Chapter 48 Losing Control "Ah Yao, didn't you say you'd always be good to me..."
As night fell, the bright moon hung high outside the window.
After taking a bath, Jiang Zhiyao was about to go to bed when she saw the sleeping incense next to the incense burner. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly put the incense away in the drawer.
She was in a good mood today and soon fell asleep.
"Squeak." A very soft sound of the door opening; Yan Zhenxi skillfully pushed the door open gently.
Seeing Jiang Zhiyao sleeping peacefully, Yan Zhenxi couldn't help but smile, and he reached out his slender finger to tap Jiang Zhiyao's face.
He knew that Ayao wouldn't be coming over tonight.
Last night was truly a pleasant surprise.
"You like me that much, Ayao?" Yan Zhenxi said with a smile as he leaned down and whispered in Jiang Zhiyao's ear.
"I like you so much that I even come back at night to secretly watch you." Yan Zhenxi certainly didn't expect Jiang Zhiyao to respond at this moment. He just talked to himself, and the more he spoke, the more obvious the smile in his voice became.
"He even secretly kissed me."
He skillfully took off his shoes, socks, and coat, and lay down on the bed.
He would take a shower before each visit and use Jiang Zhiyao's favorite perfume.
Jiang Zhiyao likes to sleep on the inside of the bed. The bed is a bit small, so Yan Zhenxi always has to turn to the side to prevent himself from accidentally falling off.
As soon as Yan Zhenxi lay down on the bed, Jiang Zhiyao instinctively snuggled into his arms, and Yan Zhenxi immediately pulled her into his embrace.
After Jiang Zhiyao calmed down, Yan Zhenxi carefully carried her and moved her a little further inside the bed.
This was practically the narrowest bed Yan Zhenxi had ever slept on. He was holding Jiang Zhiyao in his arms, and behind him was the empty floor.
Yan Zhenxi pays great attention to his clothing, food, housing, and transportation. Even when he has no choice but to stay in a guest room, he would never choose such a small bed.
But at this moment he felt unusually at ease, and even secretly enjoyed the narrow space and Jiang Zhiyao's tight embrace.
Perhaps it was a bit hot, Jiang Zhiyao groaned and released Yan Zhenxi.
Despite it being winter, Jiang Zhiyao's forehead was slightly damp with sweat and stray hairs were stuck to it because the two of them were pressed too closely together.
Yan Zhenxi was a little annoyed, having forgotten not to hug her too tightly again. Ayao didn't like the heat, so he picked up a handkerchief from the side and gently dabbed at the thin layer of sweat on Jiang Zhiyao's forehead and neck.
Once Jiang Zhiyao's slightly furrowed brows completely relaxed, Yan Zhenxi gently pulled her closer to his chest, pulling the blanket that had been covering her neck down a little.
Just as dawn was breaking, Yan Zhenxi woke up to the faint sound of pebbles being thrown by the window. He looked down at her slightly flushed cheeks, kissed her, then quietly got out of bed, tucked her in, and left the room.
Subconsciously sensing the familiar, pleasant scent and warm embrace leaving, Jiang Zhiyao wrinkled her nose slightly but didn't wake up. She turned over and continued sleeping.
-
This morning, Yan Zhenxi wore a dress made from a material that Jiang Zhiyao had previously helped him choose.
It was a very nice light blue color; Jiang Zhiyao liked seeing him wear clothes of this color.
Did he also wear a sachet? It seemed like he embroidered it himself before. Jiang Zhiyao thought casually, recalling the accessory on his waist when she saw him that morning.
"Ah!" A surprised exclamation pulled Jiang Zhiyao back to reality.
"I'm so sorry, shopkeeper," the customer said apologetically.
She had just picked up a handkerchief to examine it closely when it was blown away by the wind and landed on the street outside the shop.
"It's alright, it's alright," Jiang Zhiyao reassured gently. "I'll go get it."
The handkerchief was blown a short distance by the wind. Jiang Zhiyao was just a few steps away from the store when she reached it. She was about to bend down to pick it up when someone beat her to it.
Her long, slender, fair fingers picked up the handkerchief from the ground before she could reach it, and even brushed away the dust that was on it.
"Miss." It was a gentle voice she knew all too well. "Is this your handkerchief?"
Jiang Zhiyao froze, standing there blankly, watching as the hands, originally fair and flawless but now slightly dusty from being brushed clean, handed her the handkerchief.
"Miss?" A slightly puzzled voice sounded from above. Jiang Zhiyao finally stiffly raised her head and looked at Yan Zhenxi in front of her.
Yan Zhenxi's gaze was polite yet somewhat distant, causing Jiang Zhiyao's heart to clench suddenly. This was the first time she had been so close to him while he could see her.
Jiang Zhiyao was unconsciously drawn to his eyes. Those eyes, which she had secretly looked into countless times before, now held only her in them. Even though those eyes now held a look that would make Jiang Zhiyao feel sad, she was still somewhat fascinated.
"Is it yours?" Yan Zhenxi's voice rang out again, and the hand raised in the air moved forward a little more.
Upon hearing the sound, Jiang Zhiyao realized what was happening and hurriedly lowered her head to take the handkerchief. In the process, she touched Yan Zhenxi's cool fingertips, and Jiang Zhiyao felt a tremor in her heart. She wanted to say something or do something.
I wanted to call out to him, and I wanted to wipe the dust off his hands.
But Jiang Zhiyao said nothing and did nothing. She just wanted to turn around and quicken her pace to go back into the store, but her body wouldn't obey her and she couldn't move an inch. She could only stand helplessly in front of Yan Zhenxi.
