linked to the collar

After Xiao Ran finished saying that, he regretted it, especially when he saw Bai Ye's pale face, his clenched teeth, and his trembling fist clenched on his lap, I regret it.

But once the words were out of his mouth, he couldn't take them back. He knew that he had hurt Bai Ye, but it was the first time that Xiao Ran burst into anger. He didn't know how to control his disordered mood. I had to watch Bai Ye stand up and go straight away, and watch him kick the low stool in front of him fiercely, and the stool hit the wall and shattered to the ground. The loud noise made Xiao Ran's heart skip a beat. It hurts, it's broken, it's like Bai Ye's... heart.

He stood there in a daze, unable to regain his senses for a long time, until Kexi tidied up the bookstore, dragged the spare wooden table and chairs from the backyard and rearranged them neatly, walked to him and pulled him back to the bamboo lounge chair Up and down.

"Young master Xiao, don't worry, the second master will come back when his temper dissipates."

He didn't know what he heard, he still looked out of his mind.

There is no way to please, so I have to take care of myself carefully.

Fortunately, it was a rainy day, and there were not many customers coming. When the shop was about to close on weekdays, Huanxi had already started to make preparations, and prepared to take Mr. Xiao back as soon as the hour was almost up.

Xiao Ran actually came back to his senses, but he was always at a loss. He stood up and took the book, then sat back on the chair, turned a page, and never turned to the next page.He tried to get himself a glass of water and almost knocked over the glass.

His eyes kept lingering on the door curtain. Bai Ye hadn't left him for such a long time, and he ran away for more than an hour without saying anything...

On weekdays, Bai Ye and himself are inseparable, and even if something happens, Shi Er or Kui Xi will take good care of him.

Since the reunion, he has never left like this.

Xiao Ran's hand holding the scroll was tighter, and he didn't notice that the scroll, which he usually loves like a treasure, was crumpled.His eyes cannot be separated from the door curtain, every time when the door curtain is raised slightly, his eyes will light up, but every time, it is just the visit of the wind.

Xiao Ran felt a little cold, no matter how tight the cloak was, it was useless, and he felt alone again, just like... that night two years ago, he was sitting alone at the door of his house, no matter how tightly he hugged himself, he couldn't feel the slightest bit The temperature that belongs to people is not because of the wind, not because of the rain, but because the heart is cold.

Suddenly the door curtain was lifted again, Bai Ye ran in in a hurry, rushed into the inner hall to look left and right, ran directly in front of Li Ran, squatted down, held Li Ran's hand, and was caught by Li Ran's hand before he could speak. frightened by the coldness.

"Why are your hands so cold? Are you catching a cold?"

It seemed that the disappointment of the whole afternoon made Xiao Ran unable to believe that Bai Ye had really returned, and he shook his head after being stunned for a while. "No, it's not very cold."

"Nonsense, your hands will be so cold if it's not cold?" Bai Ye squeezed his hand twice, turned to the side, poured him a cup of hot water from the small heater, put it in his hand, and held his hand for him. Tight, rubbed the back of his hand, and after a while whispered: "Xiao Ran, I'm sorry."

"I don't want you to be hurt any more. No matter if it's me or anyone else, I don't want anyone to hurt you. Xiao Ran, I shouldn't force you like that. I'm sorry. I just want to protect you so much, but I forgot to think about you thinking." Bai Ye... said that he sounded high-sounding and righteous, but with his lowered head, he pretended to be wronged. "It's just that I didn't expect that you really didn't believe me. Xiao Ran, you still won't forgive me." Xiao Ran felt that he was wronged at first, but when Bai Ye said it, he felt even more guilty, and boldly held Bai Ye backhand He clenched his hand and shook it slightly. "I just... didn't mean that... It's not that I don't believe you, I know that you treat me well, the things of that year are over, I..."

He thought too much, could say too little, stuttered, and he didn't know what he wanted to say.

"I'm teasing you, you're nervous." Bai Ye leaned forward and kissed Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran was stiff, but he didn't push Bai Ye away. After he backed away, he blushed and lowered his eyes and said in a low voice: "Don't, don't, someone saw it..."

