"Ah?"
Ah Su was a bit bewildered by the long string of questions from Yin Shixiu.
"It’s okay if you don’t rember everything. During this ti, how many tis have you seen her, was it here or at the Yin Mansion, what did she do, just say whatever cos to mind, it’s alright to be random."
"Oh..."
Ah Su responded, not really understanding the purpose of Yin Shixiu’s words, but she was already recalling...
"After the Young Master left those two days, the Young Madam was preparing for her IELTS and TOEFL exams at ho, and she got sick after the exams. I was here during those days, taking care of the Young Madam and the Young Master and Miss."
"...Later, the Young Madam feared spreading the virus to the Young Master and Miss, so she sent them to the Old Master and Madam."
"The Young Madam took three days off, didn’t go to school, and instead went to the hospital."
"Two days before the Young Master returned, the Young Madam said her health had improved, so she didn’t let co over to take care of her."
"After that, I don’t know... oh, the day before you returned, the Young Madam attended a school reunion and she called Madam."
"Yeah, she told about it too."
Yin Shixiu leaned back in his chair, lightly tapping the table, seeming to be deep in thought...
Ah Su blinked, looking at Yin Shixiu with so suspicion, "Fourth Young Master, is there sothing wrong with the Young Madam?"
"Her mood hasn’t been great lately, I’m a bit worried she might be bullied outside, so I’m asking you."
"Bullied?! Who would dare bully our Yin family’s Fourth Young Madam?!"
Ah Su frowned.
"Yes... who would dare bully my Yin family’s Fourth Young Madam..."
Yin Shixiu squinted his eyes slightly... only one word flashed through his mind, school reunion.
"Fourth Young Master, why don’t you ask the Fourth Young Madam directly? If she’s been bullied, she’ll definitely tell you."
"Ah Su, what I asked you today and what I said, don’t ntion a word of it when you go back."
"Ah?... Oh."
Ah Su originally wanted to say, if soone bullied Su Xiaong, they must let Old Master Yin stand up for Xiao ng.
But Yin Shixiu’s words weren’t sothing she dared to challenge, so she nodded in agreent.
"Tidy up here, I’m going out for a while, and I’ll be back before noon."
After saying that, Yin Shixiu got up and gave Shuangshuang and Huang Huang a hug, then picked up his coat and went out.
He went to a well-known psychological consultation room in the city.
He described Su Xiaong’s recent situation to the psychologist, listened to the psychologist’s analysis, and then left the consultation room.
Afterward, he also sent soone to investigate the situation of the school reunion that day, first needing to know who attended this gathering.
Fortunately, they were all Su Xiaong’s high school alumni, which didn’t vary much, although the quantity was great, it wasn’t impossible to find out.
When Yin Shixiu returned, Su Xiaong had also finished her class and got ho.
She was cooking lunch in the kitchen, and Ah Su was quite troubled standing at the kitchen door. Seeing Yin Shixiu return, she quickly stepped forward and said, "Fourth Young Master, let the Young Madam rest, she’s just back from school and is already cooking... I feel like I’ve been turned into an ornant."
Ah Su was quite troubled in heart, previously Su Xiaong wasn’t like this...
"I don’t treat you like an ornant, I just want to cook myself..."
Su Xiaong murmured.
Ah Su frowned, looked at Yin Shixiu, and pouted.
Yin Shixiu chuckled lightly and said to Ah Su, "Shuangshuang and Huang Huang might wake up soon, you watch over them."
Yin Shixiu’s words were not sothing Ah Su could defy, so she silently went inside the house.
"Didn’t you go to the company today?"
Su Xiaong asked casually, Yin Shixiu walked behind her, responded, and then gently, gently encircled her from behind.
Even with such careful action, he still felt Su Xiaong’s body slightly stiffen.
"It slls so good..."
He didn’t let go of her, whispered softly in her ear, "Why does it sll so good?"
"The spices were made by Ah Su herself—"
"I an you, why do you sll so good?"
Su Xiaong froze for a mont.
"Really fragrant..."
Yin Shixiu repeatedly said, and Su Xiaong only felt her heart pounding from his enchanting whispers.
"Let’s go on a nature retreat tomorrow."
"Still not going to the company tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I don’t want to. Nothing particularly important."
"...I have class."
"In the morning, right?"
"...Yeah."
"I’ll take you there, then I’ll wait for you to finish class."
"Uh, what about Shuangshuang and Huang Huang..."
"They’re not going, just the two of us."
"Girl, how long has it been since we’ve spent so quality ti alone together?"
"...I don’t rember, it should be... a long ti ago."
She murmured.
In this way, it seems she didn’t refuse his nature retreat proposal.
Yin Shixiu drove for over three hours out of Beijing, crossing into a small hill in Hebei.
This mountain isn’t considered majestic, yet in the late April season, it is lush with green, standing as a paradise in this industrial city.
Due to its high oxygen levels, many Beijing people co here for nature retreats to relax on weekends.
