Upon watching Lady Ding leave, Ding Hui hurriedly urged Ji Xinhe to drink water: "Quickly drink up, the water will cool down soon, and then it wouldn’t taste as good when you drink it."
Ji Xinhe let out a cold smirk from the corner of her lips, snorting lightly, "Really? Drinking it alone seems a bit dull, though. You’re our guest, but if the guest does not drink, how can I dare to? After all, I’m your host."
Ding Hui, in his enthusiasm, might have forgotten that this is actually her home.
But it was indeed his zeal that revealed his intentions clearly.
Ding Hui replied "Aha! – So, you want me to drink with you? That’s a minor matter."
While speaking, he reached out to drink the water.
Ji Xinhe was a step faster than him, grabbed the bowl of water in front of him, and also the other one in her hand and said, "As mentioned earlier, you’re a guest. Since I didn’t personally prepare the water, I should at least serve it. This way, it’s still courteous."
As Ding Hui observed Ji Xinhe’s perfect manners, he nodded with supreme excitement: "Sounds good! As long as you serve the water, I’m more than willing to drink it!"
Ji Xinhe flashed a stunning smile, her brilliant eyes shone like the stars, and the shallow dimple on her right cheek reminded Ding Hui of a whirlpool, which made his heart skip a beat.
How had he never noticed before that she was so extraordinarily beautiful?
Even if Ji Xinhe didn’t have all of this money today, he would still willingly marry her. Across ten miles, it would be hard to find another woman who can compare.
While Ding Hui was still in a daze, Ji Xinhe had swiftly switched the two bowls of hot water in her hands, and handed him the one that was initially hers.
Ding Hui, who was still dazed by Ji Xinhe’s sudden smile, accepted the bowl with a foolish grin, "The water you served tastes particularly sweet."
After saying that, Ding Hui drank the water in one gulp and then urged Ji Xinhe to quickly drink hers.
Ji Xinhe edged the bowl of hot water towards her lips, her eyebrow wrinkling a little for a fleeting moment. Not wanting to raise any suspicion from Ding Hui, she swallowed the water without any hesitation.
Ding Hui was extremely delighted. The way he looked at Ji Xinhe became somewhat ambiguous, "Xin He, when you marry me in the future, I will definitely treat you well."
Initially, he was pleading, but now, he was certain.
Seems like he is certain that he can marry her?
All it took was one bowl of water to have such a quick change – this bowl of water is indeed formidable.
Ji Xinhe mused inwardly, while seemingly casually wiping her mouth with her handkerchief, she then commented, "We’re not even married yet, don’t you think it’s a bit too early to say such things?"
Ding Hui broke into an insidious smirk, "It’s merely a matter of time."
Ji Xinhe got up, "I need to use the restroom. You just wait here."
Ding Hui, fearing that she might run off, hurriedly blocked her, "Why do you suddenly need to use the restroom now?"
Ji Xinhe scoffed, "Wait, didn’t you just say that you would treat me well after marriage? Now, I merely need to use the restroom, and you already have so many opinions? Seems like you were just appeasing me."
"How could I..."
"If you indeed were just trying to appease me, I’d rather leave those assets to my brothers after I get married, rather than being deceived by you."
Upon hearing this, Ding Hui immediately listed anxiously, "Once you marry me, the money you’ve earned will naturally become ours. How can you leave it to your brothers? If you need to use the restroom, go ahead and come back quickly."
Ji Xinhe huffed, and then turned to leave the room.
Ding Hui knew that she wouldn’t run far. Lady Ding had said that the water was drugged. Since she has already drunk the medicine, she can’t escape. Besides, Lady Ding is guarding outside.
Thinking about this, Ding Hui felt much relieved. It’s just that right now, it seemed like the drug was kicking in. His throat felt dry, and his body was starting to heat up. He hoped that Ji Xinhe would return quickly. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Upon leaving, indeed Lady Ding was waiting in the courtyard. Upon seeing her emerge, Lady Ding was startled, "Why have you come out? You two have barely spoken yet!"
Ji Xinhe finally exclaimed somewhat annoyed, "Go and ask Ding Hui! He doesn’t want to get along with me and finds fault with everything about me. He said marrying me is bad luck and asked me to leave!"
Lady Ding widened her eyes in disbelief: "Did he...he...how could he say such a thing?!"
Ji Xinhe vented, "If you don’t believe it, go directly and ask him! I’m not lying! I was really angry because of him, and that’s why I stormed out!"
While speaking, she glanced back and stomped her foot, "He didn’t even chase after me, clearly he’s uninterested in me, and unlike him I, Ji Xinhe, still care about maintaining my dignity! If he is unhappy about marrying me, then this marriage doesn’t need to happen!"
With that, she angrily lifted her skirt and stomped away.
Lady Ding stood there stunned, full of incredulity she rushed into the house. Having planned such a perfect entrapment, the water was tainted with a drug. As long as Ji Xinhe drank it, today would have settled everything once and for all. But why did Ding Hui have to mess things up?
He didn’t want to marry Ji Xinhe?
Even if he cannot get along with Ji Xinhe, he shouldn’t have opposed the scheme, should he?!
Lady Ding, half furious to death, was swearing at Ding Hui as she rushed inside, "Ding Hui! What on earth happened?! Everything was perfectly drafted, but you just messed it up! Why are you throwing tantrums at her? Even if you have to vent your anger, why today? You can do whatever you want after marrying her, don’t you understand the importance of timing?!"
After Lady Ding stormed into the room, ready to scold Ding Hui, she saw that his face had already turned bright red. He was uncomfortably overheated, looking at Lady Ding with a lustful gaze and then pounced on her like a madman.
——
Ji Xinhe immediately returned to her room with quick steps. As there was a faint reddish glow on her face, her pace quickened.
She knew that Lady Ding had drugged the water. Although this woman is cruel she isn’t crafty enough to concoct any new strategies to use on her. Hence, resorting to her old trick - drugging.
So, Ji Xinhe had prepared herself in advance, going with the flow to use this opportunity to avenge and finally get free from Lady Ding’s entanglement. But who would have known that Lady Ding has picked up a few clever tricks? Possibly afraid that Ji Xinhe would switch the water, she drugged both bowls. Ji Xinhe noticed it only after she exchanged the bowls.
To avoid raising Ding Hui’s suspicion, she had no choice but to drink it. Nonetheless, she managed to expel most of the water in her mouth onto a handkerchief while pretending to wipe her mouth, but a small amount did make its way into her stomach.
Luckily, she only drank a little. Now, if she went back to her room to take off a few pieces of clothing and cool off, she could endure it. It would be best not to encounter any men during this time, so as to avoid stirring her lust.
Just as she was about to close the door after entering the room, a large hand pushed the door open through the gap, and someone slipped inside.
Marquis Mu, with a hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips, asked, "What brings you back so soon? Weren’t you supposed to be developing feelings? Hmm?"
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