Shi Fengju had just returned to the study, his hands still full with the account book and other items, when Lan Xiang appeared.
"Young master, our Miss has been missing you all afternoon! It’s just that she was in a bad mood, she didn’t mean to make you angry! Miss is really pitiable. Young master, please go see her!"
If it had been before, hearing these words from Lan Xiang and thinking of Gu Fangzi’s pitiful background would have softened Shi Fengju’s heart, but today he only felt annoyance. He had seen too many pitiful people in his travels, and compared to them, Gu Fangzi was much luckier than the daughters of other wealthy families! How pitiable could she be?
"Is that so?" Shi Fengju replied indifferently: "Then you stay with her, I’m busy right now!"
Seeing that Shi Fengju did not outright refuse, Lan Xiang’s heart lifted, and she quickly added with a smile: "Yes, this slave will go back to accompany the Miss and persuade her! Later, could young master please join the Miss for dinner? Miss has been regretting all day how she treated you and kept mentioning wanting to apologize to you!"
"No need for apologies!" Shi Fengju said with a light smile: "Tell her to be more cautious in her words and actions in the future! I’m busy today, I’ll see her when I’m free! Now, you may leave!"
Lan Xiang dared not say more, and with a "Yes", she left.
Upon hearing Lan Xiang’s report, Gu Fangzi immediately felt dejected, "Busy? I didn’t know my cousin had become so busy! Go, keep an eye on him and see if he’s gone to Ningyuan!"
Lan Xiang, feeling wronged, looked at Gu Fangzi who stared back insistently, and left with her head drooped.
Indeed, as Gu Fangzi had predicted, Shi Fengju had indeed gone to Ningyuan.
"I knew it! I knew it!" Gu Fangzi paced back and forth, her lips trembling with anger.
Lan Xiang stood silently to the side, speechless. She thought Ningyuan was the residence of the young master and his wife, and it was normal for the young master to return to Ningyuan. Apparently, the Miss had completely lost her senses! Even this could anger her!
Lan Xiang sighed inwardly: If this angers her, who knows what the future holds! Now that she has entered this house as the concubine, can it still be the same as when she was just a cousin before? Why can’t she see the reality?
"Keep watching," Gu Fangzi suddenly stopped and said, causing Lan Xiang to almost faint.
"The young master usually returns to the study in the evening, inform me once he’s back!"
"Yes, Miss!" Lan Xiang’s heart eased, she had expected a death sentence but this was a minor relief.
As long as she was just secretly monitoring, it was manageable. If she had to nag in front of the young master, he might become angry and punish her!
Lan Xiang had just left the study when Shi Fengju returned to Ningyuan.
There, Sang Wan was sitting in front of a round window, sewing something. Her slender, pale neck and snow-white skin looked incredibly fragile under the dim light. From his viewpoint, her delicate and exquisite side profile and slightly upturned red lips looked exceptionally pitiable and adorable. She exuded a serene and elegant aura under the soft light.
Shi Fengju’s troubled heart suddenly calmed down, and the suffocating feeling in his chest cleared. The warm and peaceful, timeless tranquility spread slowly in his heart like melting snow in spring, bringing him warmth and longing. This was how a home should feel, right?
Perhaps because she had been looking down for too long, Sang Wan gently lifted her head and reached back to rub her neck, her eyes shining like gemstones, and upon seeing Shi Fengju standing there, she was momentarily startled before smiling and getting up to greet him: "Young master, you’re back!"
"Hmm!" Shi Fengju walked over with a smile: "What are you embroidering?" The three words "you’re back" pleased him a lot.
"I’m embroidering a headpiece for mother," Sang Wan smiled: "My skills aren’t very good, it’s been several days and it’s still not finished!"
Shi Fengju unconsciously picked up the wrist protector, a dark purple colored base embroidered symmetrically with chrysanthemum petals, with faint traced marks in the center likely meant for inlaying gemstones or jade. The satin fabric felt comfortable to touch, lined with soft cotton inside, very gentle on the skin.
"You are thoughtful, mother will love it!" Shi Fengju said with a smile as he put it down, but he couldn’t help feeling a slight bitterness. It seemed she had never thought of embroidering something for him!