Chapter 121

Chapter 121

Meng Shuping shook his head. "I'll sit this one out. I wouldn't guess right anyway."

Jiang Cihe paused, suppressing a laugh. "Which one do you have your eye on? I'll win it and give it to you."

Meeting Jiang Cihe's smiling gaze, Meng Shuping was momentarily flustered, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks. He turned slightly to look at the nearby lanterns, avoiding Jiang Cihe’s eyes. "Any one is fine."

*What is he doing? Acting like I'm his sweetheart or something.*

*Oh, I get it. He must want to join the lantern riddle game but doesn’t actually care about the prize—so he’s giving it to me?*

Jiang Cihe sighed inwardly. His family’s warehouse was vast—adding a few lanterns wouldn’t make a difference.

He also glanced at the lanterns when suddenly a voice called out, "Brother Cihe, what a coincidence! You’re here too."

Meng Shuping curiously peeked over and saw a teenage girl.

Jiang Cihe looked at Jian Xihan in surprise. "Why are you here? Are you alone?"

Jian Xihan beamed. "I came with my mother and the rest of my family to see the lanterns, but we got separated along the way. Brother Cihe, are you joining the lantern riddle game?"

Jiang Cihe nodded. "Yes."

Jian Xihan glanced excitedly at the lanterns. "I really want one too, but it’s too bad I can’t participate."

Jiang Cihe thought for a moment, then asked, "Which one do you think is the best?"

Hearing this, Jian Xihan’s smile widened. "I heard the person who solves the most riddles tonight gets a glass lantern. Everyone wants that one!"

Jiang Cihe nodded. "Understood."

For some reason, Meng Shuping felt a bit annoyed. After thinking it over, he decided Jiang Cihe was just abandoning his friends for a girl. *How annoying! The moment this girl shows up, he forgets all about me. What happened to winning a lantern for me? Ah, whatever. Let the girl have it.*

Meng Shuping thought bitterly, *It’s not like I really wanted that lantern anyway!*

Jiang Cihe smiled to himself. If he didn’t want it, why did he sound so resentful?

He turned to Meng Shuping. "I’m going to start solving riddles now. Don’t wander off."

Meng Shuping nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah, okay."

After exchanging a few words with Jian Xihan, Jiang Cihe headed toward the lantern riddle area.

Once Jiang Cihe was gone, Jian Xihan studied Meng Shuping carefully. "Sir, are you a friend of Brother Cihe’s?"

Uncomfortable around strangers, Meng Shuping replied awkwardly, "Yes."

Jian Xihan looked him up and down curiously. "Why have I never seen you before? Which family are you from? And how did you meet Brother Cihe?"

Meng Shuping stiffened. "We just met. Sorry, I’d like to try the riddles too."

With that, he quickly walked away. This girl seemed talkative, and he had no interest in awkward small talk.

Meng Shuping paused casually before a lantern inscribed with the character "Chi." He racked his brain—what could the riddle's answer be?

Lost in contemplation, a whisper of warmth grazed his ear: "Qinzi."

Meng Shuping jumped and instinctively turned around. But in doing so, he realized how close he was to Jiang Cihe—almost pressed against him. He recoiled abruptly, nearly losing his balance.

Jiang Cihe caught him by the waist and smiled. "What’s wrong? Can’t even stand straight?"

A shiver ran through Meng Shuping’s waist, and his legs nearly gave way. He quickly grabbed Jiang Cihe’s shoulders to steady himself.

His heart pounded. "L-let go."

Jian Xihan frowned. What was Brother Cihe doing? Why was he holding that man?

Jiang Cihe’s hand tightened briefly on Meng Shuping’s waist before releasing him, helping him regain his footing.

Meng Shuping glared at Jiang Cihe. "Why did you sneak up on me like that? You scared me."

Jiang Cihe said helplessly, "Didn’t you hear me say the answer? If I spoke too loudly, others would hear."

Meng Shuping suddenly recalled—he had indeed heard the word "Qin" earlier. He muttered under his breath, "Very well, but weren't you solving riddles? Why seek me out? The lantern you pledged to someone may soon be claimed by another."

Jiang Cihe teased deliberately, "What? You don’t want me to give the lantern to someone else?"

Under Jiang Cihe’s gaze, Meng Shuping felt a pang of guilt and instinctively looked away. "It’s your lantern. You can give it to whoever you want. Why should I care?"

Jiang Cihe smiled broadly. "If you don’t want me to give it to her, then I won’t."

Meeting Jiang Cihe’s intense gaze, Meng Shuping’s mind went blank, his heartbeat drowning out everything. After a moment, he snapped back to reality. "Give it to whoever you want. I don’t care!"

*Why does he keep saying such ambiguous things? If I weren’t so resolute, I’d think he has feelings for me!*

Jiang Cihe looked down at him. Truthfully, little moneygrubber didn’t need to be so resolute.

He ruffled Meng Shuping’s hair gently. "Then I’ll go win the lantern."

Meng Shuping let out a quiet sigh, though a strange warmth stirred inside him. Ignoring it, he nodded. "Go ahead."

