Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 71 Azure Phoenix's Thoughts

The nearest market is just across the street from Lin Xuan's courtyard; it's only a few steps away.

Once they reached the street, A'Luo's arm remained entwined with Lin Xuan's, showing no sign of letting go.

Lin Xuan's arm was slightly stiff. Perhaps for a cheerful Miao woman, such an intimate gesture was nothing special, but in Lin Xuan's two lifetimes, this was the first time a girl had ever linked arms with him like this.

He once had an ex-girlfriend, and their relationship lasted only a month from the beginning to the end.

She received many gifts during that month, but their relationship remained at the level of holding hands.

Later, when she learned that Lin Xuan was about to go to the mountainous area to provide assistance, she decisively chose to break up with him.

In terms of romantic experience, he is practically clueless.

A Luo turned her head to look at him, blinked her bright eyes, and asked, "Brother Lin, what dishes would you like to eat today?"

Lin Xuan seemed a little distracted and said, "You decide."

"Then I'll buy it."

A'Luo smiled and said something; she seemed to be in a very good mood today, and lightly jumped down one stone step.

This jump inadvertently caused Lin Xuan's arm to lightly brush against something—

It's soft and has a slightly bouncy texture.

A faint blush rose to A Luo's cheeks. She subtly released her grip, then squatted down in front of an old woman's vegetable stall by the roadside and asked softly, "Grandma, how much are these bamboo shoots?"

"Ten coins for the large ones, eight coins for the small ones." The old woman looked at her with a smile and said with a grin, "Young lady, you and your husband are out buying groceries? You two are so loving. These days, it's not common to see men accompanying their wives to buy groceries..."

A-Luo picked out two bamboo shoots, blushing, and said, "Oh dear, we're not husband and wife..."

She hurriedly paid the money and then ran away in a panic.

Lin Xuan followed behind A Luo, watching her graceful figure move through the market. He couldn't help but feel that A Luo seemed a little different today...

Or perhaps, she has always been like this.

He just had never noticed it before.

When they returned home after grocery shopping, A'Luo naturally took Lin Xuan's arm again, but she no longer dared to jump when going up and down the steps.

As Lin Xuan walked into the alley, he saw a figure standing in front of the door waiting in the distance.

Tian Qingluan hasn't come over for a meal for two days.

Recently, the Tian family's business has been expanding rapidly, and she has a lot to do.

Zhang Hu and Chen Bao are currently working for the Tian family, so they must be quite busy. Lin Xuan hasn't seen them for a while.

Tian Qingluan looked at A Luo and Lin Xuan's arms linked together, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

A'Luo naturally let go of Lin Xuan's hand, took the vegetable basket from him, smiled sweetly at Tian Qingluan, and said, "I'll go wash the vegetables first, Sister Qingluan, please wait a moment..."

Tian Qingluan felt a little embarrassed that he always came over to freeload meals. Hearing this, she followed him and said, "Sister A'luo, I'll go with you."

As the two sat on low stools by the well washing vegetables together, Lin Xuan glanced at them unintentionally.

Under the sunlight, everything was dazzlingly white, and two alluring cleavages were bottomless.

Lin Xuan blushed as he looked at it, and after instinctively glancing at it a few more times, he immediately turned around and went into the kitchen.

Seeing that Lin Xuan was not in the courtyard, Tian Qingluan turned to look at A'luo and asked in a low voice, "A'luo, are you and Lin Xiaoqi... together?"

A'Luo blushed and said shyly, "No, no..."

For some reason, Tian Qingluan secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing her answer.

Yesterday, her father and the clan elders mentioned at a family meeting that she was getting on in years and it was time for her to choose a husband.

They even prepared a list of talented young men from the various chieftain families of Sizhou, for her to choose from.

If she agrees, they will immediately marry into the Tian family.

However, she didn't find any of these people appealing.

So-called young talents, they can't earn as much as her, they can't be as capable as her, why should they be Tian Qingluan's husband?
Although she was a girl, she believed that she was no less capable than any man her age from childhood to adulthood.

Until she met Lin Xuan.

He always seems to possess the ability to turn the rotten into the miraculous.

In terms of business acumen, this was the first person she truly admired. After only two collaborations with him, the Tian family had risen to become the most powerful chieftain in Sizhou, with an even brighter future ahead.

