My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1331 Confused

Zhou Xing was also attracted by Ling Xue's beauty and talent. He felt that this girl was different from everyone he had met before. She had a unique temperament and a heart full of passion for architecture.

As the project progressed, Ling Xue came to the construction site more and more frequently. She was no longer the architect who only hid in the office to draw pictures, but went deep into the construction site to communicate with the workers and understand the practical problems in the construction process. Every time she came, she would discuss some ideas and suggestions about the building with Zhou Xing. Zhou Xing also gradually relaxed from the initial nervousness and confusion. He began to take the initiative to ask Ling Xue for some architectural knowledge. Ling Xue always answered patiently. The relationship between the two quietly changed in these exchanges.

One evening, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the construction site, covering everything with a layer of golden gauze. Ling Xue came to the construction site as usual, but found Zhou Xing sitting in a corner in a daze. She walked over gently and patted his shoulder: "Zhou Xing, what's wrong? Are you worried about something?" Zhou Xing raised his head and looked at Ling Xue, his eyes full of fatigue and confusion: "Ling Xue, do you think we can really realize our dreams by working hard every day? I feel like an ant, crawling silently in the corner of this city, not knowing where the future lies." Ling Xue felt a pang of pain in her heart. She sat next to Zhou Xing and whispered: "Zhou Xing, don't be discouraged. Every great building is built brick by brick by countless workers like you. You are the builders and heroes of this city. Moreover, as long as you have a dream in your heart and work hard for it, there will be a day when it will come true." Zhou Xing looked at Ling Xue, her eyes flashing with sincerity, which made him feel extremely warm. At that moment, an inexplicable power surged in his heart, as if he saw a ray of light in the darkness.

Since then, Zhou Xing has become a different person. He no longer works just for a living, but treats every construction project as his own work. He strives to learn construction knowledge, asks fellow workers for technical problems, and constantly improves his professional skills. Ling Xue also discovers more shining points in Zhou Xing during her time with him: his tenacity, his kindness, and his love for life. The relationship between the two gradually heats up unknowingly, like a bud breaking through the ground in spring, growing quietly.

However, their love was not smooth sailing. When Ling Xue's family learned that she was dating a construction worker, they strongly opposed it. Ling Xue's parents were both cultural elites, and they could not accept their daughter being with a man who did manual labor without a higher education. They believed that such a union would not be happy and would even ruin Ling Xue's future. Ling Xue was caught in a dilemma, with Zhou Xing, whom she loved deeply, on one side and her parents who raised her on the other. She often cried alone, her heart filled with pain and helplessness.

Zhou Xing noticed Ling Xue's changes, and he knew that his identity had become an obstacle to their love. But he did not back down. He found Ling Xue and said seriously: "Ling Xue, I know your family doesn't agree with us being together, but I won't give up. I will work hard to prove myself and let your parents see my sincerity and ability. Although I am a worker, I also have my own dignity and dreams." Ling Xue looked at Zhou Xing's determined eyes, and her heart was moved like a tide. She hugged Zhou Xing tightly: "Zhou Xing, I believe in you. Let's work hard together. No matter what the result is, I will not regret it."

In the following days, Zhou Xing worked even harder. He used his spare time to study construction courses and participate in various skills training to continuously improve himself. With his solid work performance and continuously improving professional skills, he gradually became the backbone of the construction team. Ling Xue was also not idle. She worked even harder in the company, undertook some important projects, and responded to her parents' expectations with outstanding results.

Finally, the opportunity came. The company received a bid for a large commercial complex construction project. This was a very challenging project that required a combination of innovative design concepts and superb construction technology. Ling Xue's team actively participated in the bidding, and after fierce competition, they successfully won the bid. The foundation construction part of this project was in the charge of Zhou Xing's construction team.

Zhou Xing knew the importance of this project to himself and Ling Xue. He led his fellow workers to work day and night on the construction site, strictly controlling every construction link to ensure that the project quality reached the highest standards. Ling Xue devoted herself to the improvement of the design plan. She communicated with Zhou Xing many times and adjusted and optimized the design according to the actual situation of the construction site. The two supported and encouraged each other at work and jointly overcame one problem after another.

