Chapter 269 From beginning to end, he never once thought of giving up on her.
Ji Ying could see that Liang Yizhi was protecting Madam Shen.
A cool smile appeared on her face.
"Your tireless search for the Shen family's daughter all these years has never stemmed from how much you care about her. You've done all this to repay Mr. and Mrs. Shen for their kindness in raising and supporting you, and to soothe their grief over losing their daughter."
Ji Ying looked away, suppressing the bitterness welling up in her heart.
"I truly feel sorry for that girl. Her parents never genuinely loved her, and the people she cherished and relied on also had ulterior motives towards her. Fortunately, she only lived for 12 years; otherwise, how cruel would it have been to have her live to see all of this?"
“Yingying…”
Liang Yizhi felt as if a stone was pressing on his heart, and his jawline tightened.
He paused for about ten seconds before controlling his emotions and said, "You don't understand the situation at all, nor do you understand... how much pain Mr. and Mrs. Shen have felt for their daughter over the years."
His arm was still around her waist, and the two were very close, his warm breath brushing against the stray hairs on her forehead.
"Shen Ruofu and Shen Aizhu are just solace found in different aspects of her. Shen Ruofu is intelligent and studious, much like her focused and serious demeanor at her desk; Shen Aizhu's liveliness and agility are like her mischievous and adorable side in private."
Liang Yizhi turned his head to look at her, his gaze calm, as if trying to find a trace of emotion on her face.
“Over the years, whenever Madam Shen finds any orphan who resembles her even slightly, she does her best to help them. She is always trapped in her longing for her daughter, and even with Shen Aizhu and Shen Ruofu, she can't get over it. So now you understand what that necklace you destroyed last night meant to her, right?”
However, Ji Ying chuckled and tried to push him away.
"Why should I understand Madam Shen? What you cherish are the praiseworthy and memorable virtues of the girl. But what about her naiveté? The price she paid for easily trusting others; her ignorance? The innocence and naivety that should have been present at that age. She lived a simple life, only longing to be cared for... Do you still remember these less 'shining' aspects?"
Ji Ying took a deep breath as she finished speaking.
“Liang Yizhi, if what you mean by liking someone is giving them up in the end, then I cannot understand that kind of feeling.”
"That's not how it is..."
Ignoring her struggles, Liang Yizhi held her even tighter.
His heart was aching so much that only by getting close to her and feeling her real heartbeat could he find a moment of peace.
"The marriage was arranged by our elders. She was still young at the time, and I hadn't developed any romantic feelings for her yet... But in my heart, she was always the younger sister I needed to protect. I cared about her, and from beginning to end, I never once thought of giving her up."
Although Ji Ying couldn't decide whether to be disappointed or relieved by his answer, at least he didn't lie to her.
Ji Ying relaxed completely.
"Bring Madam Shen here. I won't do anything to her, but if you feel sorry for Shen Aizhu, then forget it."
After saying that, she gently pushed him away and went to the bathroom.
No one mentioned whether they would continue to sleep in separate rooms.
Just as Ji Ying was getting sleepy at night, the mattress shifted.
The man lay down behind her and gently embraced her.
Ji Ying didn't struggle. After he calmed down, she turned over and buried her head in his chest, falling asleep.
The next afternoon, Liang Yizhi called Ji Ying and said that Madam Shen was coming over for dinner that evening, asking if she needed to go back early to prepare.
Of course!
Ji Ying understood his implication, but didn't say anything more. After hanging up the phone, she hurriedly returned to the courtyard house.
The household is already bustling with activity.
Even Wang Xinghua was allowed to enter the kitchen to help.
Of course, the only thing she can touch is kitchen waste.
“Madam,” Butler Fei saw her and quickly stepped aside to make way for her to enter the kitchen, “There are four dishes at the dinner that Madam Shen likes, and the rest are made to your liking. Is there anything else you would like to ask for?”
Ji Ying stepped into the kitchen and looked around. Three or four chefs were busy at work.
