Chapter 84: Slightly Drunk (3)

When Qi Ying asked about her trip, Shen Xiling thought for a moment and replied, “There were indeed some difficulties, but I can handle them myself.”

After a pause, she glanced at him and gave a radiant smile, saying, “If I can’t manage, I’ll come to you for help, Master.”

Another small, coy gesture.

As she grew older, she seemed to become even more fond of acting coquettishly than when she was younger. She also became more attached to him, especially after not seeing him for a while. Whenever they reunited, she would act particularly clingy.

Though Qi Ying didn’t say it aloud, he secretly enjoyed this side of her—he knew she only acted this way in front of him. In front of others, she always maintained proper decorum.

Qi Ying’s usually aloof expression softened as his phoenix-like eyes swept over the young woman. He calmly said, “Mm, if you need anything, come to me.”

Though he said this, deep down, he knew she wouldn’t easily seek his help. She was a very contradictory person—despite being so dependent on him and enjoying her playful banter with him, whenever she encountered real difficulties, she always bore them alone. Over the past three years, she had never once approached him with business troubles, even when he inquired directly. She consistently assured him that everything was fine.

Hearing him say this, Shen Xiling felt warmth bloom within her.

She wouldn’t run to him at the first sign of trouble, but just knowing he was there made her feel secure, as though she always had someone to rely on.

She softly responded, “Mm, I understand.”

By now, the steam from the steamer had dissipated, revealing two plump crabs nestled together, their vibrant colors exquisite. Shen Xiling turned around and produced a set of tea utensils from somewhere, pouring two cups of hot ginger tea. She handed one cup to Qi Ying, and then they began eating the crabs—one each.

Autumn was the best season for eating crabs, and Suzhou’s lake crabs were renowned across the land for their delicious taste. The two crabs Shen Xiling had steamed were females, prized for their rich roe.

As she struggled to pry open the shell, she spoke to Qi Ying, “I originally thought of serving some osmanthus wine—it seems more fitting for autumn. But considering you likely drank quite a bit at the banquet today, I opted for ginger tea instead. This tea...”

Before she could finish, a perfectly peeled crab shell appeared before her, brimming with golden, oily roe.

Shen Xiling froze, following the elegant fingers holding the shell up to his face. He was focused on dismantling the crab legs, casually remarking, “I’ll peel yours; you eat this.”

She hesitated, not taking the shell immediately. He looked up at her, raising an eyebrow, and asked, “What? Is something wrong?”

She blinked and said, “No, I can do it myself...”

Qi Ying glanced at the crab she had been struggling to open for ages, smiled faintly, and didn’t argue further. Still, he handed her the already peeled shell and gestured toward the unpeeled one in her hand, saying, “Give it to me.”

It was so matter-of-fact.

Shen Xiling felt a tingling sweetness welling up inside her. Without putting up any pretense or refusal, she softly voiced an “Oh” and exchanged the crabs with him.

Eating crabs was a time-consuming affair. To get to the snow-white meat, one not only had to remove the shell but also split the crab in half and painstakingly dismantle the legs piece by piece—a tedious process requiring both patience and effort.

Shen Xiling had initially planned to eat together with Qi Ying, thinking that the longer they took, the more time they’d have to talk. However, much to her surprise, instead of prolonging their conversation, she ended up monopolizing his attention as he constantly cared for her. Worried that she might cut herself or struggle due to her lack of strength, he meticulously peeled the crab for her, breaking the legs into small sections and handing them over. He barely ate any himself.

On one hand, Shen Xiling felt guilty for troubling him so much. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but feel sweetly cherished by his attentiveness. Moreover, she cleverly used these moments to inch closer to him. With just a slight turn of her head, her nose would brush against his clothes.

How she longed to lean on him.

Shen Xiling, you must restrain yourself.

She admonished herself silently and sat up straighter.

Still, the faint scent of spikenard wafting from his clothes made her feel slightly intoxicated, even without drinking. The moonlight bathed the surroundings, and though the lotus flowers in the pond had passed their prime, their fragrance remained pleasant. The intermittent sounds of him peeling the crab created a perfect autumn night.

Her heart fluttered all the more.

At this moment, she heard him say, “Are you free in a few days? I’ll take you out to enjoy the autumn scenery.”

The mention of this instantly piqued Shen Xiling’s interest. She tilted her head up to look at him. Seeing her bright eyes, Qi Ying found her utterly endearing. If not for his hands being occupied, he would have instinctively reached out to ruffle her hair.

He heard her happily respond, “Really? — Great! When?”

Her delighted expression was irresistibly charming. Those beautiful, expressive eyes of hers always brightened the mood of those around her. Qi Ying couldn’t help but smile faintly. After setting the crab aside, he thought for a moment and said, “In a few days, during my day off.”

It was no wonder Shen Xiling was surprised. He rarely took her out, and upon reflection, he had almost never done so. After all, he was perpetually busy, and so was she. They seldom had overlapping free time.

