Chapter 118 [VIP] Savior (5)

Chapter 118 [VIP] Savior (5)

Jin Yanli, struggling to contain his anger, felt his blood boiling, that indescribable feeling of frustration surfacing again, with nowhere to vent, “Li Nanyan, do you think I am blind?”

“I looked for you all night, and now you tell me the candied haw doesn’t taste good. It seems to me you’re quite at ease, probably wishing I'd leave you alone, uncontrolled!”

In fact, he wasn’t wrong; that was exactly what Nan Yan had been thinking. But she couldn’t admit that, or he would become even more enraged.

Jin Yanli was truly infuriated this time and raised his hand, intending to tap her forehead as a reprimand.

But as he looked down and saw those unguarded, sincere eyes blinking back at him, he found himself unable to bring his hand down.

Jin Yanli eventually thought better of it, reasoning that since she wasn’t particularly bright to begin with, a knock on the head might make her utterly undesirable for the rest of her life. So, his raised hand made a detour in mid-air, landing back down reluctantly.

He then pulled out a blue cloth handkerchief from his sleeve and threw it at her forehead, his tone dripping with disdain, "Wipe your face, you've got sugar crumbs all over your mouth. Li Nanyan, you’re completely lacking the poise of a lady of your standing. I’m embarrassed to be seen with you."

Having said that, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. Getting angry with her was pointless; he always ended up being the one more upset.

Nan Yan caught the handkerchief, smiling at him and blissfully sniffing it, utterly oblivious to her own faults.

Jin Yanli snorted coldly, flicking his sleeve and turning away, determined not to engage with her any further, not even sparing her another glance.

Nan Yan blinked, her face expressionless but inwardly clicking her tongue. She thought to herself, typical of a male lead to control his emotions so well. Even after being provoked to such an extent, he managed to maintain composure.

She realized she needed to be more tactful in her approach.

So, she quickly went up to him, tugging at his sleeve, coaxing, "I know I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again. Please forgive me this time, okay?"

Jin Yanli turned away, ignoring her, but she persisted, following him around like a clingy plaster.

She didn’t seem to find her persistence bothersome, continuously showering him with sweet words and various tactics to appease him, like pinching his arm and patting his shoulder. Where had she learned all these ridiculous methods?

Initially, she kept it proper, but soon she couldn’t resist taking advantage of the situation, playfully messing with him without any sense of shame, infuriating Jin Yanli. He caught her hand that was sneaking into his garment and slapped it hard.

“Enough, have you had your fun?”

She had completely forsaken the modesty expected of a young lady.

Nan Yan pursed her lips and hummed in a muffled voice,

“Can’t I even touch you a little?”

Finally, Jin Yanli's patience wore thin, and his anger subsided significantly. Just as he was about to say "Don't let it happen again,"

Nan Yan suddenly got excited and dragged him to the bisexual bodhi tree in front of the Matchmaker Temple. She turned her head, gently shaking his arm, and softly said,

"Do you think we're fated? This is the Matchmaker Temple. Finding me here, doesn’t it mean we're meant to be together?"

Her eyes sparkled brightly as she spoke, her smile radiant. She then pulled him to a small stall selling peach wood plaques filled with signs, red strings, and talismans related to romantic fate.

She carefully picked one out,

The peach wood plaques here were famous. Young men and women interested in each other would write their names on the plaques and hang them on the bodhi tree in front of the temple. The higher and steadier they hung, the stronger their destined connection was believed to be. This custom had become a local tradition.

Intrigued by such a fun activity, Nan Yan looked up at the old tree adorned with numerous plaques. The wind rustled through the leaves, causing the red strings to sway and jingle, exuding an ancient and profound aura.

Excitedly turning to Jin Yanli, she said, "Look how beautiful those peach wood plaques are, hanging with so many names. Let's try it together, shall we?"

The stall owner, a kindly old lady, handed them two blank plaques, chuckling, "Meeting here at the Matchmaker Temple is fate itself. Why not give it a try? This fate tree is over a hundred years old and very effective. Go ahead, young lady, if you're keen. Throwing it high means a deep connection. These plaques are cheap, just for a bit of fun..."

Nan Yan turned to look at Jin Yanli, her eyes clear and bright like spring water, capturing him in their delicate, intricate web, making it hard for him to look away.

There was a hint of hope in her gaze.

Faced with such a look, Jin Yanli found himself momentarily transfixed, realizing he had no power or even the slightest inclination to refuse.

