Liǔ Chéngkuàng looked at her for a moment, as if watching rain-beaten lotus flowers, and couldn't help but feel some heartache.
He really feels a bit of pity for Xin'er. After all, Xin'er is a girl who knows her emotions and interests. She's always kind and affectionate to him.
Especially when he puts forward ideas, Xin'er always understands them very well, which once made him regard her as a close friend.
If we say that at the beginning, he may have some slight disdain for Xin'er due to her status, but today, Xin'er still holds a pretty high position in his heart. Otherwise, he wouldn't have considered giving her the leftover scraps from the precious jade carving that Zheng Lingpiao had given him.
— Don't look down on scraps. Even if it's scraps, the warm jade itself is already precious enough.
Zheng Lingbo quickly realized what was on Xin'er's mind, and almost instantaneously, she shifted her attention away from Lǚ Chéngwàng to fix it on Xin'er.
As her eyes shifted, Xin'er immediately sensed the unique atmosphere between the two opponents and the subtle possessiveness.
She felt an inexplicable maliciousness in her heart next moment.
Zheng Lingbo could tell just by looking at her expression that Lǚ Chéngwàng would likely be unable to keep the warm jade.
Of course, if there is such a possibility, and Xin'er is also touched by the preciousness of the warm jade, then Zheng Lingbo would have to use some unsavory means to get it back.
This is also a helpless way. The best is that Lǚ Chéngwàng is a fair person, and tomorrow he can bring that warm jade.
Zheng Lingbo's thoughts were in turmoil, and he deliberately sneered at Lǚ Chéngwàng, his smile causing Lǚ Chéngwàng's head to feel flushed. In the end, he didn't forget to snatch the chrysanthemum that Lǚ Chéngwàng had picked earlier for himself and warned him:
"When it's not your turn to reach out, Lord Liao, you'd better keep your hands tightly tucked away in your sleeves and watch from a distance. Otherwise, if someone else takes away your limbs, you'll regret it too late."
It's not clear if this is referring to the chrysanthemum in his hand or the precious warm jade he had before.
Lǚ Chéngwàng was furious.
However, when he was calm and composed just now after being kicked by Zheng Lingbo, it was still a bit of a subtle pain in his chest. He couldn't help but stand there and take a few breaths.
Zheng Lingbo took the opportunity to turn his head and walk away.
Taking quick steps to a place where there were no people, Zheng Lingbo stopped in his tracks. He tightly held the chrysanthemum in his hand, and for a moment, his emotions were so complex that they were hard to express. He couldn't seem to gather his wits for a long time.
After a long time, she took a deep breath, composed herself and prepared to head towards the main hall. Unexpectedly, she lifted her face and encountered a pair of bright yet strangely calm eyes.
Zheng Lingbo was momentarily dazed, standing stock still.
It's Róng Yì.
The young man today wore a short jacket of deep blue color. He quietly squatted there, holding a potted chrysanthemum in his hand, looking as if he was transporting or replanting it.
When Zheng Lingbo looked over, the person was squatting there completely still, causing a moment of blankness in Zheng Lingbo's mind. He dared not imagine how long this person had been squatting there and whether they had seen what happened just now.
The scene was very stiff for a moment, and the suffocating embarrassment spread in the space. Zheng Lingbo's mouth opened and closed repeatedly, but he still didn't have the courage to ask Róng Yì whether they had seen what happened just now?
They just stared at each other for a long time, during which the stem of the chrysanthemum in Zheng Lingbo's hand was inadvertently broken. The broken plant fibers scraped across the tender skin of his palm. Zheng Lingbo finally snapped back to reality, managed to force a smile on his face, and greeted Róng Yì, "Wei, Micro-Moon, why are you here?"
Some things that happened during the palace banquet had greatly helped Zheng Lingbo, and as a result, the two of them had become gradually familiar with each other. Their relationship had become somewhat more intimate in terms of their greetings.
— Although so, it would sound more awkward for half-familiar friends to see me beat someone!
Zheng Lingbo had a moment of deep regret that he had not yet learned the legendary technique of disappearing underground.
Róng Yì thought for a moment and took his time moving the potted plant in his hand and smiling at Zheng Lingbo: "Lady Fukè told me to move the flowers I received recently to the garden."
That's the plain truth, but Zheng Lingbo still couldn't help feeling puzzled: "You, aren't you a scholar?"
The implication is how could you come here to do such rough work?
Róng Yì's expression remained unchanged: "Scholars also need to make a living."
Zheng Lingbo: (...)
Zheng Lingbo suddenly realized and was greatly shocked.
She had forgotten the embarrassment just now and only respected Róng Yì as a person.
She couldn't even remember how many times this person had amazed her. Although so, what startled Zheng Lingbo each time was not what he was doing, but his calm and composed demeanor when explaining these things.
It's like whether it's for the sake of prospects and dedication to cultivation, or for livelihood and doing rough work, it doesn't count as something shameful in his eyes.
But in reality, Zheng Lingbo knew that many scholars were quite pretentious and self-important. They wouldn't even think of digging into rough work or mentioning gold and silver, as if it polluted their ears.
But deep down, they're not truly treating money like dirt. The awkwardness in them is uncomfortable to watch.
-- Here, I'm specifically pointing at Liushengwang.
After becoming familiar, Zheng Lingbo had been curious more than once about how Róng Yì had become friends with Lǚ Chéngwàng. Although their characters are not opposite, they are far from being on the same page.
Thinking this in her heart, Deng Lingbo blurted out her doubts with her mouth: "Wei, how did you become friends with Master Lǚ?"
Róng Yì's expression was slightly awkward, and he said vaguely after a long while: "It was just a coincidence."
He couldn't say that he was only getting close to Lǚ Chéngwàng to get closer to her.
Zheng Lingbo likely noticed that he wasn't interested in discussing this topic, so she didn't press further. She smiled and moved on from the subject.
After all, she came to attend the birthday banquet of the Lady Fukè. She had already wasted a lot of time here, and there must be many guests coming soon. Zheng Lingbo didn't want to linger any longer, so she couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed as she left, lifting the chrysanthemum in her hand and making an awkward explanation: "I saw Lord Liusang and that girl picking flowers, so I got into a conflict with them."
The implication is that the two of them were simply inviting trouble for themselves and not that Zheng Lingbo was doing something wrong and picking a fight.
Róng Yì's eyes involuntarily softened and a hint of smile emerged: "I know."
Zheng Lingbo nodded dryly: "Yeah, that's right. I'll go to the front first, you take care."
Her discomfort was so obvious that Róng Yì couldn't help but smile. He didn't want to give the little girl any more pressure: "Okay, see you later."
Zheng Lingbo wildly waved her hand at him, running away as if she were escaping. After running a distance, she realized that she was still holding the chrysanthemum in her hand.
Lowering her head to look at the flower, it was indeed a beautiful one. She decided to take it over to Mukong Huayan and let her find a vase to insert it into. That would be the least she could do to justify the flower's sacrifice.
