Perfect Match – CH 103

Chapter 103 [Extra WHAT IF Chapter] The Young Man (3)

What was wrong? Why was she crying?

Teng Yue took two steps forward, wanting to ask, when he saw Xiuniang come out.

“Young Lady, please do not cry. Master does not want you to go up the mountain, but it’s for your own good. You twisted your ankle, and you cannot even walk properly. How can you go up the mountain?”

They did not see him through the signboard of Deng’s Pharmacy.

But Teng Yue heard Xiuniang’s words clearly.

Twisted your ankle? Did she twist her ankle yesterday morning when she went down the mountain, but did not say a word the whole way?

Teng Yue was astonished. No matter how he tried to recall yesterday’s events, he could not find anything strange about them. He had been so careless…

He also heard Xiuniang say that her father would not let her go up the mountain because he had heard that a large tiger had come from the mountains outside the city.

“No wonder Master is worried and angry. The young lady has been incredibly unlucky lately. Yesterday, her purse was stolen on the road. She ran to catch the thief but failed and then suddenly tripped and twisted her ankle, falling headfirst into the egg stall, getting covered in egg white and yolk,” Xiuniang said, sniffing the air. “I can still smell a fishy odor on her today!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiuniang giggled, while the little girl cried even louder.

Teng Yue froze on the spot.

So she did not twist her ankle yesterday on her way down the mountain, but… He could not help but picture her tripping on the road while trying to catch the thief, falling headfirst into the egg stall’s basket, her head covered in eggshells, bewildered, the stall owner screaming in shock, and passersby laughing until their stomachs hurt…

Teng Yue really did not want to laugh, but he could not help it. He tried hard to keep his mouth shut, but fearing he would not be able to, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand to stop the sound.

She cried for a while longer in anger, then sat on the stone steps by the shop, oblivious to the people coming and going.

She was always so carefree, while Teng Yue had not felt this way in ages.

Just then, he heard a gurgling sound. He immediately clutched his stomach, only to realize the sound seemed to come from the other side, beyond the large wooden sign.

Had she been so busy arguing with her father that morning that she had not eaten?

Before the thought even settled, she stood up, leaning on the sign. “I am hungry! I want to eat!”

Xiuniang quickly stopped her. “Where are you going, young lady? Master said you cannot leave the city.”

She was so angry that she wanted to stomp her foot, but it was swollen like a bun. She muttered, “What city? I am just going to eat! Father’s too strict! Can I not even eat?”

She turned to the shop, but no one paid her any attention. She took it as agreement and limped towards the street.

Xiuniang, having no other choice, could only hand over her work to the young shop assistant and, supporting her, asked, “What would you like to eat, Young Lady?”

“I am not telling you.”

She was angry. Teng Yue, following behind them, saw her grumbling incessantly and chuckled inwardly.

Xiuniang chuckled and guessed, “Let me guess, Young Lady has been craving mutton soup lately. Could it be… she’s going to eat someone’s favorite cold rice dumplings?!”

Xiuniang’s tone shifted abruptly, and Teng Yue was genuinely taken aback, then saw her face flush.

“Sister Xiuniang is not a good person!”

Xiuniang giggled, and for some reason, Teng Yue’s ears began to burn.

She indeed went to his usual cold rice dumpling stall. Looking around, she saw no one and sat down dejectedly.

This stall was next to the ones selling steamed buns and porridge. Xiuniang bought some food and sat down with her.

“Do not be upset, Young Lady. Master will not let you go up the mountain, only for these few days. Once your foot is healed, he will not stop you.”

Xiuniang, unusually, did not tease her and earnestly offered a few words of advice.

Teng Yue heard her sigh deeply, her voice muffled.

“But I inquired at his military camp, and they said he’s going to a nearby garrison camp for martial arts practice in a couple of days, and who knows when he will return. Since I cannot go up the mountain now, I will not see him for almost half a month.”

Teng Yue stood to the side of the stall behind the two, surprised.

So that was why she inquired so much and argued with her father.

Teng Yue felt a slight, inexplicable pang of sadness. After his father and brother passed away, he could only be a lowly captain because of his young age. Although his mother said he was conserving his energy and honing his skills, everyone else thought the Teng family’s future was sealed.

