The Red Hand Rope

"Yes, it went quite smoothly... I even met some descendants of old friends."

Su Qing said with a smile:

"For me, this trip has been quite rewarding!"

"Sister Xiao Qing seems to... have deep feelings for this place?" Ao Ying said, looking at Su Qing's smile.

"After all, I lived here for a long time and saw off too many old friends here."

Su Qing shook her head slightly and said:

"But those are all past events, no need to mention them, lest they spoil the mood. If you want to hear them... I can tell you some other day."

Hearing this, Ao Ying just nodded and said:

"Then tell me when Sister Xiao Qing feels like talking! However, I really am curious about Sister Xiao Qing's past. Because! I want to understand Sister Xiao Qing more."

"Of course, if Sister Xiao Qing is willing, I can also tell Sister Xiao Qing about my past. Anything is fine."

Saying so, Ao Ying narrowed her eyes and smiled, saying:

"After all, I am Sister Xiao Qing's fiancée!"

Su Qing was stunned for a moment, then followed with a smile and a nod, saying:

"Then if there's a chance, tell me all about it."

Hearing this, Ao Ying nodded with a beaming smile and happily walked quickly to the front, stopping Su Qing.

"By the way, Sister Xiao Qing, I have something to give you."

"Oh? What is it?" Su Qing asked curiously.

"Just a little trinket I saw on the street."

As Ao Ying spoke, she took out a bracelet woven from red rope.

A medium-sized copper bell was tied to the bracelet; if shaken gently, a crisp ringing sound could be heard.

She took Su Qing's hand, placed the item in her palm, and said:

"The person who sold it to me said... this was woven from Yuelao's red threads, so... Sister Xiao Qing, if you wear it, then you'll be tied down by me!"

"..." Su Qing looked at the little trinket in her hand, smiled slightly, nodded, and said: "That's truly terrible. But I can't put it on with one hand, help me!"

Both Su Qing and Ao Ying knew that this was just the seller's sales pitch.

How could there possibly be Yuelao's red threads in this mortal world?

The reason Su Qing was still willing to cooperate with Ao Ying in saying these words...

Was simply because she sensed what Ao Ying truly wanted.

Sometimes, what a girl wants is just a gesture of commitment.

She was also a girl, so she understood this very well...

Even if she didn't understand romance all that much!

She could still guess it.

Su Qing's answer naturally suited Ao Ying's heart, and the smile on her face immediately became even happier.

She put down her bags and happily helped Su Qing put the bracelet on her hand.

After putting it on, Su Qing shook the little bell on her hand, making a crisp ringing sound, and said: "It really is quite pretty, thank you."

Ao Ying smiled slightly and said: "My taste has always been good."

"I agree with that!" Su Qing nodded and said.

However, Gongsun Zhixue, who was on the side, made a dissatisfied sound, saying:

"I don't agree~ I clearly helped pick it out too!"

"I know, I know~" Su Qing reached out and patted the little shorty's head, saying: "Wasn't I praising you too?"

"I couldn't tell!"

"Then you should find a doctor to check your ears; maybe it's a problem with your hearing."

"...How hateful, you really are holding a grudge."

"?" Su Qing smiled and ignored the little girl.

As for what she meant by holding a grudge, it was probably about her holding a grudge over the girl teasing her when she had just returned.

However, Su Qing wasn't holding a grudge over that matter.

She just simply wanted to bicker with her.

"Alright! Let's go. If we waste any more time, we won't even have a place to stay at an inn." Su Qing stretched and walked ahead with a beaming smile.

Leng Xiang followed silently behind Su Qing.

While Ao Ying pulled Gongsun Zhixue and said: "Let's go."

Gongsun Zhixue didn't want to spend the night outside either, so she followed obediently.

Su Qing and the others were lucky; when they arrived at the inn, it hadn't closed yet.

So they successfully checked into the inn.

Incidentally, while the cook was still there, they also settled dinner.

At night, Su Qing sat by the window on the second floor, leaning against it, weaving something by the moonlight.

She wasn't very good at this kind of work, so her efficiency was slow; it took half an hour before she barely managed to get it almost done.

Finally, just as Leng Xiang came in carrying washing water, Su Qing finished weaving the item completely.

Seeing Leng Xiang return, Su Qing called out: "Leng Xiang, come here for a moment!"

Hearing this, although Leng Xiang was puzzled, it was her master's call after all, so she had to respond, and she obediently came to Su Qing's side.

"Master? Is there something you need Leng Xiang to do?" Leng Xiang inquired.

Su Qing shook her head slightly and said: "Open your hand, I have something for you."

Leng Xiang looked confused but still obediently opened her hand.

Su Qing then placed the item she had just finished into Leng Xiang's hand.

It was a very simple red hand rope, without any decorations, just woven from red thread...

This red hand rope was quite similar to the one Ao Ying had given Su Qing that afternoon, the only difference being that it had no bell.

"Just a little something I wove myself~" Su Qing said with a beaming smile: "It's my first time, and I'm still not very good at it... but it shouldn't be too bad, right?"

Leng Xiang looked at the hand rope in her hand, then gripped it tightly and said: "Of course... of course it's not bad at all! Master made it very beautifully."

"Pfft~" Su Qing said: "How can a red rope be beautiful or not! It's just a small token of my heart. Put it on~ it should suit you quite well."

Hearing this, Leng Xiang nodded slightly and then put the hand rope on her wrist.

The fair wrist and the bright red hand rope complemented each other, making her appear even more slender and fair; it was quite nice.

Even though it was a simple decoration, it had a good effect.

And after putting on the hand rope, there seemed to be a faint, slight connection with Su Qing in an indistinct way...

It could be felt, yet not grasped.

Just like a butterfly drifting with the wind.

This feeling was very subtle.

At the same time, it made her realize that this hand rope was no ordinary object, and certainly not woven from common red rope.

"Not bad~" Su Qing smiled slightly, nodded, and said: "It's very suitable!"

"Thank you, Master..." Leng Xiang touched her own face and found it was slightly hot; she looked straight at Su Qing and said: "Master has been thoughtful."

Su Qing shook her head and said: "As long as you like it!"

"Alright! It's getting late, wash up and go to sleep! We should set off tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Master." Leng Xiang exhaled a breath of turbid air, nodded, and said.

A night without dreams...

Su Qing slept soundly, while someone else found it hard to sleep all night.

The next day, early morning.

Su Qing woke up early and found that Leng Xiang was no longer in the room.

But she didn't go looking for her, because Leng Xiang couldn't have gone too far.

She just walked to the window, and by the morning light, she took out the remaining two red threads from her Sleeve Universe and began weaving the remaining two hand ropes.