Chapter 68 Birthday

"What? My dad went fishing with your dad? How come I didn't know?" Shen Yuan only knew that her dad went out to meet friends, and she didn't know that her dad was actually with Xie Hui's father. In fact, she wanted to ask when did the two of them go together.

Xie Hui actually only found out about this at dinner last night. He had known for a long time that his father liked fishing, but before, because he had no companions, his father only enjoyed fishing in the pond at home. He didn't expect that he would actually find a fishing buddy now.

"My father said that Lord Shen is from Jinling. There are many rivers in the south, so I think he should be good at fishing."

Shen Yuan laughed dryly, "My dad really likes fishing." In previous years, whenever the family returned to their hometown, her father would go out to the river to cast a few rods even in the cold winter months. However, liking it is one thing, but whether he could catch any fish is another matter.

Shen Yuan had heard from his great uncle before that when his father was fishing, for some reason the fish would automatically retreat away from him.

"My father often complained at home that no one went fishing with him. It seems that he will have a great time this time." His father had taken him out fishing before, but he didn't like fishing either, so after going twice, his father stopped taking him.

Shen Yuan said mysteriously, "After fishing with my dad once, I definitely want to do it again."

"Why?"

"You'll know when you get home." Shen Yuan decided to keep the secret. In the fishing circle in her hometown, her father was famous. Whoever went fishing with her father would have a big catch.

"It's raining..." The summer rain came suddenly, and soon the small tavern was crowded with pedestrians coming in and out to avoid the rain. The owner of the tavern did not mind people coming in to avoid the rain, but asked the waiters to give everyone clean towels to wipe off the rain and then poured everyone a cup of tea.

Shen Yuan and Xie Hui sat by the window in the corner of the tavern. Shen Yuan felt that listening to the rain through the window was a special experience. The wind blowing in through the open window made people feel light-hearted for no reason.

"Can I take a look at this?" Shen Yuan pointed to the jewelry box that Xie Hui had placed aside.

"Of course." Xie Hui opened the box and handed it to Shen Yuan.

"It's really beautiful and very suitable for the princess." Xie Hui bought a ruby-inlaid gold-peony swing for his mother. It was elegant and luxurious, and indeed very suitable for Princess Kangle.

In fact, this step-shake was specially made by a craftsman hired by Xie Hui, and the names of his family were also engraved on it.

"I wonder when is the princess' birthday?" Shen Yuan thought of the last painting she had done. She had painted that painting a little casually, and had been thinking about painting another one in her heart. So she thought it would be a good idea to send another painting to the princess on her birthday.

"Mother's birthday is in four days."

Shen Yuan silently kept this day in mind, and as if by some unknown accusation, she asked another question.

"When is Mr. Xie's birthday?"

As soon as she said this, Shen Yuan knew that her thoughts would be exposed. At this moment, the sound of rain outside the window and the voices of passers-by who came to the tavern to avoid the rain all disappeared.

Shen Yuan could have lowered her head to avoid Xie Hui's gaze, but she didn't. Instead, she chose to look directly into his eyes, even though she knew that her eyes would betray her heart.

“The rain has stopped.”

Without waiting for an answer, but in fact it was an answer, Shen Yuan lowered his head, "Since the rain has stopped, Sir Xie, please go back first. I will wait for Qingdai to come back here. But I would like to trouble Sir Xie to settle the bill, as all my money is with Qingdai."

Xie Hui didn't say anything, got up and went to the counter to pay the bill. He turned around and saw Shen Yuan still sitting there with his head down. He sighed in his heart, but walked over again.

"My birthday is September 3rd." Xie Hui knew that he was too soft-hearted. The girl's emotions were too obvious. It seemed that the words "I'm sad" were written on every strand of her hair. Xie Hui felt that he would be a sinner if he just walked away like this.

He remembered that whenever his child Jinjin got into trouble or broke something, when his mother scolded him, he would lower his head like this with his ears turned back, so that when people saw him, they would not have the heart to scold him.

At this time, if you take out some dried meat, it will raise its head and look at you with its big eyes and act coquettishly.

Seeing the little girl in front of him raising her head, Xie Hui couldn't help but smile.

"I'll remember you, Sir Xie! Sir Xie, aren't you leaving?" Shen Yuan asked in confusion when he saw Xie Hui sitting down again.

"I won't leave until your maid comes." Xie Hui couldn't bring himself to leave the little girl here alone. Even just now, he didn't plan to leave right after settling the bill. Instead, he planned to wait outside and see Shen Yuan's maid come back before leaving.

Xie Hui looked at Shen Yuan who was happy again, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Although he couldn't respond to the girl's feelings, he had to admit that she looked much better when she was happy than when she was depressed.

Qingdai soon arrived at Shen's Tavern, and she could tell at a glance that her daughter was extremely happy.

"Sir Xie, you treated me to lunch today. I'll treat you again next time if I have the chance. This time I'll treat you to some date mud cake. The date mud cake from Daoxiangfang is delicious." Shen Yuan took a box of date mud cake from Qingdai and stuffed it into Xie Hui's hand. This time Shen Yuan didn't even listen to Xie Hui's answer. He took Qingdai and left, leaving Xie Hui alone at the door of the tavern, feeling both amused and helpless.

"Qingdai, it just rained heavily, did you get wet?"

"No, I was buying cakes when it was raining, so I went into the shop to hide from the rain. I came back after the rain stopped."

"That's good, let's go home directly, it will be bad if it rains again."

"Miss, I can see that you are very happy."

"Is there?" Shen Yuan deliberately frowned and asked suspiciously. She didn't smile either...

"Of course. Even if you don't smile, I can see it. I can see it in your eyes."

Shen Yuan's face finally relaxed... There was nothing she could do, she was just happy. Even though there was nothing yet, she was just happy.

Perhaps Shen Yuan was too good at keeping things to herself. After returning home, she brought some cakes to her sister-in-law, but her sister-in-law's first words were: "Manman, are you very happy today?"

It was just an ordinary sentence, but it made Shen Yuan blush. He slipped back to his yard without saying anything.

Qingdai, who was following behind, whispered three words to the young lady, and He Ying smiled knowingly.

"Qiushuang, go get some paper, pen and envelope."

He Ying wanted to write a letter to her husband who was studying at the Imperial College, encouraging him to study harder so that she would be more confident when she proposed marriage to him.

————Small Theater

Xie Yuan: "Xi'er! There's a date! Come out and see how many fish I caught! We're having a fish feast tonight."

Xie Yuan was so excited that he didn't ask anyone else to carry the bucket of fish when he came back. He carried the bucket himself and walked briskly.

"I want to go fishing with Lord Shen next time!"