In a corner of the bustling capital, there is a grand yet somewhat quiet Prime Minister's Mansion. This Prime Minister's Mansion is where important officials of the court live. It is crowded with people and noisy with carriages and horses. However, in the deep backyard, there are hidden unknown tranquility and stories.

Zhou Xing, the third son of the Prime Minister's Mansion, has been weak and sickly since childhood. He has a delicate face, eyebrows like distant black, eyes like stars, but his pale complexion and thin body always reveal a sense of pity. Since he was young, he has invited countless famous doctors and used up precious medicinal materials, but still failed to make his body strong. Therefore, he spends most of his time in that quiet courtyard, accompanied by books and chess, spending long days.

Ling Xue was originally the daughter of an ordinary farmer in the suburbs. Due to a change in her family, her parents died. She had no choice but to come to the capital to make a living. By chance, she entered the Prime Minister's Mansion and became a small gardener. She was born with delicate features and skin whiter than snow, especially her smart eyes, which were like a spring in winter, clear and bright. She had a unique love and talent for flowers and plants since she was a child. Under her careful care, those flowers always bloomed exceptionally beautifully.

When she first entered the Prime Minister's Mansion, Ling Xue did not notice the reclusive Third Young Master. She focused on her flower garden every day, watering, fertilizing, and pruning branches and leaves, enjoying it. Zhou Xing also rarely set foot in the garden. He just listened to the maids occasionally mentioning new things in the garden in his own yard, and he felt a little curious and yearning for the gorgeous colors.

One day, the spring was bright and beautiful, and the flowers in the garden were in full bloom. Zhou Xing, supported by his maid, slowly walked out of the yard, wanting to see the spring scenery praised by everyone. He walked along the winding path, breathing the fresh air and feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. Before he knew it, he arrived in the garden.

Ling Xue, who was busy among the flowers, looked up and saw the third young master, who was walking unsteadily but had an extraordinary temperament. She quickly put down the tools in her hands and bowed respectfully. Zhou Xing nodded slightly, but his eyes were attracted by a peony in full bloom in the garden. The peony was delicate and beautiful, with layers of petals, as gorgeous as the clouds in the sky.

"Are you the one who takes care of these peonies?" Zhou Xing asked softly. Although his voice was a little weak, it was full of warmth.

Ling Xue replied shyly, "My Lord, it is because of my careful care that they bloom in the spring."

Zhou walked closer to the peony and looked at it carefully, his eyes full of admiration and love. "You know, although this peony is beautiful, it also needs careful care. If you are not careful, it will wither."

Ling Xue nodded slightly, "I know very well that every flower and plant has its own spirit. Only by treating them with care can we make them bloom with all their heart."

The two smiled at each other. In this small garden, it seemed as if an invisible tacit understanding was quietly growing. From then on, Zhou Xing often came to the garden. Sometimes he just stood quietly in the distance, watching Ling Xue's busy figure; sometimes he would go up to her and chat with her, talking about the types and habits of flowers and plants, or asking about the customs and customs of her hometown. Ling Xue gradually became less restrained and would tell Zhou Xing the anecdotes she knew, which often made him smile happily.

As time went by, the weather gradually became hotter. Zhou Xing's body became weaker and weaker in this summer, and the imperial doctors frowned all day, helpless. Ling Xue saw it and was worried. She remembered a kind of herb in her hometown, which was said to be very beneficial for conditioning the body. So, one morning, she secretly asked for leave and went to the suburbs to look for that herb.

She traveled through the forest for a long time and finally found the precious herb. However, on the way back, she encountered a heavy rain. Ling Xue held the herb tightly and walked forward with difficulty on the muddy road. When she returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion, soaking wet, it was already getting dark.

She didn't have time to rest, and hurried to Zhou Xing's yard, handed the herbs to the guards, and told them to brew them as soon as possible for the third master to take. The guard saw her in such a state, and couldn't bear it, so he went in to inform Zhou Xing.

When Zhou Xing heard that Ling Xue went to look for medicine for him in the rain, he was touched and worried. He hurriedly asked the guards to bring Ling Xue in. She was wearing thin clothes, her hair was messy, and there was rain on her face, but she looked at him firmly. "Ling Xue, how can you be so reckless? If something happens to you, I...I will be heartbroken." Zhou Xing's voice was filled with a hint of blame and concern.

