Chapter 30 Is being stingy a sign of being in a bad mood?

After having breakfast, Jiang Zhiyao and Yan Zhenxi left their room and headed towards the garden at the back.

Now when they go out, Yan Zhenxi no longer uses a cane; Jiang Zhiyao has long been used to holding Yan Zhenxi's hand.

Because they were taking care of Yan Zhenxi's eyes, they walked very slowly, which gave Jiang Zhiyao a chance to carefully appreciate the scenery.

There were some flowers and trees here that Jiang Zhiyao had never seen before. She couldn't help but feel curious, so she held Yan Zhenxi's hand with one hand and leaned closer to take a look.

After touching another flower recommended by Jiang Zhiyao, Yan Zhenxi asked with a smile, "Do you like these flowers? Should we ask Master Ji to send some to your residence later?"

"No need to trouble yourself," Jiang Zhiyao shook her head.

Worried that Yan Zhenxi would be bored, Jiang Zhiyao decided to return the way she came after wandering around for a short while.

As I turned a corner, I encountered several people, one of whom was a young man I had met the day before while feeding the fish.

When Yu Xizhao saw Jiang Zhiyao, his eyes lit up. He quickly walked up to her and said, "Miss, what a coincidence! We've met again today. May I ask your name?"

Jiang Zhiyao felt her hand being held suddenly tightened, but the grip quickly loosened, and she didn't pay much attention to it.

"Greetings, Young Master Yu." Jiang Zhiyao greeted him first, then said, "My name is Jiang Zhiyao, but you should call me Madam."

Jiang Zhiyao couldn't get a word in edgewise when Yu Xizhao was speaking yesterday, so she didn't explain. But now that they've met again, Jiang Zhiyao feels it's better to explain.

"This is my husband."

After Jiang Zhiyao finished speaking, Yu Xizhao seemed to notice the person next to Jiang Zhiyao.

"I'm so sorry, so sorry." Yu Xizhao's face was full of apology. "Mrs. Jiang."

A hint of regret flashed across Yu Xizhao's eyes. He was a little dejected. After seeing Jiang Zhiyao yesterday, he had been absent-minded on the way back. Last night, he was still thinking about how he saw Jiang Zhiyao laughing and talking by the pool.

He deeply regretted not asking her name before leaving. Upon meeting her today, he was overjoyed and didn't even notice the man beside her for a moment.

But he quickly composed himself and turned to Yan Zhenxi, asking, "May I ask how you are addressed, sir?"

"Yan Zhenxi," Yan Zhenxi said softly, nodding slightly to Yu Xizhao.

"Young Master Yan," Yu Xizhao greeted him before realizing, "You're Yan Zhenxi?!"

Realizing his mistake in addressing her, he quickly apologized: "I'm so sorry, Lord Yan."

"I've long admired your name!" Yu Xizhao said excitedly. "I've been reading your poems and essays recently."

"I especially love the poem you wrote by the Jade Pool two years ago! I also often read the essays you wrote when you took the imperial examinations, and our teachers often talked about your essays!"

"You are really amazing! Unlike me, I have taken the imperial examination several times and only just became a Jinshi this year."

Yu Xizhao, as if they were old friends, began to speak fluently and at length.

After Yu Xizhao paused for a while, Yan Zhenxi spoke gently: "Young Master Yu, how about we talk another day? My wife and I are just about to go back."

"Oh, of course, of course." Yu Xizhao quickly made way for her.

Jiang Zhiyao felt that this was just an ordinary conversation with someone. Apart from thinking about the fat koi fish when she first saw Yu Xizhao, she didn't think about it anymore after leaving.

Back in the room, Yan Zhenxi asked, "Ayao, is there anything you'd like to eat for lunch?"

"Anything is fine," Jiang Zhiyao replied. The food here was indeed quite good; she hadn't encountered anything she disliked yesterday, and she was looking forward to what dishes would be served today.

Where do you want to go this afternoon?

Jiang Zhiyao thought for a moment and hesitated, "I haven't decided yet."

I want to stroll through the other side of the garden, and I also feel like going fishing like I did yesterday afternoon.

"Oh, right," Jiang Zhiyao suddenly remembered something, "it seems we can also pick fruit here."

Jiang Zhiyao had previously heard from the servants that she could personally experience picking fruit in a large orchard with many kinds of fruit trees, including cherries, apples, peaches, grapes, and so on.

After she finished speaking, she thought of Yan Zhenxi's eyes, paused for a moment, and said, "Actually, I don't really want to go. I'm a little tired from playing, and I want to rest in my room this afternoon."

Jiang Zhiyao was actually alright; if she wanted to go, she would want to go with Yan Zhenxi. However, even if Yan Zhenxi went, he couldn't pick the fruit, so Jiang Zhiyao thought it was better to just let it go, since the servants at the manor would bring the fruit over anyway.

Yan Zhenxi knew perfectly well why Jiang Zhiyao had changed her mind. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

After a while, he asked casually, "Did you also meet that young master yesterday, Yao?"

Jiang Zhiyao thought for a moment and then said, "Young Master Yu? I've run into him."

Then she told Yan Zhenxi about what Yu Xizhao had said when they met yesterday, and then couldn't help but laugh: "That koi is really cute. It actually swam back all the way here. And when I told you it was fat, it left. Before that, it was always around me."

"Is that so?" Yan Zhenxi chuckled softly at Jiang Zhiyao's words, then said nothing more.

In the afternoon, Jiang Zhiyao picked up a book at random and started reading to pass the time.

Yan Zhenxi touched the inscriptions on the bamboo slips, his mind elsewhere.

He couldn't help but recall the scene from this morning.

Yan Zhenxi could see the affection in that young master's eyes even through the veil, and found it extremely irritating and even a bit jarring.

He never knew he was such a stingy person.

Even the slightly admiring glances of others couldn't fall on Jiang Zhiyao.

"Girl?" He had never called Jiang Zhiyao that before.

Also, are you blind? Didn't you see the people next to Jiang Zhiyao? Ayao is still holding your hand.

Besides, doesn't he have any self-awareness? What good does he have that makes him a match for Jiang Zhiyao? He didn't even look at himself before asking the question. He's just a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), with an average appearance, and his speech is mediocre.

She looked younger than him, a fact that Yan Zhenxi couldn't deny.

Yan Zhenxi had always disdained comparing himself to others, considering them all to be mediocre men. But for some reason, he began to compare Yu Xizhao with himself with an extremely critical eye—using whether or not he was suitable to be Jiang Zhiyao's husband as the standard.

Even setting aside Yu Xizhao's own circumstances, he was inadequate in other aspects as well. He didn't know what kind of food Jiang Zhiyao liked, what color she liked, what kind of flowers and plants she liked, how long it usually took her to fall asleep, or what kind of books she liked to read... In short, Yu Xizhao was not suitable for Jiang Zhiyao, and he knew all of this himself.

Knowing that Yu Xizhao was no match for him, he still felt an uncontrollable sense of crisis. Would Jiang Zhiyao prefer this kind of spirited young man?

Yan Zhenxi felt that he was not bad, but he did lack that kind of vitality.

Would Jiang Zhiyao find that youthful energy more attractive?

He felt inexplicably irritated, both by Yu Xizhao and by his own jealousy, which he himself was unwilling to admit.

Yan Zhenxi felt a little ridiculous. Jiang Zhiyao had only exchanged a few words with him, yet he had come up with so many things.

But when Jiang Zhiyao changed her mind and refused to pick the fruit, Yan Zhenxi felt extremely frustrated.

In that instant, he remembered the times when Jiang Zhiyao had made concessions to him because of her eyes.

