TIPS – Chapter 47

“Hmph, then why would someone from their family hit you? What grudge do you have with them?” Shen Dongying asked, growing more skeptical of his son’s claim.

“This…” Shen Junhe thought for a moment. There was no real grudge, except for that letter… His face turned pale. Could the Shen family’s eldest branch have found out?

“What? Did you think of something?” Shen Dongying pressed.

“No… Father, I must have been mistaken. Maybe it wasn’t Uncle,” Shen Junhe said. If he insisted that it was Shen Dongming, it could end up backfiring on him. So, he changed his words, “Maybe it really was Sun Zheng?” Someone had to take the blame for what happened to him—who it was didn’t matter.

“Sun Zheng… Your grandfather and I will ask him another day,” Shen Dongying said, though he wasn’t convinced. Sun Zheng might be a powerless outcast, but he could still be troublesome. If he decided to fight the Shen family to the end, it would be an endless headache.

As night fell, the members of the Shen family’s main house gathered for dinner. Throughout the meal, Shen Dongming kept glancing at Shen Junxi. Even now, his son still hadn’t explained why he hit Shen Junhe.

Pei Hongxuan was perceptive. For someone like Shen Junxi to resort to violence, it must have been because of something he couldn’t tolerate. And it likely wasn’t something that happened to him personally, but rather to someone he deeply cared about. The answer was obvious.

But Shen Dongming couldn’t figure it out. He kept nagging, “Are you going to say it or not? Are you?”

Shen Junxi was afraid of his father. When he saw Song Jingwei finish eating and leave the table, he quickly followed him. Catching up, he smiled gently and signed, “Thank you for today.” Thank you for speaking up for me. Thank you for acknowledging this home.

“No need to thank me. I just hate people like that,” Song Jingwei replied, enjoying the cool early summer breeze in the courtyard. The air carried the scent of nature, the chirping of crickets filled his ears, and above them stretched a sky full of stars.

“Tomorrow will be another good day,” Shen Junxi signed, his smile wide and bright. “You always say you can’t understand what I’m saying, but you’re lying.” Every time, Song Jingwei claimed he couldn’t read his signs, yet he always responded naturally. Shen Junxi thought Song Jingwei was incredibly smart—it had only taken him two months to understand.

“I don’t understand,” Song Jingwei deflected, just as he always did.

“…” But Shen Junxi still smiled happily. Standing beside Song Jingwei, feeling the night breeze together, he found himself content. If only Song Jingwei could like him a little more, that would be even better.

“Don’t do something like this again,” Song Jingwei said. If he hadn’t been there today, how would Shen Junxi have handled things? His family members were the kind of people who didn’t even know how to defend themselves. Would they just let others trample all over them?

“Mm.” Shen Junxi signed, “As long as they behave, I won’t do it again.”

Song Jingwei was momentarily stunned. Right—if it weren’t for him, Shen Junxi wouldn’t have acted that way. So he had worried for nothing. Once he left the Shen family, Shen Junxi would have no reason to be so reckless anymore.

“Just be careful,” Song Jingwei said. Don’t let people take advantage of you so easily.

“Mm.” Shen Junxi smiled at him. “Are you worried about me, wife?”

“No,” Song Jingwei replied. “I care about your parents. You’re their only son. You’re not a child anymore—you need to uphold your family’s reputation.”

Shen Junxi nodded, but he wasn’t disappointed. He was still happy. If Song Jingwei cared about his parents, that meant he kept them in his heart. As for himself… given how awkward his “wife” was, it was only natural that he wouldn’t get the answer he wanted.

“How’s the Private School coming along?” Song Jingwei changed the subject. “Keep an eye out these next few days. Shen Dongying’s family won’t let this go so easily.”

“Mm.” Shen Junxi responded instinctively before signing, “Everything is going well. No unexpected issues. I’ll stay alert.” He couldn’t speak, but whenever he communicated with Song Jingwei, he always made a sound in response. He couldn’t talk to Song Jingwei like a normal person, but he didn’t want him to feel like he was talking to himself.

“Oh, that’s good,” Song Jingwei said lazily, then fell silent.

After a while, Shen Junxi glanced at the time—it was about time for a bath. He poked Song Jingwei’s shoulder and asked, “Bath?”

“Mm.”

As usual, Song Jingwei went inside to get his clothes while Shen Junxi went to the kitchen to heat the water. Everything unfolded as naturally as always.

At night, the two of them lay on the same bed, breathing in each other’s presence. The awkwardness and hesitation from before had faded, replaced by a quiet warmth and a small sense of anticipation.

Every night, as Shen Junxi lay beside Song Jingwei, he would think: Did my wife like me a little more today? Will my wife touch me tonight? It’s so nice to wake up beside my wife in the morning. And the day after tomorrow, and the day after that—I want every morning to be like this, forever. Is that too much to ask?

No, it won’t happen. He answered himself—everything would be fine.

