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墨書 Inktalez
Xin'er was avoiding him!
Leng Yixuan had noticed this early on.
Ever since the incident in the bathhouse, every time Xin'er saw him, she acted like a little rabbit spotting a big bad wolf, wary and on guard. At the slightest hint of trouble, she would flee faster than any rabbit could.
This left Leng Yixuan feeling quite helpless.
However, he understood that he had been too eager last time and had frightened her.
He had always prided himself on his patience over the years, but now he found himself facing his nemesis.
Whenever he encountered her, he lost the self-control he once had.
After all, she was truly a natural beauty; even a sage would find it hard to resist her charm...
Now, seeing Xin'er trying to hide from him every day, he noted that while she fulfilled her duties as a maid, her gaze towards him was tinged with a hint of fear and caution, which left him feeling quite helpless.
Thus, each time they met, he merely put on an indifferent expression and refrained from doing anything that might frighten her further.
What he needed now was time to help her gradually overcome her fear of him.
And so, in the blink of an eye, five days passed.
After spending some time here, Xin'er had become very familiar with her surroundings and the work involved.
Moreover, although her job was to serve someone who frightened her, after that night, Leng Yixuan no longer did anything terrifying to her.
However, the events of that evening still haunted her, so every time she served him, she remained on guard.
Despite this, she had to admit that she truly enjoyed her work.
Working here was quite easy; after serving Leng Yixuan each day, she would simply clean up in the White Jade Pavilion.
During her free time, she often went to help Xiao Huan.
Since Younger Brother Xiaobao had been sent to Butterfly Valley for treatment, Xiao Huan had been assigned to work in the library.
Every day, she would spend time in the library, dusting off books and such.
Xin'er loved going to the library to assist Xiao Huan.
Firstly, Xiao Huan was the first friend she made after arriving here, and their personalities clicked. In just a few days, they became very close.
Secondly, she enjoyed reading.
Although ever since her mother passed away, she had not read or practiced writing for a long time due to the need to make a living, deep down, she truly loved reading and writing.
So every time she visited the library, after helping Xiao Huan with some tasks, she would find a book and read it slowly.
Although she couldn't read many of the characters, she felt a surge of joy whenever she recognized some of them.
Since there were no pens or ink, every time she would sit beside herself, pick up a twig, and write the characters from the book one by one on the ground.
Today was no exception!
At this moment, it was a sunny afternoon.
In early spring, the sunlight was golden and warm, bathing everything in a comforting glow.
A gentle breeze blew, carrying a refreshing coolness.
After finishing her tasks at the White Jade Pavilion, Xin'er came to the library as usual to help Xiao Huan. Once they were nearly done, she habitually picked up a book from the shelves and sat quietly to read.
Xiao Huan knew that Xin'er loved reading and often became engrossed in her books. Therefore, whenever Xin'er was reading, she would refrain from disturbing her and instead take out her embroidery handkerchief to stitch flowers beside her.
The gentle breeze flowed softly; this afternoon was exceptionally tranquil. The two of them remained silent, yet the atmosphere was warm and cozy.
However, just as Xiao Huan was stitching away, her eyes caught sight of a lanky figure suddenly appearing at the library door.
Startled, Xiao Huan quickly set aside what she was doing and stood up to greet the newcomer, only to be stopped by a hand gesture from them.
Seeing the wave from the visitor, Xiao Huan froze for a moment before her gaze shifted to Xin'er, who was sitting under a large tree, engrossed in her book. Understanding dawned on her, and she left with a quiet smile.
Meanwhile, Xiao Huan remained completely unaware of what had transpired behind her as she focused intently on her reading.
At that moment, she was sitting under a large tree, holding a book in one hand and a slender stick in the other, carefully copying the words from the book one by one.
She was so quiet, and between her brows, there was an unmistakable air of seriousness and focus.
In this earnestness, she seemed to have shed some of her usual fragility, gaining an indescribable charm instead.
This scene, captured in the man's gaze, inevitably softened his heart.
Before him stood a girl clad in a Light Silk Robe, perfectly showcasing her graceful figure.
Her long hair was casually tied into two thick braids that hung down over her shoulders.
There were no beautiful adornments on her head, yet this simplicity added to her purity and innocence.
