"What's wrong with Mo You?"
Wu Qing asked, puzzled. Qing Yao smiled and shook her head, "The child is just throwing a tantrum. If we ignore him, he'll be fine in a while."
"Mm," Wu Qing didn't speak, handing the water to Qing Yao. This was his happiest time, and he wanted to cherish every moment.
Qing Feng returned quickly, having successfully completed his task. He bought a small courtyard house on the eastern side of the town. The previous owner wanted to move to a larger town, and Qing Feng's offer was generous, so they happily moved out, leaving everything behind. The house was fully furnished, saving them a lot of trouble.
Following Qing Feng, the group entered the sun-drenched courtyard.
In the center of the small courtyard stood a tall ginkgo tree, bearing many small white flowers. Sunlight filtered through the branches, falling sporadically, and the ginkgo flowers emitted a fragrant scent.
In the small courtyard, several pots of flowers were planted in the corners, along with some banana plants, adding a touch of charm.
This felt like a home, a small home.
Wu Qing and Qing Feng resided in the south-facing rooms, while Qing Yao occupied the west-facing room. The distribution was well-arranged. Each person returned to their room and, exhausted from the night, tidied up and rested.
Once the courtyard gate was locked, the group was completely isolated from the outside world. Even if Changsun Zhu and Changsun Yin were formidable, they wouldn't have imagined that these few would be living so peacefully.
They slept until they woke up naturally. By the time they got up, it was already dark, and they were very hungry. They discovered one thing.
Among this group, no one knew how to cook. Even Mo Chou had never cooked before. This posed a problem for everyone, and they all looked to Qing Yao.
"Alright, I'll cook. If I don't feel like it, we can buy some cooked food. If I do feel like it, then I'll do it," she declared, settling the matter.
Qing Yao couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. Was this what they called courting disaster? If they were still staying at an inn, she wouldn't have to cook. Now, she was the one making meals, even though her cooking was delicious. Enjoying good food was a great pleasure in life, but having to cook every meal wasn't ideal.
Perhaps she could teach Mo Chou to make some simple dishes later. Having made up her mind, Qing Yao called Mo Chou and headed to the kitchen to prepare some porridge and side dishes for everyone, thus concluding the meal.
After dinner, Mo Chou led Mo You and Qing Feng away, leaving Qing Yao and Wu Qing under the ginkgo tree in the courtyard, enjoying the moon and conversation.
Two lounge chairs were occupied, with a coffee table placed between them, holding snacks and tea.
A gentle breeze blew, signaling that summer was drawing to a close and autumn was fast approaching. The ginkgo flowers were about to fade.
Moonlight streamed into the courtyard like water. Wu Qing narrowed his beautiful eyes, gazing at the ginkgo tree. A gust of wind stirred, causing the flowers to flutter down, resembling a rain of petals. Watching this, Qing Yao couldn't help but recall the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, realizing she was now a thousand miles away.
She couldn't help but miss her father, the Prime Minister, as well as Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang. She wondered how those two women were doing.
"What are you thinking about?"
Wu Qing, having not heard Qing Yao's voice for a while, turned and asked softly.
He saw that the usually distant woman's face was not only bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight but also carried a hint of longing, as if she were thinking of someone important.
The thought of who she might be thinking of caused his heart to constrict, making it difficult to breathe. He couldn't help but smile wryly.
He seemed to be becoming more and more greedy.
Wu Qing, heaven had been kind to you, allowing you to meet such a person, to experience the feeling of liking someone even when your heart was cold and unfeeling. This was enough.
Yet, no matter how much he tried to console himself, his heart still ached.
He realized that liking someone was a very possessive feeling; you wanted them to think only of you.
Qing Yao was unaware of Wu Qing's internal struggle, lost in her own thoughts. She was contemplating secretly returning to Xian Yue to visit her father, the Prime Minister, once everything was over.
She also planned to check on Mu Qingzhu and Mu Qingxiang. Having made up her mind, she felt much happier. Turning, she propped her head on one hand, her dark eyes shining with a faint, mysterious light.
"Wu Qing, I miss home, I miss my father, and my relatives."
Wu Qing was taken aback, then understood. Had she been thinking of her family just now? The thought that she wasn't thinking of him brought him immense joy, dispelling all his previous unhappiness. For the first time, a smile graced his lips, a smile that captivated Mu Qing Yao opposite him.
She had never truly seen Wu Qing smile. When he didn't smile, he was already devastatingly beautiful; now, with a smile, he was even more so.
It wasn't just men; even women would be mesmerized. His eyes, clear and limpid, shone like a tranquil pool reflecting light, creating a dazzling and pure radiance.
His skin under the moonlight was not only luminous but also fair and delicate, his lips a vibrant red, particularly alluring. As he leaned slightly to the side, his dark hair cascaded down like clouds. He was like a tempting cake, inviting one to savor him.
"Wu Qing, have I ever told you, you look really handsome when you smile."
Qing Yao secretly wondered what kind of parents could give birth to such an exceptionally beautiful man, yet why they would cruelly abandon such a precious child. The thought twisted her heart with pain. He must have endured immense suffering over the years.
In the darkness, Qing Yao's soft voice suddenly spoke, "Wu Qing, if time could turn back, I truly wish I could go back to more than ten years ago. If I had met you then, I would have used all my might to make you happy."
Qing Yao's words struck Wu Qing, leaving him momentarily petrified.
They simply gazed at each other in silence, separated only by a coffee table, their breaths audible.
Their black pupils reflected each other's faces, so clearly visible.
Wu Qing's dark eyes gradually became veiled with a thin mist, obscuring the deeper emotions within. But his magnetic voice broke the silence, shedding his usual coldness.
"Qing Yao, thank you. Heaven allowed me to meet you at this time, and I am very happy. Since meeting you, I have learned many things I didn't know before. It turns out the world is not just about indifference and ruthlessness; there are many other feelings. At least at this moment, I am happy."
In this moment, he was no longer a cold-blooded and heartless man, but a pure man without any ulterior motives.
Seeing him like this, Qing Yao felt a pang of heartache.
Yes, heartache. Although she couldn't quite understand her own emotions, she felt for Wu Qing. Whenever she thought of the suffering he had endured, her heart ached. If it were possible, she truly wished she could bear those pains for him without hesitation.
One day, she vowed, she would personally find the person who had abandoned him and ask them how they could bear to treat their own flesh and blood in such a manner.