You taste me

Longhong Village is an exceedingly tranquil hamlet, with several dozen households scattered about. Qin Xian'er's home, however, is nestled in the innermost corner, built against the mountainside—a small wooden cottage. The sturdy wooden beams above are adorned with delicate bamboo tubes of varying lengths. Attached to these bamboo tubes are small copper and iron pieces. When a gentle breeze stirs, the copper and iron lightly collide with the bamboo tubes, creating a crisp and delightful melody.

Lin Wanrong, however, was momentarily stunned. Could this be wind chimes? Whose clever hands fashioned such a marvel, crafting something so exquisite?

Adjacent to the wooden cottage is a swaying bamboo forest, where the tall bamboo plants lean against each other, gently swaying in the wind, creating graceful and elusive silhouettes. The bamboo forest, wind chimes, and misty rain envelop the wooden cottage, exuding an indescribable sense of ethereality.

Lin Wanrong initially thought Xian'er came from an ordinary background, but now, observing this scene, he became perplexed. The simplicity and elegance of the wooden cottage conveyed a refined and graceful atmosphere—certainly not the work of an ordinary person.

Approaching the wind chimes, Xian'er gently plucked them, and a clear, melodious sound echoed. Turning to Lin Wanrong, she softly remarked, "Sir, these are called wind chimes. Do you find them pleasant?"

Lin Wanrong gave a thumbs-up, saying, "Not only is the sound delightful, but the name itself is also exquisite. Did you make these wind chimes?"

Qin Xian'er nodded, "My mother taught me to make them when I was young. She said that the wind has its own sound. I didn't believe it, so my mother made these wind chimes for me. It turns out that the wind indeed has a sound."

As Qin Xian'er spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, her expression poignant—a sight Lin Wanrong had never witnessed before.

This girl harbors many hidden emotions, Lin Wanrong thought, feeling a pang of sympathy. Having interacted with Qin Xian'er for a long time, they usually exchanged cheerful banter and songs, never encountering such sadness. Qin Xian'er had devoted much to him, yet he knew nothing about her background. Previously, when entering the village, he was still entertaining base thoughts. Now, a rare sense of guilt overcame him. He tightly grasped her hand, saying, "Xian'er, let go of those unhappy thoughts. Your mother would most want to see you smiling. Don't disappoint her."

Qin Xian'er gently wiped away her tears, smiling, "Sir speaks the truth. Xian'er behaved improperly and made Sir laugh."

Seeing her teary yet charming appearance, Lin Wanrong's heart began to stir again. The earlier feeling of guilt seemed to have vanished. He playfully said, "Xian'er, must we discuss such matters in this room? Hurry, let's go inside. Oh, quickly enter the room."

As Qin Xian'er opened the door, the interior was tastefully and simply arranged, with neat bamboo tables and chairs, bright and clean, without a trace of dust. In the center of the room hung a portrait of a woman. The woman in the painting seemed ageless, her brows like distant mountains, eyes resembling spring water, and an expression calm, elegant—bearing a striking resemblance to Qin Xian'er.

"Is this your mother?" Lin Wanrong inquired.

Qin Xian'er gazed at the portrait, momentarily lost in thought, nodding, "Indeed."

This is the mother-in-law; she deserves a respectful bow. Lin Wanrong bowed to the portrait and turned to Xian'er, saying with a smile, "Xian'er, you are as beautiful as your mother." With one sentence, he praised both of them. The flattery went unnoticed by Qin Xian'er, who felt delighted, blushing. She softly said, "Sir, don't tease Xian'er."

From the inner room, Qin Xian'er brought out a set of men's clothing for Lin Wanrong to change into—a Confucian robe. However, Lin Wanrong, with his bold and unrestrained aura, appeared awkward and out of place in it, like a bear wearing a Western suit, unsure where to put his hands. 

It seems I wasn't born to be a literary man, Lin Wanrong sighed inwardly, feeling troubled.

Qin Xian'er looked at him in surprise, then chuckled, "Sir, you look even more elegant in this robe than those literary men."

"I also think so," Lin Wanrong chuckled shamelessly.

"Xian'er isn't deliberately praising Sir," Qin Xian'er sighed, "In the Miao Yu Pavilion, I've met countless people, including young nobles and those with extraordinary temperament, but none possess the charm and presence of Sir."

Charm and presence—just say I have thick skin, Lin Wanrong laughed, saying, "Xian'er, whose clothes are these? Were they specially made for me?"

Qin Xian'er gave him a glance, smiling, "These are my maternal grandfather's clothes. He served as the Ministry of War's Assistant Minister in his youth. After retiring, he returned to his hometown and settled here. These are his old clothes."

"So, Xian'er is from a prestigious family," Lin Wanrong exclaimed in surprise. It's no wonder both Xian'er and her mother possess such talent. However, with such a grandfather, Xian'er shouldn't have ended up in the White Lotus Sect. There must have been some twists and turns, likely related to her father, the one she hesitates to mention.

