Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

liqueur.

Drunk, I set sail, my desires fading.

A thousand cups finished.

Everyone looks back on their lives.

Xie Xiaoyi finished his last cup of wine, slammed the Heaven-Opening Heavy Sword back into its sheath with a clang, slung it over his back, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the three women:

"Take care, everyone. The journey through life is long, and we may never meet again..."

As he spoke, he got up and walked out of the cabin.

"Thank you, Xiao Yi!" Yun Qianxun suddenly spoke, her voice clear and cold, overpowering the sound of the waves.

Xie Xiaoyi paused, turning his head to ask, "What is it?"

Yun Qianxun looked at him, as if she had just remembered something: "I told Fu Yaoqin that you are a flower thief."

Xie Xiaoyi let out a breath and said helplessly, "Fine! It's not a secret anymore, so I'll tell you."

"But she seems very sad, I... I can tell. Do you... want to go see her?"

......

The Su family of Jiangnan, one of the four great families, had red silk stretching for miles in front of their gates, brocade covering the ground, and the deafening sound of gongs and drums echoing through the long street.

Carriages and horses came and went in an endless stream, and guests filled the gate, all of them prominent families from Jiangnan, each offering their congratulations.

The whole city was abuzz with the news that Su Mubai, the second young master of the Su family, was getting married to a talented woman surnamed Fu. The couple was a perfect match, and the event caused a sensation in Jiangnan, attracting countless onlookers who were filled with envy.

Su Muqing, dressed in brocade robes, stood in front of the mansion gate to greet guests with impeccable manners, leading each guest into the hall.

Murong Shishi took care of the trivial matters, instructing servants to add tea, lead the way, and arrange seating, managing everything in an orderly manner.

Su Mubai walked out of the courtyard, still dressed in his signature white clothes. Perhaps it was because he was in high spirits due to the happy occasion, but he was also in high spirits.

He stepped forward and bowed to his elder brother and sister-in-law, saying, "Brother, you've worked hard; sister-in-law, you've taken great care of things. Thank you both for your help with everything at home."

Su Muqing patted his shoulder: "We're brothers, no need to be so polite, just relax."

Murong Shishi smiled, her tone straightforward:

"The wedding is in three days. You've been looking forward to it for so long. Now that Miss Fu has agreed to the marriage, it's a wish that has come true for you."

Su Mubai lowered his eyes and replied lightly, "Sister-in-law is joking."

Murong Shishi's smile deepened, and she deliberately took half a step closer to him:

"I'm not joking! In the past, Miss Fu was only polite to you, and she was very tactful in everything she did."

Now you've agreed to the marriage? Second brother, what method did you use to make her willingly change her mind?

Upon hearing this, Su Mubai felt a sudden pang of bitterness in his heart.

He knew better than anyone that Fu Yaoqin's nod in agreement to the marriage was not a sign of a change of heart.

It was just that the rumors circulating in the martial arts world were going around, saying that Xie Mo was Xie Xiaoyi, the notorious womanizer.

She was just heartbroken, and since I risked my life to save her, she only agreed because she felt indebted to me.

He kept these words to himself, unwilling to utter a single word, but Murong Shishi's question touched upon the very thing he least wanted to think about.

He knew that marrying Fu Yaoqin at this time was taking advantage of her vulnerability, but even so, he didn't care.

Fu Yaoqin was the woman he longed for. Su Mubai believed that as long as he could marry her, his sincerity would eventually win her over.

Thinking of this, Su Mubai gave a faint smile: "There's no other way, it's just that where there's a will, there's a way."

Murong Shishi didn't press further, only waving her hand with a smile:

"That's right, your efforts over the years have finally paid off."

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. There's a lot going on at home, so don't just stand there all the time."

Su Muqing patted Murong Shishi on the shoulder and then smiled faintly: "You, as her sister-in-law, always know how to tease your younger brother-in-law."

Murong Shishi raised an eyebrow and smiled as she replied, "As the saying goes, the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother. What's wrong with me teasing my own brother-in-law?"

Su Mubai smiled and bid farewell to his elder brother and sister-in-law, heading towards Fu Yaoqin's residence in the villa.

The red silk under the eaves reflected the sunlight. He walked briskly, the bitterness in his heart suppressed by the anticipation of his upcoming marriage.

When he pushed open the door, Fu Yaoqin was sitting by the window, holding a wine glass in her hand, her eyes drifting out the window, lost in thought, not even noticing him come in.

Su Mubai approached quietly and spoke gently:

"Yaoqin, the wedding arrangements are all set. In three days, you will marry me."

Fu Yaoqin snapped out of her reverie, her wine glass pausing slightly. When she looked up, a faint smile graced her face, yet it held a hint of aloofness.

"Then I'll trouble you to take care of it. The matter in Qingjiang City has already caused quite a stir, and I can't go back now. I'll just leave everything to the Su family's arrangements."

Her tone remained polite throughout, and Su Mubai's heart sank slightly as he listened: "From now on, we're family, there's no need to be so formal."

"Tell me what style of wedding dress you want, or what kind of decorations you prefer."

Fu Yaoqin lowered her eyes, drank the wine in her cup in one gulp, and casually replied, "Very well, Young Master Su, please decide."

She was distracted throughout, her gaze frequently drifting to the window, showing no interest in the details of the wedding and appearing to be merely going through the motions.

Seeing that her glass was empty and she was about to refill it, Su Mubai gently pressed her wrist, saying, "Drinking too much cold wine is bad for your health. Drink less."

Fu Yaoqin looked up at him and smiled gently: "This plum blossom wine tastes best when it's cold."

Plum blossom wine?

That's the kind of wine that Xie Xiaoyi, the notorious womanizer, likes to drink.

Even if he has become a lecherous philanderer despised by everyone, can she still not forget him?

Seeing Fu Yaoqin like this, Su Mubai felt a tightness in his throat, and the emotions he had suppressed for a long time surged up.

He stepped forward, gently put his arm around Fu Yaoqin's shoulder, and gazed intently at her:

"Yaoqin, I know you still have reservations, but I am sincere towards you. From now on, I will protect you for the rest of my life and make you accept me from the bottom of your heart."

After saying that, he leaned down slightly, wanting to kiss her lips.

Fu Yaoqin froze, almost instinctively turning her head to avoid it.

Her cheek brushed against the corner of his lips, the movement swift and decisive, without the slightest hint of lingering affection.

Su Mubai's kiss missed its mark, his hand on her shoulder froze in mid-air, and his heart felt as if it had been stabbed hard by something, both bitter and painful.

Fu Yaoqin quickly took half a step back, lowered her head, and said softly, "Young Master Su, we are not yet married, this is inappropriate!"

The fervor in Su Mubai's eyes gradually cooled.

He wasn't angry, nor did he press her; he simply withdrew his hand slowly, saying, "I was being presumptuous; please don't be angry..."

Fu Yaoqin lowered her head and remained silent.

If it had been Xie Mo in that situation, he would have definitely blocked her in front of him and pinned her against the wall.

Then he flirted with her using his most proficient, yet out-of-touch, words.

Although the behavior was extremely abrupt, she liked it very much.

Perhaps this is the biggest difference between Su Mubai and Xie Mo?

Thinking of this, she softly murmured the poem that Xie Xiaoyi had recited when she first went to the inn to find him.

"Those who have abandoned me, the days of yesterday cannot be retained; those who trouble my heart, the days of today are full of worries."