No one cared about a lowly captain anymore. But she cared and still went to inquire…

Teng Yue’s gaze fell on her. Today she wore a light red dress embroidered with peach blossoms. The summer heat had her long hair pulled back, adorned with two peach blossom hairpins. Perhaps from crying, her hair was slightly loose, and the wind swept her stray hairs around her fair neck.

She seemed to sense the disturbance and smoothed them with her hand.

“At least let me see him before he leaves, alright? I…” Her voice trailed off. “I will miss him.”

The moment the words left her lips, Teng Yue’s heart skipped a beat.

He wanted to say that he was right behind her, that she only needed to turn around to see him, but… Why did they not know each other?

Teng Yue stood silently for a few moments, then turned and walked out from behind the stall onto the road.

…

Xiuniang handed chopsticks to the young lady. “It’s hard to say. Jinzhou City is not that big. You might see him just around the corner.”

The young lady said dejectedly, “He’s not the kind of person who likes to wander around aimlessly. Where could I possibly see him?”

But as soon as she finished speaking, Xiuniang suddenly exclaimed, “Young lady, turn around quickly! He…he’s here!”

Deng Ruyun did not believe it at all, taking a bite of her steamed bun. “You are just kidding me!”

Although she said she did not believe it, she could not help but turn her head for a glance. She froze completely at what she saw.

The young man was dressed in his early morning training clothes, carrying a bow and arrows, as if he had just come down from the mountain.

Deng Ruyun’s eyes widened. Why was he only arriving now? But that did not matter. How…how was he sitting at the table next to her?!

Deng Ruyun had almost never been this close to him before, so close that she could touch his arm with just a slight movement.

She had completely forgotten how to hold chopsticks, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her nose.

Seeing her like this, Xiuniang dared not say anything, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them.

In their eyes, Teng Yue knew nothing, but Teng Yue’s palms were also sweating profusely.

But she still had to eat; her stomach had been growling loudly with hunger.

He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat breakfast. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and saw that she had finally adjusted and continued eating as well.

The summer heat, along with the steam from the bamboo steamer, seemed to draw them closer, as if a narrow aisle no longer separated them and they were sitting at the same table.

It was clearly just a simple breakfast, but it felt like an entire day had passed.

Teng Yue did not know what she was thinking, but considering she would go elsewhere to inquire about his itinerary, it was better for him to tell her himself. After all, it was best for her to stay home and rest her foot, not to wander around, and certainly not to go up the mountain to look for him.

But how could he bring himself to say it?

Teng Yue could not help but turn his head slightly to glance at her.

But just one glance from him, and her hand froze, the steamed bun in her hand falling to the table with a thud.

Teng Yue: “…”

So stunned, she was like a rabbit that had run into a tree.

Teng Yue felt a mix of amusement and a pang of sadness. He did not dare look at her again, pretending to just casually turn his gaze away.

Breakfast was almost over, and if Teng Yue did not say anything soon, he should leave.

Just then, the stall owner, collecting dishes nearby, turned around and saw Teng Yue, a regular customer, and greeted him with a smile.

“Did you eat well, young sir?”

He asked, and she heard the young sir of the Teng family reply.

“I ate very well. But I am leaving for Xi’an the day after tomorrow morning, and I will not be back until the third day of next month, about two weeks from now.”

He rattled off so much in one breath that the stall owner was momentarily stunned.

He wondered if he had asked those questions.

Teng Yue’s face flushed with embarrassment, but fortunately, the stall owner did not mind, chuckling and saying, “Then come back soon, young sir!”

“Alright, thank you.”

Teng Yue replied, but his eyes kept glancing at the person at the next table.

She seemed genuinely stunned, frozen in place with her bun in her mouth, until Xiuniang excitedly whispered something.

“That’s good, young lady; you do not need to ask anymore!”

She finally came to her senses, but her first reaction was to shush her.

Teng Yue felt a weight lifted from his heart. He finished the rest of his porridge, put down the coins, and stood up.

He turned and walked past her, seemingly casually, his gaze catching the glistening beads of sweat on her nose. He shook his head in amusement.

He left with his bow and arrows on his back. Deng Ruyun finally breathed a sigh of relief, but she was still somewhat dazed.

