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墨書 Inktalez
Time flies like a white horse passing through a gap; just a few spring rains have fallen, and it is already the end of April. The White Fox, after disappearing for several days since it took Xing Ruyi's shoe, has become increasingly elusive. Often, it can hardly be seen at all, and when it does appear, it is always in a hurry, coming and going swiftly. It makes one want to scold it, feeling the pressure of time.
When Chang Tai arrived, Xing Ruyi was mumbling to herself. She didn't know whether to acknowledge Chang Tai or not. Just as she was considering whether to ask him to come back another day, she noticed him and almost bit her tongue.
"Brother Chang, when did you arrive?"
"Just now." Chang Tai's face turned slightly red as he stammered, "I heard you mumbling and didn’t want to interrupt."
"Brother Chang is so refined! What do you mean by mumbling? I was scolding someone. Oh no, I was scolding a fox." Xing Ruyi pouted and dragged a chair over. "Brother Chang, please sit down while I tidy up this mess before attending to you."
"You’re busy; I can just stand." Chang Tai stepped back a little, worried that his position might hinder Xing Ruyi from cleaning up.
"It’s rare for Brother Chang to come to our Ruyi Workshop. Are you here to buy Rouge and Face Powder or just to see Sister Ruyi?" As she tidied up, Xing Ruyi teased Chang Tai with her words. It wasn’t like that Stinky Fox who had taken a liking to him; it was just that honest men often remind one of Xu Xian, making them hard to resist teasing—especially someone like Xing Ruyi, who always had a bit of mischief in her.
Sure enough, after her words, Chang Tai's expression became awkward again. Xing Ruyi covered her mouth and laughed, causing the things she had just organized to scatter once more.
"I'm just joking; Brother Chang, don’t take it seriously. But your blushing face is really cute."
"Ruyi..." Chang Tai called her name softly, looking even more flustered but too embarrassed to leave.
"Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore," Xing Ruyi said, stopping her laughter while her eyes still sparkled with amusement, clearly struggling to contain herself.
"Sister Ruyi, if you want to laugh, then laugh; don’t hold it in and make yourself uncomfortable."
Chang Tai remained silent, but as soon as he spoke, Xing Ruyi burst into laughter, doubling over and holding her stomach.
“Ha ha, ha ha, Brother Chang... I can’t believe you would... you would say something like that. I’m really not trying to laugh at you; I just can’t help it!”
Chang Tai felt increasingly embarrassed, lowering his head and rubbing his hands together nervously.
After a while, Xing Ruyi managed to stop laughing, her cheeks flushed like autumn Apple.
“Alright, I won’t laugh anymore. Honestly, Brother Chang, are you looking for me? Last time at the door, you had something to say but didn’t finish. You must be here about that matter again?”
“Ruyi is indeed perceptive; no wonder Shengzi and the others—”
“Brother Chang, please don’t flatter me. You’re a straightforward and honest person; it’s really hard for you to come up with these compliments,” Xing Ruyi waved her hand. “If Brother Chang doesn’t treat Fox Demon as an outsider, feel free to speak directly. I will certainly help if I can. But let me make it clear: if one day Fox Demon encounters difficulties, Brother Chang must not turn a blind eye.”
“It’s rare for Ruyi to think highly of me. If the young lady ever needs help in the future, Chang Tai will certainly go all out without hesitation,” Chang Tai said earnestly, clasping his fists.
“Alright, no need for such serious talk. If Brother Chang truly thinks Fox Demon is trustworthy, then stop calling me ‘young lady.’ Just call me Fox Demon. If that feels awkward, then you can call me Sister Ruyi. As you can see, I’m all alone in Luoyang City; having an older brother looking out for me would make things much easier.”
“In that case, I’ll dare to consider myself as Ruyi’s older brother,” Chang Tai said again while clasping his fists.
“That’s more like it, Brother Chang.”
“Sister Ruyi.”
"Alright, it's not like we're forming a brotherhood like the Peach Garden Oath. I think we don't need to go through any formalities." Xing Ruyi stood up and poured a cup of tea for Chang Tai. "After drinking this cup of tea, you will be my elder brother, Xing Ruyi."
Chang Tai drank it all in one go, looking at Xing Ruyi with a slightly excited expression.
"Now that we've had tea, Brother Chang shouldn't hesitate anymore. Please, speak your mind."
"Actually, I came today to ask for a favor from the Fox Demon... Sister Ruyi." Chang Tai was an honest man, and even though Xing Ruyi had already given him the green light, he still felt a bit awkward. Seeing this, Xing Ruyi didn't rush him and patiently listened.
"It's like this: I have a fellow townsman who has been lost in Luoyang since childhood. She... she is a woman, and in recent years, her health has not been good. Oh, I mean no offense; it's just that we are both from the same hometown and are in Luoyang together. Besides, she has no family left by her side, so... so I..." Chang Tai was sweating profusely.
"Brother Chang doesn't need to explain. The Fox Demon understands. I just wonder what Brother Chang needs from the Fox Demon?"
"I've seen Ruyi often prepare things containing medicinal herbs for others and have heard that Ruyi knows a bit about medicine, so I wanted to ask if there is any method to help my fellow townsman." Chang Tai was anxious and called her 'Sister' again. After finishing his sentence, his face turned red as he hurried to explain, "Sister Ruyi, please don't mind; I got flustered and forgot to change how I addressed you."
"The more you call me that, the less likely you'll forget," Xing Ruyi teased. After joking, she returned to the matter at hand: "I have some basic knowledge of medicine, but I'm not a professional healer. If your fellow townsman is truly unwell, why not go to Jishengtang and have Old Master Liu take a look? If that's inconvenient, you could also ask Madam Liu; I've heard she comes from a prestigious family and her medical skills are on par with Old Master Liu's. She's known as the divine healer of Luoyang."
Upon hearing this, Chang Tai showed some discomfort on his face and stammered, "My fellow townsman hasn't personally contacted me. Moreover, there's a difference between men and women; it wouldn't be appropriate for me to advise her to see a doctor."
"I understand," Xing Ruyi said lightly with a nod. "May I ask who your fellow townsman is?"
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