The White Moonlight Disdained by the Male Protagonist of Redemption - Chapter 18.1

Autumn passed and winter came. A thin layer of white snowflakes settled on Zansnow Lake, staying frozen without melting.

Winter arrived earlier than usual this year. Snow started falling as the season began, but it couldn’t stay on Mount Luo. The whole mountain still looked green and lush, like a pine tree standing in a snowy field.

Ning Yao carefully kept the last silk pouch her sister Ning Tang had left her. She didn’t need it anymore, but since she didn’t know when she would see her sister again, she treated the pouch as a symbol of hope — something to remind her of her sister and keep her company.

So ,she chose to remember her sister’s ways and use them to build her own bond with Feng Jingzhuo.

After all, most of her life had been about training, family, and friendship. She didn’t really understand love, but thankfully, she had learned a lot just by watching. Her sister and brother-in-law had never hidden their affection from her.

From what she understood, love meant being close.

At the very least, there should be a kiss in the morning, one at noon, and one at night.

Also, there should be lots of hugging.

She couldn’t think of more than that for now, but she felt it was enough. She probably couldn’t be as sweet as her sister, but she still wanted to show her own affection — in her own way, using what she had learned.

***

Ning Yao liked staying up late to train, so she found it hard to get up in the morning. She made a rule for Feng Jingzhuo: every morning, after he woke up, he had to visit her room.

Feng Jingzhuo was very obedient. He followed the rule and came every day.

One morning, as the sun rose high in the sky, Ning Yao slowly opened her sleepy eyes. In a blur, she saw Feng Jingzhuo sitting by her bed.

He was quietly mending clothes with a needle and thread.

Ning Yao smiled and suddenly sat up. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Jingzhuo, from this angle, you really look like the most caring person ever… Is this outfit for me?”

Feng Jingzhuo received his daily kiss and immediately felt soft and warm inside. “You want new clothes?”

“I’m okay with what I have. I’m not picky.”

He said, “Then after I finish this, I’ll make something for you. This one is for Senior Sister.”

Ning Yao was curious. “Hmm? How did you two start talking?”

Feng Jingzhuo quickly shook his head. “Nothing like that.”

“Aiya, I just mean you two know each other now. You get along. I didn’t mean anything bad — don’t be nervous.” She gently smoothed his messy hair with her hand.

He smiled again. “She said that Brother Xiao’s outfits look nice, and she wanted something like that too.”

Ning Yao thought for a moment. “Senior Sister isn’t one to be shy. How many pieces did she ask for?”

Feng Jingzhuo didn’t seem to mind. He answered casually, “All kinds. About six or seven.”

Ning Yao covered her forehead.

Technically, they were all like family, so it shouldn’t matter. But even she was starting to feel it was too much. “I should talk to them. They’re way too lazy. Ever since you arrived, they’ve made you do everything. It’s like they’re just waiting for you to feed them too. That’s just too much…”

She pretended to get out of bed, but Feng Jingzhuo stopped her. “Yao Yao, I actually like doing these things.”

She looked at him with crossed arms, her expression full of doubt and sympathy — like she was silently asking, Are you really okay being everyone’s servant?

Her look made Feng Jingzhuo laugh. “Yao Yao, I need something to do. I enjoy it. I don’t want people to treat me like a guest.”

She started listing, “But still, they’re taking advantage of you. You have to earn money, sew clothes, cook food, sit with Master Jie to talk about ancient times and complicated books, drink with Chu Xiao, practice swordsmanship with him, and even calm Bamboo Yuzhu down and listen to his complaints. And now Senior Sister’s joined in — and let me remind you, she treats everyone the same. She doesn’t treat anyone like an outsider, but also not like a real person either.”

Feng Jingzhuo still smiled and said, “But you all gave me a home.”

Ning Yao’s lips parted slightly. Then, suddenly, she realized something.

She had grown up in this place, so she was used to it. But what felt normal to her was something extremely precious to Feng Jingzhuo.

“Zhuo’er…” Her heart softened, and her voice became even more tender. “I really wish I had met you earlier. If I had found you the moment you left Cangyuan, I would have taken you in and taught you medicine properly.”

Feng Jingzhuo felt like someone had punched him right in the heart. He put down what he was holding and gently pulled Ning Yao into his arms.

He wanted to say: You’ve already taught me — the most unique kind of healing in the world.

In the end, he just smiled and said softly, “Yao Yao, this is enough. No matter the past or the future, I already feel complete.”

The changes between the two of them were obvious to everyone on the mountain. Jie Zhongyi wanted to start planning their wedding, but Ning Yao didn’t let him.

She said, “No need to make it complicated. Just pick a lucky day, find a big open space, and we’ll bow to heaven, earth, and our ancestors. That’s enough.”

Jie Zhongyi said, “But for a wedding, you still need wedding clothes, right?”

“We can use the ones our parents wore. They’re bright red and pretty. It’ll be good luck.”

Jie Zhongyi raised an eyebrow. “You want to use Ran Qing’s wedding clothes? Isn’t that kind of… unlucky?”

“What do you mean by that?”