Ci Jinzhi

If I call you Qingxiao, you will find out that I like you.

The girl's whisper was as light as a feather, but it hit He Qingxiao's heart like thunder, breaking his heart into countless pieces.

Is it a hallucination?

He raised his hand and put it on his heart, feeling the rapid heartbeat, but it still felt unreal. He stretched out his hand and moved closer to the girl's lips.

Her lips were warm due to fever, and her hot breath sprayed on the man's long and strong fingers, really.

Ayou...like him?

He Qingxiao couldn't believe what he heard with his own ears.

What do you like about him?

He has lost his parents since he was a child, has such bad luck, has a noble status but no corresponding family background, and has become a Jinlin Guard that everyone shuns...

What is it about him that Ayou likes?

The flames rolled around the branches, making a slight crackling sound, and also illuminated the man's face.

His face was as white as cold jade, and his eyes were cold.If you look closely, there is a fire dancing in the cold eyes.

It was the bonfire on the side that caught his eye, and it was the fire in his heart that broke through the cage, leaving him at a loss as to what to do.

"Congratulations Qingxiao."

"I...here." He Qingxiao held the girl's hand.

"It's so dark."

"Well, it's nighttime. It'll be bright when the day comes." Even though he knew she was talking nonsense due to fever, he answered patiently.

"Congratulations Qingxiao."

"I'm here."

"I think... you like Ayou too."

This time, the answer was a little long and the voice was a little low: "Yes, I like Ayou too."

He is not a tree or a stone. How could he not like such a smart, tough and kind-hearted girl?

"It's a pity that we met in the capital -"

He Qingxiao heard that she had not finished her words and waited quietly for her to continue.

The girl with slightly closed eyes raised her lips and said softly: "If we met before, I would want you to be my husband..."

He Qingxiao was stunned.

As sharp as he is, how can he not understand the meaning of these words.

He stared at her face and felt a sense of relief, more of an empty feeling.

It was as if there was a hole in his heart, and the cold wind that made him wake up was poured in.

There is no if in this world.

They met in the capital. She was a golden girl who lost her mother and wanted to take revenge. He was a lonely minister with a sensitive background and accompanied the emperor.She had no intention of wanting him, and he couldn't protect her under his wings.

"Congratulations Qingxiao."

"Ah."

"I'm actually a little sad..."

He Qingxiao waited quietly for a long time, but did not wait for Xin You to continue speaking.Her breathing became long and she fell into a deep sleep.

He soaked the veil in water again and applied cold compress to her forehead.

It was late at night, and the sound of wind mixed with the howling of wolves entered the cave, but it was insignificant under the warmth of the bonfire.

He Qingxiao stared at the sleeping girl intently.

She frowned, obviously feeling uncomfortable.

He thought about what she said half-sentence.

Is Ayou sad that they didn't get married?

After a while, He Qingxiao carefully lay down next to Xin You.

He thought that this would be the scene when a husband and wife sleep together in the same bed.

The night was very long, but also very short. The bonfire was quietly extinguished, and the morning light poured in from the entrance of the cave.

Xin You had a splitting headache and felt the coolness coming from her lips.

"Ayou, drink some water, let's go." A man's voice came to his ears.

Xin You suddenly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the face above: "...Master He?" He Qingxiao was stunned by the familiar title, and then asked with a smile: "Do you feel better?"

Xin You struggled to sit up, and He Qingxiao hurriedly helped her up.

"I fell asleep until now?"

"Well, you have a fever and it hasn't gone down yet. Let's set off as early as possible and try to get out of this mountain before dark."

Xin You looked suspiciously at the man who spoke calmly: "Master He just called me... Ayou?"

"Miss Xin heard wrong."

"No, I heard it." Xin You said firmly.

After sleeping all night, although her brain was still a little unclear, there was no problem with her hearing.

Why did Mr. He suddenly shout so...intimately?
Xin You shook his groggy head gently, his face changing slightly.

Could it be that she was confused and said some nonsense?

She quietly glanced at He Qingxiao's expression.

He looked normal, nothing unusual.

No, no, no, she knows Master He well after being in contact with him for so long, so she can't just take him at face value.

"Did I ask Mr. He to call him that?"

As soon as Xin You said these words, He Qingxiao's body clearly tensed up.

The memory of taking the initiative to kiss her came back. She raised her hand to touch her forehead and lost the courage to ask any more questions.

She was sure she was talking nonsense.

By this time, He Qingxiao was sure that Xin You didn't remember those words. He couldn't tell whether he was happy or disappointed. He couldn't bear her random thoughts and calmly explained: "Miss Xin felt that only the late empress would call you A You, so I decided to call you that." , I hope you don’t mind.”

Xin You lowered her eyes slightly, then raised her eyes for a while to look into those clean eyes: "Is that so?"

In order not to embarrass her, Mr. He was really considerate and considerate.

"Yeah. Let's eat something first. Only when you're full can you have energy." He Qingxiao changed the subject.

Xin You later realized that she smelled the fragrance: "Grilled fish?"

There were two fatty fish grilled to golden brown on the bonfire nearby. It was obvious at a glance that the heat was just right and the taste was good.

Xin You always had an inexplicable admiration for people who were good at cooking, and her eyes suddenly lit up when she looked at He Qingxiao.

He Qingxiao carefully picked out the fish meat and handed it to her lips.

Xin You was weak and unpretentious. She opened her mouth and ate the fish meat, frowning.

Upon seeing this, He Qingxiao said apologetically: "There is no salt, so the taste is a bit worse."

"No." Xin You smiled bitterly, "My throat hurts."

Even so, she knew that eating more food would restore her strength. She endured the discomfort and ate a fish, drank water, and even had two sour and sweet wild fruits to relieve her tiredness.

On the way out, Xin You lay on He Qingxiao's back and asked, "Did Mr. He stay up all night?"

To take care of her fever, she also brought fish, picked wild fruits, and made bamboo tubes to collect water.

"Don't worry, my body can handle it. In the past, when I went to Beijing on business, it was common to eat and sleep in the open."

Xin You calmed down and rested her head on He Qingxiao's shoulder, quietly watching the beads of sweat fall from his forehead and disappear into his clothes along his neck.

The memory of the accident is restored little by little.

"Thank you, Master He, for saving me."

"Miss Xin doesn't have to take it to heart because of her responsibilities."

"Even if it's your duty, Mr. He shouldn't just jump off with me. What if something happens to you too?" Xin You's heart felt heavy when she thought of the scene where he jumped off without hesitation.

"Don't worry, Miss Xin, I'm measured."

Xinyou pursed her lips.

If he hadn't remembered everything, listening to his calm tone, he would have concealed it.

Yes, she remembered.

He said that he also liked Ayou.

Xinyou closed her eyes and listened to her own heartbeat.

He responded to all her nonsense.