Ning Xian has reached out to her.
"Change it if you want."
"How does senior know?"
"You stopped."
She returned the previous stone to the shore, picked up the new one, and weighed it in her hands.
"I want this piece."
"There will be more later."
"I won't watch anymore."
Dugu Yan walked forward holding the stone. When he passed another shoal, he still turned his head and glanced.
Ning Xian didn't rush her.
She noticed his gaze and immediately came back and took his hand.
"I really won't change it."
There is a low grassy slope beside the lake.
When the two of them walked to the slope, Dugu Yan's skirt was already stained with a lot of grass seeds.
She wanted to lower her head to pick it, but there was something in her hand.
Ning Xian took the stone.
She freed her hands and carefully picked the grass seeds from the fabric.
One was hidden in the pleats of the skirt and was hooked a little tighter.
Just as she was about to exert force, Ning Xian leaned over and pressed the fabric.
"Don't bullshit."
His fingertips pried away the tiny barbs, and the grass seeds immediately fell.
There are no gaps left in the skirt.
Dugu Yan looked down at him and stopped moving his hands.
Ning Xian raised his eyes.
"Where else?"
"No more."
She lowered her skirt and took another step closer to him.
"Senior, am I in trouble?"
Ning Xian handed the wrapped stone back to her hands.
"You're just asking now?"
The smile on her face stopped for a moment, and then she reached out to hold him again.
"It's too late."
"What?"
"The wooden sign has been hung up and the flowers have been planted. I will come here every day from now on."
Ning Xian did not pull away his arm.
She hugged him more firmly, stepped on the flat land on the shore, and walked back to the Begonia Tree with him.
Thin clouds gathered in the sky.
When the first drop of rain fell on the wooden sign, Dugu Yan immediately reached out to protect it.
Ning Xian pulled her to his side.
"The ink has dried."
"It will fall off if you keep it in the shower for a long time."
A wisp of Mystic Yellow Radiance passed over the edge of the wood chip.
Raindrops fell on it and rolled down along the wood grain without soaking into the writing.
Only then did she put down her hands.
"That's good."
Ning Xian Open an umbrella.
The umbrella cover blocked the rain, and the umbrella handle fell between the two of them.
Dugu Yan took a step towards him and put the stone in his arms into Soul Tool.
She raised her hand and held it under Ning Xian's hand holding the umbrella.
"Senior, let's walk slower."
"Don't want to go back?"
"I want to go back, but there's no need to rush."
The rain fell on the lake, and dense circles spread out.
She gathered the hem of her skirt in her other hand and pressed her shoulder against Ning Xian's arm.
The edge of the umbrella was leaning toward her.
Dugu Yan saw his outer sleeves exposed outside the umbrella, so he gently pushed the umbrella handle upright.
"Seniors should also cover up."
"The rain won't catch me."
"That's covered too."
Ning Xian followed her and held the umbrella between the two of them.
Xuanhuang Realm Gate opens on the shore.
Dugu Yan looked back before leaving.
The wooden sign hangs firmly.
The flower branches have been washed by the rain, and the pink and white petals have not fallen.
Only then did she step through the door.
East Courtyard Under the eaves.
Liu Erlong was putting the clothes to dry into the bamboo basket. When he saw the two people coming back, he put the basket next to him.
"Is it raining in the tower?"
Dugu Yan nodded, put the umbrella away, and put it up at the corner of the eaves.
"Only a little."
Liu Erlong looked at the hem of her skirt.
"Are you looking at flowers or digging in the soil?"
She glanced down.
On the light green skirt, mud spots and grass marks were crowded together, and the rubbed areas were more conspicuous than the unrubbed areas.
Dugu Yan Tucked the skirt corners behind her.
"I picked up a stone."
"Go change clothes first."
Ning Xian handed the wooden box to her.
She took it, took two steps, and then turned back to give instructions.
"Senior, don't wash the stones for me, I will do it myself."
"Already washed."
"You still need to dry it off."
After she finished speaking, she entered the house.
Ning Xian sat down on the porch and put Celadon Gourd at hand.
After a while, Dugu Yan changed into a moon-white dress and came out.
A light green belt is tied around the waist, and the cuffs are narrowed so that they no longer sweep over the edge of the table when walking.
She did not tie her hair again, but tied her long hair behind her with a hair tie.
Ning Xian looked at the cloth in her hand.
"Specially used to clean stones?"
"This one is old, so I won't worry about it getting dirty."
She put the stone on the small table, turned it over, and carefully wiped away the water droplets in the recesses.
Liu Erlong brought hot tea and put down a small plate of peeled chestnuts.
Dugu Yan picked up one first and brought it to Ning Xian.
"Senior, give it a try."
Ning Xian took the chestnut.
She took one herself and continued rubbing the stone.
After the last trace of water dried, she took some white paper and pressed the stone against the corner of the paper.
A gust of wind blew outside the corridor.
The edges of the paper lifted up, but the place where the stone pressed them did not move.
Dugu Yan turned to look at him.
"Easy to use."
"Hmm."
