A series of chuckles rose and fell. Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju also burst into laughter. Looking at their flushed faces, I nodded with satisfaction. It seemed they had finally seen through the surface. I hoped they could be grounded and practical, and stop wasting their time.
I clapped my hands in fear and said, "Let's adjourn the meeting."
The maids dispersed, and I returned to my room, picking up a cup to moisten my throat. I eagerly awaited Lady Qi's arrival to confront me after hearing of this matter.
Just as I finished my cup of tea and was about to have another, Lady Qi stood smiling at the door.
I quickly put down my cup, went forward, and bowed. The news certainly spread very fast.
Madam Qi stepped into the room and said with a smile, "Xiao Mo, I was worried that you wouldn't be able to manage Guiyun Manor in the future because of your simple and honest nature. But after your little meeting today, I have to look at you in a new light. You are indeed a hidden talent of the Xiaoyao Sect, and you have inherited the style of Shi Jing."
I was stunned for a moment, and my face started to burn. This attitude was different from what I had imagined.
"Clear-headed on important matters, and not petty on trivial ones. Decisive and swift in handling affairs—that's exactly the demeanor of the future matriarch of the Jiang family! Jiang Chen certainly has good judgment!"
I felt increasingly ashamed and embarrassed. Why not accuse me of being jealous and petty? Why not accuse me of using Jiang Chen as an example to prove that form is emptiness?
"It's rare for Mother to praise me like this, and she even did it behind my back." Jiang Chen walked in leisurely, it seems that the news in this mansion is very well-informed.
He walked up to me with a smile, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Xiao Mo, how do you know I snore at night and have eye boogers in the morning? Did you peek at me while I was sleeping? I don't remember ever sleeping with me!"
My face turned as red as a boiled shrimp.
The direct consequence of this meeting was that Jiang Chen insisted on sharing a room with me that night to prove that he didn't snore much at night and didn't have sleepy eyes in the morning.
I resolutely refused, and he resolutely refused to leave.
So, we remained deadlocked until Jiang's mother heard about it and came to uphold justice.
“Mother, this concerns my reputation. I would rather die than be dishonored. I must prove myself.”
I was sweating bullets at his extortion: "You don't need to prove anything, I believe you are. Or, I'll hold another small meeting with the maids to clear your name."
Lady Qi cleared her throat, her face fair and impartial, and said to me earnestly, "It doesn't matter if the maids misunderstand him, but Xiao Mo, you misunderstood him, which is why he is sad. I think this matter does need to be proven."
I am speechless.
Lady Qi added, "It would be good for you to prove it. You'll be sleeping together every night from now on. If he snores, you'll have a hard time falling asleep."
We slept together every night... Hearing this, my face immediately turned hot.
Lady Qi, you never stop talking about your profession. How can I bear this?
That night, Jiang Chen lay on my bed with a carefree smile, while I lay on a pear wood chair.
He tilted his head to one side and said with a smile, "Xiao Mo, why are you so far away from me? If we lie together, you can observe me more closely."
I glared at him, realizing that I was still far from my master's level of meeting skills. He never had a meeting where someone could use it against him. How could I have gotten off to such a bad start, getting extorted by him on my very first attempt?
The next day, I woke up groggily and suddenly found myself lying in bed, with Jiang Chen lying on my right!
He wore a pink undershirt, the collar half-open, embroidered with a few alluring peach blossoms in full bloom. His skin at the collar was smooth as honey, and a small gold lock was faintly visible. It was the first time I had ever seen a man wear pink, a color that could easily look tacky and vulgar if not worn carefully. Yet he managed to wear it so gracefully and beautifully; it was truly amazing and admirable.
At this moment, I am like an octopus, clinging firmly to his coral reef, or a little titmouse pawing at his peach blossom.
My mind went blank. Did I sleepwalk to the bed in the middle of the night, or did he move me to the bed in the middle of the night?
Regardless of how you got into bed, getting out of bed is the most important thing.
I quickly regained my senses and swiftly somersaulted over him. I was so startled that I didn't land properly and even twisted my ankle.
He reached out and held my arm, grinning, "Xiao Mo, I've been looking at you for a while now. You look beautiful even when you're asleep."
I couldn't help but glance at him. In the morning light, he looked refreshed and dashing. His eyes were completely clear, without a trace of sleep, but light stubble had grown out, adding a touch of rugged handsomeness to his appearance. He was indescribably good-looking, the kind of good-looking that makes your heart flutter and your eyelids twitch. Ah, there are so few men in this manor to begin with, and he's so outstanding. Those maids are in their prime; seeing him like that every day, it's no wonder they're easily infatuated. I started to understand them a little.
"Last night, how...how did I get into bed?"
“I saw that you were sleeping very uncomfortable in the chair, so I used acupressure to lift you to the bed, and then I untied you, so you didn’t notice.”
"And then what?"
"Then, you held me tightly and slept through the night."
My face was burning hot as I stared at him blankly. He was being pulled and climbed by me, and he actually remained chaste all night. Was it my problem, or his?
During breakfast, Madam Qi kept smiling at me and meaningfully told me to eat more. She also deliberately picked out some blood-nourishing and qi-boosting red dates and goji berries and placed them on the plate in front of me.
Jiang Chen lowered his head, his chopsticks trembling with laughter.
Shao Hua and Shao Rong looked at him, puzzled. "Cousin, what's wrong?"
Jiang Chen coughed and said seriously, "I was too tired last night."
My face felt hot, so I buried my head in my food.
After returning to Lanze Garden after dinner, I confronted Jiang Chen, asking, "What nonsense were you spouting at the dinner table?"
Jiang Chen looked completely innocent: "I didn't say anything. I was really tired last night and didn't sleep well at all. If everyone could be a Liu Xiahui, they wouldn't be remembered in history. You tormented me all night, didn't you know that?"
I didn't expect him to turn the tables on me. I was both ashamed and angry: "I didn't torture you. Who told you to move me to the bed?"
He looked at me, and after a long while sighed, "Yes! I brought this trouble upon myself, yet I find it sweet."
His gaze was unusually ambiguous and intimate, like a lake in spring, its banks slippery with moss, and I almost slipped and drowned.
I hurriedly looked away. I only half understood what he was saying, but I knew that the part I didn't understand must be impure.
The silence in the room was unsettling.
I looked at the threshold and said in a low voice, "Since you didn't sleep well, go to sleep."
He whispered "Okay," walked to the door, then turned back and smiled: "Are you worried about me?"
Faced with his gentle face and expectant gaze, I found it hard to deny it. He smiled at me, then turned and left.