Chapter 40: Missing Her Terribly

Seeing the small green-curtained sedan carried by two bearers inside the second gate, Shi Yuning felt her heart inexplicably flutter.

She had never seen Xie Zhaoran travel in such a simple—almost shabby—manner. Wherever Xie Zhaoran went, she was always surrounded by a throng of attendants, with servant women in droves and ornate carriages under Huagai canopies, intricately carved and festooned with dazzling decorations.

Shi Yuning waved her hand, sending her own servants and the sedan bearers off to rest. She would personally welcome today’s guest.

Once the servants had all left, Shi Yuning hurried over to the small green sedan. She lifted the curtain and leaned inside.

Xie Zhaoran had a smile playing at the corners of her mouth, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at her, setting Shi Yuning’s heart rippling.

They had parted only that morning—less than a full day ago—yet Shi Yuning felt as though a whole month had passed without seeing Xie Zhaoran.

She missed her so much. She hadn’t truly felt it before, but now that she laid eyes on her, all the longing buried in her heart bubbled up at once.

Xie Zhaoran arched a brow. Her beloved had lifted the sedan curtain and slipped inside without a word, simply staring at her like that.

She was just about to ask Shi Yuning what was wrong when, before the first syllable could escape her lips, a sudden warmth pressed against them.

Shi Yuning had squeezed her whole body into the cramped sedan, leaning forward to hook her arms around Xie Zhaoran’s neck and plant a passionate kiss on her lips.

Though Xie Zhaoran had no idea why Shi Yuning was being so abrupt, she simply couldn’t resist her beloved taking the initiative—no matter the reason. She reached out, cradled the back of Shi Yuning’s neck, and deepened the kiss.

Their lips and tongues intertwined, their minds growing intoxicated. Every so often, a soft, bone-melting moan would escape into the confines of the little sedan.

When the kiss finally broke, Xie Zhaoran was panting as she pulled Shi Yuning down to sit beside her, trying to quell the fire that had been stoked in her heart.

Shi Yuning felt utterly boneless, letting herself be tugged right into Xie Zhaoran’s side.

The sedan was terribly narrow—a seat meant for one person now had to accommodate two, forcing them to press tightly together.

Shi Yuning felt as though half her body was draped over Xie Zhaoran. With that, she simply nestled her head into the crook of Xie Zhaoran’s neck, her warm breath spilling across her skin.

It tickled, but Xie Zhaoran savored this intimate display of dependence. She shifted slightly to draw her beloved even closer and let out a soft chuckle.

“Why so bold this time? Not feeling shy anymore?”

Shi Yuning caught the teasing lilt in her voice and knew she was referring to what had happened at Tian Dame’s house. Of course she was shy—she had simply been unable to hold back.

She didn’t answer the question. Instead, she cleared her throat and voiced the doubt weighing on her mind. “Why are you here? Don’t you have important business to handle?”

Xie Zhaoran pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’m here to propose marriage. And that’s the most pressing business of all.”

Shi Yuning laughed, assuming it was a joke. She played along. “You have the nerve to show up at the door and propose just like that? Aren’t you afraid my mom will break your leg?”

“I’ve only got one good leg left. Surely Auntie wouldn’t be so heartless.” Xie Zhaoran had thought it through and decided to make the most of her current condition. Anyone who saw her like this would surely soften toward her.

She hoped Tu Chunhua would take pity on her injury. Xie Zhaoran wasn’t so naive as to expect agreement on her very first visit—she simply wanted a chance. From there, she could take things slowly.

“Or maybe wait a little longer. Actually, I was just about to talk to my mom about us.”

” Hm?” Xie Zhaoran’s brows shot up. “Talk about what?”

“That we want to be together,” said Shi Yuning.

Xie Zhaoran’s heart stuttered to a halt, then began pounding wildly, fiercely, and urgently.

Shi Yuning pressed on. “I’ve already told my dad. I was just about to tell Mom when you showed up.”

