Chapter 55: Xiqiu (Part 1)

The day they arrived in Xiqiu was already nightfall, with heavy rain pouring from the skies, leaving all travelers on the road thoroughly drenched and disheveled.

Seated inside the carriage, Si Jin hesitated, thinking that since it was so late, perhaps they should first lodge at an inn and wait until daybreak to proceed to the mansion her elder brother had acquired in Xiqiu.

Xiao Rong remained silent beside her.

His mood seemed to have soured ever since they entered Xiqiu’s borders.

Initially, Si Jin had guessed the reason and patiently coaxed him, but at the moment, she had no energy to spare for him.

After some deliberation, Si Jin ultimately decided to head directly to her brother’s mansion.

It had been so long since she had seen her family. Now that they were already in Xiqiu, if she didn’t go tonight, she would surely be unable to sleep.

After giving instructions to the coachman, the carriage soon traversed the city streets and arrived at the mansion.

Xiao Rong remained silent throughout the journey, but the moment the carriage halted, he immediately moved, bending slightly to lift the curtain and step out first.

In the dim light, Si Jin blinked as she watched his retreating figure.

A thought crossed her mind—never mind, she would coax him later.

Xiao Rong reached out to take the umbrella a servant held over his head but instead raised it toward the carriage.

Cold raindrops splattered against his shoulders, yet he merely stood with a stern expression beside the carriage, waiting for Si Jin.

When Si Jin lifted the carriage curtain, her gaze briefly met Xiao Rong’s before she looked up toward the mansion’s main gate.

Was this where her brother and parents lived now?

Her eyes fixed ahead, she instinctively reached out to take Xiao Rong’s hand.

Distracted, her aim was off, and she nearly missed.

Xiao Rong frowned, swiftly catching her hand in the direction she had misreached.

In one fluid motion, he pulled her toward his back and hoisted her onto it.

“Ah! Husband!” Si Jin exclaimed, snapping back to reality.

An oil-paper umbrella was thrust into her hand, while Xiao Rong’s large palms firmly gripped her legs.

His hold was tighter than usual, as if he had lost control of his strength.

Si Jin found herself pressed against his back, feeling somewhat embarrassed. “Put me down quickly—I can walk this short distance myself.”

“Too many puddles,” Xiao Rong replied tersely, his voice muffled, his arms still tightly clasped around her legs.

As he straightened his back, Si Jin instinctively wrapped her arms more securely around his neck.

Noticing the umbrella tilting forward to shield him, Xiao Rong said while walking, “Keep yourself covered properly.”

Si Jin’s heart softened instantly.

She steadied the umbrella, shielding herself completely and covering Xiao Rong as well.

Rainy days were indeed inconvenient, especially at night.

Xiao Rong tread carefully on the wet bluestone pavement, avoiding puddles, yet stray raindrops quickly dampened the hem of his robes.

Noticing this, Si Jin tilted the umbrella further toward him.

Raindrops pattered loudly against the umbrella’s surface, their breaths mingling in the humid air.

As the mansion’s gate came into view, Si Jin leaned close to his ear and whispered, “We’re almost there—can you put me down now?”

Xiao Rong showed no intention of releasing her and didn’t even bother to reply.

Just then, the tightly shut mansion gate creaked open from within, flooding the rainy entrance with warm, yellow light.

“Xiao Jin!”

“Little sister!”

Joyful cries rang out simultaneously.

Si Jin’s parents and her elder brother, Si Ming, stood at the doorway, having heard the carriage and rushed out eagerly to greet them.

Cheng Yi excitedly pulled Si Chengyuan, having him hold the umbrella properly for her before rushing forward, while Si Ming’s face was also filled with the joy of reunion after a long separation.

“Dad! Mom! Older brother!” Si Jin’s eyes instantly lit up, all her attention firmly captured by her family at the entrance.

She nearly forgot she was still on Xiao Rong’s back. Even after remembering, her excitement didn’t diminish as she squirmed and patted his shoulder: “Xiao Rong, put me down quickly.”

The sudden struggling force was considerable. Afraid of hurting her, Xiao Rong instinctively loosened his grip, allowing Si Jin to slide lightly off his back like a bird returning to its nest.

Xiao Rong only felt his back empty, the cold rain instantly soaking through the clothing that had been warmed by Si Jin’s body.

His outstretched hand remained frozen mid-air, maintaining its supportive posture as he quietly watched Si Jin rush toward her family without looking back.

Cheng Yi embraced Si Jin tightly: “I was just wondering whether you’d arrive today or tomorrow. Your father said it couldn’t be this soon, that it would take at least three more days.”

Si Chengyuan stood nearby rubbing his nose, unsure whether from embarrassment or emotion: “Well, seeing the bad weather, I thought the journey would likely be delayed.”

When Si Jin looked up, Si Ming smiled and ruffled her hair.

Xiao Rong stood alone in the curtain of rain, holding the oil-paper umbrella that Si Jin had hastily shoved into his hands. But it was tilted, already leaving most of his body drenched by the rain.

Several raindrops trailed down his jawline, his damp bangs clinging to his temples, making his handsome face shrouded in shadows appear somewhat gloomy.

Over there, Cheng Yi was already calling for Si Jin to hurry inside.

Only when Si Chengyuan turned around did he notice Xiao Rong still standing not far away.

“Chongyun?” Si Chengyuan called, then waved him over, “Come in, come in. Why stand in the rain?”

