The sugar painting had been given away, and Xin Yi was too lazy to line up again, so she leisurely strolled along the lake, stopping here and there.
She had to admit that the scenery by the lake was beautiful. Along the way, she not only saw luxurious painted boats and heard the sounds of sheng, xiao, and pipa, but also spotted many people releasing river lanterns in pairs.
When she found Xie Shuo, the youth was still buying sesame cakes for her.
But it seemed like more than just buying sesame cakes.
He was also being teased by a bright and passionate young woman. The girl used buying sesame cakes as an excuse to keep inching closer to him, so close that her red lips nearly brushed his shoulder.
It was the first time Xin Yi had seen such a scene, and she found it novel, so she couldn’t help but watch for a moment.
Until she saw the youth’s eyes turn utterly cold and Bamboo Leaf Green poke its head out from his sleeve, she finally couldn’t hold back and lightly coughed. “A Shuo.”
Xie Shuo paused slightly at the sound of her voice and turned to look. The little green snake’s head in his sleeve instantly vanished.
Xin Yi pretended not to notice anything unusual, walked over, and familiarly took his hand, her tone soft and charming. “There are so many people here. Don’t line up anymore. I don’t really want to eat it that much.”
The girl who had been chatting with him froze for a moment, then immediately understood what was happening. A hint of reluctance appeared in her brows and eyes.
But after glancing at them, she still walked away.
Xin Yi pulled the youth away from the crowded throng to a more open spot nearby.
She turned her head and saw rabbit lanterns in front of the vendor stall. Remembering the one she had accidentally stepped on earlier, she took out some silver and bought one.
The youth followed beside her, his expression unchanging.
Even the densest person could sense his bad mood. Xin Yi lightly raised an eyebrow and asked him, somewhat puzzled, “You’re unhappy because I chased away your admirer?”
Xie Shuo’s dark eyes grew even colder, filled with countless grievances and anger.
As expected.
She had watched impassively from the side as another woman pestered him, for who knew how long. In the end, she simply didn’t care—perhaps she even found it amusing.
Xie Shuo was no fool, which was why his heart ached even more.
She got so jealous over Xiao Cheng Ce that she wanted to tear apart his back residence, yet with him, she couldn’t care less?
At that moment, he felt more pain than anger.
A dense pain filled his chest, nearly suffocating him, as if the truth he had long refused to face had finally been laid bare.
Bai Xinyi simply did not love him.
Perhaps it wasn’t even like—just something to toy with when bored. Watching him act like a dog, dazed and bewitched by her, must have given her a great sense of accomplishment.
That was it.
If her goal was to slap Xiao Cheng Ce across the face, what could humiliate him more than her getting involved with his concubine’s younger brother?
Xin Yi gazed at the youth’s handsome face. She watched his expression shift from resentment to bewilderment, then to dazed pallor.
She even suspected that a light touch would shatter him into dust.
Xin Yi had only meant to tease him, to make a little joke, but she hadn’t expected those words to hit so hard.
She couldn’t help but furrow her brows and reached out to poke his cheek. “A Shuo, why…”
The youth turned his head away, dodging her touch as if rejecting it, leaving her finger grasping at air.
But he quickly came to his senses. His dark eyes fixed on her, and his pale lips moved, unsure what expression to wear.
Xin Yi: “…”
She simply stopped embarrassing herself. She turned to walk past him in another direction, but just as they brushed shoulders, he grabbed her arm.
He gripped too tightly. She tried to pull free twice but failed, so she could only look at him with a helpless expression that said, what exactly do you want from me?
Then he yanked her fiercely into his embrace. His arms hugged her tightly, his cold breath buried in the crook of her neck.
It was the behavior of someone desperately lacking security.
Xin Yi let him hold her obediently for a good while, until she sensed his emotions had calmed a bit. Only then did she push him away.
With an extremely complicated mood, she used her sleeve to wipe away the deep red tear stains at the corner of his eye.
She truly did not understand—could not understand at all.
Why had his emotions suddenly surged like this? Anyone unaware might think she had done something utterly depraved.
After a long silence, Xie Shuo finally deigned to acknowledge her.
He slowly gestured with sign language, and his first question was, “Where is your sugar painting?”
“I accidentally bumped into someone just now and stepped on their lantern, so I used it to compensate them,” Xin Yi said honestly.
The youth fell silent again, still unhappy, still sulking.
After a moment, he stared at her accusingly. “Why don’t you get jealous over me? Why did you love getting jealous over Xiao Cheng Ce before?”