He still held her soft hand until she placed the peach wood plaque into his palm, the cool touch of it snapping him back to reality.

Looking at the plaque and the bamboo stylus in his hand, Jin Yanli unconsciously furrowed his brow, lost in thought.

He couldn’t understand why he was indulging her in these meaningless rituals. He knew she was an impostor, not his true savior. Why was he praying and making offerings with her, wasn’t it just a waste of time?

Especially when he was eventually going to break off the engagement anyway?

The more he indulged in procrastination at this moment, the more troublesome it might become when the truth was inevitably revealed. Why should he engage in such futile actions then?

Moreover, the person he liked wasn't her – not this impostor who had deceived him. It was the one who had genuinely saved him from the darkness, that gentle and pure maiden who had stirred his heart.

Jin Yanli's brows knitted tightly together.

But when he turned his head, he saw her busily and earnestly crouched beside a stone pedestal, holding a peach wood plaque, joyfully carving her name into it. After she finished, she blew on it gently, nodded in satisfaction, and then leaned over to nuzzle against his shoulder, affectionately rubbing against him. For some inexplicable reason, his heart softened.

Even he himself couldn't pinpoint the cause.

Unconsciously, he reached out to touch her cheek, feeling the soft warmth seep through his fingertips, and Jin Yanli finally came back to his senses. His gaze fell on her oblivious face.

Jin Yanli's eyes paused for a moment,

only now realizing something. His action was undeniably too intimate.

As if suddenly awakened, he instinctively withdrew his hand. In a daze, he carved his name onto the wooden plaque, stood up, and awkwardly pushed her aside, not daring to lift his gaze to meet hers.

South Yan's eyebrows twitched slightly, a subtle curve forming on her lips. She intuitively guessed that this man before her might be unaware of his own feelings, but the question was: how long could he suppress them?

She pretended not to notice anything, maintaining her enthusiastic grip on his hand as they strolled under the massive, ancient bodhi tree. As they walked, Nanyan kept chatting, urging him to pray sincerely and toss the plaque high, symbolizing their deep connection.

Her smile was genuinely joyful, but Jin Yanli's mind was in turmoil, leaving him with no desire to engage with her.

A crowd of young men and women had gathered beneath the tree, as the Moon Elder Temple had always been a popular spot for romantic aspirations. Some were writing peach wood plaques like them, while others sought fortune-telling at the stalls surrounding the area. The place was bustling with curious onlookers.

……

On the other side, Xiao Feihao and Li Qingru approached slowly. Li Qingru felt somewhat irritated seeing all the couples seeking love, but it was Xiao Feihao who insisted on bringing her there for a distraction. They circled around the Moon Elder Temple and eventually found themselves under the same bodhi tree, directly facing Jin Yanli and Li Nanyan.

Li Qingru now clearly saw what Jin Yanli and Li Nanyan were doing. Her gaze fell upon his face, and an indescribable bitterness rose in her chest, both sour and suffocating. She was tempted to rush forward and confront Jin Yanli, demanding if he truly held no regard for their past, if he had completely forgotten her.

Yet, in the end, she held back. She couldn't allow herself to become someone who would repay kindness with demands. She had saved him out of pity, never expecting anything in return. With this thought, Li Qingruo turned and left, unwilling to share the same space with those two any longer.

Seeing her depart, Xiao Feihuo also prepared to leave.

On the other side, Nan Yan had just caught sight of the pair. It was indeed a coincidence.

Nan Yan closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and pretended to pray devoutly. Then, with her eyes open, she aimed and threw the wooden tablet towards the bodhi tree. Her aim was impeccable. Just as Xiao Feihuo turned to leave, a small, square wooden tablet fell from the sky, landing with a "smack" right on his forehead.

Nan Yan thought to herself, she hadn't used that silver coin to hit someone earlier, but using the wooden tablet now seemed quite fitting.

Opposite him, Xiao Feihao was also dazed by the impact, momentarily forgetting to pursue. It took him a while to regain his senses. Rubbing his forehead, he looked around in confusion. Actually, the blow wasn't painful, but he was puzzled as to who had such poor eyesight that they could hit someone with a wooden sign?

He instinctively picked up the sign from the ground.

To his surprise, the name on the wooden sign was none other than the Miss Li he had just bumped into - "Li Nanyan," carved in uneven characters. He never would have imagined that he and this Miss Li were so fated, even her thrown sign managed to hit him on the head.

