Chapter 274 - 272: You Deserve All the Most Beautiful Things in This World

Chapter 274: Chapter 272: You Deserve All the Most Beautiful Things in This World

Xiao Yi slightly paused, looking at her with an amused yet helpless expression. Was she in a feverish daze?

He grasped her hand in return and gently tucked it back into the warm quilt, his eyebrows slightly furrowed with a hint of reproach, saying, "The weather is cold, don’t just leave your hand out."

When he touched her forehead just now, it was indeed still a bit warm.

He should have gone to see her after his duty ended yesterday, but instead, he went to stake out by the cliff himself and didn’t even know to bring an extra piece of clothing.

She truly was more worrisome than Chang Xiao.

Hearing the man’s chiding words, Xu Jing inexplicably felt a bit wronged.

She didn’t casually leave her hand out; it was, in fact, the first time today she had voluntarily extended her hand.

Seeing the woman’s direct gaze at him, Xiao Yi’s heart softened involuntarily, and he softly said, "Take good care of yourself. Chang Xiao heard you were ill and was very worried, kept insisting to come with me."

If he wasn’t worried that Xu Jing’s cold might infect Chang Xiao, Xiao Yi would’ve almost been persuaded by him.

Xu Jing looked at Xiao Yi eagerly and suddenly asked, "And what about you?"

Chang Xiao cares about me, but what about you?

Xiao Yi was stunned, almost couldn’t resist reaching out to touch her, but in the end, he restrained himself and softly said, "Of course I’m worried about you too."

Only then did Xu Jing feel satisfied and succumbed to the overwhelming drowsiness, closing her eyes while mumbling, "Tomorrow, you have to come see me too..."

Such a Xu Jing acting coquettishly was something Chunyang and Chunxiang had never seen before. Chunyang couldn’t help but laugh, saying, "Today, when this servant was wiping the lady’s body, the lady was looking around as if searching for someone. This servant wondered whom the lady was looking for, turns out it was for Vice Minister Xiao."

Xiao Yi straightened up, glanced down at the now peacefully sleeping woman, the corners of his mouth lifting imperceptibly, saying, "Really?"

Was she looking for him or for another person in this household?

Were those words meant for him or for someone else?

Realizing his thoughts were increasingly losing control, heading towards a dangerous direction, Xiao Yi quickly clenched his fists, pulled the quilt corner over Xu Jing, and turned to Chunyang and Chunxiang, saying, "I’m heading back now. Take good care of your lady."

Chunyang promptly responded and personally saw Xiao Yi out.

After resting for an entire day, Xu Jing finally felt somewhat rejuvenated when she woke up the following day, even able to take a few steps.

However, her spirits were still somewhat fuzzy. After breakfast, she suddenly asked, "Did Vice Minister Xiao come last night?"

Chunyang was slightly stunned, then laughed at her, saying, "Lady, did you burn yourself into amnesia? Vice Minister Xiao came and stood by your bed for quite a while, and you even acted coquettishly with him."

Coquettishly?!

Xu Jing was slightly startled. To whom were those words being referred? Her?! Her grandfather often teased her for being so strong-willed as a girl, not even knowing how to act coy.

Chunyang must be speaking nonsense! She hastily tried to recall the events of last night, but apart from her inexplicably reaching out to grab Xiao Yi, she couldn’t remember anything else.

Come to think of it, why did she grab Xiao Yi?

Once more, Xu Jing found herself in a daze.

The days of recuperation were bound to be boring.

Throughout the day, Xu Jing was forced by Xu Sihai to stay in her room, and she couldn’t even go out to see her little disciples.

So she continued writing the future development plan for Xinglin Hall.

She started writing this plan early on when she sent Cheng Xianbai and Cheng Qingqing back to Anping County to reopen Xinglin Hall.

Now the initial worries about staffing and sourcing medicinal materials had been resolved, and Xinglin Hall was ready to take another step forward.

The little female doctors she was training now were, at most, ten years old. She couldn’t wait for them to master their skills before expanding Xinglin Hall. In fact, she had already instructed Cheng Xianbai to find more suitable doctors for training, and the Zhou Family could continue to lend doctors to them.

Xu Jing was considering opening a branch first, but she didn’t want to rush into Western Capital, as Tianyi Hall had just established itself there, and it wasn’t the right time for Xinglin Hall to enter Western Capital.

Xu Jing thought about finding a suitable place in the nearby counties near Anping County to open a branch so it would be easier to manage.

Once they found a mode that suited them, opening subsequent branches would be simple.

As Xu Jing delved into her work with single-minded focus, by the time she finished, dusk was setting in.

She had just tidied up the items on her desk when the gentle voice of Xu Huan’an suddenly came from outside, "Jing, may I come in?"

Xu Jing paused slightly and immediately instructed Chunyang to bring Xu Huan’an in. After draping an outer garment over herself, she walked to the small hall, smiling, "Cousin."

Today, Xu Sihai, Xu Huai Yang, and Xu Huaijin all visited her, except for Xu Huan’an.

She found it peculiar.

Looking at her, Xu Huan’an gently smiled, saying, "Jing, sit down. You’ve just recovered; it’s not good to stand for too long."

Xu Jing looked helpless. Today, all the Xu Family members treated her like a delicate snow doll that would shatter at any touch. How could she be this fragile? Also, being a doctor herself, how could she not understand her own physical condition?

However, under Xu Huan’an’s earnest and caring gaze, she could only sit down, smiling, "I thought cousin wouldn’t come to see me today."

"Of course not."

Xu Huan’an also sat across from her, stared at her for a moment, and suddenly said, "Yang’er and Jin’er have prepared wedding gifts for you. As your cousin, I can’t come with nothing."

Xu Jing was slightly taken aback.

Xu Huan’an looked deeply at her, his eyes reflecting a clear mix of unwillingness and affection, softly saying, "Jing, this will be the last time I ask you this question. Have you ever had feelings for me?"

If only he hadn’t been so useless back then.

If, on her fifteenth birthday, he had openly expressed his feelings to her.

Would their ending have been different?

This question, he had asked himself countless times over the years in secret.

Even though he knew how despicable it was to ask this question now, he still... couldn’t control himself, couldn’t willingly let go.

Xu Jing looked back at him, having somewhat anticipated him asking this question.

She and he also needed a definitive conclusion, so he could begin a new life.

She remained silent for a moment and finally said, "Yes, I did."

The former Xu Siniang indeed had.

She didn’t have the right to deny it on her behalf.

Xu Huan’an was stunned.

On hearing this answer, he should be happy, but instead, an immense pain and regret surged forth, twisting his heart, almost unbearable.

He couldn’t help but mock himself, wasn’t this self-torture?

Her candid admission only meant he had long ceased to exist in her heart.

In fact, he knew this very well, even understood that her heart now belonged to someone else.

Xu Huan’an quietly closed his eyes, and for a moment, neither spoke.

Thus, they didn’t notice a purple figure who, upon overhearing their conversation, turned and quietly left outside the door.

After a while, Xu Huan’an lifted his gaze to Xu Jing, forced a slight smile, took out an exquisitely embroidered red silk box from his sleeve, and softly said, "Jing, thank you, I’m already content with that sentence from you.

This is my wedding gift to you, wishing your future is filled with laughter and joy. You deserve the best in this world."