Spectating the Angsty Romance of the Master and Disciple from the Sect Next Door Chapter 40

She was just about to fall asleep, but after Xie Huaixue gently pinched her ear, Li Jin’an jolted, almost leaping onto the roof beam. Well, now she wasn’t sleepy at all.
Li Jin’an looked at Xie Huaixue suspiciously. She found it hard not to wonder if it was intentional. Xie Huaixue calmly looked back, blinking her eyelashes, as if puzzled by Li Jin’an’s strong reaction.
Li Jin’an rubbed her suffering ear, staring intently at Xie Huaixue’s expression. In a flash of insight, she realized that if Xie Huaixue hadn’t deliberately done something naughty, she wouldn’t have this expression. This was clearly guilt and an attempt to conceal it!
“You did that on purpose!” Li Jin’an gritted her teeth, speaking more smoothly as she went on. “You know I can’t stand having my ears touched, yet you deliberately pinched them! How could you be so wicked?!”
Xie Huaixue still said nothing, just slightly tilted her head away. This was already a very clear sign. Li Jin’an, furious, laughed instead. She wondered whether to praise Xie Huaixue for not lying to her. But too much honesty made Xie Huaixue seem cunning.
Li Jin’an released her hold on Xie Huaixue. Without waiting for a word, she deftly pinned Xie Huaixue beneath her with one hand. With one hand, she lifted and pressed down Xie Huaixue’s arm, while the other firmly clasped her waist. From above, she looked down at Xie Huaixue’s ink-black hair splayed across the entire pillow.
Her usually prim and proper collar was now loose, revealing fair skin, with her dark hair cascading over it—a collision of black and white, creating the purest aesthetic. Unfortunately, the person who should have been appreciating this beauty was instead smugly enjoying her superior position. She stared directly into the eyes of the person beneath her. “See? I’m doing this on purpose now too.” Her words implied one thing: this was true intentionality, and what could Xie Huaixue do about it?
Xie Huaixue lifted her eyes in surprise, pressing her lips together as she looked at Li Jin’an’s face above her. Several times she opened her mouth to speak but said nothing. Instead, due to their closeness and the thin air, she found it hard to breathe, and her usually cool cheeks flushed with a faint blush.
“Get up.”
Li Jin’an didn’t get up. She smugly lifted her chin. “You yield first, say a few nice words to me, properly beg me, and then I’ll get up.”
A blush flashed in Xie Huaixue’s eyes. She turned her head away, unwilling to look at the overly smug person above her, and didn’t want to beg her. Instead, she only offered Li Jin’an her pale, delicate neck and her reddened ears. Li Jin’an stared intently at Xie Huaixue’s ears, and mischievously blew a puff of air upwards, thinking, they truly were a match made in heaven; their ears were quite sensitive, blushing crimson at the slightest touch.
As she continued looking, Li Jin’an’s gaze drifted aimlessly, unexpectedly landing on Xie Huaixue’s lips, the tips of her brows, her slightly open collar, one pale collarbone… It was only then that she belatedly realized what position they were in. So Xie Huaixue’s ears weren’t so red because they were sensitive, but because she was shy…?
Li Jin’an’s heart trembled, and she gasped. Her eyes uncontrollably darted around. She was startled when she saw Xie Huaixue’s lips, quickly averted her gaze, and was startled again when she saw Xie Huaixue’s earlobes… She wanted to avert her gaze from impropriety, but her eyes were completely out of her control, always landing on unexpected places, startling her, yet making her unable to resist looking again.
She swallowed, and her hand gripping Xie Huaixue’s arm loosened slightly. She truly understood what it meant to be riding a tiger, unable to dismount. What should she do? She truly didn’t mean to tease Xie Huaixue! But Xie Huaixue in this state was too ethereal and stunning, beautiful in a completely different way from usual.
