Xue Shen sighed, his thumb stroking the corner of her tear-filled eyes, and asked in a gentle tone, "Then why are you crying?"
Shen Youying blinked and softly retorted, "I didn't cry."
Xue Shen couldn't help but laugh: "Yes, she didn't cry, but the fairy dropped a few pearls."
Shen Youying bit her lip and didn't say anything more.
However, he became increasingly certain that Xue Shen seemed different today than before.
But she always remembered Xue Shen's words, like a timid clam that had made up its mind not to open its shell again.
Seeing her with tears welling up in her eyes, looking almost like she was about to collapse into a ball of grievance, yet stubbornly biting her lip and refusing to speak, Xue Shen felt a helpless tenderness welling up from the bottom of his heart.
The more I look at it, the more it resembles a wronged kitten.
Xue Shen wheeled himself to her side, pinched her chin, and made her look up at him. After a long pause, he slowly said, "There are many things I cannot tell you for the time being. In the current situation, empty promises are not credible. But if you agree today, no matter what happens in the future, you will be my wife. I will protect you and the Shen family."
Xue Shen spoke slowly and solemnly: "Before you, I never thought about getting married."
He was planning too many things, too big, and involving too many people, so he couldn't tell Shen Youying everything for the time being and could only make a vague promise.
Shen Youying indeed looked bewildered, as if she hadn't understood the deeper meaning behind his words.
Xue Shen sighed softly, wondering how to tell her, when he heard her whisper, "The prince told me before not to do anything unnecessary..."
That day, after listening to the Crown Princess's words, she thought that she would probably spend the rest of her life with Xue Shen. She didn't expect a perfect, loving marriage, but if they could respect each other and support each other until old age, that would be good enough.
She mustered up the courage to take that step, but Xue Shen told her to behave herself and not do anything unnecessary.
His words weren't harsh, but they still hurt the girl's feelings.
Shen Youying appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, she felt somewhat wronged. She had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, and this was the first time she had taken the initiative to show goodwill, only to be rejected so mercilessly.
She knew that the Qin Prince's Mansion was not the Shen family, and the Qin Prince was not a father or brother who would pamper and indulge her temper tantrums. She could only swallow all her grievances silently.
He was the one who said he didn't want it, and he was also the one who said he did want it.
The suppressed grievances churned within her, making Shen Youying unwilling to agree easily.
She bit her lip, her eyelashes blinking incessantly, but she didn't cry.
Xue Shen looked stunned. Recalling his blunt words back then, he felt a mix of amusement and resignation, realizing he had brought this upon himself.
"It was my fault……"
He tentatively pulled the person into his arms, wanting to explain something, but felt that words were too pale and powerless.
He married her for two reasons: first, out of respect for Shen Mingjiang and because he didn't want to see Shen Mingjiang's beloved daughter humiliated; and second, because he wanted to take the opportunity to bring the Shen family into his camp.
He had too many things to plan and had neither the energy nor the inclination to indulge in romantic relationships.
So he refused her advances.
But he had been walking alone for too long. With such a vibrant and tender person placed before him day and night, even a true saint would find it difficult to resist.
Moreover, he is not a saint.
Xue Shen brushed her wet eyelashes with his fingers and placed a kiss on the corner of her eye: "If you're still angry, then don't do anything. From now on, I'll do everything, okay?"
Shen Youying's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she looked up at him.
Xue Shen smiled and placed a kiss on her forehead.
His movements were light, with a touch of awkward tenderness. When his dry, warm lips touched hers, they carried a tenderness that Shen Youying could discern.
She opened her eyes wide and saw those thin, pale lips descend and finally land on her lips.
Their lips touched, and a tingling sensation rose up their spines. In her panic, Shen Youying closed her eyes.
Xue Shen let out a muffled chuckle and patiently and meticulously traced her lips.
Shen Youying's eyelashes trembled, and her hand inadvertently grasped his collar. Because of nervousness and shyness, the sound of his heart pounding louder and louder filled her ears.
She even suspected that Xue Shen could hear her heartbeat.
Xue Shen kissed her for a while before lifting her onto his lap and maneuvering the wheelchair to the edge of the bed.
Knowing in advance that he would be staying overnight, Danzhu had already changed the bedding and even burned incense for him.
As she was placed on the couch, Shen Youying felt dizzy and thought to herself that she should ask Danzhu to change the incense next time, as the scent was too strong.
She was too nervous to open her eyes to look at Xue Shen, her fingers sinking into the bedding beneath her.
She vaguely felt the blankets beside her sink slightly, and then two strong arms lifted her up.
With her hands pressed against the man's chest, Shen Youying opened her eyes in a panic and looked at her blankly.
Xue Shen sniffed her neck and said in a hoarse voice, "My legs are weak, so I need the Princess to help me more."
Shen Youying's face was flushed crimson. She clung to Xue Shen's shoulder, so flustered she didn't know where to look: "I...I can't..."
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore."
Xue Shen pressed her waist, drawing her closer to him, his fingers deftly untying the sash of her skirt...
Shen Youying's eyes were like autumn water, and she could only hold back her desire and hug his neck tightly. Xue Shen kissed her neck gently, and when she was lost in thought, he whispered in her ear, "Learn these first, and I'll teach you the rest on our wedding day."
*
The next day, when Shen Youying woke up, Xue Shen had already gotten up.
The other person had not changed his clothes yet, and was sitting at the table with his back to her, his long hair casually tied up at the ends, holding a pen as if he were painting.
Shen Youying was curious and peered at the paper for a long time, but she couldn't see what was on it. She could only ask, "What is Your Highness drawing?"
Xue Shen turned to look at her, stepped aside to let her see the kitten in the painting clearly, and said with a meaningful look: "The painting is of a cat that likes to scratch people."
There was indeed a fluffy cat drawn on the unfolded drawing paper.
The kitten curled up on the figure whose outline was only vague, its paws tightly gripping the other's belt.
Shen Youying: "..."
This person has an incredibly thick skin.
She bit her lip and glared at Xue Shen, but didn't reply. She pulled the bell to call Danzhu in to help her wash and change.
"Water has already been brought in."
Seeing that she ignored him, Xue Shen put the drawing paper aside to dry, turned his wheelchair over, wrung out a handkerchief from the copper basin next to him, and handed it to her.
Shen Youying glanced at him in surprise.
Xue Shen raised an eyebrow and said in a somewhat troubled tone, "Why are you so delicate? You need someone to serve you even when you're just washing your face?"
That's what he said, but he was clearly not dissatisfied. He moved closer, as if he wanted to serve Shen Youying as she washed and cleaned herself.
Shen Youying blushed instantly and took the handkerchief to wipe her face haphazardly.
Fearing that Xue Shen would accuse her of being spoiled again, she bit her lip and said softly, "There's no need to trouble Your Highness."
Seeing the rouge on her face, Xue Shen gave up.
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