Bai Ye looked at Xiao Ran who didn't know where to place his eyes, smiled, freed up a hand to rub the top of his head, and sat down beside him instead. "Xiao Ran, I've thought about it. I shouldn't interfere with your thoughts. You and Zhang Ting have had so many years of mentorship and have many common topics to talk about. You have a reason for your decision, and I should understand you."

"You..." For a moment, Xiao Ran didn't understand why Bai Ye ran out for a few hours, but when he came back, he seemed to be... enlightened?He thought for a while, organized his words slightly, and reached out to hold Bai Ye's hand that was caressing his temple hair. "Bai Ye, I know you are worried about me, but I think I can trust Zhang Ting, just like I... I think I should believe that you are really good to me now."

Bai Ye's heart trembled, he couldn't help laughing until Xiao Ran was dazzled, he lowered his head, and pressed a kiss on Xiao Ran's brow. "Anyway, as long as you can trust me. Can you trust that I love you by the way?"

Xiao Ran's face suddenly became embarrassed, and he pushed Bai Ye. "It's almost time, it's time for us to go back."

"Well, let's go. Tonight I want to eat shrimp tofu stew, can you make it for me?"

"Okay, but the tofu in the afternoon is not fresh, can I make shrimp dumplings for you?"

"The shrimp dumplings are too troublesome, I don't want you to be too tired."

"Then make salt and pepper shrimp? Just buy some fresh shrimp on the way back. It's also convenient to make."

"Okay, let's go back then."

Bai Ye pulled Xiao Ran to stand up, walked out of the shop, and waited for the happy to close the shop.At this moment, there were more passers-by on the street rushing home, Xiao Ran couldn't get rid of Bai Ye's hand holding him tightly, so he had no choice but to hang down his sleeves to cover the hands they were holding.

Bai Ye raised his lips slightly, in a good mood.

Xiao Ran believed in him, even though he didn't love him enough now, he still felt much more at ease.At least the thoughts of these days are not in vain, as for love...he is not in a hurry, Xiao Ran has no one else to choose.

He controls Xiao Ran's world and knows all his whereabouts. Even if he is given freedom now, Bai Ye thinks, it is within the scope of what he has given.

Xiao Ran, you have no choice but me.

But Bai Ye really didn't expect that Zhang Ting would come here so diligently in the future, he would come here almost every three to five days.Sometimes they came in a sedan chair, sometimes they seemed to be taking a walk, and sometimes they even came without taking off their official robes.

Xiao Ran also showed great enthusiasm every time, so enthusiastic that Bai Ye gritted his teeth secretly every time, but he couldn't express anything because of what he had said, so he could only press Xiao Ran to kiss again and again after Zhang Ting left. Indicates sovereignty.

It's not that Xiao Ran couldn't see it at all, once he tentatively asked Bai Ye if Zhang Ting's arrival made him unhappy?How could Bai Ye slap his own mouth? He just sneered and said that he still hates pedantic nerds after all--that sour smell, smelling your own is enough, and smelling too much of other people's is really nauseating.

I also don't want to think that when I said this, I was in Qingfengzhai, where literati like to gather.

However, Bai Ye didn't really think that Xiao Ran would be difficult to be a man. Occasionally, when Zhang Ting came, he would find an excuse to go out for a walk, or go to the hall to see the affairs inside the door.

Anyway, try not to have any direct contact with Zhang Ting, he believes that if he doesn't want to see this person, this person won't want to see him either.There are lovable, Shier and Mr. Liu in the shop, who will definitely take care of Xiao Ran.

Time passed, and in a blink of an eye, it was almost the winter solstice.A letter came from Xuantianmen, asking Bai Ye if he had gone back this year. Bai Ye calculated the time and said, "I won't go back, let's go back after the Chinese New Year."

A few days before the winter solstice, in the afternoon, Zhang Ting came to visit Xiao Ran again in his sedan chair. Seeing this, Bai Ye said he had something to do at home, and left.

After exchanging a few pleasantries as usual, Zhang Ting was hesitant to speak while holding a stove, Xiao Ran saw it funny, and said, Han Wen, is there anything else you want to say to me?

