Chapter 100: I like him, and I like you too

He Jinglan still wanted to continue questioning, when a light cough came from the inner room from Mu Nan Zhao.

The attention of several people was instantly drawn over, and they all walked to the bedside.

Meng Chengping argued to ask, "Awake? How do you feel? Anywhere feeling sore?"

Mu Nan Zhao slightly shook his head on the pillow, "All good."

His gaze swept past the three people before the bed, meeting Gu Xixi's eyes, "Just thirsty, I want some sweet tea."

Gu Xixi turned to pour tea; Meng Chengping and He Jinghui naturally shifted position, letting Gu Xixi go to the bedside.

Mu Nan Zhao sat up by himself leaning against the headboard, took the tea bowl with both hands, "Thank you."

The tea had cooled to warm, drinkable straight away; he drank half a bowl in one gulp, showing he was really thirsty.

He Jinglan laughed, "How do you know we're drinking sweet tea?"

"Looks like you were pretending to sleep to eavesdrop on our conversation?"

Mu Nan Zhao glanced at Gu Xixi, somewhat uneasy, "You were discussing me so loudly, even if I wanted to sleep I'd be woken up—no need to eavesdrop."

Bringing this up, the He siblings were both enthusiastic.

He Jinglan rejoiced, "Ah Zhao, I never imagined you'd adapt to rural life so well!"

"I originally worried you wouldn't fit in and would suffer."

He Jinghui then said regretfully, "If I didn't have to rush back to the capital, I'd really want to see you personally chopping wood, carrying water with the kids, and driving carts, sweeping streets, feeding donkeys and horses."

Mu Nan Zhao shot a glare at He Jinghui, "Rather than envy me, you should experience it yourself."

"The things Young Master He mentioned, one day is enough."

He Jinghui narrowed his eyes into crescent moons, "Ah, I'd still have to trouble you to arrange it—I think we don't need to go through all this trouble."

"How?" Mu Nan Zhao sneered, "Not daring?"

"From now on, don't go boasting to others about anything; if you want to do it, there's nothing you can't do."

He Jinghui glared, "Who said I don't dare! It's just some rough work!"

Mu Nan Zhao raised an eyebrow, "Try it?"

He Jinghui gave a heavy humph-laugh, "Try it then! I, He Jinghui, could hardly be inferior to you!"

……

He Jinglan whispered a laugh to Gu Xixi, "My brother and Ah Zhao have been like this since childhood."

"Ah Zhao only knows how to banter like this with my brother."

Gu Xixi nodded, "Their relationship seems quite good."

As soon as the words fell, Mu Nan Zhao and He Jinghui replied in unison:

"Who says we have a good relationship with him!"

Gu Xixi, He Jinglan, and Meng Chengping exchanged a glance.

Meng Chengping said, "With this tacit understanding, you still say our relationship isn't good?"

Outside the sky was already faintly light; the most dangerous night is now over.

The three men still had matters to discuss.

Gu Xixi, uninterested in those, said she'd go to the kitchen to see what else there is to eat.

"Xixi, let's go together!" He Jinglan said while walking, affectionately linking arms with Gu Xixi.

Meng Chengping saw the two girls leave, then immediately gossiped, "Brother Mu, letting them two be alone together, aren't you afraid?"

He Jinghui also suddenly realized, "Right, now you've sold yourself to Lady Gu, even if only for one wen."

He paused, struggling to hold back laughter, "No matter how you say it, you're now a man with a master."

"What about my sister then?"

"I'll say this upfront: my sister must never share a husband with anyone!"

"What nonsense?" Mu Nan Zhao frowned, "You're all spouting rubbish!"

"If you two have nothing else to say, just get out."

Meng Chengping and He Jinghui glanced at each other, finally unable to hold back, they burst out laughing.

The front courtyard of the farmstead has a kitchen, quite large.

The two girls rummaged through cabinets; vegetables, dried goods, cured sausages and meats, etc., were all there.

The cabinets held various seasonings, and the water vat was full of clear water.

He Jinglan rolled up her sleeves, as if ready to work hard, "Then let's cook!"

Gu Xixi blinked, "Can you cook?"

He Jinglan tilted her head, "I can't."

Gu Xixi smiled, "Neither can I."

She paused, "I thought you could."

He Jinglan said, "When my mother made soup for my father, I often helped on the side."

So the two people present couldn't make up someone who can cook.

Gu Xixi changed tack, "Let's just find something ready to eat."

Fortunately, they found several packets of pastries on the top shelf of the cabinet.

Hawthorn pot cakes, layered sugar biscuits, fried salty wheat snacks, crystal nut pastries……

The two, starving till now, upon seeing food, immediately grabbed it and started eating.

He Jinglan said while swallowing, "Never mind them; let's fill ourselves first, then send some over."

Gu Xixi agreed, "Yeah, anyway they still have to talk, and we can wait."

Eating just pastries was a bit choking; the pot used to boil tea last night was still there, so Gu Xixi added some water and kept simmering.

After eating and drinking to her fill, He Jinglan let out a relieved sigh.

"Just now you told me there's nothing between you and Mu Nan Zhao? I took it seriously."

Gu Xixi, feeling a bit drowsy after eating, lazily made a "please" gesture, "Please take it seriously."

He Jinglan turned to face her, "I like Mu Nan Zhao."

"Huh?" Gu Xixi's sleepiness flew away halfway.

"A confession?!"

Is this girl trying to assert dominance over her? How should she respond?

He Jinglan's gaze was sincere, her expression serious, "From childhood on, I've always thought I'd end up marrying him."

"Last year I thought he was dead; at the time I regretted not telling my parents my feelings sooner, which left me with no chance in this lifetime."

"Before coming to Xi Bei this time, my elder brother told me Mu Nan Zhao was still alive, but he had been bought by a girl and is now her man."

Gu Xixi said awkwardly, "Between us there's absolutely nothing improper."

He Jinglan nodded, "I know; when I saw you and Mu Nan Zhao together, I could tell."

She said solemnly, "We've barely known each other a day, but I like Mu Nan Zhao, and I like you."

"So I've decided!"

Gu Xixi felt inexplicably nervous, swallowed, "Decided what?"

He Jinglan said, "If you hadn't bought him, perhaps I would never see him again in this lifetime."

"So the question of who came first can't be measured by time; it should be you."

Gu Xixi broke out in a cold sweat; this girl is quite principled.

He Jinglan continued, "I'll just ask you straight: if you have any feelings for him, even a little or even if you're unsure, I will not interfere at all."

"If you truly have no intention, then I won't be polite either."

For some reason, Gu Xixi suddenly found it hard to speak.

She clenched her hand around the teacup, "... No."

Outside the kitchen.

He Jinghui and Meng Chengping turned their gazes to Mu Nan Zhao in unison.

They had just come over looking for something to eat when they overheard the girls' final exchange.

He Jinghui muttered, "This girl says whatever she wants, doesn't know to be reserved," while glancing at Mu Nan Zhao's reaction.

As brothers and as men, they both saw it.

Mu Nan Zhao was obviously not happy.