Zhоu Shаоjin was so frightеnеd bу thеsе words that her hаnds аnd feet turnеd cold.
In hеr рrеviоus lifе, shе had heаrd of people whо invеsted in mаritime trаdе, оnlу to hаvе thеir shiрs сaрsize, leaving thеm bаnkrupt аnd destitute.
Without а secоnd thought, Zhou Shаоjin сrаwlеd оut frоm under the quilt аnd sаid anхiоuslу, "No, nоthing will haррen, right?"
She stаrеd at him nеrvously, her lаrge eyеs fillеd with wоrry.
Сheng Chi felt а wаrmth in his hеart аnd gеntlу strоkеd hеr hair, smiling аs hе said, "I didn’t invеst much mоney. It’s nоt enоugh tо mаke mе unаblе tо support уou."
Zhou Shaojin’s eхpression stiffеned upоn heаring this.
Sinсe hе still had the leisure to tease her, it was clear the situation wasn’t too serious.
She had worried about him for nothing and had almost forgiven him after being teased.
She let out a soft "hmph" and sat far away at the corner of the bed, piling the quilt between herself and Cheng Chi as if building a fortress, looking as though she intended to never speak to him again.
Cheng Chi couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Zhou Shaojin pursed her lips and glared at him with wide eyes.
Cheng Chi quickly stopped laughing and said gently, "I’ve truly been very busy these past few days. If you don’t believe me, you’ll see when you go to Yuqian Alley. I haven’t even had time to help you tidy up the house—it’s still exactly as it was before. I was hoping you could help me redecorate the place once you’re there."
She didn’t care about him at all!
Zhou Shaojin lowered her head and remained silent, twisting the corner of the quilt.
Cheng Chi continued, "...It’s spring now, a time when everything grows, perfect for planting flowers and greenery. The flower farmers in Fengtai have all released new varieties. Once you’re there, you can visit Fengtai and plant a few flowering trees around the house in Yuqian Alley. By Mid-Autumn Festival, Yuqian Alley will surely look completely refreshed."
They wouldn’t even have to wait until Mid-Autumn Festival. Flowers like daylilies, morning glories, and periwinkles—if planted now—would bloom in the summer. If he dared to let her plant whatever she wanted, she’d fill every nook and cranny of Yuqian Alley with these flowers.
Zhou Shaojin thought of the solemn and vast Cold Green Mountain House, then imagined Yuqian Alley, filled with the most ordinary flowers like periwinkles, snapdragons, and nasturtiums, blooming in a riot of colors like a bustling alleyway... Uncle Chi, who used the "Thus I Have Heard" incense, would surely turn as dark as the bottom of a pot at the sight... She almost couldn’t hold back her laughter at the thought.
Yet the smile still crept into the corners of her eyes and brows.
He knew it. Even if Shaojin was angry with him, she would forgive him quickly.
Cheng Chi watched her, his heart softening like a pond filling with water, so full it seemed about to overflow.
His voice grew even softer and gentler: "By then, you can hang your oriole birdcage under the eaves, and Snowball will have a place to play—little dogs love running around in gardens. Look at now—with children in the house, you had to leave Snowball in Baoding Prefecture!
"Someday, have Nanny Shang accompany you to Goldfish Alley again, buy a few goldfish to raise in a large vat. When you practice calligraphy in the study, you can open the window and see the beautiful scenery of the courtyard. How wonderful! In autumn, when the osmanthus blooms, you can brew osmanthus wine and even share it with relatives and friends..."
Zhou Shaojin was so tempted!
What should she do?
She bit her lip.
Cheng Chi watched her, a smile spreading from the depths of his eyes, his voice growing even lighter and more cheerful: "Jiying has already returned to Cangzhou. I plan to ask for Qin Ziping’s hand in marriage to her. She might come to the capital then and will likely live nearby. If you ever get bored at home, you can go find her to play..."This was truly a bolt from the blue.
