Still Secretly In Love With My Enemy Today - Chapter 41

Chapter 41: 

After managing the affairs of Iron Cloud City for three consecutive days, Senior Sister Chen finally showed some mercy and granted me half a day off.

Returning home that evening, I saw a flicker of light from a distance. As I ran closer, sure enough, it was Xie Huaishuang, holding a lantern and waiting for me outside the door. His long hair was gathered to one side, draped over his chest. His moon-white outer robe was layered over two emerald-green collars, his features appearing as soft as a painting within the circle of dim yellow light.

“Why such a rush?”

As he spoke, Xie Huaishuang reached out to tidy my hair. When I pulled him into a hug by the waist, the lantern swayed beside us, like a reflection of the moon in water.

“How could I not be in a rush to see you?”

“Didn’t we just see each other this morning?” He pushed gently at my shoulders and gave a soft laugh. “It’s only been a single day. If we truly didn’t see each other for three or five years, what would you do?”

I thought for a moment. “Then you might as well just kill me.”

“There you go again,” he chided.

Stepping over the shadows of the trees on the ground, I happily told him, “Senior Sister gave me half a day off tomorrow.”

Since returning, I hadn’t had a proper chance to take him around Iron Cloud City. Moreover, I could spend an entire morning alone with him!

“Tomorrow?” But he didn’t seem as happy as I expected. I glanced at him, my excitement wilting. “Why… why are you unhappy?”

“Those children came by this afternoon,” Xie Huaishuang said. “They asked me to go see the smelting yard where they work tomorrow.”

“You agreed?”

Xie Huaishuang pursed his lips and nodded. “Yes.”

I completely deflated. Why did they have to invite him for tomorrow of all days? The only time I had alone with him now was the brief moment before leaving in the morning and after returning at night.

Xie Huaishuang looked at me. “Unhappy?”

“No,” I took the lantern from his hand and placed it on the rack by the door, starting to say the opposite of what I felt again. “Then I’ll go with you tomorrow… we can go elsewhere another time, it’s the same.”

As the door closed, only a single circle of lamplight remained in the room, illuminating two un-withered magnolias in a vase and the peach blossom cakes on the table. In this tiny, quiet space, it felt as if only Xie Huaishuang and I existed in the entire world, soft and slow.

I always wished these moments could last longer, but the lamp would burn down and suddenly the sky would brighten. Why must the sun rise so early?

“You are unhappy.”

Xie Huaishuang stared at me for a while before reaching a conclusion. He pressed his hands on my shoulders and stood on his tiptoes. As he closed his eyes, his lashes brushed against the corner of my eye.

Whenever he felt I was unhappy, he would always try to coax me back into a good mood like this. If one kiss didn’t solve it, then two would. I had long seen through this tactic, but I had to admit, I truly fell for it every time.

As we pulled apart, I asked him, “Do you like me the most?”

“Yes,” he answered very seriously. “I like you the most.”

It sounded like a total defeat for me, but I was indeed easily coaxed back into a good mood.

“There will definitely be many things you’ve never seen before at the smelting yard tomorrow,” I whispered in his ear, watching his eyes light up. “I’ll explain them all to you slowly. If you want to try your hand at something, I’ll let you try.”

Xie Huaishuang nodded happily. I poked him. “You still owe me nineteen times.”

“Hmm?” He blinked in confusion for a second, then laughed. “Okay.”

A spark of lamplight flickered in his eyes, like the shimmering waves on a dark river; anyone who saw it would find their soul in a daze.

“Besides that,” he looked at me, his voice trailing off into a light, lingering tone, “what else do you want?”

…

The manager of the smelting yard was Zhao the Beard, who scowled the moment he saw me.

“Vice City Lord Zhu, didn’t I just report to you yesterday?” he asked cautiously. “Is something wrong again?”

I tugged at Xie Huaishuang’s sleeve. “I’m not here to find trouble. I’m accompanying someone.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Zhao the Beard sighed in relief, then looked at Xie Huaishuang, his eyebrows shooting up. “Is this the one… I heard the youngsters talking, called… what was the name?”

Xie Huaishuang introduced himself. Zhao the Beard chuckled and nodded, leaning in toward me.

“How should I address him?” He lowered his voice, or so he thought. “Call him ‘Madam’? That wouldn’t be quite right, would it?”

“…”

Xie Huaishuang suddenly seemed to choke, coughing twice as his eyes darted away in a conspicuous attempt to hide his embarrassment.

“What nonsense,” I thought for a moment. Noticing Xie Huaishuang glance at me, I came up with a highly satisfying answer. “Call him… call him ‘Great Hero Xie’ for now.”

Xie Huaishuang choked again, covering his face with his sleeve. I patted his back. “What’s the matter with you?”

He waved an apologetic hand at Zhao the Beard, speaking quickly: “You can call me whatever you like, just my name is fine.”

I was pulled away by him as we walked further inside. “You don’t like being called ‘Great Hero Xie’ either?”

Xie Huaishuang stared at me. “Do you really read too many storybooks? Who would use such a flamboyant title!”

