【05:00:00】
The appointment was made at three o'clock in the morning, but before the hour arrived, Xie Yu'an appeared at the intersection of the night market. He didn't come in a carriage, he came on horseback alone.
He thought he would have to wait for a while, but he didn't expect that as soon as he reached the intersection, he saw Qiao Yin sitting on a tree beside the road. She was wearing a red dress on a bare branch, and her two embroidered shoes were swinging restlessly in the air.
Xie Yu'an walked over and Qiao Yin looked down at him, just like she was lying on his wall that day, looking down at him.
"I knew you'd be early."
She smiled, her smile brighter than the glow behind her.
Xie Yuan's heart was beating uncontrollably just like that day.
"How come you climbed so high?"
Qiao Yin supported the tree trunk with both hands and lowered his head to get closer to him: "I'm afraid that I can't see you, and I'm afraid that you can't see me, so I stand a little higher."
How could it be, he could see her at a glance wherever she stood, she was so dazzling.
Xie Yuan stretched out his arms towards her, "Come down."
Qiao Yin smiled, let go and jumped down from the tree.
Xie Yu'an caught her firmly, Qiao Yin put her hands around his neck and chuckled.
"Xie Yu'an, you caught me! Will you catch me firmly every time?"
"Yeah, I'll catch you every time."
Seeing her lying in his arms, Xie Yu'an was not in a hurry anyway, so he simply hugged her without caring about the eyes of passers-by.
The false alarm yesterday made Xie Yuan cherish every moment with her now.
"Xie Ren received the human skin mask from you, why did you suddenly want to give him a gift?" Xie Yu'an asked.
"Does Xie Ren like it?" Qiao Yin asked curiously.
Xie Yu'an felt inexplicably disgusted when he thought of Xie Ren's arrogant expression.
"Ayin, you are helping the tyrants to do evil. I don't know who he is pretending to be to deceive you."
Qiao Yin finally heard the sourness in Xie Yuan's words, "I've prepared a gift for you too."
Xie Yuan's heart calmed down a little, and he pressed the corners of his mouth and asked, "Really? What day is today?"
Qiao Yin got down from his arms and kissed the corner of his mouth: "A special day."
"Come on, let's go shopping."
Qiao Yin took his hand and followed the flow of people to the night market.
Although it came early, the winter night also came early, and the lights in the night market lit up one after another.
There was no need to do anything, just being in the crowd, the two holding hands tightly, Qiao Yin felt that it was an indescribable romance.
You see, there is a vast sea of people and countless living beings, and the person holding her hand is none other than Xie Yuan.
The two of them quickly came to the restaurant they visited last time. The clay pot soup inside was still very popular.
"Want to go in and sit down?" Xie Yu'an asked considerately.
Qiao Yin shook his head, remembering the doubts in his heart, and turned around and asked: "The earthen pot soup and the lotus lantern last time were not coincidences. You prepared them specially for me, right?"
Xie Yu'an couldn't deny it and nodded.
"So, where were you on the Ghost Festival that year?"
Qiao Yin turned her head and smiled bitterly when she saw his thin lips.
"In the shop selling sweet-scented osmanthus stuffed wine."
Qiao Yin opened his mouth, but his voice was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.
The sweet-scented osmanthus wine she found for Lu Jinzhi back then was prepared by Xie Yuan for her just like Master Liowu from Xiangguo Temple.
After a long time, she sighed and patted him with her hand.
"You are so stupid. You do stupid things. How can there be someone as stupid as you in the world?"
Xie Yu'an was also worried about something. He looked at her and said with a smile: "Isn't there anyone more stupid than me? Isn't it more stupid that someone dares to trust his life to someone he has just known for a few days?"
Qiao Yin immediately thought of herself. She had done such a stupid thing in the gangster's den.
She can easily trust a stranger, but she never trusts Xie Yuan.
"Indeed, I am indeed more stupid than you, very stupid, but fortunately, stupid people are lucky, so let me wait for you."