Li Jin’an couldn’t quite articulate the difference between the current Xie Huaixue and her usual self; she only knew that her eyes and mind were completely out of control, firmly fixated on Xie Huaixue. Her heart felt like it was ceaselessly running through winding mountain paths, bumping up and down, surging and receding. It was also as if a fire had been lit in her heart, ardently stirring her, and her heartbeat had merged with Xie Huaixue’s.
…
She froze again. Under extreme tension, her brain seized up, and she leaned down to listen to Xie Huaixue’s heartbeat. When she looked up again, she met Xie Huaixue’s gaze, which was cold but tinged with shyness and anger.
Li Jin’an came back to her senses, feeling completely numb. She didn’t even know how to argue her way out of this. How could someone act erratically again and again, just like her?
“Your heart is beating so fast, and so is mine,” Li Jin’an blinked, whispering in a negotiating tone, “How about we call it even? You don’t have to beg me, alright?”
“…” Xie Huaixue: “Now get up!”
“Oh, oh, oh.” Li Jin’an clumsily rolled over and instinctively scurried to the foot of the bed, watching Xie Huaixue cautiously and eagerly.
Xie Huaixue expressionlessly tidied her disheveled collar and cuffs. If her ears weren’t so red, that cold expression might have been more convincing.
Li Jin’an looked again and again, appearing incredibly well-behaved and showing a very proactive attitude in admitting her mistake, yet a hint of regret surfaced in her heart. She regretted that such a Xie Huaixue had been fleeting. She wasn’t greedy; if only she could have looked a few more times, and then a few more, and then a few more… that would have been enough.
Although Xie Huaixue’s cold expression didn’t really work on Li Jin’an, in the days leading up to the wedding, she didn’t act erratically or cause trouble again. She was on call whenever needed and didn’t even occupy Xie Huaixue’s room anymore.
If Xie Huaixue told her to go east, she would never go west; if told to chase a dog, she would never chase a chicken. She tried her best to prove to Xie Huaixue that it had merely been an accident and that, generally speaking, she was still very well-behaved and reliable.
Time quickly arrived at the wedding day.
The night before, Li Jin’an was so excited she couldn’t sleep a wink. In the latter half of the night, she simply pulled open the window, leaned on the sill, and peeked into Xie Huaixue’s already dark room. Only then could she calm down; otherwise, she was truly afraid her heart would beat so fast that she would explode and die. At 2am, in the middle of the night, she excitedly got up and dressed. She smoothed her wedding robe again and again, only feeling relieved when she ensured there wasn’t a single wrinkle. Then she just stared at Xie Huaixue’s room under the moon until the courtyard gate was knocked upon.
It was the wedding matrons, chefs, and others she had hired to manage the wedding. She opened the door and invited them in, telling them to simply follow the agreed-upon procedures. Immediately after, the lights in Xie Huaixue’s room turned on. Li Jin’an sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, feeling as if her spiritual soul had left her body, her mind hazy, as if she were floating in mid-air, watching the bustling courtyard. Yet her body didn’t miss a beat, doing whatever was asked: applying powder and lip rouge, welcoming guests, stepping over the fire basin, shooting arrows, bowing in ceremony…
Since neither of them had elders, some steps were omitted, such as the ‘three kowtows and nine bows,’ completely replaced by ‘six ascents and bows.’ It wasn’t because it was troublesome, but rather because Li Jin’an arrogantly felt that even heaven and earth were not worthy of her and Xie Huaixue’s kowtows and bows. All that remained was Li Jin’an and Xie Huaixue bowing to each other.
The master of ceremonies chanted: “Rise, bow, rise, bow, rise, bow…”
Because there was no distinction between marrying-in or marrying-out, neither wore a bridal veil. Li Jin’an’s gaze trailed from Xie Huaixue’s hair down to her feet. A fleeting smile touched her lips as she sincerely bowed once, twice, and then again. Xie Huaixue returned her gaze, moving her eyes with Li Jin’an’s. At this moment, both held the most sincere hearts.