I didn’t say a word, and he suddenly turned his head back. “And as for ‘Madam’—that’s even worse!”

But he didn’t seem this resistant in private. Considering the “practical circumstances” of the past few days, I carefully pondered the meaning of his words: “So it’s only not okay outside in front of others, is that it?”

Xie Huaishuang gave me a look of utter disbelief, then suddenly turned away, covering his face with both sleeves and lowering his head. “Can you please say a few words less?”

“…Alright.”

It seemed Xie Huaishuang had two sets of standards for behavior: one for behind closed doors and one for public use. No matter; someone as clever as I had already figured it out. I wouldn’t provoke his dissatisfaction next time.

…

The location for the negotiations between the City Lord and the Great Shaman was chosen by both the Temple and Iron Cloud City. It was separated from Iron Cloud City by Laike Peak—not too far, but not too close. If one hurried, it could be reached in a day and a night.

Every morning, Senior Sister Chen would show me the latest news received by the Intelligence Pavilion.

Xie Huaishuang and I had arrived in Iron Cloud City on the second day after the City Lord’s departure. It was now the sixth day of the meeting between the City Lord and the Temple.

“Still no new progress?”

Senior Sister Chen put down the letter in her hand. “That’s what they say. Initially, the Temple seemed willing to make concessions, but it’s been like this for two days now—they refuse to give a straight answer. I wonder if they’re trying to set new conditions.”

“Those two elders of the Temple,” I recalled what Xie Huaishuang had said last night. “They are arrogant and obsessed with hierarchy. Would they really be willing to negotiate conditions with us in such a roundabout way?”

From the beginning, no one believed the Temple had any good intentions. But as days passed, there was no sign of the Temple making a move. There were no issues found with the food or lodging, and no trace of a trap.

“There’s definitely a catch.”

Senior Sister Chen stared at the map for a long time, then beckoned me over. I saw red circles on Xu and Yong Provinces. These places bordered Qing Province, the territory Senior Brother He was responsible for.

“Look at this.”

I took it and scanned it. It was a message from the Intelligence Pavilion earlier that morning. The Temple’s people in Qing Province were on the move, seemingly headed toward Xu and Yong.

“The Temple is just using the City Lord as a distraction? They want to launch a surprise attack elsewhere while our attention is on her?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.” Senior Sister Chen nodded. “The Temple has always been calculating, but this time they seem quite rushed and clumsy. He An went to Huiyun City with the City Lord. Yong Province is fine, but Xu Province just had a change of personnel recently. You should go keep an eye on it, lest the Temple truly causes trouble and He An is too busy to handle it.”

When I went back and told Xie Huaishuang, the brush in his hand stopped.

“The Temple wants to use this opportunity to clear out your hidden outposts in those areas?”

“It looks that way—will you go to Xu Province with me?”

“I’ll go.”

I began to pack what we needed, and Xie Huaishuang put down his brush and stood up. “When do we leave?”

“Tonight.”

I calculated that by rushing, we could reach Xu Province in two days. While packing the weapon case, I saw Xie Huaishuang standing aside with a furrowed brow.

“What’s wrong?”

“Maybe I’m overthinking,” Xie Huaishuang spoke slowly. “I can’t quite put my finger on it… it just feels like the Temple is acting a bit strange.”

“Strange?”

Xie Huaishuang thought for a moment, then shook his head and crouched down. “Never mind. Maybe I’m just unhappy at the thought of seeing people from the Temple.” He handed me the map from the rack. “What else do we need to bring?”

Just as dusk fell, Xie Huaishuang and I left Iron Cloud City. Xie Huaishuang was scribbling something on paper again, chatting with me occasionally.

“Have you been to Xu Province before?”

“Two or three times.” I lowered my head to adjust our direction, saying whatever came to mind. “I went with Senior Brother He. I remember there are many lakes there, it’s very damp. Clothes won’t dry for days. I don’t know why it was given such a name (Xu means ‘warm/sunny’).”

Xie Huaishuang gave an “oh” and fell silent for a while before speaking again. “Next time, don’t always take my clothes to wash with yours. I’ll wash them myself.”

Iron Cloud City had people specialized in chores, but when outside, one had to do it themselves. I had thought Xie Huaishuang hadn’t noticed such things when we were in Hengzhou.

I stole a glance at him. “Do you know how to wash them?”

Xie Huaishuang hesitated. “I should… why are you laughing?”

“I’m not laughing.” Relying on the fact that he couldn’t see my face, I spoke nonsense quite confidently. “Next time… mmm, next time if I truly can’t find the time, then it’ll be your turn.”

Xie Huaishuang flipped a page of paper with a rustle. “You’re fooling me again.”

The route to Xu Province was all set. I sat across from him. “When have I ever fooled you?”

“When?” Xie Huaishuang looked up, swept a glance over me, then looked down again. He gave a cold snort, his brush scratching against the paper. “Last time you—”

His words suddenly cut off.

The brush fell onto the table with a snap. I saw Xie Huaishuang suddenly lift his head, his expression completely changed.

“Something’s wrong. Turn around, quickly!” he said urgently. “Laike Peak—go to Laike Peak!”