Xie Zhaoran’s heartbeat grew even more frantic. “Wait—you mean your dad, Uncle Shi… he already knows?”

Shi Yuning nodded. “He knows.”

Xie Zhaoran’s emotions surged like a tidal wave. She had planned to proceed cautiously, to build a good impression first, but Shi Yuning had beaten her to it.

She pulled Shi Yuning upright from her embrace and kissed her fiercely—then decided it wasn’t nearly enough. She kissed her tenderly, lingeringly, as if she could never get her fill.

Xie Zhaoran’s excitement made Shi Yuning blush furiously. Kissed into a daze in her arms, her mind went completely blank.

Xie Zhaoran wished she could meld Shi Yuning into her very bones. She hugged her tightly. “Ningning, you make me so happy.”

In their relationship, Xie Zhaoran had always seen herself as the bold, proactive one. Now she realized the truly brave one was her Ningning.

“Wonderful. Even if it costs me my other leg today, it’ll be worth it.”

Tu Chunhua noticed that all the dishes had been served, yet the guests still hadn’t entered the room. Surprised, she was about to send someone to check when she saw Shi Yuning supporting a young woman as they slowly made their way in from outside.

She recognized Xie Zhaoran, but Tu Chunhua could hardly reconcile the person before her with the Xie Zhaoran she knew.

No one had told her the injury was this severe.

That leg was bound with a splint—it looked broken.

“Oh dear, what happened? Ningning, why didn’t you say something sooner?” Tu Chunhua hurriedly instructed a servant to fetch a soft cushion. She helped Shi Yuning ease Xie Zhaoran into a chair.

Once Xie Zhaoran was seated, she immediately offered her thanks and formally greeted Tu Chunhua and Shi Minda.

Tu Chunhua responded with warm enthusiasm, while Shi Minda gave only a perfunctory acknowledgment.

“I was wondering why you two took so long to come in. So Miss Xie’s injury makes it hard for her to walk. Ningning, you should have spoken up—we could have prepared a shoulder sedan.”

Hearing her mother comment on how long they’d been gone made Shi Yuning think back to their kiss inside the sedan. She couldn’t help but blush; she had completely forgotten about the time.

Shi Minda, who had been scrutinizing the pair, immediately noticed Shi Yuning’s odd reaction. Her lips looked even more flushed and moist than before, her eyes red-rimmed. A dark suspicion formed in his mind.

The very thought of that possibility made his chest tighten uncomfortably. He clutched at it with one hand.

“What’s wrong?” Tu Chunhua asked, puzzled by his behavior.

Shi Minda shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

Xie Zhaoran glanced toward Shi Minda and met his gaze, which brimmed with scrutiny and displeasure.

She offered a polite, courteous smile, letting him look his fill.

Shi Minda eyed the clearly sharper-witted Xie Zhaoran and felt a growing unease. He worried that his daughter had been deceived. This woman was the former Crown Princess—why on earth would she suddenly take a liking to his girl?

He had read widely and knew the world held people with all sorts of peculiar tastes. Take the Pearl Princess from the previous dynasty, for instance—she had been fond of grinding mirrors and kept a house full of beautiful women.

But that was hardly the proper path. In the end, the Pearl Princess had borne children with her prince consort and lived happily ever after. She had dismissed all those beautiful women from the estate, including several who truly loved her. Unable to bear the heartbreak, they had taken their own lives outside the princess’s residence.

The more Shi Minda thought about it, the more hostile his gaze toward Xie Zhaoran became. He couldn’t let his foolish daughter be tricked.

Meanwhile, Tu Chunhua had settled Xie Zhaoran in her seat and was enthusiastically serving her food, urging her to eat more.

“I heard about what happened with Ningning. Thank you so much, Miss Xie. Without you, she might have been in real danger.” Tu Chunhua’s gratitude was utterly sincere.