What captivated him most at that moment was the seriousness reflected in her brow, revealing her thirst for knowledge.
Looking at the words she had written with the slender stick, although they were not very neat and somewhat crooked, there was something about this scene that stirred his heart.
He stood quietly behind her, watching as she wrote.
Time passed without him noticing until finally, she finished writing and, feeling tired, set the book down. She tilted her head back and lazily stretched.
Though it was a movement devoid of elegance, it appeared completely unpretentious and somewhat adorable when she did it.
Seeing this, Leng Yixuan couldn't help but smile slightly and finally spoke up.
"Do you like writing?!"
Although it was a question, Leng Yixuan asked with certainty.
Xin'er, still caught off guard by the question, spoke her mind without thinking too much.
"Yes, I really enjoy writing! It's a pity that I don't have any paper or pen... uh..."
She initially thought she was talking to Xiao Huan, who was sitting not far from her. However, as Xin'er reached the end of her sentence, she felt something was off. Slowly, she turned around, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of confusion as she looked behind her.
When she saw the man standing behind her, she felt as if lightning had struck her. She was completely stunned.
"Uh, Xuan?! Why... why are you here?!"
Upon realizing that the man behind her was Leng Yixuan, Xin'er's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief and surprise, clearly visible on her face.
In response to Xin'er's expression, Leng Yixuan merely raised his well-defined eyebrows slightly. His expression showed no displeasure; he simply parted his red lips and asked softly.
"Why can't it be me?!"
His voice was gentle and soothing, like a pleasant spring breeze. However, for some reason, it sent a shiver down Xin'er's spine.
Startled, Xin'er quickly stood up from the ground, shaking her head vigorously like waves, and spoke to the man. "I should have warned you."
"Uh, no, no, that's not it. I'm just curious. Xuan, weren't you out? Why are you back so early today?"
Moreover, it was quite surprising that he even came here.
Xin'er thought to herself, unaware that her daily whereabouts were reported to Leng Yixuan.
So, after finishing his work early today, Leng Yixuan headed to the library because he knew she would be there.
Sure enough, his guess was correct.
However, what he didn't know was how much Xin'er loved reading. Just by looking at her serious expression earlier, it was evident.
That's why he asked.
To his disappointment, Xin'er still seemed so afraid of him.
Looking at the slightly flustered Little Face before him, Leng Yixuan's deep black eyes slowly softened as they fell upon Xin'er's hands, which were nervously intertwined.
His beautiful deep black eyes flickered for a moment. He didn't answer Xin'er's previous question but instead reached out and took her delicate white hand.
"Let's go!"
"Wait!? Go? Xuan, where are you taking me!?"
Perhaps due to the incident last time, Xin'er immediately panicked at Leng Yixuan's sudden action.
The charming and delicate Little Face was momentarily taken aback, her expression turning pale as she tried to break free and scream. However, upon hearing the man's words, she froze in place.
"What!? You said you want to teach me how to read!?"
Upon hearing his words, Xin'er was startled, and disbelief washed over her.
"Yes, didn't you say you liked writing? Now I'm going to teach you how to write!"
Leng Yixuan smiled brightly at Xin'er, who was still in disbelief.
His smile revealed a set of pearly white teeth, appearing so clean and refreshing, like brilliant sunshine that warmed the heart.
A gentle spring breeze blew through, lifting the man's long black hair that cascaded over his shoulders. A few strands playfully brushed against his cheek, softening the sharp contours of his face and adding a touch of gentleness.
Today, he wore a light gray robe with subtle patterns, cinched at the waist with a jade belt, and his feet were adorned with embroidered auspicious cloud shoes.
The fitted robe wrapped around his slender frame, accentuating his lanky figure perfectly.
As Xin'er gazed at this handsome and noble man, with that radiant smile devoid of any malice, her heart involuntarily fluttered.
That tingling sensation felt like a current flowing from her heart.
She didn't know what this feeling was, but she certainly didn't dislike it.
In fact, as the man took her hand and strode toward the study, she felt entranced, allowing him to lead her there without resistance.
The study was quite spacious.
Inside the study, the area measured over a hundred square feet.
Three sides of the room were lined with large bookshelves.
On these shelves, thick books were neatly arranged.
