Chapter Twenty-Eight: Still Not Giving Up
The servant at the gate came to report that Young Master Xiao had arrived at Guanlan Residence.
Yuan Qing thought to himself, "Master is truly a prophet. But everything has already been arranged."
Xie Yanzhi waved his hand, and the servant at the door came in and stood there respectfully.
Xie Yanzhi said, "Go to Qianyue Residence and call Miss Chen here. Tell her that Young Master Xiao has come looking for her."
"Yes, Your Highness." The servant quickly headed towards Qianyue Residence.
Xie Yanzhi gestured for Xiao Huaiyi to sit down and said to Yuan Qing, "Brew a pot of the new tea that just arrived yesterday for Young Master Xiao."
Xiao Huaiyi sat down opposite Xie Yanzhi with a carefree attitude, reverting to his usual nonchalant demeanor: "Miss Chen didn't come to my appointment yesterday, so I've come to see her today to see if she's misunderstood me."
Xie Yanzhi looked at Xiao Huaiyi today. This was the Xiao Huaiyi he wanted Shen Qingnian to see.
Unfortunately... she won't be able to see it today.
Xie Yanzhi took a sip of tea and looked at Xiao Huaiyi, saying, "Perhaps she saw that your confidante was angry, after all, she has a very strong temper."
"Perhaps in her heart, you are just a flirtatious and passionate person, not worthy of entrusting your life to."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Huaiyi's smile faded considerably.
Xie Yanzhi looked into Xiao Huaiyi's eyes and said in a cold, authoritative voice, "Huaiyi, aren't you just that kind of person?"
Xiao Huaiyi paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "That's right, I almost forgot that I'm this kind of person."
“But since I made a bet with you, I will definitely win her over.” Xiao Huaiyi picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp.
Just then, the servant boy returned.
Xiao Huaiyi quickly stood up, only to find that there was only the servant.
"Where is Miss Chen?" Xiao Huaiyi looked towards the door, but there was no one there.
The servant bowed respectfully with both hands clasped and said, "Miss Shen refused to come to see him no matter what, upon hearing that it was Young Master Xiao."
"Oh, by the way, Miss Shen also asked me to return this to Young Master Xiao." As he spoke, the servant took something out of his pocket and handed it over.
Xiao Huaiyi took it and saw that it was the sandalwood comb from yesterday.
Xiao Huaiyi grabbed the servant's hand: "Did Miss Shen say anything else?"
The servant saw that the young master's face had darkened and said timidly, "Miss Shen also... also said that since Young Master Xiao already has a confidante, she does not want to be the one to ruin other people's marriages, and asks that you please stop bothering her."
Xiao Huaiyi grabbed the servant by the collar: "Take me to her courtyard quickly, I want to talk to her myself."
“This…” The servant glanced at Xie Yanzhi.
Xie Yanzhi reached out and stopped Xiao Huaiyi: "Huaiyi, it's not appropriate for you to go into a woman's boudoir like this."
Hearing Xie Yanzhi say this, Xiao Huaiyi loosened the servant's collar and, after calming down and thinking about it, realized it was indeed true.
Miss Shen was originally a cousin who came to live with the family, and she had to rely on others for everything. The people in the mansion looked down on her.
If a man were to barge into her boudoir and be seen by others, causing her to lose her reputation, wouldn't that be harming her?
Xiao Huaiyi tucked the comb into his sleeve and said to Xie Yanzhi, "Since Miss Chen refuses to see me, I will return home today."
After saying that, he walked towards the door.
Xie Yanzhi had just sat down when he heard Xiao Huaiyi's voice from outside the door: "Yanzhi, I haven't lost yet."
A soft cracking sound came from behind, and Yuan Qing saw that a corner of the teacup in his master's hand had broken.
Xiao Huaiyi!
Last night, when he returned from Qianyue Residence, Yuanqing told him that Shen Qingnian was going to Wanbao Temple to admire the peach blossoms with Xiao Huaiyi, and asked Yuanqing to help find a carriage today.
Xie Yanzhi pondered for a while. This morning, he had specifically instructed a maid to injure Ling'er, so that Shen Qingnian would be unable to keep their appointment.
