The gentle evening breeze pulled the shadows long in the summer dusk, as if time at the Qiushui Pavilion had slowed.
There were countless such summer nights in Qinghe County in the past.
Gu Xueqin served everyone their meals, glancing over at Li Mo and Ying Bing not far away.
Her son carried the same childlike innocence and liveliness from his childhood, listening to Old Li’s tales of his wedding to his wife, sometimes indulging in playful mischief by secretly nudging people’s legs.
Little Ice Girl, with her simple appearance, remained dignified and noble, yet she subtly stepped on Li Mo’s foot.
The two children had grown up, yet they seemed unchanged.
“How many years ago was it that I first brought Dalong home to meet my parents? It feels like just yesterday.”
Gu Xueqin was momentarily lost in thought.
Suddenly, she heard Li Dalong holding his wine cup, his cheeks flushed, say:
“The first time I met my father-in-law, we were having dinner. At that time, I had shaved my head due to an injury.”
“Then you didn’t look like a proper person,” King of South Border remarked.
Li Dalong nodded. “Yes, there was no other way, so I had to glue some yellow horsehair onto my head.”
“…”
Li Mo leaned back slightly, feeling a sense of relief after surviving, grateful for his grandfather’s mercy.
“What happened next?”
Ying Bing supported her cheek, listening to this love story for the first time.
“When your grandfather saw me, he slammed the bowl down in anger.”
“What?”
“Don’t worry, if you hadn’t been standing here properly, I would have said I was a disciple of the Qingyuan Sect, and he would have put the food back. Later, after drinking a few cups with your grandfather, he even wanted to become sworn brothers with me.”
King of South Border: “…..”
Now he finally understood where Li Mo’s genius thinking and performative personality came from.
It turns out they inherited each other’s strengths!
“You still have the nerve to talk about my father; he already knew everything.”
Gu Xueqin gave her husband a sidelong glance. “We got off topic. Weren’t we talking about family matters?”
“Family… where were we?”
Li Dalong rubbed the back of his head.
Li Mo reminded him, “About the wedding ceremony, we were talking about the wedding ceremony.”
“Oh yes, yes, I should demonstrate this part. There are many details involved.”
As he spoke, Li Dalong took Gu Xueqin’s hand.
“Kneel to the heavens and earth.” King of South Border blurted out.
So, he became the master of ceremonies.
Since he was already doing it, he might as well go all the way.
“Kneel to the ancestors!”
Li Dalong held his wife’s hand, feeling a surge of youthful joy as he recalled the moment he married his beloved.
I’m getting younger every day…
With this thought, he laughed heartily and knelt down with his wife.
“I approve of this marriage!”
Little Li, standing solemnly, approved seriously.
Li Dalong: “?”
He silently removed the cigarette, thinking that as long as his son wasn’t married, he was still considered a child. He hadn’t learned to be responsible, and he knew that it was his father’s responsibility to teach him.
Li Mo realized something was wrong and started running.
“You stop right there!”
“I’m just trying to make up for the regret between us!”
Li Mo’s agility wasn’t his strong suit, but he was better than his dad, who relied on inner energy. He didn’t really want to run, or else Old Li wouldn’t even get a whiff of him.
“The regret of the reversed heaven and earth formation?” Old Li waved his cigarette.
“You lack your father-in-law’s approval, and I missed my parents’ wedding ceremony. Isn’t this a win-win situation?”
“Heh! So I should thank you for that?”
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Father and son chased each other around the big banyan tree in the courtyard.
He fled, he pursued!
In the end, Li Mo was caught ‘by accident,’ and was given a good scolding.
Even though he was like a dark weapon, mastering the first chapter of the Law of Heaven and Earth, he couldn’t let his father’s whipping go without making some sound. Otherwise, even if Old Li beat him until he was exhausted, it wouldn’t help.
“I’ll be going now. Once you finish filling out the imperial edict, send it to me. I’ll take you all to the Imperial Capital…”
King of South Border felt redundant and coughed lightly before standing up.
Watching the two chasing each other, Gu Xueqin was used to it and glanced at the side with a helpless smile.
“Little Ice Girl, as women, sometimes we not only have to be wives, but occasionally we also have to be mothers.”
“I understand, Aunt Gu, he is a Childish Ghost,” Ying Bing nodded.
Gu Xueqin picked up a piece of food for her, smiling. “Don’t think your Uncle Li is always serious. Actually, he loves hearing me call him Big Dragon Treasure.”
“Li Mo never called me a nickname, but he likes hearing me call my sister.”
Ying Bing ate the baby cabbage that Gu Xueqin had picked up for her, saying softly.
The twilight gradually faded, and stars and the moon appeared on the treetops.
Li Mo took on the responsibility of cleaning the kitchen and washing the dishes, working until late.
He poked his head out of the kitchen and saw his parents’ room turn off the lights, then chuckled.
“I made plans to soak in the bath with Ice Chunk. She should have changed into her bathrobe by now.”
“If she just changed… cough, I am a gentleman, it’s just a coincidence.”
Little Li Scholar cleared his throat and approached Ice Chunk’s room.
Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door creaked open by itself.
Ying Bing tilted her head and smiled unexpectedly.
“Why did you come?”
“I came to invite you to bathe. I was going to knock and ask if you were ready, but you opened the door yourself.”
Li Mo looked like a gentleman, upright and proper.
But under the scrutiny of Ice Chunk’s half-closed eyes, he couldn’t help but let his gaze wander elsewhere.
“That’s quite a coincidence. Let’s go.”
Ying Bing genuinely believed it was a coincidence, extending her hand which he took, leading her to the entrance of the Misty Flower Everlasting Spring.
When they descended, she glanced at Li Family’s parents’ room and sighed in relief when she saw no light on.
“Ice Chunk, did you change into your bathrobe?”
Li Mo pretended to know.
Ying Bing nodded. “I did. I wore an undershirt inside, so I won’t show anything when I soak in the water, and I won’t be afraid of encountering bad people.”
“Really? There are no bad people in the Qiushui Pavilion…”
Little Li Scholar felt somewhat disappointed.
Who is she guarding against? Even gentlemen need to guard?
In the past, they shared the same room, but she never wore an undershirt while bathing.
He knew that kind of undershirt; it was waterproof and practically indestructible, ensuring nothing could be seen.
“There’s no harm in being prepared. Want me to show you?”
Ying Bing examined her collar.
“Cough, avoid looking at what shouldn’t be seen. I don’t think it’s necessary.”
Li Mo looked at the flowing hot spring, feeling the warmth, suddenly losing his curiosity, his eyes straight ahead, as if he truly were a gentleman.
At that moment, he heard Ice Chunk’s surprised voice again:
“Oh, I seem to have forgotten to wear an undershirt.”
“Huh? Really?!”
Li Scholar turned his head.
Seeing Ying Bing’s eyes gleaming like crescent moons in the misty water, he felt he had fallen for her trick again, lowering his head to hide his thoughts casually.
“But… I really didn’t wear one.”
“!”
Little Li suddenly lifted his head.
d*mn.
He didn’t fall for Bad Ice Chunk’s trap earlier, but he fell for it now!
