Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

The afternoon sun, as if filtered through a sieve, lazily falls upon people, warming them to the bone. The wind is soft, carrying the rustling sound of bamboo leaves, wafting in waves, making one's eyelids heavy.

Jiang Xiaochuan slumped in the bamboo rocking chair under the eaves, not wanting to move a single finger.

The rocking chair swayed slowly, creaking and groaning, blending with the sound of the wind like an off-key lullaby.

His eyes were closed, his face was pale, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes. He wasn't haggard, but rather exuded a kind of hollowness that emanated from within, like a piece of candy that had been soaked in warm water for too long and had dissolved, soft and sticky, wanting nothing more than to lie there forever.

One of the culprits was leaning against a nearby pillar.

Xiao Bai changed into a soft, moon-white silk dress. Her silver hair was loosely tied up, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks, swaying slightly as she sipped her tea. Her face had a languid blush of satisfaction, and her eyes were sparkling with moisture, making her even more breathtakingly alluring than usual.

She looked at the "dying" person on the rocking chair, a smile playing on her lips, and lightly kicked the chair's legs with her toes.

"Really not able to?" Her voice was languid, hoarse with the aftereffects, like a feather tickling her ear.

Jiang Xiaochuan didn't even lift his eyelids, and let out a soft "hmm" through his nose as a reply.

Xiao Bai chuckled softly, put down her teacup, leaned closer to him, and her warm breath brushed against his slightly closed eyelids.

"This is nothing! Where's the energy from a few days ago?"

Jiang Xiaochuan finally lifted his eyelids slightly and glanced at her sideways. His gaze was weak, but it clearly conveyed the accusation, "How dare you bring this up?"

A few days ago... first, this fox went crazy for some reason and pestered him for two days and two nights, tormenting him in all sorts of ways until he almost fell into a deep sleep.

Before I could even catch my breath, Lu Xueqi...

Xueqi is usually aloof, but when she gets serious, her silent, stubbornness and determination to brand him inside and out are more irresistible than Xiaobai's passionate demands.

Three more days passed, making it a full five days. He now felt that being able to sit here alive in the sun was the last act of defiance from Tai Chi Xuanqing Dao and his own body.

"Serves you right." Another calm voice came from inside the house.

Lu Xueqi came out carrying a plate of freshly steamed osmanthus cakes, still piping hot, and placed it on the small table next to the rocking chair.

She changed into a casual light blue dress, her silver hair tied up with a single wooden hairpin, her expression as usual, but a faint trace of lingering springtime remained in the corners of her eyes. When she looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, her cool eyes held a soft smile that only they understood, and a hint of...guilt that was almost imperceptible.

"Let her do whatever she wants."

Xiao Bai immediately raised an eyebrow: "I'm being ridiculous? Sister Xueqi, I wonder who it was later..."

"Ahem." Lu Xueqi coughed lightly, interrupting her, picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, and held it to Jiang Xiaochuan's lips, "Have something to eat."

Jiang Xiaochuan took a small bite from her hand.

The cake was soft and fluffy, sweet but not cloying, with a rich osmanthus fragrance. He chewed it slowly and felt a little warmth in his empty stomach.

He looked up, glancing at Xiaobai, then at Lu Xueqi.

One was as alluring as a fox, her eyes and brows radiating a triumphant satisfaction; the other was as aloof as snow, seemingly calm, yet her ears were flushed.

They were all the "culprits," but seeing their peaceful and contented appearance, the "resentment" in his heart suddenly dissipated, leaving only a full, overflowing sense of belonging.

"Oh well, I guess I'll just have to be tired," he thought resignedly, taking another bite of the osmanthus cake.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Jiang Liu burst out of the house like a little cannonball, his silver hair gleaming in the sunlight. He rushed to the rocking chair, grabbing the armrest and climbing up. "Liu'er wants to sit!"

Jiang Xiaochuan couldn't carry him now, so he had to turn slightly to make room. Xiaobai reached out, grabbed his son by the back of his collar, lifted him up, and placed him on her lap.

"Your dad's tired, don't bother him."

"Why is Daddy tired?" Jiang Liu asked curiously, his eyes full of innocence, as he hugged Xiao Bai's neck.

Xiao Bai glanced at Jiang Xiaochuan and smiled meaningfully: "Go ask your mother, Xueqi."

Lu Xueqi was pouring tea when she heard this, her hand trembled, and a few drops of scalding tea splashed onto the back of her hand.

She put down the teapot without changing her expression, picked up a cloth to wipe it, and then said calmly, "Your father... practices martial arts too much."

Biyao, carrying Jiang Nian, turned around from the backyard and happened to hear this. She immediately burst out laughing, laughing so hard she almost fell over. Jiang Nian, not understanding what was going on, also giggled along with her.

"Practicing martial arts? Haha, yes, yes, quite 'diligent,' five days without rain... um!"

Before she could finish speaking, a piece of osmanthus cake was stuffed into her mouth. Tian Ling'er had somehow joined in, blushing and scolding, "Sister Biyao! What nonsense are you talking about! The children are all here!"