She put the wooden box next to the paper and placed the pen and ink on the other side.
After everything was arranged, there was only one place left on the small table to put the tea cup.
Dugu Yan looked at it for a moment and took the initiative to put the wooden box back on his lap.
"This is left to the seniors."
Ning Xian put down the tea, but pushed the chestnut plate in front of her.
"Eat first, then clean up after finishing."
She picked up a chestnut, peeled off the thin skin remaining on the edge, and put it into his palm.
"This one is not broken."
Ning Xian After eating, she picked up her own tea.
The moon-white cuffs brushed against the back of his hands.
Dugu Yan didn't move away, just held the tea cup steady and sat down against him.
The sunlight outside the corridor illuminates the crabapple branches.
She looked at the stones on the table and suddenly turned her face again.
"Senior, I want to change the wooden sign to a longer rope tomorrow."
"That one is enough for today."
"Then don't change it."
She agreed, fastened the wooden box and placed it beside her knees.
Ning Xian picked up the gourd and she caught the stopper for him.
After he finished drinking, Dugu Yan plugged the mouth of the gourd again and pushed the plate of chestnuts between the two of them.
"Senior, there are more here."
There are five chestnuts left on the porch.
Dugu Yan turned the plate half a circle, picked out the largest one, peeled off the thin skin, and put it next to Ning Xian.
"Senior, each of us will have half of these last few."
Ning Xian looked at the plate.
"How to divide five pieces?"
"Three for you, two for me."
She pushed aside the chestnuts and divided them into two small piles.
Ning Xian did not go to get it immediately, but instead glanced at the wooden box beside her knees.
"Your things haven't been collected yet."
Dugu Yan followed his gaze and lowered her head.
White paper, pen and ink, wooden box, plus the newly picked stone, already took up most of the table.
She put the chestnuts into her mouth, washed the pen first, and hung it on the pen holder.
There is still a little ink left in the inkstone.
She picked it up, looked at it, and put it back down.
"Senior, can't this be poured into a flower pot?"
"What do you think?"
"I'll ask Erlong."
She stood up holding the inkstone, walked to the corridor entrance, and then turned back.
Ning Xian raised his eyes.
Dugu Yan pointed at the three chestnuts in his hand.
"Senior, remember to eat."
"Want to come back to check?"
"I want to put away the dishes."
After she finished speaking, she laughed first and walked to the backyard holding the inkstone.
Backyard.
Liu Erlong is collecting red beans in the bamboo sieve.
Dugu Yan Wash the inkstone, put down the cuffs, and look at the chopping board.
A ball of kneaded dough is placed in a wooden basin and covered with a wet cloth.
"Erlong, what's for dinner?"
"Steam some red bean paste buns and make a pot of porridge."
Liu Erlong Pour the red beans into the small pot.
"You eat noodles at lunch and change them at night."
Dugu Yan Put the inkstone in a clean place and approach the wooden basin.
"Are steamed buns difficult to make?"
"A few more steps than making an omelette."
She pursed her lips.
"You still remember the egg."
"Master, hasn't he finished eating?"
"After he finished eating, he didn't say that I fried it well."
Dugu Yan looked at it for a moment, then stretched out a finger and gently pressed it against the dough.
The soft face sank a little.
She took her hand back, but the fingerprint did not disappear immediately.
"I can learn this."
Liu Erlong handed over an apron.
"Wash your hands first."
She washed her hands as instructed and unfolded her apron.
The plain cloth covers the moon-white dress, but the lace at the back of the waist is too long.
She touched it twice with her backhand, but failed to touch the other end.
"I'll come."
Liu Erlong tied it up for her and pushed her long hair hanging on her chest back.
"You cut the noodles first, and I'll go check out the bean paste."
Dugu Yan Roll up your sleeves and put a small ball of dough on the chopping board.
She followed Liu Erlong's action just now, rolled it into long strips, and then separated it with a knife.
The first piece is big.
The second piece is smaller.
She put the third piece in the middle and bowed her head for a long time.
"Do you need to practice this too?"
"You can weigh me first."
Liu Erlong Put the small scale on the corner of the table.
But she didn't go to get it.
Dugu Yan Pick off a little bit from the big dough, add it to the smaller piece, and knead it into a round shape again.
"I'll try again."
Ning Xian When she came to the backyard, she was holding a rolling pin and pushing a piece of dough longer and longer.
Dugu Yan heard footsteps and looked up.
"Senior, why are you here?"
"Waiting for you to put away the dishes."
In his hand, he was holding the empty chestnut plate.
She took a look, and her eyes immediately became filled with smiles.
"Eat all three?"
"Eat."
Ning Xian put the plate aside and moved his eyes to the chopping board.
"What are you doing?"
Dugu Yan lowered his head.
The dough is wide at one end and narrow at the other, and the circle is no longer visible.
She moved the rolling pin to the side.
"I was going to make red bean paste buns."
"Originally?"
"It's not wrapped yet."
She kneaded the dough back into a ball and flattened it again.