“Heavens… does this count as him telling me himself?!”

Xiuniang quickly replied, “Yes, yes, yes!”

The little girl smiled sweetly, “I think so too… even though it’s fake.”

*

The next day, she indeed did not come; after all, her foot was so swollen, she could not possibly come.

Teng Yue found the forest unusually quiet. Even the occasional wild rabbits, birds, and animal sounds seemed to have vanished, leaving only him practicing his spear and archery.

Teng Yue finished his training early and went down the mountain.

The next day, he went with the army to a nearby garrison for martial arts practice. He did not see her again. As he led his horse out, he could not help but look again and again towards the road leading south of the city, but she did not come.

This time, although the army’s trip was ostensibly for martial arts practice, the real purpose was to suppress a bandit group. This bandit group not only robbed and plundered, but they had also been repeatedly caught secretly transporting military supplies. However, who received the supplies and where they went remained a mystery.

These bandits were quite cunning. They roamed around various places, and every garrison had sent troops to suppress them, yet they seemed to have eyes in the military camp, always managing to get advance notice before they left.

So this time, even Teng Yue thought it was just a military exercise, but unexpectedly, they suddenly turned around and headed straight for the bandits’ hideout.

Teng Yue had first “spoken” to someone that he would return on the third day of next month, but this time, the bandit suppression would be carried out by surprise, perhaps in three to five days.

And Teng Yue’s prediction was spot on. This time, they finally surrounded the bandits in their mountain stronghold. However, these bandits put up a stubborn resistance, and even with reinforcements from the garrison, it took a full four days to kill and capture most of them.

The leader was dead, and Teng Yue’s capture of the second-in-command was considered the greatest achievement. His superior, a Baihu Commander, was an old soldier who had served under his father and now had white hair. Originally, the army had sent him to mislead the bandits, but unexpectedly, Teng Yue had gained the greatest merit. The old Baihu Commander immediately reported his achievement, and once he retired, the position of Baihu Commander was undoubtedly his.

Thus, when Teng Yue returned to the city, red flowers and colorful flags were hung at the city gates. The people of the city, seeing them return after capturing bandits, all stopped to welcome them.

The streets were packed with people. Teng Yue’s eyes searched through the crowd, but there were too many, and everyone was pushing and shoving to see what the bandits looked like. It was so crowded that no one could see clearly.

Because he was preoccupied with searching, he inadvertently fell to the back of the line.

Could it be that because it had not been long enough, and her foot had not healed yet, her father would not let her join the fun?

That was possible.

Teng Yue could only suppress his excitement slightly. But now that he was at the back, the girls who were not interested in the bandits all turned to look at him, not only staring but also discussing him.

Teng Yue had occasionally been looked at by girls before, but never by so many, and some of them even threw handkerchiefs and embroidered pouches at him.

The officers nearby chuckled, “Our Commander Teng is young and unmarried. If you all throw them away, who knows, his marriage might just be born!”

Teng Yue felt uneasy upon hearing this. Sure enough, after the officers finished laughing, the number of people throwing handkerchiefs and embroidered pouches at him doubled, and the whole group burst into laughter. Teng Yue could no longer speak and could only dodge left and right.

Just then, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd.

Teng Yue froze instantly. If he had not been sitting on Cangju’s back, he would have been too stiff to move.

She was here too… So she must have seen all these girls throwing things at him?

Teng Yue’s face flushed, but then he saw her being jostled and suddenly stumbled backward.

Her foot was clearly still injured; if Xiuniang had not caught her from behind, she would have fallen.

Teng Yue’s heart skipped a beat. Amidst the clamor, he caught Xiuniang’s voice.

“Why are so many people throwing handkerchiefs and sachets at him? Has he become famous? Does everyone in Jinzhou know him now?”

She was a little dazed, then forced a smile and said to Xiuniang, “This is a good thing.”

She said this, but Teng Yue inexplicably detected a hint of desolation in her voice.

He knew what she meant. She was happy for him, but before, only she knew him and cared about him. Now it was different. So many people knew him, and she began to seem so insignificant in the crowd.

Teng Yue paused, turning to look directly at her.

