Chapter 45: Have a Bowl of Noodles

Li Changluo had no idea how long he’d been unconscious. When he awoke, a delicate fragrance greeted him, reminiscent of jasmine. His entire body ached, his limbs weak, as he slowly opened his eyes.

The scene before him felt strangely familiar—a carved wooden bed, a rosewood screen, a room steeped in classical elegance. This place was so familiar. Only when his eyes landed on the wooden door, riddled with holes of varying sizes, did he remember…

Damn, this was Miss Mingshan’s room.

This was the very place that haunted his dreams after he tried to peep at her bathing.

“Young master, are you awake?”

Sunlight poured through the ornate window, filling the room with gold. Miss Mingshan sat by the window, combing her hair. She wore a sheer azure robe that hinted at her graceful form. The hazy dawn bathed her face, making her appear like a woman from a painting.

Compared to the clear, fresh innocence of Xiao Qing, Miss Mingshan exuded a different kind of allure. Perhaps this was the difference between a woman and a girl?

Li Changluo found himself entranced.

Shouldn’t I recite a poem to match this scene?

“Arranging cloud-like hair before the window, pressing yellow petals to the brow before the mirror.”

Li Changluo did his best to recall the manner of poets from his textbooks. He clasped his hands behind his back, adjusted his stride, recited the verse, and strolled elegantly to stand before Miss Mingshan.

“Young master, your poem is quite nice, but…”

Miss Mingshan finished tying her hair into a bun, her gaze lingering on Li Changluo as she gave a playful, enchanting laugh.

“But…”

“Why am I here?”

That’s when Li Changluo noticed something alarming—

He wasn’t wearing a single stitch of clothing.

It was cold.

He was standing stark naked before Miss Mingshan.

Stay calm, he told himself. Act as if nothing happened.

Pretending to admire the room’s decor, he strolled back to the bed and pulled the quilt over himself—all in one smooth motion.

But something still felt wrong.

His whole body ached, he was weak, and even his waist was sore. He had no clothes on.

Was he…?

Did this woman pin him under the covers and…?

Beat him up?

How humiliating.

He’d been pinned to the bed and thrashed by a woman—no, a female fiend, even lost his clothes in the process?

How could he face himself now?

The thought made Li Changluo clutch the quilt and burst into aggrieved tears.

“Young master, don’t cry. Whatever troubles you, just tell me,” Miss Mingshan sauntered over, sitting by the head of the bed, her voice dripping with seductive charm as she batted her eyes at him.

She could melt anyone’s heart.

Li Changluo wasn’t stupid. He knew what this scene implied.

Next, she would surely say, “Do you think I’m beautiful?”

“Do you think I’m beautiful?” Miss Mingshan coyly tugged her gossamer robe even lower.

Li Changluo continued his silent guessing game. Next, she’d say, “Young master, are you hungry?”

“Young master, are you hungry?” Miss Mingshan’s bright smile and alluring lips inched closer.

Just as he expected! Li Changluo thought. Next, she’d say, “If you’re hungry, you can eat me.”

“If you’re hungry, I’ll make you some noodles,” she whispered, her words tickling his ears.

Then…

She handed him a huge bowl, her face wreathed in a mischievous smile.

Li Changluo’s mood instantly plummeted.

There really were noodles in the bowl…

Noodles. After beating me up, she offers this to nurse me back to health?

Is she messing with me?

He bristled.

He was tempted to fling the bowl.

“Eat it all, now,” Miss Mingshan said with a dazzling smile.

“Oh, alright. Smells delicious,” Li Changluo replied, hastily accepting the bowl.

It was comically huge. Li Changluo wondered how long it would take him to finish it.

And… being naked, would it affect his ability to eat with one hand?

But before he could even take a bite, Miss Mingshan snatched the bowl away.

“If you take someone’s food, you have to solve their problems for them. You ate my noodles; now you owe me a favor. I didn’t force you, did I?” All the earlier tenderness vanished. Miss Mingshan now looked like a fierce tigress, her tone brooking no refusal.

It was a total disaster. Li Changluo was so frustrated he could cry.

“And I healed your injuries, too. You owe me a debt of gratitude, young master. Am I right?” Miss Mingshan placed one foot on the edge of the bed, her tone commanding.

Just then, the door burst open.

Xiao Qing stormed in, taking in the scene—Li Changluo clutching the quilt, crying, Miss Mingshan looming over him like a wolf.

Her face flushed with fury. She pointed at Miss Mingshan and shouted, “Shameless!”

She rushed to the bed, shot Miss Mingshan a venomous glare, grabbed Li Changluo, and dragged him out the door.

“Hey! Who are you calling names, you little brat?” Miss Mingshan shouted after her, half amused, half exasperated. “We haven’t even gotten to the main business yet!”

“Xiao Qing…”

Li Changluo stumbled as Xiao Qing tugged him out of Miss Mingshan’s room, bumping into things as they went.

“No need to thank me.”

“Could you at least let go of me?”

“What’s wrong with dragging you?”

“Is this just dragging?”

Li Changluo was literally being hauled out, lying flat on the ground, forced to move forward.

Why was he forced out? Because he had no clothes on. He absolutely did not want to be seen.

“You—why are you running around naked?” Only now did Xiao Qing notice his state. She immediately let go, averting her eyes in embarrassment, scolding him.

“I didn’t want to run around! You were pulling me…”

Li Changluo felt his body burning with pain.

“Hmph, you never used to be mean to me. Has that old fox bewitched you?” Xiao Qing pouted and tried to look angry.

Li Changluo thought she seemed different today—more dependent on him, as if learning how to be a…

Girlfriend?

“What are you afraid of?” he suddenly asked.

“I’m afraid you’ll disappear too,” Xiao Qing replied without hesitation. Her expression darkened; the playful anger from earlier vanished, replaced by true sadness.

She was never good at lying—her heart was always on her sleeve.

Xiao Qing truly was frightened. She didn’t know why so many people were trying to catch her, couldn’t remember her own past, and the only person who cared for her was gone.

She felt utterly unsafe in this world. The only thing she could hold onto was this person in front of her…

“What are you doing?” she asked, hearing a sound and glancing back to see Li Changluo behind her, making strange gestures.