In the backyard of the wooden cottage, there was a small pavilion. After changing into the clothes, Lin Wanrong felt refreshed, standing in the pavilion, gazing into the distance where misty rain veiled the mountains and waters, creating a sense of comfort throughout his body.

My grandfather-in-law is indeed discerning when it comes to choosing a place. This place, with its green mountains, clear waters, and misty peaks, is truly an ideal retreat. No wonder Xian'er and her mother have such a good temperament, resembling fairies. If I ever get tired of everything, I should buy some land here, engage in real estate, build a few large wooden houses, and construct ten swimming pools. Every day, I can chat with Qingxuan, Qiaoqiao, Second Miss, and Xian'er, enjoy the scenery, and when tired, use the sky as my blanket and the earth as my bed. It would be delightful to engage in the wonderful act of having children together. How blissful it would be!

Qin Xian'er stood behind him, just having freshened up and changed into an elegant white robe. Her long, lustrous hair cascaded naturally, and her cheeks blushed with a peach-like hue.

The beauty of the mountains, waters, and people was enthralling. In such a picturesque setting, it would be a disservice not to engage in more beautiful activities. Lin Wanrong, feeling a tingling sensation, grinned, saying, "Xian'er, why didn't you call me when you were changing clothes?"

Qin Xian'er was momentarily surprised, "Why should I call you, sir?"

Lin Wanrong, with an air of righteousness, stated, "Call me to stand guard for you, lest some unscrupulous ruffian spies on you. Wouldn't I suffer a great loss otherwise?"

Qin Xian'er, both shy and embarrassed, lowered her head, thinking, "Talking about unscrupulous people, you are more unscrupulous than anyone."

Seeing a delicate tea set on the bamboo table in front of Xian'er, Lin Wanrong, lost in thought, couldn't help but smile. "Sir came to Longhong Village today. If you don't taste the water from the Longhong well and enjoy the new Longjing tea, wouldn't it be in vain?"

Longhong well? Longjing? Lin Wanrong jumped up, asking, "Is this Longjing Village?"

Qin Xian'er nodded, "This is Longhong Village, named after the Longzhang Well in front of the village. Outsiders call it Longjing Village."

Oh my, it turns out to be Longjing Village. I'm truly in the lap of luxury. Lin Wanrong, though unfamiliar with the ways of tea, was well-acquainted with the fame of West Lake Longjing. How could he not know?

Surprisingly, this was the birthplace of West Lake Longjing. Lin Wanrong sighed in admiration, "Longjing Village, indeed with beautiful mountains and waters. Xian'er, with your beauty, you must be a fairy in this tea garden."

Qin Xian'er giggled, extending her delicate hand to pour hot water into the teapot. She warmed the teapot and then placed the rain-picked Longjing tea leaves into it, infusing the courtyard with a faint fragrance.

Lin Wanrong was entirely ignorant of the intricacies of tea culture, but upon catching a whiff of the aroma of Rain-picked Longjing, he couldn't help but feel a longing. Damn, authentic West Lake Longjing, a pure, green, natural delicacy that money can't buy. I must taste it.

Qin Xian'er poured the tea soup from the teacup back into the cup, filling it seven-tenths full. The Longjing tea leaves, shaped like spears, were uniformly arranged, resembling colorful flags, creating an exquisite appearance.

Lin Wanrong, unaware of the nuances, observed Xian'er's snowy skin, rosy lips, and delicate nose. In the midst of her smile, two dimples appeared on her cheeks, truly bubbling with beauty. Tea and, incidentally, enjoying the company—he smirked.

Qin Xian'er lifted the tea cup and placed it in front of Lin Wanrong, saying softly, "Please, sir, savor the tea."

Savoring good tea is a simple principle that Lin Wanrong understands, but how to savor it is beyond his knowledge.

In the spirit of the ignorant being fearless, Lin Wanrong smiled, saying, "Xian'er, let me be honest with you. You can ask me to drink tea, but asking me to savor it is a bit difficult. Can you teach me?"

Qin Xian'er laughed, "The art of savoring tea is quite simple. Sip slowly, swallow gently. When the tea enters your mouth, constrict your oral cavity. Let the tea under your tongue press out, creating a sensation akin to a gushing spring. This is called the 'savoring tea, echoing spring'."

Gushing spring? That name is quite imaginative; I like it. Lin Wanrong laughed a few times.

However, Qin Xian'er, holding the teacup, took a small sip, demonstrating for Lin Wanrong.

Lin Wanrong said, "Xian'er, the method of savoring tea might be simple for a master like you, but for me, it's quite challenging. I have an idea that could greatly simplify this process."

"How to simplify it?" Qin Xian'er asked curiously.

Lin Wanrong grinned, "The method is quite simple, called 'You Savor, I Taste.'"

"You Savor, I Taste?" Qin Xian'er wrinkled her brow in confusion. Before she could speak, she felt her body tighten as he embraced her. A fiery kiss landed on her petite cherry lips.

In the midst of her softness, a sinister voice echoed in her ear, "This is called 'You Savor, I Taste.'"