Chapter 399: Chapter 408: Who Are You to Tell Me What to Do
When the two arrived at the restaurant, Zheng Qianyu sent someone to inquire about something first; while waiting for the news, he requested a private room for dining.
The dishes were served quickly.
Shen Hua liked fish, so there was also a signature sweet and sour fish on the round table. However, the girl didn’t touch it much, complaining about the bones.
She just stared at the dish, seemingly lost in thought.
"What are you thinking about?" Cheng Qianyu asked.
She slowly said, "In the past, whenever I ate fish, there was always someone to pick out the bones for me."
"Last time you ate fish with me, you were grabbing it eagerly. I didn’t see Yicui picking out the bones for you. Every time you go out, you bring back some issue; honestly, it’s up to you whether you eat it or not."
"It wasn’t Yicui."
The girl put down her chopsticks and looked out the window at the bustling crowd.
Clearly, she had spent over ten years in Fengzhou, but just a few months in Shengjing had easily become the place she missed the most.
At this moment, the girl deeply missed Cui Yun.
She half-closed her eyes.
"I once got a fish bone stuck in my throat."
At that time, she was still Xue Tuan.
Nestled in Cui Yun’s arms, her head resting on his padded hands, her eyes sparkling as she watched Cui Yun fishing.
The fish in Yongchang Marquis Mansion were particularly plump.
The cook could also make a fine fish soup.
Soon, it lay in an exquisite jade bowl, its tiny tongue licking the soup. Its furry tail wagging happily.
Soon, its entire face was buried in it. After finishing a bowl of soup, it still craved more. It patted Cui Yun’s hand and when the man looked down, it held up the empty bowl again.
—Meow.
I want more.
Cui Yun, in a lazy tone: "You do know how to eat."
"Do you have any idea how much you’ve gained this month?"
Xue Tuan stared at him, clearly annoyed.
Cui Yun picked it up and held it level with himself. He scrutinized it carefully, feeling its weight, completely forgetting that he was the one who had fed it enough to become so plump.
"Don’t be too lazy, don’t just nestle all day."
"Go run a few laps outside the yard."
—Meow!
Mind your own business!
It was so upset, covering the young man’s ears.
—Meow!
I’m not listening, I’m not listening, I’m not listening.
A hint of amusement flashed in Cui Yun’s eyes. He chuckled softly, placing its paws on his own soft ears.
"You’re so silly."
Xue Tuan: ???
It was bewildered for a few seconds.
What right do you have to tell me what to do!
Fortunately, Cui Yun didn’t tease her further; this time he served her more soup and added some fish meat into it.
But even he had never thought that a cat could get a bone lodged in.
It lay on the ground, whimpering snively with beautiful eyes brimming with clear tears.
Cui Yun’s face changed drastically, and he called for a doctor.
The doctor rushed over hastily and then found out he was treating a cat.
The bone was deeply lodged, making it difficult to remove, so he simply advised eating more vinegar.
"You really are something." Cui Yun, after a long silence, opened its moist mouth and fed it vinegar spoonful by spoonful.
It was unwilling to drink, but the discomfort of not being able to breathe properly made it sob cooperatively.
Since then, whenever they ate fish, Cui Yun always picked out the bones for it.
Although typically an impatient person, he always managed to do meticulous tasks.
Back then, Shen Hua was so self-assured.
If Cui Yun picked the bones, it was Cui Yun’s honor to serve her.
Later on, when Cui Yun came to the East Courtyard to dine, after Shen Hua’s identity was revealed, whenever there was fish on the table, she would send it to Cui Yun, giving him a haughty look.
It had become a habit.
His temper was good, having lectured Xue Tuan a few times in earlier years, but now in front of the girl, he was all labor without complaint.
Shen Hua, having gained an advantage, still acted coy.
She flirtatiously blinked at him.
—Accepting others’ favors, how could I be so embarrassed?
Cui Yun just beckoned her with a crooked finger.
