Eunuch Su, Eunuch Su!

Seeing Hui Ming like this, Su Jin, who was holding a red lacquer jewelry box carved with chrysanthemums, stopped abruptly.

Inside the box were six high-quality pink pearls. These were carefully selected by the servants and were originally intended as a gift for Noble Consort Xian many years ago. Each pearl was smooth and round, the size of a thumb, with a hazy glow that made people reluctant to let go.

The Bureau of Imperial Tailoring had picked out eighteen pearls to make a full set of colorful jewelry for Wan Xi Palace. The remaining six pearls, which were not perfectly round, had been kept in the storeroom for some time. Due to their value, no one dared to touch them. It was only today that Su Jin came forward and, using the excuse that "the pearls have lost their luster over time," he removed them from the storeroom's ledger and took them.

A few days ago, when Su Jin brought back a few pearl hairpins for Hui Ming for the first time, Hui Ming was all smiles. She immediately asked him to help her put them in her hair and happily accepted them.

After this incident, Su Jin seemed to have developed a taste for it. He gave up his original plan to fill her jewelry box all at once. Instead, every other day, he would bring her one or two pieces of jewelry or other small trinkets. They were not necessarily rare or expensive, but they were definitely exquisite and suitable. Hui Ming was also very happy to receive them every time.

Su Jin originally thought that Hui Ming's family would be coming today, and Hui Ming would be happy. He specially brought back the pink pearls and wanted to take this opportunity to have a good talk with Hui Ming, hoping to persuade her to leave the palace and go home.

Thinking of this, Su Jin's heart was both happy and worried, with an indescribable melancholy. Who would have thought that he would see such a scene as soon as he entered the backyard?

"Hui Ming."

Su Jin called out and hurried forward. However, when he got closer, he was afraid of disturbing her, so he couldn't help but slow down and ask softly, "What's wrong?"

Hui Ming had long been aware of Eunuch Su's arrival. She glanced at him slightly, then deliberately took out her handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, but she didn't want to talk about it. She stood up and greeted him as usual, "Eunuch, you're back. Have you eaten?"

How could Su Jin not notice such an obvious act? He became even more anxious and turned to look at Yuan Bao inquiringly.

However, Yuan Bao had excused himself after bringing Song's father and mother over, so how could he know what had happened? Seeing this, he just returned a puzzled look. Su Jin paused, his face showing more gentleness, and asked tentatively, "Did something happen at home?"

Hui Ming turned around and just shook her head. Su Jin said again, "Or, they don't want to take you out?"

Mentioning the latter possibility, Su Jin's face also sank slightly. Although he had instructed Yuan Bao to reveal something about Hui Ming being able to leave the palace, he did not mention that if they took Hui Ming back, not only would their business in the capital be worry-free, but he would also give them a large sum of money and shops. It wouldn't make them extremely wealthy, but it would be enough for a dozen people to live a comfortable life without worry.

The reason why he didn't mention it was, firstly, that Hui Ming had not yet decided to leave the palace, and it was not the right time. Secondly, he also had the intention of testing the waters to see what kind of people Hui Ming's parents and siblings were and whether he could safely entrust Hui Ming to them.

Now it seemed that Hui Ming's family did not welcome her?

Su Jin finished speaking and saw that Hui Ming was looking down, neither agreeing nor denying. Su Jin simply assumed that this was the case. He frowned and blamed himself for not thinking things through.

After so many years apart, they finally reunited today. How could Hui Ming bear it if her family didn't want to take her back? He really should have let Hui Ming's family know about the shop he had prepared in the capital. With money in front of them, no matter what, they would be happy today. As for whether Hui Ming's family was trustworthy, he could think of other ways!

If that were the case, Hui Ming wouldn't have to be so sad!

Thinking of this, Su Jin felt even more guilty. He turned around and faced Hui Ming, explaining earnestly, "Don't be sad. It's my fault for not making things clear to your parents. You must have misunderstood. If you don't believe me, I'll have Yuan Bao invite them over again another day…"

"Eunuch Su!" Seeing that it was about time, Hui Ming looked up and suddenly interrupted him.

Under the moonlight, her eyes and cheeks seemed to glow faintly. Her voice was sorrowful but also carried a hint of pleading and helplessness, "Eunuch Su, I don't want to leave the palace. Please don't chase me away, okay?"

Having known each other for so long, Su Jin had never seen Hui Ming so "miserable and helpless." His breath hitched, and he felt as if his heart had fallen into a bottomless abyss. He couldn't help but reach out to Hui Ming, as if wanting to hold her in his arms.