After Jiang Cihe left, Meng Shuping moved from lantern to lantern. After a while, he actually solved one correctly.

After collecting his prize from the vendor, some time later, Jiang Cihe returned holding a glass lantern. Jian Xihan rushed over happily. "Brother Cihe, you’re amazing! You actually won this lantern!"

Jiang Cihe replied politely, "Thank you."

Suddenly, Meng Shuping found the scene unbearable. He turned away from Jiang Cihe and Jian Xihan, looking elsewhere. But lost in thought, he didn’t notice Jiang Cihe approaching until a glass lantern was placed into his hands. "For you."

Meng Shuping stared in surprise, his mood instantly lifting. "Huh?"

*Didn’t he say he was going to give it to that girl? Why is he giving it to me now?*

Jian Xihan was equally stunned. "Brother Cihe, didn’t you win this for me? Why are you giving it to him?"

Meng Shuping was just as confused. Remembering Jiang Cihe’s earlier words, his ears grew warm. *Is it because of me? Does he think I want this lantern, so he didn’t give it to her?*

*Hmph, good thing he doesn’t like girls, or with behavior like this, would he ever win anyone over? But I have to admit, he’s really loyal to me!*

Jiang Cihe sighed. Little fool!

He feigned surprise and looked at Jian Xihan. "Xihan, do you want it too? Sorry, but I’ve already given it to him. If you want one, you can try somewhere else or buy your own. But when did I say I was winning it for you?"

Jian Xihan started to protest, "Didn’t you—"

But halfway through, she suddenly realized Jiang Cihe had never actually said he would win the lantern for her. He had only asked which one she liked best.

Her face flushed bright red. She had misunderstood—but could she really be blamed? Anyone would have thought the same under the circumstances!

Meng Shuping was amazed, *Oh! Now I get it—he couldn’t decide which one to pick earlier, so he asked for her opinion and ended up misleading her. Tch, he’s really something else!*

Jian Xihan was too embarrassed to speak right away. After a moment of silence, she composed herself and looked at Meng Shuping a bit annoyed. "Could you give this lantern to me instead? I really like it."

Meng Shuping glanced at Jiang Cihe, feeling torn. *But Jiang Cihe meant to give it to me. Wouldn't that be rude for me to give it away? Still, she likes it, and it wouldn't be right to argue with a young lady over it.*

After hesitating for a moment, he said, "If you really want it—"

Before he could finish, Jiang Cihe jumped in, "No."

Jian Xihan looked at Jiang Cihe discontentedly, her tone whiny. "Why not, Brother Cihe?"

Jiang Cihe’s expression turned stern. "As I said earlier, if you want one, you can buy it yourself. I can't just take back a gift I’ve already given to someone else."

Recalling Jiang Cihe’s earlier closeness with Meng Shuping, Jian Xihan gave Meng Shuping a dirty look. Pouting, she said, "But he’s not a girl—what does he need an ornate glass lantern for?"

Meng Shuping couldn’t help but grumble inwardly, *Who says only girls can have it? It’s not like I asked for it. Besides, why doesn’t she ask Jiang Cihe why he gave it to me?*

Jiang Cihe said coldly, "My things are mine to give as I please. Do you have any objections?"

Hearing his stern tone, Jian Xihan froze. After a moment, she stiffly replied, "Fine, I don’t want it then!"

Though Meng Shuping had been pleased to receive the lantern earlier, he wasn't feeling as happy about it now. *Sigh, holding this lantern feels a bit awkward now.*

Jiang Cihe took Meng Shuping’s hand, pressed the lantern into it, and then turned to Jian Xihan. "We’re going to explore elsewhere now. We're heading off."

Jian Xihan hurriedly grabbed Jiang Cihe’s hand. "Wait, Brother Cihe, could you take me to find my mother? I’m a young lady—it doesn’t feel safe for me to walk alone on the streets."

Meng Shuping’s gaze fell on Jiang Cihe’s captured hand, and that uneasy feeling came back. He averted his eyes, staring down at the lantern without a word.

Jiang Cihe pulled his hand away firmly and said calmly, "Let’s go then."

With that, he took Meng Shuping’s hand and started walking forward. Jian Xihan quickly caught up and grabbed his arm. "Brother Cihe, wait for me!"

Meng Shuping couldn’t help but glance over again. A moment later, he tried to pull his hand free from Jiang Cihe’s grasp, but Jiang Cihe held on tightly. Irritated, Meng Shuping said, "What are you doing? Let go!"

Ignoring the other arm still being held by Jian Xihan, Jiang Cihe asked Meng Shuping with concern, "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Meng Shuping waved him off, "Don’t worry about me. You should focus on taking care of this young lady."

Jiang Cihe glanced back at Jian Xihan and instructed Ling Feng, "Ling Feng, take her to find my aunt."

Jian Xihan immediately protested, "I don’t want that! Brother Cihe, you take me!"

Jiang Cihe’s expression hardened. "If you keep this up, find your own way."

Jian Xihan muttered reluctantly, "Fine, if you won’t take me, then don’t!"