Chapter 105: Unwilling to Let Go (3)

Shen Xiling looked at him, her expression still tinged with confusion. She murmured softly, “…In a couple of months?”

He nodded slightly, his expression softening just a bit more as he said, “When you come of age, I will definitely return to see you.”

Shen Xiling gazed up at him, her heart inexplicably swelling with a mix of joy and sorrow. The ache in her nose grew stronger, the urge to cry pressing against her resolve.

But she absolutely refused to cry.

She suppressed the tears, forcing a faint smile onto her face, as if she were somewhat happy. Looking at him, she said, “Mm, alright—I’ll wait for you.”

I can see that you don’t seem to have any intention of returning right now.

But it’s okay. I can wait.

As long as… you promise me that you will return someday.

Shen Xiling lowered her head, hesitating for a moment before asking again, “So… in two months, will you be back?”

Qi Ying was silent for a while before nodding.

Shen Xiling nodded along with him, then thought for a moment, biting her lip as if uncertain. Finally, she asked, “…Did I do something wrong?”

Is it because I did something wrong, and you’re upset with me? Is that why things are like this now?

Is it because I’ve been focusing too much on business and not studying or practicing riding enough? Or is it something else?

I can fix it all… Can’t you stop being angry?

Or at least, can’t you stop being angry for so long?

She was so quiet, not uttering a single unnecessary word. But he knew her so well—he could read everything she wanted to say from the way she looked at him.

Qi Ying’s complexion suddenly turned pale, and his hand hanging by his side trembled faintly.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment before finally reaching out with some reluctance to gently smooth her hair. He said, “No, don’t overthink it. I’ll return soon.”

Shen Xiling looked at him, but her heart still felt empty.

Clearly, he was smoothing her hair just as he always had. His palm was as warm and dry as ever, his tone gentle and calm. Yet she knew something had changed.

It was as if he had suddenly grown distant.

But she couldn’t say anything more, lest she appear whiny or overly sentimental. Besides, a small part of her clung to hope, thinking perhaps she was just being overly sensitive and had misunderstood him. Maybe he treated her no differently than before.

She consoled herself over and over again, nodding as she looked at him and said, “…Alright.”

Alright… I believe you.

Outside the carriage, Shui Pei and Liu Zi stood far away, careful not to overhear anything they shouldn’t.

Liu Zi noticed Shui Pei nervously stealing glances toward the carriage and couldn’t help but chuckle quietly. Lowering his voice, he leaned closer to Shui Pei and teased, “What are you looking at, Sister Shui Pei? Aren’t you afraid of getting eye strain?”

Liu Zi was slow-witted and didn’t notice anything amiss between their young mistress and master. He assumed the two, having been apart for so long, naturally wanted some privacy, and that they, as servants, should step aside. Shui Pei, however, was far more perceptive than Liu Zi. She had no interest in joking around. Her mind was preoccupied with the image of Master Qi’s emotionless face as he entered the carriage earlier, her worry growing stronger.

Not long after, the carriage curtain lifted, and Master Qi stepped out.

Shui Pei and Liu Zi quickly approached to greet him, but his expression remained distant. He waved his hand to dismiss their formalities, then glanced at Shui Pei specifically, saying, “Your young mistress has been working hard. In the future, don’t let her exhaust herself over such trivial matters.”

Upon hearing this, Shui Pei felt a jolt in her heart.

Was Master implying that she shouldn’t let Miss Shen come to look for him again in the future?

Shui Pei was filled with apprehension, unsure whether Master was reprimanding her. She quickly lowered her head and replied timidly, “…Yes.”

Master said nothing more. When she looked up again, he was already walking away, and she realized her back was damp with cold sweat.

Beside her, Liu Zi was still oblivious, leaning over to ask, “Sister Shui Pei, what did Master mean just now? Why did he look so stern…”

Shui Pei ignored him, snapping back to attention and hurrying to the carriage. Just as she was about to peek inside, she heard her young mistress’s voice drift faintly through the curtain: “Sister Shui Pei.”

Hearing her mistress call, Shui Pei quickly responded, then heard her say, “Let’s go home. Please sit outside for a while—I’d like to be alone.”

Her tone was soft and calm, seemingly no different from usual, not betraying any sense of grievance. Still, it was unusual for her to want to be left alone. Though Shui Pei was worried, she didn’t dare oppose her mistress’s wishes. She simply replied, “…Alright, we’ll head back now.”

Leaving the back alley of the Privy Council, the streets grew lively with noise. Children leaving school chased each other and laughed, vendors shouted their wares, and everywhere was bustling with activity.

Only now, inside the carriage, did Shen Xiling dare to let out a small sob.

She hadn’t wanted to cry. First, it made her feel weak and immature. Second, she feared worrying Shui Pei and Liu Zi.

She desperately tried to convince herself—He’s just been very busy lately. He doesn’t mean to neglect or distance himself from me. But waves of sadness and fear kept surging forth, impossible to suppress.

She had grown up. She was no longer the lonely, helpless girl she had been three years ago. She could now shoulder responsibilities, support many people’s livelihoods, and compete fiercely in the world of commerce.

Yet, in front of him, all her growth seemed to vanish instantly. The calm rationality he had taught her dissolved into nothingness. She felt powerless and vulnerable, just as she had when she first knelt in the forgotten room of Fengheyuan, pleading with him.

