Chapter 7: A Pipe Dream

After entering the room, Xiao Yi’s gaze wandered as she took a careful look around. The furnishings in Xiao Ru’s room remained the same as two years ago, yet everything had changed—people and circumstances alike—never to return to the past.

After placing her on the bed, Xiao Ru turned and pulled a white garment from the cabinet, tossing it in front of her. “Wear this for now. We’ll discuss matters when dawn breaks.”

Xiao Yi picked up the white garment, tracing the subtle patterns on the fabric with a sense of familiarity. Upon closer inspection, she noticed a cluster of bamboo leaves embroidered on the chest. The deep green bamboo leaves were plump and rounded, instantly recognizable as the work she had hurriedly embroidered for her brother before his journey.

He had even teased her about the rough, somewhat unrefined bamboo leaves before he left.

Over the years, Xiao Yi had assumed this garment would have been replaced by others, yet to her surprise, her brother had kept it. The fabric had grown noticeably thinner, surely from frequent wear.

Did he still remember our past?

Clutching the white garment tightly in her palm, Xiao Yi looked up at Xiao Ru with hopeful eyes.

Suddenly, the candle flame was blown out. Xiao Ru folded his clothes and lay down on the small couch, and soon the sound of his breathing filled the room.

“Brother?” Xiao Yi whispered cautiously.

“Here,” came the reply.

She hadn’t expected a response, so hearing it brought her great joy.

But after a few more words, silence returned.

He must be very tired.

In the darkness, Xiao Yi turned slightly, tracing the contours of Xiao Ru’s sleeping face from afar, imagining the two of them as innocent children once more, bound by their pure, unspoken bond.

The room was warm, the bedding comfortable, and the shackles on her feet seemed to vanish. With such dreams, she drifted into a deep sleep.

...

The next day, with the sun high in the sky, Xiao Yi was sound asleep when suddenly the covers were pulled away, sending a chill through her.

“Get up! Hurry and get ready. Father and mother are hosting a welcoming feast at the Listening Wind Pavilion for the envoy of the Black Wolf clan. You must attend as well,” Xiao Ru said, wearing a sweat towel around his neck and dressed neatly. He had just finished his morning exercise and was still slightly out of breath.

“I…” Xiao Yi only had the white garment given by Xiao Ru.

The ill-fitting clothes and her disheveled hair made her feel unfit to attend such a formal event.

Xiao Ru glanced at her briefly, realizing the situation was improper, and then called the old housekeeper in to help Xiao Yi wash up and change into proper clothes.

The old housekeeper brought hot water to wash Xiao Yi’s face and applied osmanthus oil to her dry white hair.

Before long, a delicate and elegant young woman appeared in the bronze mirror.

Seeing her face cleansed of dust and grime, Xiao Yi felt as though she had stepped into another world.

The housekeeper produced a vermilion robe from somewhere and dressed Xiao Yi in it. The red robe made her skin look even paler than snow, and her features were charmingly delicate.

Outside, Xiao Ru waited for a long time. Just as he was about to lift the curtain and enter, he caught sight of Xiao Yi and, with a fleeting glance, coughed dryly. “Why so slow? There’s only one outsider at the welcoming feast—it’s basically a family gathering. You’ve put on too much makeup.”

Xiao Yi was momentarily confused; she was sure the housekeeper had not applied any makeup.

Just as she was about to retort, she looked up and noticed that Xiao Ru had already taken a few steps outside.

The snow-covered ground had been cleared but was still slippery and damp, easily soaking shoes and socks with a misstep.

Having not worn such formal clothes in a long time, and bound by her garment and iron chains, Xiao Yi could only lift the hem carefully and shuffle quickly forward.

As a result, the distance between her and Xiao Ru grew longer and longer.

At the corner, Xiao Ru turned and disappeared from sight.

Anxiously, Xiao Yi called out, “Brother, slow down!”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xiao Ru did not turn back; she froze for a moment.

