Chapter 34: Solo 15 She finally leaned over and rewarded...
Chen Ying didn't know why, but she felt particularly cold.
She turned around slowly and saw Chen Jinshi standing at the door, half of his body bathed in sunlight and half in shadow. His eyebrows and eyes were dark and uncertain, especially the smile at the corner of his mouth, which made people feel cold.
"Why are you here?" She put the herbs into the box and spoke in a cold voice.
Chen Jinshi didn't move, still with his hands in his pockets. His eyes slowly swept across the wooden box on the table and then fell back on her face. His eyes were too sticky.
Like water-soaked silk, it lay soft and heavy on her body. The sticky touch spread along her line of sight, airtight and entangled, making even her breathing feel sluggish. He seemed to be caressing her.
"I miss you." Chen Jinshi changed his posture and leaned against the door frame, his tone light and airy.
Chen Ying pinched the medicinal herbs tightly with her fingertips. Fortunately, such an unclear sentence sounded very normal to other people.
He took a half step forward, and a shadow pressed forward. Chen Ying scolded, "You should be in the academy now."
Chen Jinshi seemed not to hear her words and stepped over the threshold.
His gaze remained glued to her face, like silk wrapping itself around her in a tighter and tighter pattern.
A suffocating, tight, yet very gentle touch.
"I just left the academy an hour early to pick you up."
He held the edge of the counter with his hand, and Chen Ying was sitting behind the counter, just in a small shadow surrounded by him.
Chen Ying turned her face away and continued working: "I don't need you to answer it, and it's still early."
"Amu, do you want some snacks? I'll go across the street and buy some."
"Who wants to eat your snacks? I'm busy, go back." She turned around, facing away from him, making a gesture of rejection.
Chen Jinshi asked, "Why don't you eat?"
His tone was devoid of emotion, only his gaze, as if tangible, remained glued to her back. Chen Ying could even feel her earlobes burning, and the skin on her back tensed.
"Is Xie Qingyue coming?"
She heard the challenge in his tone.
She turned around, stared at him and said, "Chen Jinshi, Master Xie is my honored guest, you'd better not make trouble."
Chen Jinshi changed his hand, resting his elbow on the counter, and said with a smile, "Making trouble? Why would I make trouble? It's not like Am hasn't touched my chest muscles, abdominal muscles, and thigh muscles before. So what if Xie Qingyue is here? Is his as big as mine?"
Chen Ying suddenly turned around, put her hand over his mouth, warned him with her eyes, and said in a breathless voice: "Chen Jinshi, don't go crazy! There are so many people here!"
Chen Jinshi's lips were pressed against her palm, and his warm breath instantly hit her fingers.
He met her warning eyes, suddenly opened his mouth, extended his tongue and sucked her palm along with his lips.
Chen Ying retracted her hand suddenly as if she had been burned, staring at him with an incredible expression. She was angry and anxious, but she didn't dare to speak loudly. She could only lower her voice and said, "You, you are simply...desperate!"
Chen Jinshi's smile became even more exaggerated, with a youthful smugness in his eyes and eyebrows: "Hehe."
Chen Ying glanced around for two weeks. Seeing that no one was looking in her direction, she lowered her head in shame and embarrassment, and fiercely squeezed out these words from between her teeth: "Get lost!"
Chen Jinshi took advantage of her time to reach out and pinch her red earlobe and rub it: "Don't be angry, Mom. I won't make trouble anymore."
His tone softened, and suddenly became coaxing.
He withdrew his hand at the right time. Shen Ying covered her ears and looked at him warily:
"real?"
When she looked up and saw his dissolute appearance, she knew it was fake. Poor her, she still had a little naive expectation for him.
How did Chen Jinshi become a good boy?
Chen Jinshi will never become a good boy!
She must always be on her guard against him.
"I have only one condition. When Xie Qingyue comes, I promise not to cause trouble." He leaned over and said.
Chen Ying rarely had any hope for him again. Shi Ge'er was very well behaved sometimes.
"What conditions?"
He leaned in closer and whispered, "I want a kiss."
“…”
—
"Chen Jinshi!" She clenched her fists and said in a cold voice, "Say it again."
There was a wicked look in his eyes and eyebrows, and he spoke each word clearly: "I said, I want to kiss."
There was a burning seriousness in his eyes, which made Chen Ying's heart feel uneasy.
The shop assistants were weighing medicine with their backs to them, their abacuses clacking away, oblivious to what was happening after them.
However, Chen Ying felt that everything around her was dark and oppressive, as if countless pairs of eyes were judging her.