Just now, he deliberately had the servant pretend to see Shen Qingnian and return the comb to Xiao Huaiyi.
Xiao Huaiyi still wouldn't give up.
Xie Yanzhi squinted, wondering which one was the real Xiao Huaiyi.
Is it the one in front of him, or the one in front of Shen Qingnian?
Yuan Qing sighed helplessly. "Isn't this just like lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot?"
Besides, even someone like Young Master Xiao can win Miss Shen's favor, yet I haven't been noticed by her.
Yuan Qing glanced at Xie Yanzhi, saw that he had a sullen face again, shook his head, and sighed, "My master is too useless."
He didn't dare tell Lingjiao that all of this was arranged by the master. Out of guilt, he could only wrap Ling'er's feet up like big radishes as an apology.
As soon as Xiao Huaiyi stepped out of Guanlan Residence, Shen Qingnian helped Ling'er out of the room next door and happened to see the hem of Xiao Huaiyi's clothes.
"Xiao..." Shen Qingnian was about to speak.
Xie Yanzhi walked over and blocked Shen Qingnian's view: "What are you looking at? Are you interested in Brother Zhang again?"
“Brother Zhang? I thought that was Xiao…” Shen Qingnian said softly.
The joy on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an indescribable disappointment.
She thought that Xiao Huaiyi had come to the mansion to look for her because he hadn't waited for her at Wanbao Temple.
Moreover, she clearly heard Xiao Huaiyi's voice just now.
"Do you think that's Xiao Huaiyi?" Xie Yanzhi directly said what Shen Qingnian was about to say.
“Xiao Huaiyi doesn’t have time to come to this mansion to see you,” Xie Yanzhi added.
Shen Qingnian didn't care what Xie Yanzhi said; after all, he didn't want her to be happy.
Then he bowed to Xie Yanzhi and said, "Your Highness, there's no need for you to trouble yourself. I also thank you for what happened to Ling'er today."
"Also... Your Highness, could you arrange a carriage to take me to Wanbao Temple tomorrow?" Shen Qingnian asked Xie Yanzhi.
The next day, Shen Qingnian arrived at the gate of the mansion early, where Yuan Qing was already waiting.
Shen Qingnian did not expect Xie Yanzhi to send Yuan Qing to see her off in person.
Yuan Qing nodded towards Shen Qingnian, and Shen Qingnian stepped onto the carriage bench.
Lifting the curtain, Shen Qingnian saw Xie Yanzhi inside, resting with his eyes closed. She finally understood what Yuan Qing meant by gesturing with his lips.
"Your Highness," Shen Qingnian called out, and then sat down beside him.
She saw that Xie Yanzhi didn't even lift his eyelids. He looked completely calm and composed, as if he were absolutely certain about something.
Shen Qingnian didn't want to make a fool of herself. She just wanted to see Xiao Huaiyi as soon as possible and confirm his feelings.
Xie Yanzhi and Shen Qingnian waited at Wanbao Temple for a whole day, until sunset, but they still didn't see Xiao Huaiyi.
"Perhaps, he just hasn't received my message," Shen Qingnian murmured.
Shen Qingnian didn't want to give up. Even if things didn't work out between them, she still wanted to hear him say it himself.
Given her current situation, she could not afford to delay any longer; she had to leave the Marquis's residence as soon as possible.
Right now, Xiao Huaiyi is her best choice.
Without Xiao Huaiyi, where can she find a husband?
Where can I find a husband as soon as possible?
Even if she were to have Xiao Huaiyi feign an engagement with her, she could use that as a pretext to force her father to release her mother.
Seeing Shen Qingnian's still persistent attitude, Xie Yanzhi felt a strange emotion welling up inside him.
He frowned deeply: "What, you still won't give up?"
"Shen Qingnian, you've only known each other for two or three days, and you already believe he's really interested in you?" Xie Yanzhi stared at her with eyes like a hawk.
Shen Qingnian remained silent. Her mind was in turmoil.
Suddenly, she heard Xie Yanzhi's voice: "Come on, I'll take you to see your Young Master Xiao right now!"
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