cold clothes

It was the first time a girl had ever leaned against him, and he was so shocked that he didn't know what to say or do.

The girl in his arms ignored him completely, not even opening her eyes to look at him. She tremblingly reached out her hand, just for the kettle on the table.

She clearly wanted a drink of water, but her hands were so soft and weak that she couldn't even hold the kettle properly. Just as the kettle was about to fall over, he belatedly helped her lift it up.

He thought he should pour her a glass of water, and so he did, then fed her the water.

She didn't have much strength right now, so it wouldn't hurt to hold her water glass for her. He thought to himself.

"Oh my god, I didn't know you could help!" Leng Yi couldn't help but complain, but she also eagerly drank the water that was brought to her lips. Unexpectedly, her lips touched the other person's fingers, and the other person shuddered, almost spilling the water that was about to be brought to his mouth.

Fortunately, the other person remained calm and moved his thumb down to the bottom of the cup to ensure that he would not lose his male virtue again.

The man whose heart was secretly teased by Leng Yi as a student of the "male virtue class" started racing. He looked at Leng Yi's lips, which were gently moving as she held the white porcelain cup in her mouth, and couldn't help but recall the soft touch that his fingers had just felt.

Moreover... he felt that the girl in his arms was sipping water like a little rabbit, tilting her head back slightly when she finished drinking, so that he could see her fluttering eyelashes and delicate nose.

He finished the glass of water quickly, but felt it wasn't enough, so he poured himself another glass.

When Dr. Xie returned, this was the scene before him: a little girl sitting on a young boy's lap, the boy feeding her water from a cup, his expression focused and innocent, as if he were doing something very important. They clearly looked like a perfect couple, incredibly harmonious, which couldn't help but bring a smile to one's face.

The boy looked up, sensing something, and his face flushed red when he saw Xie Fang smiling. Although he was only ten years old, he knew the proper boundaries between boys and girls. Their current behavior was inappropriate, and they had been seen by their elders. He was so embarrassed that he wished he could disappear into a hole, and the girl on top of him felt like a hot potato.

Before Leng Yi could finish her drink, the young man put down his cup, calmed himself down, and said, "Aunt Fang, I... we had a reason for this. This young lady was weak and almost fainted, so I... helped her up." He felt guilty as he spoke, but it was better than saying that she had taken the initiative to sit on him.

At this moment, Leng Yi felt much better. Her eyes were clear and her throat was soothed, so she stopped lingering on him. She stood up from him and said frankly to Doctor Xie, "Doctor Xie, I was feeling unwell and leaned on this... young man. It has nothing to do with him. He was forced to."

As soon as he finished speaking, Doctor Xie couldn't help but laugh. Looking at Leng Yi's self-righteous little face and the boy's rare stunned and helpless look, he couldn't help but tease, "You two had a really good time meeting for the first time."

The young man coughed twice and said, "Now that Aunt Fang is back, I'll take my leave." He then bowed and left, not forgetting to take his book with him.

"It's rare to see him like this," Doctor Xie said with a smile, watching the boy's departing figure. Then, looking at Leng Yi, he said softly, "You should go to bed and rest. Although you're awake, your fever hasn't gone down yet. I'll go get the medicine." With that, he left.

Leng Yi still felt dizzy and lightheaded, so she obediently went to bed. Soon, Doctor Xie returned with the medicine, followed by a boy carrying a basin of water.

The boy seemed embarrassed about doing such a thing, and hurriedly left after putting down the basin of water. Leng Yi found him quite amusing and asked, "Doctor Xie, is he your nephew?" Then she took the dark Chinese medicine that Doctor Xie handed her and downed it in one gulp with a death-defying air.

Doctor Xie was taken aback by Leng Yi's question and said, "I guess so. He's a distant relative of mine. He's not really my nephew, but he's respectful and kind, and he calls me 'aunt'."

"Ugh, it's so bitter. What's his name?" Leng Yi looked miserable after drinking the medicine.

Doctor Xie paused again, then smiled and said, "Let him tell you himself."

This piqued Leng Yi's curiosity about the young man. What kind of person would not easily reveal their name? Then she wondered, could he be like her?

The girls in Fengxiang Pavilion all had to be named by Madam Hu, and the men were probably no exception. He might very well dislike the name Madam Hu gave him, just like her, and be attached to his original name. If that were the case, he would be a kindred spirit. Lengyi couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. What did it matter if he was a man or a woman? As long as one was poor, one would become a plaything for those in high positions. He was quite handsome, with clear, deep, and bright eyes, but his lips were a little bluish-purple, so he probably wasn't in good health.

Thinking of her helpless fate, Leng Yi looked even more haggard.

Doctor Xie applied a cold compress to Leng Yi's face and sighed when he saw Leng Yi's delicate face looking sickly. "She finally looked a little better, but she's gotten so thin from all this suffering."

Is this someone who cares about me? Leng Yi felt a warmth in her heart: "Dr. Xie, you're so kind."

"Is curing your illness doing you a favor? It's just my duty." Doctor Xie smiled and shook his head.

"You give me a very gentle feeling. Ever since I came here, you have been concerned about my health. They say doctors are benevolent, so you must be a very kind person," Leng Yi said sincerely. Then she paused and added, "I think everyone in Fengyue Tower is very gentle and kind, Yun Mei, Ling Cao, and you, and the young man from earlier, except for Madam Hu." When she mentioned Madam Hu, Leng Yi's eyes were filled with dissatisfaction. That old witch who hid a knife in her smile.

