When they were too young to understand things, he practiced martial arts and shooting, and she watched with her chin in hand, sometimes envious, of course.

At that time, Lu Ziyuan had not yet taken command of the troops. They had a good relationship, and Xie Wanqing had once pleaded with him to teach her martial arts.

But one couldn’t endure hardship, and the other couldn’t bring himself to be harsh, so in the end, nothing came of it.

Unexpectedly, the habit he trained her for reaction time back then was remembered subconsciously by her body.

See, he casually tossed something over, without even a word of warning.

She caught it with her hands.

If it were before, Xie Wanqing would still praise herself highly, swift and nimble, a good candidate for martial arts, but now...

The young lady across the way blushed, embarrassed to that extent, and Lu Ziyuan’s eyes showed a hint of amusement. He laughed lightly, and said, "Wanwan, do you really think you can forget me?"

Growing up together, two lifetimes of accumulated affections.

They had seen each other’s most miserable and painful moments, those entanglements of love and hate, memories carved into flesh, blood, and soul.

Who else could come between them?

Pei Yuqing couldn’t do it!

She won’t turn back now just because she’s afraid.

He had wronged her and couldn’t protect her well, so she was scared.

Never once did Lu Ziyuan feel so certain; she doesn’t truly not love him, she’s just afraid to love him again.

It’s okay, it’s all his fault.

It was he who made her lose the courage to continue loving him, and he would recover everything.

Thinking this way, Lu Ziyuan’s stern face softened, his voice tender and gentle.

"Open it and see," he said.

Xie Wanqing pressed her lips together, unmoving.

She didn’t throw the thing back at him, afraid he’d stir up another trouble, unwilling to obey and open the bamboo tube.

Lu Ziyuan sighed lightly, "Wanwan, can’t you stop being like a hedgehog around me?"

Her whole body bristling with spikes, cautious, vigilant, full of hostility.

He couldn’t stand her treating him like this.

"When did I ever lay a harsh hand on you, hurt you?"

Afraid she’d be upset, knowing clearly she consummated with that old man, he even let her come back.

Wasn’t he considerate enough of her feelings?

As for seeing him as a plague god?

His heart full of bittersweetness, Xie Wanqing couldn’t fully perceive it. She just stood in the corner, looking from afar at this side, raising the bamboo tube in her hand, "Please take your thing and leave, I won’t accept it."

"Not opening it to decide?" Lu Ziyuan sat on a low stool, tilted his head watching her, his face showing no anger or delight, but softly said, "You hate the way I handle things, but Wanwan, you know, there’s no one in this world who wants you safe more than I do."

All his life’s boundaries were her.

Doing more was only to protect her, to have her.

He valued her above his life, whatever he gave must be beneficial to her.

Those deep eyes so calm, even accidentally locking gazes could make one feel unfathomable, Xie Wanqing’s lips twitched slightly, anxiously turning her face away. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Feeling even more that the bamboo tube was burning her hands.

At this moment, Yuanyu and Yuan Yue had already prepared hot water and knocked on the door outside.

The hot water was prepared as Xie Wanqing instructed; she must bathe each night before sleeping, a habit for years. Now, certainly it wasn’t good to let them retreat without reason.

She nervously glared at the man in front of the round table, "You should leave quickly!"

Lu Ziyuan covered his fist at his lips, coughed lowly, laughed, "But I still have so much to say to you."

This rogue manner almost made Xie Wanqing cough up blood; Yuanyu and Yuan Yue, waiting outside and hearing no sound within, exchanged glances and knocked again, "Madam?"

"Wait a moment!" Xie Wanqing responded loudly, then lowered her voice, speaking venomously, "Get out quickly!"

At her urgency, Lu Ziyuan finally stopped softly tapping the tabletop, sighed, "Our Wanwan’s reputation is important, so I’ll hide then."

He stood up, looked around, and directly jumped onto the beam of the room.

On the beam thick as a grown man’s waist, he lay sideways, propping his head with one hand, smiling at her roguishly, commenting, "The dust is quite thick."

Xie Wanqing: "..."

She truly had never seen him so shameless; after muttering unlucky, she ordered Yuanyu and Yuan Yue to come in.

The two maids followed by several strong women carrying hot water, bowed slightly to their mistress, and headed straight to the washroom.

When they came out again, the bathtub inside was already filled with hot water.

Xie Wanqing bathed without liking anyone serving nearby, shortly after, they withdrew.