Su Xiaong wore a long skirt, a thin cardigan sweater, and held a denim jacket in her hand.
Yin Shixiu held her hand and walked up the mountain steps.
Today, Su Xiaong had done so light makeup, so her complexion looked much better.
"There’s a small temple at the top of this mountain, though it’s not big, it’s said that the wishes made here are very effective."
Yin Shixiu said, then looked at Su Xiaong and asked, "Do you have any wishes?"
Su Xiaong thought for a mont, her gaze fell on Yin Shixiu, then drifted away sowhat, but quickly returned as she nodded, "Yes."
"Tell ."
Yin Shixiu raised his eyebrows.
Su Xiaong laughed softly, "I’m not going to tell you, saying it would spoil its effectiveness. I want to ask Buddha at the temple."
Yin Shixiu chuckled, "How do you know that asking wouldn’t be more effective than asking Buddha?"
"You? Hmph."
Su Xiaong sneered, Yin Shixiu sighed and said, "I don’t know about others’ wishes, but your wish... telling would definitely be more effective than telling Buddha."
He spoke confidently, but Su Xiaong just smiled and stepped forward, speaking to herself, "I’m certain, asking Buddha is more useful than asking you... Shixiu."
Yin Shixiu didn’t hear her words, he followed her.
The higher they climbed, the more noticeable the fatigue beca. They rested along the way, sitting on stones by the path.
Yin Shixiu handed the food and snacks from his bag to Su Xiaong, "Eat so."
Su Xiaong took them, "Thank you."
"Can you still walk?"
Yin Shixiu asked.
Su Xiaong wiped her sweat, the sweat seeping into her many wounds, causing her scalp to go numb from the pain.
"To reach the temple, we probably have another hour’s walk..."
"Let’s rest a bit more before continuing."
"Should I carry you, how about it?"
Yin Shixiu looked at her and smiled.
"This is a mountain path, no need—"
"Have you looked in the mirror lately?" Yin Shixiu held her hand, "You’ve gotten so thin..."
Su Xiaong pursed her lips, "Really, have I?"
"Yes, it breaks my heart to see you so thin."
Yin Shixiu lifted her bangs with his hand, said nothing more, and when Su Xiaong reluctantly finished the bread, Yin Shixiu crouched in front of her, "Co on."
Su Xiaong quickly raised her hand to refuse, but her hand was already pulled by Yin Shixiu, wrapping around his neck.
Though she knew Xiao ng had slimd down, when he actually carried her, the weight on his back still made Yin Shixiu’s heart tremble and clutch tightly.
Su Xiaong leaned on his sturdy back... His hair near her nose was a bit prickly, there was a fragrance on him, they used the sa bath gel all the ti.
But aside from the bath gel’s scent, she could also detect a faint tobacco sll.
How long had it been since she could properly sll this scent.
Yin Shixiu continued walking for over half an hour without showing any intention of putting her down...
"Are you tired?"
She asked softly.
"Not tired."
"But your forehead is all sweaty..."
Su Xiaong reached out to gently wipe it...
"Su Xiaong..."
"Hmm?"
"As long as you say you’re tired, I’ll carry you. Not just now, but when we’re old, too."
Su Xiaong’s heart trembled...
"You should know, even if the sky falls, I’d hold it up for you. Hmm... After all, I’m taller than you..."
"...Not funny."
Yin Shixiu chuckled, then continued, "I want you to know, no matter what happens to you, no matter what you do, whether right or wrong, you are my wife."
"I swore that in this life, I would only love you, then I will love you until death. I want you to trust , not God, not Buddha, just trust ... will you, Su Xiaong?"
Su Xiaong hugged him tightly, her face pressed against the back of his neck...
Fortunately, she was lying on his back, he couldn’t see her eyes already moist, tightly pressed lips, and ugly crying face.
Though she tried hard to hold back, the slight tremor from her emotional stir was clearly felt by Yin Shixiu.
She stayed silent for a long ti until she felt her emotions had cald, then she spoke—
"...Okay."
Of course, it’s okay.
Yin Shixiu, these three words etched like a branding iron on her heart.
So painful, yet so profound.
She never believed in God, never believed in Buddha, if there really were Gods and Buddhas, why let her endure such tornt?
She worked so hard, loved soone so thoroughly, love in frustration, love in hardship, love in difficulty... never retreating from loving.
But, oh God, oh Buddha, if you could truly bless a lifeti, why let a devoted believer suffer such misery...
She said okay, she said she believes, but after speaking, there were no more words, Yin Shixiu carried her through the last half mile, without waiting for her further words.
They held hands entering the temple, standing side by side under the sturdy Bodhi Tree outside the temple gate.
On the branches of the Bodhi Tree, red ribbons fluttered, with simple and sincere wishes written in golden letters.
When the red ribbons were tied to the Bodhi Tree trunk, people were so devoted, so eager...
Yin Shixiu mainly climbed the mountain to let Su Xiaong relax, he had no faith, naturally not burning incense or worshipping Buddha.
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