DDT - Chapter 98
Chapter 98: Tycoon's Daughter (6)
After all the delays, it was already very late. Since Chi Junluo almost never spent the night at the Yeluo Tavern, the only rooms there were for the old butler, a few waiters, and the cook. It was impossible for Chi Junluo and Yi Shuhan to stay the night.
Besides, Yi Shuhan rarely stayed out this late. Although the Yi family didn't have a curfew, her parents would inevitably worry if they knew their child hadn't returned so late at night.
Chi Junluo decided to personally escort Yi Shuhan home.
It was mid-November, and the temperature dropped sharply at night.
Chi Junluo and Yi Shuhan walked side-by-side down the nearly empty street. After saying those strange, flirty things to Chi Junluo, Yi Shuhan was overcome with an inexplicable shyness once that strange burst of courage had passed. When Chi Junluo suggested walking her home, she had only nodded dumbly and mumbled a soft "en." Now, under the dim yellow streetlights, she walked with a faint blush, lost in her own world of embarrassment over her foolishness.
Though she appeared calm on the surface, Yi Shuhan was screaming internally. What did she mean by "if that person was her senior, she wouldn't mind"?!
She really wanted to do a flying kick and send the her from a few minutes ago into orbit!
Chi Junluo, on the other hand, didn't think much of it. She just found the heroine of this world to have a rather interesting personality. She just wondered, did the heroine speak so flirtatiously to other people as well?
She furrowed her brow slightly, unsure why she cared about these "other people" who may or may not exist. After spending four worlds together, she considered herself and the heroine to be friends through life and death. How could some trivial passersby compare to their bond, which was stronger than gold?!
Chi Junluo didn't realize that she had already developed an unspeakable possessiveness toward the heroine…
This was the second time they had walked so closely together. Just like at school, neither of them spoke, yet the silence was comfortable, not awkward.
Suddenly, a cold gust of wind blew in their faces, pulling Chi Junluo from her subtle, jealous thoughts. At the same time, her sharp eyes noticed the heroine to her right shiver from the cold.
She glanced secretly at Yi Shuhan and saw that the heroine's face was red from the cold. She took off her own coat and draped it over Yi Shuhan's shoulders.
The coat still held the residual warmth of Chi Junluo's body. Yi Shuhan was startled by the sudden gesture. The extra layer did indeed make her feel less cold, but seeing her senior in such thin clothing made her feel bad.
"Senior, how can you wear so little? If you give me your coat and catch a cold, what will you do?" Yi Shuhan reached up to take off the coat, but Chi Junluo grabbed her hand.
"It's only natural for a senior to take care of her junior," she said. "I exercise regularly, so a little cold wind won't bother me. But you, Junior, look like a lovely little white flower. It wouldn't do for you to get frostbitten."
"If you're willing, Junior, you could warm my hands for me."
Yi Shuhan's eyes widened as she looked at the senior who was half a head taller than her. Meeting Chi Junluo's smiling eyes, she quickly turned her head away, thinking, You've said everything, what else can I say?
Clasping the warm hand in her left palm, Yi Shuhan secretly tightened her grip, thoroughly satisfied with holding her senior's soft hand.
She asked me to warm her hand, so why is her hand warmer than mine?
Chi Junluo secretly sent the Power of the Heavenly Dao flowing from their joined hands. The warm energy crept up and wrapped the heroine in three layers inside and out, doing a good deed in secret.
Once I've put on her coat, I'm her person! Yi Shuhan felt warmth spread through her body again. Undisturbed by the cold wind, she let her senior lead her by the hand, once again lost in her own world.
It seems like Senior only ever smiles at me like this… Having followed Chi Junluo for several months, Yi Shuhan was certain of this, and a dazed smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.
It was already past ten when they left the tavern. The tavern was in a somewhat remote location, and in this era, there were no modern ride-sharing apps or taxis. There wasn't even a landline nearby to call the Yi family for a car, nor were there any rickshaws looking for fares. So, the two of them simply decided to walk back.
They had been walking for over an hour now, and there was still a long way to go. Yi Shuhan had walked far too much today, and she felt as if her feet were too heavy to lift.
Noticing Yi Shuhan's slowing pace, Chi Junluo thoughtfully slowed her own steps. Yi Shuhan shuffled along in small steps until she finally stopped in place.
"My feet hurt…" Yi Shuhan covered her face with her hands.
Before Chi Junluo could say anything, she squatted down on the spot. She really couldn't stand any longer.
Chi Junluo felt a little guilty. They had left in a hurry, and she hadn't been thorough in her planning. Even if there were no cars, there were surely a few families in the neighborhood with bicycles.
It was her modern mindset that had failed her, her thinking too rigid to adapt.
Now they were in a difficult position, and there was no one else on the road.
Looking at the whimpering heroine squatting beside her, she felt extremely apologetic.
Why did she feel like she was being a "ruthless hand destroying a flower"???
