Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Chapter 110 Day 3 of Dai You’s disappearance

The third day since Dai You went missing.

Xia Lanyue sat in the courtyard, waiting for Jiang Di to bring her news.

She looked up at the sky; it was only 9 AM, still a long time.

"Ah Yue, could you come here for a moment?"

Inside the house, Xia Yao was calling her.

"Coming," Xia Lanyue stood up and walked towards his house.

"I want a few books. Could you get them from the bookshelf in the west room? The first five in the second row, please." Xia Yao leaned against the headboard.

"Okay, wait a moment."

Xia Lanyue looked at the book title; it contained words she didn't recognize. But that didn't matter; she just wanted to get the book.

When she came out, Xia Yao was already leaning on the door frame and walking to the door of the east room.

She quickly put the book on the table in the yard and ran over to help him up. "What are you doing out here?"

"It's stuffy inside, I want to get some sun," Xia Yao said, holding his chest with one hand.

"Then I'll help you to the stool," Xia Lanyue said, supporting Xia Yao's arm as they slowly walked over.

This scene reminded Xia Lanyue of what happened in the water a few days ago, and a blush quietly rose on her face.

After Xia Yao was seated, Xia Lanyue sat on the stool next to him and asked, "Are you feeling better today?"

"My body still hurts, and my stomach is covered in bruises," Xia Yao said with a pained expression.

Xia Lanyue lowered her head apologetically.

"Why didn't you offer to help me apply the medicine today?" Xia Yao asked.

"Huh?" Xia Lanyue was surprised. She looked up at Xia Yao and couldn't help but laugh. "Men and women should not touch each other."

"feudal".

"Huh?" Xia Lanyue was surprised to hear him say that word.

Xia Yao picked up a book and started reading, no longer talking to her.

Xia Lanyue was bored, so she picked up a book and flipped through it casually. However, she couldn't understand many of the words and couldn't piece together the complete meaning, so she put the book down again.

Xia Lanyue rested her chin on her hand and looked at Xia Yao, saying, "Xia Yao, I have a question for you."

"What is it?" Xia Yao asked, looking at the book in his hand.

Will you pass the exam this time?

"I don't know, but I want to try it."

"Haven't you been trying this all along? You've tried it so many times," Xia Lanyue asked, puzzled.

“Hmm… I mean, let’s try again,” Xia Yao glanced at Xia Lanyue.

Just then, a cough came from outside the door, followed by Jiang Di's voice, "Dai Xiyue."

Xia Lanyue immediately sat up straight and replied, "Coming." She turned to Xia Yao and said, "You read your book. I have something to do and I'm going out for a bit."

Without waiting for Xia Yao's reply, she ran out of the courtyard.

Upon seeing Jiang Di, Xia Lanyue immediately asked about Dai You, "How is it going? Any news?"

Jiang Di didn't speak, but beckoned to her with her finger, indicating that she should walk forward, "We can talk as we walk."

Xia Lanyue followed Jiang Di, heading towards the small bamboo forest.

Unbeknownst to her, just as she closed the door, Dai You tiptoed to the door, trying to peek through the crack to see who was outside. Unfortunately, he was too late; he only saw two figures walking away and couldn't make out who they were.

Xia Lanyue and Jiang Di walked side by side. Jiang Di asked her cautiously, "I told you about his situation. Can you accept it?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Lanyue suddenly felt a bad premonition. She stopped and took a deep breath. "Go ahead and say it."

"I found out that he... rode away on horseback."

They left?! They just abandoned her?! Xia Lanyue's mood plummeted instantly, and she looked completely lost. She bit her lower lip, lowered her head, and felt extremely flustered.

Although it wasn't Jiang Di's fault, he still sounded apologetic when he said it. He bent down and looked at Xia Lanyue sideways, "Don't be sad, he might come back."

The "hmm" was a response directed at Jiang Di, but it also seemed to be directed at herself.

Xia Lanyue nodded, but her expression didn't improve at all.

“If you have any difficulties, you can come to me. If you don’t want to live here, you can move to town and stay at my house. My house has several rooms, and my mother lives here too,” Jiang Di comforted her. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here for you.”

Jiang Di's words warmed Xia Lanyue's heart. She forced a smile in response and then asked, "When did he leave?"

"I heard this is the third day. He rented the horse last night because it was urgent," Jiang Di said.

Xia Lanyue lowered her eyes. So he had left that very night. He must have been heartbroken to leave in such a hurry. If she had stopped him when he reached out his hand, they would both be leaving or staying together now, instead of him leaving alone in a huff. Why hadn't she stood by him when he was vulnerable?! Xia Lanyue felt she had made another wrong decision.

"Dai Xiyue?" Jiang Di called out softly.

Xia Lanyue came to her senses and said, "Thank you, Jiang Di. I'll stay here for now. His family is very kind to me."

Seeing her determination, Jiang Di didn't try to persuade her anymore, but her eyes still showed worry. "It's okay. If the Xia family dares to bully you, just tell me and I'll get justice for you."

Xia Lanyue smiled and said, "Thank you."

"Don't always say thank you, it's too formal," Jiang Di said, feigning displeasure.

"Oh right, I owe you a lot of money, so I'll give it to you today," Xia Lanyue said, taking out her purse from her bosom and preparing to count the money.

Jiang Di pressed down on her purse. "Sigh, there's no rush to give you this money. You young ladies have many expenses. Keep it for now."

"Don't worry, I have money. This money is too heavy. I've been wanting to give it to you for a long time," Xia Lanyue said, shaking her purse.

Xia Lanyue counted out five hundred coins and handed them to Jiang Di. "Keep this for now. We'll calculate how much I owe you when we go to town another day, and I'll make up the difference."

"This is enough," Jiang Di said, putting the money into her pocket. "What do you plan to do with it later?"

"I haven't decided yet, but I have to keep selling rice cakes to earn travel expenses," Xia Lanyue said.

"Earning travel expenses, you're leaving? Where to?"

"Hmm..." Xia Lanyue couldn't answer for a moment. Where to go? She didn't know. She used to want to "go home," but now she knew that home was the one Dai Xiyue had fought her way out of, and she was destined never to return. Was there anywhere else she wanted to go? No.

“I almost forgot, you’re from the capital, so naturally you have to go back,” Jiang Di said, her eyes filled with regret.

"Not necessarily. If we like this place, we might stay," Xia Lanyue shrugged.

Jiang Di's eyes lit up, and she smiled.

"Then I'll head back. You should head back early too," Xia Lanyue said. "Today..."

"Hey, don't thank me. Saying it makes me feel like an outsider," Jiang Di interrupted her.

"Oh, I see".

"Come on, I'll take you back."