Jiang Fa opened his eyes, let out a long breath of turbid air, felt that the blood in his body was thicker, and raised the corners of his mouth slightly.
He got up and put on his coat, opened the door and went out to prepare to go to the dining room for dinner.
As soon as I walked to the edge of the martial arts arena, I saw a familiar figure squatting in front of an iron wooden stake, staring at a wooden stake in a daze.
Tang Jiner.
She was wearing a moon-white outfit, her long hair was tied up high, exposing a section of her fair neck, and she was squatting on the ground like a lost little rabbit.
Jiang Fa walked through the martial arts arena without squinting his eyes and walking unhurriedly.
As soon as he walked around the row of iron and wooden piles, there was a sound of brisk footsteps behind him.
"Senior Brother Jiang!"
Tang Jin'er caught up with him at some point and trotted half a step behind him, panting slightly.
Jiang Fa did not stop, but tilted his head slightly. "Is something wrong?"
"Are you going to the dining room to eat?" she asked.
"Hmm."
"I'll go too."
Tang Jin'er didn't wait for him to agree, and just walked beside him, her legs flying so fast that she could barely keep up with his pace.
The two of them walked through the martial arts arena and walked along the bluestone road to the dining room.
Tang Jin'er turned her face to look at him secretly.
When she was in Tang Mansion, she only had eyes for Meng Chang and didn't pay attention to his appearance at all.
This was the first time that she looked at Jiang Fa carefully at such a close distance.
He had an excellent bone structure, with high brow bones, a straight nose bridge, and a sharp jaw line. His whole face exuded a sharpness and calmness that is rare for young people.
Tang Jin'er's eyes slid down unconsciously and landed on the lines on the side of his neck.
His neck is slender and strong, his Adam's apple is slightly raised, and his skin has been tanned to a light honey color due to years of martial arts training, and has a very faint sheen under the morning sun.
Further down, there are broad and straight shoulders.
The black suit was worn on his body, and it was made clear by the muscles, especially the back and arms. Every rise and fall looked like it was chiseled out with a knife and an axe.
Tang Jin'er's face suddenly felt a little hot.
She hurriedly looked away, her little heart beating wildly.
But the more he dared not look at it, the more the scene just appeared in his mind.
"Tang Jin'er, what are you thinking about..."
She scolded herself in her heart.
Jiang Fa noticed the sight next to him, his brows wrinkled imperceptibly, and his pace quickened a bit.
Tang Jin'er was caught off guard and was pulled away by half a step. She quickly followed him, but this time she didn't look at him secretly. She just lowered her head and stared at her toes. The tips of her ears were so red that they were about to bleed.
The two walked in silence for a while.
"You don't need to stand today?"
Jiang Fa suddenly spoke.
Tang Jin'er didn't expect that he would take the initiative to speak. She was overjoyed and quickly raised her head. "Senior Brother Wang said... that I just made a breakthrough yesterday and that I can take a break in the past two days and don't have to go to the martial arts field so early."
Jiang Fa said "hmm",
In the past few days, the matter about Tang Jin'er's superior bone has been making a fuss in the martial arts hall.
He was really surprised at this girl's talent.
Thinking that she had worked so hard to enter the inner courtyard, and she had only been there for less than a month,
It's really irritating to see people compare to each other.
Tang Jin'er glanced at him secretly, and seeing that his expression was as usual, she couldn't help but move half a step towards him.
"Senior Brother Jiang, do you go to the dining room at this time every day?"
"Almost."
"Then I will come at this time from now on!"
Jiang Fa paused in his steps and turned his head to look at her.
Tang Jin'er felt a little guilty when he saw it, and quickly waved her hand. "I... I just think it's boring to eat alone. When I was at home, I used to eat together as a family, but when I came to the martial arts gym, it became deserted."
Jiang Fa withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.
"Whatever you want."
Tang Jin'er's eyes suddenly turned into crescent moons.
In her opinion, if you don't refuse, you agree.
The two of them entered the dining room one after the other.
There were already many disciples sitting on the long table in the dining room. Some were immersed in eating, and some were chatting and laughing together in twos and threes.
Jiang Fa sat down on the empty seat in the back with two bowls of brown rice and a bowl of stew.
Tang Jin'er sat opposite him, with only a bowl of porridge and a small plate of pickled vegetables in front of her.
"That's all you eat?" Jiang Fa looked at her in surprise.
"I can't eat much in the morning."
Tang Jin'er explained absentmindedly.
It was the first time she faced him at such a close distance.
Tang Jin'er has lived so long that she has met many men with outstanding looks.
Which of the rich men on Clear River Town is not well-dressed, well-fed, and well-raised?
But those people are good-looking, and they always have a powdery air that has been softened by wealth. They are like finely carved ornaments placed in a shop, which cannot withstand scrutiny.
Jiang Fa is different.
His beauty is like a well-honed knife.
The brow bones are high, the eye sockets are slightly deep, and the bridge of the nose is straight from the base to the tip of the nose, as if measured with a ruler.
