Chapter 30: Vinegar Sentiments

In late spring, a long-awaited torrential rainstorm surged like fierce waves. After several rounds of thunder, it swallowed the heavens and earth, momentarily reducing everything to a vast expanse of mist and waves.

After an unknown duration, the rain gradually ceased, leaving only a lingering dampness, dripping steadily from the roof gutters.

Inside the secluded room, it was quiet, with only the sound of their intertwined breaths audible. The flickering light on the wall cast a delicate shadow. Yu Lingxi's cheeks were adorned with rouge, and her chapped lips displayed a rosy hue, even her eyelashes were wet clusters.

The second onset of poison was extremely uncomfortable. It felt as if she had died and come back to life, her entire body weakened as if her bones had turned soft. She sat in Ning Yin's embrace, trying to regain her composure and steady her chaotic breathing.

Ning Yin still had the apricot-colored ribbon covering his eyes, but its position was noticeably less proper, hanging loosely over his eyes.

He lifted his slender and powerful fingers, slowly threading through Yu Lingxi's disheveled hair, as if to comfort her or simply play with it casually.

"Are you alright?" Ning Yin lowered his head in her direction, lips still tainted with crimson hue, adding a touch of charm to his otherwise cold countenance.

Yu Lingxi nodded, propping herself up on his chest and silently straightening her wrinkled skirt. She was still breathing unsteadily, and the feather-like touch grazed her ears and neck, revealing her current state of unrest.

Ning Yin leaned casually against the couch, his long and powerful fingers tapping on the edge of the couch, a faint smile playing on his lips.

After using it, she wouldn't deny it, would she? She was quite conscientious.

While contemplating this, he suddenly felt a looseness over his eyes, followed by a glaring light flooding his vision.

Ning Yin instinctively squinted, only to see the slightly damp girl from sweating profusely biting the crumpled ribbon, her eyes shimmering as she looked at him. Her face was still red, like a newly bloomed flower, but her eyes had regained some clarity. She stared at him with pursed lips for a long time.

Is this Ning Yin?

Yu Lingxi was momentarily stunned. The scene just now was something she wouldn't dare to imagine in her previous life.

"Miss, are you going to blame yourself again and seek death for atonement?" Ning Yin pointed to the ribbon between her teeth and, with a slightly hoarse voice, he removed it.

"No." Yu Lingxi shook her head as her thoughts returned. Once her breathing was less erratic and heated, she shifted her gaze away from Ning Yin's red lips.

After a pause, she added, "It has happened, and death won't change anything."

Ning Yin played with the ribbon, a smile that could barely be seen on his lips. "Miss has not lost anything, there is no need to speak so heavily."

Yu Lingxi remained silent, only lowering her moist eyelashes. Without saying a word, she tidied his clothes, smoothing out the creases on his garment.

"Wei Qi is not an instrument." Yu Lingxi's voice was short, soft, and her gaze fell on Ning Yin's waist. After a slight pause, she slowly looked up, silently staring into Ning Yin's indistinct eyes. "Instruments do not have emotions."

Ning Yin, playing with her hair, paused imperceptibly.

How interesting.

Clearly, she was in a disheveled state, yet her first reaction was not avoidance or disgust, but rather reaching out to tidy up his clothes.

It was calm and familiar, as if she had done it countless times for someone else.

The faint smile at the corner of Ning Yin's mouth diminished slightly as he ran his fingertips through her hair. "I was careless; I'll be more attentive next time."

There's... a next time?

Before Yu Lingxi could react, Ning Yin pinched the wet hem of her garment and coolly asked, "But I'm curious, Miss, have you ever ordered around any wild man?"

Her playful gestures were enjoyable, each move hitting him in a soft spot, as if she knew men inside out. Thinking of this, Ning Yin's sense of satisfaction disappeared, and he even felt a bit murderous.

Yu Lingxi dared not speak the truth – that the wild man was him in her previous life. She had spent two years with Ning Yin, who had a volatile temperament and various ways to torment people. If Yu Lingxi didn't learn to find joy in adversity, she would have long been stifled.

Of course, such truths couldn't be spoken. Ning Yin was too clever, and if he caught any hint of a flaw, he would unravel the entire deception. Yu Lingxi decided to change the topic and looked around, asking, "Where are we?"

In her previous daze, she hadn't paid attention to her surroundings. Now, upon closer inspection, she realized they were in an airtight dark room.

