Chapter 328

However, her brows drooped significantly, making one feel that she was no longer smiling.

"Young Master, cough cough, I…"

"Wait a moment."

Before Aunt could utter the words "I was just joking," she saw Lin Yi shake his head.

Aunt was confused, but Lin Yi's gentle yet solemn voice made her feel a bit more nervous, and even the sorrow in her heart was diluted quite a bit.

She had anticipated the possible response after saying those strange things, so while there was sorrow in her heart, it was not much.

Besides, this is the person the little niece likes… Hmm, hmm, as the Aunt, I won't fight with my little niece, I am magnanimous!

"Wait for what?"

Aunt looked in the direction of Lin Yi's gaze.

The world was a vast expanse of white. Compared to noon, the snow had lessened significantly, and the sky had brightened quite a bit, though it remained rather plain and white, with only a few distinct colors like the black under the accumulated snow on the eaves, the vermilion on the early plum blossoms, and the warm yellow on the lanterns.

Is there an enemy? Has a friend arrived? Or has the item Young Master was looking for been found? So, is Young Master leaving? Leaving now? Isn't that a bit too rushed?

How should she try to make him stay? Xu Ruanyao would probably cry, right? How should she comfort her?

She also felt a bit… Aunt's thoughts ran wild, reaching the point where she wanted to lock herself in her room.

As for what she would do after locking herself in her room? Only she would know that.

Ignoring Aunt's puzzled gaze, Lin Yi reached out and grabbed the air in front of him. At his will, a jade hairpin appeared in his palm.

Within the head of the hairpin was a touch of charming plum red, a warm yellow lamp light, and two figures—one in red with black hair, and one in white with black hair.

Aunt blinked, her gaze fixed on his palm. Lin Yi said nothing, simply using his gaze to tell her to stand still. Aunt indeed froze in place, and then, Lin Yi inserted the snow hairpin into Aunt's dark hair.

He turned around and headed toward the end of the corridor again. Aunt stood there in a daze, reaching up to touch the hairpin on her head, which still carried a hint of chill, and watched Lin Yi's back as he walked away.

She couldn't care about much else, so she quickened her pace, caught up, and continued to follow behind Lin Yi.

"No… what is this, what do you mean by this?"

Aunt was somewhat confused, occasionally touching the hairpin on her head, only to quickly pull her hand away as if burned.

She could not understand Lin Yi's behavior. Just a moment ago he was refusing, and now he was giving her a hairpin… She didn't even have time for feelings like shyness to arise in her heart; there was only confusion.

"It's nothing."

Lin Yi's soft voice came from ahead, "I just saw you looking dejected and thought I would give you a hairpin."

"Then… is this comfort?"

Aunt touched her pretty face, feeling some heat.

But as Lin Yi said this, she felt that warmth rapidly cool down, and a sense of dejection grew in her heart.

Lin Yi glanced at the anxious and hesitant Aunt behind him, "Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't."

Aunt lowered her hand and frowned. She felt that she was not acting like herself right now, and she felt a bit displeased inside.

What does it mean by perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't? If it is, it is; if it isn't, it isn't!

There is no perhaps it is and perhaps it isn't!!

"Senior, are you toying with me?"

This was the first time Aunt had questioned him with such a sharp tone. Previously, she had said similar things, but that was just a "don't tease me," carrying a bit of a young girl's shyness.

Lin Yi pondered and suddenly stopped. Aunt was caught off guard by Lin Yi's sudden action, and her steps stopped subconsciously, her inner shyness turning into a bit of regret.

Was she… was she too loud just now?

Lin Yi paused for a moment, then continued walking forward, "Of course."

"Huh?"

Aunt had thought Lin Yi would refute it, or at least show some emotion. Even if it were dislike or disgust, she would have felt that was normal.

Of course, the greater possibility was that he would just ignore it, or change the subject because he didn't care, but she hadn't expected Lin Yi to actually admit it directly!

"Senior, what on earth do you mean?!"

Aunt was completely baffled.

"Seeing you look so conflicted is quite interesting."

Lin Yi replied.

"What do you mean by 'seeing me look conflicted is quite interesting'?!!"

Aunt's voice grew a few decibels louder.

"Literal meaning."

Chapter 438: The Season of White Love Arrives.

Lin Yi glanced at Aunt, who was muttering to herself beside him. She was clearly a mature and beautiful Fairy, yet in front of him, she revealed a childish demeanor, and her rational and steady side was completely invisible.