Her thin lips were pursed tightly, with a naturally cold curve, and she looked particularly distant when she wasn't smiling.
The most beautiful thing is those eyes.
The eyes were so dark that they sucked in the light without any reflection, like two ancient wells whose bottoms could not be seen.
Tang Jin'er was so absorbed in watching it that she even forgot to drink the porridge.
"What are you staring at me for?"
Jiang Fa suddenly raised his head, and their eyes met.
Tang Jin'er lowered her head suddenly, her face instantly burning up.
"... No, no, I was just thinking about something."
Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's, and she nervously stirred the spoon around in the bowl.
Jiang Fa frowned, did not ask any further questions, and continued to eat with his head down.
A bowl of rice was eaten out after a few mouthfuls, and the stew in the bowl was swept away.
He put down his chopsticks and glanced at her. "It will get cold if you don't eat it."
"Oh oh..."
She hurriedly scooped a spoonful of porridge and put it into her mouth. It was so hot that she breathed in, but she was too embarrassed to spit it out. She held it in her mouth and gasped.
Jiang Fa is a little helpless,
This girl looks very smart, why is she getting more and more stupid?
He poured a bowl of herbal tea and pushed it over.
Tears welled up in the corners of Tang Jin'er's eyes. She took the tea bowl and took two sips before suppressing the burning sensation.
"Why are you panicking?" Jiang Fa was speechless.
Tang Jin'er put down the tea bowl, lowered her head, and rubbed her fingers on the rim of the bowl for a long time, as if she had made a huge decision.
"Senior Brother Jiang."
Tang Jin'er took a deep breath and lowered her voice so low that it could only be heard between the two of them.
"Meng Chang and I... have nothing to do with each other anymore."
She didn't dare to look into Jiang Fa's eyes, she just stared at the half bowl of cold porridge in the bowl.
"Before, I was young and ignorant, and was blinded by his sweet words. I admit, I did... did have a crush on him at that time."
Her voice became softer and softer,
"But there is nothing wrong between me and him."
Jiang Fa was stunned for a moment.
He didn't expect that Tang Jin'er would suddenly mention this.
"Why are you telling me this?" He looked surprised.
Tang Jin'er raised her head suddenly, her eye circles already turning red.
"I'm afraid you might misunderstand."
She bit her lip, with an imperceptible tremor in her voice. "That day in the Tang Mansion, when you saw me and him... I was afraid you would think I was the kind of shameless woman."
Jiang Fa was silent for a moment.
That day at the Tang Mansion, Tang Jin'er was indeed very close to Meng Chang, and she even wanted to go with the man even at the risk of death.
But later, when Meng Chang tore off her clothes in public, Jiang Fa also saw her despair and collapse.
"I didn't think about it that way."
Jiang Fa shook his head.
"Really?" Tang Jin'er's eyes lit up, then dimmed again, "But why have you been avoiding me?"
"I'm practicing."
Jiang Fa repeated what he had said many times.
"I know." Tang Jin'er lowered his head, "But I'm still afraid that you will misunderstand."
She bit her lip, twisted her clothes with her fingers, and said in a small voice that was almost inaudible, "I... I only held hands with him once. As for the rest... I have never done anything inappropriate between him and me. I still... still..."
At the end of the sentence, she really couldn't speak out. Her whole face was red to the root of her neck, as if blood was about to ooze.
Jiang Fa Looking at her appearance, I didn't know what to think.
This little girl's courage,
Back then, I was able to go on a hunger strike, elope, and take drugs for Meng Chang. Now, sitting in front of him and saying these words, I was so embarrassed that I couldn't even raise my head.
"Okay, I get it."
Jiang Fa interrupted her.
Tang Jin'er raised her head and looked at him nervously. "Really?"
Jiang Fa nodded.
Tang Jin'er was relieved, and her tense shoulders suddenly collapsed.
She picked up the bowl of cool porridge, lowered her head and drank it in small sips.
Jiang Fa looked at her and wanted to say something, but felt that there was nothing to say.
He is not an ignorant person.
Tang Jin'er can sit here today and tell him these private things, and the thoughts behind it are extremely obvious.
It's just that now his mind is full of cultivation, so how can he spare any time to think about the love between his children?
What's more, his troubles haven't been resolved yet.
If Tang Jin'er is really involved, it will only harm her.
"Go back and rest after eating." Jiang Fa stood up and picked up his empty bowl, "You have just entered the inner courtyard and your foundation is not stable. Don't run around."
Tang Jin'er nodded like garlic, her eyes curved into two crescent moons. "Well, I'll go back to practice after eating!"
Jiang Fa said nothing more, turned around and walked out of the dining room.
Tang Jin'er watched him leave. It wasn't until the tall figure completely disappeared from the door that she reluctantly looked back.
She lowered her head and looked at the small half bowl of porridge left in the bowl. She didn't know what she thought of, and her cheeks turned red again.