"Yeah, Xiangbei, with all these oil stains on you, it's time to bathe, change clothes, and freshen up. I'll wait for you in the adjacent hall."
As night was approaching swiftly, and with hands not at their best, Xiangbei changed into a set of blue satin spring attire. She opted for a simple double-braid hairstyle due to the inconvenience. When she emerged and headed towards the adjacent hall, she coincidentally encountered Qiao Er and two attendants at the staircase, carrying dishes for the second-floor elegant chamber. Freshly bathed, Xiangbei's delicate face showcased a jade-like whiteness, her dark hair slightly damp. The sky-blue gauze outerwear danced lightly in the corridor breeze, resembling a butterfly's graceful flutter. Qiao Er, looking up, was momentarily amazed but mostly relieved. This was the original appearance of the girl who had made him follow without hesitation. Whether in plain clothes or satin, she radiated an aura of intelligence and confidence. "Beibei, how's the injury? Changed into fresh clothes, didn't get them wet, right? The chefs made a few fish dishes your way again. Come down and taste them."
"Sure, that sounds great." She agreed while heading downstairs.
"I told you I would be in the adjacent hall. Why didn't you look for me?" An annoyed expression appeared on Cheng Mo's face as he opened the door to the adjacent hall, blocking Xiangbei from going downstairs. Standing near the elegant room's door, he complained. Qiao Er, with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, waited by the table's left lower chair. Upon seeing Xiangbei giving Cheng Mo a disdainful look and proceeding downstairs without responding, he smiled and pulled out a chair for her. He then stood on the opposite side, lower right, waiting for Cheng Mo to sit at the upper end. Once Cheng Mo was seated, Qiao Er served Chrysanthemum Carp, Steamed Crucian Carp, and a couple of slices of tender grass carp, placing them in small dishes and offering them to Xiangbei. "Is your hand still hurting? What would you like me to help you pick?"
"It's not hurting as much now, just the bandage is thick and loose, quite inconvenient."
"That might be because the maids lack experience. Let me help you rewrap it; we'll make it tighter." Qiao Er stood up, approached Xiangbei, and bent down to undo the bandage on her left wrist. As he unwound it in a playful manner, he remarked, "Your bandage is more suitable for tying legs for mountain climbing than for your hand." Until the wound was exposed, and he saw the thick layer of Jade Skin Cream that resembled wall paint, he involuntarily took a sharp breath. This specially crafted anti-inflammatory and skin-regenerating sacred medicine, worth almost a hundred taels of silver per spoon, had been generously applied. Xiangbei had used roughly a teacup's worth for these three to five blisters. It was undoubtedly the masterpiece of the person in charge. Without looking up, Qiao Er swiftly rewrapped both wrists. Coming from a family of martial generals, his bandaging skills involved three layers, offering the perfect balance between tightness and flexibility, without hindering the movement of her hands.
Xiangbei smiled, "Thanks, Brother Ziqiu, your bandaging skills are top-notch! Excellent! It's so much better than those inexperienced maids—"
Since Cheng Mo sat down, he had been ignored as the two continued talking. He sat there with a sullen face, growing even more frustrated. Now, his face had turned somewhat purple with suppressed anger. Qiao Er felt awkward and gave a wry smile, "Uh, Renzai, I didn't expect it was you who did the wrapping. I spoke without thinking. Please don't take offense."
"Those who don't know are innocent. I don't blame you. She knew that my Jade Skin Cream had been used up to the last bit. Did she say anything good about me? She accidentally got hurt, and I was anxious and uncomfortable. It wasn't easy for me either. But what kind of person she is to me, you've seen it too."
Hearing his frustrated words and recalling his anxious concern at that moment, which didn't seem feigned, and the nearly suffocating yet exceptionally warm embrace, Xiangbei thought to herself, forget it, don't be so pretentious, let it pass. But then he blamed himself for being careless, and suddenly feeling wronged and sad, she didn't know how to explain. Tears started to flow.
Cheng Mo stood up in a fluster, attempting to wipe away the tears rolling down like broken pearls. He was about to explain but was interrupted by Xiangbei pushing his hand away. He wanted to clarify, but he wasn't sure where he had gone wrong.
"Cough, well, Renzai, um, when cold water drops into hot oil, it can explosively splash. It's possible that your chopsticks accidentally carried some soup, and then—"
"What? Is it me? Did I hurt Xiangbei?" Cheng Mo sat down, holding his head, and after a while, he gently rested his forehead on Xiangbei's shoulder. In a voice as soft as a mosquito, he awkwardly said, "I'm sorry."
Ah, he's really a spoiled big boy. Well, he probably has never even entered the kitchen. How would he know these common sense things? However, I can't just let it slide like this. I should give him a little reminder, make him reflect on his foul temper a bit and learn a lesson.