Still Secretly In Love With My Enemy Today - Chapter 47

Chapter 47: 

 

After relaxing and sleeping for two days, combined with several of Ye Jingwei’s medicines, Xie Huaishuang’s complexion had improved significantly.

 

As we neared Iron Cloud City, he sat by the window again, his fingertips pressed against the glass. He kept looking up and down, up and down, taking in the varying heights of the city’s architecture.

 

While the mechanical bird was still some distance from the ground, I spotted a red figure in the distance. When I led Xie Huaishuang down from the craft, it was indeed the City Lord waiting for us.

 

Same as always—crystal spectacles perched on her nose, hair tied up neatly, looking like she hadn’t suffered a scratch and was fully capable of chasing me for two miles with a broom.

 

—I don’t mean to imply she does that often; it’s just that I did some rather “inviting” things when I was a child. Of course, I wouldn’t tell Xie Huaishuang about such embarrassing details.

 

According to Senior Sister Chen, the City Lord was the one who told her Xie Huaishuang was the Temple’s High Priest. The City Lord had recognized his technique when he stepped in that night at Laihe Peak.

 

We had come full circle back to the original problem. The City Lord is a good person, but the Temple’s bad reputation is deeply rooted. I was prepared to take Xie Huaishuang and run if things went south.

 

However, the City Lord didn’t say much. Like Senior Sister Chen, she simply looked us both over and let out a long sigh of relief.

 

“Good to have you back.”

 

As the City Lord’s gaze fell on Xie Huaishuang, Senior Sister Chen suddenly stepped forward. “City Lord, don’t blame them for this. It’s my fault.”

 

“Alright, let’s not dwell on that.” The City Lord waved her hand, her eyes still appraising Xie Huaishuang.

 

Xie Huaishuang had been silent since hearing the “shocking truth” on the way back. Unlike his previous subtle unease or hesitation, he had thought for a long time before whispering to me: “Where should we run to?”

 

I think I might have been a bad influence on him.

 

Now, under the City Lord’s scrutiny, he found a moment to steal a glance at me. Even before he was willing to talk to me much, I had noticed that his eyes were incredibly honest—a simple lift or shift of his gaze was a whole sentence. Right now, he was asking me: What does the City Lord mean?

 

I tapped my knuckles twice against the back of his hand: I don’t know either.

 

Senior Sister Chen cleared her throat nearby. I looked up to see the City Lord quickly look away from our joined hands, pausing for a beat before refocusing on Xie Huaishuang.

 

Being stared at like that, his expression didn’t change, but his eyelashes fluttered almost imperceptibly. “City Lord Xu… if you have something to say, please speak plainly.”

 

“Fine,” the City Lord nodded. “I’ll be blunt. If I had known your identity from the start, I wouldn’t have trusted you easily, no matter what.”

 

Xie Huaishuang’s fingers curled slightly. The City Lord shook her head and continued.

 

“But now, after everything we’ve been through together… I can no longer judge you by your past identity.”

 

Xie Huaishuang and I both froze in surprise.

 

He looked up, wide-eyed. The City Lord’s expression turned solemn. “For what happened at Laihe Peak, and for saving him—thank you.”

 

“It was what I should have done…” Xie Huaishuang blinked rapidly. “City Lord Xu, in the past, I…”

 

“Don’t take the sins of those old geezers onto your own shoulders.”

 

“We are happy you could come to Iron Cloud City.” After cursing the Temple leaders, the City Lord’s voice softened as she placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know the gist of what happened before. As for the rest, tell us as much or as little as you want. Don’t overthink it now that you’re here. We have so many people in Iron Cloud City; there’s no need for one person to carry everything alone.”

 

Xie Huaishuang’s eyes shined. When he spoke again, his voice was barely a whisper. “…Okay.”

 

The City Lord looked at his sword for a long time before suddenly asking, “‘My heart is cold and shivering like the frost’… who gave you your name?”

 

“My name?” Xie Huaishuang hesitated. “It was… my master.”

