So, You’re the Henpecked One? 24p1

Chapter 24 p1

Meanwhile, Lin Zhao was completely oblivious. She happily followed Chu Xihuan to the gate and saw the horse-drawn carriage parked outside.

The coachman got down from the carriage, bowed to Chu Xihuan, and said, “The madam asked me to send the young miss back.”

Chu Xihuan nodded and got into the carriage with Lin Zhao. She saw that the carriage was already filled with many things, clearly homecoming gifts for her to take back.

Seeing this, Chu Xihuan raised an eyebrow, wondering if her mother’s heart had softened a little. Otherwise, why would she have prepared so many things for her to take to the Lin residence?

Lin Zhao’s eyes widened at the sight of the things. She cautiously glanced at Chu Xihuan’s expression and said, “Are your mother and the others not angry with you anymore?”

She actually didn’t want Chu Xihuan to have a falling out with her family because of her.

In her eyes, family was very important and precious.

At her words, Chu Xihuan looked at her with a teasing expression. “You’ve switched to calling her ‘Mother’ so naturally?”

She had called her “Mother” to her face so smoothly.

Lin Zhao’s cheeks grew warm, but she still looked at Chu Xihuan with an innocent expression. “We’re already married. Isn’t your mother my mother?”

Chu Xihuan snorted and said no more, turning to lift a corner of the curtain and look outside.

The homecoming visit today had been much more peaceful than she had expected. At this thought, she looked at Lin Zhao and saw her curiously touching and looking at everything in the carriage. She couldn’t help but find it a little amusing.

Perhaps it was because everything Lin Zhao had shown was still within a range that the Chu family found acceptable that there hadn’t been any ugly scenes today.

“Earlier, you seemed to be having a good time chatting with that gardener?” Chu Xihuan asked, as if by chance.

Hearing her mention the gardener, Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up happily. “Mm-hm, she’s amazing! She even taught me how to increase the survival rate of transplanted potted plants!”

Chu Xihuan was silent for a moment, looking at Lin Zhao with a mix of anger and amusement.

Did this person have no awareness that she was married? It was one thing to chat so happily, but “gardener sister”?

It wasn’t that she couldn’t call her that, but for someone like Lin Zhao to call someone she had just met so intimately, Chu Xihuan still felt a sense of awkwardness.

She didn’t speak. Lin Zhao, who had been happy, gradually sensed that something was wrong. She cautiously observed Chu Xihuan’s reaction, a little unsure of what she meant.

“C-can’t I have a good time chatting with her?” Lin Zhao asked apprehensively. She just wanted to learn more so that she would have more options when looking for a job in the future.

Although she could help with loading and unloading at the ferry landing now, she knew that such a job was not a long-term solution. Not to mention the physical toll it would take, for someone of Chu Xihuan’s status, it probably didn’t look very good either.

Chu Xihuan’s expression was faint. “It’s not that.”

After saying those three words, she fell silent again. Lin Zhao felt as if she were being left hanging, with no sense of security.

Her brow furrowed, and she looked at Chu Xihuan with a slightly aggrieved expression. “You know I’m not that smart. Can’t you just say what you mean?”

If she had to guess, what if she guessed wrong?

Chu Xihuan was speechless. Was that something she could say?

She looked at Lin Zhao and found it amusing. Why would someone say they weren’t smart?

Sighing softly in her heart, Chu Xihuan pressed her lips together. Finally, under Lin Zhao’s aggrieved gaze, she said, “Don’t get so close to anyone in the future.”

She said it very clearly. Even if she had no feelings for Lin Zhao now, since they were married, she was hers. And since she was hers, Chu Xihuan didn’t like her person being coveted by others or casting their eyes on others.

Lin Zhao’s mouth opened slightly. Finally, she scratched her head in confusion. “I wasn’t very close to the gardener sister, was I?”

There was at least a two-step distance between her and the gardener sister! They had never even been close to each other!

