This kiss was long, as if the night itself became entangled.
The surroundings were so quiet that only the sound of kissing could be heard, so embarrassing even the full moon hid behind the clouds.
Xiao Hen’s arms gradually tightened, pulling their bodies close together, the night wind of Shengdu was cool, but his heart burned hot.
He used great restraint to finally let go of her, his right hand gently stroking her head, her lips were dewy and delicately flushed.
His forehead rested against hers, his breath mingling with hers.
The heart that had been empty for many days found comfort at last.
He couldn’t resist seeking out her lips again for a kiss.
Then Gu Jiao also kissed him back.
To respond was the right thing to do, she understood.
Xiao Hen laughed softly, his strong arms holding her tight, and he said in a hoarse voice above her head, "Jiaojiao, if we keep this up, you won’t be able to leave tonight."
Gu Jiao froze.
But after a short while, she boldly asked him, "When does the city gate close?"
Xiao Hen said, "Today is the hour of Hai."
Gu Jiao did the math and said, "There’s still a quarter of an hour." She meant that she could stay another quarter of an hour.
Xiao Hen looked at her steadily and chuckled, "A quarter of an hour won’t do."
"Hm?" Gu Jiao looked at him oddly.
Xiao Hen suddenly coughed and said, "I mean... a quarter of an hour... you won’t make it in time."
"Oh." Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow, glancing at him, and as he thought she hadn’t understood anything, she suddenly questioned with academic spirit, "Is that so?"
Naive boys always time it wrong.
Xiao Hen: "...!!"
...
When Gu Jiao returned to the mansion, the three young boys at home were already asleep, Madam Nangong and Master Lu, as usual, waited for her while doing their own things in the courtyard.
Madam Nangong was concocting poison, while Master Lu vigorously practiced a couple of boxing routines, then went to repair the broken tables and chairs around the house.
Gu Jiao told them about her encounter with Xiao Hen, and they were both astounded.
That person was Liulang? Was it him who had brought little Jingkong to Shengdu?
Remembering little Jingkong’s woeful, aggrieved look as if he had been kidnapped, both of them twitched at the corners of their mouths.
How much did the little guy dislike his brother-in-law? It wasn’t nice to smear his name like that.
Yet, thinking that Liulang had actually taken Gu Jiao’s identity to enter the Canglan Women’s Academy, they both couldn’t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears.
Gu Jiao got Xiao Liulang’s Academy admission paper, and Xiao Liulang got Gu Jiao’s, what a major mix-up was this?
"I actually think it’s a good thing," said Master Lu, "Aren’t there people from Yan Country after Liulang? They would never guess that Liulang is right under their noses."
"That makes sense," Madam Nangong nodded in agreement, "Looking at it this way, it was lucky to have this confusion."
It was fortunate for Liulang and also for Gu Yan.
If Gu Jiao had entered the inner city, then Gu Yan would have to separate from her. Now, the person who couldn’t bear to be apart from Gu Jiao the most was Gu Yan; he was in a critical condition, always in need of Gu Jiao’s medical treatment.
Remembering something, Madam Nangong asked, "Eh? How come you didn’t recognize Liulang’s handwriting?"
Gu Jiao said, "He changed his penmanship."
The characters of Zhan Country were different from those of Yan Country. Gu Jiao had only seen Xiao Hen’s Zhan characters and had not seen his Yan characters. Even if it were Yan characters, the ones he used to write in Zhan Country were vastly different from those he wrote after arriving in Yan Country.
Xiao Hen was a very cautious man; he wouldn’t leave any leverage to anyone in such matters.
"What about little Jingkong?" Madam Nangong asked.
Gu Jiao said, "Send him back to the inner city for school."
Madam Nangong sighed, "Then he’s going to be heartbroken."
He had barely escaped from the clutches of his bad brother-in-law, only to be sent back. The little guy would cry his eyes out.
Gu Jiao could indulge little Jingkong in many things, but schooling was not up for negotiation.
The next morning, as soon as little Jingkong learned the bad news that he would be sent back to the inner city, he held his bowl, feeling that the food inside no longer tasted good!
With tearful eyes, he asked, "Jiaojiao, am I still your most beloved little man?"
Gu Jiao rubbed his little head, "Even so, you need to go to school."
Little Jingkong cried pitifully, "Wuwu, little Shiyi will miss me!"
"Who’s little Shiyi?"
Before Gu Jiao could get a clear answer, the horse named Wang, braids and flowers in its mane, strode straight from the backyard, picked up little Jingkong’s bundled bag with its mouth, and placed it outside the door.
——I decree it!
Today, Tianqiong Academy had a holiday, truly a convergence of time, place, and unity, no need to ask for leave.
After breakfast, Gu Jiao, with little Jingkong in tow, boarded the carriage headed for the city.
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