Zhang Ting lowered his head as if hesitating for a moment, then raised his head and said with a shy smile: "Sir, the winter solstice will be in a few days. My father said that you haven't had a good time with you since you came back. He wants to invite you to come to my house for dinner on the day of the winter solstice. No." It's very late, and I will definitely send you back home before closing the city gate. However, I have already told my father that it is the end of the year, and your bookstore is very busy now, so you may not have time to come... So sir, look , if you really don't have time, it doesn't matter."

"This..." Xiao Ran was indeed hesitant.

He really wanted to return to the peaceful life with Zhang Ting in the past, master and apprentice were enough, but subconsciously, for various reasons, he didn't want to get as close as before with Zhang Ting.Bai Ye didn't know that Xiao Ran couldn't really forget the past. If a memory has been deeply rooted in his bones, how can you erase it?Grind to ashes?He might be able to pretend that he didn't mind Bai Ye's harm to him back then, or Zhang Ting's deception, but he couldn't lie to himself that he really had completely forgotten everything.

However, he couldn't be cruel enough to reject Zhang Ting who was begging him with a forced smile and eyes.During this period of time, Zhang Ting was almost cautious towards him, as if every word and every word had been carefully considered, and he tried his best not to let himself mention any things that would remind people of the past. Liquor", "deception" and other words.

Sometimes, Zhang Ting's prudence to curry favor made Xiao Ran think of Bai Ye, but in Bai Ye's eyes there would not be Zhang Ting's unconscious begging to curry favor.

Xiao Ran believed that Zhang Ting really regretted it, what reason did he use to refuse his disciple to reform?Who has never been young and frivolous, not to mention that Zhang Ting did not commit an unforgivable crime. He kept saying that he believed him, so what did he do to make people believe him? He really believed him?

Taking another [-] steps back, Master Zhang has always taken good care of him.Ever since he and Qionghua first arrived in this village, Master Zhang was the first person who was willing to hand over his child to him. The tuition he gave far exceeded the market price at that time. They also preserved Xiao Ran's dignity as a literati.

He left suddenly two years ago, and when he came back at the beginning of the year, Mr. Zhang actually apologized to him, saying that he didn't keep his house well, and that it was taken by strong people, and he didn't do a good job.

How can Xiao Ran allow such a respectable old man to take care of him wholeheartedly?How can the entanglements I have with Zhang Ting compare to the kindness Master Zhang has shown me?

Looking up, meeting Zhang Ting's anxious eyes, he finally smiled. "Okay, on the day of the winter solstice, Xiao Ran will come over to chat."

61 chapter

When he got home, Bai Ye hadn't come back yet, and it was almost time for dinner when he saw Bai Ye walking in slowly with his hands behind his back.

With that haughty demeanor coupled with a handsome appearance, this is Bai Yuyan Luo, Bai Ye, who makes people's hearts tremble in the world.

But as soon as he saw Xiao Ran who was helping to arrange the dishes in the hall, Bai Ye's sternness disappeared, and he happily said "Xiao Ran", and he had already entered the hall, with his hands hugging Xiao Ran's waist and chin from behind. rested on his shoulders.

"I came back early today, I thought that Hanwen would talk to you for a long time again."

The servants of the White Mansion are all eye-catching at first, and they are all used to seeing how their second master is intimate with Mr. Xiao, so they don't think so, and they are doing their own things.

But Xiao Ran felt that he would never be able to learn Bai Ye's kind of arrogant arrogance, nor could he learn the indifference of the servants in the Bai Mansion who would turn a blind eye and turn a blind eye. After twisting a few times, it was more like flirting in Bai Ye's heart. He couldn't help hugging him even tighter, biting his earlobe and whispering in his ear.

"Don't twist it anymore, you made me angry, I will drag you back to the room now, do you believe it or not?"

When he said that "hot", he deliberately rubbed his crotch against Xiao Ran's buttocks, which made Xiao Ran stiffen in place and did not dare to move again. His appearance made Bai Ye laugh, and after kissing him on the cheek Let go of him. "Okay, can we eat now?"

