I Don't Want You to Marry Her

With light, quick steps, Bai Ruxue ran down from She Mountain and returned to the village.

As soon as Bai Ruxue entered the village, a crowd of older women swarmed around her.

"Ruxue, congratulations! Your Xiao Mo passed the provincial exam!"

"Ruxue, you're going to be a Juren's wife now!"

"When Xiao Mo becomes a high-ranking official, don't let him forget all of us aunties and cousins!"

The women chattered away, one after another.

Bai Ruxue's eyes lit up. "Did Xiao Mo really pass?"

"Of course! Not only did he pass, but he even became the Jieyuan—the very top! The county magistrate came too."

"Ruxue, you should've seen how respectfully the county magistrate treated Xiao Mo. Usually, it's other people who have to be that respectful to him."

"Brother Mo really is Wen Qu Star descended to earth!"

Listening to everyone praise Xiao Mo, Bai Ruxue felt sweetness bloom in her heart.

She didn't know what passing the provincial exam meant.

But she knew Xiao Mo had accomplished what he'd set out to do, and he must be very happy.

If Xiao Mo was happy, then she was happy too.

Just as Bai Ruxue was about to run home and make him a delicious meal to celebrate, Widow Wang from the north of the village spotted her and hurried over.

"Ruxue, this is terrible! The county magistrate is trying to arrange a marriage for Xiao Mo. He wants to marry his daughter to him!"

"Huh?" The women all froze.

Aunt Chen was the first to react. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting, Wang Mei? Where did you hear that rumor?"

"How is it a rumor?" Widow Wang slapped her thigh. "I was just passing by Brother Mo's courtyard and happened to hear it!"

"This..."

"Ruxue, don't worry. Maybe Wang Mei heard wrong."

"That's right, Ruxue. You've taken such good care of Xiao Mo. He'd never let you down."

Everyone hurried to comfort Bai Ruxue.

They had all seen how well Bai Ruxue cared for Xiao Mo.

"That may be true, but she is the county magistrate's daughter, after all. If I were Brother Mo..." A young married woman murmured from the side.

But before she could finish, the others glared at her.

"Aunt Chen, Aunt Wang, I... I'm fine." Bai Ruxue smiled faintly. "Xiao Mo passed the provincial exam. I should be happy for him. I'll go cook for him and celebrate."

She smiled at everyone, then started walking.

But seeing the girl's dejected figure, everyone knew there was no way she was fine.

Still, what could they do?

Ruxue was certainly pretty, but she was only a girl from an ordinary family.

What man could possibly turn down the county magistrate's daughter?

Bai Ruxue walked home.

She didn't know what she was feeling.

Her mind was simply a mess.

Of course, she knew what marriage meant.

It meant a man and a woman being together, never to part.

If Xiao Mo marries another woman, will I have to leave him?

Will Xiao Mo agree to marry the county magistrate's daughter?

Will Xiao Mo stop wanting me?

The more she thought about it, the more tangled her thoughts became.

Just as Bai Ruxue was nearing the courtyard, she saw Xiao Mo saying goodbye to a man in official robes.

She quickly ducked behind a large rock.

Seeing the two of them talking so amicably, Bai Ruxue's heart sank.

Could Xiao Mo already have agreed to marry his daughter?

Only after the county magistrate had left did Bai Ruxue slowly get up and return to the courtyard.

"Ruxue, you're back."

"Mm."

"I have good news for you. I passed the provincial exam."

"Mm."

"Ruxue, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Xiao Mo asked when he saw her keeping her head lowered.

"No... Nothing happened. I... I'll go cook. I'll make you a good meal to celebrate." Bai Ruxue shook her head and ran into the kitchen.

Less than half an hour later, Bai Ruxue came out carrying the dishes.

Xiao Mo saw the fragrant, mouthwatering saliva chicken and eagerly took a bite. He nearly choked to death on the salt.

"Xiao Mo, what's wrong?" Bai Ruxue hurriedly poured him a glass of water.

"Try it yourself." Xiao Mo put a piece in her bowl.

Bai Ruxue took a bite, and her face turned green.

"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!"

She hurriedly spat out the chicken.

"I... I accidentally shook my hand and added too much salt. Xiao Mo, try this instead." Bai Ruxue put a stalk of greens in his bowl.

Xiao Mo took a bite. His expression turned complicated too. "Ruxue, did you forget to salt the greens?"

"Huh? Then try this." Bai Ruxue added a piece of rabbit meat to his bowl.

"This rabbit is way too sour!" Xiao Mo could barely take it. "How much vinegar did you put in?"

"I... I'll make you something else." Bai Ruxue ran back to the kitchen.

The second meal Bai Ruxue made was all right.

But as she ate, she seemed utterly lost, scooping rice into her mouth over and over and forgetting to pick up anything else.

While washing the dishes, Bai Ruxue broke two plates.

When hanging up the laundry, she picked up the clothes, put them on the drying rack, then took them down again and put them back in the basin.

Over and over.

While sweeping the courtyard, she swept the same spot again and again.

Xiao Mo was certain she had something on her mind.

After night fell and they finished dinner, Bai Ruxue didn't go back to her room to sleep. She just sat in the courtyard, gazing up at the stars.

Xiao Mo came out of the room with a book and gently tapped Bai Ruxue on the head.

Bai Ruxue jumped, then shot Xiao Mo an annoyed look with her peach-blossom eyes. "You scared me! What are you doing?"

"I should be asking you that. You've been listless all day. Come on, tell me what happened." Xiao Mo put on a stern face.

"I... Nothing happened." Bai Ruxue turned her little head away.

"Really?"

"Really!"

"If nothing happened, then forget it. Sigh..." Xiao Mo sighed. "I thought I mattered a lot to you, and that you'd tell me everything. Looks like I was just flattering myself."

Just as Xiao Mo turned sadly to go back to his room, Bai Ruxue gently caught the hem of his shirt.

The girl lowered her head and said softly, "No... It's not like that."

"Then why won't you tell me?"

"I... I..." Bai Ruxue hesitated, almost burying her head in her chest.

Xiao Mo didn't rush her. He simply waited for her answer.

"Xiao Mo." The girl seemed to summon all her courage. She raised her head and asked nervously, "The county magistrate wants to marry his daughter to you, right?"

"How did you know?" Xiao Mo was taken aback.

"I... I heard." Bai Ruxue's eyes wavered. "Are you going to marry her?"

"Miss Bai, do you think I should marry her?"

Bai Ruxue lowered her head again and fell silent, her little hands gently rubbing the hem of his shirt.

After a long while, the girl's voice came as softly as the evening breeze. "I... I don't want you to marry her."

"Silly girl."

Xiao Mo pinched the girl's soft, fair cheek.

"Then I won't."