In the center of the study stood a large desk made of rosewood, where the four treasures of the study were also meticulously placed.
Xin'er often came to this room, but her visits were usually for cleaning. However, today felt different.
"Here, this is how you hold the brush. No, like this. Alright, hold the brush and try writing on the paper. Your posture needs to be proper; sit up straight..."
After entering the study, Leng Yixuan continuously guided Xin'er on how to write.
For Xin'er, the idea of being able to pick up a brush and write again was almost unbelievable.
After all, since their mother passed away, she and her brother had relied on each other. The hardships of life had forced Xin'er to give up many things she loved, such as writing and reading.
Now, her status was merely that of a servant girl, yet she could once again hold a brush and learn to read and write properly.
Thinking of this made Xin'er feel overjoyed; it was as if she were dreaming.
However, she cherished this opportunity to write very much. Therefore, whatever the man taught her, she listened attentively and seriously.
However, perhaps due to her overwhelming excitement, her hand holding the brush trembled continuously, resulting in characters that were crooked and slanted, resembling a caterpillar. This left Xin'er feeling quite frustrated.
In the past, her handwriting had been much more beautiful than it was now!
It seemed that after years of not practicing, she had indeed become quite rusty.
As Xin'er pondered this, a low chuckle suddenly reached her ears.
"Heh heh, are you writing or drawing a caterpillar?"
The man's voice was deep and hoarse, carrying a magnetic quality that made anyone who heard it feel a shiver of recognition.
However, his words struck Xin'er like a blow.
To say that her writing looked like a caterpillar was just too much of an insult!
Although what he said was true—she herself thought it resembled a caterpillar—hearing it from him made Xin'er's cheeks flush with embarrassment, turning a bright shade of red.
Feeling both annoyed and shy, Xin'er wished she could find a hole to hide in.
After all, her handwriting was truly terrible!
With these thoughts in mind, Xin'er decided to put down the brush and erase the evidence of her poor writing.
However, before she could do so, a hand quicker than hers snatched up the paper she had written on, folded it a few times, and tucked it into his own pocket.
"Uh?!"
Xin'er looked at the man's actions with some confusion.
"This writing is ugly, and yet you want to keep it!"
"Hehe, although the writing is ugly, this is the first piece you've ever written. I want to keep it so that when you practice more in the future, we can compare and see if you've improved," Leng Yixuan said, smiling at Xin'er's puzzled little face.
Upon hearing this, Xin'er simply lowered her head, lightly murmuring an "oh," before picking up the brush again to practice her writing.
However, after several attempts, she still couldn't write well. Each character turned out ugly, leaving Xin'er feeling somewhat disheartened.
A layer of disappointment and gloom slowly spread across her delicate little face.
It seemed she really wasn't suited for studying or writing!
Just as she was lost in thought, the man's low and charming voice reached her ears.
"No one can reach the top in one step. You've only practiced a little and already feel disappointed? Is your passion really just this shallow?!"
Hearing his words, Xin'er was taken aback for a moment. Then, without thinking twice, she replied, "No, I truly enjoy reading and writing!"
Xin'er spoke with great certainty.
After finishing her words, she lifted her gaze and looked at the man behind her, just in time to meet his pair of beautifully enigmatic eyes that seemed to hold a smile.
The man's eyes were exceptionally captivating.
They were perfectly shaped, deep-set, and as dark as night, exuding an endless sharpness and wisdom. Whenever she locked eyes with him, she would unknowingly become entranced by those dark pupils, unable to escape…
Just as Xin'er was lost in thought, she suddenly felt herself enveloped in a broad embrace. The hand holding the brush was firmly grasped by a large, warm hand.
"Uh..."
The man's sudden action caught her off guard. Once she regained her senses, Xin'er felt her heart racing wildly. Without thinking, she struggled and exclaimed, "What are you doing!?"
He was holding her for no reason; could it be...
Scenes from that night in the hot spring surged back into Xin'er's mind, causing her to shiver involuntarily. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, prompting her to struggle even more in the man's embrace.
Perhaps sensing her thoughts, the man spoke with a tone of helplessness and bitterness.
"Don't move. If you keep squirming like that, how am I supposed to teach you how to write?"
"What!? So you want to teach me how to write!?"
