Chapter 28 Can you warm my hands for me?
Shen Jingni wore a red velvet dress with a matching wool coat, blending naturally into the festive atmosphere.
She carries off red with ease, looking bright and flamboyant yet still adorable. When she smiles, her eyes sparkle, making everything and everyone around her pale in comparison.
When she saw Zhao Zonglan approaching, she stood still.
He was tall and had long legs, so he walked up to her in just a few steps.
Why didn't you wake me up?
She glared at him reproachfully, "I was still half asleep."
Zhao Zonglan noticed that she was dressed in very thin clothes, without even a scarf, and her snow-white neck was exposed to the cold air. When the wind blew, she shrank her neck and moved closer to him.
"Cold?" Zhao Zonglan grasped her hand.
It was indeed very cold.
He frowned and ordered someone to get her a down jacket to keep warm.
"I'm not cold, I don't want to wear a down jacket."
She wanted to take some beautiful photos today, so she dressed up like this on purpose.
Fairies are immune to the cold.
Zhao Zonglan was unaware of her little scheme and didn't want to ask. He only knew that she was a sickly girl, so he didn't spoil her.
"If you're not going to wear a down jacket, then wear my coat."
His coat?
Shen Jingni shook her head in refusal.
His overcoat was long and wide, and it looked good on him, but if you put it on her... it would ruin her fairy-like image.
She ultimately succumbed to capital and compromised, saying, "I'll just wear a down jacket."
However, Shen Jingni didn't want the capitalists to win too easily.
She leaned against him, slipping her two icy hands inside his coat, pressing them against his waist and abdomen through his neat vest and shirt to warm them.
Zhao Zonglan felt that she was becoming increasingly bold.
His brow furrowed slightly as he lowered his eyes, which met her bright gaze, rippling in the lamplight.
"Just warm my hands for me."
She was so innocent, like a bewildered child.
Zhao Zonglan pursed his thin lips into a straight line, letting her hold him like that.
Many people present witnessed this scene.
No one dared to disturb them, except for Miss Zhao Liu.
"This must be Miss Shen."
She approached slowly, her voice tinged with amusement, "Just as my third cousin said, she is as beautiful as a fairy."
Seeing someone come over to speak to her, Shen Jingni hurriedly stepped out of Zhao Zonglan's embrace and looked at the person in front of her with a puzzled expression: "Who are you?"
"Hello, I am Zhao Yueling."
Zhao Yueling?
Shen Jingni had some recollection of this name; she was the sixth young lady of the Zhao family and Zhao Zonglan's younger sister.
"Hello, I am Shen Jingni."
For some reason, she felt a little nervous.
Perhaps it was because this was the first member of the Zhao family she had met who was closely related to Zhao Zonglan by blood.
Given the Zhao family's prestigious reputation, she inevitably felt some psychological burden.
Zhao Yueling found her anxious little expression rather cute.
So he pressed even closer, "Want to come over for a couple of drinks? I can introduce you to a few more..."
"Zhao Yueling".
Zhao Zonglan interrupted her with a stern face and a cold voice.
Zhao Yueling raised an eyebrow, then immediately fell silent.
Fifth Brother is really possessive.
Shen Jingni secretly glanced at Zhao Zonglan and found that he looked really fierce when he had a cold expression.
It scared even its own family.
Out of politeness, she spoke softly, "I'm so sorry, I have a bad stomach and can't drink alcohol lately."
Before Zhao Yueling could speak, Rong Zaiyi's gentle voice came through.
"I do know a traditional Chinese medicine doctor who is very skilled at treating gastrointestinal diseases. He lives in Yangzhou. If Miss Shen needs him, I will have someone invite him over."
Shen Jingni had just seen Rong Zaiyi.
But from a distance, I couldn't see her face clearly. Now that I'm closer, I can see her features more clearly.
She has an excellent figure and temperament, and is gentle and elegant.
She was clearly a young lady from a prestigious family; she was relaxed yet poised, and her manners were impeccable.
"Hello, Miss Shen, I am Rong Zaiyi."
She gracefully extended her hand, a gentle smile on her face. "When Yue Ling and I arrived this morning, we wanted to see you, but we heard you were sick, so we didn't want to bother you."
Shen Jingni suddenly remembered that Zhao Zonglan had said this morning that he would take her to meet a few people.
So it was them.
But this Miss Rong looked at her with a different gaze.
Unlike Zhao Yueling's pure appreciation and curiosity.
