Chapter 25 [VIP] The River and Lake Saga (6)

Chapter 25 [VIP] The River and Lake Saga (6)

Xie Yu, observing her distracted state, instinctively asks, “You and Guanxue…”

But before he could finish, she hurriedly interjects, “No... nothing happened between us.”

After speaking, a flicker of annoyance crosses her face, as if realizing her reaction was too hasty, almost betraying a sense of guilt.

She hoped he wouldn't misunderstand.

Glancing up quickly at him, she saw his slightly furrowed brows and quickly lowered her gaze, nervously twirling the silk ribbon around her waist, perfectly embodying a young girl touched by the stirrings of first love.

Xie Yu watched her for a while, silent.

In such a situation, how could he not understand? It was clearly a sign of being moved.

He wasn't sure how he felt at this moment.

Seeing Nan Yan's cheeks flushed because of another man, he felt an unavoidable sense of heaviness in his heart.

“Have you fallen for him?” Xie Yu asked directly.

Nan Yan was momentarily stunned, then flustered. Turning her face away, she replied, “Brother Xie Yu, what are you talking about? I never said that.”

Perhaps hit on a sore spot, she awkwardly denied it, yet her tone carried a hint of hope, hard to ignore.

Xie Yu's gaze rested on her turned away profile.

From this angle, he could clearly see the light blush spreading to her earlobes, where delicate jade earrings dangled, swaying with her movements.

Below was her smooth, slender neck, the skin there blushing faintly, evoking an impulse to touch.

Xie Yu uncomfortably turned his face away, a strange emotion flickering in his eyes.

In his memory, the little girl he grew up with still had the appearance of a tomboyish child.

Perhaps due to their close relationship, he never scrutinized her closely. Now, seeing her in detail, he realized that the girl he had cherished had blossomed into a graceful young lady.

Like a budding begonia, she unwittingly attracted many gazes.

This sudden shift in his feelings left him somewhat dazed.

It was the first time Xie Yu looked at his childhood friend with the eyes of a man.

For some reason, he felt his heartbeat quicken unexpectedly.

He always knew his childhood friend was attractive, but he hadn't realized just how beautiful she was. His past appreciation was purely aesthetic, unlike now, tainted with worldly desires.

This reaction was new to him, leaving him feeling out of place and uncomfortably tightening his fingers.

Nan Yan, under his intense gaze, felt puzzled. Seeing him silent, she reached out and lightly patted his chest.

"Brother Xie Yu, what's wrong with you? Your breathing seems a bit unsteady."

Nan Yan slowly moved closer to him.

Xie Yu didn't quite catch her words, feeling only the soft palms against his chest, tickling his heart and quickening his pulse.

Instinctively, he grasped her wandering hand on his chest, paused, then continued, "It's nothing. I just remembered something."

Nan Yan nodded, somewhat skeptically but chose to believe him, "Is that so? I'm glad it's nothing."

Seeing her relaxed demeanor, Xie Yu felt a softness in his heart. He remembered her reaction in front of Xiao Guanxue and felt an odd discomfort in his chest, inexplicably concerned.

But he quickly composed himself.

He attributed these feelings to a brotherly possessiveness towards his sister, whom he had protected since childhood. It was natural to be concerned about her emotional life.

So, he asked, "Tell me honestly, did something happen between you and Guanxue? Do you... like him?"

Xie Yu released Nan Yan's wrist, his voice wavering slightly at the mention of 'like', not even realizing his own hesitation. What was he hesitating about?

Nan Yan, her face flushed with his straightforward question, reached out and pinched a soft spot on his waist forcefully.

"Who said I liked him? You're just talking nonsense..."

Xie Yu hissed in pain, gasping as he quickly pleaded for mercy, "Alright, alright, you don't like him, I was wrong, okay? Take it easy, or you'll complain about your hand hurting later."

Nan Yan chuckled at his words, huffing, "Who are you calling old lady? Do I look that old?" she teased, then mercifully let go of his waist.

Xie Yu rubbed the sore spot, laughing along. For some reason, her denial seemed to ease his mind.

A smile finally appeared on Xie Yu's face.

He playfully slung his arm around her shoulder, patting her twice before leading her forward with a grin.

