Years later, the world knew only of the peerless charm of the ten famous courtesans, unaware that these women were originally of mediocre appearance, rarely sought after, yet it was on that one day, because of a young girl, that their destinies set upon a different course.
After that, Dong Huiying talked privately with Brother Liubao for half an hour before leaving the Sky Blue Building with Liang Haoming.
As they left, Brother Liubao was enthusiastic in his farewell, but Haoming’s face was covered in frost.
Dong Huiying walked on the street, remembering how Yixuan had mentioned this morning wanting a wooden hairpin. She stopped at a stall, suddenly recalling that she had bought a wooden hairpin from this very stall half a year ago. She then gave that hairpin to Yixuan...
At that time, Yixuan was the most special person in her heart.
Now... now was also special.
Only some feelings, some things, were no longer the same.
She sighed softly and immediately picked out a few good-looking wooden hairpins and paid for them.
Haoming followed her in silence, like a silent shadow.
When she was ready to head home, she suddenly realized, belatedly, that Haoming seemed... a bit unusual today?
Outside of Taihang Town.
She looked at Liang Haoming somewhat puzzled, "Are you angry?"
He kept a straight face and said nothing.
She tilted her head, genuinely a bit baffled by this man.
Haoming glared at her silently, suddenly took a quick step forward, seized her hand, took the canteen, bit off the cork with his teeth, and poured water over her hand. He then took out a handkerchief and rubbed her hand forcefully.
She winced, trying to pull her hand back. But Haoming acted as if he didn’t hear her, although for some reason, the corners of his eyes were reddening.
After a while, her little hands looked pitiful, almost as if he had rubbed a layer of skin off.
Haoming’s dark eyes fixed on her, he said in a deep, husky voice, "From now on, you’re not allowed to touch other men."
She was slightly taken aback.
After that, he continued to keep a stern face, but his gaze was overly serious.
He slowly raised his hand, gently touching her cheek.
The feeling transferred from his fingertips, soft and tender, yet carried with it a sincerely frustrated sentiment.
Lifting her hand which he had rubbed red, not sure what emotion was driving him, he seemed pained, perhaps regretting his roughness, and at her fingertips, he pressed a devout kiss.
"In the future, if you want to touch,"
"First Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, me, Yue Ning, Yixuan, all can."
"But outsiders, no, that is not permitted!"
After that, he lifted her onto the saddle and secured her waist with his long arms, as if scared she would run away from his embrace.
He pressed his lips tightly and rode off!
Dong Huiying nestled in Haoming’s embrace, feeling a bit dazed.
Never before had she felt, like today, the realization that he truly liked her; otherwise, why would his jealousy be so intense?
The wind howled past her ears, tangling her hair.
It was some time later when she lifted her head to look at Haoming’s face.
His expression was cold, stiff, and fierce as if the chill had penetrated his bones, seemingly indifferent.
Yet she couldn’t help but remember, this was clearly a man with a gentle heart; his aloofness was merely a facade.
In recent days, she had been fretting over Shujun’s disappearance. She rushed nonstop from Qingfeng Prefecture back to Pingchang Prefecture, purchased a large quantity of materials, and upon returning to the Liang family, had a brief reunion with Yixuan before getting busy to the point of having no time to catch up. After unloading the carriage, she immediately got to work on those materials, toiling through the night, producing the creams that filled bottles and jars.