Chu Xihuan was speechless. Her expression, how did it seem like she was saying she had been wronged?

And she was still calling her “gardener sister”?

Chu Xihuan felt a little stifled. She had already said it so clearly, and this fool still didn’t understand.

“I mean, don’t be so enthusiastic and call everyone ‘sister’ the moment you meet them!” Chu Xihuan said, almost through gritted teeth.

This time, she had said it clearly enough, simply enough, that even someone without a brain could follow her instructions, right?

Lin Zhao paused, blinked, and finally understood what Chu Xihuan meant by “too close.”

Because she had called her “gardener sister,” she thought she was being too enthusiastic with her?

It was a perfectly normal thing, but why did she mind?

Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up, and she looked at Chu Xihuan with a burning gaze.

Did that mean Xihuan was starting to care about her!

Just the thought of this possibility made Lin Zhao’s heart flutter. Under Chu Xihuan’s gaze, she nodded repeatedly and promised, “I’ll definitely remember. I’ll never casually call anyone ‘sister’ again!”

Seeing her good attitude, Chu Xihuan’s anger finally subsided a little, and her expression softened. “It’s your own choice to do this.”

She had only made the request. Whether Lin Zhao followed it or not was her own business.

Chu Xihuan thought to herself.

Lin Zhao blinked again, her mind trying to figure out what she meant. She only half-understood, but she instinctively knew to nod and say that it was what she wanted to do.

Although she didn’t understand why she wanted to do what Chu Xihuan hadn’t said.

Chu Xihuan nodded in satisfaction and ruffled her head. Seeing her so obedient, she thought for a moment and asked, “Where did you buy the sweet soup yesterday?”

A stick and a carrot. Chu Xihuan was very good at this.

“Hmm? You want to eat it again?” Lin Zhao didn’t think much of it and said directly, “At the head of Rising Step Bridge.”

Chu Xihuan hummed softly, leaned forward, and lifted the curtain slightly. “Go to Rising Step Bridge and stop at the head of the bridge,” she said to the coachman outside.

“Yes, miss,” the coachman replied.

Chu Xihuan lowered the curtain and turned to see Lin Zhao’s gaze still glued to her. She paused for a moment and said, “Do you like my face very much?”

Apart from that, Chu Xihuan couldn’t think of any other reason why she seemed to like her so much.

“Huh?” Lin Zhao’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected Chu Xihuan to ask such a direct question. Her cheeks grew hot, and she was too embarrassed to look at her anymore.

“Y-yes, I guess…”

Chu Xihuan had indeed stunned her at first sight. She was the most beautiful person she had ever seen.

However, her answer this time did not satisfy Chu Xihuan. Her brow furrowed slightly. “Yes” was “yes.” What did she mean by “I guess”?

Was she so reluctant?

From the corner of her eye, Lin Zhao noticed the displeasure on Chu Xihuan’s face and grew even more apprehensive. Did she not like that answer?

Does she think I’m a very shallow person, that I only like her for her looks?

But didn’t she ask if I liked her face very much?

Seeing Lin Zhao’s cautious expression, as if she were afraid of angering her, Chu Xihuan’s brow furrowed, and a hint of gloom appeared in her eyes.

Why does it make me seem like a tigress? I haven’t been fierce with her, have I?

“Forget it. What’s the point of asking such meaningless questions.” Chu Xihuan finally decided to give her brain a rest and not think about these messy things.

It was meaningless.

Lin Zhao opened her mouth to say something, but she felt that her words were failing her and she didn’t know what to say. In the end, she silently closed her mouth, but she still kept stealing glances at her throughout the journey.

“Whoa—”

The moving carriage gradually slowed down and finally stopped.

Chu Xihuan knew they had arrived at the head of Rising Step Bridge. Just as she was about to get up and lift the curtain, she saw Lin Zhao move faster than her. She quickly jumped out of the carriage and then turned to offer Chu Xihuan her hand.

