Chapter 42: Ye Qingyi Visits Home

Ye Qingyi?!

Lu Xuan saw clearly the person standing at the door.

She stood there with a straight back, a narrow blade hanging at her waist, while holding a paper-wrapped bundle and a jar of wine.

Her expression was cold, just like at the escort agency, as she watched Lu Xuan leading the donkey at the entrance of the alley.

Lu Xuan led the donkey forward, confusion rising in his heart. Why had Ye Qingyi come here? Had something happened at the escort agency?

"I've been waiting for you all day."

Her voice was calm as usual, but it seemed to carry a hint of resentment.

Lu Xuan blinked. Waiting for me? Did something really happen?

"It's a rare day off today, so I took Yuyan outside the city for a spring outing to admire the peach blossoms!"

Just then, Lu Xuan helped Shen Yuyan down from the donkey's back. Shen Yuyan glanced at Lu Xuan, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Husband, she is..."

"The escort agency's Guest Elder, Miss Ye."

Shen Yuyan's expression softened. She nodded and said softly, "Hello, Miss Ye."

Ye Qingyi looked at her, her gaze lingering for a moment on her veiled face.

"Sorry for the intrusion."

Lu Xuan opened the door, and the three of them entered the courtyard. Lu Xuan led the donkey to the donkey shed while Ye Qingyi stood in the courtyard, looking around.

The courtyard wasn't large; it had a well, a tree, and a stove under the eaves, all kept very clean. The donkey shed was in the corner, and Lu Xuan tied up the donkey before adding a handful of fodder.

Ye Qingyi placed the paper bundle and the wine jar on the table. Lu Xuan walked over and glanced at the bundle... at least three pounds of meat. The wine jar had paper stuck on it with the words 'Jade Dew Brew' written on it.

"You went to a lot of trouble."

Ye Qingyi glanced at him.

"Just as you said to bring a few pounds of meat and two pounds of the finest wine when I came to ask about the medicine."

Lu Xuan said nothing and just shrugged, though he couldn't help feeling that Ye Qingyi had taken his casual words rather seriously.

Ye Qingyi paused before adding, "I'll ask about the medicine. You can handle the meal."

Lu Xuan looked at her, then at the meat and wine on the table. He had invited her to ask about the medicine, but somehow he had also ended up responsible for feeding her, so unfair.

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"Fine."

Shen Yuyan stood to the side, glancing between Ye Qingyi and Lu Xuan, her thoughts impossible to read.

"Miss Ye, please eat here. I'll go prepare the meal now."

Ye Qingyi looked at her, then at Lu Xuan.

"Fine."

Shen Yuyan turned and went into the kitchen. Lu Xuan wanted to follow and help, but Shen Yuyan pushed him out.

"I'll do it. You stay with the guest."

Pushed out of the kitchen, Lu Xuan stood in the courtyard, meeting Ye Qingyi's gaze. He rubbed his nose awkwardly. He had expected to spend the evening quietly with Shen Yuyan, not sit across from Ye Qingyi in silence.

Ye Qingyi walked under the tree and looked up.

"This tree is growing quite well."

"Yeah."

"Did you plant it?"

"I've only lived here for a few days, talk logically!"

Lu Xuan glanced at the tree. He had never paid much attention to it before, but under Ye Qingyi's scrutiny, it suddenly seemed rather healthy.

Ye Qingyi didn't ask further. Instead, she walked to the donkey shed and looked at the lame donkey. The donkey raised its head, snorted, and went back to eating grass.

"I heard his leg was injured before."

"Yeah, it's already healed."

Lu Xuan reached out and patted the donkey's neck. "It looks rough, but it's quite obedient. It carried us all the way back without causing trouble."

Ye Qingyi nodded.

Silence fell between them again, while the sound of chopping vegetables and the sizzling of the oil pan came from the kitchen. Shen Yuyan's busy shadow was reflected on the window paper.

Lu Xuan glanced toward the kitchen. The familiar sounds eased the awkwardness in the courtyard, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Ye Qingyi watched for a while before looking away.

"Your wife... is a good person."

"Yeah." Lu Xuan's expression softened. "She is."

He glanced at her, "Is this the first time you've met her?"

"Yes." Ye Qingyi paused, "She's wearing a veil, so I can't see her face clearly. But her eyes are beautiful."

Lu Xuan looked toward the kitchen window.

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Shen Yuyan came out of the kitchen carrying the dishes. There was a plate of green vegetables, and a plate of sliced meat... she had sliced half of the three pounds Ye Qingyi brought and kept the other half.

There was also a bowl of egg and soup, with green onions floated on top.

"Miss Ye, it's time to eat."

Ye Qingyi sat down, looked at the dishes on the table, and was silent for a moment.

"It's too much."

"It's not much," Shen Yuyan said as she served her a bowl of soup. "It's your first time here, and I didn't know what you like, so I just made a few simple things."

Ye Qingyi took the bowl without a word.

Lu Xuan also sat down, and the three of them sat around the small table. Above them was the tree, while the afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the leaves, falling onto the table and into the bowls.

Shen Yuyan took off her veil.

Ye Qingyi was stunned when she saw her face.

Red spots; her face was covered in red spots, densely packed from her forehead to her chin. However, her eyes were bright, the bridge of her nose was high, and the curve of her lips was very beautiful.

Ye Qingyi stared for three seconds, her gaze not leaving Shen Yuyan's face, and then she couldn't help but speak.

"You are truly beautiful."

Shen Yuyan was startled, then lowered her head, her voice so soft it was as if only she could hear it.

"Miss Ye must be joking. You are the truly beautiful one!"

Ye Qingyi shook her head.

"I never lie. You are better looking than me!"

After saying that, Ye Qingyi picked up a bowl of soup and took a sip.

"Mmm... it's delicious."

The tips of Shen Yuyan's ears turned red.

"I just made it casually..."

Lu Xuan picked up a piece of meat and put it in Shen Yuyan's bowl. He noticed the faint embarrassment on her face and felt a little amused.

"Eat."

Shen Yuyan was stunned, looking at Ye Qingyi and then at Lu Xuan.

"Miss Ye is still here..."

"She can serve herself."

Ye Qingyi held her bowl without even looking up.

"Yeah. I can serve myself."

Shen Yuyan lowered her head and took a small bite of the meat, the corners of her mouth curling up.

Lu Xuan watched her chew, and the uneasiness he had felt earlier gradually faded. At least this meal was going smoothly.