Shen Yun, with his usual reserved demeanor, was simply handsome.
But when he smiled, his deep-set eyes and finely chiseled features, possessing a beauty that could stir gods and demons, were breathtaking.
Seeing him deliberately stroke his face again in front of Su Xiaoqi, as a beauty enthusiast, Su Xiaoqi could hardly bear it.
Without waiting to instruct Guo'er, who sat by the carriage shaft pretending to be invisible, she poured the tea herself.
Then, she fawningly held the cup with both hands to Shen Yun's lips: "Your tea, sir."
"Who's drinking tea?" Shen Yun, seizing the opportunity, tilted his head and cast his stunning profile towards Su Xiaoqi.
Su Xiaoqi's heart skipped a beat, pounding wildly.
However, she was quite capable and quickly rejoined, "Husband, please have some tea. Shall I feed you?"
Shen Yun had expected her to hesitate more before uttering those words, surprised that she had so readily agreed to his wishes.
This left him with a plethora of tactics that he couldn't deploy immediately.
Su Xiaoqi looked at him with a smile, somehow seeing through Shen Yun's thoughts, and couldn't help but chuckle.
Shen Yun took a sip from her hand and said, "My dear, rest assured, the matter has been resolved. Su Jiamu has been taken back by his family.
They said nothing, accepting the loss as it was.
As for him provoking you at the supermarket, it was because he was rejected by a top courtesan in the red-light district.
He was in a bad mood, so he went around causing trouble. That incident was merely an accident."
This meant that at that particular time, anyone who appeared in the supermarket would have been bullied by Su Jiamu.
This had nothing to do with Su Xiaoqi herself.
Su Xiaoqi blinked her eyes: "Husband, how did you manage that? Is the courtesan from the red-light district an old acquaintance of yours?"
Shen Yun pressed his forehead with his hand, knowing his wife was incredibly intelligent, and she would surely question him once he explained.
"Yes, I once saved her father's life."
Su Xiaoqi's face showed even more interest: "I thought you were just casually acquainted. I didn't expect there to be a hero saving the beauty involved."
Shen Yun embraced her: "My dear, are you jealous?"
"Hmph, I'll eat anything, but I won't eat jealousy," she said, but Su Xiaoqi still asked with a hint of sourness:
"I heard that courtesans are generally as beautiful as flowers. Is this one also beautiful? What's her name?"
Shen Yun hesitated to speak.
He realized that no matter how compatible he and Xiaoqi were, he couldn't quite grasp a woman's thoughts.
Indeed, what the ancients said about a woman's heart being like a needle at the bottom of the sea held true.
Shen Yun lifted the carriage curtain and happened to see a large character "Gu" on the right. He quickly said,
"My dear, we've arrived at the Gu residence. Let's go in quickly. I imagine Mr. Gu and Madam Gu are waiting anxiously."
Su Xiaoqi shot him a look, questioning how he could shift the topic so abruptly.
However, she didn't press the matter further.
She hadn't intended to dwell on it anyway; it was just a jest.
Yet, there was a genuine pang of sadness in her heart.
Before they set out, Su Xiaoqi had sent word to the Gu residence that she would be staying for lunch.
Now, it was precisely lunchtime.
Therefore, as soon as they entered, Madam Yu invited the young couple to the dining hall for the meal.
During formal meals at the Gu residence, the custom was "eat without speaking, sleep without talking," so no one spoke.
After the meal, Mr. Gu, with a hearty laugh, invited Shen Yun to his study, as he had something else to discuss.
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi stayed by Madam Yu's side, like a married daughter visiting her maternal home, chatting and keeping her company.
After a while, Madam Yu also inquired about the earlier incident with Su Jiamu.
She said with great concern, "Xiaoqi, that Su family is so shallow. You should keep your distance from them."
Su Xiaoqi understood and thanked her repeatedly.
Fearing that Madam Yu had incomplete information from rumors heard outside, she recounted everything Shen Yun had told her later.
"Young Master Su the second has no proper conduct. First, he sought out a courtesan in the pleasure district and was rejected.
Then, he is violent and prone to fits of temper, and bullies respectable women. He deserves to be beaten and punished," Madam Yu judged him in a few words.
