Chapter 77 Young Master, why are you staring at me like that?
"ah--"
With a gasp, Xu Jinnian easily picked up Sheng An, took a long stride, and sat on the stool in front of the dressing table, letting her straddle his lap and face him.
"What are you doing? You almost scared me to death."
Sheng An's heart pounded wildly, and she punched Xu Jinnian's chest in annoyance: "I know you're strong, but you can't scare people like that."
Despite being over 1.5 meters tall and weighing 70 or 80 kilograms, she felt as light as a ball of cotton in his hands.
"It's gotten a bit heavier, but that's good."
Xu Jinnian kissed his wife's cheek reassuringly and took the lipstick she was clutching tightly in her hand: "I didn't take it out before because I saw that you didn't like to dress up."
Sheng An really dislikes applying makeup, finding it too troublesome and requiring repeated face washing afterwards.
When the man tried to apply lip rouge to her, her face was full of doubt: "You know how to apply it? Don't make me look like a chicken's butt, that would be awful."
Xu Jinnian dabbed a little lip rouge on his fingertip and gently lifted Sheng An's face with one hand: "The boss taught me the method, so I definitely won't make a mistake."
Seeing his confidence, Sheng An suppressed her doubts and said, "Alright."
As the man's slender hand approached, his fingertips, stained with lipstick, touched her lips, a tingling sensation immediately spread through her. Her bright eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Xu Jinnian looked serious, as if he was doing something very important.
After applying the lip rouge to my fingertip, I felt it wasn't enough, so I applied some more and continued.
As she applied the ointment, Xu Jinnian's brows furrowed unconsciously.
This lipstick is not good.
Sheng An sensed something was wrong and hurriedly turned around to grab the bronze mirror on the dressing table.
Seeing the gaping maw reflected in the bronze mirror, Ru Hua's face flashed through her mind in an instant. Her lips twitched involuntarily, and she turned to glare fiercely at Xu Jinnian: "Did you do this on purpose?"
For the first time, a look of panic appeared on Xu Jinnian's handsome face. He hurriedly wiped the lip rouge off her lips, saying, "An'an, let me put it on for you again."
Sheng An said with disgust, "Come on, I don't want to go out looking like this."
After saying that, she stood up, picked up a handkerchief, dipped it in some tea, and quickly wiped off the lipstick from her lips. Then she applied it again in front of the mirror.
Sheng An is also clumsy with her hands, but much better than Xu Jinnian; at least she won't become famous like she's eaten a child.
She looked in the mirror and saw that her complexion had improved significantly. She nodded in satisfaction, "That's more like it."
Xu Jinnian stared intently at his wife's smiling face, his attention unconsciously drawn to her rosy lips.
An An is so pretty.
As soon as Sheng An turned around, she met the man's burning gaze. A mischievous thought suddenly came to her mind, and she flirted with him in a coquettish manner: "Young master, why are you staring at me like that?"
Xu Jinnian's eyes were deep and unfathomable. He stretched out his long arm and pulled her into his embrace. His warm lips pressed down, and he murmured, "My wife is so beautiful. Please forgive me for being unable to control my feelings..."
Sheng An was so breathless and dizzy from the kiss that she had only one thought in her mind.
This guy has a talent for role-playing!
By the time the couple had tidied their clothes and come downstairs, the sun was almost high in the sky.
Shengyuan was some distance from the Fang family's residence, a walk that would take half an hour. Since riding a small donkey together was not appropriate, they flagged down an oxcart that specialized in soliciting passengers at the intersection.
Today, the Fang family home was brightly decorated and bustling with activity. Carriages came and went in an endless stream, and the designated parking area was quite full, so the carriages that arrived later had to park elsewhere.
Among these luxurious horse-drawn carriages was an inconspicuous oxcart.
Seeing the severe traffic congestion ahead, Sheng An and Xu Jinnian got out of the car.
The gatekeeper recognized Xu Jinnian and quickly trotted forward to bow, saying, "This servant greets Scholar Xu and his wife!"
Xu Jinnian nodded slightly: "No need for formalities."
The gatekeeper stepped aside, bowed, and invited the couple inside. Immediately, a maidservant came forward to lead the way.
As Sheng An stepped into the Fang family's gate, he was greeted by an exquisitely decorated courtyard, from which he could faintly hear the sounds of bustling people and melodious music.
She listened intently, and suddenly felt a little tempted. She quietly hooked her hand around Xu Jinnian's palm and asked, "Should we hire a few musicians to play and sing at Shengyuan?"
Xu Jinnian shook his head: "Ningjing is more suitable for Shengyuan."
Sheng An looked around but couldn't tell how big the Fang family's house was. However, he inadvertently noticed that the maid who was leading the way was secretly watching them from time to time.
To be precise, it's about the man beside her.
Looking at the maid with flushed cheeks, Sheng An raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze falling on Xu Jinnian's face, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Beauty can be a trap!
When I lived in a small courtyard, I would often steal glances at young women and married women I encountered on the street.
Sheng An didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Everyone loves beauty, and even when she sees a handsome man, she can't help but take a few more glances.
This man probably has no idea how many women are haunted by his face, losing sleep over it.
As Sheng An thought this to himself, he looked up at the maid in front of him and met her gaze as she stole a look. He then gave her a friendly smile.
The maid was so frightened that her pupils shrank, and she tripped over her own feet, instantly losing her balance and falling forward.