She had forgotten the pain of old wounds.

Perhaps it was better not to say “brother” at all.

With little hope, Xiao Yi stood there, scanning the path, guessing where he might have gone, when she suddenly turned and saw Xiao Ru standing not far away, quietly watching her.

Their eyes met, and without a word, Xiao Ru turned his back and walked on with his hands clasped behind him.

Xiao Yi hurried to catch up.

When they arrived at the Listening Wind Pavilion, the clan leader and his wife, Xiao Qiang, and the envoy of the Black Wolf clan were already seated.

Xiao Ru stepped forward, performing a respectful fist salute to the clan leaders before moving to an empty seat on the left.

Xiao Yi followed with a slight bow, about to fall in step behind him when Xiao Qiang called out to her.

“Sister, come here. I’ve saved a seat for you,” she said from the right side, beckoning her over.

Xiao Yi looked up and first noticed Xiao Qiang’s attire, puzzled.

Today, Xiao Qiang had abandoned her usual style, dressing more warmly and covering her face with a white veil.

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Ru turned and also saw the veil.

Concerned, he blurted out, “Sister, why are you wearing a veil?”

His worry grew until Xiao Yi explained that she had caught a chill and needed to avoid the wind, which calmed him enough to take his seat.

Once seated, Xiao Ru left Xiao Yi standing awkwardly in the middle, hesitant.

Compared to Xiao Qiang, Xiao Yi felt closer to Xiao Ru.

Although he often resorted to physical force when displeased, it was still preferable to Xiao Qiang’s cold and scheming ways.

Yet, with Xiao Qiang still waving her hand to summon her, Xiao Yi could not ignore the invitation.

Just as she hesitated, the clan leader spoke up: “Xiao Yi, you shall sit beside the wolf clan envoy today. He saved you from drowning yesterday; we must not be ungrateful.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yi lowered her head and smiled wryly, feeling the bitter irony.

They had to say that in front of outsiders.

Well, if yesterday’s events were examined too closely, with no witnesses to support her, it would only lead to more suffering.

Bowing slightly to Shen Lan, the envoy, she took the seat beside him.

With everyone present, the clan leader waved his hand, and the servants entered in sequence, bearing trays of food.

Thanks to Shen Lan’s favor, a generous portion of meat was placed before Xiao Yi.

Earlier, she had been so numb from hunger that she was unaware of her appetite.

As the aroma of cooked meat reached her, she swallowed hard, her eyes fixed intently on the table.

Perhaps sensing her intense gaze, Shen Lan silently slid a plate of fresh meat toward her. “You eat. I’m not hungry right now.”

Xiao Yi knew this Black Wolf, who had saved her yesterday, was not just a fierce predator.

His willingness to share food showed kindness.

Starving, she disregarded any shyness and eagerly took a piece of meat, savoring its soft, tender, and fragrant flavor.

After one piece, she couldn’t stop herself and reached for another.

While others tasted a single piece, Xiao Yi had already devoured an entire plate.

When she finished one plate, Shen Lan promptly replenished it.

One after another, the meat served by the servants was almost entirely consumed by Xiao Yi, leaving Shen Lan with only a few pieces.

Only after she was full and rubbed her belly did she suddenly realize how abrupt her behavior had been.

She glanced sideways at Shen Lan, her heart pounding nervously.

Yet, Shen Lan’s profile showed a slight smile, his mood apparently good.

She immediately relaxed.

Not protective of his food? This man was indeed quite decent.

In childhood, she had only heard tales of the Black Wolf’s cruelty, never expecting such a good temperament.

Just as Xiao Yi was enjoying herself, Xiao Qiang suddenly spoke from across the table, “Sister, I really envy you. You can eat so much.”

She coughed lightly before continuing, “I wish I could eat like that, but I simply cannot.”

The once lively Listening Wind Pavilion fell silent at once, so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping.