âWhat is it? Youâre smiling so much, that means you got definite news?â Although she was smiling when they came, the smile didnât reach the depths of her eyes. However, after coming back from where Mu Ye brought her, she was lit up with smiles.
Tang Doudou sat down next to him and then copied the way he was lying down. Her eyes curved into a smile as she said, âThatâs right, I got news. Heâs fine.â
âHappy?â
âHappy.â
âWonât die anymore?â
âWonât die anymore.â
âAlright, talk, what do you want to do?â Jun Xin flipped around to face Tang Doudou, his eyes flickering with light.
Tang Doudou yawned without looking at him. âIâll go by myself.â
âDo you feel like Iâd agree?â Jun Xin gave a disdainful humph.
Tang Doudou really wanted to give this kid a beating. If it werenât for the fact that she couldnât beat himâ¦
âWe canât allow anyone to find out about Baili Yu and two people would be too conspicuous. Itâd be much easier for me to travel alone and⦠you have to help me get rid of those tails from the shadows.â Tang Doudou turned around and patted Jun Xinâs chest. âStinkinâ brat, this is a really important matter, youâd better help me properly!â
âNo, itâs too worrying.â
âThis is a crucial time, so donât be so spoiled and stubborn.â Tang Doudou rolled her eyes as she continued, âWeâre the only ones that can know about this, so help me, alright?â
Jun Xin bit his lips. Spoiled and stubborn? Was this the way she viewed him?
âFine, Iâll help!â His eyes then whirled with an idea. âBut you have to promise me something.â
âAs long as you help, Iâd agree even to ten conditions.â
âThen letâs elope?â Jun Xin laughed. When he saw that Tang Doudouâs expression was rapidly turning dark, he quickly changed his tune. âIâm just joking, donât take it so seriously!â
âTch! I wasnât taking it seriously.â
âThereâs no way Iâd be able to relax if you go by yourself. Since youâre worried about your whereabouts being revealed, Iâll just protect you from the shadows. Howâs that?â
n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Tang Doudou glanced at him. If she didnât agree to this suggestion, heâd probably lock her up to keep her from heading out alone.
âFine, fine.â
âThatâs more like it. Iâm telling you, before we find Baili Yu, you should give up all hopes of shaking me off,â stated Jun Xin firmly.
Then he got up and flicked off the leaves on his clothes. Licking his lips, he said, âWe canât delay this matter, so letâs head back to Huai City today. Once I finish dealing with the most pressing tasks, you should sneak out of Plum Garden and Iâll follow you from the shadows.â
âAlright!â
The two rushed back to Plum Garden. Tang Doudou found some time to go see Baili Yiling, but when she saw that Baili Yiling was still busy, she only chatted a little before she left and returned to her own room.
As she waited for news from Jun Xin, she started wandering around the room. Jun Xin had told her that he had put her box in a cabinet.
After rummaging through the room for a long time, she finally found the wooden box that was wrapped in a wedding garment in the cabinet that contained her clothes.
When Tang Doudou saw the red garments, she couldnât help but feel sad. However, she soon recovered and nimbly untied the garment to open the box. It still contained the same things that she had seen in the hidden room. She fiddled with them, but couldnât figure out how to cure the Hoarfrost Poison with them.
However, for the time being, she decided to keep them with her since Baili Yu would probably know how to use them when she found him.
She was in the process of putting them away with Jun Xin came back.
When he saw that she was putting away the things in that box, he said with a laugh, âBack then, you were clutching that box so tightly that I thought it was Baili Yuâs ashes!â
Blabbermouth of a stinkinâ brat.
Tang Doudou glared at him. âAlways talking nonsense.â
Jun Xin laughed. âEverythingâs ready. You can slip out tonight.â
Tang Doudou nodded. âAlright, thanks!â
âButâ¦â
âWhat do you want now?â She could tell he was up to something just by the way his eyes rolled around.
Jun Xin licked his lips. âAfter you head out this time, itâll probably be a while before you have a chance to cook again, right?â
In reality, he was thinking that even after they found Baili Yu, she probably wouldnât have time to cook again. In addition, it really wouldnât be right for him to keep hovering around her once Baili Yu came back because she was already married.
Tang Doudou knew that it would be about food. She put the box away, then stood up and slapped the table. âLetâs go, chowhound!â
Jun Xin smiled slightly. âThis way, Chef.â
Tang Doudou prepared a large feast for Jun Xin and fed him until his stomach turned completely round before he was satisfied enough to let her back.
Since it was afternoon, she took a nap, and when she woke up again, it was already night.
She got up and ate the meal the servants had brought over, then picked up the cloth bundle she had prepared. She had already extinguished the candles, so once she was ready, she quietly climbed out from the window.
Jun Xin had already arranged for the hidden guards near her courtyard to be in other places, so even if she swaggered out, no one would see her. However, for the sake of making the act complete, she tiptoed out of the courtyard and quickly jumped over the tall wall.
Once she got out of Plum Garden, she left Huai City on horseback.
Jun Xin was dressed in black and wearing a silver mask as he followed her from the shadows.
Tang Doudou decided to head to Dream Mountain first. It was fortunate that she had taken a nap in the afternoon because now she could travel through the night. She reached the inn right before dawn.
âShopkeeper? Waiter?â She entered the inn but didnât see anyone.
She had only been gone for a day. Where did all the people go?
The inn was still unrepaired. Could it be that they had gone into town to find someone that could fix this place up?
Tang Doudou casually picked a room and went to sleep. When she woke up again, it was near night. She ate a bit of dry rations and was just about to continue traveling when someone appeared in the room.
__________