If she lеft just likе thаt, wоuldn't shе have cоmе here fоr nothing?
If she didn't thiсkеn hеr skin аnd stау this time, who knеw how long she would have tо wаit befоre finding аnоthеr еxсusе tо соme sеe him?
Morеоver, whаt the Secоnd Branсh's Old Anсеstоr аnd hеr fаthеr had said nееded tо bе tоld to him аs soоn аs possiblе.
Zhоu Shaоjin clenchеd her fists, pretеnding tо knоw nothing, аnd sat down on thе аrmсhair with а bright smilе.
Сhеng Сhi wаs quite surрrisеd.
His mеaning hаd been quitе clеаr, уet hе hаdn't ехpectеd this little girl to not understand аt all.
Could it bе that aftеr deаling with рeоple like Gu Jiuniao for so long, his manner had become too subtle?
Cheng Chi gave a light cough and then sat down opposite Zhou Shaojin.
Surely now this child would understand his meaning!
When proper hosts entertained guests, they would invite the guest to sit with them at the square table. If there were distinctions of seniority and status, the person of higher status, who was also the host, would usually sit at the head of the square table, while those of lower status or guests would sit in the lower seats.
Cheng Chi was not treating Zhou Shaojin as a guest, somewhat implying, "Say what you have to say, and then leave quickly."
Zhou Shaojin was extremely sensitive—how could she not sense his attitude?
She felt a bit hurt inside, but after thinking it over, she let it go.
Uncle Chi originally had no connection with her. If not for Uncle Chi kindly saving her once, she wouldn't even know him. If she were in his place, she would also find such a sudden visit rather annoying.
Zhou Shaojin also had a bit of stubbornness, feeling that since she had already sat down in front of Cheng Chi, she shouldn't give up halfway. Whether it turned out good or bad, if she didn't try, she would never know.
She forced a smile, trying to appear poised and graceful. Little did she know that her slightly awkward smile and the panic revealed in her clear gaze were so obvious in Cheng Chi's eyes.
So the little girl did understand—she must have come to ask him for a favor?
Cheng Chi pondered.
Probably this was her first time asking for help like this, which was why, even though she knew he was trying to send her away, she stubbornly pretended not to notice.
Looking at Zhou Shaojin's delicate yet youthful face, he suddenly remembered his first time traveling far from home.
It was the middle of winter, and they encountered heavy rain. He insisted on pressing forward through the downpour. As a result, Qin Zining fell ill from the rain. He finally found a local gentry's house, hoping to borrow a place to stay for the night, but the family, seeing how seriously ill Qin Zining was, feared the bad luck if something were to happen to him and refused no matter what. After much persuasion, the gentry reluctantly agreed to let them stay in the woodshed for one night... That was the first time in his life he had ever begged someone for help. Besides anger, there was also a hint of embarrassment.
What could a young girl possibly need from him?
Probably nothing more than matters of romance—"you like me, I like him" and such.
Considering she actually had the courage to come to him for help, he might as well help her!
After all, for him, it would be nothing more than a trivial effort.
Once all these messy matters were resolved, she probably wouldn't come looking for him again.
Cheng Chi thought to himself. With a smile, he pointed to the armchair at the lower seat and said, "Did you come to see me about Cheng Xiangqing? Didn't he go to Yuelu Academy?"
Cheng Xiangqing, Cheng Lu?!
What did he have to do with her coming to see Uncle Chi?
Zhou Shaojin blinked, taking a moment to process this.
Her heart pounded wildly as she said, "Was this matter handled by Uncle Chi?""No," Cheng Chi smiled. "It was Madam Yuan's idea. She provided the funds and contacted the academy."
So that was how it was!
Zhou Shaojin's heart settled.
But Cheng Chi then said, "Since there's nothing going on with Cheng Xiangqing, did you come here for Cheng Jiashan?"
Why would he say that?
Zhou Shaojin widened her eyes and said, "What does Cousin Xu's matter have to do with me?"
Hearing this, Cheng Chi frowned and said, "Don't you know Jiashan has returned?"
"I know!" Zhou Shaojin said. "I just found out—he went to pay respects to the old madam."
Cheng Chi was somewhat puzzled.
But Zhou Shaojin's heart ached faintly.
Cheng Xu was always clinging to her, thinking he could eventually win her over...
Could it be that Uncle Chi also believed she had entanglements with Cheng Xu?
Thinking of this, she comforted herself.
Cheng Jiashan came from a prestigious family, was young and handsome, held the title of top scholar, had promising official prospects, and was considered a golden son-in-law in the eyes of many noble families. Moreover, he was willing to humble himself before her. It was only natural for Uncle Chi to misunderstand that she had been moved by Cheng Xu.
Zhou Shaojin recalled that her first contact with Cheng Chi was to avoid Cheng Xu.
Could it be that Uncle Chi had always thought she was playing hard-to-get between Cheng Lu and Cheng Xu?
Otherwise, why would he first ask about Cheng Lu and then about Cheng Xu?
Zhou Shaojin felt deeply wronged and didn't know what to say.
She neither wanted to marry Cheng Xu nor Cheng Lu... Why didn't anyone believe her!
Cheng Chi looked at the little girl whose eyes had suddenly turned red, feeling rather baffled.
He hadn't said anything, so why was she suddenly on the verge of tears?
"Since it's not for Cheng Jiashan, then what exactly did you come to see me for?" Cheng Chi asked seriously.
Zhou Shaojin's heart skipped a beat.
If Uncle Chi really thought she had something going on with Cheng Xu, that would be terrible!
She had witnessed Uncle Chi's capabilities firsthand.