The entire wedding ceremony was exceptionally simple. Soon, the rites concluded, and the participants dispersed, sending the couple into the bridal chamber. This made it seem as if they couldn’t wait.
The group of ‘radish heads’ Xie Huaixue taught followed closely behind them, insisting on instructing the couple on how to consummate their marriage, explicitly telling them what to do at each step. Because there were so many people, some ‘radish heads’ even hung from the windows, loudly giving advice.
“Master, don’t lower your head; your arm should be looped around Grandmaster Li’s arm.”
“Grandmaster Li, don’t laugh at Master; the wine in your cup is about to spill.”
“…Don’t be shy, you two! Don’t lower your heads the moment you look at each other!”
It was clear they loved to play teacher, and were very happy to be Master Xie’s masters.
The newlywed wives, holding their cups of cross-cupped wine, unsure whether to drink or not: … Is this the time for you to show off your eagerness? Can’t you be a bit more perceptive?
Li Jin’an, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, gestured with her eyes for Xie Huaixue to quickly drink the cross-cupped wine and get rid of these ‘radish heads,’ otherwise, she was truly afraid they would start instructing them on how to consummate their marriage.
Xie Huaixue looked up at her and smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling with radiance as she moved. Her cool, fair skin, set against the festive wedding robes, appeared even more pristine than frost or snow, as if she were a divine being from Gushe Mountain. The two drew closer, their faces almost touching with a slight tilt of their heads. Amidst the noisy environment, they could even catch each other’s breaths.
Li Jin’an stared at her own wine cup. She had originally wanted Xie Huaixue to assign the ‘radish heads’ more homework in the future, so they wouldn’t just play house after school. But looking at Xie Huaixue, she suddenly changed her mind and whispered into Xie Huaixue’s ear, “After everyone leaves, let’s drink the cross-cupped wine again. Also, I don’t think I had time to say it yet, but you look truly beautiful and stunning in red. You’re the most beautiful wife under heaven.”
Soon, her trick was exposed by the ‘radish heads,’ who shouted, “You two, stop whispering secretly!”
Against the backdrop of the wedding matron saying auspicious words, Li Jin’an and Xie Huaixue exchanged smiles and drained their cups of wine. After drinking the wine, the two stood up to distribute wedding candies to the ‘radish heads,’ acknowledging their hard work. Then, surrounded by the children, they went out to entertain the guests. There was never a moment of rest, but no matter how busy she was, she was willing.
After the lively gathering dispersed and the last guest was seen off at the door, Li Jin’an let out a sigh of relief. She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, leisurely admiring Xie Huaixue at this moment. She had spent the whole day just getting married and hadn’t properly admired Xie Huaixue in her wedding robes. What a loss!
“I told the neighborhood elder to keep the food warm; it’s time for us to eat,” Li Jin’an said with a raised eyebrow and a charming smile, “After we eat, we still have to drink our cross-cupped wine, and then it’s the bridal night.”
Though she was actually timid, it didn’t stop her from teasing Xie Huaixue with her words. Xie Huaixue glanced at her. How to put it? That glance was cold but carried a hint of distrust, as if saying she utterly didn’t believe Li Jin’an could rise to the occasion. Li Jin’an was so angry she shrieked.
When night fell and it was just the two of them, the daytime commotion subsided, and everything became utterly silent. It was as if their senses could only perceive each other, the other’s presence magnified, and even the softest rustles sounded like explosions in their ears.
She truly chickened out. While pouring the wine, she inexplicably didn’t dare to look at Xie Huaixue, who had shed her wedding robes and was only wearing pure white undergarments. Her hands were trembling slightly.
Xie Huaixue reminded her, “The wine is going to spill.”
Li Jin’an looked down and saw there was no spill at all. She immediately turned back angrily and glared at Xie Huaixue. “Don’t distract me! If it spills, it’s all your fault.”
