Chapter 63: The Flower Thief (End)
When Duanmu Ling opened his eyes again, he found that he had already left the dilapidated wooden hut and was lying on the soft bed in his own room at the Qi manor.
“Ling’er.”
Qi Shaoling was keeping watch by his bed.
Duanmu Ling glanced at him. Just now, he had had a dream. In the dream, Qi Shaoling was kissing him affectionately, but after he woke up…
Never mind.
It’s been two years of this. Isn’t that enough?
He moved his stiff body. Hmm, the injuries weren’t serious. He would probably recover after resting for two days. So, he took a deep breath and said slowly, “Shaoling, I’ll be leaving in two days…”
Qi Shaoling frowned.
Leaving?
“Where are you going?”
“Anywhere is fine,” Duanmu Ling smiled. “Just not in the capital, and I won’t bother you anymore.”
“It’s not a bother…” Qi Shaoling said anxiously.
But Duanmu Ling had already laid back down.
Qi Shaoling sighed and slowly walked out of the room.
After the door was closed, Duanmu Ling opened his eyes, and tears welled up at the corners. Qi Shaoling probably already knew about his wet nurse. He didn’t want him to live with him out of pity, and he certainly didn’t want to make himself so lowly and clingy.
Two days later, Duanmu Ling was finally able to get out of bed and walk around. Just as he was packing his things, a maid said from outside the door, “Young Master Duanmu, the master asks for you in the dining hall.”
His hands, which had been folding clothes, froze. Is this… a farewell?
He lowered his gaze, packed his things, put the bundle on his back, and walked heavily to the dining hall.
Qi Shaoling had been waiting for a long time. Seeing him arrive with his luggage, he clenched his sweaty hands into fists. “Eat. I made it.”
Duanmu Ling was slightly stunned, staring at the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast on the table, his jaw agape. The table was full of meat and vegetables, the aroma wafting through the air, although the appearance was a bit… unimpressive.
“You… made all of this?”
He couldn’t imagine Qi Shaoling in the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves, chopping vegetables, starting a fire, and lifting a wok. He even noticed that the back of his hands was covered in burns from oil and cuts from a knife.
“Yes. Try some?”
After Duanmu Ling sat down, Qi Shaoling suddenly stood up.
With a piece of fish still in his mouth, before he could even react, he saw Qi Shaoling conjure a bouquet of flowers from somewhere and hold it out to him.
He knelt on one knee and said seriously, “Marry me.”
Duanmu Ling: …
Duanmu Ling: ????!
Seeing him staring with a blank expression, Qi Shaoling was so embarrassed he wanted to throw down the flowers and run away. He had never imagined that one day he would ask Qi Xiao for help, and even follow his advice, doing such strange things…
Qi Xiao had said that this was a very special way to propose, and he had guaranteed with his integrity that Duanmu Ling would definitely cry and throw himself into his arms, shouting “I do.”
However…
He had forgotten that Qi Xiao had no integrity!
Duanmu Ling was petrified. The piece of braised pork held by his chopsticks fell to the ground with a plop.
Qi Shaoling’s earlobes turned an almost imperceptible shade of red, but he still said firmly, “Ling’er, don’t go. Marry me.”
“I was foolish before, and maybe I was a bit cold to you, but I promise I will definitely be good to you in the future… I’m not good with sweet words, I can only swear to you that I will never let you be bullied or feel lonely. I will definitely take good care of you, and I’ll take care of you on your wet nurse’s behalf as well, and make you happy every day.”
Duanmu Ling still didn’t react, so he asked again, “Ling’er, give me another chance, please? I was wrong before. I shouldn’t have scolded you. Forgive me. You can hit me if you want.”
“Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough—”
Duanmu Ling bent over, coughing.
…He had choked on a fish bone.
Seeing him choking until tears streamed down his face, Qi Shaoling didn’t care about the flowers anymore. He tossed them aside and, with his free hands, gently patted his back to help him catch his breath.
After he finally recovered, Duanmu Ling silently bent down and picked up the flowers from the floor.
Qi Shaoling felt that the atmosphere was a bit strange.
It seemed a little different from what Qi Xiao had said.
He had been standing there in a daze, but now he saw Duanmu Ling holding the bouquet, crying.
“Do you… mean it?”
Qi Shaoling pulled him into his arms and lowered his head, kissing his soft lips deeply.
“Ling’er, I love you. I always have.”
“Me too…”
Duanmu Ling remembered many years ago, when the back mountain of Duanmu Villa was covered in wildflowers. A young boy had stood in front of him, separating him from a fierce tiger.
To protect him, the boy’s arm and chest had been deeply scratched by the tiger. Later, the people of Duanmu Villa had arrived and dragged him away.
As he was leaving, he had looked back one last time and saw the boy, silhouetted against the light, his body covered in bloodstains.
“My name is Duanmu Ling! The ling from lingqi (spiritual energy)!”
But his voice had been drowned out by the noise of the crowd, and the boy hadn’t heard him at all.
“Ling’er…” Now, the boy from his memory was holding him, affectionately calling his name…
When the kiss ended, Duanmu Ling once again offered his lips, deepening the kiss.
He smiled with happiness.
I’ve always, always liked you so much…