 

“Your master? The Great Shaman?”

 

“No… but he was also from the Temple.”

 

The City Lord seemed lost in thought for a moment before snapping back. “It’s nothing, I was just asking.” She smiled, her voice rising. “Oh, by the way, Miaomiao told me you haven’t seen much of the city yet. I’m free today—would you like a tour?”

 

“Now… right now?”

 

When Xie Huaishuang wears that expressionless, cold-looking mask, it usually means he hasn’t fully processed what’s happening. Sure enough, he was led away by the City Lord before he knew it.

 

I finally reacted. “Wait—what about me?”

 

“You, obviously, are going back to lie down. Miaomiao, if he can’t walk, help him along.”

 

“But—”

 

“Got it.” Senior Sister Chen nodded immediately, stepping up to hoist me. “Luckily it’s our Little Zhu. Unlike that boy He An, who can’t be separated from people even if he just scrapes his skin. Come on, Senior Sister will take you back.”

 

“Exactly. Don’t mind how our Little Zhu used to say mean things; he was just speaking the truth. Being all clingy and lovey-dovey—what kind of look is that?”

 

“Quite right…”

 

“No—wait a second—”

 

I tried my best to find a gap in their conversation, but before I could finish a sentence, Senior Sister Chen was already dragging me toward our quarters.

 

Xie Huaishuang was being pulled away by the City Lord. He looked back at me, his eyes blinking frantically, then looked at the City Lord. “City Lord, he’s still…”

 

“I’m still injured!” I yelled.

 

As if they had predicted it, the City Lord and Senior Sister Chen stopped the moment Xie Huaishuang and I spoke at once.

 

The City Lord spoke first. “Miaomiao, what did he say about He An again?”

 

Senior Sister Chen sneered. “He said: ‘If you’re hurt, go find a doctor. Hugging and clinging won’t cure you.’“

 

“I remember there was more?”

 

“‘Even sticky rice cake isn’t this clingy. If you have too much glue, share some with others.’“

 

“Just that? Surely not.”

 

“He An definitely remembers it clearly. I’ll ask him later.”

 

“Why bring He An here? Do you want them to be an eyesore together?”

 

“True. Let’s go, let’s go. This kid won’t be joining us to mock He An anymore…”

 

The City Lord and Senior Sister Chen walked away, shaking their heads. I vaguely heard Senior Sister say something about “Karma is a cycle,” while the City Lord patted her shoulder.

 

I turned my head and saw Xie Huaishuang staring at me thoughtfully.

 

“Did you really say those things?”

 

“…”

 

How can a person travel back in time to poison their seventeen-year-old self into being mute?

 

…

 

When I returned to my quarters, I found hot water waiting and a food container on the table, steam still rising from it. The medicine chest from the flyer was also there.

 

Xie Huaishuang was surprised. “This is…”

 

“Who else could it be?”

 

The food was portioned for two. I lifted the second layer and saw two plates of small pastries. Xie Huaishuang was still standing there, his gaze wandering between the dishes and the teapot through the rising steam.

 

“Aren’t you hungry?”

 

“No.” Xie Huaishuang sat down and took the chopsticks, but he didn’t move, the tips resting against the rice. “I just… didn’t expect this.”

 

Xie Huaishuang loves sweet osmanthus lotus root. I pushed the plate toward him. “Given time, you’ll get used to it.”

 

He hummed in response, saying nothing, and slowly chewed a slice of lotus root. The damp, cold shadows of the Temple still clung to him occasionally, faint and ghostly. But it was fine. Over time, those shadows would be worn away completely.

 

I asked, “Is it to your taste?”

 

He nodded, a lock of hair falling over his shoulder. As I tied it back for him, I suddenly heard him laugh.

 

“What are you laughing at?”

 

“Nothing.” He didn’t look up, poking at the chestnut chicken with his chopsticks. “The food is good. I’m happy.”

 

…

 

It’s hard for me to imagine that I had gone more than three days without kissing Xie Huaishuang.

