The summer nights were long and quiet. After Fu Xia brought in water to help Shen Yun Jiao wash up, she returned to her own little house.
Fu Xia hadn't kept watch at night for a long time. Several months ago, the young lady said that in order to make them serve better during the day, she would exempt the servants in the mansion from the rule of keeping watch at night.
The girl is becoming more and more considerate.
Fu Xia lit a glass lamp and placed it in front of the desk. Seeing that the girl was still writing, she said with concern, "Miss, please rest when you're done writing. Don't overwork yourself."
Shen Yun chuckled, "Yes, I know. I have to get up early tomorrow."
Shen Yunjiao recently took a fancy to a shop that originally sold rouge, but business wasn't good, so the shop owner was thinking of selling the shop cheaply.
After reading the notice, Shen Yunjiao found that the shop was in a good location, not far from the bustling city center, and the shop size was just right for her use.
After pondering for a while, she asked Fu Xia to talk to the boss first and arrange a date for the sale negotiation.
In fact, Shen Yunjiao did not want to open a large clinic; she simply hoped to pass on her skills to more people who wanted to learn medicine.
Therefore, opening a two-story clinic would be just right, as it is small in size and easy to manage.
Shen Yunjiao roughly wrote down the development plan for the clinic. She will first decide on the location tomorrow, and then find a few good doctors to take turns to be stationed in the clinic. She will then provide them with unified training.
Although Shen Yunjiao was engrossed in writing, she still heard the soft sound of the door being pushed open.
This time, they didn't even knock; they just sneaked in.
Shen Yunjiao sighed softly, put down her calligraphy brush, and looked up at the person in front of her. "What is it now?"
Xiao Huaijin, dressed in a jade-colored robe, stood tall and elegant, looking at Shen Yunjiao with a half-smile, "How did you know it was me?"
"Who else but you would come uninvited?" Shen Yunjiao replied with a somber expression.
Xiao Huaijin chuckled softly and replied tenderly, "You understand me best."
"What's there to be proud of?" Shen Yunjiao thought to herself.
She saw Xiao Huaijin slowly move in front of her and take out a dazzling lotus-patterned hairpin from his bosom—the prize for today's polo match.
Shen Yunjiao's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Xiao Huaijin with a puzzled expression.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Huaijin, who was usually at ease and comfortable, became somewhat reserved and shy. He asked in a low voice, "Do you like this hair ornament?"
? ? ?
"You're giving this to me? You won this with all your hard work." Shen Yunjiao said with some surprise, a strange sense of satisfaction rising deep inside her.
He fought fiercely with Pei Zhixuan on the field today, almost falling several times, and finally won this priceless hairpin. Is he just going to give it to me so casually? Besides, I can't wear it. Wearing it would prove that I accepted the Crown Prince's gift.
"You should give it to someone else," Shen Yunjiao politely declined.
After she removed all her hairpins and jewelry, she looked very innocent and well-behaved.
Xiao Huaijin really wanted to put this hair ornament on her.
But Shen Yunjiao refused.
A hint of embarrassment at being rejected slowly rose on Xiao Huaijin's face. He asked in a trembling voice, "Is it because he didn't give it to you that you don't like it?"
"Um?"
Shen Yunjiao asked in confusion, "Him? Pei Zhixuan?"
“Yes, I’m talking about him!” Xiao Huaijin answered through gritted teeth. He tried his best to calm himself down and not appear to be out of control. “Actually, I was going to find you today, but I saw you hugging him.”
Shen Yunjiao was stunned. "You were there back then?"
"Yes, I originally intended to give you this hairpin, but I witnessed something I shouldn't have. I wasn't peeking; I ran away as soon as I saw you two hugging." Xiao Huaijin gave a wry smile and asked, "Am I particularly cowardly?"
"Did you two make up later?"
"Am I particularly despicable, that I would still cling to you and cause trouble after you've made up?"
For some reason, Shen Yunjiao found Xiao Huaijin's forced smile extremely irritating.
Like a lonely, unwanted puppy.
She stood up and snatched the hairpin from Xiao Huaijin's hand. "I'll keep this. Also, we haven't made up. If you read to the end, you'll find that I made him leave."
"Really?" Xiao Huaijin's disappointed expression vanished instantly, his eyes bright and lively, his gaze fixed on Shen Yunjiao.
Shen Yunjiao was so embarrassed by what she saw.
Shen Yunjiao was already beautiful, and now when she was shy, she was even more charming, just like a night-blooming cereus that blooms in the night.
Xiao Huaijin's face flushed, and he coughed lightly, "Shall I help you put it on and see?"
After pondering for a moment, Shen Yunjiao nodded in agreement.
She let Xiao Huaijin lean closer and gently inserted the hair ornament into her hair bun.
Shen Yunjiao looked straight ahead, but could only see Xiao Huaijin's chest rising and falling slightly.
She could only lower her eyes, thinking to herself, "Am I crazy? I actually softened towards Xiao Huaijin. Doesn't this just give him more room to entangle me?"
"Shen Yunjiao, I'm serious."
Suddenly, a somber voice came from above.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjiao was startled and looked up at Xiao Huaijin.
That snow-white, delicate face paired with the lifelike azure phoenix was truly beautiful.
Xiao Huaijin gently cupped her face and said, "I'm serious. If you don't like Pei Zhixuan, then I'll help you get a divorce. I'll go and tell Father."
"No, are you crazy? This has nothing to do with you," Shen Yunjiao refused firmly.
Xiao Huaijin lowered his head, his forehead almost touching Shen Yunjiao's.
"But I don't want to lose you, I don't want to be alone."
When Shen Yunjiao saw those deep, dark eyes so close to her, as if they were about to suck her into the vortex within them, she was immediately filled with fear.
But for the first time, she saw pain and inner turmoil in those eyes.
Shen Yunjiao recalled the first time she met Xiao Huaijin. At that time, he was in a coma and had been awakened by a nightmare. His eyes showed a similar emotion.
Shen Yunjiao's heart suddenly ached.
She placed her hands on Xiao Huaijin's shoulders, but did not push him away forcefully.
Xiao Huaijin's breath grew increasingly hot, his lips less than two inches from Shen Yunjiao's, his breath filled with the sweet scent of her body.
"I want to stand by your side openly and honestly," Xiao Huaijin said slowly.
Shen Yunjiao was stunned.
My heart started pounding uncontrollably.
Her consciousness had been silently manipulated by Xiao Huaijin, but she hadn't realized it yet.
"you--"
Shen Yunjiao wanted to ask more, but then she saw Xiao Huaijin gently kiss her forehead.
"Well?"
Shen Yunjiao's face turned as red as if it were about to bleed. Fortunately, Xiao Huaijin had already let go of her hand at this moment, and she quickly took several steps back.
Seeing that Shen Yunjiao was no longer as resistant as before, Xiao Huaijin felt a little better. He whispered, "Until I have enough ability to protect you and give you what you want, can you wait for me a little longer?"
Shen Yunjiao remained silent; she was not one to make promises.
Xiao Huaijin didn't force her to answer. He gently stroked Shen Yunjiao's hair and said, "If you don't speak, I'll take that as a yes. The jade pendant that I left with you is my promise."
"Let's talk about it later. It's so late. You should go back first, or you might have another headache." Shen Yunjiao nervously brushed away Xiao Huaijin's hand, stopped looking at him, and went into the inner room on her own.
Xiao Huaijin smiled and stared at the green, seaweed-like figure for a while before reluctantly climbing out the window to leave.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com