"A hidden room," Ning Yin replied.

Of course, Yu Lingxi knew it was a sealed room. She wanted to inquire further, but Ning Yin lightly smiled and said, "You'll die if you know the answer. Do you still want to ask?"

Knowing he wouldn't reveal more, Yu Lingxi reluctantly stayed silent.

"Miss has yet to answer my previous question," Ning Yin redirected the conversation, his tone carrying a subtle and unnoticed chill.

Realizing there was no escape, Yu Lingxi, supporting her dizzy head, could only evade, "It's all due to the effects of the medicine. I don't remember what I did."

"Don't remember?" Ning Yin repeated, emphasizing each word. "Should I help you refresh your memory?"

"No, there's no need!"

As the topic seemed never-ending, Yu Lingxi stood up, saying, "It's too late to come out; I should go back..."

But her legs were still weak. As soon as she straightened her waist, she collapsed back onto Ning Yin's lap, instinctively grabbing his shoulder to steady herself.

The place where she fell was seamless, both painful and numb, and they both grunted.

"Why the rush, Miss?" Supporting her slender waist with one hand, Ning Yin raised an eyebrow, his voice noticeably husky.

Feeling like she had been scalded, Yu Lingxi quickly pushed him away and stood up.

Ning Yin, caught off guard, tilted backward, propping himself on the couch. After a moment of astonishment, he burst into a low laugh.

The laughter of a young and carefree man made him look dazzling, like a bewitching demon in the dark night.

Yu Lingxi didn't understand what was so amusing about this embarrassing situation. What happened to the agreement of "not seeing, not hearing, not speaking"?

"Little lunatic, no laughing allowed!" She was slightly annoyed but had no energy to cover his mouth.

After both had calmed down a bit, they set out to leave the secret passage. There should be another exit in this secret room, but Ning Yin hadn't disclosed where it led. He simply led her back.

The narrow and dark secret passage was barely illuminated by the lamp in Ning Yin's hand, providing just enough light to see the immediate surroundings.

Yu Lingxi had expended too much energy, and her legs were very weak. She walked along the wall unsteadily, stumbling, unlike Ning Yin, who moved effortlessly.

This long secret passage held too many secrets, and Yu Lingxi was tempted to ask, but upon second thought, she chose to remain silent. Ning Yin was vigilant and ruthless by nature, fiercely protective of his territory. Bringing Yu Lingxi here for refuge was already a significant compromise.

If she probed further, she might cross his bottom line.

"What is Miss thinking?" In the enticing silence, Ning Yin's cold voice came from ahead, startling her. "Are you thinking about how to kill me, or are you thinking about this secret passage?"

Yu Lingxi's fingertips trembled, hesitating to look up.

"Miss should kill me," Ning Yin's face was only half visible in the darkness, the other half beautifully radiant in the light, the fire reflecting in his eyes. "I know Miss's secrets, tarnishing Miss's reputation – I deserve to die."

"Reputation, ever since I meddled with the marriage in the Eastern Palace, that thing called reputation has been gone." Yu Lingxi bit her lip, laboriously saying, "Just shut up."

Ning Yin chuckled, seemingly somewhat satisfied with this response.

However, when he really fell silent, Yu Lingxi felt a sense of unease.

The secret passage was too long and quiet. Before she could see the path lit by the fire, darkness immediately enveloped them from all sides, as if a black giant beast opened its mouth behind them, ready to devour.

Yu Lingxi didn't like the confined darkness. In her previous life, after her death, Ning Yin had locked her corpse in an ice coffin in the dark room, and her soul had wandered without rest. She could never forget that trembling fear. 

As she stumbled forward, Ning Yin in front suddenly stopped.

When she caught up, he placed the fire on the ground and said calmly, "I'll carry you out."

Yu Lingxi was startled and quickly said, "No need."

She hadn't fully recovered at this point, and being carried by him would probably make it harder to get out.

Ning Yin glanced at her, then raised his hand after a while. "Give me your hand."

His hand was long and powerful, the joints well-proportioned, naturally suited for controlling everything. However, at this moment, Yu Lingxi had some reservations about this hand, after what had happened just now.

Seeing her reluctance to move, Ning Yin lightly clicked his tongue, took out her apricot-colored ribbon, and wrapped it twice around her palm, holding the other end in his hand.

That is...