She didn’t know why he suddenly decided to take her out, but the thought filled her with joy. Calculating the days, she realized his day off was just two days away, which made her even happier. However, she then heard him add nonchalantly, “I’ll have to check your riding skills when the time comes.”

At this, Shen Xiling’s face fell.

Over the years, while she devoted most of her energy to her business, she continued studying under him.

The six arts of a gentleman—rituals, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics—were part of her education. While she managed well enough in the other areas, she had no talent for archery or charioteering. Yet Qi Ying insisted on her practicing horseback riding diligently, as he hoped it would strengthen her frail constitution.

Though Shen Xiling understood his good intentions, she found riding horses rather daunting. Despite three years of practice, she hadn’t improved much. She was terrified every time she mounted a horse, managing only to ride slowly. Even a gentle trot felt like it was shortening her lifespan.

Seeing her dismayed expression, a flicker of amusement crossed Qi Ying’s eyes. Though he had no intention of letting her off the hook, he still offered some comfort, saying, “Don’t worry. I’ll stay with you the entire time.”

However, such reassurance from Lord Qi did little to console the young girl. She inwardly grumbled, thinking, That’s not staying with me—that’s just watching me. Does he think I don’t notice? Far from feeling reassured, her expression remained troubled.

Qi Ying shook his head and chuckled, choosing not to press further. Instead, he handed her another section of crab leg.

But she had already started worrying about the upcoming horse ride, feeling too anxious to eat anymore. She shook her head and said, “I’m done.”

The young girl appeared to be sulking. Qi Ying found it amusing and didn’t push her. By now, she had unknowingly consumed an entire crab thanks to his attentive feeding. Guessing she was probably full, he didn’t insist she continue eating.

He wiped his hands with a nearby towel and, remembering something, called out to her, “Wenwen.”

Shen Xiling turned her head toward him at the sound of her name, though her brows remained furrowed, making him smile.

He suppressed the urge to ruffle her hair again and instead said, “Your coming-of-age ceremony is in February next year. Mother mentioned it to me today. I wanted to ask what you’d like to do about it.”

At this, Shen Xiling paused, murmuring softly, “Coming-of-age ceremony...”

Seeing no joy in her eyes, only a hint of worry, Qi Ying assumed she was concerned about the event being improperly handled. He reassured her, “Don’t worry. Whatever you want, we’ll do it your way.”

Shen Xiling looked up at him, her eyes still clouded with worry, tinged with a faint sadness. This unsettled Qi Ying, leaving him puzzled about her emotions.

He heard her respond softly, “Mm, alright.”

Having spent so much time together, they had grown intimately familiar with each other. Their words, actions, and even glances conveyed volumes. Qi Ying, nearly a decade older than Shen Xiling and seasoned by years in the political arena, saw her as an open book. Her every thought was clear to him, down to the smallest detail.

Yet despite sensing her unease, he couldn’t pinpoint the source of her feelings. Over the past three years, she had changed significantly, becoming more confident and outgoing, likely due to managing her business. But some traits were innate, like her sensitivity, which persisted even now.

Uncertain how to proceed, he noticed her melancholy expression and felt a surge of tenderness. After a moment’s thought, he gently asked, “What’s wrong? Why do you seem unhappy?”

At his question, she tilted her face up, turning slightly to gaze at him with those expressive eyes, her emotions complex.

After a moment of silence, she finally asked, “Can I... not have the coming-of-age ceremony?”

Qi Ying was taken aback by her resistance to the idea, finding it strange. He asked, “Why?”

She pursed her lips, remaining silent for a long while before lowering her head and muttering, “... I just don’t want to have it.”

This was a mixture of petulance and stubbornness, causing Qi Ying to chuckle softly. He assumed she was simply throwing a small tantrum.

She occasionally acted this way. He knew she enjoyed being coddled, and he didn’t mind indulging her. Smiling gently, he said, “The coming-of-age ceremony is one of the most important rites for a woman. It can’t be skipped. If you dislike grandeur, we can keep it simple, but it must happen.”

His voice was warm and patient. Shen Xiling understood the significance of the ceremony for a woman.

It was just... she remembered his words from three years ago.

“When she grows up, she’ll naturally leave.”

Shen Xiling had never told Qi Ying that she had overheard his conversation with Princess Six about this three years ago. The matter had long since passed, and bringing it up now would seem trivial. Yet, though she hadn’t mentioned it, she had always remembered those words, feeling a lingering fear over the past three years.

She didn’t know what he considered “growing up” in her case.

Even when she managed the fabric shop, she worried that doing too well might make him think she was ready to stand on her own and that he would then send her away. During that time, she deliberately made a few minor mistakes and occasionally complained to him about the challenges of running a business, subtly hinting that she was far from grown-up and still unable to take care of herself.

But now, her coming-of-age ceremony was approaching.

Once a woman underwent the ceremony, she was considered an adult. No matter how much she resisted, the date loomed ever closer. When that day arrived... would he let her go?

Author’s Note: A fatherly boyfriend, ideal for home and family.

P.S. The spoiler Wei revealed last time will appear in the next update.