Chapter 22: Give You New Clothes

Meanwhile, in the early morning hours.

Under the peach tree in the side courtyard of the Shangguan family residence in the capital, Yun Mu sat cross-legged, murmuring softly to himself.

Around him, faint flickers of light shimmered, barely noticeable in the morning sunlight.

This was the cultivation technique Lin Xizhi had taught him, related to “Little Dumpling.”

Although he didn’t know the exact name of the method, every time he meditated, he felt his breathing smooth and unblocked, as if every pore was being stretched and relaxed.

So, he took it upon himself to call it the “Lin Xizhi Breathing Method.”

Whether that was its true name or not didn’t concern him.

Last night, after Shangguan Hongzhi brought him back, he didn’t linger or even carry out the supposed punishment, leaving in a hurry instead.

Surprisingly, it was Shangguan Ce who found him first.

What was strange was that this originally ruthless man had suddenly changed his demeanor, looking at him cheerfully like a three-year-old.

Yun Mu felt as if he had been dumbfounded by the sudden shift, and the worry he once had softened somewhat.

From his perspective, though the man wasn’t dead, in this state he clearly no longer posed a threat to Xie Yi or Xiao Chun Xiao Qiu, so he paid no mind, allowing Shangguan Ce to romp and make a scene in the stable.

Whether his clothes got dirty or he injured himself was no longer his concern.

He disliked this man, even harbored a rare disgust toward him.

***

“Xiao Mu!”

As he opened his eyes, he saw Shangguan Qiuyue wearing a red jacket, hopping excitedly toward him.

He brushed the dust off his clothes, stood up, and smiled slightly.

“Miss Qiuyue, you’re here?”

In truth, he had come from the stable early in the morning in response to her invitation.

At the time, Shangguan Ce had just finished covering him in mud before the servants took him away.

The young lady, wrapped in a large coat, had come to the stable under the moonlight, happily informing him that her father had given permission for her to go out and play with the boy tomorrow.

He was puzzled as to why Shangguan Hongzhi would allow a recently escaped person to go out alone with his daughter.

What if he harbored ill intentions?

But once he considered the man’s status, he relaxed.

To be the head of such a powerful family, surely there were things like the Dark Guard.

Whether to monitor him or protect Shangguan Qiuyue secretly, they would undoubtedly have sent someone to follow covertly.

Besides, he hadn’t actually planned to run away.

Miss Qiuyue seemed to be in high spirits, very much like her usual self.

Seeing her cheerful mood, Yun Mu’s heart calmed, and he walked toward her just as happily.

But before he could get close, he heard her huff softly, followed by a playful complaint.

“Really~ Just a few days ago you still called me Qiuyue, but today you’ve changed how you speak?”

She stood there, arms crossed, head held high with pouted lips.

“Or maybe, Xiao Mu, you were only putting on a show back then, not really caring about me at all?”

The sudden question caught him off guard.

“Uh, Miss Qiuyue… no, Qiuyue.”

He approached and raised both hands, his tone a bit embarrassed.

His mind flashed to the girl’s kiss a few days prior, then to Shangguan Xunyi’s two bolder kisses, enough to make his head spin.

Of course, Shangguan Qiuyue was unaware of this.

She watched his flustered expression with interest and laughed brightly.

“All right, all right, I won’t tease you anymore. Come with me first~”

With that, she grabbed his hand and led him toward the house.

Upon reaching the doorway, she deliberately changed position and covered his eyes from behind.

Losing sight was uncomfortable, but the softness of her hands against his face eased the unease inside him.

The faint gentle fragrance made him accept the situation naturally.

So, the boy closed his eyes and followed her lead, step by step, until her soft touch left his cheeks and she spoke again.

Only then did he open his eyes.

“All right, Xiao Mu, open your eyes and see what I’ve prepared for you.”

Before him lay a neatly arranged long robe in apricot green satin.

The robe’s surface was smooth as silk, glowing with a warm and gentle sheen.

Embroidered on it were a few green bamboo branches and leaves, giving it a refined and scholarly air.

“Miss, this is…?”

“It’s the clothes I prepared for you. The one I sewed before was a bit too big, right? So this time I bought one a size smaller. It should fit much better.”

Shangguan Qiuyue explained as she casually lifted his arm, both hands grabbing the edges of his shirt to take it off.

“W-wait! Miss…”

“Ah, don’t talk! I bought this with my own money, so you’re not allowed to resist.”

“But… men and women shouldn’t touch…”

Clearly, his objection didn’t work, and he didn’t protest as strongly as he said he would, allowing her to strip off his patched, well-worn shirt.

Though it was already a new shirt replaced by Hu Delu.

But when the fabric covered his face, her movement stopped abruptly, followed by a sudden touch.

Shangguan Qiuyue’s small hand was somewhat cold, even colder than his body temperature, making him shiver involuntarily.

