Chapter 39 Clay Dolls Are Good...
After walking for a long time, Shang Xu gradually adapted, and his stiff limbs gradually relaxed. He looked down and saw that his hand was in hers. Their hands were clasped together, like a pair of lovers who were deeply in love.
Shang Xu blinked, his smile deepening, a hint of greed in his eyes. How wonderful it would be if she could hold his hand like this every day.
Taking his hand was an impulsive act. After taking a few steps, Yan Yize regretted it. Out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but glance at him and saw that there was no displeasure on his face. On the contrary, there was a faint smile. The feeling of regret dissipated, and a different emotion grew in his heart.
Their sleeves intertwined, their palms felt each other's warmth, and their steps unconsciously synchronized—they were so intimate.
After walking for a long time, when they passed a stall, Yan Yize noticed that Shang Xu glanced at it a few more times but did not speak. After a moment's thought, she understood the reason and couldn't help but feel a little helpless. It seemed that her image in his mind was too bad.
She changed her pace and led him to the stall, which was filled with lifelike clay dolls, each one vividly depicted. Yan Yize wasn't particularly interested, only glancing at them casually before turning to look at him, whereupon he saw his eyes light up.
She blurted out, "You like it?"
Shang Xu's eyes flickered, and he nodded shyly. He wanted a clay doll that looked like her. He thought he had hidden it well, but he didn't expect that she would discover it after he only took one more look.
The stall owner was an elderly woman, dressed in tattered clothes, with gray hair and wrinkles on her face like the bark of a tree weathered by time, drooping quietly. She walked forward cautiously with her back hunched, "Miss or gentleman, would you like a pair of clay dolls made?"
Yan Yize withdrew his gaze from him, nodded, pondered for a few seconds, and said, "I want a pair."
Shang Xuben was still fretting about how to get her to agree to make one too. Hearing her words, he breathed a huge sigh of relief, and his already bright eyes shone even brighter. He began to think silently about how to get her to give him the clay doll that looked like her.
Shang Xu frowned in distress. Money was definitely out of the question, since she was much richer than him. He could exchange her for something else, but he didn't have anything good to offer. He struggled with this dilemma for a long time, until the clay doll was finished, but he still couldn't come up with a good answer.
The old woman stretched out her withered hand and handed over two clay dolls that were exactly the same as the two people. Her cloudy eyes narrowed into slits, and there was a hint of nostalgia in them. When she was young, she also had someone by her side, but unfortunately, she lost the person who belonged to her.
"Miss and young master are a match made in heaven." The old woman glanced at the two of them again and said, "I wish you both a happy marriage soon."
Yan Yize paused for a moment after taking the clay doll from her hand, and subconsciously looked at Shang Xu. Seeing that he seemed to be lost in thought, she looked away and turned to the old woman in front of her. "We are already married."
The old woman was surprised for a moment. She had been running her stall for many years and countless men and women had passed by. This was the first time she had misjudged someone. The two seemed more like newlyweds than married couples. She didn't dwell on it and quickly changed her words, "I wish you both a happy baby girl soon."
Yan Yize remembered that she and Shang Xu had not yet consummated their marriage. How could she have a noble lady if they hadn't consummated their marriage? However, there was no need to tell outsiders about these things. She nodded expressionlessly, gave her some extra silver coins, and replied, "Thank you."
Just as Shang Xu came to his senses, he heard the news of the birth of his daughter. Before he could figure it out, he heard her respond. In an instant, all his thoughts were in turmoil, and he couldn't help but wonder why she had responded.
Was it just a casual remark, or did he really think that way?
A glimmer of hope arose in his heart, hoping that she truly thought so.
He was lost in thought when a clay doll suddenly appeared before him, interrupting his reverie. Shang Xu snapped out of it and realized it was the clay doll that looked like him. He carefully took it.
The clay doll, dressed in a wedding gown, was incredibly lifelike, a miniature version of him. Shang Xu examined it closely, his heart stirred. On their wedding night, she had left in a hurry, and he had only had time to catch a fleeting glimpse of her. Now, looking back, his memory was somewhat hazy, but he remembered that she was very beautiful.
How could I not feel regret?
I never got to see her in her wedding dress in full before, but it's wonderful that we can now depict her through clay figurines.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but look up at the clay doll in her hand that resembled her. As his gaze fell upon it, his blurred memories suddenly became clear. In the dim candlelight, the woman in her red dress was dazzling and beautiful.
Shang Xu stared intently at the clay doll in her hand, feeling as if a feather had brushed against his heart, making his heart tremble with a ticklish sensation. It was beautiful, he liked it, and he wanted it!
He pondered what the chances were of her giving it to him if he asked directly.
Shang Xu pondered the possibilities, then looked up at her, only to meet her gaze. He froze, a tingling, itchy feeling spreading throughout his body. It turned out she was looking at him too.
Shang Xu blushed, turned his head away, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't bring himself to ask for it.
Although he liked it very much, he still had his pride.
Before we knew it, the night had deepened.
On the way back, there were far fewer people, and it wasn't as crowded as it had been on the way there, but Yan Yize still didn't let go of his hand, because it made him feel more at ease.
Along the way, Shang Xu frequently glanced at her, or more accurately, at the clay doll in her hand. Although he tried to look discreetly, she still noticed.
Yan Yize had already guessed his thoughts, but she pretended not to know and waited for him to speak first. However, she waited all the way until she entered the mansion and stood at the crossroads where they were to part ways, but he never came.
She sighed helplessly, gave in, held up the clay doll that resembled herself, waved it in front of him, and asked, "Do you want it?"
Shang Xu's eyes followed her movements, shifting from side to side. He watched her intently, a mix of hesitation and desire, but ultimately, the thought of wanting her prevailed. "Is it okay?"
"Okay." Yan Yize smiled and nodded, handing it to him.
Shang Xu accepted it with delight, treating it like a precious treasure. He looked at it again and again, his affection for it evident, as if he could never get enough of it.
Yan Yize couldn't help but laugh. "You like it that much?"
She glanced at it too, but it was just a clay doll, and she really couldn't understand why he liked it so much.
Upon hearing this, Shang Xu nodded without hesitation. It wasn't that she liked clay dolls, but rather that she liked clay dolls that resembled her.
Unfortunately, she didn't understand his feelings.
He looked at it several more times before reluctantly raising his head. "Shall I trade you something else?"
Yan Yize shook his head and refused, "No need, you can have it if you like it."
It's just a clay doll, nothing special, at most it just looks a bit like her.
Shang Xu's eyes crinkled with laughter. She had gotten a clay doll that looked just like her for free, without having to pay any price.
"No going back on your word."
Yan Yize smiled helplessly. Did she seem to lack credibility? But he still replied, "I won't go back on my word."
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