Chapter 5: Dispute
Ji Li fell silent for a moment, quickly concealing her slightly surprised expression.
Looking at Xi Che's sincere appearance, she cleared her throat and said, "It's not about repaying kindness, let's just say we are destined to meet."
The young man was not swayed by her words at all, maintaining his stern expression, "Miss, you have a kind heart."
Seeing that he insisted on praising her, Ji Li decided to just go along with it.
"Okay, okay, you should get up now." As she reached out to help him up, she felt the coldness of his body and disagreed, "Your clothes are too thin, I'll bring you some warmer clothes later. Be prepared for the next few days."
"It's cold in autumn, be careful not to catch a cold."
As she spoke, she felt a strange sense of maternal affection towards the young boy.
But in the next moment, she saw Xi Che's delicate features and immediately dispelled that thought.
He's just too mature-looking for his age.
She pushed the pastry towards him and said, "Have some pastry to go with your tea, it's not good to just drink tea." Seeing his hesitant expression, she added firmly, "Eat!"
Reluctantly, Xi Che picked up a piece and took a small bite.
The jasmine fragrance of the pastry blossomed in his mouth, delicious.
He chewed carefully, resembling a red-eyed hamster nibbling on food.
Seeing him like this, Ji Li sighed inwardly.
At fifteen, he was still so frail, he needed to eat more.
"Stay here for a while, I'll be back."
Xi Che secretly felt anxious hearing this, "Miss, can I accompany you?"
"No need, you stay put." She said, "I'll bring you a coat and deal with the incident from earlier while I'm at it."
"Don't worry, with me around, no one can harm you."
After reassuring him, she changed direction to find Ji Yunshan.
Passing through a doorway, she saw the overlapping pavilions nestled among the mountains, with blue bricks and white tiles peeking out from the autumn leaves, guiding the way.
The incense burner on the table emitted a refreshing scent of sandalwood, adding a crispness to the air in late autumn.
The table was neatly arranged with food, sweet treats that she used to love.
But as she grew older and trained in martial arts under her father's tutelage, she knew she couldn't indulge in sweets like before.
If she still enjoyed sweets so much... it wouldn't be very dignified.
So she just glanced at the food and stopped herself from indulging.
"Is the matter resolved?" Ji Li asked with a smile.
Ji Yunshan snorted, "Yes, this little brat just wanted me to clean up her mess, didn't she?"
The father-daughter relationship was excellent, and he didn't mind it at all.
But when his daughter acted like this, not allowing him to have a look, the old father couldn't help feeling frustrated.
"Father, you've misunderstood me, how could you say that."
She rarely played coy, pretending, "It's really heartbreaking."
Ji Yunshan said, "Oh come on, why don't you care about whether your old father is sad or not?" Seeing his daughter's attitude, he asked, "Looks like you're in a good mood?"
Ji Li was taken aback by his words, and replied, "It's okay." Then changed the subject.
"Oh, I came here to ask if you have any extra warm clothes with you."
Ji Yunshan glanced at her, "What? Are you planning to give those to your little lover to wear?"
"No, that's not... it's for him to wear, but what are you saying, really."
Ji Yunshan showed her the carefully chosen clothes, "They're just some ordinary old clothes, but they'll keep him warm." With interest, he asked, "Isn't it? Delivering medicine, resolving conflicts, and now bringing his father's clothes for him."
"In my opinion, you're not honest at such a young age."
Ji Li ignored the second half of the sentence, and said without hesitation, "Thank you, Father, this will do." She felt satisfied as she assessed the thickness of the clothes.
"What are your intentions? Have you chosen him?"
Seeing Ji Yunshan eagerly asking, Ji Li was speechless for a moment.
Her father was becoming more childlike as he got older.
"He's just a few years old, fifteen, even if I did like him, how could I make a move?"
"Isn't that being inhumane?" She raised her eyes, "Besides, I'm not considering those things right now."
"A Che came to the General's Mansion to seek a way out, just treat him like an ordinary servant."
Ji Yunshan seemed to see through everything, "Really? I don't believe it."
Ji Li: "..."
Ji Li: "Treat him better than an ordinary servant."
As the future commander of the elite Jinyiwei, she dared not trouble herself further.
Slowly establishing a good relationship was the most important thing.
Also...
The pitiful appearance of the young boy, so frail and weak, she couldn't bear to see.
When Yun Yi came in to take the clothes, Ji Li glanced at the pastries on the table and decided to take some back with her.
This little action caused Ji Yunshan to tease her, "Eating and taking, and you say he's not your lover."
"Now that you've made a decision, Father won't help you consider it anymore."
Ji Li didn't deny it and quickly went back to find someone.
On the table, Xi Che still maintained the posture he was in when she left, sitting quietly.
He had been waiting here, his long and narrow black eyes filled with anticipation, and the gentle strands of hair at his temples swayed with his mild gaze.
Seeing her return, he finally spoke with anticipation, "You're back." He took the heavy clothing from Yun Yi's hands.
Ji Li placed the pastries from her handkerchief on the table, "Don't hold back, come and have some to tide you over."
She glanced at Xi Che, who looked obedient, and with a light smile, she showed him the clothes, "These two pieces of clothing may be a bit old, but they will keep you warm. Wear them for now, and we'll get you some new clothes once we return to the mansion."
