Chapter 42: A Stirring Heart

As dawn broke, Luo Shaoxuan awoke. His eyes half-open, his dark irises hazy, he gazed at the bed canopy, his black hair scattered like ink on the silk pillow.

He closed his eyes again, savoring the events of the previous night, the corners of his mouth curling up in delight. It was the first time Zhi Liang had patiently coaxed him like this, even if under his duress, but she didn’t seem angry?

Luo Shaoxuan flicked his tongue over his lips. Mm, so sweet.

He got out of bed, dressed himself, pulling his black hair back from his forehead to reveal a full brow. He examined himself twice in the bronze mirror, satisfied, before leaving the bedroom.

Luo Shaoxuan intended to make her breakfast. Opening the pot lid, however, he found two odd-smelling buns inside.

Hm? Why were there two buns?

He didn’t give it much thought, directly discarding the spoiled buns. Rolling up his sleeves, he began cooking congee, his tall figure bustling about the kitchen, now checking the firewood below, now the pot above.

His elegant, noble bearing, clad in fine silks, clashed with the hearth, yet Luo Shaoxuan was happily occupied, like a husband eagerly preparing breakfast for his wife.

Si Qingyu was awakened by a knocking at the door; she had overslept. Rubbing her eyes as she sat up in bed, she called out to the person outside, “Mm, I’m up.”

“I’ve brought water for you to wash. May I come in?”

Come in?

“Wait!”

Si Qingyu hurriedly got out of bed, taking an outer garment from the screen and putting it on, tying it properly. She straightened her somewhat disheveled hair before going to open the door.

There stood Luo Shaoxuan, holding a basin of water, smiling gently at her. “I’ve prepared breakfast as well. Come out once you’ve washed up.”

“…Oh, thank you.” Si Qingyu took the basin from his hands, carrying it inside. Why did she feel a strange unease?

Glancing back at Luo Shaoxuan still standing in the doorway, the feeling grew. After a moment’s hesitation, Si Qingyu said, “You needn’t wait for me. Eat first, I’ll be there shortly.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you outside then.” With that, he turned and left, walking out to the courtyard.

Si Qingyu went and closed the door. She untied her outer garment again and began to wash and change clothes. Her mind drifted back to the previous night, the scene of Luo Shaoxuan holding her tight.

Her movements unconsciously slowed. What exactly were they to each other like this? Si Qingyu began to feel confused. She had to reexamine the relationship between them.

Friends?

But… they had done such intimate things, even if under his coercion. Did she despise it?

Si Qingyu touched her heart. It seemed… she did not. She furrowed her brow. She had originally planned to always remain alone, but suddenly there was Luo Shaoxuan, leaving her at a loss.

Si Qingyu walked out of the bedroom with a slightly troubled heart. Turning her head, she saw Luo Shaoxuan sitting at the stone table in the courtyard. She walked over and sat across from him.

Seeing her apparently unhappy mood, the man across from her said nothing. He merely quietly took the small bowl in front of her, filled it with congee, and placed it before her. “Eat up.”

Si Qingyu stirred the white porridge with a spoon, pursing her lips, not knowing what to say to him. After some thought, she began, “When do you plan to return to the capital?”

But how could such words please the person opposite her?

The corners of Luo Shaoxuan’s mouth, which had been slightly raised, slowly flattened upon hearing these unwelcome words. His eyes half-lowered, his voice carried a hint of coldness, “I’ve already handed matters in the capital over to the steward. What would I return for?”

“But… are you not now the head of the Luo family? The Luo family’s affairs…”

Before she could finish, Luo Shaoxuan coolly interrupted, “I am but a mere man. I do not care about the Luo family’s affairs. Besides, I have long arranged for people to manage them. You need not worry about such things.”

“I was overthinking then.” Of course she had no thought to spare worrying about those matters. She only wanted to know when he would return, but seeing him like this, she already knew the answer.

“Then finish your breakfast quickly. I’ll walk you back to town later.”

Luo Shaoxuan gripped the chopsticks in his hand tightly, his face gloomy as he watched Si Qingyu eat with her head lowered. Last night she had treated him with such tenderness, yet today she wanted to send him away.

Hmph.

He had indeed entertained too many fanciful thoughts, thinking that after last night, she would certainly harbor feelings for him.

Truly a heartless woman.

Luo Shaoxuan’s eyes now held a deep darkness.

Seeing the person opposite her neither speak nor move his chopsticks, Si Qingyu raised her eyes to look. She only saw his face lowered, his expression unreadable, his jade-like hand stirring the white porridge with chopsticks, yet not eating.

“What’s wrong?” Si Qingyu asked in puzzlement.

Luo Shaoxuan shook his head lightly, his eyes indifferent, saying nothing.

Seeing him like this, how could Si Qingyu not know he was unhappy? She knew he didn’t want to return to town, but the two of them staying together like this was truly improper.

At the very least, she needed some time to sort out her own heart, to prepare herself mentally.

Otherwise… if she actually had no feelings for him, wouldn’t that be wasting his time?

“Drink your porridge.”

Luo Shaoxuan’s hand, which had been stirring the white congee, paused. His eyes looked indifferently at the person opposite him, “I promise to stay in town, but let me ask you – last night, did your heart truly not stir in the slightest?” Even as his heart pounded like a drum, could she really remain unmoved, her heart like stone?

A stirring heart?