 

That night, as he leaned against the headboard flipping through a random book, I quietly leaned in. Before I could touch him, he pressed my shoulder and pushed me away.

 

“You still have wounds here, be careful not to hit them…”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

I leaned in again and was pushed away once more. This time Xie Huaishuang laughed, tossing the book aside.

 

“If you’re hurt, go find a doctor. Hugging and clinging won’t cure you.”

 

“…”

 

“Why look at me like that?” Xie Huaishuang blinked. “Weren’t those your own words?”

 

“It’s not my fault.”

 

Xie Huaishuang arched an eyebrow. “Then it’s mine?”

 

“Yes, yours.” I said with total confidence. “If you had captured me earlier and poisoned me mute in the Temple, I wouldn’t have been able to say such things.”

 

Xie Huaishuang was silent for a moment. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

 

“I don’t.” I mouthed the words to him: I’ve been poisoned mute. I can’t talk.

 

“…”

 

His emerald eyes stared at me from inches away, ripples of laughter surfacing in them despite his deadpan expression. “Then what should we do? I can’t cure that.”

 

“You can.”

 

As I leaned closer, our noses touched. “Just kiss me and I’ll be cured.”

 

It was a gentle touch, like a magnolia petal brushing against my lips. Xie Huaishuang lowered his gaze. “Can you talk now?”

 

I shook my head immediately and mouthed: No. Try a few more times.

 

Xie Huaishuang looked helpless, murmuring between kisses, “Your wounds… be careful.”

 

Actually, I did hit one just now. But I hid it well, not letting a single wince show, otherwise he definitely wouldn’t have let me kiss him anymore today.

 

Before sleeping, after the twelfth kiss, I felt satisfied. But before closing my eyes, I remembered something else.

 

“What was that song you sang to me during those two days?”

 

Xie Huaishuang’s gaze flickered. “I sang something?”

 

“During the first two days of my recovery.” I rubbed my forehead against his. “I didn’t hear it clearly. Let me hear it again.”

 

During those first two days, I was delirious with fever. Once, the pain was so bad I wanted to thrash around, and I vaguely felt Xie Huaishuang beside me, sounding terrified. My groans of pain had turned into something else. What did I say back then? I think I asked him to coax me, tell a story, or sing a song—if he coaxed me, the pain would go away.

 

Xie Huaishuang’s voice had been blurry. I had thought about it for a long time but couldn’t recall the words.

 

“I didn’t…”

 

“You definitely sang to me.”

 

I only had a faint impression—a very light, slow melody, flowing low like a gentle breeze that was neither cold nor warm. I had been talking nonsense at the time, but hearing his hazy voice actually made me feel a bit better.

 

Hearing this, Xie Huaishuang looked down awkwardly, his expression hidden in the dim shadows of the bed curtains.

 

“You’re all better now.”

 

“I’m not.” I took his hand and touched my shoulder. “It hurts.”

 

“…” Xie Huaishuang pulled his hand back. “You’re doing this on purpose.”

 

“Yes, I am.” I gripped his fingertips again. “Let me hear it. Just once more. Then I’ll sleep.”

 

Xie Huaishuang ignored me at first. Just as I thought he was going to stay silent on the matter, I heard that familiar, light, and slow melody. Low, soft, and lingering like a whisper.

 

I finally heard the lyrics clearly:

 

—The plum blossom breeze is light, the apricot blossom breeze is light, the begonia breeze suddenly turns chillingly cold. Year after year, the spring light is blown old by the twenty-four winds. O Melia breeze, please arrive slowly.

 

Before falling completely asleep, I asked him, “Who taught you that?”

 

Xie Huaishuang was also sleepy, his voice low and muddled. “Master…”

 

“Why did he like such flowery things…”

 

“Yes… I’ll tell you about Master tomorrow…”

 

The final note faded, merging into the light breathing of sleep and the pale moonlight on the floor.

 

I wonder if he’ll dream of me. I will certainly dream of him—amidst the peach blossoms, plum blossoms, magnolias, and begonias.