

Now she clearly heard Xiao Rong’s suppressed intake of breath.

The scent of blood mixed with herbal medicine permeated the air, and standing close, Si Jin could smell it particularly clearly.

She couldn’t help but recall that shocking wound she saw when the physician cut open his sleeve on the first day.

Xiao Rong didn’t offer further explanation, only enduring the pain in silence as he continued changing his bandages.

Si Jin’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her peripheral vision catching the shadow cast on the floor.

That would indeed be very painful.

Perhaps she really hadn’t heard him earlier.

Ever since that day when Xiao Rong locked her out and they later reconciled superficially after she entered to talk with him, every time she came to Songlan Courtyard afterward, she found Xiao Rong’s chamber door wide open.

Two days ago, when she entered, she happened to see Xiao Rong emerging from behind the screen with his collar loosened, clearly having just changed his bandages.

Xiao Rong quickly retreated behind the screen and only reappeared after dressing properly.

Yesterday, she called out to him from outside first. After receiving his response and learning he was changing bandages, she waited a while before entering.

Today… was exactly the scene that had just unfolded.

But Si Jin always felt that Xiao Rong seemed eager to create opportunities for her to accidentally witness him undressed while applying medicine.

Otherwise, why would he always happen to be changing his bandages whenever she visited?

A sound came from behind the screen, and Xiao Rong emerged after finishing his dressing change.

Si Jin quickly dismissed these baseless and rather embarrassing thoughts, instead asking, “It’s been several days already. Has Doctor Liu still not returned to the residence?”

“Doctor Liu had a family emergency. The round trip probably wouldn’t allow him to return so quickly.”

Si Jin fell silent at this.

To this day, she still didn’t know whether Doctor Liu had genuinely taken leave for personal matters or if Xiao Rong had deliberately sent him away.

Xiao Rong asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“Not me—it’s your injury. Since Doctor Liu examined you on the first day, no other physician has checked your wound. With such a serious injury, Doctor Liu hasn’t returned, and you refuse to call for another doctor. How can your wound possibly heal properly under these circumstances?”

Si Jin poured out all her thoughts in one breath, growing more anxious as she spoke, her emotions getting the better of her until the room was filled with her clear, urgent voice.

After she finished speaking, silence returned to the room.

Xiao Rong stood before her, quietly watching her without responding.

He noticed her press her lips together tightly, the color draining from them before quickly returning to rosy when she relaxed.

Her lips glistened slightly with moisture, making them appear even more lustrous—soft and inviting.

Xiao Rong swallowed heavily, the sound particularly noticeable, as if parched and hungry.

Unaware of his thoughts, Si Jin only felt increasingly awkward under his intense gaze.

“You…”

Xiao Rong’s eyes curved into a slight smile. “You’re worried about me.”

He stated it as a fact.

Si Jin grew even more flustered. “You were the one who said we should get along harmoniously. If you don’t want that anymore, I’ll take back my words.”

Xiao Rong quickly schooled his expression, speaking earnestly, “I was wrong. That’s not what I meant.”

As he spoke, his gaze briefly swept past Si Jin toward the door before quickly returning.

The few people originally in the courtyard promptly turned and hurried out toward the main gate.

Just outside the courtyard gate, a small crowd was waiting.

“How did it go today? Any progress?”

The first to emerge, now shielded by the courtyard wall, puffed out his chest proudly. “Success! Madam and Lord seem to have truly reconciled this time.”

But the next person to come out expressed concern, “Really? But I just heard His Lordship apologizing.”

Hearing this, most of the others exchanged knowing smiles.

The first man tapped her forehead. “You don’t understand. His Lordship dotes on Madam, so of course everything she says is right.”

…

Inside the room.

Si Jin certainly didn’t believe everything she said was right. Rather, Xiao Rong’s attitude of apologizing before she could even properly express her frustration left her speechless, with nowhere to direct her anger.

Xiao Rong said, “If you’re worried, shall we go to a medical clinic in the city to have a physician examine my injury?”

“It’s not that I’m worried—it’s your own body…”

Si Jin paused mid-sentence. “We?”

“Won’t you come with me?”

Si Jin frowned, naturally thinking that a grown man like Xiao Rong wouldn’t need accompaniment for a clinic visit.

But seeing Xiao Rong’s dark eyes fixed intently on her, his expectation completely undisguised…

She thought that if she refused, he would inevitably pester her with a mix of soft and hard tactics.

“When do you plan to go?”

“Right now is fine.” Xiao Rong took a slow, non-aggressive step forward. “Would you be willing to accompany me?”

Si Jin: “…”

Did he have to use such strange phrasing? It was truly…

“Let’s go. For now, please stop talking.”

To the servants in the residence, Si Jin and Xiao Rong traveling together signaled that the couple had finally reconciled after a long period of cold war.

For Si Jin, she was indeed interacting with Xiao Rong calmly.

But it had nothing to do with reconciliation. She had already made up her mind—even if she spent another month with Xiao Rong, her decision would not change.

