Jiang Wodan took the bow and arrow from Li Gusong's hand. She didn't know what material it was made of, but it was extremely heavy. She almost dropped it as she failed to hold it firmly.
Li Gusong wore a faint smile. "Let me hold it."
Jiang Wodan stuck out her tongue shyly. "This bow and arrow is so heavy! It's more than twice as heavy as the one my elder brother uses for practice."
Li Gusong seemed to be lost in thought.
Jiang Wodan's breath caught in her throat... Oh no, had she let something slip?
But Jiang Chunfeng could also be considered Jiang Woli's elder brother... right?
Jiang Wodan wasn't sure how smart Li Gusong was. It was better to change the topic first. "Actually, you don't have to practice archery so hard."
Li Gusong was absent - minded. Hearing her voice, he turned to look at Jiang Wodan. "Huh?"
Jiang Wodan smiled, her eyes curving like two crescent moons. "Actually, it doesn't really matter whether you get first place in the hunting competition. I just wanted to see if you have feelings for me. Seeing you working hard on New Year's Eve, I'm really satisfied."
Li Gusong didn't seem very surprised. Instead, he seemed rather polite.
"Yeah, I'm really happy that A Li came here specially to tell me this."
He was polite and distant.
Although she wasn't the one involved before, this didn't seem like the attitude towards one's sweetheart, right?
Happy? Where could one see any sign of happiness?
But Li Gusong always seemed cold and aloof, so it was reasonable for him to act like this towards his sweetheart.
Jiang Wodan made a deal with Li Gusong. "Actually, I sneaked out today. My mother doesn't know. So could you keep it a secret for me? It's just between heaven, earth, you and me, okay?"
Li Gusong nodded. "A Li is so kind - hearted. I'm very happy."
Hearing Li Gusong say he was happy and glad, Jiang Wodan felt that he was just saying it for the sake of it.
Looking at Li Gusong, Jiang Wodan suddenly thought of four words: unfathomable.
Li Gusong kept calling her A Li, which made Jiang Wodan uncomfortable. "Let's discuss something. The names Jiang Woli and Jiang Wodan are too similar. Can you change the way you address me?"
At that moment, Jiang Wodan was a bit annoyed, so her words sounded like a coquettish complaint.
It wasn't Jiang Wodan's fault. She really didn't mean to act coquettishly in front of Li Gusong. But Baihua Valley was a place that trained undercover agents. Every move had to be trained to perfection, otherwise, it could cost lives during missions in the future.
Naturally, the subconscious reactions in daily life had to be trained.
How to act coquettishly properly, including the expression, tone, manner and action, had to be just right without being over - the - top.
Jiang Wodan had been trained hundreds of times, so it was just a subconscious display.
But it was very different from Jiang Woli's usual image.
Jiang Woli was an arrogant person who never put herself in a position to please others, even when it came to something as easy and flattering as acting coquettishly.
Li Gusong raised his eyebrows.
"Sure. Then what does A Li want me to call you?"
Jiang Wodan was completely unaware of the danger of exposing herself. She frowned and thought. "Well... how about calling me Xiao Shijiu?"
Li Gusong asked, "Why?"
Jiang Wodan smiled. "It just sounds nice."
Actually, it was the name her master liked to call her in the valley, and she was used to it...
Li Gusong smiled. "Okay."
This time, his smile didn't seem like a polite one.
Jiang Wodan was quite satisfied.
Suddenly, a cluster of fireworks shot up into the sky, blooming with gorgeous and dazzling colors, leaving ripples all over the sky.
Jiang Wodan got excited. She never had such an opportunity in the valley. In those years when she didn't come back, she could only have vegetables and drinks with her master, and at most play cards...
"The firecrackers are about to be set off. Let's go to the street and have fun."
As she said this, seeing that Li Gusong didn't show any sign of moving, Jiang Wodan revealed her true nature and was about to tug at the corner of Li Gusong's clothes.
Li Gusong nodded. "Okay."
"What's with all the 'okay's? Are you Mr. Nice Guy?" Jiang Wodan mumbled, pulling Li Gusong out of the Marquis of Anding's Mansion. "The fireworks at Yinyuelou are the most beautiful. Let's go quickly and grab a good spot."
At this moment, Jiang Wodan completely exposed herself.
Jiang Wodan, who hadn't been back for five years, didn't know that Yinyuelou in the capital had long declined, and now Laiqing Pavilion was the most famous.
Moreover, it was Jiang Woli who told Li Gusong that the fireworks at Laiqing Pavilion were beautiful.
Li Gusong raised his eyebrows. "Xiao Shijiu."
Jiang Wodan didn't realize that she had completely exposed her identity. She was still thinking about the fireworks. "Hurry up. If we're late, we won't be able to get a good spot."
"Yinyuelou has been demolished."
"Ah? When was it... " Jiang Wodan was stunned and forced a smile awkwardly. "Then where should we go to watch?"
Li Gusong took on the role of an expert. "Follow me."
Jiang Wodan pouted behind him and silently complained, "Humph, what's so great? If I had been in the capital, I would know better than you!"
Li Gusong looked back, and Jiang Wodan immediately shut her mouth.
"Let's go."
"Coming, coming."
"Keep up."
"Are the dishes at Laiqing Pavilion delicious?"
Li Gusong teased, "Didn't you have enough for the New Year's Eve dinner?"
Jiang Wodan said embarrassedly, "I'm tired from climbing the wall..."
That day, they watched the fireworks together and made wishes together.
But they didn't have the New Year's Eve dinner.
Originally, she had a great plan to let Li Gusong have a complete New Year.
She heard that the Marquis of Anding, Li Ji, had many secrets and always stayed alone. He never accompanied Li Gusong on New Year's Eve.
That was why the Marquis of Anding's Mansion was so deserted as if there was no New Year at all.
So, when Jiang Wodan asked if the dishes at Laiqing Pavilion were delicious, she wanted to make up for this lively New Year's Eve dinner for Li Gusong.
However, in her excitement, Jiang Wodan suddenly realized that she was still wearing a veil when the dishes were served.
Jiang Wodan: "..."
But since she was pretending to be Jiang Woli and had to keep it a secret from Li Gusong, she couldn't take off the veil.
In the end, Jiang Wodan didn't get to eat anything.
Her master said that in their country, there were the so - called "three accompaniments": accompany to eat, play and sleep.
Jiang Wodan felt that she was almost the same.
She just watched but couldn't eat. She was just accompanying.