When Duan Qi entered the courtyard, several servants were still on the roof of the adjacent room, hammering and banging on the roof. Duan Qi glanced at them, then knocked on the door of the main room, "Zhiyi—"
As he was speaking, just as he was about to push the door open himself, the door was opened from the inside.
Duan Qi was taken aback. He knocked on the door not to ask anyone to open it for him, but to let Zhiyi know that he had come in.
To his surprise, the door opened from the inside. If it had been Yang Shi who opened the door, he wouldn't have thought anything of it, but it was a man, and one of his own gatekeepers, that left Duan Qi a bit bewildered.
Moreover, the servant in front of him seemed a little flustered and hurried.
"what are you doing here?"
The servant stammered, his eyes darting away, avoiding Duan Qi's gaze. "Young Master... no, nothing, I just came to check... the roof. I'll leave now." After stammering through the words, the servant walked past Duan Qi and hurriedly left with a guilty look on his face.
Duan Qi frowned, glanced at the servant's departing figure, paused for a moment or two, and then stepped through the door.
The servant, with his back to Duan Qi, curled up a triumphant smile.
In truth, the servant didn't dare enter the inner room; he merely pretended to inspect the roof from the outer room. However, his guilty and stammering demeanor did indeed arouse some speculation and easily led people to imagine things.
It's obvious to everyone that they're lying or doing something shameful.
Upon entering the inner room, he saw Qiao Zhiyi leaning against the bed eating bird's nest. Remembering the servant's flustered appearance earlier, he couldn't help but ask a question.
"What was that servant doing here just now?"
When Qiao Zhi saw Duan Qi enter, her eyes lit up slightly, but her tone remained calm as she said, "He said he came in to inspect the roof."
Duan Qi paused for a moment, then looked up at the ceiling to check the roof.
The main house doesn't leak at all; only the two side rooms leak. What's there to check?
Could that servant have done something underhanded, like stealing chickens or dogs?
"Check your valuables to see if anything is missing."
Qiao Zhiyi was taken aback, not expecting Duan Qi to say something like that. She then nodded and smiled slightly, "Okay, I'll see later."
He glanced at the food box that Duan Qi was carrying.
"What's this?"
"Oh, my mother asked me to bring you some pastries. She's noticed you haven't had much of an appetite lately, so I thought they might suit your taste."
Qiao Zhiyi's face instantly fell into astonishment. It was given by Madam Duan?
How could that be? Madam Duan has already warned her twice in private, telling her to stay away from Brother Duan Qi and not to hinder his career.
Every time I talk to her, she looks disgusted, as if she doesn't want to look at me at all, as if I'm some kind of filthy thing. Why would Madam Duan be so kind as to send her pastries?
No matter how she thought about it, it seemed impossible. A hint of confusion flickered in her eyes, but then her gaze sharpened, and her smile became somewhat forced.
"Oh, I see. Please thank Madam for me."
"Why are you being so polite? You're going to marry me and become my wife, so it's only right that I bring you some food." As he spoke, Duan Qi put the food box on the table, sat down by Qiao Zhiyi's bed, rubbed Qiao Zhiyi's head, and his eyes trembled with tenderness.
"Why do you look thinner? But you look pretty good." Her gaze swept over the bird's nest soup in Qiao Zhiyi's hands, her facial features softened, and a smile finally appeared in her eyes. It seemed that her mother wasn't so harsh after all. Even if she didn't like people, she still took good care of them.
Although his family's social standing has improved somewhat, they are not as wealthy. They are always frugal and thrifty, and do not live a life of extravagance.
His mother hadn't even been willing to eat bird's nest many times, so the fact that she was so generous and thoughtful in giving it to Zhiyi showed how much she cared for her.
“Zhiyi, when you’re feeling better, let’s go see my mother together and ask her to grant us our wish.”
If my mother could help persuade my father, we could still be together. My father always listens to my mother, and he will agree to whatever she says.
"As long as my mother agrees, we can be together." He felt there was still a chance with his mother.
Qiao Zhiyi's hand holding the bowl trembled slightly. She lowered her eyes and went to see Madam Duan.
Of course, she hoped that Madam Duan would agree to their marriage, but it was Madam Duan who had been blocking them.
She already knew very well how Madam Duan treated her.
Since she arrived at the manor, Madam Duan had only visited once, not to offer greetings, but to warn her.
Then, on the first time I visited my mother's home, I warned her and my mother when we met.
These two incidents were enough for her to realize Madam Duan's opinion of her.
Moreover, since arriving at this residence, they haven't received any hospitality. They were simply sent to a secluded courtyard in the back, given a small place to stay, and their food and drink were not provided. They had to pay for everything themselves.
Even finding a doctor was only possible after Mother went to Grandpa Duan's place. Only then did Madam Duan reluctantly find a doctor to take a look.
She saw it clearly from beginning to end: there was no future for the two of them.
But her mother couldn't bear to part with such a good marriage; otherwise, why would she have wronged her by making her a concubine?
Mother was reluctant to part with such a good marriage, and she was reluctant to part with Brother Duan Qi. However, even if she was reluctant, it had to come to an end. All good things must come to an end, and her relationship with Brother Duan Qi had to end here.
She opened her mouth, but looking into Duan Qi's gentle and compassionate gaze, she couldn't bring herself to say no. However, she had already made up her mind to leave once she recovered.
My little cousin is still waiting.
She looked up and gave Duan Qi a forced smile, but didn't respond to his words. She just lowered her head and continued eating the bird's nest, which her little cousin had bought for her to nourish her body. She didn't want to waste her little cousin's kindness.
Duan Qi looked at Qiao Zhiyi, who was not saying a word, and had a feeling that something was wrong with her.
"Zhiyi, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Qiao Zhiyi shook her head and smiled faintly, "I'm fine, Brother Duan Qi. I remember all the kindness you've shown me."
"It's only right that I treat you well; you'll be my wife in the future."
Qiao Zhiyi chuckled upon hearing this, "Brother Duan Qi, your status is different from before." So, everything has changed.
Duan Qi stared straight at Qiao Zhiyi, cupped her face in his hands, and said firmly.
"No matter what my status is, the fact that you will be my wife in the future remains the same."
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