The morning mist dampened the hem of Ye Fan's blue cloth tunic. When he followed Su Qingxue around the final mountain bend, the vermilion doors of Wanhua Tower were pushed open with a creak. Elder Chen's hunched figure was wedged in the doorway, still clutching half a bronze door ring he hadn't finished polishing. The instant he caught sight of the two of them, the rims of his eyes instantly turned as red as wolfberries soaked in wine.
"Young Master! Lady Su!" He stumbled out, his cloth shoes slipping on the frost-covered Blue Stone Slab, before Abao caught him by the arm from behind. The little girl's eyes were so bright they could light a lantern. She crisp-voicedly called out, "Young Master Ye," and then busily went to tug on Su Qingxue's sleeve. "Elder Sister Su, look! Yesterday Elder Chen replaced all the lanterns in the tower with new ones, saying it would bring good luck!"
Su Qingxue was pulled toward the door, her coral hairpins flashing in fragments of light amid the morning mist. She lowered her gaze to Abao's frost-reddened fingertips, suddenly reaching out to cover those hands and warm them. "You've worked hard." The little girl's ears turned completely red in a flash, her neck burning right along with them, and she flurriedly pulled back her hands to tidy her temples, which had been ruffled by the wind.
Chapter 36