What was this? A lucky accident?

Xiao Feihao raised his head and couldn't resist glancing across. Miss Li was looking up at the tree branches in search of her sign, unable to find it after a long while. She then started looking around, probably realizing her sign hadn't made it up. A blend of frustration and confusion was clearly etched on her face, making for an amusing sight.

Seeing this, Xiao Feihe's brows twitched slightly, and he immediately clenched the wooden plaque in his hand. He had never had a favorable impression of her, so he was more than willing to make her life a bit harder.

Especially after learning that Li Qingrou had feelings for Jin Yanli, Xiao Feihe, who had never believed in deities, secretly prayed to the Matchmaker God, who oversaw relationships, to open his eyes and not tie the red thread of fate between the two of them.

Didn't she want to pray and make wishes with her beloved? Well, he would deliberately prevent her from having her wish come true.

……

On the other side, Jin Yanli's aim was accurate. The peach wood plaque swayed on the tree with the wind, occasionally producing a crisp sound that lifted one's spirits.

But when he turned his head and saw Nanyan on the ground, searching for something, he felt an inexplicable sense of helplessness.

"What's wrong with you now?"

South Yan lifted her head at his question, biting her lip as she gazed at Jin Yanli with a troubled expression. "I don't think I threw it up properly. I have no idea where it went. What should we do? Will it not work now? Should we throw another one together?"

Upon hearing this, Jin Yanli felt an indistinct sensation in his heart, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he chuckled and instinctively placed his hand on her head. "Enough, stop fussing. Sincerity is what matters. It wouldn't make much difference even if you hung a hundred charms instead of one. Besides, beliefs in divine beings are often baseless. Relying on gods is less effective than relying on yourself. Anyway, it's getting late, and we've already spent enough time here tonight. Let me send you back first..."

As he spoke, he casually took her hand. South Yan still looked wistfully at the ground, but she didn't insist. After all, the wooden plaque had been used to hit someone's head.

……

The couple followed the flow of people, and by the time they returned, it was past the hour of Hai, and the sky was growing darker. The candles inside the lanterns were nearly burned out, and many vendors along the streets were beginning to pack up their stalls.

The crowd thinned, and even the familiar wonton stalls on the roadside began to pack up, awaiting the last few customers to finish their meals before bidding farewell for the day.

Jin Yanli delivered Nanyan to the entrance of Li's residence. Despite his urging, she lingered hesitantly, her expression filled with uncertainty. She gently tugged at the edge of his sleeve, looking at him as if she had something on her mind. Eventually, she bit her lip, asking with a hint of reluctance, "Can I come find you tomorrow?"

Nanyan tried her best to appear bashful.

As soon as she finished speaking, a wild cat suddenly darted out from the side. At first, Jin Yanli couldn't make out what it was, only noticing the dark figure rushing towards the person in front of him.

Without a moment's hesitation, almost instinctively, he pulled Nanyan into his embrace. It was then that he heard a "meow," realizing that the shadow was, in fact, a stray cat.

Jin Yanli frowned. Indeed, there were many stray cats in this vicinity that often pounced on people for food. This person must have had some delectable pastries hidden in his pockets. The scent must have attracted the cat. If not for his quick reflexes just now, Nan Yan would undoubtedly have been caught off guard by the feline's attack.

Just as he was about to push the person away, he felt his waist tighten as the individual in his arms suddenly wrapped their arms around his waist.

Jin Yanli's expression froze, and his body stiffened noticeably. For some reason, an unfamiliar sensation stirred within him. His heartbeat seemed to lose its rhythm, and his thoughts became disordered. Uncertain of how to react, the person in his embrace suddenly lifted their head, their dewy eyes gazing directly at him.

"Jin Yanli..."

She softly called out his name.

In that instant, it felt as if the air around them had frozen solid.

Jin Yanli could sense her breath grazing against his chin, warm, soft, and infused with an indistinct intimacy. That unfamiliar, strange emotion stirred within him again, constricting his breath ever so slightly.

Their eyes met, and Jin Yanli saw his own reflection in her gaze. His eyes lost focus for a moment.

He didn't know what came over him at that very instant.

Almost involuntarily, he suddenly lowered his head...

He then tenderly kissed Nan Yan's lips. In that moment of their union, Jin Yanli felt his chest tremble subtly, as if something within him had taken root and was blossoming vigorously. It was as if he had been instantly filled with an indescribable sense of fulfillment.

