coobybook 61. What is his mentality?
61. What is his mentality?
Back on shore, Chu Qingluo and Ji Qiran's clothes were still dripping wet. The five of them glanced simultaneously at the unconscious Shaoyao on the ground, then exchanged silent looks…
Today's situation is truly quite embarrassing. Chu Qingluo only came to be a companion, but unexpectedly, she miraculously fell into the water... As a result, she didn't get to be a third wheel for Shaoyao and Chu Yilin, and instead ruined Ji Qiran and Yao Man's plans, spoiling the Eighth Princess's fun...
Everything was not what she wanted, but that was the awkward reality.
Seeing that both the Eighth Princess and Yao Man looked rather unpleasant, Chu Qingluo had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask the two men first, "Which of you can take the peony back?"
"I..." After all, it was Chu Yilin who made the appointment, and he was about to agree immediately, but the Eighth Princess interrupted him first: "Yilin still has to take me back, so I'll have to trouble Seventh Brother."
"..." Ji Qiran was not the only one speechless at the moment, but Yao Man, who was standing next to him, was also speechless.
Ji Qiran looked at Chu Qingluo with displeasure, only to find her clear black and white eyes looking at him pitifully... He sighed helplessly, thinking to himself that his palm strike had been too brutal.
He wrung out the water from his clothes, then simply picked up the peony and carried her in his arms, asking, "Where are we taking her?"
Chu Qingluo had never been to Shaoyao's house either, so she could only reply, "My house."
Ji Qiran cleared his throat and turned to Yao Man, saying, "I'm sorry, I've spoiled your mood today."
Yao Man shook her head, forcing a smile: "No."
"I'll take my leave now." With that, Ji Qiran carried the peony and left, with Chu Qingluo following beside her...
Yao Man stared at Ji Qiran's retreating figure, a hint of sorrow in her heart. Although Ji Qiran was currently holding Shaoyao in his arms, she had seen everything clearly. What he saw, what he rushed to save first... was Chu Qingluo. The moment he realized she had fallen into the water, his eyes were filled with unprecedented panic, to the point that... he threw himself into the water without hesitation!
Could it be that Ji Qiran has fallen in love with Chu Qingluo? Thinking of this, Yao Man felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart, a deep sense of resentment.
The Eighth Princess, who was standing to the side, had long been very interested in Ji Qiran and Yao Man's boat trip on the lake that day. Upon closer inspection of the way Yao Man looked at Ji Qiran... there was definitely something more to it.
“Princess Xile, I will escort you back to the palace.” Chu Yilin interrupted her thoughts with a stern face.
The Eighth Princess snapped out of her reverie, smiled, and stepped forward, affectionately taking Chu Yilin's hand: "Let's go!" As she walked, she leaned against him, saying in a coquettish voice, "Didn't you promise to help me snag the first incense offering? Next time we have a day off, it happens to fall on the fifteenth, let's go that day! Okay?"
Chu Yilin felt his scalp tingle from that coquettish voice, his mind racing with frustration, but he could only grit his teeth and say, "...Fine."
Things shouldn't have turned out this way!
……
"Why are you……"
"you……"
Ji Qiran and Chu Qingluo spoke almost simultaneously, then stopped at the same time.
Chu Qingluo gestured for her to speak first: "You go first."
Ji Qiran raised the peony in her hand and asked, "Why did you go boating on the lake today? And why is Yilin with my eighth sister?"
“My brother had arranged to go boating on the lake with Shaoyao, and I was just accompanying him. The Eighth Princess came on her own,” she answered truthfully.
He stared at her wet hair, her light green gauze dress clinging to her body, making her seem even more shapely than before... But the men on the street were all staring at her, which made him inexplicably angry: "How did that ship sink?!"
His sudden harsh tone startled Chu Qingluo. She thought the peony was too heavy, and even heavier when wet, which displeased him. Suyin Lake wasn't far from the Chu family, so they had walked here today... She said apologetically, "Are you tired? We'll be there soon."
Two or three more men walked towards them, their gazes only glancing casually at Ji Qiran and the object in his hand before settling on Chu Qingluo.
"I'm asking you why the ship sank?!" If the ship hadn't sunk, she wouldn't have fallen into the water! Her dress wouldn't be so clingy! Ji Qiran was so angry she wanted to throw the peony on the ground and then hide Chu Qingluo...
Wait a minute... what's wrong with him...?
"I don't know either! A hole suddenly appeared on the boat, and the boatman inexplicably abandoned ship and ran away!" She got angry just talking about the scarred boatman. What kind of person was he!
Chu Qingluo was preoccupied with the strange behavior of the Scarface Boatman and completely failed to notice the change in Ji Qiran's expression.
"Ah!" The person Ji Qiran was holding suddenly screamed, startling the two who were deep in thought!
"You're awake?" Chu Qingluo quickly stepped forward and helped her to the ground.
Peony stared wide-eyed at Ji Qiran in disbelief, a blush creeping onto her face. "Was it...was it the Seventh Prince who saved me?"
"Yes." Chu Qingluo nodded, which was indeed the case.
Peony bit her lower lip tightly and smiled shyly: "Thank you, Seventh Prince."
"...No need." Ji Qiran hadn't originally intended to save her; his voice was devoid of warmth. He was still caught in the inexplicable emotions he'd just felt, unable to calm down for a long time...
Peony woke up at just the right time, and after turning a corner, she arrived at the Chu family's residence.
"Seventh Prince, if you don't mind, please come in and change your clothes," Chu Qingluo sincerely invited. Ji Qiran and Chu Yilin are such close friends, surely he wouldn't mind wearing his clothes?
Ji Qiran raised an eyebrow; even if Chu Qingluo hadn't said it, he meant the same thing. "Okay."
Upon entering, Chu Qingluo instructed Steward Li to take Ji Qiran to Zhuqing Courtyard to change, while she herself took Shaoyao back to Ningxiang Courtyard to bathe and change.