Pulling Xiao Ran to sit down on the seat, he took a bowl of radish pork rib soup, took a sip, praised the deliciousness, handed it to Xiao Ran for him to drink, and refilled the bowl himself. "I asked Aunt Wang to stew the pork rib soup for an afternoon today. You should drink more. Today, the master Niu in the door sent some Thai and black-bone chickens in the afternoon. I asked them to kill one and stew it for you. I remember You said you liked it last time."

"Yeah, I read in a book that black-bone chickens are mild in nature and suitable for health and bone health. But it is said that black-bone chickens are only found in certain places, so it's not easy to get them. It's rare that you can find the place of origin."

"Hehe, since it's what you want, I will naturally help you do it." He said it lightly, as if nothing was worth worrying about for Xiao Ran. "Then you can eat more later. The chicken legs are yours, the wings are yours... hey, it's all yours, just give me the neck, I want the feet too."

"Where can I eat so much, let's eat together. Don't pick out the radish, it's tasteless, what else do you pick?"

"But I don't like to eat... Well, I can eat radishes. You can eat these ribs."

"I won't be able to eat after a while..."

"Then drink some wine. Shi Er, go warm up a pot of wine and serve it." Bai Ye ordered, and spooned a few more ribs into Xiao Ran's bowl. "Eat more, everyone says you are skinny, and you still eat so little. It's fun, you can even order the dishes and serve them up."

"Hey, don't give it to me anymore, I can't eat it anymore!"

"Okay, don't eat, don't eat, eat vegetables later." While talking, he spooned two more yuan for him. "When I came back earlier, I asked them to stew a custard for you. It was stewed according to the method you taught me before, with diced carrots and mashed shrimp. You can try the taste later, is it the one you mentioned? .”

"There are only so many kinds of egg custard, even if it is not, it will not be too bad."

"But I like to eat the kind you used to cook for me."

Someone blushed, and his voice became softer. "Then if you like it, I'll cook it for you later."

At this time, several servants came in with hot dishes, placed them on the table one by one, and then retreated. Shi Er also came in with a tin jug, poured a small cup for each of them, and put the jug away. Shelved it in hot water and retreated, not forgetting to close the door.

Bai Ye picked up a chopstick of baby spinach and gave it to Xiao Ran. Seeing him frowning but still eating it all, he smiled happily. "You come back so late now, if you want to burn some time-consuming things for me, how can I be willing?"

This time, Xiao Ran's ears were a little red, and he quickly picked up a piece of chicken drumstick for Bai Ye and put it on his plate. "Eat, eat quickly!"

Bai Ye laughed loudly, deliberately waved the chopstick chicken in front of Li Ran before putting it into his mouth, and smiled at Li Ran with a mouthful of white teeth. "Xiao Ran, are you trying to use it to plug my mouth? There's not enough chicken, why don't you give me a kiss?"

Seeing Xiao Ran almost buried his face in the bowl in embarrassment, Bai Ye laughed so hard that he couldn't straighten up. "Okay, okay, I won't quarrel with you, come and eat quickly, you will have a stomachache if you eat it when it's cold."

Bai Ye drank a few sips of wine, stared at Xiao Ran eating the stewed black-bone chicken, and suddenly felt that such a peaceful and warm life might have been dismissed by him in the past, but now, he is willing to put in all his thoughts, only wishing that this ordinary life Life can go on forever, and the person in front of me can always be with me.

"By the way, Xiao Ran, how do you plan to spend the winter solstice this time? You must go and sweep Qionghua's tomb, or don't open the shop that day, or don't go? I will ask Mr. Liu to help you Look at the shop, you go to visit the tomb in the morning, I invited the juggling troupe to the mansion in the afternoon, and I also made an appointment for the theater troupe in the evening, hehe, you will definitely like it if it is so lively."

Hearing this, Xiao Ran paused, and slowly put down his chopsticks, with his head still lowered, he said softly, "Winter Solstice, aren't you going home? Or go back to Jiankang City?"