He couldn’t see what was happening or his own face, but he clearly felt his heartbeat accelerate sharply.

“Miss Qiuyue… what are you doing…?”

“Ah? Nothing, nothing, it’s just that what I said earlier was right—you really need to eat more, you’re too thin.”

The girl withdrew her left hand, lightly wiping away what looked like a tear of concern from the corner of her eye, then helped Yun Mu change into the new robe.

Without hesitation, her small hands reached for the waistband.

Before she could grab both sides, the boy caught her hand.

“Um… Miss Qiuyue, I should do this myself. I really shouldn’t be so willful…”

“Eh, but I bought the pants with my own money too. You’re not going to let me change them for you?”

Before she could start her act of pleading and cuteness, Yun Mu pushed her to the door and closed it, ignoring the loud knocking and her playful scolding of “Xiao Mu, you’re such a bad boy.”

Then, in no time, he changed into the pants.

He even put on the pair of boots laid out on the bed, clearly intimidated by the girl’s persistence.

“This is…”

He noticed several green hair ribbons on the bed.

After a moment’s thought, he awkwardly picked one up and headed toward the door.

He hadn’t quite mastered walking in boots yet and almost stumbled multiple times over such a short distance.

Fortunately, effort paid off, and after a few missteps, he opened the door.

“Miss, you…”

With a “thud,” she fell forward.

Shangguan Qiuyue’s “rambunctious charge” coincided exactly with the door opening, causing her to miss the door and collide fully with Yun Mu.

She covered her head, looking at the fallen boy with a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

She had already noticed Xiao Mu was good-looking, and after changing clothes today, it was even more evident.

She cupped his face with both hands and stared into his obsidian eyes, her mind wandering.

Hmm…

Mother said that if girls outside see a handsome boy, they would make a move.

Xiao Mu would definitely be noticed.

Suddenly, I don’t want him to go out anymore—I kind of want to keep him all to myself.

But… but since we finally have the chance to go out openly together, I don’t want to waste it.

And the Lantern Festival is today.

I missed it last year, and if I don’t go this year, I won’t see it at all.

Still, such a handsome Xiao Mu…

If I locked him up and we watched the moon and ate together, then did some private things…

Although I’m not old enough yet, if I tried… ugh… how shy, I’m a bad girl.

Ah, I’m so conflicted!

What should I do!?

Her thoughts tangled and wrestled inside her head, leaving her lost in her own world.

Unconsciously, she started clutching her head in frustration.

This scene confused and even frightened Yun Mu.

“Miss Qiuyue… Miss Qiuyue… are you feeling unwell?”

She ignored him.

“Your face is so red… do you have a fever?”

he muttered, raising his hand to brush back her forehead hair and leaned in.

“Strange, no fever… maybe I’m imagining things?”

Just as he intended to check more carefully, a cold touch on his face startled him—her hand pushed him away.

“Xiao Xiao Xiao Mu, f-f-f-for something like this, I-I need some psychological preparation first!”

“Hm? Even for taking temperature?”

“Of course… uh! Taking temperature? Oh, I thought… tsk~”

The girl pouted and continued, “I’m not feverish, but you—did you finish changing?”

“Yeah… it fits pretty well.”

“That’s good. I really do know your size, hmmph.”

“Ha ha… really, thank you. As a thank you,”

he raised one of the hair ribbons in his hand and smiled, “Miss Qiuyue, what hairstyle would you like today?”

He asked even though he saw her hair was already tied up.

“Hair ribbons?”

The girl noticed the slender silk thread in his hand and picked one up, shaking it lightly.

“These are for you.”

“For me?”

“Exactly! Your hair is still pretty long, right? It might get in your eyes.”

She pressed against his chest to lift herself up, then took the rest of the ribbons from his hand and walked behind him.

“Mainly, I want to see different sides of you in the limited time we have. You don’t mind, do you?”

Honestly, the boy had never thought men could use ribbons like these.

His father had short hair, Shangguan Hongzhi had short hair, even the Tanghulu Vendor he saw last time had short hair.

The only tied hair he’d ever seen was on his childhood tutor, but that was with a pale green, thicker ribbon, not this kind of thin silk thread.

Most importantly, he had never seen the girl braid her hair herself, so in his impression, she was clueless about such things.

After much thought, when he saw the ribbons earlier, he naturally assumed they were prepared by Shangguan Qiuyue for him.

“Miss Qiuyue, I certainly don’t mind. Please, do as you wish.”

After all, experiencing new things was good, and he didn’t have much time anyway.

“Even if you don’t agree, you have to agree! I already prepared them, and also, you have to call me Qiuyue.”

Behind him, the girl’s small hand gently lifted his disheveled hair, her touch soft and tender, evoking the feeling of being soothed to sleep by his mother when he was a child.

Thinking this, a wave of longing stirred in his heart.

“All right, Qiuyue.”