However, just as his hand reached out halfway, he suddenly came to his senses and quickly withdrew it. He just lowered his head and said, "If you don't want to go home, then don't go home. I'm sorry, this time, it was my fault for not thinking things through and acting on my own…"

Hui Ming's heart also beat faster when she saw Su Jin reaching out. However, she waited nervously and shyly for a long time, only to see Eunuch Su withdraw his hand?

Hui Ming's eyes widened. Before she could recover from her inexplicable disappointment, she heard Eunuch Su's string of self-reproach. At this moment, she was truly filled with unspeakable helplessness.

Not letting Eunuch Su finish, Hui Ming bit her lip and looked up, asking seriously, "Eunuch Su, do you always want me to leave the palace because you are worried about my safety, or because you actually have no feelings for me and just can't bring yourself to say it?"

Su Jin paused at her words. How could he lie and say that he had no feelings for her when she was so sad? After a while, he met Hui Ming's insistent gaze and finally lowered his head, "Yes, I'm worried about your safety."

In fact, by saying these words, Su Jin had already indicated that he had feelings for her. If it were any other time, Hui Ming would have been satisfied. However, perhaps it was because Su Jin's action of withdrawing his hand was too frustrating, Hui Ming did not stop there. She raised her head, looking as if she was going to get to the bottom of this, "That is to say, I'm not being delusional! It's not just me! Eunuch Su, do you really have feelings for me and sincerely want to be with me?"

When Hui Ming said this, she couldn't help but think of her past life. She had been so guarded, but in the end, Eunuch Su had Yuan Bao tell her that he actually had no feelings for her and that she had been overthinking everything!

Since then, every time Hui Ming thought about it, she felt ashamed and wished she could just find a hole to hide in. Especially now, in addition to shame and regret, she felt even more aggrieved for some unknown reason. At this moment, she spoke to Eunuch Su, her words becoming more and more rushed, her voice trembling slightly, as if she wanted to throw out the entanglement of these two lifetimes all at once!

Su Jin did not know the reason behind it, but it did not affect him from hearing the sadness and grievance in Hui Ming's questioning.

"Who said that to you?" Su Jin's eyes widened in disbelief. Under Hui Ming's stimulation, words that were almost confessions poured out of his mouth without going through his brain, "It's clear that I'm the one who's being delusional, it's me who's overthinking, it's me who's unworthy, it's me who's been secretly admiring you, Song Hui Ming!"

As soon as these resounding words were spoken, the courtyard suddenly fell silent. Hui Ming and Su Jin looked at each other, both as still as statues, as if everything had come to a standstill, leaving only the clear moonlight in the courtyard.

A bird from somewhere flew past the branches, making a rustling sound.

The first one to come back to his senses from the noise was Yuan Bao, who had long felt that something was wrong and had retreated to the corner. He covered his mouth, trying hard to suppress the inexplicable excitement in his heart, afraid of disturbing the two people at the door. He tiptoed out and arrived at the corridor. He felt that his master and Hui Ming had finally broken through the last layer of paper and must not be interrupted by anyone. Thinking of this, he immediately took out the dedication he had when guarding the emperor's door and stood guard on the way to the backyard, grinning from ear to ear while keeping a close eye on his surroundings.

Outside the women's quarters, Hui Ming, who had been feeling a little aggrieved just now, felt as if she had not woken up yet. Her head was dizzy, and she could only repeat the words "Eunuch Su admires Song Hui Ming."

These words alone seemed to be enough to fill her heart, making her feel that she needed nothing more.

"Eunuch Su…" Hui Ming's eyes were bright, and her voice was soft. Just this gentle call seemed to be able to soften one's heart and soul.

Others might not know, but Su Jin was truly softened. He opened his mouth slightly, wanting to answer, but his throat seemed to be blocked by something, and he couldn't make a sound.

"Eunuch Su," fortunately, Hui Ming didn't care about Eunuch Su's silence. She called out again, and compared to the softness just now, this time, there was more shyness and joy, "I, I also… I thought it was just me before, and I was so sad… Eunuch Su, it's so good that you said that!"

Su Jin still couldn't speak. In front of Hui Ming, the usually calm and resourceful Chief Eunuch Su seemed to have become a different person. He was almost afraid to speak, as if this was all a beautiful dream, and once he spoke, he would wake up.

Fortunately, after Hui Ming said this, the shyness of a girl gradually took over. She turned around, wanting to hide in the house first, but then she thought of something and turned back, lowering her head and adding, "Since that's the case, then in the future, Eunuch Su, you can't avoid me like you used to! And don't talk about leaving the palace anymore. No matter what happens to your revenge in the future, Eunuch, you must treat me as your own!"

Only then did Su Jin finally speak. He clenched his fists but said words of refusal, "No, I can't."

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ

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