CHAPTER 156: CHAPTER 156: FIRST TIME GIVING A GIRL A GIFT, BUT COULDN’T DELIVER IT

As Li Chang’an was savoring the moment, he snapped back to reality upon hearing Zhao Dahe’s voice. He glanced at Zhao Dahe and raised an eyebrow, "What?"

Looking at Li Chang’an’s righteous demeanor, Zhao Dahe felt an itch in his teeth, "Does this count as a secret engagement? I wonder how happy Auntie would be if she found out."

"Didn’t you hear Miss Qian say? It’s even, all settled." Li Chang’an said as he walked out. Just a moment ago, they agreed that Zhao Dahe would accompany him to town.

"My senior sister has been straightforward since childhood, no twisting or turning, and similarly, she’s slow to react. But I don’t think cousin is that kind of person." Zhao Dahe kept pace with Li Chang’an, "Is cousin planning to deny it?"

Li Chang’an skillfully harnessed the cart, "When did you hear me say I’m denying it?"

Being a man, some things, even if he hadn’t experienced them, didn’t hinder him from understanding them instinctively.

Previously, each time an engagement was settled, in order not to delay others and to preserve his own face, he repeated the same actions.

But this time.

Everything happened so suddenly, so sudden that beyond his initial helplessness, he now felt a sense of anticipation.

He was never one to deceive himself.

If the morning’s accident gave him just a tiny bit of thought.

Then Miss Qian’s initiative just now confirmed one thing for him, he had grown fond of this silly little girl.

It’s just that he hadn’t fully recovered yet, so he couldn’t act recklessly.

"You mentioned your senior sister is a bit slow to react. So, I can only wait patiently for her to realize it. Otherwise, what if she gets scared and runs away?" Li Chang’an said meaningfully.

"Cousin, I’m the type who supports reason over family. If you dare bully my senior sister, don’t blame me for disregarding brotherhood!" Zhao Dahe swung his fist.

"You can’t beat me." Li Chang’an said calmly.

Although he hadn’t practiced martial arts from a young age, he had traveled widely with his father since childhood and considered himself physically strong.

Now having learned military boxing from his aunt, he might not be able to beat Zhenzhen, but beating Zhao Dahe was no problem.

"True, I can’t beat you." Zhao Dahe wasn’t angry, he smiled smugly, "But I have helpers!"

He had his aunt, and his mother.

Over there, Qian Zhenzhen covered her face and ran back to the room, closing the door behind her and leaning against it, gasping for breath.

Zhao Xiaohua asked eagerly, "So, are you not feeling that way anymore?"

Qian Zhenzhen hesitated to speak.

"Sister Zhenzhen, say something!" Zhao Xiaohua was a bit anxious.

With the door closed, the room was a bit dim, and since Zhao Xiaohua was facing away from the light, she didn’t notice that Qian Zhenzhen’s face had turned even redder.

"My heart feels like it’s about to jump out of my throat." Qian Zhenzhen said softly.

Not only was her voice soft, but her whole body felt weak.

If not for sheer will, she wouldn’t even be able to stand.

"Are you saying it’s gotten worse?" Zhao Xiaohua was a bit puzzled.

Qian Zhenzhen mumbled a soft "mm", "Xiaohua, what should I do? Now, even just recalling my family makes my heart race, and I, I just think of your cousin’s name, my heart starts pounding like a drum."

This left Zhao Xiaohua at a loss.

"Sister Zhenzhen, I think you’re just sick." Zhao Xiaohua said confidently, "I’ve kissed relatives too, and it’s definitely not like this for me."

When Han Muchi fell into the water, she gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for a good fifteen minutes.

From start to finish, she didn’t feel her heart racing.

Let alone having this symptom just from thinking about Han Muchi’s name.

"What should I do?" Qian Zhenzhen pondered.

The two rookies sighed together.

"What if I go ask my cousin if he has these symptoms?" Zhao Xiaohua suggested after some thought.

