Chapter 077
Chapter 77: Heart Rushing Home
Lin Qing Xuan’s face was tight as he glared at the black cat: “You followed me?”
Tuan Tuan scratched his ear tip with a paw, graceful and annoyingly smug: “Please. Your old carriage has a big empty space in the back. I curled up in a corner and you did not notice.” He rolled his golden eyes so hard they almost spilled out: “Lin, great Buddha’s Chosen, do you have any sense of time? Xiao Man is in the kitchen, clang-clang, making snacks. I heard she saved some for you. And here you are, chatting with a bald man.”
He jerked his chin at Zhen Su, full of scorn: “Such a small matter, and you had to run into the deep mountains for a lecture. Ask him? Ask me. I can fix it with a few words.”
Though angry at the cat’s wild tone, Lin Qing Xuan still wanted to hear its plan. Tuan Tuan swished his tail, pleased: “Easy. Tonight when you sleep, I will help you enter her dream. In the dream, confess to her. Done.” He leaned close, voice dropping but still clear to both men, full of wicked tease: “By the way, how long since you two finished the job in a dream?”
The yard froze. Zhen Su, who had been openly eavesdropping, choked and coughed, his face red. His eyes darted everywhere with a look that said, Is this something a tonsured person should hear? When he finally caught his breath and saw Lin Qing Xuan’s flaming face, he did not scold. He laughed instead: “Oh, Junior Brother! The Master and I spoke of your love trial, but I never thought a cheeky little thing would come to give you initiation. What luck, what great luck!”
“You wicked cat, stop spouting filth,” Lin Qing Xuan snapped, lunging again. Tuan Tuan twisted aside, smooth as water, and teased from the stone table: “Bored now. I am going to the Mahavira Hall to ask Shakyamuni if he was this stubborn.” He called over his shoulder: “Move fast, Lin Qing Xuan. Third Miss’s mouth is a pit. She will not leave you any of Xiao Man’s cooking. And Xiao Man is easy to push around. If you do not return, your daughter-in-law will be bullied and cry, and you will ache.”
Those words made Lin Qing Xuan’s heart pound. He bowed to Zhen Su in a rush: “Senior Brother, I take my leave,” and hurried out.
When he got back to the carriage and lifted the curtain, the culprit was already sprawled on the softest cushion, pink tongue busy with his paws: “Wind is fierce outside. The carriage is better,” Tuan Tuan said lazily, meowed twice, curled into a tighter ball, and fell asleep.
At the Heir Apparent Manor, Lin Qing Xuan all but jumped down from the carriage and headed straight for the Auspicious Cloud Residence. Heart rushing home was nothing more than this.
From afar, he saw a slim figure at the door, standing on tiptoe to peer out. It was Xiao Man. Was she waiting for him? She was not. She had just sent off Third Miss Lin Yu Ning, who had come to mooch and ask for almond custard. Xiao Man had worked half a day to make several bowls and shared them out, saving one for Lin Qing Xuan and keeping it warm.
When she spotted him, her eyes lit up: “Eldest Grandson Young Master, you are home early today,” she said, meeting him with a gentle smile. “I saved you almond custard. Drink it while it is hot to warm you up.”
Seeing the warm bowl in her hands, something inside him turned soft and sweet. [That cat did not lie.] A tiny voice at his feet sounded, proud: “I do not lie. I only trick fools.”
Lin Qing Xuan looked down. Tuan Tuan had slipped to his side without anyone noticing and, tail high, walked straight toward Xiao Man. Seeing the sleek black cat, a little bigger and with even brighter eyes, Xiao Man wanted to crouch and pick him up. “I will,” Lin Qing Xuan said in a low voice, cutting her off as he bent to grab the cat. The black cat flicked aside and dodged: “No need. I can walk.” He sprang into the yard and headed for the study like he knew the way.
Lin Qing Xuan sat at the desk, fingers tapping without thought. Xiao Man came in with a white porcelain bowl and held it out: “Eldest Grandson Young Master, please drink while it is hot. The flavor is stronger this time,” she said. A lazy voice with a bossy edge chimed in: “Share some with this Master.”
Lin Qing Xuan’s eyelid twitched. Tuan Tuan was already perched on the corner of the desk, grooming. Xiao Man glared at him: “You are a cat. Why would you drink almond custard?” She still turned to Lin Qing Xuan with a questioning look: “Do you want to share?”
He said nothing, took the spoon, and ladled two spoonfuls into a clean brush-washing dish. Xiao Man set the dish at the edge of the desk. Tuan Tuan hopped down, sniffed left and right, then touched the surface with his pink tongue. After one sip he lifted his head and announced to Xiao Man, “Tastes good. This Master allows you to make it again tomorrow.”
Xiao Man laughed despite herself and tapped his head with a finger: “Need your permission? The sweet almonds are gone. Even if you want it, there is none.” Lin Qing Xuan’s gaze fell on the thin calluses at her fingertips: “Did you eat any?” he asked.
Xiao Man pouted, helpless: “Only your bowl is left. Third Miss took the rest. She did not even leave a portion for the Old Madam.”
Hearing that, Lin Qing Xuan pushed his bowl toward her: “Why not try some?” Xiao Man’s cheeks warmed and she waved her hands: “No need. You already ate from it.” The words had barely fallen when Tuan Tuan’s snide voice drifted over with a wicked chuckle: “Oh please. You swallowed each other’s drool in dreams, and now you mind this?”
Xiao Man’s face went red to her ears. Furious and ashamed, she grabbed for the black cat: “You shameless cat.” He sprang to the windowsill and called back: “Who said once I had skin and bones you could hit me? Still can’t catch me. Na-na-na.” He flicked his tail and vanished outside.
Lin Qing Xuan’s ears were hot too: [This cat has no shame, but he is telling the truth.]
Shy and angry, Xiao Man’s thoughts were a mess. She only wanted to run. She turned to go, but Lin Qing Xuan called to stop her: “Whatever you plan to make, I will have Shi Tou prepare the ingredients. Make more. Do not bother saving a special bowl for me.” Xiao Man halted, but the words dream drool still swirled in her head. Right now she wanted nothing more than to dash out, grab that awful cat, and give him a real beating.