It was a more complex and subtle scrutiny, yet her smile remained impeccable, leaving no room for doubt.
Shen Jingni shook hands with her and politely declined her offer: "I've had this problem since I was a child. I've seen many doctors, and I just take care of myself. There's no need to trouble yourself."
Rong Zaiyi just smiled and didn't say anything more.
At this moment, the maid brought over a down jacket and thoughtfully prepared a scarf.
It's one of those plush scarves that come with the hat, and the brown plush hat even has two deer antlers on it, kind of ugly-cute.
Zhao Zonglan raised his chin, gesturing for her to put it on.
The coat was nothing special, and she didn't have any objections; she just wore it.
But she didn't want to wear that ugly hat.
With Rong Zaiyi and Zhao Yueling both present, she was too embarrassed to throw a tantrum, and instead looked at Zhao Zonglan pleadingly, "Can I not wear a scarf?"
Zhao Zonglan remained silent.
He took the cap from her hand with a cool expression. His tall figure loomed over her, and he simply pulled the cap down, covering her ears and forehead.
The small face hidden under the woolen hat revealed a pair of bright eyes, and the slightly puffed cheeks were flushed with annoyance. It was a little too cute.
Zhao Zonglan curled his lips into a smile.
Shen Jingni angrily slapped his hand.
She glared at him fiercely.
I hate it.
Why don't you dress her up nicely?
Still laughing!
The fairy was very angry.
Rong Zaiyi had almost never seen Zhao Zonglan smile.
Wherever he is, he always appears indifferent and aloof, listless, uninterested in anyone, and never caring about others.
At this moment, Rong Zaiyi truly realized that the person who had made him make an exception had appeared.
My heart felt like it was being squeezed, a sour, astringent, and somewhat painful sensation.
Zhao Yueling glanced at her sideways and sighed silently.
-
Xie Jiqing and Lin Letang's daughter, nicknamed Tangtang, is three and a half years old this year.
Little Tangtang seems to really like Shen Jingni, always wanting to play with her and following her everywhere.
Zhao Zonglan was invited by Song Yanting and the others to go drinking.
Shen Jingni and Song Yu played with the children for a while. They took many photos under the Christmas tree in the courtyard and exchanged gifts.
Back at the Moon-Viewing Terrace, Song Yu asked her gossipy question, "Have you prepared a Christmas present for Mr. Zhao?"
"No," Shen Jingni said while looking at her phone. "Even if I had one, I wouldn't give it to him."
They actually made the fairy wear such an ugly hat and then mocked her.
This is an unforgivable sin.
Song Yu felt that the two of them had a strange way of dating.
She couldn't help but ask, "Did you get together because you liked each other?"
It seems like the feelings are quite distant.
Shen Jingni lowered her eyes and answered frankly, "It's just a matter of each getting what they need."
There was no affection between her and Zhao Zonglan whatsoever.
Although Song Yu was surprised, similar situations often occur in the industry and are not unusual.
However, relationships without affection are unlikely to last.
Just as Song Yu was about to say a few words of advice, Wen Shuyi came over.
She cooked some stomach-soothing porridge for Shen Jingni, saying, "You haven't eaten much all day, have some porridge."
"Sister Wen is the best." Shen Jingni made a heart shape with her hands.
Just then, Tangtang suddenly pointed excitedly at the sky and shouted in her childish voice, "Sister Chen, it's Santa Claus!"
Shen Jingni looked up.
A clear and rhythmic bell sound came from the sky as several reindeer led sleds through the air.
On the sleigh sat Santa Claus with a white beard.
Thousands of drones shifted their arrays in the night sky.
Not only are there reindeer and Santa Claus, but also a giant Christmas tree, dazzling with light and shadow.
Wow, it really is Santa Claus!
At this moment, Shen Jingni, just like Tangtang, shouted out in excitement.
On the Moon-Viewing Platform, another child suddenly appeared.
The two children stared intently at the sky, their eyes pure and innocent.
I was so happy I almost jumped for joy.
Zhao Zonglan sat lazily in his chair, his long fingers casually stroking his wine glass, his gaze passing over the crowd and the noise, landing on Shen Jingni.
These people have been immersed in scheming and family power struggles since childhood. Their so-called fairy tales have long been crushed by capital.
And her childlike innocence is all the more precious.
Zhao Zonglan swirled his wine glass, a faint smile appearing on his handsome face, but it vanished in an instant.
He's just like a little kid.
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