As soon as she approached, he held her by the back of her neck, and soon his lips were biting and grinding against hers, the numbing sensation making Shen Hua subconsciously hold her breath.
But he rudely probed deeper bit by bit, his actions growing from gentle to forceful.
Not until her lips were swollen and she couldn’t help but moan softly did he pull away, supporting the girl who seemed to almost lose her balance.
—Miss Shen, do you think I’m serving you for nothing?
She always had to repay him.
Cheng Qianyu heard her choking on her words, suppressing the urge to tease her, but after waiting a long while, Shen Hua did not speak again.
She laughed in exasperation.
"That’s it?"
Shen Hua still stared out the window, speaking distantly.
"Forget it, I don’t want to hurt you."
"You’ve not had an easy life all these years."
"...You’ve already hurt me, thanks."
Zheng Qianyu took a deep breath. He wanted to retaliate with a few words, but for a moment didn’t know what would be appropriate to say, and could only deflate, following Shen Hua’s gaze outwards.
Suddenly he paused.
"Isn’t that your Second Aunt?"
Her eyes lit up, immediately joyful.
Shen Zhushi was always pretentiously refined, relying on her father’s status as the Prefect to consider herself superior.
Not to say Shen Hua detested her, she herself also disliked her.
"Do you still remember the time I went to look for you, and the people from the second branch were also there?"
Zheng Qianyu scoffed, "I merely looked at her legitimate son a bit more out of unfamiliarity, and this woman directly scolded me for being shameless and coveting her son."
How old was she then? How could it not be an injustice?
She was furious at the time.
Luckily, Shen Hua immediately sneered at her side.
—"Second Aunt? One should have some self-awareness. Zheng Qianyu might not be clever, but he’s not blind. My brother was sitting right there, she ignores him and cares about a plain cousin? You come to my house, insult the guest I invited, thinking I’m dead?"
Even so, it was enough for Zheng Qianyu to remember for a lifetime.
"I remember."
Shen Hua picked up the tea cup, took a light sip. The fragrance lingered on her lips and teeth.
"Her son is the reincarnation of Wenquxing, aiming to be the top scorer, pampered excessively. A fine son raised more delicately than a girl."
The tone of these words was calm, but they were laced with sarcasm.
Speaking, Shen Hua scrutinized Shen Zhushi downstairs with a careful gaze.
"Jewelry in season, clothes also the most fashionable. Her whole dress up is indeed luxurious."
You should know, the second branch is the poorest, right now it couldn’t be that they are rising high.
"She clearly hasn’t heard the news from outside yet, look at how proud she is."
Soon Shen Zhushi entered a gold shop. Shen Hua leisurely stood up: "I will meet her."
The girl’s steps were swift. She quickly left the restaurant and dashed to the gold shop across the street.
At this moment, Shen Zhushi was being flattered by several Madams in the center, visibly impatient yet maintaining a bright smile.
"Mrs. Shen, having you as a mother-in-law, the bride is truly fortunate. You haven’t even entered the door yet, and you’re here specifically to prepare jewelry for her."
Shen Zhushi smiled graciously: "It’s only right. We are all one family now, I am looking forward to her having a good life with my eldest son."
While speaking, she instructed the shopkeeper.
"Bring out the most expensive jewelry, let me have a look."
She now returned to the Shen family, and what she had in her hands was silver.
"Oh, Second Aunt?"
Shen Hua entered, lifting her eyelids slightly.
Shen Zhushi frowned slightly, unwilling to engage with her rudeness.
"You still have the leisure to wander outside?"
"What do you mean?"
Shen Hua: "It seems you still don’t know."
"Then I’m not sure if I should say it."
"Then don’t say it!"
"No, my nature is really too bad, just want to infuriate you."
The girl’s voice was soft and tender, wicked to the core.
"Your husband and my stepmother did it eight times last night, you didn’t know, did you?"
(Go to Xiao Xiang Academy for updates)