To tame someone, you must cultivate a habit in them. This habit should be unexpected yet slightly touching, something that keeps them anticipating without exhausting themselves. Mingyi chose to wait for him at the entrance of the estate.
The Ji family mansion was located at the end of Erjiu Street, rarely visited by outsiders. Although spacious, it was dimly lit at night, with light only visible ten zhang away from the mansion. Mingyi donned a thin silk robe over a frost-colored gauze dress and held a glass lantern adorned with honey-colored flowers and dangling pearls. She stood quietly at a spot where the beast-drawn carriage would first catch her best side profile.
Xun Momo, following a short distance behind, noticed the night breeze and frowned slightly. “Miss, you should wear something thicker.”
Mingyi chuckled softly, “This is just right, I’m not cold.” The thinner the dress, the more dreamlike it appeared in the night breeze.
Ji Bozai didn’t need an unattractive woman waiting for him at the entrance; he desired a beauty who could captivate him at first glance. The light gauze on her arm fluttered in the wind, exuding an ethereal charm, while the tightly fastened floral buttons on her robe gave an impression of domestic virtue. Mingyi lifted her face, her delicate features glowing like jade in the orange light.
These were all tailored to Ji Bozai’s preferences. Thus, when Ji Bozai returned in his open-top beast carriage, his gaze changed the moment he saw her. He sat up straight, staring at her intently, and before the carriage could approach, he dismounted and walked over to her. “Why are you here?”
“Sir sent word today that you’d be late,” Mingyi replied with a bright smile. “I thought the stars would be dim by this hour, and since your carriage is open, I came to light your way.”
She took his arm and handed him the lantern, playfully saying, “I didn’t expect to be so lucky to meet you just as I came out.”
Her bright eyes and white teeth were all focused on him. For the first time, Ji Bozai felt a bit flustered under someone’s gaze. His tone was calm, but his grip tightened slightly. “Don’t wait next time; it’s dark and cold outside.”
“Okay,” Mingyi agreed obediently. She agreed, but the next night, she was there again. By the third, fourth, and fifth nights, Ji Bozai stopped telling her not to wait and instead brought her a cloak or some hairpins.
However, those around him seemed unaccustomed to this change. After drinking with Yan Xiao, Ji Bozai, slightly tipsy, paused before getting into his carriage and glanced at the quiet street outside. Then he turned to Yan Xiao, “Do you have any interesting trinkets lately?”
Yan Xiao replied meaningfully, “There are a few girls from Feihua City…”
“I’m not talking about people,” Ji Bozai interrupted, waving his hand. “Anything else?”
Yan Xiao was puzzled. “What else could interest you besides people?”
Ji Bozai looked at him disdainfully. “Is your mind filled with nothing but women? I’m talking about gadgets or mechanisms, or even jewelry.”
It sounded like he was looking for a gift for someone. Yan Xiao was confused. “You never used to think of anyone when you went out. Bringing back gifts is one thing, but I’ve noticed you don’t even hold the wine-serving girls anymore. Are you settling down as Shuzhong Lin suggested?”
Ji Bozai chuckled. “Of course not.” He just felt a bit guilty when he met her expectant gaze, so he brought back a small gift to repay her.
No matter the value, Mingyi was always delighted, her eyes shining as she accepted it, then softly took his hand, making him feel warm inside. What did those trivial gifts matter?
“Enough talk, do you have anything?” He tapped the crossbar of the carriage.
Yan Xiao shook his head. “I have nothing but herbs. You should check the street.”
At this hour, the shops were long closed. Ji Bozai frowned and had his men drive around nearby, but after half an hour, he found nothing. With no other choice, he returned home empty-handed.
As he approached, it suddenly began to rain heavily. Ji Bozai used his dark domain to shield the entire carriage effortlessly, but he thought of the girl waiting at the entrance. She didn’t have Yuan Power, and in such heavy rain, she’d be soaked even with an umbrella. She probably wouldn’t wait today. After all, he had no gift, so it was just as well if she didn’t wait.
Despite this thought, he couldn’t help but keep an eye on the road ahead. The surroundings were pitch black, his silver qilin walking quietly in front, the rain loud, the road muddy, and the wind strong, all making for a less than pleasant mood.
As he neared the mansion, he instinctively looked away from the entrance. Unexpectedly, a warm orange light pierced through the rain, catching his peripheral vision. His heart tightened, then slowly expanded as he turned to look directly at her.
Mingyi wore a jade-colored wide-skirt dress with the green cloak he had given her, holding a magpie octagonal lantern in one hand and slightly lifting her skirt with the other, anxiously looking his way. Xun Momo held an umbrella for her, but it was of little use; both were half-soaked.
Seeing him, she relaxed and waved cheerfully. His pupils contracted, and he immediately extended his hand, casting a large dark domain over her, shielding her from the rain.
The powerful aura overwhelmed Mingyi, leaving her momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered and smiled as she approached him. “I was worried you didn’t have an umbrella, but I forgot your Yuan Power is boundless.”
Her hair was dotted with water droplets, yet she smiled. “I didn’t expect to be so lucky to meet you just as I came out.”
Lying, given her drenched state, she hadn’t just come out; she just didn’t want him to worry. Ji Bozai felt a bit guilty. “I didn’t find anything to bring you today.”
Mingyi waved it off. “In such heavy rain, where could you go to bring anything? It’s enough that you’re back. I’ll go make some ginger tea.”
He hadn’t been touched by a drop of rain, so why would he need ginger tea? But she, her lips were turning pale. Watching the dimples form on her smiling face, Ji Bozai suddenly lost control, scooping her up and striding forward.
“Ah?” Mingyi was startled, clinging to his neck, a bit flustered. “Where are we going?”
Ji Bozai didn’t answer, carrying her back to Liuzhao Pavilion, where he removed her soaked clothes and held her close, warming her with his Yuan Power. His Yuan Power was pure black, strong, and solid, instantly dispelling the cold.
Mingyi was dumbfounded. Practitioners of Yuan Power were reluctant to waste it, yet here he was, using a large amount for something a hot bath could solve. His power, like him, wrapped tightly around her, warming every inch of her skin.