In fact, the subsequent inquiries made by the Gu family's servants confirmed Madam Yu's assessment.
This was a loss that the Su family had to accept, whether they liked it or not.
"I also heard something outside," said Mama Gao with a smile, teasingly. "That courtesan's name is Yan Niang, from the Misty Rain Pavilion. She is incredibly beautiful and has many admirers, even the magistrate's son."
Madam Yu waved her hand and chided lightly, "Go away, you old thing. Why are you speaking of such vulgar matters in front of my daughter?"
Mama Gao, having served Madam Yu for a long time, understood her temper and disposition well.
She knew that her mistress said this but wasn't truly angry.
It was merely a reminder to speak with more decorum in front of Su Xiaoqi.
She replied with a smile and indeed stopped speaking of such things.
Actually, Su Xiaoqi wasn't that interested in the matter. She heard it, and it went in one ear and out the other.
Whether it was because they had a connection in a past life, the mother and daughter were very compatible.
They could discuss any topic.
From women's clothing to jewelry, from makeup to beauty treatments, to tea and snacks…
Although Madam Yu was more than twelve years older than Su Xiaoqi, she could generally keep up with Su Xiaoqi's train of thought.
Coupled with Su Xiaoqi's intentional or unintentional efforts to guide her, they found themselves chatting with great enthusiasm.
"By the way, what do those tremella eye masks you mentioned look like?" Madam Yu was curious about the tremella eye masks Su Xiaoqi had mentioned.
"I've made some at home recently and brought ten boxes."
As Su Xiaoqi spoke, she asked Mama Gao to lead some maids to the small warm pavilion in the outer courtyard to bring the gifts she had prepared for Madam Yu.
Besides the tremella eye masks, she also brought tremella, lotus root powder, buckwheat tea, and sanitary napkins for women's personal use.
However, she didn't bring coffee this time.
Because Madam Yu had told her that she didn't quite like the taste of it, and she preferred tea.
Mama Gao was efficient, quickly bringing over the items Su Xiaoqi had brought with the help of a few young maids.
There was no need to elaborate on the lotus root powder, tremella, or buckwheat tea; Madam Yu directly instructed Mama Gao to put them in the usual cabinets.
However, the tremella facial masks and sanitary napkins were kept out.
Su Xiaoqi explained the usage of each, and even tried the eye masks with Madam Yu.
"Oh, they're on. How cool!" Madam Yu exclaimed.
Su Xiaoqi chuckled, "If my godmother feels it's too cool, she can warm it with a hot water bottle before applying it, and it won't be as cold.
It's like how she applies masks in winter.
She's also afraid of the cold and always warms them up before use.
Madam Yu nodded at this, and Mama Gao quickly made a note.
From now on, when the madam uses this tremella eye mask, she will be given a warm one.
"And what is this?" Madam Yu curiously picked up a sanitary napkin and spread it out on the soft couch, her face full of novelty.
Seeing her actions, Su Xiaoqi felt a bit shy. She pursed her lips and said, "Godmother, this is called a sanitary napkin, and people where I come from also call it an 'Auntie Pad.'
It's used when a woman has her period."
Su Xiaoqi said with a blush, her voice trailing off to a whisper in the latter half.
This caused Madam Yu to inquire, "What... what is this again?"
Su Xiaoqi felt a silent frustration. To avoid repeating herself, she raised her voice this time.
"Godmother, this is a menstrual pad for women, but it's disposable. You don't need to wash it; you just change it when you're done."
Su Xiaoqi further elaborated on its usage, its principle, and the advantages and disadvantages compared to old menstrual pads.
Its advantages were self-evident: clean, hygienic, and reliable to use.
The disadvantage: it was expensive, and nothing else.
Therefore, Su Xiaoqi and those around her used them, but they were not mass-produced for a long time because the cost was too high, making them unaffordable.
Madam Yu finally understood. She was not short of money and planned to use one when her period arrived in a couple of days.
Upon learning that these menstrual pads were made by Xiaoqi, Madam Yu looked at her as if she had found a treasure:
"My Xiaoqi is truly intelligent and clever. No one can compare to you."
The blush on Su Xiaoqi's face had not yet faded when another wave of warmth surged.
Well, she was just taking advantage of her knowledge from the future!