“I know.”
Yang Wan was silent for a while, then suddenly said, “Then do you know I want to cry now?”
Deng Ying was startled.
Looking up, he saw Yang Wan’s eyes were already red.
He quickly raised his sleeve, his shackles touching Yang Wan’s cheek.
“Don’t cry, Wanwan. No matter where I am in the future, I’ll do everything I can to come back and see you.”
“I just don’t want to believe you.”
“You should believe me. I promised Empress Ning, I dare not break my word.”
Yang Wan lowered her head and smiled bitterly, “Here I am, pushing you into a pit, and now you’re the one comforting me.”
She patted her face, “Anyway, when are you going to the Bai residence to make the arrest?”
“Day after tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
Yang Wan forced her voice to stay steady, “Before then, can we stay at your outer residence for a day…”
For some reason, though she had tried her best to keep her voice steady, it still trembled at the end.
Actually, before a storm, it’s best to avoid quiet places – the extreme contrast only hurts more. But Yang Wan masochistically wanted to be with Deng Ying.
“Is your place habitable now?”
“Yes.”
“Is the bed set up?”
“It is.”
“What about bedding?”
“All there.”
“Is there a place to bathe?”
“There is.”
Yang Wan smiled after hearing this, “Little Ying, just one day, then I’ll obediently return.”
They only stayed for one day.
For most of the time, they did nothing.
Deng Ying’s outer residence was cleaned up by Qin Wende and several factory guards. Because Deng Ying didn’t have extra money, the room only had necessary furniture and no other decorations.
The bed was wooden, covered with gray bedding. The cotton quilt was new, still somewhat stiff.
A thin layer of dust covered the floor.
After entering the room, Deng Ying took a broom and slowly began sweeping. The sound of chains scraping against the floor was constant, so much so that Yang Wan didn’t even hear when it started raining outside.
She knelt on the bed, making it up.
“Deng Ying.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you want to sleep on the inside or outside?”
Deng Ying straightened up, “The outside.”
“Alright.”
Yang Wan picked up a pillow, “I’ll give you this softer pillow.”
Deng Ying put down the broom, “Wanwan, are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“I had Qin Wende bring some ingredients, let me cook something for you.”
Yang Wan put on her shoes and got off the bed, “Can you cook?”
“A little. I learned from Li Yu these past couple of years, though I’m not very good.”
He went to the courtyard and brought in the vegetables and rice from in front of the wooden gate.
A faint rain scent drifted into the room, and Yang Wan finally noticed it had started drizzling outside, like silk threads.
A white mist rose in the courtyard, everything was quiet except for the dragging sound of Deng Ying’s restraints.
Deng Ying rolled up his sleeves and squatted down, taking out the ingredients one by one.
Yang Wan said, “Why don’t I cook instead?”
Deng Ying smiled, “Wanwan, can we not have noodles today?”
Yang Wan said, “Little Ying, are you complaining that I only know how to make noodles?”
“I’m not.”