She raised her head and slapped him: "Chen Jinshi! Get out of here!"
There was a crisp "pop" sound, and everyone turned around to look at them.
Chen Jinshi covered his face with his hands, looking hurt.
"Amu..." So pitiful.
Chen Ying couldn't help but think back to last night. The reason she'd agreed to his request was because he looked so pitiful, so pitiful, so desperate for her mercy. So, she'd shown some compassion, given him a kiss. It was a hot, lingering kiss. Because she was drunk.
The shop assistants were stunned for a moment, with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. Shopkeeper Bai quickly waved and whispered, "The boss is scolding the child. Can't you see? Get out, get out, everyone."
As they spoke, the shop assistants left one after another.
The most unbearable situation for Chen Ying was that she and he were the only ones left, and he was looking at her pitifully.
She saw him covering his face and couldn't tell which one was the real him.
She was sure that if she showed any mercy he would pounce on her like a hungry wolf.
"Chen Jinshi, stop pretending to be pitiful. You should understand the situation. Don't make trouble for no reason."
Her voice was cold and harsh.
"Am, am I really disappointing you?"
Chen Ying clenched her fists and said, "Yes."
"Am, do you regret being so close to me? From the beginning to the end."
It was difficult for Chen Ying to speak, but at this moment, she could only say: "Yes."
Chen Jinshi smiled bitterly: "You saved my life. We have been sleeping in the same bed and kissing each other for a long time. If you regret this, I won't let you regret it."
As he said this, he picked up a pair of scissors from the counter and cut his wrist.
"I shouldn't be alive now, Am. You've allowed me to live until now, and I'm a sin! Now I'm going to eliminate this sin with my own hands!"
Chen Ying's face changed drastically, and in that instant, blood began to flow from his wrist.
"Chen Jinshi! You're crazy!"
Chen Ying rushed over without thinking, tightly grasped his wrist holding the scissors, and used her other hand to grab the scissors.
There was still his blood on the blade, and he chuckled. He was afraid of hurting her, so he let her take the scissors.
"You are such a bastard!" Chen Ying's voice was shaking. After getting the scissors, she quickly put them in the cabinet and locked it with a lock.
Then he took out gauze and medicine powder, picked up the hemostatic powder and sprinkled it on his wound.
Chen Jinshi asked her softly: "Amu, I am very good. I don't ask for much, really not much. Please reward me, don't belittle me, and don't regret it..."
Chen Ying closed her eyes, tears finally falling. She knew she had lost again, lost to his madness.
Perhaps from the moment she followed the general back and stepped into the gate of the Chen Mansion, she was destined to be completely entangled with Chen Jinshi.
She opened her eyes, her vision blurred by tears. She looked at the thick gauze wrapped around his wrist, which was oozing blood, and suddenly deflated.
She raised her hands and pulled him into her arms, holding his head, and said softly, "Okay, okay, nothing is more important than life."
She bent down and kissed his forehead, which was the ultimate reward for him.
He trembled all over and looked up at her: "Amu..."
His tense body slowly relaxed and he reached out to wipe away the tears from her face.
"slim Shady……"
He buried his head in her neck greedily, breathing in her scent.
She finally leaned over and placed a kiss on his lips as a reward.
Chen Jinshi should have embraced her neck and rushed into her with his natural possessiveness and aggression. But he didn't dare to break her sanctity at this moment. She just kissed her without any shame or lust.
There was a knock on the door of the drugstore. After the dusty Xie Qingyue got off the carriage, the first place he went to was "Dulan Mongolian Medicine".
A waiter went out to open the door. When Chen Ying pushed Chen Jin away in panic, he licked his lips reluctantly.
"Where's your Shen family? Is she doing okay these days?"
Xie Qingyue's voice came from outside. Chen Ying stood up from the ground. Chen Jinshi was half lying on the ground with gauze wrapped around his wrist, which was faintly bright red.
The waiter knocked on the door carefully: "Boss, Mr. Xie is here."
Chen Ying glanced at Chen Jinshi and said in a deep voice, "Please ask him to come in."
She turned her back and wiped her lips vigorously with the back of her hand, as if this could erase the shameful behavior she had just experienced.
Yes, when they were alone, she loved him and was willing to reward him.
But once a third person appears, all the warmth and rewards will turn into a mess.
Chen Ying couldn't stand this.
When Xie Qingyue appeared at the door, Chen Ying was already standing upright in front of the medicine cabinet, twisting a herb with her fingertips.
His eyes were fixed on Shen Ying, without even glancing around the room.
"Aunt Shen, long time no see, how have you been lately?" He smiled heartily and openly.
