Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in publishing! Tis exam time for me and exams > fanfics sooooo...

Also thank you everyone for the comments, votes, and 100 views! Didn't expect my work to be so publicized lol.

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Qingti worked away all afternoon, forging a wide assortment of farming tools. During these many hours, quite a few ladies peeked through the window to stare at him, then went to tell all their family and friends about this place just so they could find an excuse to come see him again. The business of the small blacksmith had more than doubled in just one day, as daughters and sisters of farmers dragged them to the shop to buy new tools. The boss was beyond impressed: not only was his new worker strong and capable, but he was also great at unknowingly soliciting business. He smiled to himself and walked over to where Xiaojiu was sitting.

"You're very lucky to have a man like him by your side. Don't ever let him go."

"Don't ever let him go." The boss's words echoed over and over in Xiaojiu's mind. Everywhere they went, people were misunderstanding their relationship, but Xiaojiu simply didn't love Qingti in that way. To her, he was a capable and dependable friend; nothing more and nothing less. Besides, there was no way she could stay with him forever. She was an immortal and he wasn't, and she would have to leave the mortal realm soon lest her backfire gets more severe.

Having finished his latest tool, Qingti looked up and smiled at Xiaojiu, wiping sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. She finally snapped out of her trance when the boss smiled and approached Qingti with a cloth bag. The boss laughed heartily and patted Qingti's broad shoulders.

"You did such great work today, young man! Not only are you talented at forging metal, but you've also brought me more customers! I can't be more grateful towards you." As he looked at the cloth bag, his mood seemed to drop a bit. "To tell the truth, Ol' Wang and I haven't been making much money lately. Business has been slow. But today, haha, today is a different story." He reached his hand into the cloth bag and pulled out quite a sizable string of coins. Qingti was a bit shocked when the boss handed the whole thing over to him.

"Boss, this-"

"You've been such a big help to me today, how could I not reward you? The sun will set in the next few hours, and we're going to close up shop now. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!" Qingti bowed to the boss as he accepted the money. "You're such a fine young man. What is your name? I realized I never asked."

Qingti almost gave the boss his real name, before he realized that he was still in the middle of running away. Instead he replied, "Just call me A'Qing."

"A'Qing! See you tomorrow morning!" The boss beamed, and although he had bags under his eyes and wrinkles around his mouth, he didn't look tired anymore. Qingti and Xiaojiu smiled as they bid farewell to the boss and Old Wang.

As Qingti pocketed the money from the boss, he smiled and looked at Xiaojiu. Although he smiled, he also looked a bit worn out.

"Xiaojiu, I've finally earned us some money! What do you want to buy first?"

Xiaojiu looked around at the street market. There were so many wonderful things to be bought; sugar-coated haws, sugar figurines, and all kinds of little hairpins, jewellery, and trinkets. She looked at herself, and she looked at Qingti. Even though there were probably many things she'd love to buy there, she knew she shouldn't waste the money Qingti worked so hard for on impractical objects.

"Why don't we buy ourselves a new set of clothes? We only have one set right now, and plus if we change out of outfits we've worn in the palace and into the style of this village, the palace troops will have a harder time finding us."

Qingti expected Xiaojiu to look around the street market right in front of them and excitedly make a list of things she wanted to buy, but she was so humble and considerate at this moment. She respected that he had worked long hours for the money they had, and didn't want to waste it. Over her time in the palace she has really grown up: from the foolish girl who didn't even know to bow to the Crown Prince, to the mature and frugal girl standing before him now. Her thoughtful decision and respect for him made Qingti fall even harder for her.

At the clothing shop, Xiaojiu finally loosened up a bit and became more of her usual excitable self; she seemed very happy to see that even such a small village had such nice clothes. Actually, Qingti wasn't too sure what was considered nice clothes and what was just considered average, and he looked at the clothes on display not knowing how to choose. Just as he was about to try picking something out, Xiaojiu pranced over to him holding a light turquoise dress with golden embroidery.

"Qingti, how does this one look?" She held the dress up to herself, beaming up at him. Qingti was caught off-guard and was rendered speechless. All he could give her was a nod of approval, afraid that if he opened his mouth all that would come out was stuttering. Xiaojiu smiled even brighter when he approved. "Then I'll go try it on. Be right back!"

When Xiaojiu went into the changing room, Qingti returned his attention to the selection of clothes in front of him. Should he pick an embroidered set like Xiaojiu did? He was just used to putting whatever outfit on, and never gave it much thought. The shopkeeper noticed he looked a bit lost, so she approached him.

"Young man, would you like some help selecting a set?" She looked up at him and couldn't help but feel a bit fascinated. He looked at her and nodded.

"Um... What kind of outfit do you think would suit me?" The shopkeeper kept looking at him. He expected her to rifle through the clothes she had and expertly recommend him a specific set, but she just kept studying him and replied,

"Honestly, anything would look good on you." She chuckled at her own remark and looked away. Half regretting what she said, she quickly distanced herself from him and began to go through her selection of clothes. She returned with a deep green set, a charcoal gray set, and a light turquoise set. "Young man, these would be my recommendations. Darker colours are more popular these days, but you may consider this turquoise one to match with the young lady you came in with."

The shopkeeper's last remark left him at a loss for words. How he wished Xiaojiu was someone who he could wear matching outfits with. He felt his heart sink a bit, but took the three outfits from the shopkeeper's hands without a word. She smiled and left to let him be. Just as Qingti was returning the turquoise outfit to where it came from, Xiaojiu exited the changing room, smiling as she enthusiastically twirled around in the turquoise dress.

"Qingti! What do you think?" As Xiaojiu twirled closer and closer to him, he was left speechless for the third time today. She looked even more beautiful in this resplendent dress.

"You are beautiful." When he said these words, his ears turned red and he looked down at the floor. Xiaojiu noticed the two outfits he held in his arms.

"You've finally picked something! Which one are you gonna buy?" Qingti just looked at her and shrugged helplessly. He held both outfits up against his body and asked,

"Which one do you like better, Xiaojiu?"

"Hmm... I think they would both look good on you. I think you would look good in anything." Although he already heard this compliment today, it hit a lot harder when Xiaojiu said it. Her comment made him blush visibly, but she didn't seem to notice. "Eh, but if you really can't pick, I think the gray one is better. It really suits you!"

Qingti went with Xiaojiu's suggestion without a second thought. He went to pay for their clothes then changed into his new outfit. Indeed, the colour and style of the outfit suited him very well; both the shopkeeper and Xiaojiu were impressed.