Rebirth: Find a General as Your Backer

The moment she stepped out of the shop, warm and bright sunlight poured down, gently caressing the earth. Su Lianxue looked up at the clear blue sky, seemingly infected by the pleasant weather, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up. She softly suggested, "The weather is so nice today, why don't we go for a stroll?"

Upon hearing this, Xiaotao's eyes instantly lit up like sparkling stars, her excitement almost overflowing. Shopping seemed to be an innate instinct for women, something she simply couldn't resist.

Xuan Chen's gaze inadvertently swept over the excited Xiao Tao. For a moment, his eyes froze, as if he had been captivated by a beautiful scene. But he quickly came back to his senses, a slightly mischievous smile playing on his lips, and teased, "Look at you, when it comes to shopping, your enthusiasm is truly unmatched."

"Hmph, mind your own business!" Xiao Tao subconsciously put her hands on her hips, her cheeks puffed out slightly, like an annoyed little squirrel. Her feigned fierceness was somehow cute and playful, making people feel an urge to get closer to her. Xuan Chen was even a little dazed by her.

Seeing the two bickering like this, He Qin and the others exchanged glances and smiled knowingly, their smiles full of teasing and blessings for this bickering couple.

Xiao Tao noticed He Qin and the others' laughter. Recalling the time He Qin had teased her before, a faint blush instantly spread across her fair cheeks, reaching all the way to her ears. She glared at Xuan Chen with a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance, her eyes seeming to say that it was all his fault.

However, her glare only made He Qin and the others laugh even harder, their clear laughter echoing in the air.

"Your Highness, look at them, they just know how to make fun of me." Xiao Tao, as if she had found a savior, hurriedly complained to Su Lianxue, her coquettish tone carrying a hint of grievance.

Looking at the interesting couple in front of her, Su Lianxue's eyes flashed with a mischievous light. She deliberately put on a stern face and pretended to be angry, saying, "In that case, Xuan Chen will be punished by giving our little Tao a gift until she is satisfied."

"Your Highness!" Upon hearing this, Xiao Tao's cheeks instantly flushed red, like ripe apples. She hurriedly lowered her head, turned around, and ran away quickly. Her shy figure soon disappeared from everyone's sight.

"Haha..." Everyone burst into laughter when they saw Xiao Tao running away in a panic, and their cheerful laughter echoed through the streets.

Zhou Qi stood quietly to the side, watching this joyful and energetic scene, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Su Lianxue glanced at Zhou Qi seemingly casually.

Zhou Qi noticed his master's gaze, paused slightly, seemed a little uncomfortable, and subconsciously avoided that gaze, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

Su Lianxue didn't say much, but simply waved her hand gently, indicating that Xiao Tao and the other young ladies could go and explore on their own and enjoy this rare moment of leisure.

......

In the bustling market, crowds surged and jostled shoulder to shoulder. Only Zhou Qi remained silently by Su Lianxue's side.

Zhou Qi subconsciously turned slightly to the side, moving a little closer to Su Lianxue. She subtly shielded Su Lianxue from the bustling, hurried passersby.

"Sister Zhou." Su Lianxue's lips parted slightly, her voice filled with affection and concern.

Zhou Qi looked up at his master.

"What are your plans for the future?" Su Lianxue tilted her head slightly and continued to ask softly. Her voice was not loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the noisy environment, penetrating straight into Zhou Qi's heart.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qi paused slightly, and after a brief silence, she lowered her eyes and said softly, "Unless you abandon me, I will always stay by your side and never leave you."

“You know what I’m saying, Sister Zhou.” Su Lianxue frowned slightly, her eyes revealing an undeniable determination as she pressed on.

She knew Zhou Qi's inner turmoil and pain. If Zhou Qi had no feelings for Xue Huai, then as her master, she would respect Zhou Qi's wishes and would never have the heart to force her to do anything that would displease her. After all, life is long, and everyone should have the right to choose their own emotional destiny. All she could do was offer support and protection.

She could tell that the two were interested in each other, and it would be a great pity if they missed their chance. This was something she absolutely did not want to see. Love is precious and should not be missed. She hoped that the two could follow their hearts and leave no regrets.

"My lady, has His Highness ever told you about my past?" Zhou Qi avoided Su Lianxue's gaze, his voice trembling slightly. He did not directly answer the princess's question, but instead tried to explore Su Lianxue's understanding of his past from another angle.

“No, His Highness said he hoped that one day you would be able to say it yourself.” Su Lianxue gently shook her head, her gaze tender and tolerant.

She knows that everyone has some past experiences they don't want to talk about easily. Those memories may carry pain, guilt, regret, or other unspeakable emotions. So she is willing to give Zhou Qi enough space and time to decide for herself whether she is willing to open her heart.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qi's eyes suddenly reddened, a sour feeling welled up in his nose, and a strange sense of emotion surged in his heart.

These past few days, she has been bearing heavy pressure alone, struggling and wandering in the darkness. But at this moment, Su Lianxue's understanding and tolerance are like a warm light, illuminating that cold corner deep in her heart.

"Sister Zhou, why don't we go boating on the lake, listen to music, and drink some wine?" Su Lianxue looked at Zhou Qi, who was usually strong and resilient but was now so vulnerable, and felt a pang of tenderness in her heart.

During this time, she had seen it all and felt the pain in her heart. She knew the torment and sadness in Zhou Qi's heart. Now that she saw her like this, she just wanted to do something to help her temporarily forget her troubles and find a moment of joy.

Just as Zhou Qi was about to refuse, before she could utter a sound, Su Lianxue seemed to have read her mind and preemptively said, "It's decided then." Her tone was unquestionable, carrying a kind of concern that brooked no refusal.

Looking at her master who cared so much for her, Zhou Qi felt a surge of warmth in her heart, her gratitude overflowing. After a long while, she nodded slightly and whispered, "Okay." Just that one word.