Solitary Toss of Tenderness

Flowers in the mirror, the moon in the water

Not knowing if it was due to the fickle weather of March, which switches between warmth and cold, with people wearing cotton clothes in the morning and gauze in the afternoon, Jiang Huaixi caught a cold. At first, it was just a slight stuffy nose, but later, it developed into a fierce fever and cough.

The conditions in Ji’an Village were not good, with only a small village clinic, and transportation was inconvenient. Jiang Huaixi could only rely on the medicine brought from Linzhou to alleviate her symptoms.

Several days passed, and although the fever had subsided, Jiang Huaixi appeared as if she had already recovered. However, during the nights, Lu Zizheng could still hear a few suppressed coughs from Jiang Huaixi, one after another, causing her to worry.

In the early hours of the morning, as Lu Zizheng was about to doze off in Jiang Huaixi’s arms, she heard the muffled coughs coming from her side. Lu Zizheng keenly felt that with each cough, her body trembled ever so slightly. In that moment, she woke up from her slumber.

Opening her eyes, Lu Zizheng turned her head to look at Jiang Huaixi.

Due to severe coughing, Jiang Huaixi’s voice was hoarse and weak. Seeing Lu Zizheng wake up, she bit her lip, sighed, and apologetically whispered, “I’ve disturbed you again. Tomorrow, let Auntie Lin clean up the study and lay a mattress on the floor. I’ll sleep in the study for a few days.”

Lu Zizheng turned around, reached out to embrace Jiang Huaixi’s slender waist, gently shook her head, and refused, “I can’t sleep alone either. Everyone’s worried. Huaixi, I feel like the cold medicine I brought doesn’t seem to be working. It’s been several days, and you haven’t gotten better. How about we go back to Linzhou and visit a hospital?”

Jiang Huaixi extended her hand, gently stroking Lu Zizheng’s soft hair, and smiled to reassure her, “It’s not some miracle pill; how can it get better so quickly? Don’t worry; I’ll be fine in a few more days. Let’s wait until Huaichuan’s engagement in May before we go back, okay?”

From her embrace came Lu Zizheng’s muffled “Mm…”

Jiang Huaixi lowered her gaze, gently rubbing her chin against Lu Zizheng’s forehead, and chuckled, “Alright then. If you really want me to get better quickly, I know a wonderful remedy. It just depends on whether you’re willing to give it to me.”

Lu Zizheng suddenly perked up, raising her head with bright and earnest eyes as she asked, “What?!”

Jiang Huaixi’s beautiful eyes shimmered with a hint of mischief as she pointed to her own cheek and said, “Kiss me once, and I’ll absorb the power of your love. I’m sure I’ll recover quickly.”

Lu Zizheng was taken aback and playfully patted Jiang Huaixi’s arm, unable to suppress her amusement and irritation, “I thought you were being serious.”

Jiang Huaixi furrowed her brows, let out a soft hum of displeasure, and retorted, “Where did you see that I wasn’t serious?” With that, she turned her face and leaned close to Lu Zizheng’s lips, coolly uttering, “I’m giving you a chance to make up for it.”

Lu Zizheng looked at Jiang Huaixi’s proud and coquettish appearance, unable to help but smile, and as she gazed into Jiang Huaixi’s eyes, her own eyes were filled with affectionate playfulness.

Finally, she reached out and pressed against the bed, propping herself up, and turned to Jiang Huaixi. She leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on Jiang Huaixi’s lips, her voice warm and tender, “Is the energy enough?”

Jiang Huaixi’s eyes sparkled like stars. She bit her lip and replied after a moment, “Letting you kiss me on the face, I’ve ruined my efforts. I’ve been holding back for days, afraid of infecting you…”

Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but laugh, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. Lowering her head, she gently nibbled on Jiang Huaixi’s lips, parting her teeth as their lips and teeth intertwined. Amidst the entanglement, she heard Jiang Huaixi murmur, “I’m not afraid, you don’t need to hold back…” With that, her hand began to slowly slide down along the delicate curve of Jiang Huaixi’s shoulder.

Jiang Huaixi’s body stiffened, and she weakly grabbed Lu Zizheng’s mischievous hand, turning her face away and breathing softly, “Zizheng, the energy is overwhelming…”

Lu Zizheng smiled, understanding her, and kissed her forehead. She instructed, “Alright, I’ll listen to you. I’ve been so obedient, giving you so much energy, you’ll be better tomorrow.”

Jiang Huaixi’s breathing evened out, and she curved her lips, gently caressing Lu Zizheng’s face as she coaxed her, “Yes, be a good girl and go to sleep. Goodnight. When I wake up, I’ll be better.”

Lu Zizheng nestled in her embrace, finding a comfortable position and holding onto Jiang Huaixi’s long hair. Listening to Jiang Huaixi’s slightly rapid heartbeat, she gradually drifted off to dreamland.

