Chapter 19 Garden Jiang Zhiyao took his hand

After walking for a while, Jiang Zhiyao realized that she was moving her arms and legs in unison. She immediately adjusted herself awkwardly, then turned to look at Yan Zhenxi. When she saw the veil on his face, she felt relieved.

Thankfully, no one noticed how strange I looked while I was walking.

Before they knew it, Jiang Zhiyao had led Yan Zhenxi into the garden.

"Hey!" Jiang Zhiyao's tone became very surprised, as if she had seen something.

The epiphyllum has bloomed!

As soon as she entered the garden, Jiang Zhiyao saw the epiphyllum blooming under the soft moonlight.

She had actually seen flower buds some time ago, but after visiting the garden many times, the buds remained closed.

Walking into the garden, Jiang Zhiyao was also filled with anticipation, so the first thing she looked at when she entered was where the epiphyllum was, and to her surprise, it was actually in bloom.

Jiang Zhiyao, not having time to think about anything else, excitedly grabbed Yan Zhenxi's hand and said again, "The epiphyllum is blooming!"

After saying that, she took Yan Zhenxi's hand and together they walked to the front of the Epiphyllum flower with restraint and a hint of urgency.

"It's so beautiful!" Jiang Zhiyao squatted down and looked at the epiphyllum in front of her. More than ten epiphyllum flowers bloomed at the same time, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

Bathed in moonlight, the pure white flowers appeared even more noble and mysterious.

Just as Jiang Zhiyao finished praising him, she thought of Yan Zhenxi's eyes. She turned to look at Yan Zhenxi, who had just squatted down as Jiang Zhiyao had done so. His moon-white clothes were stained with a little dirt, and Jiang Zhiyao was holding his hand.

He still had a faint smile on his face, and Jiang Zhiyao could tell that he wasn't in a bad mood.

Under the moonlight, Jiang Zhiyao looked at Yan Zhenxi's face, without letting go of his hand, and asked as if possessed, "Would you like to see the epiphyllum?"

"Yes," Yan Zhenxi answered quickly.

Jiang Zhiyao took his hand and led him to slowly stroke the blooming epiphyllum flower from the curved stem beneath the calyx.

"...This is its calyx...These are its petals, just like the color of the clothes you usually like to wear...These are its stamens, the very top of which is pale yellow, even paler than the color of osmanthus..."

As soon as his fingertips touched the flower, Yan Zhenxi closed his eyes. Listening to Jiang Zhiyao's description and feeling the touch of his hand, he re-constructed the image of the epiphyllum in his mind.

"I've heard that people who see the epiphyllum bloom will have good luck, and now we're both lucky."

Hearing Jiang Zhiyao's smiling tone, Yan Zhenxi's heart seemed to soften for a moment. He opened his eyes and replied with a smile, "Yes, the epiphyllum is really beautiful."

Before the flowers, the two seemed to have created a private space, very close to each other. The moon was bright and clear in the sky, and there was the faint chirping of insects. Yan Zhenxi could smell the fragrance of the epiphyllum and the sweet scent of Jiang Zhiyao.

Through the veil, Yan Zhenxi could look at the gentle and relaxed Jiang Zhiyao without restraint. She was very close to him, her smiling eyes slightly curved, like the crescent moon in the sky.

Yan Zhenxi suddenly felt that at this moment, the whole world had become incredibly beautiful.

Jiang Zhiyao picked a few of the most beautiful epiphyllum flowers and handed them to Yan Zhenxi: "Sweet dreams tonight."

After standing in front of the epiphyllum for a while, Jiang Zhiyao took Yan Zhenxi to explore other parts of the garden.

Yan Zhenxi was holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand, and with the other hand, she went from pulling on his sleeve to holding his hand, but perhaps because the moonlight was too bright tonight, neither of them noticed.

The next morning.

"There's no need to change the flowers by the bedside," Yan Zhenxi said as she got up.

"Yes, sir." The servant, who was about to pick up the vase, put it down and left the room.

Yan Zhenxi looked at the flowers in the vase, which were clearly withered, but the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

-

Jiang Zhiyao felt that after that night, the distance between her and Yan Zhenxi seemed to have grown closer, and they talked and laughed more when they spent time together.

Jiang Zhiyao was somewhat pleased with this change, but more than that, she felt uneasy.

Jiang Zhiyao didn't understand what their relationship was. They were like a couple in name only, but it didn't seem like that. As for being a real couple, Jiang Zhiyao didn't dare to think about it.

She felt they were more like friends. After thinking it through, Jiang Zhiyao was no longer uneasy, and her interactions with Yan Zhenxi became more natural.

Aside from the occasional strange thoughts that Jiang Zhiyao had about Yan Zhenxi.

Jiang Zhiyao was spending increasingly more time in Yan Zhenxi's study.

The books she loved to read, the things she used for embroidery, her usual teacups, and the cushions on the couch were all gradually moved into Yan Zhenxi's study.

Yan Zhenxi felt that his relationship with Jiang Zhiyao was progressing very well and gradually. Seeing Jiang Zhiyao's genuine smile in front of him, Yan Zhenxi felt very satisfied.

After dinner, in the study.

Yan Zhenxi picked up the bamboo slips beside him and carefully touched the characters carved on them.

Since his eyesight deteriorated, his study has been filled with many bamboo slips inscribed with characters, which Yan Zhenxi can read by touching them.

Jiang Zhiyao was embroidering on the couch to the side. After seeing Yan Zhenxi slowly touching the bamboo slips, she hesitated for a long time before finally speaking up: "Husband, shall I read it to you?"

