Chapter 15: A Pinky Promise
A half-open vermilion window allowed a cool breeze to waft in.
The chilly wind from outside swept into the room, carrying with it a hint of winter's breath.
The wind stirred her heart.
Under the dim light, his eyes gleamed darkly, revealing a faint sharpness.
As if they were a pair of long swords, ready to pierce through something.
Ji Li inexplicably felt her heart skip a beat.
The young man gently draped his hand over her skirt, the thin green and the lotus pink brocade overlapping, "I will prove myself," he promised her, word by word.
As he spoke, his expression was so earnest that Ji Li could only meet his gaze for a moment before looking away.
He must have guessed her thoughts.
This promise was too heavy, making her feel overwhelmed for a moment. She wanted to ask him, "Xi Chen, are you..."
As if that could ease some of her guilt.
Did he know what she was thinking?
She had come back to life, but it was still all in vain.
All she had gained was experience in failure, her mind still as dull as in her previous life.
Those scenes of invincible heroines in storybooks had never happened to her.
She had only done one right thing -
That night, she had saved Xi Chen.
But it was intentional, she was afraid...
Ji Li looked down at him, her voice involuntarily carrying a hint of trepidation, "You, you know..." she wanted to say but didn't dare.
These words were too direct, not good.
But she didn't consider herself one of those who could play around in circles, she was only a little clever.
She closed her lips, suppressing the second half of the sentence.
Xi Chen just smiled, "You have taken the time to cultivate me and helped me a lot." He didn't finish his sentence, "These are all things I should do."
Sensing Ji Li's slight timidity, he added, "I am more than happy to do so."
His expression was sincere, obviously knowing what he was saying.
Or perhaps, he had known all along.
"You think highly of me," he even found excuses for her.
At this moment, she truly realized that her father had been right.
She had done too much, too much.
Xi Chen was bound to feel hot sitting by the fire.
Just like now, the flames in the young man's eyes seemed to be able to burn people, she didn't dare look.
People tend to say nonsensical things when they are nervous.
"I've always thought you were a good person, and I never regretted saving you that night," she softened her tone, staring at the small mole at the corner of the young man's eye, "My help to you was also out of my sincere heart." She couldn't help but emphasize her words at the end.
She emphasized, "Really." Unsure if she was trying to convince Xi Che or herself.
Ji Li suddenly felt a little bewildered.
She seemed to be turning into the person she used to hate the most.
Just like Xie Yuncheng was good at.
Using lies to fill another lie, leaving very little room for sincerity.
In fact, she was hating all along.
This suppressed emotion had been buried for too long, masked by a calm demeanor after her rebirth, until it disappeared completely.
But hatred was deeper than love, how could it disappear after years?
Indeed, those trapped in the quagmire could not save themselves.
It was the same no matter how many times it happened.
In an instant, the words of the young man abruptly pulled her back from her thoughts, "It doesn't matter, what matters is that you chose me." He gently touched Ji Li's fingertips reassuringly.
Extremely light, like the gentle touch of a feather passing by quickly, just like the second half of his sentence, fleeting.
"That's enough."
Ji Li suddenly couldn't understand him.
This familiar feeling made her relax, but also couldn't help but overthink.
She wanted to believe in Xi Che, but now, she was more inclined to believe in herself.
But time waits for no one.
If her own strength was not strong enough, she would inevitably have to rely on external forces...
The person opposite suddenly stood up and approached her.
Her line of sight was completely blocked by the young man's figure, forcing her to interrupt her thoughts.
The shadow shrank, the distance between the two getting smaller--
He seemed to have really grown taller since he arrived, slowly approaching, encasing Ji Li in his own world.
The woody fragrance emanating from Xi Che mixed with a faint white tea scent.
He said, "Don't worry."
The distance between the two was too close, even the sound of their breathing was clearly audible.
"I'll behave." He appeared completely harmless.
Ji Li remained silent.
After a long while, she softly murmured, "Hmm."
He held her hand as if they were just meeting for the first time, shyly smiling.
The candlelight from the side slipped through the gap, and she noticed for the first time that Xi k ohe had a small protruding tooth.
Seeing her staring in a daze, he raised his eyebrows and said in a different tone, "Can I still show it off?" His tone took on a hint of blush.
He wanted to make her happy, so he was particularly playful at this moment.
If he could grow a tail behind him, he would have wagged it long ago.
"You have a protruding tooth." Sensing the rising mood on the other side, she didn't argue.
"Yes!" He leaned in closer, slightly opening his mouth to show it to Jili.
The white, sharp tip was rooted near the side of his dental bed, unique.
Ji Li had never seen this up close before, staring for several moments.
Xi Che smoothly continued up the stairs, suggesting, "How about you touch it?"
"No, I won't touch it." She quickly declined this time.
"However, you just promised me." He insisted.
Ji Li: "That was a promise about something else, what does it have to do with this?"
"But you touched my head."