His eyes were fixed on Shen Ying, without dodging or evading.
Chen Ying's face was already filled with her usual gentle smile: "Thank you, Master. I didn't expect you to arrive so soon."
She turned around and told the waiter to come and make tea. Only then did Xie Qingyue notice Chen Jinshi sitting on a chair beside her.
"Jinshi, I heard that you also passed the imperial examination this autumn. Congratulations."
Chen Jinshi pulled down his sleeves to cover the wound on his wrist. He stood up and was no shorter than Xie Qingyue. The two seemed to be competing secretly, each standing taller than the other, their muscles tensed silently.
Chen Jinshi nodded slightly, then smiled. He played the role of a graceful young man, no less impressive than anyone else: "Congratulations to Mr. Xie as well. You are much better than me."
Not much stronger, just right behind him.
Xie Qingyue seemed not to notice the sarcasm in his words. He still smiled heartily and patted Chen Jinshi on the shoulder: "You and I have a master-master relationship, so we should take care of each other. Now we are in the same department. If you need any help in the future, just tell me. Speaking of which, Aunt Shen's hard work over the years has finally not been in vain." As he spoke, his gaze naturally turned to Chen Ying.
Chen Ying was weighing medicine on a copper scale with her head down, and she only said "hmm" lightly when she heard this.
Chen Jinshi looked at her expression, stood up, walked to her side, and naturally took over the work in her hands, saying: "Am's hard work will certainly not be in vain. I will never let Am down."
His voice was gentle and calm, and when he was weighing the herbs, he looked like a gentle gentleman.
Chen Ying said nothing, but the tips of her ears felt hot.
Xie Qingyue stood by and watched, still smiling, and said, "Aunt Shen, are you satisfied with the herbs you got in the first few harvests? If you need anything else, just write to the boy I left in the capital."
Chen Ying smiled and said, "They are all top-grade medicinal herbs. Thank you, Master. I haven't thanked you properly yet. I'm hosting you tonight, and everyone should go to Xiangmanlou for a good meal."
Xie Qingyue smiled and said, "The drunken crabs at Xiangmanlou are now at the perfect time. It seems I've arrived just in time."
Chen Jinshi weighed the medicine according to the prescription, wrapped it carefully in oil paper, and waved to the waiter: "This is the medicine for the old lady Zhang from West Lane. Send it to her."
He then said, "Amu, since Master Xie is here, we naturally have to entertain him well. Didn't the mansion brew a jar of plum wine a few days ago? It's just the right time to open it tonight."
He deliberately pronounced the word "Am" softly, making it sound like he was a normal man at other times, but when he called "Am", he was like a child still acting coquettishly in her arms and begging for love.
Xie Qingyue continued to smile calmly, and Chen Ying agreed: "It's settled. Go back and get that jar of wine."
Chen Jinshi responded, "Just ask Wang'er to run a trip and give a message to brother."
Xie Qingyue suddenly said: "Aunt Shen, Jinshi's temperament is much calmer than when he was a child. It seems that he has grown up a lot."
Chen Ying frowned slightly and said vaguely, "He was quite well behaved when he was little. Besides, who wasn't naughty when they were little?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately felt that Chen Jinshi behind her became obedient and started to pick up medicine in front of the medicine cabinet behind her.
She wasn't really praising him, she was just... trying to avoid trouble.
"Am, didn't you say you wanted to give some of this tangerine peel to Master Xie? I'll pick out some good quality ones for him."
Before Chen Ying could answer, Xie Qingyue said, "Okay, I don't prefer dried tangerine peel the older it is, but those aged three to five years are the best for my taste."
Chen Jinshi muttered, "Yeah, it's too old to chew."
"The new ones are tender, but unfortunately they are not worth much. They are everywhere on the street."
Chen Ying listened to the two of them talking back and forth, and suddenly said, "It's getting late. Let's go to Xiangmanlou and book a private room. If you're late, there might not be a seat."
When Chen Jinshi heard this, he immediately put down his work and said, "I'll go and make the reservation. I'll ask the shopkeeper to reserve the best private room for us."
After a while, the errand boy came over and replied: "Master said he has something to do in the evening, so he won't be here. He asked Miss Shen and the Second Master to entertain Master Xie well."
Chen Ying said to the boy, "I understand. You can go back first."
After the servant left, Xie Qingyue smiled and said, "I thought I'd see Jinxing today, but it's such a coincidence."
Chen Ying said, "Of course we can see him. Don't bother looking for an inn tonight. We've already prepared a guest room for you. You can stay with us tonight. Although the general is gone, everything is the same as before."