“Alright, it’s my fault,” Xie Huaixue replied with a helpless tone.
Li Jin’an quickly darted a glance at Xie Huaixue. For some reason, she detected a hint of gentle indulgence in Xie Huaixue’s words, as if she could tolerate everything about her unconditionally. She immediately averted her gaze, like someone trying to bury 300 taels of silver here. Holding two cups of wine, she walked with stiff steps to stand opposite Xie Huaixue. If she hadn’t been holding something in her hands, she probably would have walked to her wife with her arms and legs moving in sync on their wedding night.
Perhaps it was the warm weather, or perhaps she was wearing too much, but as Li Jin’an looked at Xie Huaixue, whose curves were accentuated by her thin garments, she felt very thirsty, and an unstoppable itch welled up in her throat. She urged, “We ate a bit salty tonight, and I’m a little thirsty. Let’s drink this quickly.”
Xie Huaixue paused before taking the wine cup from her overly honest new wife. Li Jin’an seemed eager to quench her thirst. She leaned in, bringing her wine cup, passed through Xie Huaixue’s arm, to her lips.
“Wait a moment, we haven’t said the auspicious words yet,” Li Jin’an suddenly remembered something and interrupted.
She looked at Xie Huaixue, slightly dazed, then spoke slowly with a firm tone: “Newlywed wives, a pair of mandarin ducks flying wing-to-wing. May you grow old together, like a vermilion phoenix facing the sun. Sweet as sugar, fragrant as smoke, honeyed osmanthus blossoms. Wives in love, may your affection last forever.”
At the same time, Xie Huaixue also softly recited, their voices overlapping, “…Wives in love, may your affection last forever.”
Some steps could be omitted, but these auspicious words, which sounded so pleasant, were still very necessary.
When she finished speaking, Li Jin’an touched the rim of her cup to Xie Huaixue’s. Her phoenix eyes curved into a bright smile. “You and I, everlasting, our love unwavering.”
The two drained their cups of wine once more. Li Jin’an even swirled her cup, afraid that if she didn’t finish it, their love wouldn’t last forever. She put down the cup, looked around, and sighed with emotion, “That broker really didn’t lie to me. This room was indeed meant for two people to live together. Why didn’t I think of that before?” One room for living, and one for Xie Huaixue’s study—it couldn’t be more perfect.
“We were fiancées then; it wouldn’t have been proper to live in the same room,” Xie Huaixue supplied.
The moment Xie Huaixue spoke, Li Jin’an’s attention fixed on her. She instantly forgot what she was going to say and muttered to herself, “I’m still very thirsty.”
“Hmm, why are you so thirsty?”
“I don’t know,” Li Jin’an shook her head in confusion. She couldn’t explain why; she was just very thirsty, and an itch like a feather scratching seemed to tickle her heart. The moment she saw Xie Huaixue, ripples appeared in her heart.
Xie Huaixue looked at her as if encouraging her to find the answer to her own problem. “What should you do? Have you thought of a solution?”
Li Jin’an tilted her head, staring blankly at Xie Huaixue’s opening and closing crimson lips, her gaze hazy. She hadn’t heard a word Xie Huaixue said; she only knew her throat felt even itchier and drier. Xie Huaixue’s red lips looked so moist. If she pressed her own lips against them, would she no longer be thirsty?
Li Jin’an swallowed, her throat bobbing. Bewitched, she leaned close to Xie Huaixue’s face, carefully stealing a glance at Xie Huaixue’s eyes. Only when she wasn’t stopped did she confidently put her arm around Xie Huaixue’s waist, lower her gaze, and devoutly kiss her. This would definitely quench her thirst.
Xie Huaixue let out a soft hum. Because she was so thirsty, she instinctively sucked on Xie Huaixue’s lips. Sweet.
—BOOM!
Li Jin’an seemed to hear the sound of her spiritual soul exploding and then reforming.