Chapter 18 I've been thinking about you for a long time

This is a question that Shen Tang wanted to ask a long time ago.

Although Father Shen was an official, he was only of the eighth rank and had no real power at all. He was of no help to merchants like the Qi family.

Although Chen Tang is literate and smarter than others, she has never managed a household and doesn't know how to do accounting, so she is not suitable to be a merchant's mistress.

The two families are relatives and have known each other for many years. Just when he was about to marry Yue's cousin, he suddenly went to the Shen family to propose marriage.

Now that the marriage was done, although Chen Tang was happy, he always wanted to ask - why?

Qi Huaijing looked at her beautiful eyes and eyebrows, and slightly raised the corners of his lips.

"Because I was attracted by Miss Tang's good looks."

“…”

Shen Tang didn't believe this.

"You grew up in the capital, so you've naturally seen the world, and you've seen many beautiful ladies among your relatives. Isn't there a girl more beautiful than me?

Qi Huaijing casually flipped through the account book and smiled slightly.

"Yes, you are the prettiest."

“…”

In fact, Qi Huaijing's heart was pounding. Ever since he learned that she nodded and agreed to the engagement, he knew that he would ask this question in the future.

Even though he had prepared his heartfelt words long ago, he still pondered for a long time under the pretext of looking through the accounts.

"Come here, I'll tell you the truth. Because I've liked you, loved you, and missed you for many years."

The flickering candlelight cast a floating shadow on his handsome face, reflecting his thick eyebrows and phoenix eyes, making him look particularly bright and moving.

He wasn't laughing...not like he was joking.

But after knowing each other for many years, he never showed it at all.

"I'm a little bit..."

"You don't believe it, do you? It doesn't matter if you don't believe it. You just need to know that I have you in my heart and you and I are now husband and wife. That's enough."

He lay back down and went back to looking at the account book.

In fact, my heart was beating very fast. I was secretly observing her reaction through the snow-white rice paper.

Shen Tang thought for a moment and asked again.

"But why does everyone say that you are going to get engaged to Yue's cousin?"

"Have you heard me say that over the years?"

"Well... I don't have any."

"My mother did have this idea, but I never agreed."

So, he has wanted to marry me for a long time?

"But cousin, since you... why didn't you propose marriage earlier?"

They were clearly already husband and wife, but Chen Tang still felt a little embarrassed to ask such a question, and Qi Huaijing's eyes darkened slightly.

"Ever since I realized my feelings, I knew that my uncle had always wanted to find you a scholar as your husband. If your husband's family is an official, you will have a bright future. I feel that as a businessman... I am not worthy of this."

He sighed.

"I can't bear to let you down, so I can only keep my love for you to myself, hiding it and enduring it... I dare not let anyone know."

This said, I gave her my heart.

Chen Tang opened her eyes slightly, as if a firework suddenly exploded in the dark wilderness at night... It belonged only to her.

After being silent and moved for a long while, she asked again carefully.

"So...cousin still proposed marriage?"

Qi Huaijing smiled slightly. He had set a trap back then to make Madam Yue believe that he was destined to marry late... He had to see who she would marry first, and whether that person could make him willing to give in.

"I have been patient and patient, but I really can't bear it anymore... Seeing that you want to discuss marriage, I have been unable to sleep well for a long time. After thinking it over, I finally mustered up the courage to go to your house, even though it ruined Miss Shen's good future..."

He couldn't help but lean forward and kiss her on the lips.

“…but it really made my heart extremely happy.”

Shen Tang was speechless for a long while.

Since my mother passed away, no one has ever said so directly and persistently that they love her.

Be honest, firm and determined.

Even if it was only this one moment, it would be enough for her to remember for half her life.

What's more, this is the husband with whom she will stay until old age.

Chen Tang leaned forward, lying on his chest, sniffing his scent and hiding the tears in his eyes.

For the first time in my life, I don't want to call him cousin at all.

"In this life, you and I can become husband and wife, and my heart is...very happy."

Qi Huaijing's heart was moved and he breathed a long sigh of relief. He felt that the sky was wide and the earth was vast, and his heart was full of fresh breeze, and his heart was filled with sweetness.

"Thank you, ma'am."

Chen Tang raised her bright eyes and gently stroked his eyebrows with her slender fingers, her white fingertips stroking from the end of her eyebrows to her chin...

Then she took the initiative to kiss him.

The warm kiss was a little clumsy but full of enthusiasm. His response was even more passionate. Their lips and teeth intertwined, and both of them felt a little shaken.

After a long time, he saw the person in his arms was moved and passionate, with tenderness in her sparkling eyes. It seemed that he could be even happier tonight.

The arrow was on the string, and even though he knew she would nod, he still asked while kissing her during a break.

"Does your body really not hurt anymore?"

"...How about we try it first?"

He really couldn't help it and tried several times in a row...

Until the night was very late, the person in my arms bit his lips, his eyebrows and eyes were as red as the crabapple after the rain, and he whimpered and begged for mercy...

"Husband...Husband, this time...it really can't work..."

Only then did he finally let go.