Ji L: "Can that be the same? Don't change the subject."
Seeing that she wasn't falling for it, Xi Che slowly sighed and looked regretful, "Okay then."
He continued, "Let's pinky swear."
Ji Li finally realized that he was getting a bit too excited at the moment and didn't respond.
"Pinky swear isn't allowed either?" The young man pitifully looked over, "We always pinky swear on agreements where I was come from, otherwise it's considered unreasonable."
Letting a young lady touch your protruding tooth was actually unreasonable.
"I gave you the jade pendant, that should be enough." She changed tactics and showed him the glass bracelet on her wrist.
The bracelet on her fair and delicate wrist shimmered softly with rainbow colors.
It matched his.
Xi Che was stunned and instinctively wanted to look up, but suddenly collided into the gentle gaze of the girl.
The warmth had not yet faded, and his ears turned red again in an instant.
The left side of his chest kept pounding, he quickly lowered his eyes to avoid that gaze.
Cunningly hiding his feelings.
He became well-behaved again, trying to suppress the urge to smile, and argued, "Then let's pinky swear." He said as he lifted her hand to start.
The girl's hand was white and small, soft, but calloused at the tiger's mouth.
His eyes darkened, and after a while without making the next move, he handed back the choice to Jili.
She looked over and saw the familiar pitiful look on the other side, as if not agreeing would be a great injustice.
Ji Li: "..."
This strange feeling sent a shiver down her spine, lost in thought, her fingertips reached forward half an inch.
Just half an inch, but the young man suddenly grabbed her hand, quickly sealing the deal with a handshake.
"Alright, pinky swear!" His delighted tone couldn't hide his excitement.
Ji Li even thought that this person probably never intended to hide it at all.
The young man's palm was huge, reaching out, she glanced roughly and felt that it was probably almost two of her hands in size.
There was no trace of fat on him, very lean.
She suddenly remembered that she didn't know his birthday, so she asked, "When is your birthday?"
The person opposite clearly didn't expect her to ask such a random question and widened his eyes unconsciously.
Coughing a few times inexplicably before answering, "I was born on September 6th."
"Oh, got it."
She came back to reality, seeing that he had found a place to sit on his own at some point, and started to push him away, "The matter is settled..."
But Xi Che suddenly stared at her.
He didn't say anything, just looked at her, "What about you?"
Returning the courtesy, she also replied, "December." but didn't mention the day.
Xi Che didn't dwell on it either, naturally moved his chair closer.
Upon seeing this, Ji Li's words took a turn, "I want to know, are you here to talk about this matter with me?"
She always brought up other meanings out of the blue, causing the person who was just happy to misunderstand slightly.
He "Hmm"ed, closed his eyes, restrained the sourness, his slightly hoarse voice trembling slightly, "I didn't deliberately come to show loyalty." Emotions surged again, "I just, really miss you."
Ji Li was stunned, momentarily at a loss for words.
She seemed to subconsciously deny and probe.
She wanted to get rid of many habits from her past life, but always ended up carrying them.
As they got closer, she felt somewhat defenseless and called out to him, "Move to the side a bit." Gesturing for him to move the seat a little further away.
This time, he obeyed, perking up and chattering non-stop, "Sister, do you really admire scholars?"
She gave him a puzzled look, "Who doesn't admire scholars?"
Reading is not just about changing one's fate, but also about understanding principles and calming the mind.
In this world, aside from a few scholars who can pass exams and gain success, most people still struggle in hardship.
Not because they don't work hard, but because the privileged few who have made it don't want to or allow others to have the opportunity to prosper.
Under the guise of selfishness, the opportunity for education becomes all the more precious.
Just moments ago, she had arranged a teacher for him, but Ji Li couldn't quite grasp his intention and asked, "You don't want to study?" There was a hint of seriousness in her tone.
"Not at all." Sensing her admiration, he added, "I love studying."
Ji Li nodded, without confirming or doubting, "Your previous hardships prevented you from continuing your studies, so my father insisted on my cousin teaching you for the time being."
"You just mentioned being prepared, and now is the time." Sensing Xi Che's gaze, she continued, "After you return tomorrow, go over and learn from him. Besides, with the weather getting colder, the shop will have to close for a break within the next two weeks."
"I will study hard."
The late autumn night fell early, looking out the window, it was already a chilly dark night with a hint of dim blue phosphorescence.
The tree shadows in the courtyard were desolate, rustling gently as the wind brushed against them, resembling the sound of munching.
As if casually, Xi Che turned his face to ask her, "Sister, what do you think of Xu Zexu?"
After sitting for a while, her legs were a bit numb.
Ji Li remained composed, stood up and took a few steps.
"Cousin?" She seemed to be reminiscing, "He's a... very gentle person."
Thinking he was concerned, she advised, "He won't make things difficult for you, and he's just temporarily helping out because he hasn't found a suitable teacher yet."
Without turning back, she had no idea that the person behind her had a much lighter expression because of her words.