Ling Xue blushed slightly and said softly, "Third Master, I see that you are getting weaker and weaker. I am worried and just want to find this herb to help you."

Zhou Xing looked at her, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He took the medicine soup handed to him by the guard, drank it all, and then took Ling Xue's hand, "Silly girl, don't take such risks again in the future."

Ling Xue felt the warmth of Zhou Xing's palm, and a sweet feeling rose in her heart. From then on, Zhou Xing's feelings for Ling Xue became deeper and deeper. He would send her a bouquet of flowers with dewdrops in the morning, and would accompany her to stroll along the path in the garden in the evening to enjoy the beautiful scenery under the sunset. Ling Xue also took better care of Zhou Xing's daily life. She would sew sachets for him with soothing spices; she would sit quietly beside him when he was reading, accompanying him through the long hours.

However, the good times did not last long. A maid in the Prime Minister's Mansion, who was jealous of Ling Xue's favor, secretly did something bad. Before a banquet, she deliberately tampered with the flowers that Ling Xue was responsible for arranging, causing the originally bright flowers to wither soon after the banquet began. This accident caused an uproar, and the guests talked about it a lot, and the Prime Minister's Mansion was damaged.

Zhou Xing was furious when he learned about this. He didn't believe Ling Xue would make such a mistake, but the elders in the family insisted on severely punishing Ling Xue. Zhou Xing, despite his weak body, resolutely knelt in front of his parents and pleaded for Ling Xue.

"Father, Mother, Ling Xue would never do such a thing. There must be a misunderstanding. I hope you can see clearly." Zhou Xing knocked his forehead heavily to the ground.

The prime minister's wife angrily scolded: "Xing'er, you have been weak since childhood, and we have taken good care of you. Now you are contradicting us for a gardener. How can this be disgraceful!"

Zhou Xing raised his head and looked at his parents with a firm gaze. "I know that my parents love me, but Ling Xue is kind-hearted and is very attentive to flowers and plants. I believe in her character, and I would feel uneasy if I punished her for this."

The prime minister hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to detain Ling Xue first, and deal with her after finding out the truth. When Ling Xue was taken away, her eyes were full of grievance and worry. She was afraid that she had really caused a big trouble for the prime minister's mansion, and she was even more afraid that it would implicate Zhou Xing.

After Ling Xue was detained, Zhou Xing searched for clues and tried to uncover the truth. He carefully questioned all the servants who participated in the banquet arrangement that day, and finally learned from a timid maid that it was the maid who was jealous of Ling Xue who did it. He presented the evidence to his parents, and the truth was revealed.

Everyone in the Prime Minister's Mansion felt guilty about Ling Xue's injustice, and Zhou Xing rushed to where Ling Xue was imprisoned and rescued her. The moment Ling Xue saw Zhou Xing, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Third Young Master..." Ling Xue was about to apologize, but Zhou Xing gently covered her mouth.

"Don't say anything more. I know you've been wronged. It's my fault. I failed to protect you." Zhou Xing hugged Ling Xue in his arms, feeling her trembling and warmth.

After going through this storm, Zhou Xing and Ling Xue's relationship became stronger. They no longer cared about the world's perspective and differences in status, and only wished to spend their lives with each other.

As the days passed, Zhou Xing's health gradually improved under Ling Xue's careful care. The imperial doctors were amazed and said it was a miracle. Zhou Xing was no longer the sickly boy who was trapped in the yard all day. He began to participate in some of the affairs of the Prime Minister's Mansion. With his intelligence and talent, he won the recognition and praise of everyone.

On a sunny day, Zhou Xing brought Ling Xue to the forest outside the capital. They strolled by the stream, recalling every detail of their acquaintance.

"Ling Xue, do you still remember the scene when we first met in this forest?" Zhou Xing asked with a smile.

"How could I forget? The Third Young Master at that time was like an immortal in a painting, and I fell in love with him at first sight." Ling Xue's cheeks flushed, her eyes full of love.

Zhou Xing stopped and looked at Ling Xue affectionately, "Ling Xue, these days, I feel extremely happy every moment I spend with you. I thought my life would be spent in this pain, but it was you who shone into my life like a ray of sunshine. I want... I want to marry you, are you willing?"

Tears glistened in Ling Xue's eyes.