“You’re pressing on my hair.” When Song Jingwei turned over, he felt a slight pain on his scalp. It could only mean that Shen Junxi was lying on his hair.

“Mm…” Shen Junxi quickly propped himself up and carefully untangled the strands of hair that didn’t belong to him from under his pillow, then just as carefully placed them back onto Song Jingwei’s pillow… His wife’s long hair was so soft and beautiful.

With hopeful dreams for the future, they had a peaceful night’s sleep.

As Shen Junxi had expected, the next day was bright and sunny.

A few days later, Zhang Benqing’s reply finally arrived. Song Jingwei took the letter, read it, and smiled. “Looks like we can hire more workers for the road construction.” Based on the progress, the house was also nearing completion. Soon, everything would be finished.

He went to find Shen Junxi and asked, “How’s the preparation for the school going?”

Shen Junxi nodded and signed in response, “Everything is going smoothly.” Tomorrow was already August 1st—time passed quickly.

The school opening went without a hitch. There were no unexpected incidents, and no one from the Shen family’s main branch came to cause trouble. The conflict and arguments that had taken place at the courtyard gate a few days ago seemed to have passed just like that.

At this moment, Liangshan Academy had enrolled more than thirty students. They varied in age, and most of them didn’t even recognize a single character. Because of that, there was no need to hire another teacher for the time being—Pei Hongxuan alone was enough.

“We earned over seventy taels of silver today,” Shen Junxi signed excitedly while doing the bookkeeping in the study he had set up in the academy. When he saw Song Jingwei walk in, his face lit up with a smile. This seventy taels of silver was the first income for the Shen family’s main branch in a long time.

Song Jingwei scoffed, “Seventy taels? Have you calculated how much you’ve already spent?” To him, seventy taels wasn’t much.

Shen Junxi did a rough calculation—adding up the costs of tables, chairs, ink, paper, and other miscellaneous expenses, they had already spent over a hundred taels. Embarrassed, he grinned and signed, “You have to spend money to make money. It’ll only get better from here.” The bulk of the expenses had gone toward furniture, and those wouldn’t need to be purchased again in the future.

“Forget it. Even with two taels per student, you’re only breaking even, just covering daily expenses.” Song Jingwei wasn’t too concerned. Opening the academy had never been about making money, so he didn’t dwell on it.

“Mm.” Shen Junxi knew that Song Jingwei didn’t care about small sums like this, but he still enjoyed collecting the money.

“You go ahead and count, I’m going out for a walk.” Song Jingwei chuckled before heading outside.

“Mm.” Shen Junxi watched his wife leave, his gaze full of warmth. He still had a little more bookkeeping to do—once he finished, he would accompany his wife on a stroll.

“Young Master Song, there’s a stranger outside. Not sure what he’s here for,” a worker from the courtyard informed Song Jingwei when he passed by.

“Where?” Song Jingwei followed the worker’s pointed direction and saw a young man wandering around, inspecting the place. “I’ll go take a look.”

When the man saw Song Jingwei approaching, he smiled with practiced ease, a look of sophistication in his eyes.

“You’re the owner here?” he asked.

“Yes. How can I help you?” Song Jingwei replied. He didn’t like the way the man was scrutinizing him—it was unsettling.

“Oh, no particular reason,” the man said, his smile shifting into something more genuine, less perfunctory. “I heard you opened an academy here?” He peered around inquisitively.

“What, do you have a child who wants to enroll?” Song Jingwei looked him up and down. He didn’t seem like someone who lacked money.

“Not at all. I was just curious. I heard you only charge two taels per year—don’t you think that’s too little?” The man’s eyes roamed over the spacious courtyard. Just the structure alone must have cost a fortune, not to mention the exquisite renovations—most people wouldn’t be able to afford it.

“It’s neither too much nor too little. It’s just right.” Since the man was just making idle conversation, Song Jingwei didn’t bother maintaining a formal demeanor and continued on his way.

“Hey, why are you leaving? Stay and chat with me,” the man called after him.

“What’s there to talk about?” Song Jingwei replied. The man was a complete stranger, and he had no habit of chatting with strangers.

“Let’s talk about you. Is your family really wealthy?” The man’s eyes seemed to light up at the mention of money.

“…” Song Jingwei kept a straight face. He needed to find a way to slip away.

“You’re married, right? How’s your husband treating you?” The man sized him up, then suddenly smirked suggestively. “He’s just a young boy, hasn’t had much experience, has he?”

Song Jingwei’s smile was thin and sharp. “And how would you know?” In reality, he was already carrying a child. Heh.

“Because I’ve been through it. Once you’ve had experience, even the way you walk changes—you gain a certain charm. But you…” He clicked his tongue and pointed at Song Jingwei. “You’ve got the refinement, but you lack the allure.”

“So I should be like you? Swaying my hips and batting my lashes?” Song Jingwei shot him a disdainful glance, his contempt unmistakable. This guy was clearly married off as well—there was no point in engaging with him.