Xie Yu'an observed her expression. There was no trace of anger or complaint in it.
Great, Ayin is not angry with him.
How could he be able to meet her and gain such unique favor from her?
"Let's go try the sweet-scented osmanthus stuffed rice."
Qiao Yin took his hand and wanted to move forward, but his hand was pulled back.
"It's this way."
Xie Yu'an squeezed her hand tightly and wrapped all her hands in his palm.
This time, he won't lose her again.
Qiao Yin smiled stupidly: "You still have a good memory."
Xie Yu'an led the way and led her to the small shop selling sweet-scented osmanthus brew. She found a seat and sat down, and soon a pot of warm flower brew was served.
The aroma of the wine was tempting, and Qiao Yin couldn't wait to pick up the wine bottle, but his hand was held down by Xie Yu'an.
"You can drink, but you can't get drunk. I'm afraid."
Qiao Yin glared at him gently: "What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid that when you're drunk, you'll be emboldened and do whatever you want to me," Xie Yu'an said jokingly.
Qiao Yin held the wine bottle for a while. Although she didn't have this idea today, she did come with such an idea last time.
Qiao Yin was slightly embarrassed and looked at him with raised eyebrows: "That's not good, it saves you the trouble of tampering with the wish box."
Xie Yuan's face was slightly hot, he covered his lips and coughed lightly, "It's windy and cold at night, so drink less."
"That's pretty much it."
It’s still a bit regretful that even though ten wishes were not fulfilled in the end.
Xie Yu'an let go of his hand, Qiao Yin poured two glasses of wine, and brought one to Xie Yu'an.
Xie Yuan raised his glass to drink, but this time it was Qiao Yin who stopped him.
"This is my first time drinking with General Xie. Can't General Xie give me a toast?"
Qiao Yin supported his head with one hand and looked at him with bright eyes.
Xie Yu'an looked at the wine in the glass, and then at the beauty in front of him. This situation was like a dream.
He smiled lightly, raised his wine glass slightly, and said softly and slowly:
"With a glass of fine wine, may your beauty be as beautiful as you wish every year, and may you and I be happy together every year."
It's like this every year, and we have fun every year. ’
"I like this toast. Thank you, General, and cheers!"
Joe groaned, raising his glass, clinking it with his, and downing it in one gulp.
The wine was sweet, but Qiao Yin tasted a hint of bitterness.
One cup is enough.
She put down her wine glass, pretended to be attracted by the excitement outside, and ran out with Xie Yu'an.
Qiao Yin ran to a stall selling porcelain.
There are many small porcelains on the stall, including small tea cups and saucers, as well as various small ornaments.
She lowered her head and searched carefully among a pile of porcelain for a long time, and finally found a small porcelain tiger in the corner.
The little tiger is chubby, without the majesty of the king of the forest, only cute and naive.
When Xie Yuan saw her choice, he wanted to pay.
"I'll pay."
Qiao Yin paid the money first, then took off a red hairband from his head, tied it around the little tiger's neck, and tied it with a bow.
"I heard from Xiaojiu that when you were young, you collected a set of zodiac porcelain. You managed to collect twelve of them, but Xie Ren accidentally broke one of the little tigers, and you never made up for it."
"This is not expensive, but I want to give it to you."
Qiao Yin raised the little tiger in front of him, looking forward to it, but also afraid that he would find it perfunctory and a little uneasy.
"I'm only sending you one person. It's the only one in the world, and it can be considered unique."
Xie Yuan held her hand, along with the little tiger in her hand.
"It's indeed unique. I like it very much, but can I be a little greedy?"
In the noisy crowds and the bright lights, Xie Yuan's eyes were filled with only the person in front of him.
"Next year, the year after that, and every year thereafter, Ayin will give me a unique zodiac sign, okay?"
Qiao Yin raised her eyes and met his burning gaze. On one side was his deep affection, and on the other was the countdown that was beating silently in her mind——
【01:00:00】
Qiao Yin felt sour.
She should, right?