"careful!"
Sheng An quickly grabbed the maid's arm and only let go after the maid regained her balance.
The maid, still shaken, bowed gratefully and thanked her, her face pale, "Thank you, Scholar's wife!"
Sheng An waved his hand: "It's no trouble at all. Lead the way."
The maidservant quickly got up, feeling a bit more favorably disposed towards Sheng Ansheng, and dared not do two things at once anymore.
As the couple approached the second gate, Fang Qingzhou, dressed in fine clothes, hurriedly came to greet them: "Jin Nian, sister-in-law."
Behind him were Ye Yunhua, Tan Zhenlin, and a little girl he didn't recognize.
Tan Zhenlin slapped Xu Jinnian on the shoulder: "If you had come any later, I was prepared to personally go to your house to pick you and your sister-in-law up."
After saying that, he smiled and said to Sheng An, "Sister-in-law, Brother Fang and Brother Ye are both unmarried. I was worried that you would be bored by yourself, so I specially brought my sister along."
After saying that, Tan Zhenlin pulled his hand behind him and brought his shy younger sister in front of him: "Xiao Rou, this is the Xu family's sister-in-law I told you about. Quickly greet her."
Tan Qingrou was only thirteen years old, and her features were exactly like Tan Zhenlin's.
Unlike Tan Zhenlin's baby face, she has a standard heart-shaped face with lingering baby fat, which, combined with her large features, makes her look very cute and lively.
Tan Qingrou was reserved and easily embarrassed. When her brother Tan Zhenlin pulled her to the front, she blushed and quickly glanced at Sheng An before lowering her head and whispering, "Hello, sister."
Sheng An was immediately charmed by the little girl's adorable appearance. Afraid of disturbing her, she spoke in an unprecedentedly gentle tone: "Hello, Xiao Rou. I liked you the moment I saw you."
Tan Qingrou's big, watery eyes brightened, and her face turned even redder, like a ripe apple: "Th-thank you, sister."
This older sister is so gentle.
It seems like he doesn't mind her at all.
Sheng An tentatively touched the little girl's hand, and seeing that she only flinched slightly but did not pull away, he boldly took the soft, boneless little hand in his.
"Xiao Rou is so cute. The more I look at her, the more I like her. I wish I had a cute little sister like you."
This is Sheng An's honest opinion; in both her past and present lives, she has absolutely no resistance to cute girls.
Tan Qingrou's eyes widened, as if she had heard something unbelievable.
Sheng An couldn't control himself and ruffled Tan Qingrou's fluffy head: "Don't look at your sister like that. If you keep looking, I'm going to fight your brother for your sister."
Upon hearing this, the men around him all laughed.
Tan Zhenlin laughed the loudest, pushing his younger sister into Sheng An's arms: "Since you like Xiao Rou, I'll let you be my younger sister for a few days, as long as you allow me to come to Sheng Yuan for a free meal."
Ye Yunhua patted his junior brother with a laugh: "Look at you, so spineless. You want to give up your sister for just one meal? You should at least take me with you."
Fang Qingzhou wasn't going to be left behind: "Me too, me too, I want to go too."
Tan Zhenlin refused firmly, saying, "That won't do. I can't let my sister-in-law get tired."
Ignoring the group of people spouting nonsense, Sheng An smiled at Tan Qingrou, who was too shy to look up, and said, "This is my first time here, so you must take me with you!"
It was Tan Qingrou's first time visiting the Fang family, and everything here was unfamiliar to her. However, seeing Sheng An's gentle smile, she really didn't want to disappoint her, so she mustered up her courage and nodded: "Mm."
Having found a playmate, Sheng An directly "abandoned" Xu Jinnian and followed Tan Qingrou to the garden where female guests were entertained.
At this moment, Tan Qingrou keenly sensed two pairs of eyes falling on her, giving her a prickly feeling.
She subconsciously looked around, and only relaxed slightly when she found nothing amiss, continuing to walk forward with the new sister she had just met.
Not far behind, Tan Zhenlin put his arm around Xu Jinnian's shoulder: "Don't worry, with my sister here, no one will bully your sister-in-law."
Xu Jinnian watched Sheng An's figure disappear around the corner before turning his gaze away and saying in a calm voice, "Thanks."
Tan Zhenlin was secretly delighted: "Oh, it's really not easy to get a thank you from you!"
Xu Jinnian glanced at him and removed the arm from his shoulder.
Tan Zhenlin curled his lip, and Fang Qingzhou and Ye Yunhua complained, "This deadbeat behavior is something your sister-in-law should really take a good look at."
Fang Qingzhou and Ye Yunhua just smiled, but in their hearts they both sighed: no classmate's charm can compare to the charm of a wife.
In the garden, the ladies and young women saw Sheng An, dressed simply and whom they had never seen on other important occasions before. They all guessed her identity, but none of them dared to look down on her.
Tan Qingrou's identity was no secret; she had a father who was the prefect of Jinling, and few people present could surpass her in status.
Even if someone comes from an ordinary background, they shouldn't be neglected by the daughter of the prefect who brought them here personally.
These ladies knew that Tan Qingrou was not good at speaking and did not like being surrounded by people chatting and laughing. At this moment, no one came up to inquire about Sheng An's identity. They just nodded politely to Sheng An.
Sheng An smiled and returned the greetings one by one. Tan Qingrou led him to a quiet corner where he could sit down and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the entire courtyard.
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