Chapter 6 Maintenance
A Lin seemed to be burned by these three words, instinctively retorting, "I am not!! Have you lost your mind?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?!?!?!"
"Whether it's nonsense or not, you know in your heart." Xi Che's emotions remained calm, "With these two incidents, I should have repaid a great debt of gratitude."
After saying this, he turned and took a few steps to close the door and see the guest off.
Unexpectedly, A Lin seemed to be awakened by something, loudly shouting, "You know... you found out a long time ago?"
"Are you doing this on purpose? Are you deliberate?!"
Seeing the other party not denying it, he became even more agitated, "You did this on purpose! You did it deliberately!"
Xi Che was irritated by the sudden noise, unconsciously rubbing his brow.
He still smiled with a clear face, "Ah..." there was a hint of distant in his eyes, "I don't quite understand what you mean."
"You did it on purpose, I knew it, I knew it..."
"How could you, how could you... you couldn't, you wouldn't be fooled twice."
Seeing Xi Che's calm expression, without any surprise, he became more certain, "I'm going to find Miss Ji!"
"She has been deceived by you, you liar! Liar!"
"All the words I have said to Miss Ji are from the heart." His tone was overly calm, "I am not like you."
"Thief." Like saying something indifferent, but every word pierced his heart, "Rather than that, why don't you tell me how many people you deceived with this pretentious attitude."
However, A Lin didn't listen to him and turned to walk out the door as if he had caught Xi Che's handle.
Like a venomous snake clinging to a branch, his tongue hissed in the darkness.
"Say what you want."
Seeing Xi Che's indifferent expression, he snorted coldly and left.
Little did he know, the other person was looking at his back with deep eyes.
On the other hand, Ji Li was also preoccupied, sitting at the desk with a complex look in her eyes.
After the person left, she asked Yun Yi to bring out pen and paper.
With her hand supporting her face, she carefully pondered.
Recalling the important events of her past life, she wrote and stopped.
Unfortunately, her thoughts were chaotic after waking up, and even after trying hard to remember in these few days, she could only recall scattered bits.
"Yun Yi, send a message to Yun Er to investigate Xi Che."
She couldn't help but think of the scene in her past life where that person confronted Xie Yuncheng.
And the man's calm and stern demeanor.
Clearing up the situation would bring her some peace of mind.
Ji Li looked serious and wrote on almost half a sheet of paper.
The rain outside started to fall heavily again, splashing down noisily.
Even just sitting inside, she could feel the refreshing rain atmosphere.
She wondered if Xi Che had arrived.
It was already deep autumn, and because of the continuous rainy weather, the room was already prepared with bamboo charcoal.
She didn't care about what she had written, casually throwing it into the charcoal brazier.
The flickering flames made her already porcelain-white skin even more radiant.
Yun Yi stood by helping her grind ink and, seeing the scene, softly remarked, "Miss, you look so beautiful, like a fairy from a storybook in this light and shadow."
"You talk too much," she replied. "Your Miss will be a warrior leading soldiers into battle in the future, so it's better to praise her in that aspect."
Yun Yi lowered his head and smiled lightly, the dimples on his cheeks one shallow and one deep.
As the two of them were chatting, a knock sounded at the door.
"Miss Ji!"
The voice sounded familiar, but Ji Li couldn't place it for a moment.
After being reminded by Yun Yi, she finally remembered.
It was the young monk who had stopped them on the road the other day.
He seemed genuinely anxious about something.
Though Ji Li didn't want to engage, considering the urgency of the visitor's arrival, she had Yun Yi open the door.
He seemed to have encountered some unexpected event and was eager to speak after receiving permission.
However, seeing Ji Li's calm expression made him stop and nervously said, "Miss Ji, it's not appropriate for me to come here suddenly."
"But I have urgent news to tell you!"
Ji Li withdrew her gaze, asking him, "What is it?" while having Yun Yi pour a cup of tea, indicating for him to sit down and speak slowly.
A Lin cast a surreptitious glance at the person across from him, closing his eyes with a determined look.
"You have been deceived by A Che."
"What?" Upon hearing him mention Xiche, she focused more attention on the conversation.
However, A Lin misunderstood, thinking that Ji Li had indeed been deceived, "You are unaware of this. This guy is an orphan from the wilderness, growing up with refugees, struggling to survive."
His opening remarks furrowed her brow slightly, but she remained calm on the surface.
She just silently stared at the nervous young man before her.
While Ji Li was observing him, A Lin was also watching her.
With her black hair cascading down her back and her snow-white skin, when she looked over, it inexplicably made his heart skip a beat.
Under this seemingly vague pressure, he straightened up and spoke once again, "When he first arrived at the Ronghua Temple, many people didn't really like him."
"He also has a bad temperament and mostly stays silent when asked by others."
This sounded too much like a tattletale tale, raising Ji Li's eyebrow.
"What do you mean...?"
"His behavior was not good before. Everyone tolerated it because we were all practicing together." He added, "This misunderstanding is also due to preconceptions, but it shows his past behavior..."
"What behavior?" Ji Li's gaze turned completely cold.
A Lin suddenly stopped.
He keenly sensed that the atmosphere was not quite right at that moment.
His lips trembled, "No, no, it's nothing like that."
"I didn't mean that. I just didn't want you to be deceived."
Ji Li chuckled lightly, ignoring his seemingly ambiguous explanation, "You just said it was a misconception." She asked, "Doesn't that also mean that you know everyone misunderstood him this time?"
