Chapter 26

Wang Xiaojun and the other three rushed to Huichun Hall and hurried to the back courtyard room. Upon entering, they learned that Liu Wendong had not yet regained consciousness, but according to Lin Xiaoyu's examination, his vital signs were relatively stable. For now, all they could do was wait patiently. Seeing Hong Yan sitting by the bed, her eyes red from crying, Wang Xiaojun went up to comfort her a few times before stepping out with the others, leaving only Lin Xiaoyu and Hong Yan to watch over Liu Wendong. In the courtyard, Wang Xiaojun looked at the sky and saw it was already late, saying, "From the looks of it, Wendong should be out of danger. There's nothing more we can do by staying here. It's getting late, let's go have dinner first."

Although the group was still a bit worried, they knew staying wouldn't help, so they didn't insist. After a discussion, they decided that Qian Yuanshan would stay to provide security, and the others would bring food back after eating.

This dinner was a somber affair, as no one had much of an appetite. Wang Xiaojun and Xu Shaoran discussed and decided to arrange for Qian Yuanshan and Zeng Zhilin to stand guard at the clinic, in addition to Lin Xiaoyu and Hong Yan. The others would return to the inn to rest, and all other matters would be discussed after Liu Wendong woke up.

The next morning, the four staying at the inn hastily finished breakfast and rushed to Huichun Hall. Upon entering the back courtyard room, they saw Hong Yan, her eyes red, holding a small bowl and a spoon, feeding porridge to Liu Wendong, who was sitting on the bed. The four were delighted to see Liu Wendong awake and hurriedly approached to ask about his condition. The room quickly became chaotic, and Hong Yan pouted, complaining that everyone was disrupting Liu Wendong's breakfast. Seeing the girl upset, everyone fell silent. Wang Xiaojun smiled and led everyone out, saying they would wait for Liu Wendong to finish his porridge before coming back in.

Outside the room, Wang Xiaojun and Xu Shaoran learned from Lin Xiaoyu that Liu Wendong had already woken up the previous night but didn't go to the inn to inform them because it was too late. After detailed examinations by Lin Xiaoyu and Doctor Xue, Liu Wendong should be fine. He just needed to be observed for another day or two, and if the wound didn't become infected, he would be out of danger. Wang and Xu both sighed with relief, thanking heaven and earth. Wang Xiaojun estimated that Hong Yan had finished feeding the porridge and turned to go back into the room.

Xu Shaoran, however, didn't rush in. He looked at Lin Xiaoyu's red eyes and dark circles from lack of sleep and said with concern, "Since Wendong is out of danger, why don't you go back to the inn and rest? Your eyes are all red from staying up all night." Lin Xiaoyu didn't speak, just nodded slightly. She moved a little but didn't leave. Seeing that she wasn't leaving and her expression seemed hesitant, Xu Shaoran thought she might have something to say to him and asked expectantly, "Why aren't you leaving? Is there something you want to tell me?"

Lin Xiaoyu's face suddenly turned red, and after a long pause, she said something that Xu Shaoran didn't expect: "This... this... I'm not unwilling to leave, but I don't know the way back to the inn. How can I get there?" She then lowered her head, embarrassed, and fidgeted with the sleeves of her robe.

Xu Shaoran was taken aback by her answer, feeling a bit amused and exasperated. Liangxiang County was a small place, and for Doctor Lin to not know the way was surprising. It seemed the saying that women were directionally challenged had some truth to it. However, this gave him, Commander Xu, a good opportunity to escort Doctor Lin back to the inn. He knew many people were interested in pursuing Doctor Lin, and such one-on-one opportunities were rare. He decided to seize this chance. So, Commander Xu volunteered to personally escort Doctor Lin back to the inn. Lin Xiaoyu looked around and, seeing that Qian Yuanshan wasn't nearby, agreed. She could guess Xu Shaoran's intentions and didn't mind his actions. However, she had promised Qian Yuanshan that she wouldn't accept anyone else before giving him an answer, so she didn't want Qian Yuanshan to misunderstand. Xu Shaoran, seeing her agreement, went into the room to inform Wang Xiaojun and then took her out of Huichun Hall toward the inn.

By this time, Liangxiang County, after a night's rest, had returned to its bustling state. The streets were filled with people, and shops were doing brisk business. To prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival, people were diligently buying various goods. Fan Wucheng and You Yuan, sent by Wang Xiaojun, joined the shopping crowd to complete the tasks that Qingchen was supposed to handle. They, along with Zeng Zhilin, who was responsible for security, and two young Taoist boys from Yuxu Palace, went to the bustling North-South Street, following the shopping list Qingchen had provided. Having shopped with Qingchen multiple times, Fan Wucheng and You Yuan were familiar with the trading rules of this era. Both had sales backgrounds in their previous lives, so they were skilled at haggling. With their smooth talk and默契配合 (默契配合 means默契配合, which can be translated as "默契配合" or "默契配合"), they managed to confuse several shopkeepers and save a lot of money for Old Taoist Yuxu.

