“Where are you going? Bring a stool over and sit down.”
“Wan-wan, I…”
“Take off your official robes too, and put on the shirt I made for you.”
“Wan-wan…”
“What’s wrong? I didn’t say I was going to scold you.”
Deng Ying stood up and, beside Yang Wan, raised his hands to undo the ties of his official robes, took off the outer robe, folded it on the bed, then took the shirt Yang Wan had made from behind the door and put it on.
Yang Wan propped her chin up watching Deng Ying’s movements and asked evenly, “You’ve changed into your official robes – did His Majesty summon you?”
Deng Ying lowered his head tying the strings, not daring to speak.
“At least make a sound, let me feel at ease.”
Deng Ying nodded while facing away from Yang Wan, “He summoned me.”
“That’s wonderful. When Qin Wende and the others hear about this, they’ll surely be happy for a while.”
“Mm.”
He was still answering very reluctantly, his movements becoming increasingly slow.
Yang Wan watched his back – even wearing the padded garment, he still looked thin-shouldered in those gray clothes.
Yang Wan tapped the book on her knee, and Deng Ying’s hands suddenly stopped.
“You’re waiting for me to ask what book this is, right?”
“No…”
“What book is this?”
Yang Wan interrupted Deng Ying, “The pages are worn thin from your reading.”
“I won’t read it anymore.”
“Put on your clothes and come sit down.”
Deng Ying helplessly brought the stool before Yang Wan, lifted his robes to sit, and placed both hands on his knees, with his gaze fixed on Yang Wan’s hand.
Yang Wan spread the book on Deng Ying’s knee and looked up to ask, “Do you want to be like this too?”
Deng Ying shook his head, then fell silent.
Yang Wan straightened up, “Deng Ying, I’m not forbidding you from this. I just can’t let you live like Chen Hua.”
She held up the pages as she spoke, “This book is beautifully drawn, but both its artist and readers are pitiful people. Deng Ying, you’re not sick anymore – you don’t need to hide alone to read secretly. I’ll teach you.”
Deng Ying quietly nodded.
“Return the book tomorrow.”
“I’ll go return it now.”
He started to stand up, but Yang Wan grabbed his sleeve, “Wait.”
Deng Ying stopped and turned back to see Yang Wan smiling helplessly at him, “I’ve only read half of it too, Deng Ying.”