Chapter Twenty-Nine: Thinking of You Every Day
As soon as Xie Yanzhi finished speaking, a dazzling light flashed in Shen Qingnian's eyes.
Inside the room of Yicui Courtyard, beside the desk, Xiao Huaiyi was drawing something on Xuan paper with a brush.
Butterfly was grinding ink on the side.
Xiao Huaiyi quickly finished the painting. Diewu lowered her head and leaned over to take a look.
She looked delighted and covered her face with a smile.
Shen Qingnian thought the figure in the painting looked like a woman.
Judging from Diewu's expression now, she seems a little shy, so Xiao Huaiyi must have been painting her just now.
Xie Yanzhi stood behind her with his hands behind his back and said leisurely, "This Fuyun Tower is the closest to Yicui Courtyard. Can you see it clearly?"
At this moment, the two were standing by the window opposite Yicui Courtyard, looking across through a crack.
Shen Qingnian then saw Xiao Huaiyi take the cup that Diewu handed him, drinking from it while admiring the painting he had just seen.
Butterfly Dance whispered something in his ear, and he turned around to look at her with a smile. Then he picked up his pen and continued writing.
Enjoying wine and painting, he was completely carefree.
This was somewhat different from the Xiao Huaiyi that Shen Qingnian had seen. In her eyes, Xiao Huaiyi was dignified and courteous, and every gesture he made resembled that of a refined gentleman.
When she looked again, she saw Diewu standing behind Xiao Huaiyi, gazing at him with tender affection in her eyes.
"Young Master Xiao is truly carefree, enjoying the company of beautiful women," Xie Yanzhi said casually, glancing at Shen Qingnian.
Shen Qingnian's expression remained calm, but she was actually feeling quite distressed inside.
But she calmly said to Xie Yanzhi, "Young Master, let's go back."
Xie Yanzhi, as if watching a good show, said in a mocking tone, "Oh? Not going to continue watching?"
Shen Qingnian didn't finish speaking before turning around and going downstairs.
Xiao Huaiyi was holding a wine glass, leaning against the window, admiring the night view.
In a daze, he seemed to see Shen Qingnian appear in the restaurant across the street. He quickly put down his wine glass and was about to chase after her: "Miss Shen!"
Butterfly Dance pulled Xiao Huaiyi along, peeked out, but saw nothing.
She turned to Xiao Huaiyi and said, "Young master, are you seeing things? Where is Miss Shen?"
Xiao Huaiyi rubbed his eyes and looked again, but there was no one at the window.
Could he have misread it?
Butterfly Dance smiled again, covering her face with her handkerchief: "Young master, are you perhaps thinking of someone while looking at this painting?"
Xiao Huaiyi picked up the portrait of Shen Qingnian that he had just drawn on the table, and looked at the person in the painting with a hint of affection in his eyes.
"The moonlight is beautiful tonight. If Miss Chen were here, she would surely love it."
In the portrait, Shen Qingnian holds a sandalwood comb, looking ahead with a shy expression. A faint smile plays in her curved eyebrows.
This is the girl he loves! Bright and gentle.
Just now, Diewu asked him to draw the comb as well, and after he finished drawing it, Xiao Huaiyi thought it was very good.
This comb can be considered a token between the two of them.
He recalled the gentle look in Shen Qingnian's eyes when she looked at him.
Xiao Huaiyi took out the sandalwood comb from his sleeve. It seemed to still retain Shen Qingnian's scent.
Xiao Huaiyi murmured, "Miss Chen, wait for me."
Xiao Huaiyi looked at the painting again, as if Shen Qingnian were smiling at him.
He thought he must go find Miss Shen and clear up the misunderstanding.
Shen Qingnian returned to Qianyue Residence. She didn't say a word and sat quietly by the bed.
Because Ling'er had sprained her ankle and couldn't walk yet, she didn't go out with her mistress.
She waited all day, and it was only with great difficulty that her mistress returned.