The next day, Auntie Lin came to clean up, and she saw Lu Zizheng and Jiang Huaixi watching a movie together in the study. She casually asked, “Huaixi, are you going back for Qingming (Tomb-Sweeping Festival)1?”

Lu Zizheng also looked at Jiang Huaixi when she heard the question. Jiang Huaixi smiled lightly and replied, “No, we’ll go back in May.”

Auntie Lin thought for a moment and hesitated before saying, “During those two days of Qingming, I’ll be busy with ancestral worship, so I might not have time to come over…”

As Auntie Lin was still considering how to phrase her words, Jiang Huaixi rarelly showed understanding and said, “It’s no trouble, Auntie Lin. You go ahead with your work. Lu Zizheng and I can take care of things here.”

Auntie Lin looked at Jiang Huaixi with a slightly embarrassed smile and replied, “That’s good… That’s good…”

Shortly after, she replaced the trash bag in the study and was about to leave when she seemed to remember something. She turned back and suggested, “The weather has been nice these days. If you both have no other plans, you could go out for an outing during Qingming. Qingcheng Mountain’s Huan Shan Temple, not far from here, is at its liveliest during Qingming. The scenery is beautiful, and the wish-fulfilling divination there is quite effective. There’s not much to do around here, so if you’re interested, you can go there and have a look.”

“Um…” Jiang Huaixi hesitated for a moment and replied, “Alright, Auntie Lin, we got it…”

Though she said so, deep down, Jiang Huaixi had already rejected the suggestion. She remembered what Lu Zizheng had told her; she had a fear of heights.

At night, before going to bed, Jiang Huaixi still coughed from time to time. Lu Zizheng remained quiet for a while and suddenly spoke up, “Huaixi, let’s go to Qingcheng Mountain during Qingming.”

Jiang Huaixi was slightly surprised and asked, “It might be a bit high, aren’t you afraid?”

Lu Zizheng smiled, her voice filled with trust, “I have you with me, don’t I?”

Jiang Huaixi chuckled softly and teased, “But I’m a bit scared. What if you start tearfully begging me to carry you down the mountain halfway through?”

Lu Zizheng shook her head, gently rubbing her forehead against Jiang Huaixi, sounding displeased, “That’s impossible!”

Jiang Huaixi softened her voice, charmed by Lu Zizheng’s half-playful and adorable look, and agreed, “Alright, let’s go. At most, I’ll carry you down the mountain.”

Lu Zizheng mercilessly debunked her, “You won’t be able to carry me.”

Jiang Huaixi raised an eyebrow and replied nonchalantly, “Oh? Then how about you try crying a bit when the time comes?”

Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but chuckle and scolded, “No way.”

So, the preparations began a few days before Qingming. Lu Zizheng earnestly asked Auntie Lin how to make rice balls, determined to personally prepare the picnic lunch for Jiang Huaixi on that day. She also borrowed the small electric scooter recently bought by Auntie Lin’s daughter and practiced riding it for two days to get familiar with it.

On the day of departure, early in the morning, Lu Zizheng woke up, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed her clothes. Then, she rolled up her sleeves and enthusiastically started preparing the lunchbox with love. Jiang Huaixi watched her excited expression, and with a bit of flour on her finger, she gently smudged it on Lu Zizheng’s face, teasing, “Zizheng, why do you look like an elementary school student going on a spring outing?”

Lu Zizheng wrinkled her nose and huffed, “Huaixi, I think you need some exercise lately. How about not riding with me later and walk to Qingcheng Mountain instead?”

Jiang Huaixi furrowed her brows, displeasedly coldly snorted, “You’re threatening me now? Well, you’re not allowed to climb onto the bed tonight.”

Lu Zizheng was taken aback, remained silent for a while, and dejectedly said, “You win…”

Jiang Huaixi triumphantly raised an eyebrow, feeling pleased, and reached out to help Lu Zizheng adjust her slipping sleeve.

As they headed towards Qingcheng Mountain, the journey was filled with mountains and water, offering beautiful and scenic views. Jiang Huaixi somehow managed to find a camera and sat behind Lu Zizheng on the electric scooter, constantly clicking photos. She took on a queenly role, giving orders, asking Lu Zizheng to speed up at times and slow down at others.

Lu Zizheng, to amuse Jiang Huaixi, sometimes playfully went against her requests. When asked to slow down, she would speed up, and when asked to speed up, she would slow down. This playful banter led to laughter all the way.

After parking the scooter, they continued their journey on foot, with Jiang Huaixi stopping from time to time to take pictures of the scenery or capture shots of Lu Zizheng. Initially slightly shy, Lu Zizheng gradually got into the mood and enjoyed being Jiang Huaixi’s model, having a great time.

