Chapter 47: Original World II
"Original world?"
Wang Gege slowly stood up and looked toward Xie Rong.
He had already resumed walking as though nothing had happened. His expression remained as calm as ever beneath the black blindfold while he leisurely made his way through the bustling marketplace, showing no intention of stopping at any of the stalls.
"What original world?" she murmured softly, almost as though she were asking herself.
Seeing that he continued walking farther away, Wang Gege quickly hugged the paper bags against her chest and hurried after him.
"Husband!"
She caught up within a few steps before naturally walking beside him.
"Mm..." Xie Rong slightly turned his head toward her. His gaze briefly fell upon the pile of paper bags she was struggling to carry before he calmly called, "Mo Yan."
Almost the instant his voice fell, a figure silently appeared beside them.
Without a single word, Mo Yan respectfully took every paper bag from Wang Gege’s arms before disappearing back into the crowd as though he had never been there.
Wang Gege stood there blinking several times.
"Woah." She instinctively turned her head left and right, trying to locate Mo Yan’s figure once again.
Unfortunately, he had already vanished into the bustling crowd as though he had never appeared in the first place.
"How does he keep doing that?" She muttered to herself before scratching the side of her cheek. "Husband... are you paying him enough? I feel like he’s doing the work of three people."
Xie Rong frowned slightly, "Paying him?"
Wang Gege nodded matter-of-factly. "Of course. He follows you everywhere, protects you, carries your things, and appears whenever you call his name."
She counted on her fingers as she spoke, "That sounds exhausting."
Xie Rong remained silent for a brief moment before answering, "Mo Yan is this Young Master’s personal guard."
Wang Gege blinked, "Yes?"
"Protecting this Young Master is his duty." He continued explaining.
"Even carrying things?"
"Mm." Xie Rong nodded lightly.
Wang Gege pursed her lips.
"Still..." She glanced in the direction where Mo Yan had disappeared. "Being a personal guard is one thing, but being your bodyguard, porter, messenger, and shadow all at once..."
She shook her head sympathetically, "That’s a lot."
Xie Rong gave no immediate reply. After several breaths, he finally spoke. "His monthly allowance exceeds that of an ordinary household for an entire year."
Wang Gege’s footsteps came to an abrupt halt, "What?"
Xie Rong calmly continued walking. "Food, clothing, lodging, horses, weapons, and all daily expenses are borne by the Xie Residence."
Wang Gege hurried after him. "Wait... you mean he doesn’t pay for any of those himself?"
"Mm." He hummed casually.
Wang Gege’s eyes already widened, "And he still gets an allowance?"
"Mm." Another hum served as his reply.
Wang Gege fell silent.
A moment later, she looked toward the crowd where Mo Yan had vanished.
"Actually..." She nodded to herself. "I suddenly think he doesn’t have it that bad."
Xie Rong almost let out a chuckle but managed to control himself as he continued walking..
The bustling marketplace remained just as lively as before. Merchants enthusiastically called out to passing customers while children chased one another through the narrow streets, their laughter blending into the constant hum of conversation.
Wang Gege leisurely followed beside him, occasionally glancing at the stalls lining both sides of the road. Every now and then, something would catch her attention, causing her footsteps to slow before she quickly caught up again.
It was only after walking for some distance that she suddenly blinked.
"Ah." She lightly tapped her forehead. "I remembered."
Xie Rong tilted his head ever so slightly. "Remember what?"
Wang Gege looked at him with an embarrassed smile. "I got distracted by Mo Yan again."
She laughed sheepishly before scratching the side of her cheek. "Just now... That little girl mentioned something about your original world."
She tilted her head curiously. "What exactly is the original world?"
Xie Rong’s footsteps slowed, and for the briefest moment, the lively sounds of the marketplace seemed to fade into the background.
"The child probably misheard," he answered without the slightest hint of hesitation.
Wang Gege blinked. "Misheard?"
"Mm..." His expression remained unchanged. "I was merely pondering an old philosophical saying about the origin of the world."
After a brief pause, he calmly added, "Children often remember only a few words before piecing them together into something entirely different."
Wang Gege nodded slowly. "I see..."
She lowered her head, quietly repeating the words to herself.
"The origin of the world... It does sound a little similar."
Xie Rong gave a faint hum in acknowledgment.
For a few awkward seconds, neither of them was speaking but later Wang Gege nodded thoughtfully. "So that’s what it was..."
Without giving it another thought, her attention was soon captured by another lively stall nearby.
"Husband!"
Before Xie Rong could respond, she had already wandered over.
It was a jewelry stall.
Rows of exquisite jade pendants, bracelets, hairpins, and delicate ornaments were neatly displayed upon the wooden table, glimmering beneath the afternoon sunlight.
"So pretty..." Wang Gege leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The elderly shopkeeper immediately smiled. "Young Madam truly has a good eye."
He carefully picked up a carved jade hairpin.
"This one arrived only yesterday. The jade is fine, and the carving was done by one of the capital’s finest craftsmen."
Wang Gege accepted it carefully.
The hairpin was carved into the shape of a blooming plum blossom. Though simple, it possessed an understated elegance.
Almost instinctively, she raised it beside her hair.
"Does it look strange?" she asked, turning toward Xie Rong.
The elderly shopkeeper’s smile froze.
His gaze instinctively shifted toward the black silk blindfold covering Xie Rong’s eyes before returning to Wang Gege.
A trace of hesitation flashed across his weathered face. "Young Madam..."
Only then did Wang Gege suddenly realize what she had just asked. Her smile stiffened.
"Ah..." She awkwardly lowered the hairpin. "I forgot."
The elderly shopkeeper immediately waved his hands. "Young Madam, this old one meant no offense—"
Before he could finish, Xie Rong took a single step forward.
He leaned down slightly until only Wang Gege could hear him.
"You are beautiful." His voice was calm and soft.
Yet every single word landed clearly in Wang Gege’s ears.
"Whether you wear it or not... There is little difference."
Wang Gege’s eyes widened slightly.
And at that exact moment, Xie Rong once again heard...
’DING!’