She didn’t know. Si Qingyu tried to change the subject, “First finish breakfast…”

Luo Shaoxuan finally lost patience. He walked to her side, forcefully turning her to face him, his dark eyes deep like a whirlpool threatening to suck her in, “Answer me!”

Si Qingyu looked at him, her eyes somewhat lost and helpless, “I don’t know…”

“That’s not what I want to hear. I want to know yes or no?” He stared intently into her eyes, not missing the slightest change. He clenched his teeth, “If you truly didn’t feel anything at all, then…”

“I won’t bother you again.” Though he said such words, his hands gripping her shoulders trembled slightly, as if her next answer could determine his life or death.

Si Qingyu opened her mouth, but didn’t know what to say. She watched as mist gradually rose in Luo Shaoxuan’s eyes, tears spilling out the next second.

“Shaoxuan…” Si Qingyu raised a hand, gently wiping away the tears on his cheek, “Let me think about it, alright?”

Let her think about it – this was her answer. She could not deny that in that moment, her heart had indeed stirred. Otherwise, she would not have indulged him, coaxing him to sleep.

But for something she had never considered before, she truly needed some mental preparation. “Give me a little time, it won’t be long.”

Luo Shaoxuan knew her heart had softened, his own heart blooming with joy like a hundred flowers.

He had bet correctly!

What of a little time? He had already waited two years like this. What was a bit more time?

Luo Shaoxuan raised his hand, grasping the slender fingers on his face, rubbing his cheek against them. His eyes brimmed with enough tenderness to drip water, “Alright, don’t make me wait too long.”

“Mm.”

……

When Si Qingyu saw Luo Shaoxuan to the inn in town, they happened to run into Luo Jinhua and Constable Zhang, who were carrying bundles.

She smiled at the person beside her, “You head up to the room first.”

“Mm.” Luo Shaoxuan looked at her and nodded obediently. Then he thought of something, “You’ll return to the clinic later?”

“Mm, why?”

“Nothing. I’ll come find you once you’re done with work then.”

“Oh, alright.” The clinic shouldn’t be busy these next two days anyway.

Luo Shaoxuan gave her a gentle smile, “I’ll head up then.”

“Okay.”

Watching until Luo Shaoxuan entered a room on the second floor of the inn, Si Qingyu finally turned her gaze to Luo Jinhua who had walked over, “Magistrate Luo, you’re heading back?”

“Yes.” Luo Jinhua walked up to stand before her, then said, “I came to see you, Doctor Si. Now that I’ve seen you, naturally I must return. There are still some matters at the yamen awaiting me to handle upon my return.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll see Magistrate Luo off.”

“Alright.”

The three of them left the inn together. Si Qingyu and Luo Jinhua walked side by side in front, with Constable Zhang following not far behind them.

The two walked in silence for a while until Luo Jinhua finally could not help but speak, “Doctor Si left so quickly yesterday, we didn’t have a chance to properly get together.”

Si Qingyu smiled faintly, her expression calm, “If fate allows, I’m sure we’ll have the chance to gather again.”

Luo Jinhua nodded, giving a self-deprecating laugh, “Actually, after Doctor Si left yesterday, I had still wanted to express my feelings to Mister Luo.”

Upon hearing this, Si Qingyu’s brows furrowed slightly without noticing, but then she heard her say, “But Mister Luo didn’t even give me the chance to bring it up.” Luo Jinhua sighed, “It seems Mister Luo and I are fated, but not destined.”

Si Qingyu’s expression was indifferent, saying nothing.

Luo Jinhua looked at her with curiosity, “Mister Luo said his heart belongs to another. Does Doctor Si know who this person is?”

“I don’t know.”

Luo Jinhua sighed again. Although being rejected made her feel down, she was even more curious about who this devastatingly handsome man was infatuated with.

She snuck a glance at Si Qingyu beside her, suddenly feeling it was quite possible.

Luo Jinhua gave a light cough and asked probingly, “Does Doctor Si currently have someone in her heart?”

“Hm? Why do you ask?” Si Qingyu gave her a slight look. How could she not know what she was thinking?

“Eh… Just curious. If it’s not convenient for Doctor Si to say, then nevermind.” As she spoke, she gave Si Qingyu a silly grin.

After a long silence, just as they were about to reach the town gate, Luo Jinhua finally heard the person beside her say softly, “There is.”

Luo Jinhua turned to look at her, seeing her still calm profile. She couldn’t help her curiosity, “I wonder which gentleman it is?” Though she asked this, she had a vague idea of who it was.

Si Qingyu, however, did not answer. She stopped at the town gate and looked at Luo Jinhua, nodding, “I’ll see you off here. If there’s a chance, we’ll meet again.”

Knowing she didn’t want to say, Luo Jinhua didn’t ask further. She smiled and nodded at her, “I believe there will definitely be a chance. When the time comes, you can’t be such a downer again.”

“Alright, we’ll definitely get together again.” Si Qingyu’s smile bloomed, her face much softer.

Luo Jinhua got on the carriage with Constable Zhang and waved at Si Qingyu, “Until next time, Doctor Si!”

“Until next time.” Si Qingyu nodded at her.

The constable driving the carriage in front also nodded at Si Qingyu before driving the carriage away.

Si Qingyu’s lips carried a faint smile as she watched the carriage disappear before turning to walk back. She recalled Luo Jinhua’s question just now.

The one who stirred her heart?

There should be one.