Chu Xihuan lowered her gaze to the hand Lin Zhao was offering. It was not as fair and slender as those of young ladies from prominent families. Perhaps because she was thin, her fingers looked even more bony.

Her eyes half-closed, Chu Xihuan placed her hand in hers and could feel a thin layer of calluses.

This was not a pair of pampered hands.

Lin Zhao’s fingers tightened, and her other hand supported her waist, lifting her down steadily.

Chu Xihuan was speechless.

She was a little stunned, clearly not expecting Lin Zhao to do such a thing.

She glanced at the person from the corner of her eye and saw her smiling faintly, as if she were proud of her performance.

At the same time, she also noticed the coachman’s slightly stunned expression, and her face grew warm.

When the coachman returned, her mother and the others would definitely find out about this.

“Xihuan, I bought it there.” Lin Zhao was still immersed in her little pride of trying to show Chu Xihuan that she was also reliable and didn’t notice the subtle change in her. She pointed to a stall and said excitedly.

Chu Xihuan took a few deep breaths to calm her slightly embarrassed emotions and walked in the direction Lin Zhao was pointing. It was just a simple stall with a few low tables around it. It looked shabby, and there were few types of sweet soup to choose from.

Chu Xihuan turned to look at Lin Zhao. “Which kind of sweet soup do you usually like?”

“Huh?” Lin Zhao was stunned. “Are you buying it for me?”

“Naturally.” Since they were already here, Chu Xihuan couldn’t possibly withhold her reward just because of her previous unannounced actions.

“No, no!” Lin Zhao immediately waved her hands in refusal, her head shaking like a rattle-drum.

Seeing her spoil the mood like this, Chu Xihuan was a little displeased. “What, you don’t want to eat it?”

From the look on this person’s face when she talked about sweet soup yesterday, it didn’t seem like that.

“It’s too expensive. Just buy your own,” Lin Zhao said with an embarrassed expression, reluctant to spend the money.

The simplest bowl of sweet soup was ten wen. Having carried goods, Lin Zhao already knew how hard it was to earn money.

Chu Xihuan frowned. Seeing her so reluctant to even eat a bowl of sweet soup, she couldn’t help but wonder if what she had said yesterday about eating at the stall was true.

“No nonsense. Since I’m already here, if I say I’m buying it, I’m buying it.”

Lin Zhao felt her heart ache and was about to refuse again, but Chu Xihuan suddenly stared at her with a strange gaze.

“Remember, from now on, whatever I give you, you must accept. Whatever I tell you to eat, you must eat without another word of nonsense,” Chu Xihuan said strangely.

Lin Zhao opened her mouth, but under Chu Xihuan’s gaze, she didn’t dare to say another word.

Chu Xihuan nodded in satisfaction, turned, and bought a bowl of the same sweet soup that Lin Zhao had bought for her yesterday, telling her to carry it and eat it when they got home.

Lin Zhao carried the sweet soup, her heart aching, but she also felt a sweetness before she had even eaten it. She quickly followed beside Chu Xihuan, offering her hand for support as she got into the carriage, and then jumped in herself.

The carriage started to move toward the Lin residence again. In the carriage, Lin Zhao glanced at Chu Xihuan, then at the sweet soup, and finally, her eyes widened in realization. “Why did you only buy one? Aren’t you eating?”

Chu Xihuan glanced at her. She was already so heartbroken over one bowl. If she had bought two, she would have probably fainted on the spot.

“No, I just had some yesterday. You shouldn’t eat such cold things too often,” Chu Xihuan said.

Lin Zhao was speechless and finally nodded in agreement.

When they arrived at the Lin residence, Lin Zhao handed the sweet soup to Chu Xihuan to hold and started to unload the things from the carriage with the coachman, not letting Chu Xihuan help.

Seeing this, Chu Xihuan didn’t insist. She took the things to the study and also started to organize the things Lin Zhao would be using later.

