TSWRLM -Chapter 68 You Look Like You Really Want to Kiss Me

Chun Xi had always been bold, but the image Shen Qingyuan had established in her mind was far too upright and imposing. She simply did not dare to act frivolously or indecently around him.

After a brief silence, she decisively backed down. “You’re only helping me apply the medicine, Lord. There’s no way you’re taking advantage of me—I was just joking earlier.”

Speaking, Chun Xi lay down on the bed, pulling her clothes up to her waist.

Her recovery had been remarkable; the bruises on her back were no longer as shocking as when she had been at the Wei household.

Fresh from her bath, her skin glowed faintly pink, soft and fragrant.

Shen Qingyuan paused for a moment before scooping some ointment into his palm and warming it.

Although it wasn’t his first time applying medicine, when his warm palm pressed against her back, Chun Xi shivered at the heat, and her skin flushed even more.

Seeing her embarrassment, Shen Qingyuan broke the silence. “Did you really encounter an assassin at the Wei household today?”

When the topic turned to serious matters, Chun Xi could no longer be shy. “There was no assassin! That bastard Wei Lingze deliberately had someone lure me to the guest room. There were so many guests at the Wei house today—if someone had seen, would I even have survived? And he’s already married to such a beautiful, gentle wife. What more could he possibly want?”

The thought of it made her blood boil.

Shen Qingyuan was not surprised by her answer. He continued applying the ointment with calm precision and asked, “What did he say to you?”

“I didn’t give him a chance. As soon as he appeared in the guest room, I shouted for help and ran to find you.”

Shen Qingyuan guessed that Wei Lingze might have tried to promise Chun Xi something or say some sweet words to appease her—but he hadn’t expected Chun Xi to be so decisive that she didn’t even let him speak.

A faint smile flashed in Shen Qingyuan’s eyes as he asked again, “And the jade pendant? How did you get it from him?”

Since the “assassin” was Wei Lingze, the pendant could only belong to him.

“That was a wedding gift he had my mother deliver to me. I deliberately left it there when I ran away.”

Chun Xi spoke with slight guilt.

Though she had no feelings for Wei Lingze, she was now a married woman. Accepting a personal gift from another man without telling her own husband was improper.

Thinking of this, she hurried to explain, “My mother accepted the pendant, and I didn’t return it because I thought it might be useful. I wasn’t deliberately hiding it from you—I just got caught up building the kitchen and forgot.”

“Mm, you did well.”

Shen Qingyuan’s calm reply came as he finished applying the medicine.

With that done, he got up, ready to leave.

Chun Xi, lying on her pillow, could not see his expression. Sensing him about to leave, she instinctively grabbed his clothing. “Lord, you really aren’t angry?”

Her clothes were still loose, her face pressed into the pillow, slightly flushed. The gesture, pulling on his robe, carried an unspoken shy charm.

Shen Qingyuan’s eyes darkened, his voice husky as he replied, “I’m really not angry. I just want to wash my hands in the adjoining room.”

“Oh.”

Chun Xi let go and lay back down.

She had intended to talk to him about the shop after he left, but he didn’t come out for a long time. Eventually, she couldn’t wait any longer and fell asleep.

Half-asleep, she wondered: does he usually wash his hands for so long? Wouldn’t that damage them? Is it a habit from handling corpses?

But she wasn’t a corpse.

Still thinking of these things, Chun Xi woke up early the next day.

To thank Shen Qingyuan for helping with the medicine, she attentively brought him clothes to help him dress.

Shen Qingyuan was unused to having someone tend to his daily needs and felt awkward. With Chun Xi so close, he couldn’t help thinking of the previous night and cleared his throat: “Your back is still injured. I can dress myself.”

“These minor injuries don’t matter, and didn’t you say I should get used to being close to you?”

She kept her hands moving, standing on tiptoe to adjust his collar.

Shen Qingyuan’s Adam’s apple moved, his eyes darkened, and he no longer resisted.

Once dressed, Chun Xi brought over his belt and tied it, adding the words she hadn’t managed to say the night before: “I now have three shops under my name, which have been idle, so I plan to hire people to run them. Mother’s dowry also includes several shops—I want to review the account books from these past years.”

“When you go out, remember to take a few people with you. If you encounter trouble, come to me.”

Shen Qingyuan didn’t mind her going out and encouraged her, giving her confidence. Chun Xi smiled: “If there’s any trouble, I’ll come to you immediately.”

After speaking, she took his hand to check it carefully. Shen Qingyuan asked curiously, “What’s wrong?”

She looked up seriously: “Washing for too long can hurt your hands. I’ll buy a box of protective ointment for you next time.”

Shen Qingyuan’s expression was slightly awkward but he replied, “Alright, that’s thoughtful of you.”

Her back injury no longer affected her work. After three days, the small kitchen was successfully completed.

After ventilating it for two days, Chun Xi started preparing a celebratory meal with fireworks to mark the opening.

The weather was hot. She made spicy chicken, sweet-and-sour fish, steamed lamb, braised pig’s ears and head meat, stir-fried shrimp, liver and kidney stir-fry, and a pot of sour plum soup.

Besides Nanny Jia and Cao Wen, she invited Shen Qingchi as well.

When Shen Qingyuan returned from the government office, he saw the courtyard set with a table of food, two lanterns hanging from a tree, their dim light illuminating Chun Xi’s smiling face.

“Lord, you’re back!” she greeted.

Though ordinary, Shen Qingyuan was momentarily speechless, only able to stare at her.

“It smells amazing. What did the young mistress cook?”

The aroma was strong. Qing Shu, drooling, peeked out from behind Shen Qingyuan.

Chun Xi guided Shen Qingyuan to the table. “Sit down and try it—you’ll see.”

She didn’t separate the seating, and Shen Qingyuan didn’t mention it. Nanny Jia and Qing Shu joined them.

Initially wary that Chun Xi might poison the food, Nanny Jia relaxed after a couple of drinks and laughed, recounting childhood mischiefs of Shen Qingyuan and Shen Qingchi. Shen Qingchi, drinking, also loosened up and laughed incessantly.

Chun Xi was equally carefree, rolling up her sleeves and insisting on playing finger-guessing games with Shen Qingyuan.

The result… she lost completely.

“Lord, you don’t look like someone who plays this, but you’re so good at it!”

A little tipsy, Chun Xi slurred.

Everyone else had been sent away. Shen Qingyuan carried her inside, in a good mood, replying, “I was a top scholar at seventeen. Finger-guessing is nothing to me.”

“Oh right, I forgot how clever you are!”

She clapped her head and laughed.

Shen Qingyuan’s lips curved slightly, eyes fixed on her, hot and intense.

Chun Xi blushed under his gaze and covered his eyes. “Lord, don’t look at me like that. I’ll think you really want to kiss me.”

He didn’t move her hand and stopped. Slowly, deliberately, he said, “Madam, you’re not mistaken. I do want to kiss you.”