Chapter 186 Hanmei, please accept this, we little fish dare not accept it!
Xiao Lingxi stepped forward, blocking Su Xiaoyu's path, and glanced at Zhou Bowen from head to toe:
"Young Master Zhou, you'd better keep your winter plum blossoms to yourself. Our little fish wouldn't dare accept such a gift!"
Zhou Bowen's smile froze. "What do you mean by that, Miss Xiao?"
Xiao Lingxi scoffed, her tone extremely impolite: "So you mean you're not good enough for this plum blossom, much less for our Xiaoyu! Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? You always rely on being the son of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to navigate the world of noble ladies in the capital with such ease, do you really think everyone else is a fool?"
Zhou Bowen was humiliated in public, his face instantly turned bright red, and he became angry.
"Xiao Lingxi, what gives you the right to say that to me? I genuinely admire the county princess's character and want to forge a good relationship with her. What does that have to do with you?"
Xiao Lingxi was amused and retorted in front of everyone, hands on her hips: "Who was it that made such outrageous remarks at Zuixianlou last time, saying that he would only marry Lin Wan'er? What? It hasn't been long, and your taste has changed? You've turned your attention to our little fish?"
"So you just fawn over whoever has a high status? Zhou Bowen, your behavior is really too disgusting."
"you……"
Zhou Bowen was shocked that Xiao Lingxi would expose his shortcomings in public without any mercy. His face turned pale and then red.
He said that when he was drunk at Zuixianlou.
"You...you're talking nonsense!" he retorted. "Miss Lin and I are just having a normal relationship, completely innocent. Besides, Miss Lin is about to become your sister-in-law. Don't you have any self-awareness? We're both unmarried, so why can't I pursue the woman I admire?"
"Oh, or is it that your Yongning Marquis's mansion is so domineering that you even interfere when someone tries to curry favor with the Jiahe County Princess?"
The words, "Lin Wan'er is about to become your sister-in-law," were like a stone thrown into a lake, instantly creating ripples.
Su Xiaoyu, in particular, turned pale visibly, her heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, making her feel suffocated.
Xiao Lingxi immediately shut up, wishing she could rush forward and cover Zhou Bowen's dead mouth.
That's really bringing up the very thing you shouldn't be talking about.
She glared fiercely at Zhou Bowen, her eyes looking like she wanted to devour him.
The atmosphere seemed to freeze at that moment.
Xiao Lingxi immediately turned to look at Su Xiaoyu, and said nervously, "Xiaoyu...you...don't listen to his nonsense, it's not true!"
Xiao Lingxi was really worried for her older brother and almost blurted out the truth.
But remembering her elder brother's instructions, she could only suppress her anger.
It's so hard to endure.
Su Xiaoyu seemed to have used all her strength to suppress the surging astringent feeling.
She looked up and forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace: "I'm fine, I didn't take it to heart."
“Young Master Zhou,” she turned to Zhou Bowen, gave a slight curtsy, and said, “Thank you for your kindness and for the plum blossoms. However, I have never been fond of exchanging flowers as gifts, and I will be focusing on recuperation and studying etiquette in the future, so I am afraid I will not have time to enjoy tea and discuss poetry with you. I hope you will understand and take back the plum blossoms and find another kindred spirit.”
Her words were polite and considerate, leaving Zhou Bowen momentarily speechless, his hand holding the plum branch frozen in mid-air.
After saying that, Su Xiaoyu stopped looking at him and whispered to Xiao Lingxi, "Lingxi, let's go."
Xiao Lingxi nodded quickly, took her arm, and hurried away from the place, heading towards the depths of the garden where there were fewer people and it was more secluded.
Along the way, Xiao Lingxi carefully observed Su Xiaoyu's expression, feeling somewhat uneasy.
But it was obvious that although Xiaoyu maintained a calm expression, the smile on her lips had long since disappeared.
Xiao Lingxi was both anxious and angry, and she cursed her older brother over and over again.
"Little Fish, don't take Zhou Bowen's words to heart. He's just a hypocrite who changes his tune with the wind! Lin Wan'er... Hmph! She doesn't deserve it at all! Anyway, don't believe the rumors outside."
She thought she had made herself very clear, but Su Xiaoyu still misunderstood.
Su Xiaoyu forced a smile, a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Yes, I know, thank you Lingxi."
Xiao Lingxi: No, you probably don't know.
well!
Seeing Su Xiaoyu's forced smile, Xiao Lingxi felt extremely distressed. Knowing that further comforting would be useless, she simply tried to distract her.
Just then, she spotted a pavilion not far ahead, surrounded by red plum blossoms, quite serene, and suggested:
"We've been walking for a while and we're tired. There's a pavilion up ahead with nice scenery. Let's go sit there for a bit."
Su Xiaoyu nodded: "Okay."
The two quickly sat down in the pavilion to enjoy the scenery. Xiao Lingxi asked Zisu to find some fish food and sprinkled it into the water intermittently.
Su Xiaoyu's mood seemed to ease somewhat as she watched the colorful bait being eagerly devoured. However, she still appeared preoccupied.
After feeding the fish for a while, Xiao Lingxi's eyes darted around, and she suddenly clutched her stomach, frowned, and cried out in pain.
"Little Fish, um... I suddenly need to pee, I need to go to the bathroom."
She shoved the fish food box into Su Xiaoyu's hand and hurriedly ran outside, calling out as she ran, "Wait for me here! Don't go anywhere else, and remember, don't wander off. I'll be right back!"
Before Su Xiaoyu could react, she had already hurriedly left the pavilion with Zisu, and their figures quickly disappeared into the plum grove path.
Su Xiaoyu stared blankly at her departing figure, then sighed softly. Turning around, she leaned against the railing, picked up a small handful of fish food, and tossed it idly into the lake.
The koi carp swarmed over, stirring up the spring water and creating a lively scene.
But this only made her appear even more alone.
"Miss, it's getting windy. You've just recovered, so you mustn't catch a cold. Shall I go to the carriage and get you a cloak?"
Chuntao noticed that the wind was picking up and made a suggestion.
Su Xiaoyu nodded, signaling Chun Tao to go get it.
After Chun Tao walked away, her gaze fell on the fish in the water, and her thoughts drifted away.
He was probably too focused on his work to notice the footsteps behind him.
Finally, when the person got closer, he waved his hand without turning his head and said, "Just put it there, I'll wear it in a bit."
The person behind him did not respond.
The next second, a soft, dark cloak, still warm from her body, was draped over her shoulders.
At the same time, a long-lost yet familiar aura enveloped Su Xiaoyu.
Su Xiaoyu froze, as if she had been struck in an acupoint.
This cloak...this aura...
She turned her head sharply, and the first thing that caught her eye was a pair of beautiful hands, with long, slender fingers, distinct knuckles, a cool white skin that exuded strength, and neatly trimmed nails.
It wasn't Chuntao's hand!
"Knock knock knock..."
My heart suddenly started pounding uncontrollably in my chest, almost shattering my ribs.
Su Xiaoyu followed those hands, her gaze uncontrollably moving upwards inch by inch, sweeping over the dark black arrow sleeves embroidered with dark silver cloud patterns, and over the broad, straight shoulders.
Finally, he crashed into a pair of deep, cold eyes, which held an unyielding, dark depth.
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