Chapter 104 Fishing: Xie Tanwei’s Adam’s apple bobbed, visibly moved.

Xie Tanwei's Adam's apple bobbed, visibly stirred.

Tian Qin despondently clung to Xie Tanwei's neck, feeling useless for having gotten herself soaked while fishing.

Xie Tanwei placed her into the carriage, pulled the curtains tight to create a dark, enclosed space. Dry, soft clothes were ready for a change.

Tian Qin touched the clothes, hesitating, and said uncertainly, "That's not a good idea."

After all, they were in a remote wilderness. Though the carriage was sealed tight, she couldn't get past her own reservations.

Xie Tanwei gazed at her with a meaningful look. "Need my help?"

"No." She immediately clutched the clothes tighter.

Xie Tanwei brushed her cheek, his calm tone strangely reassuring. "Go ahead and change. Zhao Ning and I will keep watch outside."

With that, he didn't tease her further, lifted the curtain, and stepped out.

In the sealed, dim, cramped carriage, only Tian Qin remained. After a moment's thought, she slowly shed her wet clothes, doing so in the wilderness for the first time. She could only blame Xie Tanwei—she had been perfectly fine making spring cakes, and he had dragged her here to fish.

After much dawdling, confirming every ribbon was tied, Tian Qin cautiously lifted the curtain and peered out.

Upon hearing her, Xie Tanwei asked, "Changed?"

Tian Qin nodded, suppressing her anxiety. Xie Tanwei looked her over and smiled calmly. "Not bad. My girl has learned to dress herself."

Tian Qin's cheeks flushed red.

"Stop talking nonsense."

He took her hand and led her back to the lakeside to continue fishing. The muddy bank where Tian Qin had fallen was now reinforced with wooden planks laid by Zhao Ning, and the fishing rod and line were readjusted.

Xie Tanwei handed her a cup of hot perilla tea with honeysuckle to dispel internal heat. Tian Qin took it, sipped a couple of mouthfuls, enough to ward off the chilly spring breeze.

"Is it good?" He tucked a few strands of hair behind her ear and pinned a freshly plucked crabapple blossom behind her ear, leaving lingering warmth from his fingers. Tian Qin felt a bit dazed, distracted by the flower at her ear, and replied blankly, "Good."

The atmosphere seemed to shift, giving rise to an unusual feeling. Tian Qin reluctantly turned her head away. Xie Tanwei stared persistently, his gaze intensifying, an invisible wave of emotion slipping through the wind, ungraspable.

"Fishing." Tian Qin said curtly, taking up the rod on her own, evading his warm, subtle gaze.

Xie Tanwei went along with it, correcting her posture again, teaching her the technique. One guided, the other followed—a rare harmony.

Tian Qin stared intently at the lake until her eyes ached, and only then did the rod faintly tremble, signaling a bite.

Flustered, afraid the hook would tear the fish's mouth, she quickly reeled in. Panic led to mistakes, and she ended up being toyed with by the lively fish.

Xie Tanwei said, "Don't worry, take it slow. The hook is specially made; it won't hurt the fish's mouth."

He had stood by watching her struggle with the tiny fish, having had his fill of laughter, and finally reached out to help. Tian Qin mustered her strength and kept at it, catching the first fish of her life.

Tian Qin shielded her eyes as the fish splashed water, and a wooden basin filled with clear water was ready. The fish flailed helplessly inside, eventually becoming a captive.

"I caught it."

She couldn't help but marvel. What a feat.

Looking up, the fading embers of joy suddenly caught Xie Tanwei's eye. In all their years together, she had never shown genuine joy, much less smiled at him, revealing her true self. That fleeting sincerity seemed to ignite the dandelion fluff floating in the spring sky, setting his heart ablaze, spreading out of control.

Xie Tanwei's Adam's apple bobbed, visibly stirred. Before she could withdraw, he pulled her into an embrace—tight, unyielding, pure and untainted by base desire. Their hearts pounded like drums, body pressed to body, heads resting on each other's shoulders, as if this could preserve her swiftly fading joy like preventing fragrance from evaporating.

But Tian Qin's joy faded nonetheless, solidified, nearly drowning in his sudden crushing embrace, until she turned cold and set a boundary: "…What are you doing? You're hurting me."

Xie Tanwei felt as if doused with a bucket of snow water.

After a moment, he came to his senses a bit and said icily, "Nothing. A bee was hovering over your head."

Tian Qin saw no bee. In her eyes, he was the only danger that could erupt at any moment.

Xie Tanwei licked his dry lips, tasting only bitterness that he alone could taste. Soon, he laughed at himself. It didn't matter. He did have some fondness for her, and he admitted it. Whether she returned his feelings wasn't important. Life was short; he could only claim a brief part of her time. Whatever fate held next was unpredictable. He could accept separation, and he didn't crave her love.

He released her, tidying his slightly disheveled clothes as if the previous embrace were an illusion.

"Fishing." He said casually.

After a half-day of hard work fishing, Tian Qin only managed a pitiful two fish, even though the river was full of plump, white fish.

It was still early. The air was filled with insect and frog sounds, mixed with varying spring winds. In the blue sky, wispy clouds drifted, shrouding the vast flowing waters below. The spring colors were just beginning to settle, the air crisp and fresh, time calm and steady without upheaval. The sound of birds' wings fluttering passed by their ears.