As they reached the halfway point up the mountain, Lu Zizheng started feeling a bit nervous and dared not look down or around. Sensing her tension, Jiang Huaixi casually put away the camera, saying, “The camera is quite heavy, and my hand feels a bit tired. Let’s take a break from taking photos for now.” Then she extended her hand, interlocking her fingers with Lu Zizheng’s, leading her upward.

In that moment of holding Jiang Huaixi’s hand, Lu Zizheng glanced at her serene yet tender face and felt a sense of calm settling over her heart. Teasingly, she said, “You were pretending to be strong and said you could carry me?” Then, she held Jiang Huaixi’s hand tightly and walked side by side with her, heading higher up the mountain.

After much effort, they finally reached the mountaintop and beheld the Huan Shan Temple, where incense was thriving, and smoke enveloped the surroundings.

Lu Zizheng turned her head, a sense of supplication in her eyes, and said to Jiang Huaixi, “Huaixi, Auntie Lin said that the divination here is quite effective. Shall we go in and offer our prayers?”

Lu Zizheng had always regarded such matters of spirits and deities with awe but had never held any expectations. However, now, her heart’s fervent plea was too strong, and she couldn’t help but be willing to give it a try, hoping for some peace of mind.

As Jiang Huaixi looked into Lu Zizheng’s hopeful eyes, suddenly, it seemed like she understood why Lu Zizheng was willing to overcome her fear and make the arduous journey here.

This fool…

How could Jiang Huaixi bear to refuse her? She remained silent and instead held Lu Zizheng’s hand, leading her towards the temple.

They made offerings of incense money and then knelt together on the cushions, closing their eyes in silent prayer.

In her heart, Lu Zizheng devoutly made a wish, “May the Bodhisattva bless Huaixi with good health and longevity.” She repeated the wish three times in her mind before lowering her head and earnestly bowing, one bow after another.

With her eyes closed, Jiang Huaixi glanced deeply at Lu Zizheng, a tender smile playing on her lips, as she sincerely wished, “Please let Zizheng’s wishes come true.” Then, she bowed deeply three times and finally opened her eyes, preparing to get up.

As she got up, she glanced sideways and noticed that Lu Zizheng was still there, bowing earnestly, one bow after another. Unconsciously, a pang of tenderness and bitterness overwhelmed her heart, making her feel weak and soft…

A Taoist-looking man nearby spoke up and asked Jiang Huaixi, “Miss, would you like to draw a divination lot for the Matchmaker God?”

Jiang Huaixi glanced deeply at Lu Zizheng, who was bowing devoutly, and after a moment of contemplation, she finally nodded gently.

After Lu Zizheng finished bowing ninety-nine times and stood up, she felt a bit dizzy and unstable. It took her a while to steady her mind and clear her head, searching for Jiang Huaixi.

However, Jiang Huaixi was no longer by her side. Lu Zizheng looked around and saw amidst the bustling crowd, Jiang Huaixi standing tall and graceful with her back towards her, bowing her head in front of a stall that offered divination lots.

Just as Lu Zizheng was about to walk towards Jiang Huaixi, she sensed as if Jiang Huaixi had suddenly perceived something. Jiang Huaixi turned around abruptly, and their eyes met directly. In that moment, Lu Zizheng felt that Jiang Huaixi seemed to avoid her gaze slightly before looking at her again, revealing a hint of a smile, and then walking towards her.

As Jiang Huaixi walked up to Lu Zizheng, Lu Zizheng smiled and asked her, “What divination lot did you draw?”

Holding her hand, Jiang Huaixi led Lu Zizheng outside and replied with a faint smile, “Hmm.”

Curious, Lu Zizheng asked, “How was it?”

Jiang Huaixi’s footsteps paused slightly, and her expression became a bit serious as she looked at Lu Zizheng, causing her heart to beat anxiously. Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but furrow her brows and bite her lip with unease. It was then that Jiang Huaixi suddenly smiled and spoke gently, “With you by my side, it’s certainly an auspicious sign.”

Lu Zizheng felt relieved, and her lips curved into a smile as she teased, “Was scaring me fun?”

Jiang Huaixi raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly, saying, “Quite fun.”

Lu Zizheng let out a light snort, pretending to be angry. She turned around and started walking away without waiting for Jiang Huaixi.

Jiang Huaixi stood still, watching Lu Zizheng’s figure slowly recede into the distance. The smile on her lips gradually faded, replaced by a bittersweet expression that crept up to her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes.

In her ears, she heard the divination reader say, “Beloved in heart, heart’s desire fulfilled. A flower in the mirror, a reflection in the water, this is a harmonious sign.”

“This lot indicates that you are a perfect match, destined to be a happy couple with deep affection. However, your love may not last a lifetime, and your blessings might be shallow. It is likely that you will not grow old together.”

TL. Screw that divination, prove it wrong!!!