The Red Chamber: Starting from Saving Xue Baochai

Chapter 7: A century of hard work to get on the same boat

After Baochai finished reading, there seemed to be gentle waves flowing in her clear almond-shaped eyes.

Although the letter is short and contains only a few words, it is the most direct and tender confession.

"For the rest of my life, I want to be with you. I hope we can grow old together!"

The girl whispered softly, with a charming look on her pretty and fair face.

"So, his name is Shen Yuan. He is as calm as water and has a straightforward personality. It's a good name."

"Girl." Ying'er felt that her girl had gone crazy recently and always liked to mutter to herself while talking on the letter.

Baochai regained her composure and said with a smile, "Ying'er, bring me some writing brush and ink."

"Oh."

Ying'er went to the outer room to get writing brush, ink and rice paper and spread them out on the table.

Baochai picked up the pen, thought for a moment, and began to write on the paper.

Outside Xue's house, Shen Yuan was not sure whether Baochai would reply to him.

After standing for a while, just as he was about to leave, he saw a maid hurried out.

"Is this Miss Ying'er?"

Ying'er had just walked out of the house and not far away when she heard someone calling her. She looked up vigilantly and saw that the person who spoke was a young man with a handsome appearance. Her little face turned red.

"Who are you, young master? How do you recognize me?"

"My name is Shen Yuan. I sent a letter to Miss Xue before, and it was Miss Ying'er who took it."

Ying'er heard this and suddenly opened her mouth slightly in surprise, "Shen Yuan!? Are you staying at Tongfu Inn?"

Seeing Shen Yuan nod, Ying'er pouted and said in a cute voice: "Young Master is also a weirdo. Why did he have to use a child to deliver the letter?"

Shen Yuan smiled but did not explain.

"Mysterious," Ying'er muttered softly, and then said, "Since the real owner is here, it saves me from making another trip. This is a letter from our girl to you."

As she spoke, Ying'er took out an envelope from her sleeve and handed it to Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan took it, without showing any expression, and thought to himself that this method was indeed useful.

When I opened the envelope, I saw that Baochai had only a few words in it.

[I should have hated you, but no matter what, you saved me.]

【For the rest of your life, each of you will be well. 】

【As for the others.】

"Gone?"

Shen Yuan felt strange in his heart. Was this a tooth-for-tooth response?
Ying'er next to him looked at Shen Yuan with strange eyes, wondering why this young man had the same expression as her own girl.

Shen Yuan collected his thoughts and said to Ying'er, "Miss Ying'er, please tell me something. Can I invite Miss Xue to have a chat by the Taiping Lake at noon today?"

Yingtian Prefecture, Taiping Lake.

It was a clear and crisp autumn day. A young couple was boating on the lake. The young man paddled the boat from time to time, and the rippling water waves pushed the boat slowly towards the center of the lake.

"Seeing that you look good, I feel relieved. I'm sorry for what happened that day." The young man spoke to break the silence.

The girl pursed her red lips, feeling a little angry. The girl was innocent, and all she said was a light apology.

He opened his mouth and said, "I should hate you for insulting my innocence. You obviously could have given up."

"This matter is my fault."

"You did make a mistake, but you saved me. I've thought a lot these past few days. What's lost can never be recovered. Now that things have come to this, I don't want to hate you anymore. From now on, you and I don't owe each other anything."

"As for the rest, let time decide."

After hearing this, Shen Yuan felt much more at ease. When he looked at Baochai again, there was more pity and heartache.

The girl was raped by him, but she eventually chose to forgive him. As for their future relationship, it was not blocked.

As they were talking, the boat had unknowingly drifted to the center of the lake, which was far from the shore and there were few boats around, so no one would disturb their conversation.

Shen Yuan retracted the oars and the boat soon stopped on the lake.

He took out a square paper bag from his arms and handed it to Baochai sitting opposite him.

"The osmanthus cake from Chengdong Linji is quite famous. Miss Xue, please try it."

“I’ve eaten this pastry before.”

"Well, I forgot for a moment that the girl is originally from Yingtianfu."

But Baochai still took it.

"I love it." The girl said in a delicate voice, "This is hard to buy. You must have waited in line for a long time, right?"

"Not too long, two hours."

Baochai's heart warmed when she heard this. Seeing that Shen Yuan still had a piece in his hand, she asked, "Why don't you eat it?" "I've eaten it before, and this piece is for you too."