Doctor Xie fell silent, her expression becoming complicated. She said softly, "Ningbi, you are still young and don't understand adult matters, but... you will understand sooner or later."

Leng Yi wanted to tell her that she was an adult with her own sense of right and wrong, but everyone in the brothel seemed preoccupied, something she, as an outsider, couldn't understand. She just suddenly wanted an answer.

"Doctor Xie, do you think Yunmei shouldn't seek revenge for being murdered by Lord Liang?"

Doctor Xie countered with a question: "Do you hate Lord Liang?"

Leng Yi blurted out, "Of course!"

Dr. Xie smiled and said, "Knowing how to hate is a good thing. Sometimes, you can't live without hate."

These words struck Leng Yi like a boulder, their profound meaning leaving her breathless. What had Doctor Xie gone through to utter such despairing words?

Leng Yi was so troubled that she didn't sleep well all night. When she woke up the next day, she saw Granny Liu standing by her bed with a stern face, saying that Mama Hu was waiting for her to come and see her. Leng Yi felt disgusted with Granny Liu, who had taken her to the dungeon, and she disliked Mama Hu even more. However, Mama Hu could control everything in the brothel, and Leng Yi couldn't say a word against her.

Leng Yi followed Granny Liu to Jingya Pavilion and saw Granny Hu checking the account books. Leng Yi lowered her head and refused to look at her. She walked to a distance of two meters away from her and stopped. Granny Liu frowned and kicked Leng Yi's knee, making her kneel down.

I go!

Leng Yi's knee slammed hard against the ground, causing her to wince in pain. However, she bit her lip to keep herself from crying out, cursing Liu Mama and Hu Mama in her mind.

When Madam Hu saw Liu Mama kick Leng Yi, her expression remained unchanged. She scolded Liu Mama, "How could you treat Ningbi like that? I didn't ask her to kneel down. You can't act on your own again next time."

Granny Liu responded with a "yes," gave Leng Yi a cold glance, and walked over to Granny Hu's side.

Then Hu's mother said to Leng Yi, "Ning Bi, get up quickly."

Pshaw! If I could get up, I would have gotten up much earlier!

Her knees hurt so much she couldn't stand up. Besides, Leng Yi didn't think Hu's mother really wanted her to get up. That smiling fox-like look of hers was meant to torment her while making it seem like she hadn't done anything. It was really insidious.

Leng Yi clenched her fists secretly, controlling her emotions before looking at Madam Hu and saying, "Ningbi knows she is wrong and should kneel down to apologize to Madam Hu."

"Oh? Where did you go wrong?"

Leng Yi suppressed the trembling of her lips: "Ningbi shouldn't have rushed out of the backyard, disturbing the guests and affecting Fengxianglou's business."

Mrs. Hu raised her eyes slightly, "So you are indeed wrong..." What surprised Mrs. Hu was that Leng Yi's way of speaking was completely unlike that of a child, which was really interesting.

She chuckled softly: "Since you know you've made a mistake, then continue your confinement for another two weeks and reflect on your actions."

“…Yes,” Leng Yi replied, inwardly cursing the old hag. So what if she’s locked in a dungeon? Who’s afraid of who!

Granny Liu led the way, and Leng Yi followed behind her, full of anger. But slowly she realized something was wrong; it seemed like they were on the way to Nuanfeng Pavilion.

Could the dungeon be near Nuanfeng Pavilion? Lengyi pondered, but the moment she saw Nuanfeng Pavilion, she had a very bad feeling.

She was certain she wasn't going back to the dungeon.

Leng Yi's mind went blank, but the closer she got to that familiar room, the greater her sorrow and fear became.

"Why did you bring me here?!" Leng Yi stopped, unwilling to take another step forward.

Granny Liu said sarcastically, "The madam, considering your frail health, didn't lock you up in the dungeon. She's letting you reflect on your actions in your room. What? You still don't appreciate it?"

"No, I don't want to..." Making me stay alone in a room without Yunmei for half a month is trying to drive me crazy!

"That's not up to you!" Granny Liu snorted coldly, forcibly pulling Leng Yi into the room and locking the door.

"Let me out! I'd rather go to the dungeon! Let me out!" Leng Yi pounded on the door and shouted, but no one answered even when she shouted until she was hoarse.

"Let me out, let me out..." Exhausted from shouting, Leng Yi sat weakly on the ground, tears welling up in her eyes. Looking up at the room's furnishings, the silk ribbons she had hung up remained untouched, but the flowers that adorned them withered lifelessly.

She also noticed the flower pendant she had hung up, and as if remembering something, she ran to the cabinet, opened the door, and saw a gift box inside. It contained osmanthus cakes that she had made herself.

How wonderful it would be if Yunmei could try the osmanthus cake and praise my improved cooking skills...

How wonderful it would be to see a smile on my face in the room I decorated...

If, if... she could still sit quietly by the bed and embroider...

Leng Yi walked to Yun Mei's bedside in a daze, bent down and buried her head in the quilt. The quilt was ice cold, but a faint fragrance still lingered.

In an instant, Leng Yi burst into tears.

In her past and present lives, she hasn't had many people who have brought her warmth, so why is it that the more she tries to hold on to them, the easier it is for her to lose them?