The sound of raindrops falling on the steps could be heard, and outside, the autumn rain began to pour again.
Looking through the window, the leaves were filled with raindrops.
She averted her gaze.
"Wait until after lunch to deal with your matters? It looks like the rain will continue for a while longer."
Xi Che agreed softly and silently began to eat the pastries Ji Li had brought for him.
As Ji Li watched him, a faint blush started to appear on his earlobes.
Fortunately, his hair covered it, so it didn't stand out.
He picked up the cold tea on the table, took a few sips to moisten his dry throat, and then spoke, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
He nervously touched his face, his pale complexion showing a hint of tension.
Ji Li finally looked away and apologized, "I got lost in thought just now, it's nothing."
Xi Che was good at observing words and expressions, but he wasn't adept at reading other people's gazes.
Even so, he could still sense that she wasn't sharing her true thoughts.
It wasn't his place to ask about it.
With a nod of understanding, he continued to eat the pastries.
During lunch, whether it was to take care of him or not, Xi Che always felt that today's dishes were more generous than the usual standard meals served in the temple.
A bowl of pearl rice, steamed eggs with fresh shrimp, and a drizzle of fragrant oil on top.
Plus some duck meat and fresh vegetables.
It seemed as if it was deliberately meant to improve his life.
Seeing him lost in thought, she asked, "What's wrong? Do you not like the food?"
Xi Che quickly took another bite of the duck meat at her subtle suggestion, "No, not at all."
Once he started to relax, she finally looked away.
After finishing lunch, Xi Che thanked her and carried the new bedding and clothes back to his room, neatly folded.
His residence at Ronghua Temple was located at a very inconspicuous edge, and usually, not many people passed by.
The gravel stones scattered along the steps formed a path, with a few trees adorning the surroundings.
In the faint fragrance of the tree shadows, a male voice called out to him.
"Hey!"
Xi Che turned his head in response, looking towards the familiar figure without much surprise.
"What's up?" he asked casually.
However, the other person seemed to be slightly irritated by his tone.
With a slight tilt of his head, A Lin stared at him intently, his eyes fixed on Xi Che, his tone unclear, "You don't seem surprised that I've come to find you?"
After sizing him up for a moment, Xi Che's lips curled into a slightly sarcastic smile, "Naturally, you must have something to discuss if you've come to find me." He added, "Is it for catching up?"
"Or perhaps you've had a change of heart and come to apologize to me? That wouldn't be possible."
A Lin felt uncomfortable with his sarcastic tone, his eyes widening.
Staring at him intensely, the residual guilt in his eyes quickly turned into overwhelming anger, but before he could react, Xi Che's words cut him off.
Suddenly bringing up past events, A Lin's face couldn't help but show some embarrassment, "There's no need for you to act like this, right?"
Xi Che observed that he was chosen by the noblewoman, and on the surface, he was much more polite this time.
Unexpectedly, the extravagant youth in front of him completely disregarded his intentions and walked straight past him into the house.
A Lin followed him, stepping forward and grabbing his arm, "What are you trying to do?!"
His voice was slightly raised, causing Xi Che to put down his things and look up at him.
Sensing the defiance in A Lin's words, Xi Che let out a light chuckle.
Staring straight at A Lin, he no longer displayed the cautious and obedient demeanor he had in front of Ji Li.
Shaking off A Lin's grip, he imitated the man's earlier tone, "Hey."
"Are you trying to pull the same tricks again?" he said nonchalantly, "Unfortunately, I'm no longer the naïve child I was when I first arrived here. I won't fall for your tricks anymore."
"Miss Ji is clear-sighted, she won't believe you."
He looked at A Lin directly, "So, what is your next move?"
A Lin didn't respond but instead shifted his gaze to the bedding and thick clothes Xi Che had just set down, then looked at him expressionlessly, "Don't think that just because someone from the general's mansion is backing you, you can act arrogantly."
"Being an orphan, with a life like a wild weed, that is an undeniable fact."
"Don't think that climbing up the social ladder will change who you really are. Deep down, you're still from the slums, aren't you?"
"Yes, having someone to protect you is good." Xi Che seemed not to have caught the underlying meaning in his words.
He gazed openly, "So, what do you suggest?"
Seeing the fierce look in A Lin's eyes, he casually met his gaze, his clear eyes showing a pensive expression.
Under the relentless drizzle that formed a curtain of gray beads, his face, pale and drawn, appeared strangely innocent.
The rain, chilling him to the bone, seemed to dampen any hint of menace that might have lurked beneath the surface. Yet, despite the apparent innocence, his cold white eyes, devoid of warmth, sent a shiver down your spine.
"You seem to envy me a lot these days," he slowly lifted his eyelids to meet A Lin's eyes.
Seeing A Lin avoid his gaze, a hint of sarcasm flashed in his eyes.
Noticing A Lin's fierce and resentful expression, he calmly diverted his gaze and focused on making the bed.
After a moment, feeling A Lin's intense gaze fixed on him from the corner shadow, filled with bitterness.
He couldn't help but speak up, "People with different ideologies can't work together." Pausing for a moment, he looked at A Lin.
"Don't you agree, thief?"