She didn't even dare to say "thank you," afraid that Yan Zhenxi would recognize her voice.
Reason clamored for her to stay away from him, but desire kept Jiang Zhiyao rooted to the spot, and in the end, desire prevailed.
Jiang Zhiyao couldn't help but look up at Yan Zhenxi. Looking at Yan Zhenxi up close on the street, she knew clearly how blatant and naked her gaze was, but she couldn't bear to look away even for a moment.
Yan Zhenxi seemed to be in a good mood today, with a good complexion. His eyebrows and eyes were relaxed, and without the veil that Jiang Zhiyao was familiar with, his nose was high and straight, his fair skin had a slight red glow, and his lips were rosy. Jiang Zhiyao looked at him inch by inch, and finally looked into Yan Zhenxi's eyes.
In those warm and beautiful eyes, Jiang Zhiyao saw her own greedy gaze. As if burned, Jiang Zhiyao immediately lowered her head, turned around without saying a word, and went back into the shop.
He must be thinking now that the woman he met today is very strange, Jiang Zhiyao thought dejectedly.
But it doesn't matter, he won't know that the strange woman today is Jiang Zhiyao anyway. Jiang Zhiyao cheered up a little.
"Shopkeeper," the customer said to Jiang Zhiyao as they returned to the shop, "I'm sorry I dirtied this handkerchief. May I buy it?"
"It's okay." Jiang Zhiyao shook her head, clenching the handkerchief in her hand. "We can look at other styles in the store."
After buying other styles of handkerchiefs, the customer left.
Jiang Zhiyao looked up and saw that the figure was no longer there, with people coming and going on the street outside the shop.
As evening approached and it was closing time, Jiang Zhiyao closed the shop door and looked at the somewhat empty counter inside.
She had almost sold out of the embroidery she had finished, and these past few days, due to her fluctuating mood, she didn't have the extra energy or time to embroider anything else.
Jiang Zhiyao lowered her eyes, realizing it was time for her to leave.
Standing in front of Yan Zhenxi, seeing how well he seemed to be doing now, Jiang Zhiyao realized that she really should leave.
If she were to stay here any longer, Jiang Zhiyao didn't know what else she might do. The intrusion that night left her feeling terrified of herself.
Jiang Zhiyao was even more frightened by her own intense possessiveness towards Yan Zhenxi.
Even though she knew that Yan Zhenxi was only helping someone pick up their things out of politeness, Jiang Zhiyao still felt dissatisfied, even if it was for her own sake.
Why is he so kind to everyone? Even to a complete stranger, is he always so gentle? He asked me questions repeatedly and kept his hand raised in the air, and even let a stranger stare at him on the street for so long, yet he wasn't angry at all.
After realizing her own thoughts, Jiang Zhiyao became even more frightened. Today, she had only stood in front of him for a short while while he was sober, and she felt something gushing out uncontrollably.
He can live well without me, so I shouldn't bother him anymore, Jiang Zhiyao thought.
If she stayed any longer, Jiang Zhiyao might do something even more outrageous than what happened that night when she sneaked in. She was also very afraid that if Yan Zhenxi found out later, he would definitely despise her.
The usually upright and honorable young master probably never imagined that someone would sneak into his bedroom in the middle of the night and do such a thing to him. Since nothing more outrageous or irreversible has been done yet, it's best to stop here.
Yan Zhenxi was in a really good mood. Even after returning to his residence, he was still thinking about the look that Jiang Zhiyao had given him.
"Ah Yao really likes him," Yan Zhenxi sighed once again.
Yan Zhenxi had a premonition that A Yao would return on her own soon.
Thinking of this, Yan Zhenxi couldn't help but smile even more.
-
The next day, Jiang Zhiyao opened the shop early and sat in front of the counter, watching the once deserted street slowly become lively.
The steaming buns on the street stall looked especially warm on the chilly winter day.
Jiang Zhiyao thought for a moment and then went to the steamed bun stall and bought two meat buns.
She stood next to the steamer, eating a steamed bun on the street, her eyes welling up with steam.
Watching Yan Zhenxi approach her step by step, brush past her, and then gradually move away from her.
Jiang Zhiyao turned around and watched Yan Zhenxi's departing figure before swallowing the last bite of her steamed bun.
She closed the shop door and found the shop owner.
"You want to buy this shop?" the shop owner asked, somewhat surprised.
"Mm." Jiang Zhiyao nodded.
Remembering what the man had said, the shopkeeper changed what he originally wanted to say to: "...Then wait a moment."
Jiang Zhiyao waited quietly for a while. The shop owner returned, and the price was quickly negotiated. After she paid, the shop owner gave her the shop deed and then asked casually, "Does the young lady intend to keep the shop here indefinitely?"
“No,” Jiang Zhiyao said truthfully. “I’m leaving the capital today, but I’ve developed a fondness for this shop and want to buy it.”
"Because it's a bit urgent, could you please help me change the shop owner's status at the government office later? I can add an extra tael of silver."
"Okay, okay." The shop owner looked a little stunned, but still agreed.
Jiang Zhiyao said gently, "Thank you." After saying that, she left and returned to her shop.
Just as she was packing her things to leave the capital, Yan Zhenxi, who should have been in the imperial court, rushed in.
The usually composed young nobleman lost his composure, gripping Jiang Zhiyao's wrist, his eyes reddening, and asked, word by word, "Ayao, didn't you say you would always be good to me?"
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