Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Once a Hibiscus

He crouched before the brazier, looking a little helpless. He had added too much firewood, and the flames were nearly smothered. It was obvious that despite spending the better part of a year on campaign, he wasn’t used to such chores. He was simply fumbling through it based on memory.

As if sensing her gaze fixed on him, Lu Xiu looked up, a hint of embarrassment in his dark eyes.

"Are you mocking me in your head?"

Liang Wan held back a laugh and shook her head.

He lowered his head and continued to arrange the firewood. "I’ll practice. I’ll get the hang of it eventually."

Liang Wan’s gaze darkened slightly. She remembered he had said the exact same thing the first time he helped her get dressed.

She turned her back to him. While he was distracted, she wiped away the tell-tale dampness, straightened her clothes, and then rose to her feet.

"Let me."

Fighting the ache in her back and the weakness in her legs, she walked over and crouched down. She removed the excess firewood, setting it aside, then looked up at him. "I was worse than you when I first tried. No one’s born knowing how to do everything."

Lu Xiu stood beside her, his gaze fixed on her. "Did you learn this at the Liang Mansion too?"

That year by the river, she had foraged for mushrooms and grilled fish. He had found it strange then. As far as he knew, she had never left the Liang Mansion. Could it be that Liang Cheng had someone teach her these things as well?

Liang Wan faltered, then looked down and offered a casual excuse. "I saw the servant women do it and just picked it up."

After speaking, she added, "Hand me the earthenware pot."

Lu Xiu averted his gaze and went to get the earthenware pot.

’He could still tell when she was lying. Since she was unwilling to be honest, why press her further?’

’There was no need to call her out on it, either.’

He just stayed by her side and assisted her.

Although he seemed to be more of a hindrance than a help, at least he didn’t cause any major trouble.

The spartan tent, the rough leftovers... for a moment, Liang Wan felt as if they were a destitute husband and wife.

The food was rearranged on the low table. It was already coarse fare, and leftovers at that, so it wasn’t very appetizing. It could do little more than fill their stomachs.

It might have been hunger, or perhaps exhaustion, but she said nothing, and neither did Lu Xiu. They simply ate with their heads bowed in silence, a perfect picture of the old saying: eat without talking.

Thanks to her earlier antics, Lu Xiu had fallen behind on his work and was prepared to pull an all-nighter to catch up.

In the past, after a meal, she would always brew a pot of tea for him. Today was no exception.

Liang Wan took out the prepared tea from her Pouch. She had already roasted these tea leaves earlier, so they could be brewed directly.

The water in the copper kettle on the stove was boiling, HISSING as it let off puffs of white steam.

"Wanwan?"

"Hm?"

Liang Wan was startled and looked up sharply. Lu Xiu was standing before her, looking concerned. He frowned, and imitating how she usually did it, he reached out to feel her forehead.

"Are you tired, or do you not feel well? Why do you look so pale?"

Liang Wan was stunned for a moment, then met his questioning gaze and nodded. "I am a little tired."

Lu Xiu put his arm around her shoulder, stroking her hair as he sighed in resignation. "You can’t keep carrying on like this. You’ll hurt yourself. If you’re tired, go rest. I’ll be up late, you don’t have to wait for me."

Liang Wan pressed her face against his chest, her eyelashes lowered. ’Lu Xiu had always been self-disciplined and restrained in all things. He knew how to do everything and understood everything, yet he coveted nothing. This was especially true in bed; he had truly never been as indulgent as he was today.’

’He’d been so angry with her... it was a wonder he hadn’t just run her through with his sword. Instead, he’d let her drag him into such debauchery...’

Liang Wan sighed inwardly, her head bowed. "No," she murmured, "I want to keep you company."

Lu Xiu’s gaze rested on the top of her head. He was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright. But if you get too tired, go and rest."

Liang Wan took a step back from his embrace, smiled, and nodded. "You should get back to your work. The tea will be ready soon."

