Chapter 569: Lian Chengbi, the Troublemaker
Chapter 569: Lian Chengbi, the Troublemaker
Along the journey, Yang Kaitai was exceptionally attentive to Feng Si'niang, displaying a sincere and earnest demeanor.
He genuinely wanted to spend money on her but also made his frugality apparent.
Feng Si'niang found him a bit annoying, yet she relished in this attention, as she had never experienced such sincere adoration before.
Who could coldly reject a devoted puppy who asks for nothing in return?
Lian Chengbi maintained his composure, but the mirth in his eyes was unmistakable. Shen Bijun struggled to contain her amusement, while Feng Si'niang felt slightly annoyed.
As Yang Kaitai once again offered a waterskin to Feng Si'niang, she didn't take it and instead fixed him with a stare. "You're being so attentive to me. Don't tell me you have ill intentions?"
"No, no, absolutely not!" Yang Kaitai quickly waved his hands in denial. "I... I just feel that we, Niang, hit it off right from the start. We can be considered... yes, friends. It's only right to treat friends well, isn't it?"
"I'm renowned in the jianghu as a female demon. Are you sure you want to be friends with me?" Feng Si'niang asked.
Yang Kaitai nodded vigorously. "There are plenty of hypocrites in the jianghu, but there are few as genuine as you, Niang. I want to be your friend!"
Yang Kaitai offered a goofy smile and held the waterskin closer to Feng Si'niang. "The winds are strong outside the pass, and it's easy to get dehydrated. Have some more water."
Feng Si'niang gazed into Yang Kaitai's earnest and pitiful eyes, unable to bring herself to say anything harsh. She turned away, accepting the waterskin and taking a large gulp.
Yang Kaitai was visibly delighted and took the waterskin back from Feng Si'niang, hanging it at his waist.
Noticing his happy expression, Feng Si'niang's mood soured slightly. She glanced at the sky and then took Shen Bijun's hand, starting to walk back. "Let's go. I'll treat you all to a meal tonight, and we can rest well at the inn. We'll head to Jiayuguan tomorrow morning."
"Jiayuguan is fifty miles west of Suzhou, and we have to cross the Talahe River. It's not an easy journey," Feng Si'niang added.
...
The next morning, when Lian Chengbi and Shen Bijun arrived at the inn's entrance, they found not only Feng Si'niang waiting for them but also Yang Kaitai, who was holding a horse's reins.
Lian Chengbi raised an eyebrow and asked, "You're coming too, Brother Yang?"
"Since I'm here, I should pay my respects to the late Shen and Lian couples, who perished fighting the bandits," Yang Kaitai said, glancing at Feng Si'niang before stammering, "And... and Niang is also going..."
Feng Si'niang huffed, "Are you planning to follow me wherever I go?"
Yang Kaitai quickly patted the packages on his horse. "I've brought dry rations for the journey—cured mutton and grilled flatbread!"
Lian Chengbi couldn't help but laugh. "Brother Yang is thoughtful. I was just thinking about buying some food on the way."
And so, the group set off.
The four of them, mounted on four horses, left Suzhou and headed west.
Feng Si'niang chatted with Shen Bijun, occasionally riding ahead and galloping across the barren grassland and Gobi Desert, relishing the desert winds and brilliant sunshine.
Yang Kaitai rode alongside her, equally relishing the journey.
Lian Chengbi and Shen Bijun brought up the rear, admiring the scenery and engaging in casual conversation.
Shen Bijun watched the two in front of them and whispered to Lian Chengbi with a smile, "They seem like a bickering couple."
A straightforward and honest gentleman and a boisterous and bold young lady—this was indeed a common trope in stories.
Stroking his chin, Lian Chengbi thought about the original plotline that would likely never unfold and couldn't help but chuckle softly. He whispered back, "It's a pity that Brother Yang is destined to be disappointed. A woman like Feng Si'niang is not someone he can win over."
Feng Si'niang's eyebrows arched slightly, equally curious about Lian Chengbi's "insight."