"When have I ever spoken nonsense? If you really do like him, it's not impossible. As your brother, I have a strong bond with him. If you make me happy, I might just test the waters for you."

Of course, he knew his childhood friend, who had always been devoted to him, wouldn't easily fall for someone else.

His comment was more teasing than serious.

However, after saying this, she didn't respond for a while. Xie Yu felt something was off, and when he looked down, he noticed her blushing cheeks, unexpectedly captivating. His heart skipped a beat.

It was odd how he kept getting lost in thoughts about her today.

Nan Yan appeared shy, her fingers twirling a ribbon around her waist, her feelings clearly on display, "You'd really help me find out?"

Xie Yu suddenly found his throat dry.

He opened his mouth to speak, but looking at Nan Yan's graceful features, he was momentarily lost for words.

"Do you really... like him?"

His voice sounded dry.

Nan Yan, seemingly oblivious to his stiff expression, tilted her head in contemplation, "Well, I'm not really sure myself. He's different from you, Brother Xie Yu. I always thought I liked you, but after meeting Brother Xiao, I realized... maybe I misunderstood my feelings for you."

She frowned slightly in distress, impatiently plucking at leaves along the path, "You know, growing up in Mingyue Villa, the only men I've known are you and the brothers there. No one has ever cared for me like Brother Xiao does."

"Brother Xie Yu, if I really fall for Brother Xiao, you'd help me, right?"

Nan Yan suddenly posed this question.

Caught off guard, Xie Yu found himself speechless, his earlier promises stuck in his throat, as a hard-to-ignore feeling of heaviness spread in his heart.

"No..."

He instinctively rejected her request.

As soon as he spoke, Xie Yu realized how strange his tone sounded. Why not? Wasn't this what he had always hoped for? He already had someone he liked, didn't he? And hadn't he always considered Nan Yan as a sister?

If she truly liked another man, wouldn't it be a win-win situation?

Then why did he feel a vague discomfort in his chest?

Xie Yu remained silent.

Nan Yan seemed to detect a hint of jealousy.

Indeed, it's the sense of crisis that triggers possessiveness.

But under normal circumstances, even a brother's possessiveness towards his sister wouldn't lead to such strong aversion to another man she likes, especially since they weren't real siblings.

His prompt refusal was beyond her expectations. She thought it would take longer, but it happened so quickly.

She deliberately stopped walking, confusion flickering in her eyes, "Why not? If you have someone you like, you won't help me?"

Only then did Xie Yu realize what he had said, feeling instantly frustrated, especially under her questioning gaze. He hurriedly tried to explain, ignoring the unusual emotions bubbling inside him.

"No..."

"It's not what you think. I mean, relationships need mutual understanding. You don't really know Xiao Guanxue. He may be a good person, but he's too indifferent, particularly in matters of the heart. Being with him, you might face difficulties, and I don’t want you to regret it later. Don’t be so impulsive, okay?"

His reasoning was so sound it was hard to argue with.

Yet, Nan Yan seemed unconcerned, giggling as she playfully tugged at his arm, "So what? I don't mind those things. Besides, I have you to help me, right? Oh, Brother Xie Yu, you will help me, won't you?"

The girl looked up at him with eyes full of trust and hope, but Xie Yu remained frozen, unable to utter a word.

He stared at her for a long time until she called out again. That's when he snapped back to reality, only to hear himself mumbling a low "Mhm."

"You really agreed, then you mustn't go back on your word, okay? Thank you, Brother Xie Yu."

Nan Yan clapped her hands, her face brimming with joy.

Watching her exuberant demeanor, Xie Yu felt as if a needle had abruptly pricked his heart. It was a sharp, stinging pain that left him breathless, so much so that he couldn't make out a word she said afterward.

After a while, unable to bear it any longer, he made an excuse about having things to attend to. Without waiting for Nan Yan to respond, he turned and left.

Only after stepping out of the courtyard did he realize the turmoil in his heart, and Nan Yan hadn't even tried to stop him.

Things were different now. She used to cling to him the most, despite all the brothers and sisters in Mingyue Mountain Villa doting on her. Sometimes, her clinginess even felt bothersome to him.