Chen Jinshi turned around, a perfectly placed smile on his face: "Mr. Xie, you are a guest of the Chen family, so we will naturally provide you with attentive hospitality."
As he spoke, he took out a small paper bag from under the medicine cabinet. "I've just picked some dried tangerine peel, three years old. Mr. Xie, take a look at it and see if it suits your taste."
Xie Qingyue took it, smelled it, and nodded, saying, "Yes, that's the smell." He put away the tangerine peel and said, "Since you all said so, I can't help but come to your house and disturb you for a night."
"Not at all."
The group got up and headed out, ready to head to Xiangmanlou. Chen Ying went to the inner room and changed into a moon-white coat. She'd always worn a half-worn, grayish-blue robe while working in the shop, but it wasn't very presentable to wear outside.
When they went out, Chen Jinshi put a cloak on her shoulders. Before Chen Ying could react, he had already tied the straps on his own initiative.
"Amu, it's chilly at night, put on an extra layer."
This cloak was given to her by Chen Jinxing in the morning, but Chen Jinxing just handed it to her.
Chen Jinshi stroked the back of her neck with his fingertips. She shrank back and was about to move away, but he had already retreated behind her without making a sound.
"Thank you, Master."
Xie Qingyue was completely unaware of the undercurrents between the two of them.
He nodded politely to Chen Jinshi and extended his hand: "Jinshi, please too."
The three of them walked out of the door one after another, and dusk had already quietly spread over the street corner.
Chen Jinshi was half a step behind Chen Ying. Xie Qingyue was walking on the other side and was talking to Chen Ying about the market conditions of the medicine market in the capital.
"This year, the price of angelica has increased by 20% not only in Jinling but everywhere. However, I asked someone to reserve some for me and it will be delivered to Jinling soon."
He leaned sideways as he spoke, and Chen Ying took big steps. Fortunately, the other two were not short-legged, and they followed her with quick strides, even forgetting to get on the carriage.
Xie Qingyue happened to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Shen Ying. "My grandfather used your cough-treating pills and said they worked. He just asked me to ask you for more."
Just then, a gust of wind blew over. Chen Ying gathered her cloak, and her fingertips touched the smooth and soft material. She smiled and said, "What's the big deal? I have more here if you want. Just take it."
She stroked the material with her fingertips, repeatedly recalling the moment when Chen Jinshi draped the clothes over her shoulders. The back of her neck seemed to still retain the rough touch of his fingertips, and her ears felt slightly hot.
Chen Jinshi quickened his pace and naturally reached out to hold her arm: "The stone slab is being repaired at the entrance of the alley ahead, walk slowly, Mom."
He pinched the flesh on her arm and held it steadily. In comparison, Xie Qingyue could only keep a distance from her that was neither too far nor too close.
He turned to Xie Qingyue and said, "Mr. Xie, please be careful too. Don't sprain your ankle."
Xie Qingyue smiled and said, "Thank you for your concern. However, I remember Master said that Aunt Shen is very good at riding and shooting, so she shouldn't need help even when walking on such a road."
Chen Ying subconsciously withdrew her arm, and heard Chen Jinshi say, "Whether Mom needs it or not and whether I do it or not are two different things." He did not loosen his fingers and still held her tightly.
Xie Qingyue was choked, and the tense atmosphere between the two of them suddenly became real.
Chen Ying felt uncomfortable all over. The gazes of the two men were like two flames, burning her back.
She gently waved Chen Jinshi's hand away: "It's just a short walk, why is there so much to it?"
Chen Jinshi's hand was shaken away, and he glanced at Xie Qingyue lightly.
After a while, Xiangmanlou arrived and the shopkeeper came out to greet them from afar. Several of them were regular customers.
"Miss Chen, Mr. Chen, the private room has been prepared. It faces the river and there is a lantern boat tonight."
Chen Jinshi stood at the door, stepped aside to let Chen Ying go in first, but deliberately stood in front of Xie Qingyue. After both of them went in, Xie Qingyue stepped over the threshold.
Xie Qingyue, a respectable man, had long been aware of Chen Jinshi's hostility toward him. However, men of his age were often hostile to one another, constantly comparing themselves—to family background, knowledge, and abilities. Xie Qingyue, however, hadn't yet realized, or perhaps didn't dare to believe, that Chen Jinshi's provocation was his closeness to Shen Ying.
The two men sat down around her, one on the left and one on the right.
Chen Ying stood up first and poured plum wine for the two of them: "Chen Jinshi, you accompany Master Xie to drink today, I won't drink."
