Chapter 18: That Is What I Want!

“Where are you going?” When Bai Yan walked into the courtyard, Jiang Chengyan stood behind her, his gaze fixed intently upon her.

“You don’t want me anymore, so I’m leaving,” Bai Yan said, wrinkling her nose and stepping outside. With the red rash still on her face, she headed straight for the mountain path, clearly intending to return to the hills.

“I never said I didn’t want you. I’ve already explained,” Jiang Chengyan sighed, reaching out to pull her back and pressing her gently against the door.

Bai Yan lifted her head, her clear eyes staring at him. “But you never asked whether I agreed. I don’t like sleeping in other people’s homes.”

When she had woken up, Jiang Chengyan was already escorting her to Madam Li’s door.

“You didn’t ask if you agreed when I took you to register our marriage, either,” Jiang Chengyan pressed her shoulder and asked.

“That was something I wanted. But I don’t like staying at godmother’s house,” Bai Yan lowered her gaze, refusing to meet his eyes.

At her words, Jiang Chengyan’s hand trembled slightly. Without waiting for her to say more, he pulled her into his arms.

“If you don’t like it, then we simply won’t go. Tomorrow, we’ll send an empty bridal sedan, that’s all.” With that, he lifted her up in his arms again.

Yet, though he picked her up, he did not immediately move.

“Are you willing to return with me now?” Jiang Chengyan lowered his head and asked.

“Mmm,” Bai Yan pouted.

Only then did Jiang Chengyan carry her back into the house.

But in the next moment, his ear was pinched by her small hand.

“From now on, you have to ask if I’m willing,” the little woman said to him with grave seriousness.

“Alright,” the man replied in a low, deep voice, clearly agreeing.

……

According to the customs of Xitang Village, the wedding banquet must be held as a running feast, which meant there was much to prepare.

Other than the rash on her face, which showed no sign of fading, Bai Yan recovered quickly.

“Play in the courtyard on your own. I’ll be outside getting things ready, alright?” Jiang Chengyan was busy arranging the banquet site outside the courtyard with Zhao Chujiu.

“Okay.” Bai Yan nodded, then stood idly in the courtyard, ready to amuse herself.

Outside, Zhao Chujiu was setting up frames, bumping Jiang Chengyan’s arm as he spoke. “Why are you putting in so much effort? Registering the marriage is enough—you really want to announce it to the whole world?”

Jiang Chengyan ignored him.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak…”

“Squeak, squeak, squeak…”

Just then, a soft sound caught the attention of both men.

Hearing it, Zhao Chujiu pricked up his ears, peering suspiciously at Jiang Chengyan. “Big brother, do you have a nest of mice here? They're awfully loud in broad daylight!”

Bai Yan: “???”

Jiang Chengyan: “……”

“Wow, is that a pig?” As Jiang Chengyan stood speechless, Zhao Chujiu suddenly pointed in shock at a plump figure squeezing into the courtyard.

White and chubby, it looked like a piglet, but in truth, it was a large white rabbit.

Knowing it was Bai Yan calling, Jiang Chengyan blocked Zhao Chujiu from approaching. He shut him outside the gate and strode towards Bai Yan in the courtyard.

Bai Yan, dressed in a white dress, sat on a chair hugging the plump rabbit. Seeing Jiang Chengyan approach, she grinned widely.

“You can call rabbits over?” Jiang Chengyan bent down, inspecting the rabbit in her arms.

Bai Yan puffed out her little chest with pride. “I can call lots more.”

She squeaked a few more times.

They waited for quite a while, but no second rabbit appeared. Instead, by the chicken coop nearby, a nest of mice poked their heads out from a hole.

Bai Yan: “……” Oh dear, how embarrassing!