Yu Lingxi's eyes warmed. This was her ribbon. Just moments ago, it had been covering Ning Yin's eyes, allowing her to press her scalding lips against him.

"Hold onto this."

Ning Yin held the fire in one hand and used the ribbon to lead her forward. Though he still appeared aloof and indifferent, his steps noticeably slowed. As Yu Lingxi looked at his tall figure, after the warmth had passed, an endless emptiness remained.

Not exactly regret, just a bit of melancholy.

In this second life, she thought there would be a different beginning with Ning Yin. Whether it was cooperation for mutual benefit or drifting apart after parting ways, she shouldn't have blindly tangled with him as she did in her past life.

On this day of the Buddha Bathing Festival, she had intended to show Ning Yin the lights and kindness of the mortal world, but in the end, she had messed it up.

After an unknown duration, light emerged, dispelling her thoughts. Full of thoughts.

Pushing open the door of the Zen room, the plantains, washed by the heavy rain, gleamed brightly in green.

Yu Lingxi released the hand holding the ribbon and whispered, "Thank you."

Ning Yin naturally folded the ribbon and held it in his palm, looking down at her delicate face. "Have you figured out how to explain?"

"Yeah." Yu Lingxi took a deep breath of the cool, damp air, regaining her composure. "Let's go." meditation

At the entrance of the Zen room, there was a paper umbrella left there by someone. Yu Lingxi vaguely remembered that there was no umbrella when she arrived. Ning Yin recognized the umbrella, picked it up, and opened it, waiting on the steps.

With the rain creating a misty atmosphere, Ning Yin, holding the umbrella, looked exceptionally tall and handsome. He pointed to the space under the umbrella.

Yu Lingxi focused and walked under the umbrella. Ning Yin then lifted the umbrella, tilting it slightly towards her side.

On the other side.

Xue Cen found the bamboo path in front of the Zen room and saw Yu Lingxi's figure from a distance, feeling relieved that she finally appeared.

Just as he was about to greet her, he noticed a young man standing next to her, holding an umbrella. The young man was handsome and aloof, like a unsheathed sword. Xue Cen involuntarily stopped in his tracks.

"Master, isn't that the young man who was trapped on the cliff with Miss Yu?" Xue Cen's close servant, standing on his tiptoes, complained, "With such a stain, how dare General Yu keep him in the mansion? And he's getting so close to Miss Yu."

"Be cautious," Xue Cen warned his servant.

The servant complained, "I'm just speaking up for the master. Miss Yu clearly doesn't care about you, yet you protect her like this..."

"Enough." Xue Cen rarely used such a stern tone. "You're not allowed to say these words to anyone else."

He looked at the bamboo path again, not pursuing the question of where Yu Lingxi had been for most of the past hour. As long as she was safe and sound, it was enough.

Xue Cen turned and left without taking the umbrella.

In the bamboo path, Ning Yin stopped and looked in the direction where Xue Cen left.

Yu Lingxi also paused and asked, "What's wrong?"

Ning Yin withdrew his gaze from the moon gate of the temple wall, coldly curling his lips. "Nothing, just an annoying guy."

Meeting up with Hutao, Hutao was indeed anxious, continuously asking where Yu Lingxi had been.

"I really just felt unwell and rested in the Zen room for a while." 

At the temple gate, Yu Lingxi, covering her slightly warm cheeks, explained quietly three times before Hutao reluctantly accepted.

"Hey, Wei Qi."

Supporting Yu Lingxi into the carriage, Hutao noticed a glimpse of white hidden in Ning Yin's sleeve, unsure if it was a bandage or something else, curiously asking, "Are you injured?"

Yu Lingxi followed Hutao's gaze and suddenly felt her breath hitch. Suppressing the rising warmth, Ning Yin had actually wound her apricot-colored ribbon around his wrist, circling it a few times, and tied it into an elegant knot.

"Oh, this." Ning Yin smiled at Yu Lingxi, gently rubbing and playing with the end of the ribbon with his little finger.

Achieving his goal of making her widen her apricot eyes, he then concealed the strip of white back into his sleeve, saying nonchalantly, "It's my keepsake."

Muttering, Hutao let down the carriage curtain. "He's really a strange person. Coming to Jinyun Temple and not asking for a divination charm, but seeking this."

Yu Lingxi silently adjusted her hair, not daring to let Hutao discover that her ribbon was missing.

Indeed, she shouldn't have provoked this little lunatic.

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