But she had just turned her face away, saying to Xiuniang, “Then let’s stand at the back.”

Xiuniang disagreed, “What are you afraid of, Young Lady? I will support you from behind. You do not need to give way to them. Let’s throw our handkerchiefs too; maybe we will hit Commander Teng.”

Hearing this, Teng Yue looked at her again. He saw her hesitate for a moment, but then she pulled a white embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve.

“Sister Xiuniang, you are right!”

As soon as she finished speaking, she folded her handkerchief into a small white square. The handkerchief, seemingly carrying the renewed smile from her eyes and brows, flew straight towards him.

Halfway through its flight, it unfolded into a white butterfly. Amidst countless embroidered pouches of handkerchiefs thrown by others, Teng Yue, no longer dodging, suddenly reached out and caught the white butterfly’s wings.

A sudden murmur arose from the crowd on the street.

Teng Yue took a deep breath, grasped her handkerchief, and looked directly at her again.

This time, should they not get to know each other properly?

For a fleeting moment, he felt their gazes meet across the crowd, almost touching in mid-air.

But the next instant, she abruptly turned around.

“Oh! I have to run!”

With that, she darted into a nearby alley.

Teng Yue: “…”

Running away so fast, did she not even want her handkerchief anymore?

And what about her courage?

*

Even after returning home from the military camp, Teng Yue did not know what to say about her behavior, but just thinking about it made him want to laugh.

She was probably about as bold as a wild rabbit in the forest.

And as fast as a rabbit.

He took the white handkerchief from his sleeve. The handkerchief was spotless, probably newly embroidered. Most people’s handkerchiefs were embroidered with flowers and plants, but hers had a basket embroidered in the corner, filled with a clump of tall herbs.

Teng Yue’s fingertips brushed against the embroidery, touching the flowers, then he quickly withdrew them. Even though there was no one else in the room, his face flushed, and his heart pounded.

He quickly folded the handkerchief and placed it under his pillow.

His mother and sister were overjoyed by his achievement, and a grand family feast was held that evening. They ate and talked until the night air grew cool before dispersing.

But the next morning, Teng Yue still rose before dawn and went to the mountains outside the city.

He did not know if she would come, but he had changed into a brand new set of clothes and replaced his usual casual wooden hairpin with a jade-inlaid silver one.

Dawn soon broke. Teng Yue’s archery practice was somewhat distracted, but he immediately heard footsteps in the forest.

The young man straightened his back, held his breath, and fired five arrows into the bullseye in quick succession. The resounding shots were exceptionally clear in the morning forest.

Teng Yue heard her let out a soft “Ah!” He smiled secretly behind his back.

But how long would it take for them to get to know each other? They could not keep pretending not to know each other forever, could they?

Teng Yue pondered the matter carefully but could not find a suitable opportunity.

Teng Yue could not help but sigh. Even after he’d used up all his arrows, she refused to come out. He could only pack his things and take her down the mountain, intending to find another opportunity.

However, just as he turned to leave, he suddenly heard a noise behind him.

He glanced discreetly out of the corner of his eye and saw the timid rabbit behind the old cypress tree suddenly emerge. Taking advantage of his turning away while drinking water, she suddenly picked up a short arrow he had overlooked.

It was the arrow he had missed, the one he had carelessly discarded, yet she picked it up, secretly clutched it in her hand, and turned to go back behind the old cypress tree.

A sudden thought flashed through Teng Yue’s mind.

If not now, when?

He would catch this timid rabbit today!

“Please wait, young lady.”

His words struck her like a thunderbolt, and she froze.

“I…I am sorry. I…I am not a thief!”

Teng Yue chuckled inwardly, but seeing her pale face, as if she were about to cry, his heart tightened.

He quickly said, “I did not consider you a thief. It’s just an arrow. Take it if you want, after all…”

His words made her cautiously look up at him. Her thick eyelashes fluttered, tickling his heart.

Teng Yue finished speaking.

“After all…I also found your embroidered handkerchief yesterday.”

In the woods, Deng Ruyun, who had been incredibly nervous, thinking she had messed everything up today, was surprised by his sudden words.

Then, he carefully took her white embroidered handkerchief from his robes.

Deng Ruyun: ?!