Tian Qin and Xie Tanwei decided to walk back to the residence, enjoying the spring scenery, and told Zhao Ning to head back first. She couldn't bear to cook the two small fish they caught, so she asked Zhao Ning to take them back and keep them in the water tank of the Painting Garden.

Xie Tanwei couldn't help but laugh again. "Sympathy for the fish."

Tian Qin retorted, "Naturally, I'm not as ruthless as you, brother-in-law."

Xie Tanwei raised an eyebrow, a faint glint in his eyes. "Say that again?"

Tian Qin quickly begged for mercy. He teased her thoroughly before being satisfied, pinching the soft flesh of her wrist, telling her to soften her tone. She humored him briefly, changing the subject by pointing to a colorful bird in the sky. The generous spring sunlight warmed them both.

As for the roadside noodle stall, the rich aroma of food hung in the air, intoxicatingly fragrant, enticing the cravings of one's stomach more than any grand restaurant's kitchen.

Tian Qin, hungry after a day of fishing, wanted to sit down for a bowl, savoring the smoky smell and slurping hot noodle soup. But she had no cash on hand, and Xie Tanwei, used to extravagance, would surely disdain the messy little stall. So she pretended not to care, walking past it indifferently.

But Xie Tanwei said, "I'm hungry."

He led her into the noodle stall and sat down on a long bench.

Tian Qin was stunned, speechless. He was accommodating her.

The owner greeted them warmly. Xie Tanwei ordered two bowls of noodles generously, paid, exuding an air of aristocracy that clashed with the humble stall.

Tian Qin finally got her warm noodles, her stomach filled, her spirit found grounding. Xie Tanwei ate without pickiness, quietly polished off the meal, leaving some soup, no different from how he ate at home.

The steam from the noodle soup misted her eyes. It had been so long since she had witnessed such vivid street scenes. What she drank seemed not just soup, but the myriad flavors of the world. They ate in long silence, not breaking this peaceful, harmonious atmosphere—cheap, warm, real.

"Finished?" Seeing her put down her chopsticks, Xie Tanwei asked.

Tian Qin hummed in response, her belly full. Xie Tanwei smiled and reached for her belly, his touch ticklish as a feather, startling Tian Qin into quickly pressing down on his hand, mindful of the other diners around, and reproachfully said, "Brother-in-law!"

"Just checking if you're really full." His excuse was flimsy, merely a pretext to toy with her.

Tian Qin rolled her eyes. "How can fullness be fake?" Unwilling to linger at this crowded stall, afraid he might do something more outlandish, she tugged at his sleeve and urged, "Brother-in-law, let's go quickly."

But a few sharp-eared diners nearby heard the word "brother-in-law" and turned to stare at them with odd looks. Tian Qin had no retort, only lowering her head in embarrassment, while Xie Tanwei seemed to savor it, unhurried, meeting those gazes, being half-dragged forward by Tian Qin.

"Tian'er—" He drew out her name, acting reluctant. "What's the rush?"

He quickened his steps to catch up, instead taking control, firmly holding her hand.

"You didn't hear those people gossiping about us?" Tian Qin said reluctantly, "...a woman eating with her brother-in-law."

She stopped mid-sentence, touching upon the deepest pain in her heart.

Xie Tanwei saw her standing there, wooden and lifeless, reverting to a walking-corpse state. His joy diminished somewhat, and he couldn't help but gaze at her face for a long time, countless thoughts swirling in his mind.

Sister, and brother-in-law.

He pondered over these two words.

It wasn't that they absolutely had to be in this forbidden relationship; giving her a status was simple, but then she would be reduced to a mere concubine's status. Would she be happy? Probably not. She was proud and haughty, and because of her past life, she loathed him, detesting being a concubine.

So, as he had said before, he was waiting for a chance, waiting until he got bored and was willing to let go, each going their separate ways. He would remain the Xie Clan Lord, and she would marry into a good family. A hasty status would only trap her.

He had never thought of spending his entire life with her—it was too long.

With such complex emotions, Xie Tanwei didn't waste any words. He took her hand and said quietly, "Let's go. Back to the manor now."

Having just eaten, they needed time to settle their emotions, so they walked very slowly.

Tian Qin understood as well.

The streets were still bustling with the noise of people coming and going, but their silence hung between them. This silence was not confrontational; each was lost in their own thoughts, immersed in their own reflections, in a moment of complete stillness. He held her hand tightly, becoming the only link between these two silent islands.

Unknowingly, they passed the familiar streets and returned to the Xie Manor.

Xie Tanwei had already composed himself. The servants, seeing the Lord take Miss Tian out again from afar, secretly clucked their tongues and felt that the mistress of Qiutang Residence seemed old and out of touch. When the ailing Xian Qiu finally departed from this world, Miss Tian would truly have the final say in the vast mansion.

Returning to the Painting Garden, Tian Qin saw the two fish she had caught swimming in the water tank, blowing bubbles. The garden was perpetually quiet, and suddenly having living creatures was absolutely charming.

Xie Tanwei accompanied her to watch the fish. The clear water reflected their faint shadows, as if they were like the fish in the water, leaning on one another.

"If you'd told me earlier you liked fish, I would have bought some for you."

Xie Tanwei said.

Tian Qin shook her head. "I don't even know what I like."

"What about people?" He meant not just objects, but people too—she didn't know what kind of person she liked.

Tian Qin didn't answer.

She didn't know what kind of person she liked, but she knew very well what kind of person she hated.