SGEIRS -Chapter 216 Beauty Misleads

In the afternoon, Gu Jingxi returned from his official duties and brought Meng Jinyao some pastries from Yipin Zhai.

He had dinner with Meng Jinyao, and afterward, they took a walk together. It wasn’t until nearly half an hour later that they returned to bathe and change.

Taking advantage of the time Gu Jingxi was bathing, Qingqiu whispered to her mistress, “Madam, look—just a little initiative from you today and the Marquis is back to acting like before. Men are like this; they need a bit of sweetness. If they see no hope, they’ll retreat.”

Meng Jinyao nodded in agreement. It was a bit like marching into battle: the first push full of momentum, the second push weaker, the third exhausted. If repeated efforts don’t achieve results, morale drops—people lose heart.

Qingqiu said nothing further, thinking that the Marquis was genuinely busy these past two days and simply didn’t have time for Madam. It was just that Madam lacked a sense of security and overthought things, while Ningdong had a tendency to worry unnecessarily.

Qingqiu reminded her, “Madam, you must seize the moment. Next time, respond appropriately. Once you win the Marquis’s heart, your position in the Marquis’s residence will be completely secure.”

“I know that.”

Meng Jinyao smiled gently. In fact, securing her position was secondary. Even if Gu Jingxi didn’t like her, he wouldn’t treat her badly. The important thing was that she had started to like this man a little and had to take it seriously. She couldn’t be too aloof, or she might unintentionally push him away—then regret would come too late.

After a while, footsteps approached from behind. Qingqiu and Ningdong stood up from the embroidered stools, bowed respectfully to Gu Jingxi, and then stepped back.

Meng Jinyao casually lifted her eyes and saw the man, freshly bathed, wearing a white nightshirt. The collar was slightly open, revealing his delicate collarbone and even the faint outline of his lean chest.

His three thousand strands of black hair were still damp from the bath, not fully dried, and a few strands fell into his slightly open collar. Against his porcelain-white skin, the black hair accentuated the delicate contours of his collarbone, adding an alluring sensuality.

Meng Jinyao’s gaze lingered unconsciously, and she swallowed nervously, struck by how pleasing it was to the eye. How had she never realized that a man could be so captivating? She couldn’t look away.

The man seemed to notice her stare. He lifted his eyes toward her, a faint smile on his lips, his gaze gentle yet amused, and walked slowly toward her.

She had always known Gu Jingxi was handsome, but tonight, for some reason, he seemed seductive. Each step felt as if it pressed on the tip of her heart, making it flutter.

For a brief moment, Meng Jinyao felt like she was doomed.

When Gu Jingxi reached her, he noticed her dazed expression and unwavering gaze, and felt a little confused. Instinctively, he touched his face and softly asked, “Madam, is there something on my face?”

Hearing him, Meng Jinyao slowly regained her composure. Looking at his refined face and delicate collarbone, her mind went fuzzy. Boldly, she offered, “Husband, let me help you dry your hair.”

She stood, picked up a clean cloth that had been prepared for drying hair, and stared at him without blinking.

The sudden thoughtfulness of the young lady startled Gu Jingxi, making him feel unexpectedly pampered. Today she was especially gentle and considerate—she had brought him lunch and now wanted to dry his hair.

He had intended to decline politely, but when met with her eager gaze, he didn’t refuse. Smiling, he said, “Alright, then I’ll trouble you, Madam.”

Hearing this, Meng Jinyao realized her mind had been wandering. She looked at the cloth in her hands, paused, and thought to herself: Beauty misleads. Then she said, “Husband, please sit down first; I can’t reach otherwise.”

Gu Jingxi nodded, “Alright.”

After he sat, Meng Jinyao stood behind him, drying his hair. From this angle, his collarbone was even more visible. Though she hadn’t meant to stare, her eyes were inevitably drawn to it. She felt her face flush and her heart race, realizing tonight she was feeling a little… lustful. Startled, she shook her head and focused on drying his hair.

Having touched his hair, she found it softer than she expected. Running her fingers through it, the strands slid smoothly between them—so soft it seemed even more supple than her own hair.

Meng Jinyao pursed her lips, admitting her envy. This man was not only youthful-looking, but even his hair was softer than hers. When she finished drying it, she set the cloth aside and saw Gu Jingxi sitting motionless with his eyes closed. Perhaps he had fallen asleep from exhaustion. A playful impulse struck her.

Gu Jingxi knew his hair was dry, but the young lady was playing with it. He wanted to say something to stop her, but seeing her rare childishness, he swallowed his words. After she braided two small plaits on either side, he opened his eyes and saw her bright, lively expression. Smiling, he asked, “Madam, having fun?”

Startled, Meng Jinyao froze, embarrassed. “Husband, you’re not asleep?” she asked sheepishly.

Gu Jingxi replied, “How could I sleep like this?”

Her face turned red from his words. Silently, she unraveled the braids and smoothed his hair with her fingers.

Gu Jingxi said, “It’s late. Let’s go to sleep.”

Meng Jinyao agreed, walked toward the bed, removed her slippers, and rolled into her spot, moving with the grace of flowing clouds.

Seeing this, Gu Jingxi smiled and joined her, picking up a fan to cool himself. Though an ice pan had been placed in the room, it was kept far from the bed to avoid cold air entering. While it didn’t bother him, a young lady’s delicate body could easily fall ill from the chill.

Seeing this, Meng Jinyao subtly scooted closer to him, brushing against the results of his labor.

Gu Jingxi’s expression shifted, then he fanned more vigorously so both could feel cool.

The small gesture warmed Meng Jinyao’s heart, and she smiled softly. She liked this way of spending time together. Though their days were calm and uneventful, Gu Jingxi’s thoughtfulness always brought her warmth.

She turned her body, taking in his handsome face, tracing his features with her eyes, thinking that if life could always be this way, it would be wonderful.

Curious, Gu Jingxi asked, “Madam, why have you been staring at me all night?”

Meng Jinyao blinked. She had intended to make an excuse but then decided to look straight at him and smiled, “Husband, you’re handsome.”

Gu Jingxi was surprised by her answer, then laughed, “Madam, you’re even more beautiful.”