20demayo Chapter 192
Chapter 192
Upon hearing the noise, the woman instinctively hid the blood-stained handkerchief in her hand and looked at the person who had come.
Why are you up so early today?
Liu Qishan walked over with a kite in hand, a smile on his face and bright eyes. "I've finished all my work for today, so I came a little early."
When Nalan Jingwen first saw Liu Qishan's bright eyes, they were as beautiful as she had imagined, shining like the bright moon hanging in the sky.
Liu Qishan looked at her pale face, his beautiful brows furrowing slightly.
"Are you still not better? Why is your face so pale?"
The woman smiled gently, her eyes like melting snow-capped mountains. She raised her hand to touch her cheek and said softly, "Do I look bad?"
Liu Qishan shook his head, casually pulled up a chair and sat down next to her, placing the paper kite in his hand on her lap.
"I just think your face looks a bit scary, I don't like it."
The woman ignored the rudeness in his words and looked down at the kite on her lap. It was crudely made and obviously made by herself.
Her eyes were gentle, tinged with a hint of melancholy.
"Soon, when autumn comes, my illness will be cured."
Liu Qishan had some doubts, but since he didn't know what illness she had, he could only believe her.
"Really? Then in autumn, will you come with me to Qiwu Mountain to see the maple leaves?"
"I heard that the autumn leaves are very beautiful, just like a painting. But my mother said that men shouldn't go to such far places, as they might encounter danger. So, when you're better, will you take me there?"
The woman looked at him, her eyes filled with an indescribable emotion, her slender, pale fingertips stroking his smooth, black hair.
She didn't answer him, but just smiled gently.
"Your sixteenth birthday will be around that time, right? How about I give you a present then?"
Liu Qishan stared blankly into her gentle eyes, which were like a huge whirlpool, making one unable to resist sinking into them.
He looked away in a fluster, waved his hand dismissively, and said, "No need, Mother said that boys don't need birthday celebrations or gifts."
He seemed to have thought of something, his expression was somewhat disappointed, and his eyes were lowered.
“My mother said I could get married when I turned sixteen, but I don’t want to get married, especially not to someone I don’t know…”
The woman paused slightly and withdrew her hand.
"Qishan is so beautiful, many women must like her. Choosing one from a good family who treats you well would be a perfect match."
Liu Qishan suddenly turned his head, his starry eyes fixed on her, "Then will you marry me?"
The woman looked up, met his gaze, and remained silent.
Liu Qishan turned his head away again, pretending to be calm, and said, "I was just joking. Your family is so prestigious, how could I possibly be worthy of your status?"
His face was not visible, but his tone was filled with self-deprecation and disappointment.
"My mother has already found a family for me. Although they are not a wealthy or noble family, they are decent people. Once my birthday is over, I can marry into their family."
“I heard that the woman only has one husband and is an honest person. My mother said that I won’t suffer if I marry her.”
The woman listened quietly, looked up at his handsome face, and asked, "Will you marry her?"
Liu Qishan hung his head, looking listless. "My mother said that men have no right to choose. What does it matter if I want to or don't want to? No one will take my wishes seriously."
From birth, everything is planned out for them, leaving them no room to resist.
"Will you marry her?"
The woman asked again.
"I don't want to."
The woman nodded. "If you are unwilling, then I will not marry."
Looking at her pale face, Liu Qishan smiled bitterly, "This is not up to me."
“You’re only sixteen, with a bright future ahead of you. You shouldn’t be confined to a house. So what if you’re a man? You can do whatever you like, as long as you’re willing.”
"I can help you."
"Do you believe me?"
The woman gazed at him, her gentle eyes seemingly containing a power that made him drown in them.
He stared at her blankly and nodded.
"letter."
The woman smiled gently, her beauty dazzling.
Liu Qishan looked away in a panic, a faint blush rising on her fair face. "I've already learned what you taught me the other day. Can I learn something else today?"
"it is good."
The woman stood up, swaying precariously, and Liu Qishan hurriedly supported her, his tone somewhat grave.
"Have you lost weight again? Have you not been eating properly these past few days? If you don't eat, when will you get better?"
The woman smiled, patted his hand, and gently shook her head.
"It's nothing, I just sat for a while and felt a little dizzy."
Liu Qishan's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't say anything more.
They arrived at the table, and the woman was helped to sit down. Liu Qishan ground ink for her, and the warm sunlight shone on them, creating a scene of serene beauty.
She wrote on the paper, her hand trembling slightly, though it was barely noticeable unless you looked closely.
"The west wind rises in September, the moon grows cold and frost congeals..."
Liu Qishan watched her write down stroke by stroke, muttering to herself, her brows furrowed slightly, as if she were somewhat puzzled.
What kind of poem is this?
The woman stopped writing, blew on the paper to dry the ink.
"This poem is titled 'Longing for You'."
Liu Qishan looked at the poem, his eyes shining, and pointed to one of the lines, asking, "What does this mean?"
The woman looked in that direction and said softly, "People say that if you have a wish, Heaven will surely grant it."
"It means that if a person has a wish, as long as their heart is sincere, Heaven will surely help them to realize it."
Liu Qishan's eyes lit up slightly, and he said, "Really?"
The woman smiled and nodded. "Do you have any wishes? As long as you make a sincere wish, Heaven will surely hear you."
Liu Qishan tilted his head in thought, then shook his head. "I have no wishes."
Everything changed after he met her. He used to want to go to school, but men don't want to go to school, so he doesn't even know many characters.
But after meeting her, she gently told him that she could teach him to read and recite poems, as long as he wanted to learn.
He liked her very much and was grateful that she didn't mind his clumsiness and was willing to teach him patiently.
Liu Qishan paused for a moment, then said, "Then I hope you get better soon, so we can go to Qiwu Mountain to see the maple leaves."
The woman paused slightly, then subtly changed the subject.
"Do you want to learn to read?"
Liu Qishan nodded, "Okay!"
The woman stepped aside and gave him her seat. Liu Qishan sat down without any hesitation. Then the woman stood behind him, as if embracing him, and held his hand holding the pen. He wrote stroke by stroke with a serious expression.
They were very close, their breaths mingling. Strands of her hair brushed against Liu Qishan's cheek, making him feel a little itchy. He turned his head and touched the woman's delicate skin. He froze on the spot, his mind completely captivated by the face so close to his.
It's so close...