Although Chi Yan didn't care, Shen Tangning disliked breaking her promise.
For her, a promise is a promise.
So for two nights in a row, she spent half a day crouching in the grass with a lantern, and after a lot of effort, she finally managed to catch a cricket and ordered someone to send it to Chi Yan.
Seeing her disheveled appearance, with several cuts on her hands from the grass, Qin Mama and Xueqing felt extremely distressed: "Such a small matter could have been handled by a servant. Why did you have to trouble Miss to do it herself?"
Her delicate hands were meant for learning music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; she'd never done any of these things before.
Shen Tangning didn't care much. She felt that she was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, so catching a cricket was naturally no problem for her.
As it turned out, this was indeed the case.
*
Chi Yan was stunned when he saw the crickets jumping around in the cage on the table.
Upon learning that Shen Tangning had caught it herself, his feelings became even more complicated.
However, the two had not spoken for two whole days. He had taken the initiative to sleep in the study for the past two days, and Shen Tangning had not said anything. However, Chi's mother asked him a few questions in a veiled manner, which he brushed off.
He was usually carefree, but at this moment he felt a strange sense of irritability.
A servant's respectful voice came from the study doorway: "Young Madam."
Chi Yan's eyelids twitched, and he pretended to pick up a book and start reading.
Shen Tangning stepped in and smiled when she saw him: "Husband, are you reading?"
He looked up and saw Xueqing holding a tall stack of books. His heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling.
Shen Tangning approached and gestured for Xue Qing to put the book down. Her eyes caught sight of the book cover in Chi Yan's hand, and her gaze was meaningful.
Chi Yan followed her gaze and saw several words printed there—
A collection of folk tales and strange stories.
He immediately blushed and awkwardly tossed the item aside, saying, "Uh, this..."
She chuckled softly and said considerately, "I understand the importance of balancing work and rest."
Chi Yan's eyes darted around, and he changed the subject: "What's this?"
Shen Tangning approached the stack of books, smiling broadly: "These are books I had collected that might be needed for the autumn examinations. Husband, take a look, are these enough?"
Chi Yan choked, this was far too much!
"Isn't this... a bit too much?"
"How much?" Shen Tangning glanced at the book, then looked at Chi Yan and blinked. "It's alright, isn't it? There are still five months until the autumn examination. If my husband reads two books a month, he should be able to finish it."
Chi Yan felt like the sky had fallen. Two books a month! Did she think she had a photographic memory?!
Shen Tangning said earnestly, "I only chose these because my husband has a good foundation."
Chi Yan asked cautiously, "A good foundation?"
She nodded: "My husband passed the imperial examination at the age of twelve, so his foundation is quite good, isn't it?"
Chi Yan was slightly taken aback, a complex light flashing in his eyes: "Do you know how old I am this year?"
Shen Tangning thought for a moment and said, "Twenty."
He gestured with his fingers: "A full eight years have passed, who would remember that?"
She didn't take it to heart and found a place to sit down: "If you forget, just pick it up again. From today onwards, I'll read with you."
Chi Yan suddenly looked up: "You're coming with me? What do you mean?"
Several servants carried in a table, followed by tea sets, embroidery frames, and account books—all items used by women.
Chi Yan stood up and watched Xue Qing directing the servants to put things away. Then, belatedly, she looked at Shen Tangning and asked, "What are you doing?"
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