Zhou Shaojin could no longer sit still and hurriedly asked, "Uncle Chi, how could Jiying marry Qin Ziping?"
Qin Ziping was a servant. Jiying was a girl from a respectable family. This... this simply wouldn't do!
Her mind was in turmoil, and she unconsciously shifted toward where Cheng Chi was sitting.
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "What's wrong with that? Although the Qin family works for the Cheng family, they have never signed a deed of servitude. When they refer to themselves as 'this humble one,' it's out of respect because my ancestors once saved their Qin clan. Why would they be unworthy of Jiying?"
Zhou Shaojin's thoughts were a jumbled mess. "But Jiying seems rather indifferent toward Qin Ziping... She doesn't seem to like him..."
"If you want to know whether she likes Qin Ziping or not, why don't you ask her yourself?" Cheng Chi said as he stood up and took a few steps, stopping at a distance that was neither too close nor too far from Zhou Shaojin. "She'll be returning to the capital in a couple of days. Once she's settled, she'll surely come to visit you."
"Really?" Zhou Shaojin's eyes lit up. Cheng Chi maintained a certain distance from her, which eased the tension she had been feeling.
She really is still just a child!
When dealing with a child, one must use a child's methods.
Cheng Chi smiled faintly and stood there, waiting for Zhou Shaojin to get out of bed.
However, Zhou Shaojin twisted her fingers and hesitated for a long while.
Cheng Chi patiently smiled and asked, "What's the matter now?"
Zhou Shaojin felt it was better to clarify some things.
Her face flushed as if it could drip blood, and she lowered her eyelids, murmuring, "You... you must promise me not to treat me like you did that day..."
Cheng Chi watched her, soft and shy as if she would melt at the slightest touch, and felt a stirring in his heart. He wanted to tease her a little, but the thought flashed through his mind of how stiff her body had been when he held her. He forcibly swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and pretended to be uncomfortable, saying, "Shao Jin, I couldn't control myself in a moment of weakness... I've been trying not to bring it up. Could you just pretend it never happened? Let's go back to how we were before..."
"Ah?!" Zhou Shaojin felt her face burning, wishing she could disappear from Cheng Chi's sight right then.
She really... had no tact... No wonder her sister often told her in her previous life, "Water that is too clear has no fish; a person who is too clear has no friends." Some things should be overlooked at the right time... Like when the kitchen women took a few cuts of meat home for petty gains, sometimes you had to turn a blind eye... Uncle Chi had been so good to her, and he had only made this one mistake. He was already too embarrassed to mention it, yet she kept dwelling on it...
"I... I... I..." Zhou Shaojin stammered, unable to get the words out.
Cheng Chi cautiously approached her.
Zhou Shaojin didn't avoid him but looked at him with an embarrassed and pitiful expression, like a cat eager to please him.
Cheng Chi's heart ached at the sight. He longed to take this little thing into his arms, to whisper sweet nothings and shower her with affection. But his hands, clenched behind his back, tightened and loosened, loosened and tightened. In the end, he only gently stroked her head and said, "Alright, alright. Don't be angry anymore. Go change your clothes quickly. Everyone is waiting for you!"
Zhou Shaojin nodded hurriedly, her expression still tinged with shyness.As he drew closer, looking down from his elevated position, Cheng Chi noticed not only her flushed cheeks but also her reddened ears. The blush extended downward, turning even her neck a delicate pink... He couldn't help but recall the smooth, silky skin he had touched beneath her clothing that day...
I wonder if it too had turned pink?
His fingertips seemed to retain the memory of that day, burning as if touched by fire...
Cheng Chi leaned in almost involuntarily.
He caught the faint scent on Zhou Shaojin.
Warm, the fragrance of a young woman.
A sudden awareness jolted him, and with great effort he restrained himself from moving closer. Instead, he whispered near her ear, "Shaoji, during the Bathing Buddha Festival... I’ll accompany you to visit Daxiangguo Temple."