Drinking always leads to mistakes, and Chen Ying doesn't want to end up in that situation again.
There are guests tonight, so she'd better stay sober.
"It's better if Aunt Shen doesn't drink it. Although this plum wine smells sweet, it has a strong aftertaste. I'm afraid you'll have a headache at night if you drink it."
Chen Jinshi served Chen Ying a bowl of mushroom soup: "Hot soup is good for nourishing people, drink more, Am."
As he spoke, he placed the bowl of soup in front of her. Chen Ying responded vaguely and began to drink in small sips.
The private room was silent for a moment, and the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Xie Qingyue spoke first and asked about Chen Jinshi's future plans. The two of them talked back and forth and drank a lot of wine. After a few rounds, they were already a little embarrassed.
Chen Ying raised her head and smiled at Xie Qingyue, "Are you leaving again tomorrow? Why don't you stay for two more days?"
Xie Qingyue said, "The emperor's decree cannot be delayed even for a single day. I would be very satisfied if I could spare half a day to come to Nanjing to see you." As he spoke, he put a piece of shredded crab meat into her bowl.
The smile on Chen Ying's face faded a little: "That is indeed too hasty."
She didn’t know if it was her illusion, but Xie Qingyue sounded like he was drunk.
Come to think of it, the two are indeed of similar age.
"It was a bit hasty, but at least we met." Xie Qingyue lowered his voice and suddenly looked up at her. The frankness in his eyes disappeared a little. After all, he was not sure about what he was going to say next.
However, Chen Ying quietly glanced at Chen Jinshi out of the corner of her eye, which was strange. Chen Jinshi didn't react at all. He just sat there obediently, his face still not red. It wasn't easy for him to get red in the face when he drank. But his eyes were not as clear as before, and there was a hint of evil smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Master Xie, you..."
Xie Qingyue interrupted her: "Aunt Shen, although my family is not a conservative one, I am old after all. My mother can't help but ask me about marriage and whether I have someone I like. I, I don't know why, I think of you in my mind..."
As he spoke, he seemed embarrassed, scratched his head, and looked at her seriously again.
Xie Qingyue's cheeks turned red when he drank.
"I know this is abrupt, but I'm about to leave for the Northern Territory and won't be back until next spring. I'll be passing through Jinling by then and will come see you. It's fine if you reply then."
Xie Qingyue finished speaking in one breath, just staring at her, his Adam's apple moving again and again, and poured himself a glass of wine.
The private room suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, with only the tune from the lantern boat outside the window still humming.
Mr. Xie is a respectable man after all, and when he said this, it didn't make people feel embarrassed, as if he was the only one who was embarrassed.
Chen Ying felt Chen Jinshi suddenly approaching and was about to speak, trying to find a way to say something.
Should she reject Xie Qingyue on the spot? After all, Chen Jinshi was still here, and things were bound to get ugly.
But Xie Qingyue gave her time to think about it, so why didn't she even consider it? Chen Jinshi couldn't influence her to make important decisions in her life.
In other words, she wasn't rejecting Xie Qingyue. If she wanted to choose a man to marry, and he was willing, why wouldn't she consider it? After all, Xie Qingyue wouldn't be back until next spring, and she wouldn't need her answer until then.
Thinking of this, Chen Ying hesitated to refuse.
At least she didn't agree that Chen Jinshi should take the dignity of all of them into consideration.
Chen Ying slowly turned her head and fixed her gaze on Chen Jinshi. Chen Jinshi had a half-smile on his face. Chen Ying used her eyes to comfort him, trying to tell him that he would always be her most beloved child.
We’ll talk about it when we get back.
Chen Jinshi looked at her, then quickly looked away and didn't look at her.
Chen Ying's heart skipped a beat.
Chen Jinshi shook his wine glass and poured wine for Xie Qingyue while saying, "Master Xie, do you know who she belongs to?"
Chen Ying clenched her fists, and her eyes, which had been full of affection just now, suddenly turned cold and stern. She warned him, "Chen Jinshi, if you have anything to say, tell me when you get back."
He can do whatever he wants in private, but if he makes it known to Chen Jinshi, that would be crossing the line.
Xie Qingyue met Chen Jinshi's gaze in a daze.
Chen Jinshi stared at him and said word by word: "Chen Ying, she can only be mine."
Xie Qingyue was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "I know, she is your mother."
Chen Jinshi smiled and shook his head: "No."
Xie Qingyue was stunned again. Before he could react, he saw Chen Jinshi suddenly turn around, hold Chen Ying's face with both hands, squeeze her red lips to make them bulge, and kiss her hard.
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