Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

The afternoon sun filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled patterns of light on the veranda.

The wind was gentle, carrying a hint of the fresh scent of bamboo leaves.

Jiang Xiaochuan leaned back in the rocking chair, his eyelids heavy. Last night, Xiaobai kept him "chatting" until the wee hours, and this morning Biyao dragged him to "morning exercise." Right now, he felt a lazy soreness in his bones.

On the stone bench nearby, Biyao and Xiaobai were arguing heatedly over a game of chess.

"Once a move is made, there's no going back! You blame me for your own shaky hand?" Xiao Bai held a white piece, tapping the chessboard with her fingertips, a lazy smile on her face, yet she was incredibly irritating.

"My hand slipped! You tripped me with your tail!" Biyao glared, clutching a black ball in her hand, wishing she could throw it at him.

"Where's the evidence? Did Xiao Chuan Chuan see it?" Xiao Bai's eyes darted around, glancing at Jiang Xiao Chuan, who was pretending to be dead on the rocking chair.

Jiang Xiaochuan closed his eyes tightly, calmed his breathing, and pretended to be asleep. He couldn't afford to settle these two old ladies' lawsuits.

"Hmph, he's just pretending to be dead!" Biyao angrily put down the chess piece, reaching out to pluck a strand of silver hair from Xiaobai's cheek. "You vixen, you're just cheating!"

Xiao Bai turned her head away and scratched Bi Yao's palm with her fingertips, drawing out her voice: "Yao girl, if you're not as good as someone else, just admit defeat. Throwing a tantrum isn't pretty."

"Whoever is less skilled, let's go again!"

"I'm not coming anymore, it's no fun." Xiaobai stretched, her exquisite curves fully revealed under the thin crimson gauze dress.

She stood up, swayed her hips, and walked to Jiang Xiaochuan's rocking chair. She leaned down, her sweet and warm scent brushing against his face. "Xiaochuan~ Stop pretending, talk to your sister."

Jiang Xiaochuan's eyelids twitched, but he didn't open them.

Xiao Bai chuckled and gently poked the soft flesh on his side with her finger.

Jiang Xiaochuan froze, almost bursting out laughing. He had no choice but to open his eyes and look helplessly at her stunningly beautiful face so close to his.

"Sister Xiaobai..."

"Want to come for a walk in the back mountain with me?" Xiaobai grabbed his hand and pulled him up from the rocking chair without saying a word. She leaned half of her body against him, and the soft, plump touch came through the thin fabric.

Biyao clicked her tongue behind her, turned her face away, but didn't stop her. She just continued to study the unfinished game with a huff.

The bamboo forest behind the mountain is quiet, with only the sound of wind and birdsong.

Xiao Bai held Jiang Xiaochuan's hand and walked very slowly, her fingertips gently scratching his palm.

"Ogawa Chuan."

"Um?"

"Am I pretty?" she suddenly asked, stopping in her tracks and turning to face him. Her golden eyes shone brightly in the dappled light.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, dancing on her silver hair and cheeks. Her eyebrows, her lips, her figure—everything about her was a masterpiece favored by the Creator.

He nodded and answered honestly, "Beautiful. The most beautiful."

Xiaobai smiled, tiptoed, and lightly kissed his lips, then quickly pulled away.

"Reward your honesty."

"That girl, Biyao, has been getting more and more impulsive lately."

"She misses you." Jiang Xiaochuan chuckled. "She's actually not used to you two not bickering."

"Who wants her?" Xiaobai snorted, but the corners of her mouth were turned up.

The two walked side by side for a while longer, until the sun began to set, before slowly returning to the bamboo house.

That night, Jiang Xiaochuan went to Lu Xueqi's room.

She had just finished bathing; her silver hair was still damp and cascaded down her back. Dressed only in a plain white nightgown, she sat under the lamp reading. The dim light softened her cool, aloof features.

Hearing him come in, she put down her book, looked up, and her gaze lingered on his face.

"Tired?"

"It's alright." Jiang Xiaochuan walked over and sat down beside her, naturally resting his head on her shoulder, inhaling the cool, moist scent emanating from her. "Xueqi."

"Um?"

"Today, Xiaobai asked me if she's pretty."

Lu Xueqi paused, her fingers still turning the pages. "What did you say?"

I said it looks good.

Lu Xueqi hummed in agreement, but didn't speak. She simply reached out and gently stroked his hair. After a moment, she whispered, "She really is beautiful."

Jiang Xiaochuan looked up at her profile, which appeared exceptionally soft under the light, and his heart stirred. He leaned over and kissed the corner of her lips. "You're the most beautiful."

Lu Xueqi's ears turned slightly red. She glared at him, but her gaze wasn't intimidating; instead, it carried a hint of reproach.

"Smooth-talking." She put down her book and blew out the lamp.

What followed was something indescribable...

"Xueqi".

"……Um?"

"It's so good to have you."

Lu Xueqi didn't respond, but instead pressed herself closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. In the darkness, only their intertwined breaths and heartbeats could be heard.

……

Two days later, Jiang Xiaochuan went to Jin Ping'er's room. She was sitting by the window embroidering a twin lotus flower, the stitches fine and the colors delicate. Sunlight streamed through the window paper, casting a soft glow around her, her profile gentle and serene.

"Ping'er." Jiang Xiaochuan walked over and sat down next to her.

Jin Ping'er looked up, saw it was him, and a gentle smile immediately spread across her face as she put down the embroidery hoop in her hand.

