"Where did you go?" Qiu Tao asked, holding her close.
He had just returned himself and hadn't expected it to be dark with her not in the room.
In the afternoon, he had gone to find Lin Xinglan and had been angered to death again. He didn't know who that brat was waiting for, being so stubborn and refusing to leave with him.
Removing his hand from her waist, Shen Jianxi sat before the dressing table and began removing her jewelry, "I was having dinner with my family."
Qiu Tao didn't doubt her. Having stayed here for a while, he had seen how doting her family was towards her. He rarely saw such close relationships within a large family.
Among the descendants of the Qiu family, very few lived to the age of three, unless they were girls.
This was enough to show how many hidden schemes there were in a large family, and thus, their family's affection was even more precious.
He sat on a chair, propping his head with one hand, watching her busy herself, not finding it boring.
However, when she placed the hairpin given by Cheng Wenyu on the table, Qiu Tao frowned. This hairpin...
Why did it look so familiar?
He pretended to ask casually, "The hairpin is beautiful, did you just buy it?"
Shen Jianxi chuckled, picked up the hairpin she had placed on the table, and examined it carefully. "My elder brother gave it to me, it's indeed beautiful." Qiu Tao thought Shen Jianxi meant that the hairpin was beautiful because her elder brother gave it to her, not realizing that these were actually two separate statements.
He felt relieved, thinking he had overthought it. Cheng Wenyu, that fellow... it would be surprising enough if he could even say a word to a woman, let alone an ambiguous act like gifting a hairpin. Besides, he should be at Mingxin Sect right now.
While he was lost in thought, Shen Jianxi had already finished tidying up and gotten into bed.
Her dark hair spread out loosely beneath her, her inner garment somewhat loose, revealing some fair and tender skin like congealed fat.
Qiu Tao lay on the bed, the scene from earlier still in his mind.
...
Cheng Wenyu sat neatly dressed on a stone bench in the courtyard, looking at his hands. He recalled the scene at the entrance of the Shen manor again. His palm seemed to be burning. Thinking of the lake excursion tomorrow, he took a sip of tea, a faint sense of anticipation in his heart.
...
The next morning, Cheng Wenyu arrived at the Shen manor. Under Shen Father's dagger-like gaze, he lowered his head and took a sip of tea to hide his discomfort.
"I have already sent someone to call my daughter."
Perhaps all fathers in the world would not have a good expression when seeing someone about to marry their daughter.
Cheng Wenyu quickly put down his teacup and said humbly, "Wenyu arrived early."
Shen Father snorted and turned to look at the main entrance. No matter how good and outstanding this young man was, he just found him displeasing!
If not for...
Alas, one could only say that life is unpredictable.
Thinking this, his resistance towards Cheng Wenyu lessened.
The room was silent until Shen Jianxi arrived.
She chose to wear a green dress today, which made her skin appear even fairer and more tender.
Seeing her enter, Shen Father quickly waved his hand, "Little treasure, come to Daddy."
She walked over obediently. Seeing this, Cheng Wenyu relaxed the posture he had prepared to stand up and greet her with.
"Daddy," she called out softly.
"Ah – Daddy's good girl." Although she wasn't getting married today, it was probably the first time he was personally handing his daughter over to another man, and he felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Take good care of Luyuan, don't let yourself be wronged."
He babbled on with many instructions, making Shen Jianxi feel as if she wasn't going out for a morning but for a year.
After about ten minutes, Shen Father felt he had said enough. He stopped and took a sip of tea, "Daddy will say less. It's getting late, you two can go out now."
Shen Jianxi: ... Perhaps a little bit more.
However, she didn't dislike it. Instead, her heart was filled with emotion.
"I know, Daddy~ Don't worry, Brother Wenyu will take good care of me, right Brother Wenyu?"
Seeing the conversation directed at him, Cheng Wenyu stood up and bowed to Shen Father, "Uncle Shen, please rest assured, I will take good care of Sister Jianxi."
Hearing his promise, Shen Father's expression improved slightly. He waved his hand, "Go, go."
After speaking, he turned his head away, unable to look at them.
He found it disheartening to look at them!
Not minding Shen Father's attitude, Cheng Wenyu smiled gently and said, "Sister Jianxi, please."
Shen Jianxi gave him a sweet smile, "Let's go together, Brother Wenyu."
This time, Shen Father turned his body away as well.
He felt even more disheartened!
At the entrance, Cheng Wenyu had already prepared a carriage. Eight jade-white steeds pulling the carriage attracted the attention of passersby.
After all, jade-white steeds were expensive, and such a scene was rarely seen.
As they approached the carriage, the servant Qing Zhu saw them arrive and quickly placed the footstool, waiting respectfully.
Just before stepping onto the footstool, Shen Jianxi suddenly stopped. Under Cheng Wenyu's confused gaze, she extended her hand.
Cheng Wenyu understood her meaning, his ears turning slightly red. He raised his hand and said, "Forgive me for this."
Then, Shen Jianxi placed her hand on his and stepped onto the carriage step by step.
Along the way, he kept telling Shen Jianxi interesting stories he had encountered over the years, making her laugh heartily.
"Hearing you say this, Brother Wenyu, I really want to go to Mingxin Sect too!"
She said it casually, but Cheng Wenyu took it to heart.
After marriage, he would definitely return to Mingxin Sect. If that were the case, she would be left alone in the Cheng family. Even with his mother there, she might still be wronged. If she could enter Mingxin Sect as a disciple, with him there, he would definitely take good care of her.
Thinking of this, his gaze became serious. "Don't worry, I will find a way."
Shen Jianxi: Huh???
She just said it casually... All three potential suitors were from Mingxin Sect, and they were fellow disciples. Wouldn't she be walking into a trap if she went there?
Remembering Qiu Tao's dissatisfaction this morning because she was going out again, she felt her lips begin to ache faintly.
However, since the words had been spoken, she couldn't take them back now, so she could only say gratefully, "Thank you, Brother Wenyu. But if it's too troublesome, forget it. I don't want to see Brother Wenyu in a difficult situation because of me."
She was incredibly considerate.
Although Cheng Wenyu didn't say anything, he truly took this matter to heart and planned to send a message to Mingxin Sect upon his return.
Shen Jianxi hadn't expected him to have prepared a lake excursion. The boat was decorated very comfortably, and his thoughtfulness was evident at a glance. Su Dan Novel Network
The spring breeze blew across the pleasure boat, stirring her hem and bringing a wave of coolness. It had to be said that it was indeed very comfortable to go on a boat excursion today.
Walking into the cabin, he had already brewed tea. Seeing her enter, he filled her cup to eight-tenths full.
She walked over and sat down, taking a sip. The fragrance of the tea filled her mouth. Putting down the teacup, Shen Jianxi looked at Cheng Wenyu with admiration, "The tea brewed by Brother Wenyu is really delicious. I wish I could brew such delicious tea too."
Cheng Wenyu smiled faintly, "Hot tea burns the hand. If Sister Jianxi likes it, I'll brew it for you after we get married."
Shen Jianxi, who was unaware of any marriage plans: ???