Chapter 658: Extra Chapter – Childhood Sweethearts (Two)
“Sister Ma, you must be joking. If you’re willing to teach at the academy, I’d be delighted.” Zhuang Qingsui tugged and shook Ma Qiuling’s arm. “I am going to secure you both at the academy now, in case you have a change of heart later.”
“No need, even if you were to expel us, we would probably refuse to leave.” Liu Ruxue chuckled.
Both of them were from well-off families with progressive parents who believed in the importance of educating girls. Being highly intelligent, they were groomed dedicatedly and were privileged enough to attend a women’s academy.
The more they learned, the more they recognized the importance of education for women.
However, the entry requirements for the academy they attended were too high for ordinary families. When they heard that Zhuang Qingsui was organizing Ningde Women’s Academy, they hurried over, eager to contribute to this cause.
Upon learning the purpose of Ma Qiuling and Liu Ruxue’s visit, Zhuang Qingsui was even more delighted and quickly took them to arrange for accommodations.
Seeing this, Chu Jinzhou started to prepare writing materials and organized the furniture delivered by the carpenter.
After finding a room and allowing them to settle down, Zhuang Qingsui then led Ma Qiuling and Liu Ruxue to check if there’s anything else to prepare.
Seeing that Chu Jinzhou had everything set up, Zhuang Qingsui thanked him gratefully, “Brother Jinzhou, you’ve worked hard, take a break.”
She reached for a handkerchief to wipe off the sweat from Chu Jinzhou’s forehead.
However, she noticed that Ma Qiuling and Liu Ruxue were snickering, she hesitated, laughed awkwardly, and gave the handkerchief to Chu Jinzhou to wipe his sweat himself.
Chu Jinzhou, who was busy setting up the ink stones, didn’t notice Zhuang Qingsui’s movements. He simply accepted the handkerchief, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and continued his work.
An employee from Cheng’s herbal shop, as per Zhuang Qingning’s instructions, delivered mosquito repellent herbs. Zhuang Qingsui led Ma Qiuling and Liu Ruxue to retrieve them, intending to distribute them in the students’ dormitories.
“Qingsui, you two…” As Ma Qiuling set out the mosquito repellent herbs, she couldn’t contain her curiosity and leaned in, “What’s going on between you two now?”
Zhuang Qingsui paused briefly, and then lowered her head, hiding her expression from Ma Qiuling and Liu Ruxue. “What do you mean, Sister Ma?”
“Oh, come on, it’s just us three here, there’s no need to play dumb.” Ma Qiuling abruptly sat down with Zhuang Qingsui, “You are definitely not as clueless as you pretend.”
“Indeed.” Liu Ruxue chimed in, “Ever since you started at the academy, he has visited you, picked you up during holidays, and even when the Lord of Ninghe County was not around, Chu Jinzhou never failed to come.”
“We have noticed that Chu Jinzhou’s treatment of you is genuinely affectionate.”
“Brother Jinzhou treats me like his sister, nothing more. Please don’t misinterpret it.” Zhuang Qingsui blushed slightly as she spoke.
“Whether it is a sisterly love, anyone with discerning eyes can tell.” Ma Qiuling said, “I would like to ask if Chu Jinzhou has shown any intentions of proposing.”
At the mention of this matter, Zhuang Qingsui herself was taken aback.
To think of it, Chu Jinzhou was indeed at a marriageable age, yet there had never been rumors of his intention to marry.
“My brother-in-law also remained unmarried for a long time until he met my sister. The Chu family appears to be like this; it’s nothing unusual. As for Brother Jinzhou and I, we have been like siblings since childhood and never thought about anything else.”
Zhuang Qingsui laughed.
“They say, ‘childhood sweetheart’, what is necessary is the affinity of growing up together…”
As Ma Qiuling was about to continue, but Liu Ruxue noticed Zhuang Qingsui’s indifferent response, pulled at the sleeve of Ma Qiuling, “However you look at it, one cannot rush these things. As time goes by, she will be able to understand her own feelings.”
Seeing Liu Ruxue’s comment, Ma Qiuling agreed, “That’s true.”
“There’s no rush, the two of you have plenty of time to ponder this. ”
“Yes, Sisters, you are absolutely right.” Zhuang Qingsui tilted her head and chuckled. “But now, if we don’t hurry up, we won’t finish our job and we might not have time for lunch.”
Realizing that they had spent so much time gossiping, Liu Ruxue and Ma Qiuling looked at each other, laughed, and hastily started to distribute the mosquito repellent herbs again.
The moonlight was cool as water in the evening
Chu Jinzhou was sitting in the courtyard. He poured a cup of wine, hesitated for a moment and then drank it all.
The fine wine went down smoothly, strong yet carrying an exquisite aroma.
Chu Jinzhou squinted his eyes and took another drink.
“I’ve never seen you drinking alone.”
At some point, Chu Jinnian had walked over and sat down beside him, pouring himself a cup. “Looking at you like this, do you have something on your mind?”
Chu Jinzhou smiled and instead of answering the question, he asked, “Why aren’t you accompanying your wife at this hour?”
“Siyu and Zimo wanted your sister-in-law to tell them stories, and they said I was in the way, so they kicked me out.” Chu Jinnian shrugged helplessly. “I was thinking about taking a walk in the garden and picking a few flowers for your sister-in-law. But seeing the light in your courtyard, I came over to take a look.”
Chu Jinzhou chuckled and lamented, “The deep love between my brother and sister-in-law is truly enviable.”
Chu Jinnian also chuckled, although there was a trace of teasing in his smile. “The fact that you’re saying this means I guessed right. You’re troubled by matters of the heart.”
“Go on, which lady’s captured my little brother’s heart and has him acting like this?”
Feeling embarrassed being caught with such thoughts, Chu Jinzhou quickly lowered his head, “What are you saying, brother…”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, then I won’t ask.” Chu Jinnian set his empty cup down on the stone table and stood up, patting Chu Jinzhou’s shoulder. “But I must say this: if there’s an opportunity, try your utmost to grasp it. She might be waiting for you to make the first move.”
“If you hesitate too much, you risk letting someone else get a head start and win her heart. By then it would truly be a case of regretting too late.”
With that, Chu Jinnian walked away in great strides.
Left behind, Chu Jinzhou lowered his head in thought for a long time.
Could she be waiting for his initiative?
Chu Jinzhou lifted his head, looked up at the twinkling stars in the sky.