From the initial conflict between the Tian and Yang families to the power struggle within the Jingbian Division, Lin Xuan's journey has been witnessed by her every step. He is courageous, resourceful, knows his limits, and is adept at navigating social situations. Those so-called young talents are simply not qualified to be compared to him.

Yesterday, when they were pressuring her to get married, the first person that came to her mind was Lin Xuan.

If he could become a member of the Tian family, she was confident that she could make the Tian family one of the most powerful chieftain families in the southwest within ten years...

She had never considered marriage before, but after a night of thought, she made up her mind.

Lin Xuan is her best choice.

Choosing him as her husband would not only bring prosperity to the Tian family, but also ensure she could enjoy delicious meals every day. Furthermore, his appearance was exceptionally handsome, pleasing to the eye—no matter how you looked at it, she wouldn't be at a disadvantage.

She had just made this decision yesterday, and unexpectedly, as soon as she arrived here today, she saw Miss A Luo intimately holding his arm.

Judging from A Luo's behavior, she must also be interested in Lin Xuan.

This is not surprising. What woman wouldn't like someone like Lin Xiaoqi?

Being in a good position gives her an advantage; compared to herself, she has a greater advantage.

Tian Qingluan quickly weighed the options in her mind. Although she and A'luo were like sisters, and she quite liked this simple and kind girl, there were some things that even sisters couldn't give up...

The two silently washed the vegetables, neither of them speaking again.

Lin Xuan prepared a very lavish lunch today.

It's been a long time since we've seen that dangerous woman; it's time to celebrate.

If he didn't have to go to the government office later, he would have even liked to have a drink.

Lin Xuan had just picked up his chopsticks when Tian Qingluan, sitting to his left, picked up a piece of fish, put it in his bowl, and said, "Lin Xiaoqi, you've worked hard..."

A'Luo, sitting to Lin Xuan's right, picked up a bamboo shoot and was about to put it in her mouth when she saw this scene and paused slightly.

The chopsticks traced an arc in the air before the bamboo shoot landed in Lin Xuan's bowl. She smiled sweetly at Lin Xuan and said, "Brother Lin, the bamboo shoots are very fresh today, please try some..."

The two women's gazes met in the void, and a strange atmosphere gradually spread.

Lin Xuan was unaware of this subtle change in atmosphere. He first tasted the bamboo shoot that A Luo had picked up, then tasted the fish that Tian Qingluan had given him, and nodded in satisfaction.

Today's dishes were absolutely perfect. The ingredients were fresh, the cooking time was just right, and the taste was impeccable.

He picked up a few bites of food, then seemed to realize something, looked at A'Luo and Tian Qingluan, and asked in surprise, "Why aren't you eating?"

Tian Qingluan smiled slightly, picked up her chopsticks again, and ate silently.

A Luo lowered her head and ate in silence, just like everyone else.

"Lin Xiaoqi, try this."

"Brother Lin, try this..."

Two pairs of chopsticks simultaneously reached into Lin Xuan's bowl.

The two women looked at each other again, then looked away after a moment.

Lin Xuan found it strange. In the past, when the three of them ate together, they would each eat their own food. Why were A Luo and Qing Luan serving him food today?

Could it be that he finally saw how hard he worked to cook?

The world seemed to become a better place the day after that woman left.

Lin Xuan looked at them and said, "You guys eat by yourselves, don't worry about me."

After the meal, Tian Qingluan looked at Lin Xuan and said, "There are some business matters that I would like to consult with Lin Xiaoqi. Lin Xiaoqi should also be going to Jingbian Division soon. Why don't we talk on the way?"

Lin Xuan stood up and said, "Okay."

As A Luo carried the nearly clean bowls and plates of food into the kitchen, she glanced back casually, her steps suddenly halting, her gaze sharpening slightly.

The moment they stepped out of the courtyard, Tian Qingluan naturally took Lin Xuan's arm.

Lin Xuan paused for a moment, glancing at Tian Qingluan out of the corner of his eye. Seeing that her expression was normal, he immediately understood.

For Miao women, it is indeed a very common thing to link arms with a familiar man of the opposite sex.

(End of this chapter)