He didn't know when their conversations dwindled, as she grew more like a refined lady, while he remained the same – a simple lad focused on martial arts, longing for the adventurous life of the Jianghu.

He didn't enjoy discussing poetry or literature, often finding it sleep-inducing. He was no fan of emotional entanglements of ink and paper, having driven away many tutors with his candid desire for the thrilling life of the Jianghu, yearning for the free-spirited and straightforward women of the martial arts world...

He always saw Nan Yan as a sister, but why then did he feel so aimlessly lost upon learning she had feelings for another man?

It was like something he never paid much attention to because of its constant presence, only to find himself unsettled when it suddenly disappeared.

As if he had lost something vitally important.

Xie Yu couldn't fathom why he felt such intense turmoil in his heart, a desperate need to cling to something, or else he felt he would suffer unbearably.

Suddenly, he thought of Su Mo. Yes, she was the one he truly liked.

As for Nan Yan, it was just a matter of not being used to things.

He wasn't accustomed to the little girl who had always followed him closely suddenly distancing herself, nor to her gaze seeking another man...

He had many discomforts, but they were just minor obstacles to stride over, for he would eventually leave her behind.

Thinking this way, Xie Yu's heart settled considerably, attributing his inexplicable emotions to possessiveness.

Then, thinking of other matters, even if he didn't like her, he couldn't let her get hurt. After all, Xiao Guanxue had long been devoted to someone else, clearly unsuitable for her.

With this thought, Xie Yu's eyes deepened.

……

Delighted at successfully unsettling the minds of three people single-handedly, Nan Yan felt greatly satisfied.

But it wasn’t enough yet. Stirring up Xiao Guanxue would be challenging due to his indifferent nature and difficulty in getting close to him.

Dealing with Xie Yu was easier, unsurprising given their long-standing bond as childhood friends, not easily erased. The more one risks losing something, the more significant it becomes.

Thus, while others were troubled, Nan Yan enjoyed a contented state of mind, sleeping soundly until the early morning.

At that time, it was still early dawn, with a faint light spreading in the sky, filtering through the window cracks into the room.

Last night, Nan Yan lit a calming incense which helped her sleep. This morning, the room still held a hint of the lingering fragrance.

She got up slowly and cheerfully opened the window, facing a small cluster of flowers. The climate in Medicine King Valley is pleasant, and Xiao Guanxue's fondness for tending to flowers and plants made them flourish beautifully, a delightful sight.

Opening the window, the subtle fragrance mingled with the air, indistinguishable from ordinary flower scent. However, the calming incense she used carried medicinal properties.

Typically, no calming incense would be lit in this courtyard. Due to Nan Yan's insomnia, she would light a calming incense at night for better sleep, so this particular incense was specially obtained from a servant.

Once these two fragrances mixed, the medicinal scent subtly turned toxic. The poison was not lethal, merely causing discomfort.

In the original text, Nan Yan accidentally lit this incense and woke to find her body covered in itchy red rashes. Although the poison wasn’t difficult to cure, it was damaging to her appearance.

Consequently, Nan Yan had to remain calm for a while, as no one would want to approach their beloved with a face full of rashes.

This time, Nan Yan didn’t overdo it. The right amount of calming incense blended with the flower fragrance spread in the air, and its toxicity was not as strong.

As the fragrance dispersed...

Nan Yan soon noticed tiny red rashes appearing on her exposed skin.

Initially, it was barely noticeable, but soon the itchiness began to spread from her wrists.

Nan Yan resisted the urge to scratch. The poison's effect was mild, causing rashes only on her wrists, neck, and cheeks, sparing the rest of her body.

In the original text, Nan Yan slept deeply under the influence of the incense, waking up covered in rashes, especially severe around her face.

Whether Xiao Guanxue had a hand in this accidental incense lighting is anyone's guess.

After all, in the original text, Nan Yan's behavior towards Su Mo was far from friendly, hardly bothering with pretense. Even her guilt-ridden childhood sweetheart found her excessively harsh behavior intolerable, let alone Xiao Guanxue, who harbored deep feelings for the heroine.

"He is a divine doctor, after all. Who would notice if he were to employ some subtle tricks?"

"Regardless, this blame is definitely going to fall on him."