Upon hearing the man's words, Xin'er immediately stopped struggling, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief as she looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"
The man, noticing the girl's surprised little face, merely raised his handsome eyebrows slightly and deliberately replied with a question of his own.
"Otherwise, what do you think I wanted to do?"
"Uh..."
Hearing this, Xin'er felt a flush of embarrassment on her face.
It turned out that she had misunderstood him earlier!
Thinking of this, Xin'er felt a bit guilty about her earlier reaction but said nothing, only lowering her head and lightly biting her lips.
Seeing this, the man let out a feigned sigh and said, "So, in your eyes, I am truly so unworthy!"
As he spoke, Leng Yixuan's handsome face took on a look of sadness and disappointment.
At this sight, Xin'er was immediately startled and began to panic.
"No, that's not it! Xuan, please let me explain. You're not bad; you're really wonderful!"
Xin'er was speaking the truth.
After all, she barely knew him, yet he had helped her and her brother time and again. Just this kindness alone was something she felt she could never repay.
So, upon seeing Leng Yixuan's troubled expression, Xin'er immediately began to explain.
Moreover, her delicate little face showed signs of panic, as if she feared that Leng Yixuan would not believe her words, and she sighed heavily in distress.
In contrast to the flustered Xin'er, Leng Yixuan's handsome face broke into a joyful smile as he asked, "Is what you said true?"
"Yes, of course it's true!" Xin'er affirmed with a nod at his delighted expression.
However, the joy on his face lasted less than a moment before he sighed again and said, "But why are you always so afraid of me? Why do you keep avoiding me? Is it because of what happened last time?"
Leng Yixuan was referring to the incident that occurred in the bathhouse.
At his words, Xin'er immediately trembled and then lowered her head in silence.
Yet this action indicated her tacit acknowledgment.
Seeing this, a hint of guilt appeared in Leng Yixuan's eyes as he spoke apologetically.
"I'm sorry about what happened last time. It was my fault, and I apologize to you. I promise that nothing like that will happen again in the future. Please believe me and forgive me, okay?"
By the end of his words, Leng Yixuan's tone carried a hint of caution.
After all, he had been feeling guilty for the past few days.
The girl before him was unlike others who were enamored with vanity. If it were any other woman, a simple gesture from him would have them rushing to his side.
But those women only valued his appearance, his power, and the various luxuries he could offer them.
He had always looked down on those who sought superficial gains.
However, this girl was completely different.
Though she lacked wealth, she was not greedy for riches or enamored with vanity.
If she had become his that night, he would have treated her well without question.
In the future, she would have become someone of great importance in this royal residence.
Yet, she chose not to do so.
She kept avoiding him, steering clear of him.
In her eyes, what she saw was not his wealth.
A woman as pure and unpretentious as her was like an Azure Lotus, rising unstained from the mud. How could he not be moved by her!?
Thus, only such a woman was worth his time and effort, someone he should cherish.
He wanted to love her deeply, to treasure her, and to give her the best this world had to offer.
At the same time, he dreaded the thought of her avoiding him, fearing him; that would truly sadden him.
So now, Leng Yixuan sincerely prayed that Xin'er could forgive him for what he had done to her last time.
Because he was truly fed up with her fear and avoidance of him.
As for Leng Yixuan's genuine feelings, Xin'er could see through them.
Looking at the noble and handsome man before her, Xin'er's heart stirred.
This man possessed endless wealth and power; he stood atop a lofty peak as a figure of great importance. He was someone to be envied, resented, and revered.
It was astonishing that someone of his stature would apologize to a lowly servant like her and seek her forgiveness.
This was simply unbelievable.
Therefore, Xin'er felt a flicker of admiration for the man before her.
After all, in the years she had worked at the Noble Family, she had seen many wealthy individuals who looked down on others simply because of their riches. Even when they were in the wrong, they would never apologize.
After all, they considered themselves to be of a higher status, while those like him were merely lowly servants.
Thinking of the malicious faces of those people, and then looking at the man before her who sincerely apologized and lowered himself, Xin'er’s beautiful eyes flickered for a moment. Then, under the man's hopeful gaze, her eyes instantly curved into a radiant smile as she said, "Since you have sincerely apologized and admitted your mistake, very well! I forgive you!"
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