Estimating that it was about a forty-minute walk from here, she knew she couldn't possibly make this lovely little white flower walk any further. Chi Junluo stretched her arms and legs, feeling that this body was still okay. She walked over to Yi Shuhan and crouched down. "Shuhan, get on. I'll carry you back."
Yi Shuhan noticed Chi Junluo's movement and was a bit stunned when she heard her words.
Not registering the change in how Chi Junluo addressed her, Yi Shuhan instinctively wanted to refuse. "...Actually, I can walk..."
"You walk too slowly," Chi Junluo shifted back a little. "Come on, I'm very strong. I could carry you even if you were heavier."
Yi Shuhan blinked, then shot to her feet and threw herself onto Chi Junluo's back. "This young lady is not heavy at all!"
Chi Junluo stood up steadily, reaching back to support the precious heroine on her back, and continued walking toward the Yi residence. She gave a little bounce and remarked, "You're right, not heavy at all."
Yi Shuhan wrapped her arms around Chi Junluo's neck, her chin resting lightly on Chi Junluo's left shoulder. The girl's body beneath her was separated by only a layer of clothing. She wasn't muscular, but Yi Shuhan could feel the vibrant energy and strength emanating from her. Chi Junluo's every step was steady, her gait not the least bit unsteady. Yi Shuhan had planned to rest on her back for a little while before getting down to walk again, but unexpectedly, with the gentle, rhythmic rise and fall of her steps, she fell asleep.
The girl's head rested relaxedly in the crook of her shoulder. As the owner fell asleep, her arms lost their control and hung loosely in front of Chi Junluo.
Feeling the breathing by her ear gradually even out, Chi Junluo let the gentle breeze brush past her. She tilted her head slightly and continued walking, her steps now even more stable.
It was already eleven-thirty.
There were no pedestrians on the road. A bright moon hung in the sky. Air pollution wasn't as severe in this era, and in this southern city, one could still see a sky full of stars.
The street was incredibly quiet. All that could be heard were the soft patter of footsteps and the sound of two hearts beating incredibly close to each other.
A strange feeling emanated from the bottom of her heart. Chi Junluo vaguely felt that this sensation was very familiar, as if the same thing had happened a long, long time ago. It was a peculiar feeling from the depths of her mind—though she had no such memory, it felt like déjà vu.
Chi Junluo's steps became even gentler. She leaned her body forward slightly to let the girl on her back sleep more comfortably.
Unbeknownst to Chi Junluo, the Power of the Heavenly Dao she had released to shield the heroine from the cold wind was slowly circulating around Yi Shuhan. Strand by strand, the Power of the Heavenly Dao seeped out from Yi Shuhan's body, silently merging with the power outside.
Before she knew it, the main gate of the Yi residence was visible in the distance. Chi Junluo felt a bit dazed. She suddenly wished she could just keep walking like this, carrying the girl on her back forever. She didn't want to let go.
A dull ache throbbed in the depths of her mind, as if something was about to break free from its restraints.
She finally reached the main gate. The light was on in the guardhouse inside. A young man in a black combat uniform was looking down at something. Hearing footsteps, he abruptly looked up and saw his young miss fast asleep on another girl's back outside the gate.
A look of joy appeared on the young man's face. Earlier, when the madam had gone to the young miss's room, she had discovered she wasn't there resting. The madam and several servants had searched the entire house but couldn't find Yi Shuhan.
The master was still reading in his study. When he heard the commotion and came out, he saw the household frantically searching for someone. Now, the master and madam were waiting in the main hall for news from the men they had sent out to search.
The young man quickly picked up the internal line to report the news to the master, then jogged out to open the gate for them.
Seeing the young man opening the gate, looking like he was about to say something excitedly, Chi Junluo quickly adjusted her right hand to support the girl on her back and made a hushing gesture with her left. The young man immediately understood, closed his mouth, and opened the gate as quietly as possible, trying not to make a sound.
After the young man deftly closed the gate, Chi Junluo followed him inside.
The master and madam had already received the news of Yi Shuhan's safe return. They waved their hands to dismiss the two concubines who were also waiting in the hall, telling them to return to their rooms. At the master's signal, the servants also tiptoed out of the hall.
A moment later, the door opened softly. The Yi couple saw their precious daughter sleeping peacefully on Chi Junluo's back and both breathed a sigh of relief. This war-torn era was not like the prosperous dynasties of the past, with bustling night markets. With their daughter, who didn't even know third-rate kung fu, out so late, they had been worried sick.
As Chi Junluo entered, she saw the Yi couple waiting anxiously in the main hall. She gave them a slight nod and a reassuring smile. The young man who had led the way closed the door and returned to his post.
Yi Shuhan's mother gently patted Yi Ming's shoulder, telling him to go back to the bedroom to rest. She then led Chi Junluo, who was still carrying her daughter, upstairs toward Yi Shuhan's room.
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