Looking at the book cover, Lin Shao felt strange. Before he could open it, a hand suddenly reached out and snatched the book from his hand.
Lin Shao was shocked. He turned around and saw Bruiser opening the book with a smile. “Sister, how can you be so biased…” He froze when he saw the contents of the book.
Bruiser looked at Lin Shao and Shen Yijia with a red face. When the two of them were about to look at it, he closed the book and hid it behind his back. “Sister, where did you get this book?”
Although Shen Yijia was older than him, Bruiser felt that apart from being a little violent, she didn’t know as much as he did. It was impossible for her to have such a book.
Shen Yijia narrowed her eyes. “I took it from my husband’s study. I specially picked this for Lin Shao. If you like it, there are many more. I’ll bring you there later…”
The sound of violent coughing interrupted Shen Yijia. Bruiser widened his eyes and looked at Song Jingchen, who had come over at some point.
He didn’t expect her brother-in-law to have such a hobby, and there were so many of them…
Bruiser felt that his worldview had shattered into pieces. Song Jingchen’s image in his heart instantly collapsed.
“Hubby, why are you here?” Shen Yijia walked over and asked.
Song Jingchen looked at her helplessly and reached out to Bruiser. “Give it to me.”
Bruiser placed the book in his hand with a red face and suddenly straightened his neck. “Brother-in-law. You- you can’t lead my sister astray.”
How could he be so indecent? He even dared put these books out in the open.
The corners of Song Jingchen’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t possibly say that these books were bought by his bad sister, right? Since someone had to take the blame, what else could he say?
Among the four people present, Song Jingchen and Bruiser were all sensible people. Lin Shao could vaguely sense that Shen Yijia was completely confused. Wasn’t it just a book about fragrance?
What she didn’t know was that while incense was meant to be savored, the book was referring to the fragrance of a woman.
In the end, Song Jingchen hid the three books somewhere. Shen Yijia never found them again, until…
Xiao Ruoshui arrived at dusk on the fourth day. Shen Yijia saw that she seemed to be in a good state, but there was something wrong with her. When she met Shen Yijia’s curious gaze, she did not say anything.
After dinner at the Song family’s house, she stammered, “Auntie, can I stay here today?”
“What are you talking about? I would be worried if you want to head back home at this time of the day. Just stay here for a night.” Madam Li had watched her grow up, so she naturally wouldn’t refuse. As she spoke, she got up and tidied up a house for her.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Ruoshui turned her gaze to Shen Yijia again. “Jiajia, can you stay with me tonight?”
Shen Yijia looked at her strangely and guessed that she might have something to say. She nodded. “Okay.”
Song Jingchen’s face darkened when he saw the two of them leave hand in hand.
Unfortunately, Xiao Ruoshui seemed to be out of it today and did not notice his resentment.
The two of them returned to their room. Shen Yijia felt that it was time for Xiao Ruoshui to speak, but Xiao Ruoshui was dawdling.
It was only when she was about to fall asleep that she suddenly heard Xiao Ruoshui say, “Jiajia, what do you think of Brother Yuan?”
Shen Yijia’s eyelids opened. “Have you decided to marry him?”
“No, no.” Xiao Ruoshui blushed and denied it, looking shy.
Shen Yijia thought, “I don’t believe you.”
Xiao Ruoshui felt embarrassed by her gaze. She pulled up the blanket and covered her face as she said in a muffled voice, “I only just found out. It turns out that Brother Yuan has never married anyone because he holds me in his heart. I only treated him as an elder brother, and at that time, I…”
Shen Yijia understood what she meant. It was because her beautiful husband was so outstanding that Xiao Ruoshui only saw him and ignored Fan Mingyuan, who had been protecting her.
“He told you that?” Shen Yijia was quite curious about this. Fan Mingyuan had been hiding it for so many years. Why did he suddenly reveal his feelings?
Once she said this, it didn’t seem so difficult to continue. Xiao Ruoshui stuck her head out and looked at Shen Yijia. “No, I discovered it myself.”
She had originally wanted to say goodbye to Fan Mingyuan today. Her father’s letter must have been delayed on the way here, and she didn’t know when the news of the maiden selection would be announced. She had to get married before that. She didn’t have much time left.
Since neither choice was what she wanted, she had to choose a relatively acceptable choice.
Unexpectedly, Fan Mingyuan was not in the study. She asked the servant and found out that he had gone out. It was late, so Xiao Ruoshui went into his study to wait.
In the end, she accidentally saw her own portrait. In the past, she had secretly gotten someone to draw Song Jingchen’s portrait and place it in her room. How could she not understand the meaning behind this?
She couldn’t tell what she was feeling at that time. She was shocked, so she came to Xiagou Village.
When Shen Yijia heard the entire process, she clicked her tongue. Even the heavens were trying to matchmake these two. She turned around and faced Xiao Ruoshui. “Then what are you thinking? Aren’t you worried about the man your father chose for you? You don’t even know what their personality is like. At least you know Fan Mingyuan.”
Xiao Ruoshui bit her lower lip. “But I’ve always treated him as an elder brother. Now, I feel strange.”
Shen Yijia rolled her eyes. “Then why don’t you just return to the capital? As long as you get married, it won’t be easy for you to see Fan Mingyuan again. You don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
Xiao Ruoshui choked. She was originally prepared to do that, but for some reason, she couldn’t help but remember how good Fan Mingyuan was to her.
Without hearing Xiao Ruoshui speak again, Shen Yijia fell asleep. In the middle of the night, she suddenly woke up.
Looking at the unfamiliar room, it took her a while to realize where she was. She glanced at Xiao Ruoshui, who was sleeping soundly. She pursed her lips and decisively got up to carry her coat out of the door.
Shen Yijia thought that Song Jingchen had already rested, but she didn’t expect to see that the oil lamp in the room was still burning. From the window, she could still see Song Jingchen’s blurry figure sitting by the desk.
She was delighted and quickened her pace to push the door open. Song Jingchen didn’t even look up.
Shen Yijia reminded him, “Hubby, I’m back.”
Song Jingchen nodded. “Yes.”
He still wouldn’t look at her, as if something in the book had caught his eye.
Shen Yijia rubbed her nose and felt inexplicably guilty. When she promised Xiao Ruoshui that night, she seemed to have forgotten to ask for his opinion.
Her husband seemed a little angry. What should she do?
“Are you waiting for me?” Shen Yijia asked carefully. Then, she complained in a heavy tone, “You have no idea. I’m not used to sleeping without you by my side. Moreover, Xiao Ruoshui even grinds her teeth when she snores. I won’t sleep with her again.”
She immediately shook her head. “No, no. I’ll only sleep with my husband in the future.”
Only then did Song Jingchen close the book and look at Shen Yijia. He slowly said, “You should rest.”
Shen Yijia was speechless.