"Why?" Shen Bijun asked, her curiosity piqued. "Yang Kaitai has a good character, exceptional martial arts skills, and a respectable family background. Aside from being a bit stingy, he doesn't seem to have any other flaws. Could it be that Feng Si'niang still looks down on him?"
Shen Bijun's voice was soft, too quiet for Feng Si'niang and Yang Kaitai to hear.
But they could hear Lian Chengbi's response.
"Do you think Feng Si'niang is the type of person who cares about wealth and family background?" Lian Chengbi chuckled. "If she did, she wouldn't have earned the reputation of being a female demon in the jianghu."
Feng Si'niang laughed proudly, and Yang Kaitai nodded in agreement.
"It's true that Feng Si'niang has never experienced having a gentleman like Yang Kaitai pursue her and humble himself before her," Lian Chengbi continued in a low voice. "While this behavior may touch her, it won't spark romantic love."
Feng Si'niang's eyes narrowed in thought, while Yang Kaitai's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"If Yang Kaitai were to set his heart on her and pursue her wholeheartedly, with sincerity and honesty, Feng Si'niang might indeed marry him," Lian Chengbi said calmly. "But that wouldn't be because he won her love. It would be because Feng Si'niang felt guilty for not reciprocating his feelings."
Feng Si'niang's eyebrows arched higher, and Yang Kaitai looked a bit dazed.
"Of course, there's also a prerequisite for this scenario," Lian Chengbi added.
"What prerequisite?" Shen Bijun asked.
"That Feng Si'niang doesn't have her eye on anyone else in the jianghu, and that's why she's moved by Yang Kaitai's devotion," Lian Chengbi explained.
"Could it be that she already has someone in her heart?" Shen Bijun wondered aloud.
"Do you remember the expression on her face yesterday when you asked her why she came out to the frontier alone?" Lian Chengbi asked.
Feng Si'niang's eyes widened in surprise, while Yang Kaitai remained clueless.
"She seemed to be reminiscing about something?" Shen Bijun guessed.
"Feng Si'niang is a bold, straightforward, and honest woman, more forthright than most men," Lian Chengbi said. "Would a woman like her display such a quiet, nostalgic expression when thinking about an ordinary friend?"
Feng Si'niang's lips twitched, unsure if Lian Chengbi's words were a compliment or a mockery.
Yang Kaitai's eyes sparkled, as the very trait that attracted him to Feng Si'niang was her unpretentious forthrightness.
Shen Bijun remained dumbfounded. "I don't know."
Lian Chengbi shrugged. "It's unlikely. She wouldn't show such a girlish demeanor towards a regular friend. So, when she does, the conclusion is obvious."
Shen Bijun's eyes widened, and her gaze sharpened. "She's thinking about... a man... a man she admires."
Shen Bijun blushed, and Lian Chengbi finished the sentence for her.
"She's thinking about a man she fancies," Lian Chengbi said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
Shen Bijun was astonished. "If she already has someone she admires, why would she come out to the frontier alone?"
"That, I don't know," Lian Chengbi admitted. "Perhaps that man doesn't return her affections."
Lian Chengbi spread his hands helplessly. "So, Yang Kaitai still has a chance. After all, he possesses qualities that attract Feng Si'niang, providing her with warmth and a sense of belonging. If he can seal the deal, their relationship might grow over time."
Feng Si'niang bit her lip, and Yang Kaitai's eyes lit up at the prospect.
Shen Bijun's curiosity got the better of her. "Feng Si'niang is so beautiful and bold. What kind of man wouldn't admire her?"
Lian Chengbi laughed. "The man who has captured Feng Si'niang's heart must be someone exceptional, with formidable martial arts skills and a unique personality. Someone who stands out from the crowd. Any guesses who it might be?"
As Shen Bijun met Lian Chengbi's mischievous gaze, realization dawned on her, and her voice involuntarily rose a notch.
"Xiao Siming?"
(End of Chapter)
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