Chapter 109: The Most Precious Gift
Chapter 109: Chapter 109: The Most Precious Gift
Hua Yusen’s expression and attitude clearly weren’t enough to convince Zhao Nuanyue.
"Humph!" Zhao Nuanyue shot Hua Yusen a glare, then strode ahead. She wouldn’t walk with him anymore. From now on, she was ignoring him.
’When it comes to a man, a woman can dote on him and love him, but she must never, ever spoil him.’
Watching Zhao Nuanyue’s charmingly defiant back, Hua Yusen shook his head with a helpless smile. He followed silently behind. As they neared the Dragon King Temple, he took a few quick steps to catch up, taking her hand. He then pulled a small red pouch from his coat and placed it in her palm.
"What is this?" Zhao Nuanyue paused, surprised. She looked down at the small red pouch in her palm, wondering what was inside.
Hua Yusen gave her a mysterious smile. "I was going to give you some New Year’s money, but I felt cash couldn’t properly express my feelings. So instead, I put in something I consider very precious. I hope that whenever you see it, you’ll think of me."
The pouch felt heavy in Zhao Nuanyue’s palm, like a small stone. Hearing it was a gift from Hua Yusen, she couldn’t wait to see what was inside. She opened it and found a piece of beautiful jade, smooth and lustrous to the touch. Its sheen suggested the Jade Pendant had been worn often.
Zhao Nuanyue gasped, feeling the smooth warmth of the jade in her palm. She glanced around, and seeing they were alone, she whispered, "My goodness, are you really giving something this valuable to me?"
"Yes, this is the Jade Pendant I’ve worn since childhood. Now, I’m giving it to you," Hua Yusen said. "I hope it keeps you safe."
"It’s too precious, I can’t accept it. You’ve worn this since you were a child; your family must have chosen it for you with great care. If you give it to me, what about your safety?" Zhao Nuanyue tried to refuse. She felt it was better for him to keep it, since it was something he had carried with him his whole life.
"I can take care of myself," Hua Yusen said gently. "I don’t need a Jade Pendant for protection. I want you to have it as a keepsake, so if I ever have to leave Qi Qiao Village, this Jade Pendant can stay with you." His voice was soft. The days he had spent with Zhao Nuanyue were full of a happiness and warmth that made him never want to leave. But he was a man of duty. Once this mission was over, a wider world awaited him, along with his own ambitions and dreams.
As he spoke, Hua Yusen took the Jade Pendant and fastened it around Zhao Nuanyue’s neck.
"You... You’re leaving?" Zhao Nuanyue faltered. "When?"
Doctor Hua patted Zhao Nuanyue’s head. Seeing the pitiful look in her eyes, he smiled. "I won’t be leaving you for at least a year, so don’t worry."
One year?
It wasn’t long, but for Zhao Nuanyue, it was already an incredibly precious gift.
At the best of times, in the prime of her youth, she had met the best of men.
Zhao Nuanyue accepted Hua Yusen’s Jade Pendant. ’He has his own job,’ she thought. ’He’ll probably have to travel for work in the future, doing important things. This Jade Pendant might not be enough to protect him... But I bet the Little Red Carp has something that can.’
When she had the chance, Zhao Nuanyue decided she would ask the Little Red Carp. She hoped it had something useful.
It was cold outside. Seeing that Zhao Nuanyue’s spirits had fallen, Hua Yusen smiled. "It’s too cold out here. Let’s go back inside. The elders staying at the Dragon King Temple are all very knowledgeable. You should try to learn a few things from them when you have the time."
Zhao Nuanyue shook her head, trying to clear away the tangle of emotions. ’Anyway, I still have a year,’ she told herself. ’We have a whole year together. That’s good enough.’
’I can’t be too greedy. Once you get greedy, you become obsessive and can’t let go. In the end, you only hurt yourself and others.’
"Yes, I was thinking the same thing," Zhao Nuanyue said. "The day we got back from Jincheng City, I told the elders I plan to study hard, get into a university, and become an educated and useful member of society." She then added, "If you have any connections, do you think you could find me some high school textbooks?"
"Sure. The scrap collection station is full of those kinds of textbooks."
The two of them exchanged a knowing smile, a silent understanding passing between them. They walked back to the Dragon King Temple, hand in hand.
Inside the Dragon King Temple, everyone was gathered around the fire, sipping on the chrysanthemum tea Zhao Nuanyue had provided.
Zhao Nuan Yang, meanwhile, had brought his easel into the main hall to paint. It was much warmer inside, and He Qiang could offer him guidance at any time.
Since their return to Nianqiao Village, Zhao Nuanyue had noticed that her brother was already doing much better. She hoped he would continue to recover. Once spring arrived, she could use the Dragon Wisdom Grass that the Little Red Carp had planted for her in his meals, hoping it would cure him completely.
Zhao Nuanyue and Hua Yusen listened with great interest as Sun Haoran began to tell stories. When noon arrived, the two of them went to prepare lunch.
He Qiang, feeling he was still young enough, thought he should help with the cooking. He felt bad just enjoying being waited on by Zhao Nuanyue and Hua Yusen all day, especially now that his health had returned.
Just as he was about to head out, Sun Haoran pulled him back. "Let the two youngsters cook together. What are you going to butt in for? Come on, stay and warm yourself by the fire!"
"You old folks can eat their cooking with a clear conscience, but how can someone as young and able-bodied as me just freeload all day? I have to do what I can to help," He Qiang retorted. ’He wasn’t trying to make trouble, he was trying to be helpful.’
"Oh, for heaven’s sake. And you call yourself young?" Sun Haoran pursed his lips, looking at He Qiang with disdain. "Even this old man’s eyes could see it, but you’re still in the dark? For those two youngsters, when a boy and a girl work together, the work is never a chore. They’re in there talking and laughing, it’s a good scene. What’s a fellow your age going to do but get in the way?"
Hearing Sun Haoran’s words, He Qiang froze. Then, realization dawned on his face. He asked, "Are you saying... Xiao Zhao and Hua..."
He Qiang didn’t finish his sentence, but he stuck out both his thumbs and pressed them together. The meaning was obvious: they were a couple.
"That’s right. You’re only just getting it now?" Sun Haoran laughed. "So just stay here and behave yourself. Don’t go running to the kitchen and getting underfoot. Like I said, when two young people work together, boy and girl, the work is never a chore."
Hearing Sun Haoran’s teasing, He Qiang shot back, not to be outdone, "And you say I’m unobservant! For a man your age, you’ve certainly got a nimble mind. Old in years, but young at heart!"