But the young lady looked completely lost and dejected.
Could it be that Young Master Xiao is really as unbearable as the rumors suggest, leaving Miss with no choice but to refuse him?
Thinking that Young Master Xiao treated Miss very well, and Miss felt very happy, why did she suddenly return with a worried look on her face?
Ling'er was anxious and flustered, but she still asked cautiously, "Miss, what did Young Master Xiao say today?"
Shen Qingnian shook her head.
Although Xiao Huaiyi was unable to keep the appointment, it is still unknown whether the coachman delivered the message.
Although she saw Xiao Huaiyi and Diewu together that night, with Diewu showing affection, Xiao Huaiyi's eyes remained clear and innocent, without any romantic feelings whatsoever.
She recalled that day on the ship when Xiao Huaiyi asked her, "Miss Chen, everyone says I'm a notorious playboy in the capital, do you believe it?"
Shen Qingnian did not answer, but instead asked Xiao Huaiyi, "Young Master Xiao, everyone thinks I went to the Marquis of Jingnan's residence to climb the social ladder. Do you believe that?"
Their eyes met, and Shen Qingnian smiled with her head down. Xiao Huaiyi looked at Shen Qingnian, shook her head, and also smiled with pursed lips.
With this in mind, Shen Qingnian decided that she had to see Xiao Huaiyi again no matter what.
Early the next morning, Xie Yanzhi had Yuan Qing summon Shen Qingnian to Guanlan Residence.
When Shen Qing read it aloud, she saw several trays of jewelry displayed in Xie Yanzhi's room.
Xie Yanzhi glanced at Shen Qingnian, sat down in a chair, and said, "Come and pick out a few pieces of jewelry."
Shen Qingnian didn't react for a moment.
Seeing Shen Qingnian standing there in a daze, Xie Yanzhi continued, "Yesterday, I personally escorted Miss Shen to find her sweetheart, and today you won't even help me choose a few pieces of jewelry?"
Shen Qingnian thought for a moment, then decided to return the favor: "May I ask what the young master intends to do with the jewelry?"
"Give it away," Xie Yanzhi uttered.
"My beloved." After saying that, he glanced at Shen Qingnian again, not wanting to miss any expression on her face.
Shen Qingnian was somewhat surprised. She had never heard of Xie Yanzhi having any rumors with any young ladies, yet he suddenly had someone he liked.
But that's none of her business.
“But I don’t know what the young master’s sweetheart likes. I’m afraid that what I choose might not suit her taste. Why doesn’t the young master let her choose for herself?” Shen Qingnian answered truthfully.
“She’s about the same as you.” Xie Yanzhi casually remarked, his eyes glancing at his teacup.
“We’re about the same age,” Shen Qingnian heard Xie Yanzhi say again.
For some reason, Shen Qingnian felt that if she didn't choose one today, Xie Yanzhi definitely wouldn't let her leave.
Since she was Xie Yanzhi's sweetheart, she must be a lady from a respectable family. After looking around, Shen Qingnian finally chose a Qingshui imperial concubine bracelet, which was both gentle and noble.
"Young Master, let's take this bracelet." Xie Yanzhi noticed that Shen Qingnian was holding a jade bracelet, which was not particularly eye-catching among the other pieces of jewelry.
So that's what she likes? It's just as simple and plain as she usually prefers.
"Aren't there some gold and silver jewelry here? Why not choose them?" Xie Yanzhi asked.
"Gold and silver jewelry is too precious and somewhat cumbersome, making it inconvenient for young ladies to wear on a daily basis."
“This jade bracelet is light yet elegant. The young lady can wear it on her wrist every day and think of the prince’s affection every day.”
Shen Qingnian explained.
"Thinking about it every day?" Xie Yanzhi's lips curled up slightly.
"Your Highness, I'll head back now..."
"Then try wearing the bracelet first," Xie Yanzhi interrupted Shen Qingnian.
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