Her gaze seemingly casually swept over Wang Xinghua before landing on the kitchen counter.
"Are you making braised pork with Shaoxing wine?" she asked.
"Yes, madam."
"The quality of the Shaoxing wine is crucial for this dish. Which brand is used?"
Butler Fei quickly brought out a small wine jar: "It's a ten-year aged 'Jiajiao Yuxiang' wine."
Ji Ying opened the lid, took a sniff, and gently tapped the edge of the wine jar with her pinky finger.
Some powder accidentally fell into it, only to disappear with her slight shaking.
"Excellent, this is good wine. Let's make it quickly."
"Rest assured, Madam, we will not skimp on the ingredients."
As he spoke, Butler Fei put the expensive Shaoxing wine back in its place.
Ji Ying revealed her usual gentle smile, "To Mr. Shen, Madam Shen is like a second mother, and he has always listened to her. Tonight's family dinner cannot be taken lightly."
Butler Fei readily agreed.
Ji Ying glanced at Wang Xinghua, who was squatting in the corner, busy with something.
She had heard every word of those words; if she had any sense at all, she would have been plotting something malicious by now.
Ji Ying smiled faintly and left the kitchen.
That evening, Madam Shen arrived as promised.
Shen Aizhu naturally followed by his side.
Liang Yizhi led Ji Ying to welcome Madam Shen into the house.
Shen Aizhu tried her best to maintain the image of a well-behaved young lady, but her eyes kept glancing towards the courtyard.
She was looking for that fox spirit.
But Ding Lian didn't show up tonight.
Before the banquet began, Liang Yizhi took out a black lacquered wooden box containing a piece of rare memory metal.
“Yingying accidentally broke your necklace before, and she has been very upset ever since. Today she finally found the same metal and hopes to make up for this regret.”
Madam Shen could easily tell that these were just polite words.
Ji Ying didn't want to apologize, but she had to give Liang Yizhi face.
She glanced at it indifferently and then had someone put the wooden box away.
During the meal, the butler served braised chicken with Shaoxing wine.
Shen Aizhu frowned and said, "Mom needs to control her blood lipids, so why are there such greasy dishes?"
Butler Fei hurriedly said with a smile, "This is what our lady likes. It's made with 'Jiajiao Yuxiang' ten-year aged wine, which is very hard to find on the market. The brewing process and ingredients are extremely particular..."
“Butler Fei,” Ji Ying interrupted him indifferently, “Why bother explaining so much to her? The essence of this dish is full of collagen, which is the best for nourishing the skin and replenishing the body. Only those who don’t know its value would mistake it for ordinary greasiness.”
As she spoke, she used the serving chopsticks to pick up a piece for herself, but as soon as she lifted the chopsticks, Liang Yizhi naturally stretched out his bowl to take it.
As a result, the glistening piece of Shaoxing pork ended up in his bowl.
The man put down his bowl, his gaze sweeping lightly over her fair neck, and chuckled, "No wonder it looks so tender and smooth. I'll eat a few more pieces and see if I can moisturize this rough skin."
His words made Ji Ying laugh.
Madam Shen lowered her eyes, and for some reason, she remembered many years ago when her family made this dish, little Ruoheng was also clinging to the edge of the table, watching longingly.
At that time, I was worried that the child couldn't drink alcohol, so I didn't let her try any.
Now she can finally eat, but her whereabouts are unknown.
Thinking of this, she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings and lost her appetite.
Watching Liang Yizhi and Ji Ying's intimate interaction, Shen Aizhu felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. In a fit of pique, when no one was watching, she ate several pieces of food in a row, her face turning slightly red.
The powder that Ji Ying added to the wine was meant to have a stimulating effect.
As the dinner party drew to a close, just when Ji Ying thought the family banquet would end peacefully, Wang Xinghua suddenly ignored Butler Fei's attempts to stop her, and barged in with a big smile on her face.
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