Lu Xiu narrowed his eyes and stroked her face. "Alright."

He then returned to the low table and sat down.

’There was indeed a lot of military work to do, but—’

Lu Xiu lifted his eyes, his gaze fixed on her slender, willow-like figure. ’She must have feelings for me.’

He lowered his gaze and stared blankly at the books on the table.

The camp was sparsely furnished. There were no proper tea-brewing utensils—only cups.

Liang Wan placed the brewed tea on the low table.

"This is the ’Snow Mountain White Dew’ you often drink. I brought it especially from the South Garden."

’Just the South Garden?’

Lu Xiu set aside the documents he was holding, then looked up at her. "I’m a little tired too. Let’s just leave this for today."

Liang Wan’s eyes were fixed on the teacup, her expression unreadable. "Are you going to rest?"

Lu Xiu smiled and shook his head, patting the spot beside him. "Stay and talk with me for a while."

He reached for her as he finished speaking.

Liang Wan took his hand and sat down next to him.

Lu Xiu turned to face her.

He studied her intently. Her face was as small as his palm, white as fine porcelain, with crimson lips and pearly teeth. Her eyes swam with affection. Whenever she shyly lowered her head, the sliver of smooth, pale skin revealed at her nape evoked a heart-wrenching tenderness. She was a delicate flower, glistening with morning dew, and at the same time, an innocent fawn with tear-filled eyes caught in a trap.

’It was no wonder Liang Cheng had gone to such lengths to have her educated.’

’But this was only her exterior.’

Lu Xiu reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, a smile in his eyes. "We haven’t had a proper conversation since you arrived."

After a brief pause, he frowned and added, "Arguments don’t count."

His gaze lingered on her face as he enveloped her hand in his, stroking it gently.

Liang Wan’s eyelashes fluttered. She looked at him. "What do you want to talk about?"

He lowered his head and smiled. "Anything."

’Anything?’

His smile was grating, and for some reason, it stoked a fire deep inside her.

Perhaps he sensed it, for he looked toward the teacup on the table, his tone taking on a soothing quality.

"It might not compare to how it used to be, but you still brewed it yourself. I’ll have a taste."

He didn’t look at her, only releasing her hand to pick up the cup.

Liang Wan’s hand felt empty, and her heart felt empty along with it. She instinctively twitched her fingers, but it was as if they hadn’t moved at all.

Her eyes followed his every move.

Lu Xiu held the teacup with an elegant grace. His long, slender fingers grasped the cup lightly, a gesture that spoke of good manners and a refined upbringing.

He hadn’t lost his composure or bearing just because he was in a military tent; his expression and movements were no different than if he were in an elegant room.

Even this crude, hastily erected tent could not make him seem flustered or out of place.

Lu Xiu lowered his gaze and took a small sip. He swallowed before looking at her again. "Excellent. Just like before."

Liang Wan’s heart, which had felt so empty moments before, seemed to tumble down his throat and into his stomach along with the tea he swallowed.

’I really am tired.’

"If you’re sleepy, go rest. Whatever you want to say, we can talk about it tomorrow."

With that, she stood up. But before she could take a step, he grabbed her wrist.

"Didn’t you say you wanted to keep me company?"

So they remained, one sitting, the other standing.

It was the first time Liang Wan had ever looked down on him like this.

’To the world, he had always come across as lofty and unapproachable—a quality that was innate, not cultivated.’

’As for how he treated her... that was harder to say. It depended on the situation, on the occasion.’

Lu Xiu looked up at her and suddenly smiled.

’For some reason, a line of poetry surfaced in his mind.’

’"Once a hibiscus flower, now a heartbreak grass."’

’She wasn’t an ordinary flower, nor an innocent fawn. She was a hibiscus—one you knew was poisonous, yet it drew you in, addicting you until you couldn’t break free.’

Liang Wan drew in a breath and sat back down.

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