It was as if she had regressed into that weak, helpless child once more.

She cried, carefully muffling her sobs with her hands. Though faint, the broken sounds of her weeping could still be heard. Unsure if the street noise was enough to mask her cries, she dared not wail openly, only allowing herself to whimper softly. Loneliness and sorrow enveloped her entirely.

Her crying turned into hiccups.

Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the carriage: “Is that Sister Wenwen inside?”

Shen Xiling froze upon hearing the voice. After a moment, she recognized it as Qi Ning, the third young master of the Qi family. She also noticed Liu Zi stopping the carriage and heard Shui Pei exchanging greetings with the third young master.

Annoyed, she wondered how she had run into someone she knew at such an inopportune time. Quickly wiping away her tears, she cleared her throat softly and called out from inside the carriage, “Is that Brother San?”

Sure enough, it was Qi Ning outside.

He had been aimlessly wandering the streets today when he spotted a carriage that resembled one from Fengheyuan. Upon closer inspection, he recognized the servant sitting outside as Shui Pei, the senior maid who attended Wenwen.

This discovery delighted him immensely.

Since their conversation on New Year’s Eve, Qi Ning had sensed his second brother’s attitude softening, leading him to believe that his marriage to Wenwen was halfway secured. Running into her now felt like fate intervening—a sign that they were destined to be together!

Qi Ning was thrilled. If he could marry such a beautiful woman as Wenwen, all his years of frustration over his lack of scholarly achievements would be worth it. With Wenwen by his side, adding fragrance to his life, what more could he ask for?

Though overjoyed, Qi Ning maintained his composure. Approaching the carriage window, he politely said, “It’s me. I happened to be out for a stroll and ran into you—it’s quite a coincidence. Where are you headed, Sister Wenwen?”

After a brief pause, her melodious voice drifted out from the carriage window: “Brother San has such refined tastes—today I was out attending to business, and now I’m heading back.”

Her voice was enchantingly clear, especially when she called him “Brother San.” Even celestial maidens couldn’t match her dulcet tones, sending Qi Ning’s heart fluttering. However, upon closer listening, he detected a slight hoarseness in her voice, faint but noticeable.

Frowning with concern, Qi Ning asked, “Have you caught a chill recently? It’s still cold—be sure to bundle up.”

There was silence from inside the carriage for a while. Qi Ning, feeling uneasy, called out to her again. Finally, her voice replied, “Thank you for your concern, Brother San. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Hearing her call him “Brother San” again sent a thrill through Qi Ning, nearly melting his bones. He was overwhelmed with longing to see her, unable to resist asking, “If you’re not in a hurry to return, why not join me for tea at the teahouse ahead? We haven’t seen each other in so long—it would be nice to catch up.”

Shui Pei, hearing the third young master’s words, felt uneasy.

First, her young mistress was now grown and unmarried—it would be improper for her to meet privately with a man. Second, though she hadn’t heard clearly, she had faintly picked up the sound of sobs from inside the carriage earlier. She worried that her young mistress had just been crying and wasn’t in a state to see anyone yet.

Shui Pei, ever considerate, stepped forward and politely addressed Qi Ning: “Young Master Qi, your kindness is appreciated, but my young mistress has some matters to attend to later. I’m afraid we must decline your kind invitation this time.”

The excuse was transparent, and Qi Ning understood its meaning immediately.

He had already realized the impropriety of his request the moment the words left his mouth. Now, seeing Shui Pei offer him a graceful exit, he naturally accepted it. He reasoned there was no need to rush—once they were married, they would have plenty of time to spend together.

Smiling, he said, “Oh, in that case, let’s leave it for another day.”

Pausing briefly, he added, “Speaking of which, isn’t your coming-of-age ceremony coming up soon? We can meet then—it’s the same difference.”

After he spoke, a hesitant voice came from inside the carriage: “My coming-of-age ceremony… will Brother San attend?”

“Of course,” Qi Ning replied quickly, raising an eyebrow in mild surprise. “Hasn’t Second Brother mentioned it to you? Mother will personally oversee your ceremony, and we’ll all be there to celebrate and share a drink with you.”

Once again, silence fell from within the carriage. Qi Ning realized that Wenwen was unaware of the arrangements for her ceremony. He continued speaking, elaborating further: “Second Brother has always doted on you, so your ceremony won’t be handled carelessly. Rest assured—Mother is kind and thoughtful, and she adores girls. She’ll ensure your ceremony is splendid and won’t let you feel neglected.”

Qi Ning spoke at length, but there was no response from Wenwen. He assumed she might be tired or perhaps found it inconvenient to speak amidst the bustling streets. Feeling considerate, he suppressed his desire to see her and instead said, “Are you tired, Sister? Forgive me for being so delighted to see you that I’ve delayed you. Perhaps you should return home now—we’ll meet again on the day of your ceremony.”

Finally, Wenwen responded, her voice soft and gentle. She first murmured a faint “Yes,” then added, “Let’s save our talk for another day, Brother San.”

Qi Ning acknowledged her reply, and the two parted ways. As he watched the carriage slowly disappear into the distance, his heart remained sweet with anticipation.

Such a beautiful Wenwen… Perhaps, after her coming-of-age ceremony, she would belong to him.