Compared to a true young girl like Xu Ruanyao, she seemed even more like one, giving off a feeling of deliberately acting cute.

"Young Master, what does 'literal meaning' even mean?!"

Aunt pouted her lips. She seemed to have forgotten her age, tilting her head, the corners of her eyes and brows slightly raised, though she was unaware of it herself.

Youthful vitality didn't really show; it just made people think she was a bit silly. It wasn't unattractive—after all, anything a Fairy does is pleasing to the eye—it was just a strange mismatch with her appearance.

"Literal meaning means literal meaning."

Lin Yi replied nonchalantly.

"Then…"

Aunt's eyes rolled slightly, and she revealed a somewhat enchanting smile, "So that's it, Aunt understands now!"

"Hm? What do you understand?"

Lin Yi looked at Aunt's happy appearance and was somewhat surprised. How did he not know there was an implication in his words? Weren't they perfectly clear?

Aunt didn't answer Lin Yi immediately. She took a few quick steps, walked in front of Lin Yi, then turned her head back, blinked at Lin Yi, and put her hands behind her back. This look made her seem even more like a young girl.

She leaned forward slightly, "Young Master's intentions, heh heh, I won't say more, Aunt will come looking for Young Master tonight!!"

Saying this, Aunt ran away through the side corridor, leaving Lin Yi with only a soft back view. Lin Yi was slightly stunned, shook his head, and watched Aunt walk away without reaching out to stop her.

The so-called "understanding" was just her excuse. She clearly felt helpless, so she simply chose not to guess his thoughts and launched an attack directly.

Running away after speaking was just to act first and report later, to settle the matter and not give him a chance to refuse… As for what happens later, that can be dealt with later.

If it was feasible, she would naturally get her wish. If Lin Yi rejected her at night and it wasn't feasible, then she would still have her answer, although she might be a bit embarrassed at that time.

However, this also fit Aunt's personality; she was always bold and straightforward. If it were Xu Ruanyao, she would probably be hesitant and indecisive, and even when facing Lin Yi, she would only hide her feelings, fearing he would discover them, right?

Different personalities lead to different final results.

Lin Yi hadn't walked two steps before he saw a maid walking over to follow behind him; this was naturally sent by Aunt.

Without her leading the way, Lin Yi, as a guest, wouldn't even be able to find his own room in the manor. This wouldn't be in line with the way of hospitality. She was thoughtful; how could she make such a mistake?

…

In the afternoon, the heavy snow that fell before noon lessened slightly. Slowly, only one or two snowflakes remained drifting in mid-air.

Without the heavy snow and cold wind obstructing the view, it was more convenient to watch the snow. The entire city was covered in a thick layer of snow, crystal clear.

Perhaps Xu Ruanyao still remembered that Lin Yi had previously said he would leave once the snow stopped. Shortly after the snow lessened, she hurried over, and that maid was naturally dismissed by her.

And after watching the snow truly stop, the caution in her gaze gave Lin Yi an inexplicable sense of amusement. Although the two were still chatting, and she was deliberately bringing up topics, appearing to be in a harmonious mood, it clearly gave people a faint sense of loss and sadness.

The more she wanted to change the subject and not talk about leaving, the more it gave Lin Yi a sense of deliberation.

It was just like a child sitting in the living room doing homework while being watched by their father. The father happens to have something to do and needs to go out. The child is clearly happy that they can put aside the homework to play, yet still pretends to look worried to try to keep the father.

At this moment, Xu Ruanyao gave Lin Yi exactly this feeling. She was sad, yet she pretended to be happy, desperately trying to change the subject, as if as long as they didn't talk about leaving, Lin Yi wouldn't leave.

"…Young Master, if there is anything you need, please feel free to tell Ruanyao. This is also what my father instructed."

Xu Ruanyao pursed her lips and smiled.

"No need…"

Lin Yi shook his head.

Xu Ruanyao's smile stiffened slightly. Is Young Master leaving? Is he really leaving? A touch of gray appeared on her bright, beautiful face, as if she were on the verge of breaking down and crying.

"…All arrangements are well-prepared and perfect; I have no needs."

Lin Yi finished his sentence.

Xu Ruanyao's stiff expression thawed slightly. She breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. So he wasn't leaving after all; she had just scared herself.

"However, the snow has stopped…"

Lin Yi changed the subject.

Xu Ruanyao's pretty face, which hadn't thawed much, stiffened again. This time, even her breath hitched slightly. She watched Lin Yi beside her stop, as if he were about to leave immediately, and her smile became bleak.