Her lips were soft, shimmering with a rosy glow. As he kissed her, her eyes blinked twice, their gaze too pure and unadulterated, filled entirely with trust and admiration for him. This made Jin Yanli inexplicably feel guilty, and he instinctively covered her eyes with his hand.

Nan Yan rested compliantly against his chest, her facial expression unchanged, but her heart remained undisturbed.

She thought to herself, this time it wasn’t her initiative. But now that he had shown signs of affection, she wondered if he would still be able to turn against her once his true savior was found.

……

On the way back, Jin Yanli was noticeably off-kilter, almost in a daze, confused about his own feelings. He was certain his affections were for the gentle girl who saved him at the farmstead. So why did he impulsively kiss Nan Yan tonight?

Was it out of guilt?

Or was it because he had already decided to break off the engagement once he found the girl he truly liked, causing subconscious guilt?

He should have restrained himself, but why couldn’t he at the last moment?

Jin Yanli couldn't understand his actions and became increasingly frustrated and disturbed by these thoughts.

He even wondered if he had grown accustomed to her presence, leading to his lapse in judgment.

Before, he could overlook her deception as he didn’t know she was an impostor. But now, being aware and still showing her closeness and indulgence, wouldn’t that be irresponsible?

When Jin Yanli returned home, he was still unable to shake off the confusion caused by the kiss. It felt like a lot had changed mysteriously because of that single moment.

After much restless contemplation, unable to find clarity, he decided to suppress all his tumultuous feelings, refusing to think about her anymore. To avoid further confusion, Jin Yanli consciously avoided Nan Yan for several days.

During this emotionally complex period for Jin Yanli, Nan Yan visited his residence daily, casually appearing in front of him. Jin Yanli, claiming to be busy with official duties, tried to ignore her, but she never got angry. Instead, she would sit at the nearby desk, gazing at him thoughtfully, sometimes wandering around the house, almost as if she were the lady of the manor.

She seemed to have forgotten the incident of that day and acted as if their closeness was entirely normal, oblivious to her own intricate feelings.

Her days were spent chatting with the butler, gambling with the servants, teasing the cat, and sometimes, finding the mansion’s lack of greenery dull, she even had the servants uproot the grass in the backyard to plant rows of begonias, peonies, and orchids, treating Jin's mansion almost like her own home.

The servants and maids grew familiar with her, finding her approachable and generous. She never mistreated them and shared snacks bought from the street, making her a well-liked mistress.

Jin Yanli initially felt troubled at the sight of her, but this gradually turned into restlessness when she wasn’t around. He found himself unable to concentrate on his work without her usual bustling presence, confusing him about his own feelings.

Initially, he detested anyone disturbing his work. But her arrival disrupted all his norms.

Was it all because of that kiss?

But she had kissed him many times before without caring, so why was he the only one brooding over it?

Jin Yanli buried these feelings deep inside, convincing himself that ignoring and not thinking about them would alleviate his irritation.

However, suppressed emotions often rebound with greater force, and he wondered when they would finally erupt.

Nan Yan's carefree days were coming to an end. After the Chongyang Festival in September, the autumn hunting trip began. The Emperor, in his prime, loved excitement and organized this hunt in the royal hunting grounds, inviting ministers and their families.

Hearing this news, Nan Yan realized a turning point in the original story was approaching.

It was during this hunt that the male lead would discover the identity of his real savior. Consequently, he would come to the Li residence to break off the engagement.

The original protagonist would become a laughing stock as a result.

Given Nan Yan's status, she naturally qualified to participate in the autumn hunt, either as Jin Yanli's fiancée or as the legitimate daughter of a senior official in the Hanlin Academy. She was entitled to experience the royal hunting grounds of Shanglinyuan.

However, Shanglinyuan, being a royal hunting ground, often saw nimble courtiers and guards showcasing their skills in front of the emperor. Family members of common ministers typically hunted within a designated safe area.

In the Dai Li Dynasty, where customs were liberal, it was not uncommon to see women participating in horse riding, archery, and hunting. In the original plot, the protagonist was goaded into competing in archery, but her inability to even hold a bow properly led to a dismal defeat, making a fool of herself.

Nan Yan wasn't skilled in archery either, but Jin Yanli was renowned for his exceptional skills, even earning the emperor's praise for his ability to hit a target a hundred paces away.

So, with the autumn hunt approaching, she saw an opportunity to cultivate their relationship.