Ning Xian stood beside her and watched her put down the rolling pin again.
This time, she only pushed forward a little, then turned the dough and changed its direction.
The dough gradually spreads out.
She stopped and picked it up to show him.
"This is the picture."
"Too thin in the middle."
Dugu Yan Put your face towards the sun.
A small patch of light shines through in the center, but the edges are thickly overlapped.
She looked down at her hands.
"I obviously didn't use much force."
Ning Xian took the rolling pin.
"Keep your hand pressed in the middle."
He took another piece of dough, pressed it open slightly, and then pushed it inward from the edge.
The dough turned under his fingers and soon became a round dough.
Dugu Yan looked closer and his sleeve brushed against his wrist.
"Senior, can you still do this?"
"It's not difficult."
She looked at the one in her hand and then at the one he had made.
"You say it's not difficult now, but it's even harder for me to learn."
Ning Xian handed the rolling pin back to her.
"Just do it."
She took another piece of dough, imitated his movements, and rolled out the edges first.
I pushed the rolling pin halfway and the dough stuck to the wood.
Dugu Yan Stop.
Ning Xian took some dry noodles from the side and sprinkled them on the chopping board.
She took off the dough, but her fingertips were stained with a layer of white powder.
"Senior, my hand."
"Wash."
"I'm not done yet."
"Then do it first."
She raised her hand to push the hair away from her face.
Ning Xian took the first step and tucked it behind her ears.
Dugu Yan did not move again.
She turned her face sideways and looked at the person next to her.
"Senior, stand closer."
"It's close enough."
"I also want to watch your hands and learn."
Ning Xian looked at the rolling pin in her hand.
"Let's see the face first."
She then lowered her head and moved the dough back to the edge of the chopping board.
When Liu Erlong came over with bean paste, six pieces of dough were already placed in front of them.
The sizes are not the same.
Dugu Yan put three of them aside alone.
"I rolled these three sheets."
"I can see that."
Liu Erlong took one piece, scooped out bean paste, and pinched pleats along the edge.
Dugu Yan stood nearby, his eyes following the movements of her hands.
"Only put so much stuffing?"
"There are too many to cover."
She nodded and picked up her first piece of dough.
When putting the bean paste on, she remembered to only use half a spoon.
But when I pinched it to the closing point, the two sides never came together.
Dugu Yan held the bun and turned to Ning Xian.
"Senior, it's open."
Ning Xian looked down.
She pinched the edge of the dough into a small circle, with dark red bean paste exposed in the center.
"Take the skin up, don't just pinch the edges."
She followed his instructions and held the bottom again.
Ning Xian stretched out his hand and brought the last two pieces of dough together.
Dugu Yan's fingertips closed together and lightly touched his fingers.
The mouth was finally sealed.
But she didn't let go immediately.
"Senior, who did this?"
"Yours."
"But you helped too."
She put the buns in the steamer, deliberately placing them on the outside.
"Then let's take half of this one each."
Ning Xian looks towards the steamer.
"You can divide it before steaming it."
"Divide them first to avoid getting the wrong ones."
The second bun is more upright than the first.
Dugu Yan After pinching it, I looked at it carefully twice and pressed a red bean on the top.
Liu Erlong moved the remaining bean paste to her hand.
"Who is this for?"
"To senior."
She answered quickly.
Ning Xian Fold up the remaining cuffs at her wrists.
"What about your own?"
"I'll do it again."
She wrapped four in a row, and when she closed the last one, she realized that there was very little filling.
Dugu Yan looked down and didn't add anything more.
"Leave this to me."
"Why?"
"I just tried the red bean paste twice and I've had enough."
Liu Erlong Close the steamer and bring it to the stove.
She followed him for two steps and was pulled by Ning Xian's cuffs.
"Apron."
Dugu Yan turned around and saw a lot of dry noodles on his waist.
She raised her hands to untie the laces, and the plain cloth fell down, but the skirt was still clean.
Ning Xian took the apron and put it aside.
She looked at his sleeves and suddenly stopped.
There is a little light red on the cuffs of the white clothes.
When she just finished speaking, the bean paste on her fingertips touched her.
Dugu Yan stretched out his hand and gently lifted up the piece of clothing.
"Senior, I made it dirty."
"Saw it."
"I'll wash it for you."
"Wash your hands first."
She spread her hands.
The flour is stained on the palm of the hand, and there is still a little bean paste between the fingers.
Dugu Yan looked at it for a moment, then turned and walked towards the basin.
East Courtyard.
The daylight recedes onto the courtyard wall.
Dugu Yan brought clean water, soaked a clean cloth and wring out the excess water.
Ning Xian was sitting on the porch, her sleeves flat on the edge of the small table.
She bent down and slowly wiped along the bean paste.
The red became lighter.
She replaced it with a clean cloth.
"Senior, don't move."
"I didn't move."
"Move your hand this way."
Ning Xian followed the instructions and moved half an inch.
She held up her sleeves again, her moon-white collar gently pulled up as she leaned over, and the tail of her hanging hair was swept to the corner of the table.