"…Without the wind and snow obstructing the view, it's a good time to enjoy the snow."

Lin Yi noted Xu Ruanyao's expression and spoke calmly.

Thus, under his gaze, Xu Ruanyao's expression became vivid again. Her emotions were completely under his control, going from sorrow to joy, and from joy back to sorrow.

"Young Master, you…"

Xu Ruanyao opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

However, after waiting for a good while, Lin Yi did not wait for Xu Ruanyao's words. He turned his head and looked at her in confusion, "What?"

Xu Ruanyao shook her head gently, "No, nothing."

She actually wanted to ask if Young Master was toying with her, but she felt her words would sound too much like an interrogation, so she closed her mouth again and said no more.

"If you have anything to say, feel free to say it. I am not some Demonic Path Cultivator; it's not like I won't let people speak. Aunt gave me some help, so if there is a need, I can also intervene on your behalf once."

Lin Yi turned his head, his voice soft and filled with goodwill.

Xu Ruanyao was silent for a moment. She pondered the true meaning of Lin Yi's words, and in the end, she spoke.

"Young Master, Ruanyao wants to ask… now that the snow has stopped, are you preparing to leave?"

There was hesitation in Xu Ruanyao's words.

Lin Yi did not turn back to look at her, sitting by the window, letting her gaze at his profile. Although in terms of interpersonal interaction, this seemed somewhat impolite, he was a strong individual and had his own privileges.

"Is Young Miss Ruanyao trying to chase me away?"

Lin Yi's voice carried a smile.

Xu Ruanyao quickly shook her head. Although Lin Yi's tone carried a joking meaning, she dared not take it completely as a joke. She spoke stumblingly, "Young Master, Ruanyao… Ruanyao hopes you… you can stay, to let Ruanyao fulfill the duties of a host. How could I possibly chase Young Master away?!"

There was hesitation in her words. Due to a young girl's shyness, and also because she didn't understand Lin Yi's thoughts, she was desperately trying to guide this request to stay into the category of "fulfilling the duties of a host," as if it were merely a Junior showing respect to a Senior.

Lin Yi turned back and looked at Xu Ruanyao for a few moments, until she became somewhat uneasy, before he turned his head back again, his voice carrying a hint of regret.

"So that's it. It seems I was being wishful. I had thought it was Young Miss Ruanyao who wanted me to stay… Forget it, no need to wait any longer, I shall leave now…"

Saying this, Lin Yi prepared to stand up, his face carrying a hint of helplessness, which made Xu Ruanyao's face flush slightly, then turn slightly pale.

"Young Master!"

Xu Ruanyao didn't have time to think too much. She hurriedly reached out, pressing Lin Yi to sit back down. She half-knelt on the cushion, her body slightly tilted, "Ruanyao naturally also wants Young Master to stay!"

Xu Ruanyao pursed her lips. Saying these words made her face feel much hotter. She raised her head slightly and saw Lin Yi's smiling gaze. She seemed to have understood something. After a slight hesitation, she spoke in a low voice, "Young Master… you, please don't toy with Ruanyao…"

Xu Ruanyao ultimately took a step back. After all, she wasn't sure if this was Lin Yi toying with her, speaking strangely on purpose to make her misunderstand, or if it was really… his true thoughts.

Xu Ruanyao was ultimately not like Aunt; she had many of her own concerns, although these concerns, in Aunt's view, were completely unnecessary.

For example, if she misunderstood, would it mean the relationship between the two would lose even the Senior-Junior status? Would even the current atmosphere, which felt like friends, dissipate?

If Aunt were in her situation, she would probably just pounce on him, right?

After all, even if it were toying, one could tell that Lin Yi already knew her thoughts, and in such a situation, he still chose to toy with her… This also revealed something.

Even if it didn't succeed, it wouldn't result in anything worse than the current situation, unless you yourself turned love into hate and were unwilling to continue this meaningless interaction.

A young girl's thoughts are still very interesting. Lin Yi shook his head inwardly. Compared to Aunt, who couldn't handle the game and was ready to explode, the hesitant Xu Ruanyao was more fun, just like drinking a bottle of sweet and sour juice.

Lin Yi savored the bit of sourness and sweetness radiating from the young girl at this moment.

Xu Ruanyao propped her chin in her hand, looking at Lin Yi's brows and eyes. Her breathing became slightly lighter, and the two naturally changed the subject, no longer speaking of leaving.