"In that case, there may be no need for any insinuations," Ji Li remarked, causing him to feel a bit fearful of her serious tone.
He secretly wondered if he had said something to upset her.
It seemed that she completely trusted that person, A Che.
He didn't know the specific thoughts in Ji Li's mind, but his tone became increasingly uncertain.
"I... I was abrupt."
However, someone like him, who wanted to drag others into his darkness even with the slightest chance, would not give up on the current opportunity.
Or perhaps, he wasn't clueless but blinded by jealousy, clouding his judgment.
"Miss Ji, A Che's conduct is questionable. I hope you will truly reconsider," he pleaded.
However, Ji Li responded with a non sequitur, "He is not called A Che (阿撤) anymore."
The young girl's watery eyes gazed tranquilly, her ethereal voice carrying a cool and clear texture akin to cold jade.
She uttered each word clearly, "He now has a new name, which is Xi Che."
"Clear and serene Xi Che."
The shimmering curtain of rain silk swayed gently, its threads like silver catching the fading light. Above, cotton-like clouds drifted lazily across the sky, their undersides tinged with the last blush of sunset.
The familiar scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the earthy aroma of damp forest floor, a hint of wildflowers adding a sweet touch to the air.
Outside the carved wooden window, the rain had stopped.
Looking out through the window, Ji Li's gaze swept over the scenery outside, no longer focusing on the young monk.
A few moments later, she heard someone speaking behind her, "I have a habit of speaking nonsense. I hope... Miss Ji, please don't mind."
After seeing the visitor off, Yun Yi walked a few steps to her side.
Ji Li stared at a spot in the room and instructed, "Yun Yi, go and inform Father."
"Later this evening, we will bring Xi Che back to the mansion."
She had originally planned to stay for two more nights, but the people here were truly unsettling.
Just as Yun Yi left, there was another sound at the door.
A melodious young voice entered her ears directly.
- It was Xi Che.
Ji Li relaxed her expression and went to greet him at the door.
"Why are you here at this hour?" she asked, noticing that the young man had changed into a simple black straight robe, exuding an indescribable air when he wore it.
Perhaps realizing her thoughts, Ji Yunshan had put some thought into selecting the clothes.
There were some delicate patterns embroidered at the collar of the robe, simple yet unique in style.
"The clothes are plain, but you look very handsome in them," she complimented.
Xi Che displayed a hint of inexplicable restraint, blushing instantly at her praise. It reached all the way to the tips of his ears, a sight that would have surprised anyone who knew his usual composure.
When they first met, the young lady seemed as unreachable as the moon, a luminous orb bathed in ethereal light, hanging impossibly high in the night sky. Back then, even a fleeting glance her way felt like a stolen moment, a distant dream.
Now, that same moon, once so distant and unattainable, seemed to be approaching him willingly.
"He spoke with shyness, 'I thought since the rain had stopped, I could come to show you.'"
"Just a glance would suffice."
Ji Li had just heard others gossiping about him, so now was the time for inward criticism.
Seeing the future prime minister struggling in the temple, so lacking in confidence, her heart overflowed with endless pity.
"You look good," she answered seriously, "I used to feel that people wearing black look dull and cold from afar."
"But, you... are different. You look especially good in black."
An eerie pause caused his eyes to flash involuntarily.
His smile sank into his eyes, gaining a hint of obscurity.
But when Ji Li looked over, he always maintained that obedient gaze with a faint smile.
After the last raindrop pattered on the roof, a hush fell over the world. The downpour that had hammered the roof finally subsided.
Slowly, like a curtain being drawn back, the thick veil of clouds in the sky outside began to thin. Patches of blue peeked through, growing larger with each passing moment.
The remaining rain clouds, tinged with a faint pink from the setting sun, drifted lazily eastward.
Sunlight filtered through the window, speared through the window in a golden shaft. It fell directly on his profile, illuminating the strong lines of his jaw and the furrow in his brow.
As he took a few deliberate steps closer, the light danced across his face, creating a mesmerizing play of shadow and light. One moment, his features were etched sharply, revealing a determined set.
The next, they were softened by the diffused light, hinting at a depth of emotion.
"It's good if the young lady likes it," his voice sounded as if it had been polished by sandpaper, revealing a magnetic and deep tone typical of adulthood.
Ji Li chuckled at his words, "You're the one who should like it."
"You can only wear clothes you like for a long time. If you only wear them for my sake, but you don't like them, then it would be uncomfortable."
"Not uncomfortable."
"I like it if the young lady likes it."
As he was about to speak, he changed course, "I like it if the young lady likes it."
Seeing his sincere expression, Ji Li did not pursue the topic further.
She raised her eyes to talk about another matter, "I will be going back soon."
Xi Che keenly noted that this "going back" seemed to refer to the general's mansion, and he responded affirmatively.
Then, a calm voice beside him inquired, "Have you finished your business?"
He seemed to realize something and swallowed nervously, "I have." He didn't blink.
He looked almost like a wooden doll possessed by a spirit.
Ji Li glanced at him, "So quickly?" However, she didn't press further and simply said, "As long as you're done."
"Yes, I have accomplished something."
Just as he was about to say more, he suddenly heard Ji Li ask him, "If that's the case, have you finished all your tasks?"
"Why don't you accompany me back to the general's mansion today?"