Shi Minda snorted inwardly. He had been grateful to Xie Zhaoran at first, but now he suspected she had used that life-saving deed to win Ningning’s heart through deception.

“Ningning saved my life too. Without her, I wouldn’t have made it,” Xie Zhaoran said truthfully.

Tu Chunhua knew the situations weren’t the same, but she was still grateful.

Puzzled by the sudden visit, she asked directly, “Did you come on such short notice because there’s something you need, Miss Xie?”

She had been meaning to repay the debt of gratitude anyway.

Xie Zhaoran set down her chopsticks, her expression dimming. “To be honest, Auntie, I have nowhere else to go.”

Tu Chunhua paused mid-motion with her chopsticks, not understanding why Xie Zhaoran would say such a thing. Had something happened to the Xie family?

Shi Minda knew a little about it but had no intention of explaining.

Shi Yuning jumped in to help. “Mom, we have plenty of rooms. Why not let Zhaoran stay here with us?”

Tu Chunhua had no objection. “Of course that’s fine. Miss Xie can stay as long as she likes.”

Shi Yuning’s eyes lit up. “What about forever?”

Without a second thought, Tu Chunhua replied, “Sure, why not? She can stay as long as she wants.” Their marquis mansion had no shortage of empty rooms.

Xie Zhaoran smiled sincerely. “That’s exactly what I want—to stay forever.”

“Ah?” Tu Chunhua sensed something off in those words.

Struggling to her feet using the chair’s armrest, Xie Zhaoran said, “Auntie, the real reason I came today is to be honest with you about something—”

Before she could finish, Shi Minda suddenly spoke up. He had watched his foolish wife get drawn into their daughter’s trap and felt compelled to intervene.

“Eat first. The food’s getting cold.”

Tu Chunhua shot him a glare. What was wrong with him today? No sense of priorities at all. A savior like Xie Zhaoran came with a request—how could they not respond eagerly?

“If it’s cold, we can reheat it. Go ahead and tell us, Miss Xie.”

Shi Minda sighed. Fine, then. He couldn’t be blamed for not warning them. He silently bent his head to his meal.

Xie Zhaoran leaned forward and bowed deeply to Tu Chunhua, her tone solemn. “Auntie, I have fallen for Ningning. I want to spend my life with her. I hope you’ll give us your blessing.”

Clatter. Tu Chunhua’s chopsticks fell to the floor.

Shi Yuning hurriedly picked them up and set them back on the table.

Tu Chunhua’s face went stiff, her eyes bulging wide. She glanced at the now-dirty chopsticks, then at Shi Yuning, then Xie Zhaoran, and finally settled on Shi Minda.

“You knew about this?”

Shi Minda looked innocent. “Only about half a day longer than you.”

Tu Chunhua furrowed her brow tightly. “So I didn’t mishear? That’s really what she meant?”

Shi Minda nodded. “Yes.”

Xie Zhaoran’s eyes burned with resolve. “Auntie, I’m completely serious about Ningning.”

Shi Yuning looked equally urgent. “So am I, Mom. I want to be with Xie Zhaoran.”

Tu Chunhua snapped out of her shock. “Sit down, both of you. Sit and eat—the food’s getting cold.”

She picked up the chopsticks that had just fallen on the floor—without waiting for replacements—and began shoveling rice into her mouth. Shi Minda’s expression tightened.

Shi Yuning’s heart clenched too.

“Mom?” she called tentatively.

Tu Chunhua looked up from her bowl with a smile. “Don’t just sit there. Eat up. You haven’t had a proper meal in days, have you?” As she spoke, she picked up a chopstickful of green peppers—Shi Minda’s least favorite—and placed them in his bowl.

“Mom? Does that mean you agree?” Shi Yuning was utterly confused by her mother’s reaction.

At her words, the forced smile vanished from Tu Chunhua’s face. A flash of pain crossed her eyes.

“I don’t agree.”