Chapter 200: Meeting on the River
A few days ago, it was still a half-moon. Before one knew it, looking up again, the moon was full. Just like that, a few more days had passed.
Young Master Liu, who had originally been in a rush to return to the capital, had squandered a few more days in Jingzhou.
Under the moonlit night, a warm breeze blew. Tonight, he chose to stay overnight on a boat.
In truth, Young Master Liu did not have much money left on him. After all, when a young man sets out to travel, although he brings a fair amount of money, it is still a finite sum.
He could not afford to sustain such high expenses at fine establishments every day, especially if he wanted to appear generous in front of the woman he liked; he would inadvertently overspend.
However, Liu Tong had rarely worried about money. Although his servant had reminded him once, he had not taken it to heart.
Tonight, he still insisted on taking Miss Qingqing on a night cruise, because the moon was full, and watching it from the river would surely be beautiful.
Being young, free from parental constraints, having met a woman he admired, and having shared intimate contact, he was almost obsessively in love. Everything he did felt interesting, everything felt good; even just sitting together in a daze felt blissful, and he was exceptionally energetic every day. He was reluctant to leave.
In truth, every aspect of Jingzhou City was inexplicably more convenient and comfortable than other places, so he had stayed a few extra days without realizing it.
During these past few days, Jiang Wan had also been secretly surprised while staying in Jingzhou.
In her dreams, she had passed through Jingzhou, but it was just an ordinary city with nothing special about it.
The passersby had numb eyes and tattered clothes, because this was the first city the Rebels had conquered, and it was also a strategic military location. In short, after several back-and-forth battles, the city had been ravaged. Everyone had cold, indifferent eyes; seeing wealthy people passing by, they would either show terror or greed. In short, her impression of it was very poor.
But at this moment, this was completely different from the scene in her dreams.
Tourists were as thick as a weave, and the city was thriving. Even on these night cruise boats, it was just for lodging; there were people playing music and singing, but not lewd tunes—they sang of mountains, water, parting, and meeting, which was incredibly elegant.
This scene made her somewhat panicked, as it shattered her perception. Moreover, because traces of Commander Jiang were everywhere in Jingzhou, it also made her very anxious.
She wanted to persuade Young Master Liu to leave sooner. However, Young Master Liu was so infatuated with her that he was unwilling to leave. Perhaps, deep down, he also felt that if he left this place and headed to the capital, he would ultimately have to face his parents and Miss Dong, and he did not dare to do so.
That day, because Young Master Liu had spoken of his intent to marry Miss Dong, the two had engaged in some overly intimate acts.
Afterward, although the two were still inseparable, Jiang Wan never allowed any more intimate physical contact with him. She knew well that a woman could show she loved a man deeply, but she could not be too proactive, especially regarding physical intimacy; she had to exercise restraint.
Men are always less concerned about what they have already obtained and what is already settled. They always prefer what they have not yet obtained, what is about to be owned, what might be owned, and what they have worked hard to possess.
Traveling by boat at night was very romantic. They admired the moon, drank tea, and ate snacks.
Young Master Liu was full of enthusiasm and seemed tireless, spending the whole day thinking about how to invite Miss Qingqing to play.
In the past, even while traveling, he would flip through books, but in these past few days, his books had gathered dust.
Young Master Liu felt that Miss Qingqing was exceptionally knowledgeable. Although she had lost some memories, her manner of speaking remained graceful, and talking to her made him feel joyful and happy.
The night boat swayed slightly. The night breeze blew the girl’s fragrance to the tip of his nose, entwining around him, faint yet present.
The river surface was very dark, but it did not make one feel afraid at all; he only felt that it could be even darker.
The maid and the manservant were both keeping watch outside.
Perhaps because they were on a boat, Young Master Liu became a bit bolder. He sat next to Miss Qingqing; at this moment, Young Master Liu was like a big dog, following her scent, wanting to get close to her, to lean against her, even if he did nothing else.
Jiang Wan did not avoid him as she had in the past few days. The night breeze on the river was cooler than on the land and felt more comfortable.
She leaned back slightly and was able to rest against a warm chest, feeling the rise and fall of a heartbeat.
She felt an arm wrap around her chest, then tighten gradually.
He pressed tightly against her, holding her in his arms. The cruise boat swayed slightly, facing the Jing River, where the water flowed swiftly.
Jiang Wan looked at the dark river surface. She thought of how her family had once traveled by boat toward the capital, full of high spirits, yet now, in this darkness, she was doing something that could not see the light of day, leaning against someone else’s fiancé—it was laughable and pathetic.
Liu Tong, however, was not thinking of anything. He simply held the woman in his arms. After a long while, he suddenly spoke: “Miss Qingqing, I have thought about it these past few days. I will take you back to the capital and explain things clearly to my family—that I like you, that I only have brotherly feelings for Miss Dong, and that I want to marry you. Would that be alright?”
Jiang Wan’s body stiffened slightly, and her heart beat a little faster. At this moment, she felt a stirring in her heart.
In the distance, a boat was slowly approaching. It was not intentional; the channel was simply not wide, and they would pass each other.
Jiang Wan, leaning in Young Master Liu’s embrace, watched the boat opposite get closer and closer. Just as they were about to pass each other, she suddenly saw a majestic man standing at the bow, facing the night breeze. The wind blew his black hair wildly, and his white robe fluttered. It was actually Chu Xi!
Jiang Wan felt as if he had looked over at her for an instant. Her heart seemed to stop beating; it was impossible. Terrified, she turned around, with her back to that boat.
But Liu Tong thought she was responding to him, so he casually picked her up and placed her on his lap.
His breathing became somewhat rapid, flustered and chaotic, his face flushed red. He said emotionally: “Miss Qingqing, believe me, my grandmother loves me very much. If I insist, they will definitely agree.”
At this moment, Jiang Wan felt as if a blade had cleaved down her spine, as if she had been split apart.
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