How could Baochai really believe that he had eaten it? Each person could only buy two pieces of Lin Ji's osmanthus cake at a time. She said in a delicate voice, "How can a girl have such a big appetite?"

"The girl took it back and ate it."

"I want to watch you eat."

After Baochai finished speaking, her pretty face paused. She realized that something was wrong with her tone, as if there was some ambiguity. She tilted her head slightly and her cheeks blushed.

Shen Yuan looked at Baochai's little girl's attitude, which was somewhat different from the virtuous image he saw on TV in his previous life.

Perhaps everyone has diverse sides, not just a labeled personality.

Noticing the boy's gaze, the girl frowned slightly and asked softly, "Why are you staring at me?"

"Miss Xue is very beautiful!"

Baochai didn't expect that the young man would be so frank in front of her. Her heart was moved and she looked down in shame without saying a word.

The boat quieted down for a while. The warm sun shone on the lake, reflecting the golden light. It was quiet and beautiful.

"Thirsty?"

"Ah? Not bad."

"The shop owner next to Lin's said that the crispy cake should be paired with rice wine to taste the full flavor."

As Shen Yuan spoke, he took out a bottle of rice wine, pulled out the cork and handed it over.

Baochai hesitated for a moment, took the wine with her jade hands and took a sip, "I have never heard of it, maybe the shopkeeper wants to make money from you, so he said that."

"Why not? As long as Miss Xue likes it."

Baochai:"."

Why do I feel that the boy in front of me is not as immature as he looks, but is quite good at sweet talk.

Feeling that the atmosphere was too ambiguous, Baochai changed the subject and asked, "Are you really a scholar?"

Shen Yuan was silent for a moment, then nodded. Strictly speaking, Xiucai was his original body. For some reason, he was subconsciously more accustomed to the memories of his past life.

"Will you participate in this autumn exam?"

"Yes, but I am not participating in the civil examination, but the military examination."

Baochai was stunned for a moment before she reacted, and a look of surprise flashed across her soft, almond-shaped eyes.

"You want to take part in the martial arts exam? Are you still a martial arts scholar?"

Although being a scholar is not considered a great achievement, it is rare for someone to pass both the civil and military examinations.

"Well, it is."

"Then I wish you success in the imperial examination." Baochai smiled with dimples and became more curious about Shen Yuan.

Looking at the girl's beautiful and charming smile, and then at her dimple-shaped pink lips, Shen Yuan said with a smile: "Miss Xue, please don't just bless me with your mouth. I want to ask for some good luck."

Baochai was startled when she heard this, then she felt around her waist and in her sleeves, and then said awkwardly, "I came in a hurry, and I am not polite to say goodbye now. Next time..."

The girl paused as she spoke, thinking that she didn't know when they would meet next time. By then the Autumn Examination might have been over, so there would be no point in sending him off again.

Shen Yuan asked, "Miss Xue, what do you think of this?"

"If I win the first place in this autumn exam and become the top martial arts champion, can Miss Xue fulfill one of my requests?"

Baochai was curious after hearing this. Her almond eyes twinkled and she asked, "What is your request?"

"I haven't thought about it yet, I'll think about it after I win."

Baochai:"."

Shen Yuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Miss Xue, it won't be a weird request."

The girl was suspicious and curious. She didn't agree, but she didn't refuse either.

After a while of silence, Shen Yuan called out in a gentle voice, "Miss Xue."

"Ok?"

"It takes a hundred years to be able to cross the river together. We are friends now, right?"

When Baochai heard this, she seemed to have thought of something and felt ashamed.

It takes a hundred years to be able to cross the river together, and the next sentence is it takes a thousand years to be able to sleep on the same pillow together!
The boy and she were already sleeping on the same pillow, and they were changing embarrassing positions. Why did those scenes always linger in her mind?

Shen Yuan didn't know what Baochai was thinking at this moment, he just watched the girl's expression change quietly, but saw the girl's delicate face gradually blushing, that shy and angry little look was extremely cute...

After a while, Baochai put away her messy thoughts, looked at the young man's clear eyes, and hummed lightly.

Shen Yuan felt relaxed and satisfied with today's gains.

Which couple didn't start out as friends? Oh no, it seems there are brothers and girlfriends too.
Shen Yuan suppressed the strange thoughts in his mind.

Those have nothing to do with him. He is sure that he is a serious straight man, the kind that is harder than steel.
(End of this chapter)