"When he came just now, I didn’t notice anything." Qian Zhenzhen replied.

"True." Zhao Xiaohua was troubled, "Although my mother is a skillful healer, maybe she didn’t diagnose your problem correctly. Let her take another look!"

Should she tell Aunt Meng that she and Li Chang’an kissed?

Qian Zhenzhen instinctively felt that it was inappropriate, "Better not. Maybe I should go outside and practice some boxing to calm down."

Usually, when faced with something she couldn’t figure out, she’d practice a boxing routine and sweat it out.

"Do you need me to accompany you?" Zhao Xiaohua asked.

"I can do it myself. Didn’t Aunt Meng ask you to copy the Vein Scripture? You better get to it, or you won’t finish it." Qian Zhenzhen said.

"Just make sure you calm down and come back to help me." Zhao Xiaohua urged.

"Mm." With that, Qian Zhenzhen left the room and headed to the backyard.

Unfortunately, her usual best method was of no use; all she could think about was Li Chang’an’s face.

If the master were here, it would be great; the master is smart and could surely clear up her confusion.

She had come to Aunt Meng’s to learn military boxing, and she had learned it just yesterday. With regular practice from now on, she should be fine; maybe she should go ask the master about this matter?

With that thought, Qian Zhenzhen decided not to hesitate, went back to the room to grab her bundle, told Zhao Xiaohua she was heading home, and then carried her things to Meng Yao’s room.

Meng Zhu was there too.

The two saw Qian Zhenzhen holding her bundle and asked puzzledly, "Zhenzhen, what are you doing?"

"Aunt Meng, Aunt Li, I’m thinking of going back and seeing how my mother’s bookstore is coming along, see if there’s anything I can help with." Qian Zhenzhen said, "Otherwise, my mother will surely nag me for not helping her with her worries."

When Qian Zhenzhen said this, she was calm and composed, not at all anxious about her lie.

This was thanks to the countless white lies she’d told her mother to leave home.

So, Meng Yao didn’t overthink it.

"Chang’an and Dahe have taken the cart to town. I’ll go check at Uncle Niu’s house to see if he’s there and ask him to take you back if he is." Meng Yao said.

"No need, Aunt Meng, I can walk back." Qian Zhenzhen smiled, "If my mother doesn’t need me, I’ll come back."

With that, Qian Zhenzhen left with her bundle.

"Sister Qian must be happy now; she always wanted Zhenzhen by her side." Meng Yao commented.

"Zhenzhen is such a generous and considerate girl, I wonder if I’ll be so lucky." Meng Zhu sighed too.

"These things can’t be rushed; if the two kids are destined, it will happen sooner or later." Meng Yao consoled Meng Zhu, "Right now, you should focus on not worrying too much about Chang’an’s marriage; overthinking is bad for your health."

"I got it, I got it; how am I so fragile! This and that, not acceptable." Meng Zhu muttered.

"Don’t want your child to be born with a frown, keep worrying." Meng Yao teased.

Meng Zhu imagined a newborn baby frowning and thought it was really ugly.

Immediately, she stopped thinking about when Li Chang’an would get married; grandchildren have their own blessings, worrying wouldn’t help.

By noon, Li Chang’an and Zhao Dahe returned.

"Didn’t you see Zhenzhen in town?" Meng Yao asked.

"No." Zhao Dahe and Li Chang’an replied in unison.

"Well, she must be home; she’s not one to wander around town." Meng Yao said.

Zhao Dahe was puzzled, "When did she leave?"

"Right after you left, she said she was going home to see if your auntie there needed help." Meng Yao explained.

"That can’t be; before we returned, we stopped by the philosopher’s place, and I saw auntie there." Zhao Dahe said.

Li Chang’an’s eyes slightly narrowed as he fondled the elaborately chosen sword tassel meant for Qian Zhenzhen. It was the first gift he picked for a female who wasn’t family, and yet, he hadn’t been able to give it.