Such a major incident as the Fifth House fire—he suppressed it just like that, leaving not a trace afterward.
And Cheng Xu kept making many ambiguous gestures. If Uncle Chi thought she and Cheng Xu were mutually attracted and that she had come to him seeking his blessing for her and Cheng Xu... given Uncle Chi's methods, he might actually find a way to make her marry Cheng Xu.
By then, she would... not be able to clear her name even if she jumped into Mochou Lake!
"Uncle Chi," Zhou Shaojin flushed with anxiety and hurriedly said, "I'm staying with the Cheng family to accompany my sister. Once my sister is married, I'll follow my father to his post. I will never forget the great kindness of the Cheng family. In my heart, they will always be my maternal relatives. If I have the chance in the future, I will return during festivals to visit my grandmother and uncles."
Cheng Chi was somewhat surprised.
The little girl was telling him she had no intention of marrying Cheng Xu!
But why would she think that way?
However, Cheng Chi understood in an instant.
He smiled and asked Zhou Shaojin, "Do you know Cheng Jiashan has returned?"
Zhou Shaojin was taken aback.
This was already the second time Cheng Chi had asked her.
Not understanding his meaning, she nodded foolishly.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "Then do you know he went to pay respects to his mentor for his birthday?"
"I know!" Zhou Shaojin answered honestly."Your father had previously mentioned he would return for the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth of the eighth month. His mentor's birthday is on the seventh of the eighth month. He likely planned to pay his respects to his mentor and then rush back to see your father," Cheng Chi said calmly. "But he didn’t expect your father would leave on the seventh. Upon hearing the news, he didn’t even attend his mentor’s birthday banquet and hurried back day and night. Yet he still arrived a day late—your father had already left..."
Zhou Shaojin’s face turned pale, and she exclaimed, "He... what does he want to see my father for?"
"Didn’t you say you knew?" Cheng Chi noticed her fingers twisting together again, guessing she might do this when nervous, and smiled. "Probably because he wants to marry you. Since he can’t propose to your father directly, leaving a good impression in front of him would be beneficial..."
Zhou Shaojin was horrified and cried out sharply, "I, I don’t want to marry Cheng Xu!" Fearing Cheng Chi wouldn’t believe her, she added, "I would rather die than marry Cheng Xu."
Addressing Cheng Jiashan by his full name showed just how unwelcome he was to her.
Cheng Chi looked at Zhou Shaojin’s panicked, trapped-animal gaze and couldn’t help sighing inwardly. He stood up, poured her a cup of warm water, and said gently, "Come, sit down and have some tea!"
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t stop trembling until the warm teacup heated her hands, finally calming her down. She looked up at Cheng Chi.
"Feeling better now?" Cheng Chi smiled at her, his bright eyes as warm as winter sunlight.
For a moment, Zhou Shaojin was dazed.
Uncle Chi’s smile truly warmed the heart.
Then she remembered what Cheng Chi had just said and shuddered, her expression changing drastically.
Because he knew she had no connection with Cheng Lu, Uncle Chi had said, "Didn’t Cheng Lu go to Yuelu Academy?"
Because he knew she genuinely didn’t want to marry Cheng Xu, Uncle Chi had asked, "Do you know Cheng Jiashan has returned?"
Uncle Chi had never doubted her!
He had always believed in her.
Instead, she had misunderstood him!
She thought he was like the others—hearing Cheng Lu’s words and assuming she was involved with him; seeing Cheng Xu’s interest in her and thinking she should be overjoyed to marry him. Even her sister, when she first learned of this, only worried about the difference in status between her and Cheng Xu, fearing she would suffer after marriage, but never considered whether she was willing to marry Cheng Xu.
Suddenly realizing this, Zhou Shaojin’s tears began to fall uncontrollably.
"Uncle Chi..." She lowered her head, biting her lip as she wept softly, unable to hold back.
Cheng Chi felt a headache coming on.
It wasn’t that no woman had cried in front of him before.
But none had cried like this young girl—so... unrestrained, so... earnest.
As if crying were the only thing left in the world.
Young girls these days—who knew what they were thinking!
You say east, and she points west.
Utterly baffling.
Cheng Chi cleared his throat softly.
Huaishan silently emerged from behind the floor screen on the right.
Cheng Chi whispered to him, "Go call Nanping over. This kind of thing should be left to her."
Huaishan suppressed a smile, respectfully replied, "Yes," and withdrew.
Zhou Shaojin vaguely sensed someone entering and then leaving.
She lifted her head, her eyes blurred with tears, and glanced around.
Only she and Cheng Chi were in the room.
Perhaps she had imagined it!Zhou Shaojin thought to herself, immediately putting the matter out of her mind.
Cheng Chi, however, breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing her eyes and nose red, like a little child, he thought for a moment, then took out a handkerchief and handed it to Zhou Shaojin. "Wipe your tears."
Zhou Shaojin bashfully accepted the handkerchief.
She hadn’t intended to cry in front of Uncle Chi.
She had originally planned to speak properly with Uncle Chi, to let him know that despite her young age, she still had some insight... Now, all of that was ruined.
Zhou Shaojin was deeply annoyed.
She discreetly observed Cheng Chi’s expression.
Cheng Chi sat casually in the armchair, his expression still gentle, as if he wasn’t impatient with her crying.
She felt a weight lift off her shoulders.
Seeing Cheng Chi turn to pick up the teacup, Zhou Shaojin quickly jumped up and said, "Uncle Chi, the tea must be cold, right? Let me get you a fresh cup." Then she snatched the teacup from the table and dashed away.
※
Sorry, sorry, today’s update is late.
o(n_n)o~
Today’s extra update!
※ (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
!!
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