Zhou Shaojin’s mind was a tangled mess, still steeped in guilt toward Cheng Chi, so naturally she agreed to whatever he said.
Cheng Chi let out a long, relieved sigh.
He had originally intended to spend the Ghost Festival with her.
Three months should be enough for Shaojin to let down her guard around him.
Yet just now, he had inexplicably failed to restrain himself.
The moment the words left his mouth, he felt a twinge of regret, fearing he might ruin the progress he had painstakingly made, causing matters to regress once more.
Fortunately, Shaojin seemed to like him more than he had imagined.
Realizing this, Cheng Chi felt his heart swell with joy.
He became even more determined to avoid any discord between himself and Zhou Shaojin.
Cheng Chi stood up and retreated to a distance that made Zhou Shaojin feel at ease, scolding her gently as usual, "Hurry up and get ready. I have a lunch appointment with the Thirteen Hongs."
"Oh!" Zhou Shaojin hastily scrambled off the bed, clumsily straightening her dress. Like a child who had just learned to dress and walk, she appeared particularly innocent.
Cheng Chi dared not look too long, turning instead to leave the inner chamber.
※
Zhou Chujin craned her neck, waiting anxiously at the main gate. When she saw Cheng Chi emerge in high spirits, her heart settled, and she silently murmured "Amitabha" before stepping forward to greet him.
Cheng Chi wasted no time with pleasantries, stating, "We can depart once Shaojin is ready."
Zhou Chujin gratefully bowed to Cheng Chi and hurried into the inner chamber with the maids attending Zhou Shaojin.
Zhou Shaojin’s face was still flushed, but the earlier stubbornness had vanished.
Zhou Chujin smiled knowingly and said, "Uncle Chi certainly knows how to handle things!"
Zhou Shaojin avoided her sister’s gaze, softly asking Chunwan to help her change clothes.
Zhou Chujin was intensely curious and asked, "What did Uncle Chi say to you?"
Of course, Zhou Shaojin dared not tell her sister the truth, murmuring faintly, "He... he just scolded me."
"Serves you right!" Zhou Chujin tapped her forehead lightly. "See if you’ll dare to be so willful again."
"I won’t, I won’t!" Zhou Shaojin repeatedly promised.
Zhou Chujin then personally adjusted her hairpin, all the while offering endless advice: "When you go to Uncle Chi’s place, be careful on your own. Listen to Uncle Chi and don’t make him angry. Don’t think you can run around freely just because there’s no one to restrain you. If anything happens, send someone to tell your sister immediately—I purposely walked back from Yuqian Hutong the other day. Uncle Chi’s home is only about two incense sticks’ worth of time from here, very close. Be cautious with candles when sleeping at night. It’s best to have Mama Fan on duty in your room. She’s older and a light sleeper, so she’ll wake easily if there’s any disturbance..."
Zhou Shaojin nodded absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting back to Cheng Chi’s earlier words.
Marrying Jiying to Qin Ziping... How strange that felt to her!Qin Zi'an is the elder brother, so if Jiying were to marry into the Qin family, shouldn't she marry Qin Zi'an?
When Jiying arrives, she must be sure to ask her properly.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel grateful that Cheng Chi had moved her to Yuqian Lane. Otherwise, with Jiying's carefree and unrestrained manner, her sister would definitely not allow her to interact frequently with Jiying. But given Jiying's personality, she would surely drag her around everywhere when the time comes—just like that New Year's Eve when they went to Beijiang Bridge to watch the boats.
Then she wouldn't have discovered Uncle Chi's secret.
I wonder how Xiao Zhenhai is doing?
Uncle Chi said that the reason he acted that way toward her that day was because he couldn't control his emotions... Uncle Chi, does this mean he likes her?
Zhou Shaojin opened her mouth, her mind completely blank.
※
Dear readers, here's the weekend bonus update.
O(∩_∩)O~
PS: You can check the update tomorrow morning...
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel