70. Afternoon

Jiang Nan looked at Chen Yunsheng who was so close to her. His eyes were clear and bright, clearly reflecting her panicked yet slightly excited face.

"Get to know each other again?" she murmured again, her voice as soft as a dream.

"Well," Chen Yunsheng looked at her intently, "put aside the agreement and let Chen Yunsheng and Jiang Nan get to know each other again."

This sentence was like a spark of fire in the desolate wilderness, and this little light fell into Jiang Nan's eyes and led her to Chen Yunsheng.

As she said this, a very complex emotion suddenly appeared in her eyes, a mixture of confusion, puzzlement and joy, just like when she met him in the cafe and heard the ridiculous agreement.

She showed a slightly panicked expression, neither laughing nor not laughing, and asked incoherently, "You...what is this?"

Chen Yunsheng was silent for a minute or two before he spoke solemnly, "I think it's an analysis of one person's feelings for another. It's a romantic offer, but the final outcome is up to you."

Jiang Nan was left in a state of confusion by Chen Yunsheng's analogy. "Well, I'm the offeree now. You won't suddenly withdraw from the contract before I agree, right?"

"There's no such plan at the moment," Chen Yunsheng said, looking at Jiang Nan the whole time. "But if this doesn't work, I'll think of another way."

After saying this, he raised his other hand and gently and carefully wiped away the moisture from the corners of her eyes. His movements were cautious, with an almost pious tenderness.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, almost whispering, but the whisper was clearer than speaking aloud. "I'm sorry. I said it so suddenly."

His touch and words only made Jiang Nan's tears flow even more. She blinked several times, trying to hold back her tears, and her voice grew fainter. Chen Yunsheng stopped trying to wipe her tears. He squatted, leaning forward slightly, and gently, yet firmly, embraced her.

This hug was different from the cautious, tentative handshake last night. It was a clear and definite gesture of comfort and commitment.

Then he stretched out a hand and patted Jiang Nan.

His embrace was broad and warm, carrying the familiar scent of cedar, tightly enveloping her. Jiang Nan's stiff body trembled slightly, then, as if all her strength had been drained away, she slumped softly into his embrace. She buried her face in his shoulder, letting the tears flow.

Chen Yunsheng said nothing, merely tightening his arms and gently patting her back. He could feel her warm tears soaking his shirt, and could sense her subtle trembling. But he asked no questions, remaining patient and quiet with her, allowing her to vent her pent-up emotions.

After an unknown amount of time, Jiang Nan's sobs gradually subsided, becoming soft sobs. She shyly raised her head from his embrace, her eyes and nose red. She quickly glanced at him, then casually grabbed a tissue and turned her face away, not wanting him to see her in such a state of disarray.

Chen Yunsheng lowered his head slightly, allowing his eyes to appear in Jiang Nan's field of vision. He then looked at her with a calm, smiling expression. He then raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears from her cheek.

"Actually..." He wanted to say that this wasn't the first time he'd seen her cry, but he felt it would be too awkward to say it now, so he swallowed the words back and asked her, "Do your eyes hurt?"

Jiang Nan nodded, then immediately shook her head. Finally, she spoke sheepishly, her voice nasal: "Um - sorry, I got your clothes wet."

"It's okay," he said nonchalantly, then looked up at Jiang Nan, "Now, can you give me an answer?"

Jiang Nan looked into his deep eyes, which reflected her image clearly and were also filled with a sincere and passionate expectation that she had never seen before.

"Okay," she heard herself say. Although her voice was still a little hoarse, her tone was more resolute than ever before. "Let's get to know each other again."

At that moment, Chen Yunsheng felt a sense of happiness quickly sweeping through his internal organs. Along with this happiness, there was also a very strong desire to hug her.

So he straightened his back slightly and slowly and tenderly hugged Jiang Nan.

It was an intimate and warm gesture. Jiang Nan could clearly feel his warm breath brushing against her skin and could smell his clean and pleasant scent. Her heartbeat went out of control again, and her cheeks turned red, but she didn't dodge at all.

The two of them maintained this posture, silently feeling each other's presence and the feelings that had just been confirmed on such an ordinary and leisurely morning.

After a long while, Chen Yunsheng raised his head slightly, but his arms were still around her. He looked at her still flushed cheeks and moist eyes, and couldn't help but raise his hand to touch the corners of her eyes.

"I was just crying," Jiang Nan argued stubbornly. Then she rubbed her cheeks and asked worriedly, "Will it look bad?"

"It's not ugly," he said gently, "but maybe, probably, a bit like a rabbit..." As he spoke, his fingers rubbed the ring on her hand. This time she accepted such intimacy calmly, without any trepidation or anxiety.

Chen Yunsheng shook her hand and asked softly, "Are you hungry? Do you want to go eat something?"

Jiang Nan raised her head and saw the gentle smile in his eyes. The last trace of uneasiness in her heart disappeared. She nodded, her voice soft but full of joy: "Okay."

The wind outside the window seemed to have died down a bit, and the sunlight filtered through the branches of the albizzia tree, casting a dappled, swaying halo of light across the room. Chen Yunsheng remained in a half-squatting position, looking up at Jiang Nan. The smile in his eyes was like a deep pool illuminated by the sun, warm and genuine.

He held out his hand, palm up, in a silent invitation.

Jiang Nan looked at the bony hand. Her heartbeat was still rapid, but no longer panicky. Instead, it was filled with a sweet, soft, and light joy. Then she gently placed her hand in his palm.

His fingers immediately closed, holding her hand firmly. The pink diamond ring lay between their touching skin, feeling slightly cool yet strangely comforting.

Then, Chen Yunsheng slowly stood up and walked towards the door with her hand.

Walk down the stairs, leave the courtyard, and step onto the corridor leading to the side hall of the main house.

Along the way, neither of them spoke, but their tightly clasped hands and the occasional glances they exchanged conveyed their feelings at the moment better than any words could. The vague ambiguity and tentativeness that had lingered between them for months was finally replaced by a clear and warm confirmation.

During lunch, Mr. Chen keenly noticed the difference in the atmosphere between the two people.

Although they still behaved properly and talked as usual, the invisible sense of alienation disappeared, replaced by a natural flow of tacit understanding and intimacy.

Old Master Chen looked at Chen Yunsheng for a long while, then chuckled and looked away.

The illness he suffered in his youth shaped Chen Yunsheng's reserved nature and a gentle dominance. This dominance manifested itself in his determination to achieve whatever he set his mind to, and, when extended to others, his determination to obtain whatever he desired.

The reason he proposed the agreement to Jiang Nan at that time was probably not just because of the reasons he mentioned, but also because of deeper reasons that he himself did not understand.

Fortunately, although the method was a bit uncouth, the result was satisfactory.

Su Wanrong and Chen Mingyuan also noticed something.

But they didn't ask anything.

However, Jiang Nan was a little absent-minded during this lunch.

The delicious food was before her, but it all became a background. All her senses were focused on the man beside her. The tone of his voice, the occasional glances he gave her, the ring on his ring finger, the wrist barely visible beneath his shirt cuffs, every detail became incredibly clear and intense.

She even began to regret that she had agreed too quickly.

But before she had time to reflect on her regret, lunch was over.

In the afternoon, as usual, Old Man Chen took a nap. Chen Mingyuan and Su Wanrong also had their own things to do. Chen Yunsheng naturally took Jiang Nan's hand and said to the elders, "Grandpa, Dad, Mom, let's go back to the yard."

"Go ahead, young man, have fun by yourselves." Old Man Chen waved his hand with a kind smile.

Walking back to the courtyard again, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was not dry. Jiang Nan let Chen Yunsheng hold her hand, feeling the dry warmth from his palm, a little unsure of what to do.

"Do you want to take a walk in the garden?" Chen Yunsheng tilted his head and asked her in a gentle voice.

"Okay." Jiang Nan nodded.

The old house's garden was vast, but with the arrival of autumn, besides the chrysanthemums, there were only a few osmanthus trees transplanted for the birthday banquet. The fragrance wasn't as strong as when it first bloomed, but it was more subtle and lingering. They walked slowly along the cobblestone path, neither of them rushing to speak, just savoring the quiet, beautiful, and somewhat bewildered moment of newly confirmed relationship.

When the two men walked under a sweet-scented osmanthus tree, Chen Yunsheng suddenly stopped.

The golden osmanthus flowers are as small as rice grains, clustered among the branches and leaves, and sprinkled with fine flower rain in the wind.

Then Chen Yunsheng turned around and faced her, his eyes calm and focused: "Jiang Nan."

"Um?"

"Although we've said we're getting to know each other again," he looked at her with a serious and sincere tone, "there are some things I think I should make clear."

Jiang Nan's heart tightened slightly and she looked up at him.

"I'm not a very expressive person, and I might seem aloof or unromantic at times," he paused, organizing his words. "When I get busy with work, I might even neglect you. I don't think I can change these shortcomings anytime soon."

His honesty surprised Jiang Nan, but then her heart softened. She shook her head, "It's okay. I have many shortcomings, too. I sometimes overthink things, lack confidence, and when I'm busy with work, I might not be able to pay attention to you."

Chen Yunsheng smiled and said, "Then we're even?"

Jiang Nan also laughed: "Well, it's even."

The sunlight filtered through the branches of the osmanthus tree, casting flickering shadows on her face. He felt relieved as he looked at her joyful expression under the light and shadow.

"Also," he continued, "our beginning is... rather special. The agreement is still there, that's a fact. There may be a lot of voices from the outside world, and there are still people like my second uncle and second aunt in the family. All of this will put pressure on you."

Jiang Nan pursed her lips. Most of her regret stemmed from this. She looked up at him and asked, "So what do you think?"

He held her hands, his eyes burning: "My idea is to put aside the agreement and let us be more pure."

"Maybe we should get divorced first?" Jiang Nan joked.

"That won't work," Chen Yunsheng said firmly, "at least not now."

After saying that, he felt that his attitude was wrong, and quickly slowed down his tone: "What I mean is, if it still doesn't work in the end, we can talk about it later."

Jiang Nan was taken aback for a moment by his domineering attitude, which was inconsistent with her usual calm and composed attitude. Then she started laughing again. The doubts in her heart that were born out of practical considerations also dissipated a lot.

"Okay, okay," she said, her eyes curled up, her tone lighter, "Then I still get my monthly salary, right?"

Seeing her smile, Chen Yunsheng breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes. I'll give you some more."

Jiang Nan uttered a cry of surprise, then hugged his arm and asked, "Wow, then I won't be polite."

"Okay." After saying that, Chen Yunsheng suddenly rubbed Jiang Nan's hair hard.

Jiang Nan tried to resist, but Chen Yunsheng immediately withdrew his hand. "Sorry, I just wanted to do this a long time ago, and I couldn't help but give it a try today."

"You don't mistake me for those two rabbits at the entrance, do you?" Jiang Nan complained.

"No." He couldn't help laughing as he tidied up her messy hair.

In this whimsical behavior, he gained a little secret happiness, as if his world suddenly became different after Jiang Nan appeared.

Before her arrival, the world followed a strict order and was filled with the smell of ice and snow, but now there is only a gentle spring breeze. At the same time, the ice and snow in the sky are replaced by a refreshing fragrance, full of comfort and tranquility, much like an afternoon in his childhood when he sat by the pond, looking at the koi and tasting osmanthus honey, an afternoon that he could not remember the date but was very unforgettable.