As she was lost in thought, Si Jin suddenly caught a glimpse of the street scene outside through the fluttering carriage curtain.

“Why are we coming this way? Isn’t there a clinic in the west of the city? Crossing the bridge will just take us out of the way.”

Hearing this, Xiao Rong leaned closer to Si Jin, craning his neck to look out the window on her side.

Si Jin was startled by the sudden proximity of his profile so close to her face. A gentle breeze carrying the scent of medicinal herbs brushed past her, and she heard Xiao Rong say in surprise, “Is that so? I hadn’t noticed we’d already traveled this far.”

Si Jin: “Did you do this on purpose?”

It was unclear whether she was asking about deliberately taking the longer route or about him intentionally leaning so close to her just now.

Xiao Rong straightened up, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he met her gaze openly. “I’m not the one driving the carriage. How could it be my doing?”

Si Jin: “…Then where are we going now?”

“Since we’ve already crossed the bridge, let’s go to Myoshou Hall at the south end of the city.”

Si Jin’s expression shifted slightly. She parted her lips, about to say something.

But Xiao Rong spoke first: “We’re here. Let’s get off right here.”

The coachman upfront seemed to have heard him, promptly steering the carriage to the roadside and bringing it to a halt.

Si Jin awkwardly averted her gaze from the carriage curtain.

“What’s wrong?”

Si Jin: “Nothing. Let’s just get off.”

Xiao Rong stepped out of the carriage first, bending slightly as he exited. Si Jin followed behind him.

Before them stood a turquoise building spanning half the street, its central entrance adorned with a plaque bearing the flamboyant characters “Huile Workshop.”

A melodious tune drifted to their ears, and just then, someone on the street exclaimed loudly, “I set out early after receiving the message, and it’s only now that I’ve made it to Huile Workshop. But today I’ll finally get to see the painting I commissioned—I’ve been waiting a full month for this!”

“Then hurry inside! Let me see just how skilled that painter you mentioned really is.”

The two seemed too excited to moderate their volume, allowing those nearby to overhear their conversation clearly.

Si Jin paused mid-step as she descended from the carriage, noticing a broad palm extended toward her.

She snapped back to reality and naturally did not take his hand. “You’re injured. I can manage on my own.”

Even if he weren’t injured, she still wouldn’t want his help.

Xiao Rong withdrew his hand, his gaze following her movements as she stepped down.

“What were you looking at just now?”

His voice drew her attention back to him, and the moment their eyes met, her heart fluttered uneasily.

“Do you want to go to Huile Workshop?”

“No.” Si Jin replied quickly, then realized how tense she sounded.

She landed steadily, pausing a moment to catch her breath before looking up at Xiao Rong with a calm expression. “I know of Huile Workshop—appreciating music and painting to cultivate one’s character is indeed a fine pursuit. But today we came to see a physician.”

Xiao Rong gazed deeply at Si Jin for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle. “You’re right. We’ll follow your suggestion—let’s go to the medical hall.”

As Xiao Rong turned away, he didn’t notice Si Jin exhaling an almost imperceptible sigh of relief behind his shoulder.

After returning to the estate, Si Jin went back to Qiu Shui Courtyard while Xiao Rong, followed by a group of servants, busied himself with sorting and portioning the medicines prescribed earlier at Myoshou Hall in the southern city.

Not long after, Xiao Rong’s subordinate arrived amidst the greetings of courtyard attendants, delivering official documents from recent days. The main chamber of Songlan Courtyard stood with its doors tightly shut, the antique shelf blocking sunlight from the side window and casting shadows over the desk—a gloom thick with oppression.

Xiao Rong sat at the desk, his expression unreadable.

“Did you obtain the item?”

The subordinate bowed and produced a rolled paper from his robe. “Reporting, sir. This is the map Lady Si had commissioned at Huile Workshop.”

Xiao Rong lowered his gaze to scan the document.

Having been drafted by common artisans within mere days, it naturally lacked refinement.

Yet following the winding paths drawn on the paper, one could clearly discern the intended destination.

It was Xiqiu.

Xiao Rong’s eyes gradually turned frigid, like dark abyssal pools—bottomless and piercingly cold.

He stared at the crudely drawn map until he personally tore it to pieces, only then allowing turbulent emotions to surge freely in his eyes.

Retrieving another piece of mulberry paper from a drawer, he placed it in his subordinate’s hands.

“When she goes to collect the map, have Huile Agency’s people give her this one instead.”

The subordinate faltered momentarily before accepting the paper, then quickly comprehended. “Understood, sir. I’ll dispatch people in advance to watch the route.”

“Unnecessary. What if she changes her mind…” Xiao Rong’s words trailed off as he picked up a scrap of torn paper, twisting and rubbing it between his fingers before finally clenching it tight.

“If she doesn’t… I’ll retrieve her myself.”

Under the afternoon eaves, a long shadow stretched darkly.

Si Jin trembled uncontrollably, holding her breath as she hurried away from Songlan Courtyard.