Chapter 118 – His Identity Was Exposed.
Early the next morning, the rain wasn’t as heavy as before, and the sky also began to clear; showing the sunshine behind the clouds. Xiao YuAn took a branch and poked the burning fire. At that moment, the fragrant aroma of two sweet potatoes stewed in the ashes filled the air.

Fortunately, when he encountered this cave while picking up medicinal herbs, at that time he thought that this was a good place to hide, so he put firewood and food inside in case of a rainy day. Otherwise, they would’ve starved.

The sweet potatoes in the ashes were steaming, so when Xiao YuAn picked one, he felt that it was way too hot, so he threw it back down. After waiting for the sweet potato to cool down, he removed the skin and gave it to Yan HeQing.

Yan HeQing nodded his head in thanks. After receiving the food, Yan HeQing didn’t rush to eat it. Instead, he asked Xiao YuAn: “What are you planning to do after this?”

“What am I going to do…?” Xiao YuAn mumbled with his hands behind his back. He then looked up at the rock wall of the cave and said: “The cabin must have collapsed, and we don’t have anywhere to go, so we should wait for the rain to stop and walk down the mountain while the weather is good. Moreover, my Shifu’s medical skills are better than mine, and he will certainly be able to cure your eyes.”

Yan HeQing’s hand holding the sweet potato trembled: “You’re willing to take me with you?”

“Ah…..” Xiao YuAn was stunned at first, and then he abruptly realized: In the original book, Yan HeQing never mentioned anything about the Southern Yan Kingdom, so Lin Shenling didn’t know his true identity, which was why she brought him back to Taoyuan Village. But this time, Yan HeQing had already mentioned to him that he was from the Southern Yan Kingdom, and that he’ll have to go back to the barracks.

So, in fact, did Yan HeQing still want to return to the Southern Yan Kingdom’s barracks?

“Do you want to go back to the Southern Yan Kingdom’s barracks that you mentioned before?” Xiao YuAn asked carefully.

Yan HeQing bit the sweet potato. After swallowing, he dropped his eyes and asked: “Do you hate me?”

Xiao YuAn was instantly shocked by this, and didn’t understand the meaning behind Yan HeQIng’s words: “Ah?”

Yan HeQing spoke slowly, word by word: “If you don’t hate me, then, can you take me with you?”

Xiao YuAn was confused. He was the “Third Female Lead”, so why would “he” hate Yan HeQing? Hate him for adding too many members to his harem? Hate that he has another wife and hadn’t told “him” yet?

‘Why is this script so wrong? Can someone tell me how I should answer that?!’

Yan HeQing swept two glances at the silent Xiao YuAn from the corner of his eyes. Then, he continued: “If you can’t stand to be near me anymore, and if you hate me, you should have pushed me away and not given me hope. Instead of an empty happiness, I’d rather you didn’t care about me.”

Xiao YuAn was slightly startled as he heard Yan HeQing continue talking: “You have to make a decision about my feelings before I’m willing to let you go. If I can see a little bit of hope, even if it’s faint, I would-….. wouldn’t know what to do.”

The unspoken words stupefied Xiao YuAn for a long while before he could reply: “I….”

However, Yan HeQing interrupted him softly: “I’m not trying to make you answer me, I just wanted to let you know.” ‘I just want to let you know that your innocence and carelessness is the happiness of half my lifetime.’

Xiao YuAn was afraid of saying the wrong thing, so he didn’t dare to speak again. He peeled the skin of the sweet potato, and then took two bites.

He didn’t know when the rain stopped outside, but the sunlight was shining through the thick clouds, casting a golden glow. Xiao YuAn finished the last bite of the sweet potato, ran out of the cave to bathe under the sunlight, stretched his back comfortably, and walked back into the cave.

Inside the dimly lit cave, Yan HeQing’s head was hung low, and his face was obscured by a shadow, making it impossible to see his expression. Suddenly, a hand extended over and grasped Yan HeQing’s hand.

Xiao YuAn gave him a warm smile: “Let’s go out, don’t be like this. The sun is shining outside, it’ll be better if we walk down the mountain now while we still can. I’ll hold your hand and make sure that you won’t fall.”

…

Meanwhile, in Taoyuan Village, after a long rainstorm the day before, the weather has finally gotten better and Zhang Baizhu came back from collecting the medicinal herbs. So, Lin Shenling didn’t need to go to the medicinal shop every day anymore to help with the shop and take care of Zhang Changsong.

The normally bustling residence was extra quiet now since Yang LiuAn and Xiao Fengyue took Xie Chungui to the Western Shu Kingdom for medical treatment. A few days ago, a letter came from them so Third Aunt didn’t have to worry. Lin Shenling was sitting in the courtyard, panting, while washing clothes. Third Aunt looked at the main door of the residence and said: “Oh, it’s been several days since YuAn went up the mountain, why hasn’t he come back yet?”

Lin Shenling wiped the sweat from her forehead and comforted her: “Auntie, don’t worry. Didn’t Baizhu bring back news last time that Xiao-gongzi was fine, and that he would come back later?”

“Ah, but, wasn’t it raining so heavily the day before yesterday? I’m worried about him, it’s not safe staying in the mountain like that.” Third Aunt sighed repeatedly.

Lin Shenling said as she wrung out the clothes that had been washed: “Auntie, don’t worry, beware of your health, worrying all day won’t make you good. Maybe Xiao-gongzi will be back sooner than we expect.”

Third Aunt said a few more words before heading to the inner room.

Lin Shenling washed her clothes, carried and dumped them a few times, and then hung them in the courtyard. While carrying the basin to pour the water outside the residence, and dumping the water, Lin Shenling took the basin and eased her breath. Just when she was about to turn around and walk back to the residence, she suddenly stopped.

Because she saw two people slowly coming from afar. And one of them was Xiao YuAn!

Lin Shenling raised her hand high and was about to shout Xiao YuAn’s name, but suddenly, she saw him make a gesture of silence. She panicked so much that she covered her mouth.

After seeing that Lin Shenling didn’t shout out his name, Xiao YuAn relaxed his breath, and half lead, half helped Yan HeQing into his residence.

About half an hour ago, Xiao YuAn had recovered his original voice, and when he thought that after he arrived at the residence he wouldn’t have to pretend to be Lin Shenling, he didn’t eat another small red fruit. Fortunately, Yan HeQing didn’t speak to him the whole time, which helped him avoid being exposed.

When Xiao YuAn saw Lin Shenling getting closed to them, Xiao YuAn couldn’t help but sigh inwardly with some mixed feelings: ‘It seems that I will have to stay at the clinic for the next few days.’ Moreover, this village is small, so he has to avoid accidentally meeting with Yan HeQing.

Unable to understand why she couldn’t speak, Lin Shenling blinked puzzlingly at Xiao YuAn. When she saw Xiao YuAn making another gesture, she put down the wash basin and carefully walked towards them.

Xiao YuAn took Lin Shenling’s hand and slowly handed it to Yan HeQing. He thought that after he gave some instructions to Lin Shenling, he would’ve served his purpose!

Just when Xiao YuAn saw that the Male Lead and the Third Female Lead were about to hold hands successfully, Yan HeQing suddenly and violently threw away his hand, making Xiao YuAn look up completely frightened. It was like a thunderbolt shocked him directly, making him freeze in place.