At this moment, the two were leaving a lantern shop, feeling quite pleased with themselves, as they and the Taoist boys loaded a dozen paper lanterns they had bought at a very low price onto a cart. As they loaded the lanterns, Zeng Zhilin, who had witnessed their haggling skills, couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable. He turned his head, filled with a sense of justice, and looked in another direction. He noticed two familiar figures standing at a hairpin stall. Upon closer inspection, he recognized Xu Shaoran and Lin Xiaoyu. Lin Xiaoyu seemed to be holding a hairpin, and the two were talking to the stall owner, likely haggling over the price. After a while, they seemed to have agreed on a price, and Xu Shaoran paid. The two then walked into a nearby small restaurant, looking very happy.

Seeing this, Zeng Zhilin felt a bit puzzled. Although he wasn't a gossip, he had heard from others about Qian Yuanshan's pursuit of Lin Xiaoyu. According to "well-informed" sources, Lin Xiaoyu had not immediately responded to Qian Yuanshan's bold confession but had promised to consider it seriously and not accept anyone else's advances before giving him an answer. However, what he was seeing now seemed to contradict Lin Xiaoyu's promise. Of course, the "well-informed" sources might not be entirely accurate, but Qian Yuanshan's pursuit of Lin Xiaoyu was definite. Now, with Xu Shaoran involved, the situation was getting complicated. For the team, unity was crucial. Any conflict over romantic issues could severely impact the team's development. This needed to be addressed before it escalated. He decided to discuss this with Wang Xiaojun as soon as possible to prevent any potential conflicts.

In the small restaurant, Xu Shaoran and Lin Xiaoyu were unaware that their actions had been observed by Zeng Zhilin. Lin Xiaoyu, who had been busy examining Liu Wendong all morning and hadn't had breakfast, was now enjoying the buns while praising their taste. Despite her hunger, Doctor Lin ate the buns with grace. Her small, cherry lips chewed slowly, and her beautiful face, elegant neck, and the refined demeanor of a mature, educated woman made her exude an irresistible charm. This charm might not be as appealing to young men like Wang Feng as the innocence of a girl like Zhong Ziqi, but it had a fatal allure for mature men like Xu Shaoran.

At first, Xu Shaoran was inwardly pleased to have such a good opportunity to be alone with Lin Xiaoyu. He had spontaneously bought her a hairpin at the street stall, and she had accepted it, indicating that he had gained an advantage in the competition. However, as he watched her eat, he became deeply captivated by her elegance. The scene before him was so beautiful and graceful that it was almost mesmerizing. Xu Shaoran stared at Lin Xiaoyu, not wanting to miss a single moment.

Lin Xiaoyu, sensing the change in the atmosphere with her woman's intuition, paused her eating and looked up. She suddenly noticed Xu Shaoran staring at her with an intense, entranced gaze. She blushed and scolded him, "What are you looking at? You're making it hard for me to eat."

Xu Shaoran, snapped out of his trance by her words, felt a bit awkward but didn't lose his composure. He looked straight into Lin Xiaoyu's eyes and said earnestly, "I'm looking at you. You are so beautiful and graceful that I can't help but be entranced. I'm not a lecherous man; I'm not flattering you to win your favor. My admiration for you is genuine. You are a goddess to me. I used to complain about my fate, being sent to this uncertain place. But now I realize that fate is fair. It has taken away many things I once had but has given me new opportunities, including the chance to be with you. If I can be with the goddess in my heart, this journey through time will be worth it. Will you give me this chance?"

Caught off guard by Xu Shaoran's passionate and rational declaration, Lin Xiaoyu was at a loss for words. Her feelings were more complex now than when Qian Yuanshan had confessed to her. Deep down, she was willing to accept Xu Shaoran, but she had already made a promise to Qian Yuanshan. Accepting Xu Shaoran now would seem unreasonable. After much thought, Lin Xiaoyu made a decision. She steadied her emotions and said, "Commander Xu—though the title no longer fits, everyone still calls you that—I understand your feelings and know they are sincere. But I hope you can give me some time and not pressure me to make a decision immediately. I..."

"I understand your concerns. Many people know about your relationship with Lieutenant Qian, including me. I know you are a woman of integrity, and I wouldn't want you to break your word for my sake. I will give you all the time you need to resolve your previous commitments," Xu Shaoran said, understanding what Lin Xiaoyu was about to say and not wanting to put her in a difficult position.

Lin Xiaoyu was deeply grateful for Xu Shaoran's understanding. She said softly, "Thank you. I will resolve my previous matters quickly." She then removed the bamboo hairpin from her hair and replaced it with the one Xu Shaoran had bought for her. She continued eating her buns, seemingly oblivious to Xu Shaoran's elated expression.