บท 50: [Beneath the willow tree]

Ever since the little girl, Xia Lihua, had arrived at the banquet hosted at the Yang family residence, Yang Lingyun's eyes couldn't help but be drawn to her. She had been following his elder brother around like an annoying fly for the past few hours, which was incredibly bothersome. However, her striking beauty made it difficult to simply ignore her presence. Though he found her undeniably pretty, it bothered him that she seemed to prefer his brother's company over his.

It was extremely annoying!

'Wasn't she the girl from the Xia family that he was supposed to be engaged to in the future? Why was she hanging around his elder brother instead of being with him? Huh?'

After dinner, Yang Lingyun couldn't spot Xia Lihua for a while. His grandfather had mentioned her name. Concerned, he decided to search for her. Despite his efforts, he couldn't locate her, and worry began to creep in. Just as he was about to seek help, he noticed a small figure huddled by a bench at the far end of the garden, under the sheltering branches of a grand willow tree, near the calm lotus pond.

The sight of Xia Lihua sitting alone piqued his curiosity and concern. Her presence in that secluded spot, away from the festivities, seemed unusual. Yang Lingyun approached cautiously, unsure of her state of mind and whether she needed solitude. As he drew closer, he noticed a hint of vulnerability in her demeanor, and it tugged at his heartstrings.

With a gentle yet determined spirit, he approached her and softly asked, "Xia Lihua, are you alright?" The concern in his voice was genuine, and he hoped to offer comfort if she needed it.

Slowly making his way towards Xia Lihua from behind, the twigs crunched beneath his shoes making crisp noise in the otherwise tranquil surroundings.

Lihua's distressed voice echoed through the air as she yelled out, "Don't come near me, Bing gege! I look terrible right now." The tremble in her voice and the faint sniffles suggested that she had been crying.

Stunned, Yang Lingyun stopped in his tracks, realizing the vulnerability of the situation. 'She thinks I'm brother Lingbing?'

He pressed his lips together, helplessly. He had never seen a girl cry like this before, and his heart ached to see her upset. The beauty that others admired seemed insignificant at this moment, as he saw the girl feeling so distressed.

She was wearing a yellow dress adorned with voluminous layers at the bottom, the outfit seemed almost twice her size, engulfing the young girl in its ruffles and frills. Her shiny, lustrous black hair was pulled back into a long ponytail that was secured with a butterfly hair accessory. Strikingly, the same butterfly motif adorned the belt that cinched her waist, adding a touch of charm to her ensemble.

The girl appeared a little stupid. Throughout the night, she had been talkative, her words flowing freely like a babbling brook, but now she was crying.

"Hey, it's me, Lingbing." he said softly, trying to reassure her. "You never look anything less than beautiful to me, no matter how you may feel. What's bothering you? Can you tell me?"

As she cried, it seemed as if the weight of the world had descended upon her small shoulders. Despite the lively energy she exuded earlier, this moment unveiled a more tender side. "Don't come near me Bing gege, stay where you are."

As Yang Lingyun observed Xia Lihua's distress, his heart swelled with concern. 'Doesn't she realize I'm not Bing gege?' he thought, feeling a pang of frustration. Considering they had only met a few hours ago, it was unlikely that she could distinguish his voice from his elder brother's. Determined to offer her comfort, he decided to assume Lingbing's persona, altering his intonation to match his brother's as he gently asked, "At least tell me what's wrong."

As Yang Lingyun continued to watch Xia Lihua from behind, he hoped that by adopting Lingbing's voice Xia Lihua would feel more at ease, allowing her to confide in him as he watched the back of her head.

Xia Lihua's ponytail shook as she lowered her head into her palms and cried. "I think my cousin sister hates me."

His heart sank upon hearing her words. "I'm here for you, Xiao Lihua. You can talk to me, and I promise I'll listen."

The moon above cast a soothing glow on their surroundings. Xia Lihua trembled, her tiny palms still covering her small face. "She said I'm ugly and not fit to be a singer. I want to be a classical singer more than anything!"

Despite his initial frustration at being mistaken for his brother, that concern had now shifted entirely to Xia Lihua's emotional well-being. He sat down beside her under the sheltering willow tree, the night seemed to embrace them in its tender arms. The sounds of nature blended with the soft sobs of the girl he cared deeply for, creating an atmosphere of understanding and compassion.

"You don't have to take her words to heart. I believe you will make a great singer."

Hearing that Xia Lihua cried even more hysterically. She buried her face in the crook of her arms, over her knees. In that moment, Yang Lingbing was more than just a caring friend to her. He was someone whom she could rely on whenever she felt sad or disheartened.

"My mom is a violinist, so I want to be like her. Lately, my parents have been having frequent arguments and it deeply saddens me."

"I'm sorry to hear that your parents are arguing so much. It must be really tough for you," Yang Lingyun replied with genuine empathy. "But it's wonderful that you want to follow in your mom's footsteps. Don't let anyone else's opinions discourage you."

He felt a deep connection with Xia Lihua, recognizing the shared love for music and the desire to honor her mother's legacy.

Xia Lihua found Yang Lingbing's words a bit cold. Nevertheless, his gesture was sincere as if he really meant what he said. Hence, she became a little happy. "En, one day I'll become the nation's best singer! I promise."

Yang Lingyun softly patted her tiny head and said, "You'll achieve great things."

Xia Lihua slightly cracked her eyes open and then immediately closed them. She turned to face him and said, "Bing gege, I can't see. I got glitter in my eyes."

"You silly little crybaby girl."

"You will never see me cry again, trust me!"

Two tiny rivulets that had traced the path of her tears were created by the glittery specks on her face, which appeared to absorb her grief. Her tears had mixed with the glitter on her cheeks, forming glistening trails that mirrored the stars above. Her once rosy cheeks now flush with a deeper shade of red, and her lips seem even rosier than their usual hue.

She still looked really cute.

Though her next words were like a poisoned arrow shot straight to his heart.

"Bing gege, you can go. I'll head back inside when my eyes stop stinging."