After Lin Zhao finished unloading, she tidied up a little, not daring to move things around too much. She put the things away, washed her hands, and went into the study.

“You can eat first,” Chu Xihuan said lightly.

Lin Zhao was stunned for a moment, looking at her arranging the ink, brush, and paper. “Okay,” she said blankly.

As she ate, she watched, thinking that Chu Xihuan looked so beautiful when she was arranging the ink and brush. She didn’t have the fierce aura she sometimes had. At this moment, she was so… um, so calm?

Lin Zhao felt a little embarrassed, unable to think of a more fitting word.

“When you’re done eating, come and learn to write,” Chu Xihuan said. She hadn’t forgotten her decision to make Lin Zhao write those idioms several times.

A mouthful of sweet soup got stuck in Lin Zhao’s throat, and she almost choked. She looked at Chu Xihuan with teary, red-rimmed eyes. She hadn’t expected her to be so quick. As soon as they got home, she had already arranged what they would do next.

Seeing Lin Zhao’s pitiful expression, Chu Xihuan smiled slightly. “You have to study hard. This paper and ink are very expensive.”

The paper and ink she used in the past were naturally of good quality. Now, using them for a beginner like Lin Zhao was a waste, too extravagant.

Lin Zhao felt that the sweet soup in her mouth no longer tasted good. “Then, then you can just get me cheaper paper and ink,” she said in a small voice.

It was a waste to use such expensive things on her, and she also felt bad about it.

“It’s getting late today. We’ll buy some tomorrow,” Chu Xihuan said calmly.

Lin Zhao pouted and looked down at the sweet soup in her bowl, eating it one spoonful at a time.

“Hurry up. Don’t procrastinate. It’s useless.” Chu Xihuan’s strange voice sounded above Lin Zhao’s head, and Lin Zhao’s body stiffened.

What’s with Xihuan! Does she have X-ray vision? Why can she always see through what I’m thinking!

“What, do you want me to feed you?” Chu Xihuan asked again, seeing that she wasn’t moving.

Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up, and she looked at Chu Xihuan expectantly. “Can I?”

“Hehe,” Chu Xihuan sneered. “I’ll feed your head.”

“Huh?” Lin Zhao didn’t react immediately.

“I’ll pour it on your head,” Chu Xihuan kindly explained.

Lin Zhao was speechless.

She glanced at Chu Xihuan with a resentful expression, then lowered her head and hummed as she quickened her pace of drinking the sweet soup, complaining in her heart that this person was really fierce.

She doesn’t comfort me at all!

After finishing the sweet soup, Chu Xihuan had her come to her side. She first wrote the four characters for “dé cùn jìn chǐ,” then pointed to each character and told Lin Zhao which one it was, what its shape was, and how to remember it.

Lin Zhao listened, trying hard to remember. Then, Chu Xihuan taught her the correct way to hold a brush. Seeing her use too much force and leave a large ink blot on the paper, Chu Xihuan fell silent for a moment.

This person had quite a bit of strength, but she still didn’t know how to control it very well.

Lin Zhao’s expression was embarrassed. Looking at the ink blot she had made, she was so heartbroken she could hardly breathe.

How much money is this wasting!

“Like this.” Chu Xihuan sighed softly in her heart, came up behind Lin Zhao, and held her hand that was holding the brush. “Pay attention to the way I move the brush and the amount of force I use. Try to control it within this range in the future,” she said warmly.

Chu Xihuan’s sudden closeness made Lin Zhao’s eyes widen. Feeling herself completely enveloped by Chu Xihuan’s presence, an indescribable feeling made her cheeks burn. Her toes, wrapped in her shoes, curled up, gripping the ground tightly.

So… so close.

So close that Lin Zhao could even feel Chu Xihuan’s breath on the back of her ear.

What should I do? It’s so tingly.

This distance and posture made it impossible for Lin Zhao to concentrate on how Chu Xihuan was guiding her to write.

“Concentrate.”

Her forehead was suddenly tapped.