Chapter 189: Soon to Have Someone I Like

The so-called boy servant wasn't actually needed when the old monk finally returned. He said he didn't need anyone to wait on him, only for the two of them to help tidy up the pavilion at night so that little Mi wouldn't be burdened.

Thus, little Mi led Song Wanning to his room.

Little Mi's room was extremely simple, furnished with nothing more than a bed and two bedside cabinets, along with a traditional brick kang that could be heated.

Little Mi said that sleeping on this kind of bed in winter was the warmest thing ever, making him never want to leave it all day long, though Elder Sha always refused to let him sleep in.

He rummaged through the meager collection of clothes in his cupboard, clearing out a large majority of the space for Song Wanning and her companion.

Song Wanning felt a pang of sympathy as she watched. "I'll bring you new clothes next time I come," she said. "Just tell me what kind of style you like."

Little Mi's eyes sparkled. "Really? Thank you, Sister Wanning! As long as it's something you bought, I'll love it!"

Song Wanning patted his head, touched by how sweetly the young boy spoke.

By dusk, the old monk finally sent little Mi to tell Song Wanning and Wen Jingxing that they could begin tidying the book pavilion.

Since they were about to have dinner, Song Wanning said to Wen Jingxing, "Let's hurry up and clean so we can come right back to eat."

"Alright, but we need to bring some things with us first."

"What?"

To her surprise, Wen Jingxing produced a package from somewhere. Upon opening it, she saw it contained some soft pastries and roasted flatbreads.

Song Wanning raised an eyebrow, brushing it aside as she thought they would be back in no time anyway.

However, once she stepped inside the book pavilion, she realized how naive she had been.

The small room contained six neatly arranged bookshelves, and the books on the shelves were relatively orderly.

Yet, on the desk near the window in the corner of the room, as well as all over the surrounding floor, numerous books lay wide open, accompanied by scattered scrolls.

Upon closer inspection, the room was actually thick with dust. A heavy layer coated the books, shelves, and floorboards alike, with only the most frequently used areas remaining clean.

Song Wanning suddenly realized that coming empty-handed had been a grave mistake. In contrast, Wen Jingxing was already equipped with a broom, a whisk broom, a mop, a bucket, and cleaning rags, clearly having anticipated this exact scene.

She massaged her temples and resigned herself to her fate, picking up a rag to start cleaning.

By the time they finished tidying the entire pavilion, night had fallen.

Song Wanning was currently putting the finishing touches on the room, needing only to mop the floor.

Little Mi came running over and called out, "Sister Wanning, Elder Sha says dinner is ready!"

Upon hearing that hot food was waiting, Song Wanning's eyes lit up. She finished mopping the floor in a flash.

They ate at a table set up in the courtyard. Song Wanning sat in her chair, watching with eager anticipation as Wen Jingxing brought over a large bowl, wondering if it contained some extraordinary delicacy.

However, when Wen Jingxing placed the bowl before her, she saw nothing more than plain noodles in a clear white broth, devoid even of chopped scallions.

"If this keeps up, I'd better do the cooking these next few days..." Song Wanning twitched the corner of her mouth.

The old monk was still wearing the exact same clothes he had worn the other day. He chuckled merrily and said, "Little Mi only recently started practicing cooking, so his skills might be a bit lacking. Please don't mind."

Hearing that little Mi had cooked the meal, Song Wanning immediately chimed in, "Is that so? Not at all! It looks delicious to me!"

"Really, Sister Wanning?"

"Really!"

"Then you should eat more, hehe."

Although the noodles were utterly bland and tasteless, Song Wanning still managed to eat two large bowls, which only served to boost little Mi's confidence in his culinary skills.

After the meal, Song Wanning wanted to take a bath. Having spent so long cleaning, her body felt dirty and clammy, and she was desperate to change into clean clothes.

However, little Mi informed her that there was no bathing facility here.

Hearing this, Song Wanning was very surprised. "Then where do you usually bathe?"

"We just fetch hot spring water and bring it back to the room. Of course, if you find that troublesome, you can go straight to the source to wash. The water from that spring flows naturally, so you don't need to worry; it's just that the water is too deep, which is why Elder Sha won't let me go there."

Song Wanning's primary purpose in coming here was to soak in the hot springs of Marriage Mountain, so she immediately said, "Great, I'll go wash up there."

She returned to her room to fetch clean clothes and prepared to head toward the hot springs. As soon as she stepped out the door, she saw Wen Jingxing looking at her with an expectant gaze.

Song Wanning's personal rule was that sleeping together was acceptable, but bathing together was out of the question. Therefore, she simply pretended not to see Wen Jingxing's expression and walked toward the path.

Wen Jingxing pursued her from behind, catching her by the arm. "A'ning."

Song Wanning's body stiffened, unsure whether she should turn around. What would she do if Wen Jingxing brought up that kind of proposal again?

Instead, she heard his caring words: "It's cold at night. One layer of clothing isn't enough; take this one as well. Besides, it's dark over there, so I borrowed a kerosene lamp from little Mi."

A warm feeling bloomed in her heart, and a dangerous thought popped into her head: Should she just agree to Wen Jingxing's request to bathe together?

The next second, she shook her head fiercely, banishing the thought from her mind.

Thinking that Song Wanning simply didn't want to carry these items, Wen Jingxing frowned immediately. "No, you must take all of it."

She nodded then. "Alright, thank you."

Sensing how difficult it was to guess a woman's mind—first she wanted things, then she didn't—Wen Jingxing tentatively suggested, "I'll walk you over."

He phrased it as a question, but gave Song Wanning no room for refusal as he took her hand and led her toward the path.

This time, Song Wanning did not refuse either, letting him guide her along.

Although the path was rugged and strewn with gravel, surrounded by pitch-black woods, being held by Wen Jingxing's broad and warm palm made Song Wanning feel entirely safe.

True to his word, Wen Jingxing behaved himself this time. He escorted Song Wanning close to the hot springs, handed her the kerosene lamp, and prepared to head back.

Song Wanning didn't quite know what to say, feeling a tiny tug of reluctance in her heart. Yet she couldn't possibly tell Wen Jingxing to stay for a soak, could she?

"I'll... come find you when I'm done."

"Mmm." Wen Jingxing gave a knowing, ambiguous smile, staring into Song Wanning's face with eyes brimming with endless tenderness.

Then he turned and left, disappearing into the rising mist.

Back in the courtyard, he set about making up the bed for Song Wanning. Worried that the mountain chill might cause her to catch a cold during the night, he even went to little Mi to borrow an extra quilt.

Little Mi stood at the doorway of the room, watching Wen Jingxing busy himself. Looking as though he understood something—or perhaps nothing at all—he shook his head and clucked his tongue. "Tsk tsk tsk, Brother Jingxing, you really like Sister Wanning a lot, don't you? But Sister Wanning doesn't seem to like you all that much, does she?"

Wen Jingxing paused in his task of making the bed. He walked over, squatted down in front of little Mi, and thoroughly ruffled the boy's hair. "Children should go to sleep early. Hurry back to your room. You are not allowed to mention these things in front of A'ning, understand?"

He did not directly answer little Mi's question.

"Hmph—understood."

Though little Mi said the words, his feet didn't move.

"What is it?"

At that, little Mi flashed a cute smile. "But Sister Wanning is going to have someone she likes very soon."