She had always been the one in charge at ho, and everyone said she was capable. But she also longed for soone to protect her, to keep her from having to worry so much. Listening to the usually quiet Qingmu thodically lay out plans for her, her heart settled—she had chosen the right person.
She didn’t feel shy anymore. She looked up at him, her eyes rimd with red, and whispered, "Alright! I understand."
Qingmu had seen her decisive and sharp deanor at ho, but now she looked gentle and well-behaved. His heart softened, and he felt a surge of protectiveness. He was used to looking after Juhua, and right now, he wished he could do all the rough chores for Yunlan himself.
So he added, "You should spend less ti in the fields. Let Yungen manage things more often. You can guide him from the side. Let him gain so experience, and he’ll easily beco a bit more Old Cheng. When you get mar... When we’re together later, we can help your father and the others."
Liu Yunlan smiled, nodded, and said, "Alright!"
Qingmu, afraid she might misunderstand, explained, "You’re a young woman with quite a reputation. At your age, it’s better not to show your face in public so much. Otherwise, it could easily attract trouble."
Hearing this, Liu Yunlan grew vigilant. ’I’m about to be engaged,’ she thought. ’I can’t cause any trouble for him.’ She nodded her head like a little chick pecking at rice, promising she definitely wouldn’t go out this year.
Qingmu broke into a smile.
Liu Yunlan saw his eyes shining as he looked at her with a smile, and she couldn’t help but blush again. She said to him softly, "Your sister is so well-behaved and capable. I like her a lot. She’s so young, but she’s much more sensible than Yungen. Sigh! If only my Yungen were as sensible as her."
Qingmu was delighted to hear this. He smiled and said to her, "Juhua has always been obedient, just very timid. But she’s better now that she’s older. She said she likes you a lot, too."
Liu Yunlan saw the doting look on his face as he spoke of Juhua. ’He really loves his sister,’ she thought. ’Then again, who wouldn’t love a girl as well-behaved as Juhua?’
’No wonder he ca with his uncle today to propose, right after Juhua visited my house. Juhua must have approved of , and that’s what made him decide.’
’Was Juhua’s visit arranged on purpose?’
’It probably was. Otherwise, who just happens to wander to my doorstep for fun in the middle of winter?’
Thinking about the brother and sister discussing her behind her back made her face flush an even deeper red.
Just as Qingmu was about to speak, Liu Yunlan looked up shyly and said, "I want to see what size shoe you wear. I... I’ll make a couple of pairs for you. Juhua is still young, and those soles are thick. I’m afraid she can’t push the needle through. If I make them for you, it’ll save her the trouble. Making clothes is no problem since the fabric is thinner. Your mother is very busy too, so she probably doesn’t have ti to make them for you."
Seeing how she cared about him and Juhua ward Qingmu’s heart. When her round eyes looked at him, and that shy glance swept over, he felt his heart tremble. A sudden sweetness blood within him, and he found himself looking forward to those shoes.
He said nothing, simply bending down, taking off his shoe, and handing it to her with a smile.
Liu Yunlan took the shoe, ntally compared its size to her father’s, and committed it to mory before handing it back. She noticed he was still watching her with a smile, his square-jawed face holding a hint of joy. His lips were no longer pressed into a tight line, revealing a row of snow-white teeth.
’So this is how handso he is when he smiles. It’s as warm as the sunshine outside, a feeling you want to hold on to.’
She felt herself involuntarily sinking into that smile, staring at him, dazed, having completely forgotten to be shy and look away.
Qingmu had been watching her with a gentle smile as she sized up the shoe, even wondering if he should break off a blade of grass to asure it for her so she wouldn’t forget. But now, seeing her look up at him in a daze, his heart began to pound, and his mouth went dry.
From this close, he could see her long eyelashes, neatly arranged one by one, their tips curling slightly upward. The eyes beneath them seed to shimr, as if brimming with water, soaking his heart and making it go soft, unfurling like a Juhua blossom steeping in hot water.
Perhaps his heart was just too soft and sweet in that mont, for he suddenly had the illusion that he could sll the light fragrance of Juhua tea.
Yunlan’s cheeks were also a flush of pink, like the rosy glow of the rising sun—soft and bright.
Qingmu, too, was lost in the sight. Was he captivated by the gentleness of that blush, or was this the young man’s heart finally awakening to love?
For a mont, the room was silent as the two of them gazed at each other, entranced. Suddenly, Yunlan smiled faintly. Qingmu froze for a second, then broke into a wide grin. In that instant, they both felt the distance between them shrink. They felt closer, and though a bit of shyness remained, the unfamiliarity was gone.
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