Both had red faces, glaring at each other before turning their heads away in an attempt not to see the other.
There was a moment of silence in the carriage, as both unexpectedly and obediently returned to their seats, with neither speaking to the other anymore.
Chu Lian sat there, his face expressionless and his aura icy, yet his heart was somewhat troubled. He felt that he was incredibly unlucky today, to have been inexplicably kissed by this shrewish woman.
The reputation he’d maintained for twenty-one years was now gone. He must be completely incompatible with this shrewish woman, and after getting off the carriage, he would definitely stay far away from her.
Wang Xiangxiang sat there, her face flushed and her eyes wide with anger, looking ready to explode at any moment.
She thought that today must have been a day when she failed to consult the almanac, for her twenty years of chastity had been ruined by this shameless man. If people came to know, how would she ever find a husband? She must keep her distance from this shameless man after disembarking.
The atmosphere in the carriage was awkward, until the coachman’s "Whoa!" signaled the stop of the carriage, "Miss, the Academy has arrived."
Both let out a sigh of relief, and they got up to open the carriage door, their hands coincidentally touching at the door handle.
After their hands touched, they both uttered a snort and quickly withdrew.
Neither moved to open the door after retracting their hands, and the atmosphere turned awkward again; finally, Chu Lian, in a gentlemanly manner, gestured with his eyes, "You go first."
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang unceremoniously alighted first and once down, she ran off in big strides, completely disregarding her feminine image.
Following behind, Chu Lian shook his head repeatedly, extremely disappointed, "How can there be such a woman?"
Wang Xiangxiang couldn’t care less. Right now, all she could think about was Xiaoxiao, wondering how she was and where her husband could be.
She ran up to the Academy’s main gate, where she happened to encounter someone coming out, "Sir, I want to inquire about Yang Ming and his wife’s current situation."
"Oh, you mean Yang Ming? He’s all right now; he revived."
Wang Xiangxiang was overjoyed at these words and excitedly asked, "Really? He’s all right?"
Chu Lian, who had followed her, heard this too. Yang Ming was all right; that was great news. However, the shrewish woman’s excited reaction made him frown. So this shrewish woman had feelings for Yang Ming? No wonder the carriage was driven so hastily.
"And Yang Ming’s wife is simply miraculous, to have brought a dead man back to life..."
The man began to speak endlessly about it, as if he had learned some incredible news.
Wang Xiangxiang was truly happy for Xiaoxiao. With Yang Ming alive, the two of them had finally weathered through their hardships. Lovers would at last unite, and she felt so moved she was close to tears, her eyes turning watery.
"Sir, could you take me in to see them?"
"This... well, I have something to do right now," the scholar said, somewhat troubled, and then he looked up and saw Chu Lian approaching.
"Chu Lian, come here. She wants to go in to see Yang Ming and his wife. Take her, please. Yang Ming is resting in Wu’s room," said the scholar and hurried off without waiting for Chu Lian’s agreement.
Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian’s eyes met in midair for a moment before they quickly turned away.
Chu Lian: A shrewish woman can cry?
Wang Xiangxiang: Why is it this shameless man again?
Chu Lian ignored Wang Xiangxiang and went straight into the Academy’s gate.
Wang Xiangxiang, seeing the man leave, knew she had to follow if she wanted to see Xiaoxiao and hurried after him, shouting, "Hey, wait for me."