Jin Ping'er followed quietly behind Tian Ling'er, holding a small garment she was mending. Upon hearing this, she merely smiled and glanced quickly at Jiang Xiaochuan, who was lounging lazily in the rocking chair. Then she lowered her eyes, her ears turning slightly red.

Linglong came out carrying a bowl of dark, steaming medicinal soup and said gently, "Xiao Chuan, drink this bowl of medicine to replenish your qi and nourish your essence. Your body has been overexerted and you need to recuperate for a few days."

Jiang Xiaochuan stared at the bowl of herbal soup, which smelled strongly of herbs, his face scrunched up. Although it was effective, the taste was really... indescribable.

"Sister Linglong, I'm fine, I don't need to drink anymore..." He tried to struggle.

"No." Linglong's tone was gentle but firm, and she pushed the medicine bowl forward a little further. "Drink it while it's hot. Xiaobai, Xueqi, you two should also behave yourselves these next few days and let him rest properly."

Xiao Bai shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Lu Xueqi nodded, took the medicine bowl, tested the temperature, and held it to Jiang Xiaochuan's lips, looking at him calmly.

Jiang Xiaochuan glanced at Lu Xueqi, then at the bowl of medicine, then at Linglong beside him who looked like she was saying "try not to drink it," and at Biyao and Xiaobai who were enjoying the show. Finally, he sighed resignedly, closed his eyes, and, as if going to his execution, gulped down the whole bowl of bitter medicine.

After swallowing the medicinal soup, a warm current rose from my stomach and spread to my limbs, dispelling some of my fatigue, but also bringing a deeper sense of drowsiness.

He leaned back in the rocking chair, the sunlight making him drowsy. All he could hear were the sounds of children playing, Biyao and Xiaobai bickering in hushed tones, Tian Ling'er and Jin Ping'er whispering about embroidery patterns, and delicate, soft footsteps.

Lu Xueqi sat on a small stool next to him, holding a book in her hand, but she didn't read it; she just quietly kept him company.

He tilted his head slightly, rested his face against her hand resting on the back of the chair, and nuzzled it. Lu Xueqi's fingers twitched, and she gently grasped his hand in return, her fingertips lightly scratching his palm.

"Go to sleep for a while," she said in a soft voice.

"Mmm," he responded, his consciousness fading as he sank into a warm darkness filled with the scent of sunlight and herbs. In his daze, he seemed to hear Biyao complaining, "...Why do I have to behave? Why can a vixen..."

Then came Xiaobai's smiling voice: "Because I'm prettier and more capable than you."

"Pah! Shameless!"

"Alright, let's all keep quiet and let him sleep." This was Linglong gently smoothing things over.

Then came the soft laughter of Tian Ling'er and Jin Ping'er.

Finally, all the sounds faded away, leaving only the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves and the cool yet firm warmth of his hand.

I don't know how long I slept, but when I woke up, the sun was already setting in the west, and the golden afterglow bathed the bamboo house and the people under the eaves in a warm light.

The children seemed to have been taken away by Linglong to have snacks and play. Biyao and Xiaobai were also nowhere to be seen, probably off somewhere to "spar".

Tian Ling'er and Jin Ping'er were doing needlework on the other side of the corridor, talking in hushed tones.

He was covered with a thin blanket, and Lu Xueqi was still sitting beside him, turning a few pages of her book. Hearing him wake up, she turned her head and put down the book.

"Awake? Still tired?"

Jiang Xiaochuan shook his head and shifted in the blanket. He felt a soreness in his limbs after relaxing, but his mind was much clearer. He looked at her profile, which was outlined by the setting sun in a particularly soft way, and his heart stirred. He propped himself up and leaned over to give her a light kiss on the cheek.

Lu Xueqi was slightly taken aback, and then her ears turned blushed, but she did not look away. She simply looked up at him, her clear eyes reflecting the golden red of the sunset, as well as his shadow.

"Aren't you angry anymore?" she asked softly, her fingertips unconsciously curling up.

"I wasn't really angry." Jiang Xiaochuan took her hand, interlocked their fingers, and pressed the back of her hand against his still slightly flushed cheek. "It's just... a bit hard on my back."

Lu Xueqi's face flushed even more. She glared at him, but her gaze wasn't intimidating; instead, it carried a rare hint of coquettishness. She pulled her hand away, stood up, and said, "I'll go see if dinner is ready. You rest a little longer."

Watching her hurried departure, Jiang Xiaochuan leaned back in his rocking chair and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

The laughter startled the two women doing needlework on the other side. Tian Ling'er and Jin Ping'er both looked up and saw him smiling with his eyes crinkling. They couldn't help but laugh along. In the afterglow of the setting sun, the bamboo building's corridor was filled with warmth.

These days of being "tortured" to exhaustion and then being carefully cherished seem... not so bad.

Jiang Xiaochuan thought to himself, then closed his eyes again, letting the warm weariness gently envelop him.