Xin Yi: “…”
So that was it. Her persona was truly a killer—getting jealous drew hate, and not getting jealous drew hate too.
She tilted her head to look at him, then suddenly leaned in and nipped his lip. “But I haven’t done this with him.”
Her gaze drifted downward meaningfully, carrying a hint of suggestive charm. “Nor have I indulged him in any other excessive acts. Isn’t that enough?”
“I share the name of husband and wife with him, but only with you have I shared the reality.”
Her tone was aggrieved, her expression soft beyond measure. “A Shuo, I even endured your snake form—and two at once. How much more do you want me to love you?”
Moments later, Xie Shuo’s anger finally subsided.
The Melodramatic Transmigration System tsked twice, unable to hold back its full praise. “Host, you really know how to sweet-talk. A few words and you’ve coaxed him perfectly.”
But Xin Yi did not see it that way. “Otherwise, all my hard work this time would be for nothing. You try having a sore back and waist.”
In simple terms, it was the psychological expectations of a Jinjiang novel limiting the workload.
The system’s nonexistent old face flushed. It dry-coughed twice. “Host is joking. I won’t try.”
Every time they did that sort of thing, it turned off the screen and went silent, or entered hibernation directly. The noises were simply too loud and lasted far too long; even just hearing them was embarrassing.
Xin Yi did not continue bantering with it. Instead, she asked, “Why has Xie Shuo’s favorability suddenly stagnated?”
His favorability had actually reached 19% long ago, but it had not budged no matter how much she compromised, cooperated, or proactively seduced him.
The system pondered for a moment before analyzing. “Possibly because he likes you but doesn’t trust you.”
“What do you mean?” Xin Yi did not quite understand.
The system explained, “It means that in this relationship, he lacks a sense of security. He doesn’t believe you’re sincere with him. So he subconsciously holds himself back, not letting himself like you too much.”
The system summarized, “In short, he’s insecure and anxious about gain and loss. It’s understandable.”
Hearing this, Xin Yi grew troubled.
If that was truly the case, then how exactly was she supposed to make Xie Shuo believe her sincerity? She had said everything she could say and done everything she could—and shouldn’t—do.
Go even more extreme? She did not even know how!
She racked her brains until her head throbbed.
In the end, she gave up.
They continued walking for a stretch. In the distance, a familiar figure appeared—Xiang Lan, holding several purchased snacks as she came over.
Some were for Xin Yi, and some for herself.
Their tastes were similar, so Xin Yi tried a few and found them all delicious.
She took a bite of the radish cake, then naturally held the remaining half to Xie Shuo’s lips. Sure enough, he opened his mouth and ate it.
Xin Yi patted the crumbs from her hands and asked him with a beaming smile, “Delicious?”
The youth’s gaze lingered on her red lips, his eyes darkening slightly.
After a long moment, he nodded: Delicious.
The vendor lights wound along the lake, misty colors shimmering. This street seemed to stretch on forever.
Xin Yi grew a bit tired from walking. She tugged his sleeve coquettishly. “I don’t want to walk anymore. A Shuo, carry me.”
Seconds later, she lay happily on the youth’s back.
Xie Shuo’s figure was tall and straight. Though he appeared delicate and slender, his arms and waist held tremendous strength—she had experienced it firsthand.
Carrying her now was exceptionally steady, as effortless as bearing a pouch of petals.
Xin Yi held the rabbit lantern in one hand and wrapped the other around him. Her gaze wandered and inexplicably settled on the silver bell strung amid the vermilion sash at his waist.
The golden tassels on her Spotted Bamboo-colored embroidered shoes occasionally brushed the silver bell at his waist, producing crisp, pleasant chimes.
To avoid this, she tried her best to stay still. Her trailing ruqun skirt loosely draped over the embroidered shoes beneath, so it did not look too odd.
After a while, she deliberately rubbed her cheek against his neck and even sneaked a kiss at the nape.
It nearly caused the youth to stumble under her weight.
Crowds surged amid the lights everywhere.
Even the lake surface by the willows reflected shimmering hues.
Since Xin Yi envied others releasing river lanterns, they bought lotus lanterns from a vendor.
They deliberately walked farther to a quieter stretch of lakeshore frequented by fewer tourists before releasing them.
A gentle night breeze blew, carrying the faint scent of lotuses.
As she set her flower lantern afloat, Xin Yi closed her eyes and made a devout wish. “I hope to earn buckets of gold every day. I hope all the handsome men in the world love me.”
She added, “Not the handsome ones, stay away.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than she heard a “plop.” The river lantern, which had been floating nicely, was struck by a flying green stone.