"I told my family that I will go back during the Spring Festival. As for Jiankang City, I don't think there is a reason to say 'go back'. I never thought it was home, and I just passed by every time. Xiao Ran, maybe you don't I will believe that even back then, I preferred to stay by your side rather than Jiankang City. I feel very warm by your side, um, but..." Bai Ye also put down his chopsticks and looked at Xiao Ran. "You don't seem to want to spend the holiday with me?"

"No, it's not, it's just..." Xiao Ran bit his lower lip and shook his head.

Bai Ye smiled. "Oh, that's fine. But what do you mean by 'just'?"

"...Hanwen invited me to visit the residence during the winter solstice."

Bai Ye also put down the wine cup, turned his head to look at Xiao Ran, raised his lips, and smiled ironically. "And you, agreed."

Not interrogative sentences.Bai Ye knew Xiao Ran well, not to mention the way Xiao Ran was hesitating now, it was the words he said just now, Bai Ye also knew that if someone asked him, he would definitely agree.

Xiao Ran remained silent, and after a long time raised his head and said softly: "This has nothing to do with Hanwen, it was Master Zhang who invited me over to reminisce. Bai Ye, you don't know, Master Zhang..."

With a loud "bang", the table was overturned by Bai Ye, the cups and plates were messed up, and the soup was flowing. Xiao Ran just stared blankly at Bai Ye's ferocious face under the flickering candlelight.

"What does he do to you, what does it matter to me? Do you ever care what I do to you?"

He stood up, without looking at Xiao Ran, he got up and walked out, and stopped when he was almost at the door.

"Bai Ye..."

"Xiao Ran, I used to be ignorant and missed many festivals that I could spend with you. Now I understand, I cherish it, but you don't care about me anymore, do you? This is the first time I can spend with you The winter solstice we spent together, Xiao Ran, I’m not afraid of being laughed at by you, I’m really looking forward to it, I’ve thought about a lot of things you might like, I want to go to the grave with you, watch juggling with you, have dinner with you, and watch them at night Singing... But I forgot to ask you, do you want to live with me." He didn't turn around, and said quietly with his back to Xiao Ran who was still sitting stiffly on the seat, without too intense a tone, but Xiao Ran listened My heart is sour.

"Bai Ye, Hanwen told me that it won't be too late, and he will be back before closing the city gate. I'll accompany you to dinner and a show when I come back, okay?" He also stood up and rushed forward a few steps. He stopped behind Bai Ye and reached out his hand to pull Bai Ye's cuff while talking, but Bai Ye took a step forward as if eyes were born behind his back, avoiding his hand.

"what ever."

Before he finished speaking, the door of the room was pushed open by his palm, and the person disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Bai Ye, I really didn't know you would stay for the winter solstice..." Xiao Ran murmured in a low voice, but no one heard his explanation except himself.

From that day on, Xiao Ran and Bai Ye were in a strange state.

Like a cold war, but also like nothing to say.

However, if it was Bai Ye who was busy behind Xiao Ran in the past, now he is taking care of himself, but Xiao Ran's eyes will unconsciously look for Bai Ye.

Bai Ye always had a gloomy face, and he didn't often go to the bookstore, sometimes one of them left early, and only Kui Xi and Shi Er sent Xiao Ran back.

On this day, the night before the winter solstice, Deyilou sent a message, inviting Li Ran and the others to have a drink in the evening, it was their early holiday, Xiao Ran agreed, and when he turned his head to look at Bai Ye, Bai Ye turned his head away.In the afternoon, Bai Ye and shopkeeper Liu were still pleased with them, and they ordered a few words and left first.

Bai Ye still didn't come back until sunset, and Xiao Ran's eyes, which had been looking at the door from time to time since Bai Ye left, gradually became dim.Huxi signaled Mr. Liu to close the store, walked to Xiao Ran, and said in a low voice, "Young master, the second master said today that he won't go to Deyilou with you tonight. Let Shier and I take care of you."

"Yes, is that so? Then I will trouble you, you have to accompany me home late." Xiao Ran lowered his head, as if he had a wry smile.

"My lord is joking, this is what we should do."