In fact, Yan Zhenxi did not deny his own flaws. Most of the time, he enjoyed it, enjoying the special care Jiang Zhiyao gave him and the closeness that arose between them because of it.

I like how Jiang Zhiyao always holds my hand tightly before we go out.

He liked Jiang Zhiyao's gentle reminders of the obstacles ahead.

He liked how Jiang Zhiyao gently described the scenery she saw to him.

I prefer Jiang Zhiyao to be relaxed and natural in front of me.

But today, he suddenly felt a little apprehensive.

Will Jiang Zhiyao get tired of taking care of herself like this one day?

Will she suddenly realize that a spirited young man like Yu Xizhao is actually better, since Yu Xizhao has no eye problems and she doesn't need to take care of his feelings all the time?

Moreover, Yu Xizhao still had what seemed like a bright future in his career, but in the eyes of others, his career was already over.

Yan Zhenxi knew that Jiang Zhiyao wouldn't care about these things, but what if she did?

Although he handed over all his public businesses to Jiang Zhiyao, and was not short of money, in the eyes of others, it was still worlds apart from his official career.

No, no, Ayao likes me, doesn't she?

Besides, she likes her appearance, doesn't she?

Thinking about all this, Yan Zhenxi felt as if she had taken a reassuring pill and suddenly felt relieved.

He used to just smile faintly and not care when others praised his appearance, but now he was glad that Jiang Zhiyao liked his looks.

Yan Zhenxi comforted herself, but she still felt uneasy.

He looked up at Jiang Zhiyao. Soft sunlight streamed through the window and shone on her. She was engrossed in the book in her hands, looking serene and content.

Yan Zhenxi suppressed his emotions and began to look at the bamboo slips in his hand.

As darkness fell, night descended.

Yan Zhenxi was taking a shower. After washing up, Jiang Zhiyao sat on the bed and noticed that Yan Zhenxi was unusually quiet today. Although he wasn't usually talkative, he was usually like this, not saying much all afternoon and evening.

Is it because I'm in a bad mood? I'm also eating much less at dinner than before.

Jiang Zhiyao hesitated, wondering whether she should ask him later.

After a while, Yan Zhenxi came out from behind the screen.

Jiang Zhiyao looked up and suddenly held her breath.

Unlike usual, Yan Zhenxi tied his hair into a high ponytail, which was tied up casually. The ponytail was a little crooked, and some stray hairs were not tied up and stuck to his forehead, cheeks and neck. The ends of his hair were slightly damp, and water droplets fell from time to time.

The veil covering his eyes was tied a little loosely, revealing a bit of his handsome eyebrows and eyes. Perhaps it had accidentally fallen into the water while he was bathing, because the entire veil was wet and stuck to his face. Some parts were so tightly sealed that a little flesh color seeped out, as if it were kissing his eyebrows and eyes.

Her inner garment was loosely worn, with the front slightly open, revealing her jade-like chest.

Jiang Zhiyao stared intently, her throat feeling a little dry.

She swallowed hard, her voice slightly hoarse as she called out to him, "Zhenxi."

When Jiang Zhiyao called out, Yan Zhenxi had already walked to her side. Water droplets slid down from the ends of his hair and landed on the back of her hand, one after another. Although there was no sound, Jiang Zhiyao felt that there was a dripping sound.

Yan Zhenxi certainly wouldn't miss Jiang Zhiyao's expression. Although the wet veil made his vision a little blurry compared to usual, he kept his eyes fixed on Jiang Zhiyao.

Jiang Zhiyao shifted her gaze with some difficulty, lowered her eyes, and stared at the patterns on the bed, trying her best to stop staring at Yan Zhenxi.

"My hair ends are a little wet, can you help me dry them?"

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Author's Note: In ancient times, the hairstyles of married and unmarried women were different, but this book is fictional, so let's just assume that this requirement doesn't apply [Let me see] (That's why Yu Xizhao can't tell that Yao Yao is married [glasses]).