“Okay.” Yan Zhenxi put down the bamboo slip in his hand.

As Jiang Zhiyao walked over, picked up the bamboo slip, and was about to begin reading, Yan Zhenxi spoke up: "I apologize, Madam. My tone and attitude were very poor the time in the study."

"I enjoy listening to you read to me."

Jiang Zhiyao looked up at him and knew that he was talking about what happened in the study before the family was divided.

"It's alright." Jiang Zhiyao thought for a moment and then asked, "Would you like some more pastries?"

"What I want," Yan Zhenxi said, then added, "I want it made by Madam herself."

“Okay, I’ll make it tomorrow.” Jiang Zhiyao smiled and began reading from the bamboo slips in her hand.

The lamplight cast Jiang Zhiyao's figure, head bowed as she read, onto the wall beside her, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in the room.

Yan Zhenxi rested his chin on his hand, facing Jiang Zhiyao. He looked as if he was listening intently to Jiang Zhiyao reading, but in reality, he was staring at Jiang Zhiyao intently.

The first time he heard Jiang Zhiyao read aloud, he only thought that her voice and tone were not bad. But now he was staring at Jiang Zhiyao and didn't hear a single word she was reading.

How come I never noticed before? Jiang Zhiyao looks so cute when she's studying.

It's cute when it's serious, cute when it rolls up some bamboo slips, and even cuter when it stops to drink water to moisten its lips.

Yan Zhenxi simply couldn't understand the way she had spoken harshly to Jiang Zhiyao before.

He even said he "likes peace and quiet," and didn't even get to taste a single bite of the pastries that Jiang Zhiyao made herself.

Fortunately, they still have a long time ahead of them.

Yan Zhenxi kept staring at Jiang Zhiyao until her voice had stopped for quite a while before she reacted and said, "Madam."

“Husband,” Jiang Zhiyao rolled up the bamboo scroll, “I’ve finished reading.”

"Thank you, Madam."

"It's alright, husband. If you need to continue your studies, you can call me anytime," Jiang Zhiyao said after putting away the bamboo slips. "I'll head back tonight."

I don't want to break up with her.

Let her stay.

Stay by your side.

After a few seconds, Yan Zhenxi said in a low voice, "Then see you tomorrow, Madam."

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

The following afternoon.

Jiang Zhiyao knocked on Yan Zhenxi's study door: "Husband, I'm coming in."

She was holding a plate of pastries that had just been made.

“Madam.” Yan Zhenxi put down the bamboo scroll she had just opened.

Jiang Zhiyao placed the pastry beside Yan Zhenxi: "This is a jujube and yam cake I made."

Yan Zhenxi picked up a piece, took a bite, and said, "It's delicious."

Just as I expected, it was soft, sticky, and sweet—no, even more delicious than I imagined.

"As long as my husband is happy." Jiang Zhiyao's eyes curved slightly.

Jiang Zhiyao stayed in Yan Zhenxi's study to read. Yan Zhenxi had many books there, some of which were even hard to find elsewhere. Jiang Zhiyao often picked out books that interested her to read.

After finishing the book, Jiang Zhiyao closed it and saw Yan Zhenxi in front of her. She couldn't help but laugh: "Husband, there are crumbs on your face."

"Ah." Yan Zhenxi raised his hand to touch the corner of his mouth. "Is it still available now?"

Seeing that Yan Zhenxi still couldn't find it, Jiang Zhiyao smiled and went over to him, saying, "Let me help you."

For some reason, the handkerchief that Yan Zhenxi usually kept by his side was no longer on the table. Jiang Zhiyao had no choice but to take out her own handkerchief and bend down to wipe away the crumbs for Yan Zhenxi.

When Jiang Zhiyao's fingertips touched Yan Zhenxi's lips through the handkerchief, she realized that the action was far too ambiguous.

A blush spread across her fair cheeks as she quickened her movements to brush away the debris. Just as she was about to pull her hand back, Yan Zhenxi grabbed her wrist.

Yan Zhenxi raised his head and asked, "Madam, do I still have it on my face?"

As he looked up, his soft lips gently brushed against the back of Jiang Zhiyao's hand, which wasn't covered by a handkerchief.

Jiang Zhiyao froze for a moment, looking at the handsome face in front of her, and stammered, "N-nothing."

"That's good." Yan Zhenxi smiled and wrapped her handkerchief around Jiang Zhiyao's wrist from top to bottom, then took Jiang Zhiyao's handkerchief.

"I'm sorry for soiling your handkerchief, madam. Give it to me, and I'll have someone wash it later."

Jiang Zhiyao withdrew her hand somewhat dejectedly and straightened up: "It's okay, I can have someone wash it myself."

I want that handkerchief back.

Yan Zhenxi did not return the handkerchief to Jiang Zhiyao, but slowly tucked it into his sleeve: "I will return it to Madam later."

"All right."

After Jiang Zhiyao left, Yan Zhenxi took out the handkerchief from her sleeve, carefully examined the exquisite embroidery on it, and then lowered her head to smell its fragrance.

She's so cute, I really want to kiss her.

Just now, when Jiang Zhiyao got close, Yan Zhenxi's hand was gripping the edge of the chair the whole time, otherwise he probably would have kissed her right then and there.

She looks so cute when she blushes.

Every time she blushes, her eyes become more moist, and I want to kiss them.

I also want to kiss his nose, his cheek, his lips, and his chin.

When will we finally kiss? If I take the initiative, she'll probably be scared.