"Xiao Chuan, you're here." She stood up, intending to pour him some tea.

Jiang Xiaochuan took her hand and gently pulled her onto his lap. Jin Ping'er gasped and blushed instantly, but she didn't struggle and sat down obediently, though her body was a little stiff.

"What are you embroidering?" Jiang Xiaochuan wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his chin on her shoulder, and looked at the embroidery hoop.

"A handkerchief embroidered for Xin'er." Jin Ping'er's voice trembled slightly, her ears turning bright red.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her profile, flushed with a healthy blush, so close to his face, and her eyelashes trembling slightly with nervousness. He felt a ticklish sensation in his heart, as if a feather had brushed against it.

His hand, which was on her waist, unconsciously moved up and gently covered her soft mound. Through her not-so-thick summer clothes, he could feel the full curve and her warm body temperature.

He subconsciously pinched her and whispered, "Ping'er, you have a really good figure."

"Ouch!" Jin Ping'er shuddered as if she had been burned, and almost pricked herself with the needle in her hand.

Her face turned even redder, all the way to the roots of her neck. She tried to break free, but Jiang Xiaochuan held her tightly in his arms, preventing her from moving.

"Xiaochuan! You...you mustn't do this..."

The more shy she was, the more Jiang Xiaochuan wanted to tease her.

He lowered his head, took her small earlobe into his mouth, and gently sucked on it. He felt the body in his arms tense up instantly and tremble even more violently.

He whispered in her ear, "How? Like this?" As he spoke, he pressed his fingers lightly against her sensitive tip through her clothes.

Jin Ping'er let out a soft "woof" and collapsed into his arms, her breathing rapid, her eyes misting over. She looked at him with a mixture of shame and anger, but couldn't utter a complete sentence: "You...you're bullying me..."

She looked more vibrant and alluring than when she was usually gentle and submissive.

Jiang Xiaochuan's mischievous thoughts grew stronger, and his fingers became increasingly restless, slipping inside her clothes and touching her smooth, warm skin, causing her to tremble slightly.

"Ping'er, do you like me like this?" he asked softly, kissing her neck.

Jin Ping'er bit her lip, shook her head, then nodded, and finally buried her burning face in his neck, letting out a soft "Mmm" as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

This reaction was like adding fuel to the fire. Jiang Xiaochuan felt he had gone a bit too far.

Jin Ping'er raised her head, her eyes wet yet surprisingly bright, as if something within them had burst forth.

She suddenly reached out and pushed hard.

Caught off guard, Jiang Xiaochuan was pushed off the stool and fell to the ground. Before he could react, Jin Ping'er had already straddled him and pinned him down.

Her face was still flushed, her breathing unsteady, but her eyes held a burning determination, as she looked down at him.

"Xiao, Xiao Chuan..." Her voice was still trembling, but her hands had already roughly torn open his clothes and she lowered her head to kiss him.

Jiang Xiaochuan: "!!!"

A sudden realization dawned on him: he was instantly engrossed in playing with fire and would get burned.

Even a normally docile kitten can bite if it's provoked too much! And... it can bite quite hard.

What followed was something indescribable...

"Ping'er..."

"I'm so sorry, Xiaochuan, I...I was too..."

Jiang Xiaochuan pulled her back into his arms and held her tightly.

"It's alright, everything's fine."

Jin Ping'er stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed, burying her face in his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist, and saying nothing more. But her heart was still pounding like a drum.

……

One day, Jiang Xiaochuan accompanied Tian Ling'er to pick osmanthus flowers in the courtyard. The golden osmanthus flowers were in full bloom, exuding a rich fragrance.

Tian Ling'er stood on tiptoe, trying to reach the high flower branches. The sunlight shone on her face, making her look bright and lively. She wore a pale yellow shirt, and her figure was a little fuller than when she was a girl, but it added to her charm.

Jiang Xiaochuan was holding the stool for her from below. Looking at her serious profile, he suddenly said, "Ling'er, you're becoming more and more like your master's wife."

Tian Ling'er paused, almost dropping the small osmanthus branch she had just broken off.

She lowered her head, looking at Jiang Xiaochuan, her smile fading slightly, a fleeting sadness crossing her eyes, and her voice lowering: "Is...is that so? Am I getting old?"

Jiang Xiaochuan's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately realized that he had said the wrong thing.

Women are most afraid of being told they're old, especially Ling'er who is sensitive. He quickly shook his head, put down the stool, walked up to her, and took her hand: "No, that's not what I meant. I meant... you're becoming more and more charming, like your master's wife, gentle, capable, and beautiful."

Tian Ling'er looked up at him, the sadness in her eyes not completely gone, tinged with uncertainty: "Really?"

"Really!" Jiang Xiaochuan nodded vigorously, leaned closer to her, and kissed her smooth forehead. "Our Ling'er is the most beautiful, and will always be beautiful."

Tian Ling'er blushed and playfully pushed him away, saying, "You're always saying nice things."

But the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up, and her eyes regained their sparkle. She placed the osmanthus branch in her hand into his.

"Hold these for me, I'll pick some more and make you osmanthus cake tonight."

"Okay." Jiang Xiaochuan smiled and agreed, watching her stand on tiptoe again and playfully reach for the flowers. He breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he would have to be more careful with his words in the future.

However, looking at Ling'er's bright smile again, he felt that occasionally saying the wrong thing... wasn't such a big deal, as long as he could coax her well.