Only then did Si Jin suddenly remember the husband she had left behind.

She looked back and saw Xiao Rong standing alone in the rain, his tall figure emanating an indescribable loneliness.

His eyelashes were lowered, his thin lips pressed tightly together, his complexion appearing pale and fragile under the dim yellow light.

He looked exactly like a beautiful yet aggrieved… dog abandoned by its owner in a heavy rainstorm.

Si Jin: “…”

Having been together for so long, she could see right through him with one glance.

She had noticed his low spirits throughout the journey tonight and had already planned to comfort him later – after all, he was easy to appease. Who would have thought he’d start performing right at the doorstep.

Or perhaps it wasn’t an act. He might genuinely be feeling down and now felt wronged.

Because Si Jin had indeed completely forgotten about him moments ago.

After a moment’s thought, Si Jin quickly released Cheng Yi’s hand and turned to run back through the rain just as she had come.

Xiao Rong’s expression shifted slightly, the tilted umbrella instantly righting itself as he instinctively moved to meet her, but Si Jin had already thrown herself back into his embrace.

Though the umbrella was now properly positioned, the few steps in the rain had still left Si Jin’s hair dotted with water droplets.

Xiao Rong moved most of the umbrella in front of her while using his other hand to tuck a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.

“Let’s go, husband. We’ll follow mom and dad inside.”

Si Jin’s voice was soft, but the force pulling him was undeniably firm.

Xiao Rong gave her a deep look without speaking, simply holding the umbrella properly and allowing her to lead him, obediently following her up the steps into the mansion.

The candles in the hall must have been lit recently, as at this hour and in this weather, the household would normally be preparing to retire for the night.

Si Jin leaned against Xiao Rong’s chest, her eyes wandering as she surveyed the surroundings.

Upon entering the hall, Si Chengyuan beamed with a smile and instructed the servants to prepare tea.

Cheng Yi slapped the back of his hand: “What’s the point of drinking tea so late at night? Xiao Jin and Chongyun have had a long and exhausting journey—they should rest properly.”

Si Chengyuan’s hand stung, but he could only clutch it silently without complaining.

He gave an awkward smile and nodded obediently: “Yes, yes, you’re right, my lady. Let’s have hot water instead then.”

Si Ming’s gaze swept over Xiao Rong’s face: “Chongyun, you seem a bit pale.”

Xiao Rong’s expression remained neutral: “Thank you for your concern, elder brother. It’s just fatigue from the journey.”

Hearing his tone, Si Jin instinctively nudged his arm gently with her elbow.

Xiao Rong countered by grasping her hand under the table.

Meanwhile, Cheng Yi continued: “Have the rooms been tidied up? Although we prepared one for Xiao Jin long ago, it’s been quite some time—there might be dust. It’s better to clean it again.”

Si Chengyuan: “Didn’t we just clean it three days ago? How is three days ‘quite some time’?”

“What else would you call three days if not ‘quite some time’? Only you would be so sloppy.”

Back with Xiao Rong, the hand he had captured teased his palm with feather-light fingertips, sending a tingling sensation through him. Just as his grip loosened from the numbness, her fingers hooked around one of his.

Though they could have interlaced fully, she deliberately touched only a single finger.

Xiao Rong’s other four fingers twitched, yearning to envelop her hand completely again, yet reluctant to break the connection of the finger she had actively hooked.

“What’s wrong, Chongyun? You don’t just look tired—are you feeling unwell somewhere?” Si Ming asked.

Xiao Rong cleared his throat softly, not to warn Si Jin but to compose himself: “Truly, it’s nothing. I’m not uncomfortable. It’s been so long since I’ve seen elder brother and my parents-in-law. Xiao Jin is happy, and naturally, I am delighted too.”

Si Ming eyed Xiao Rong suspiciously, but in the blink of an eye, he genuinely saw the corners of his lips curl upward.

Yet, a moment ago, he had seemed expressionless—had he been mistaken?

Out of the corner of his eye, Si Ming noticed a slight movement in Xiao Rong’s sleeve and instinctively started to glance down.

“Older brother.” Si Jin suddenly called out to him.

Si Ming looked up again, parting his lips to speak, but before he could say anything—

Cheng Yi spoke first: “Xiao Jin, Chongyun, your rooms are ready. You’ve had a tiring journey, so rest well tonight. We can sit down and chat leisurely tomorrow.”

“Thank you for your care, Mother-in-law. Then we…” Xiao Rong began, starting to rise.

Abruptly, he paused mid-sentence. The arm closest to Si Jin was visibly tugged, pulling his shoulder toward her.

The hall fell silent.

Si Ming finally took the opportunity to see what he had missed earlier and revealed a meaningful expression.

Si Jin: “…”

The words she had been about to say—that she wanted to spend more time with her parents—stuck in her throat.

No one would believe that she and Xiao Rong had been secretly touching hands under the table. She had only pinched his finger to remind him and hadn’t pulled at all.

If she had pulled, it would have given them away.

Just like now.

Cheng Yi pursed her lips into a smile: “Alright, I’m tired too. With such heavy rain… it’s time to sleep.”

Si Chengyuan chimed in, “Yes, yes, it’s time to go to sleep.”

A warm blush quickly spread to Si Jin’s ears.

She immediately withdrew her hand, not caring how obvious the movement was, and pulled back the fingers that had just been mischievously teasing Xiao Rong from his palm.

“Then Parents and Older brother should also rest early, we’ll go ahead and… sleep.”