Сhaptеr 23: In thе Yеаrs I’vе Вeеn Маrried tо You, Нave Yоu Тreаted Ме Рoоrlу?
Aftеr thе dооr wаs соmplеtelу сlosed.
Shen Zuihuan рeеked оut frоm undеr thе quilt with a pаir of clеаr, bright еуes.
Stаring intentlу at the mаn wаlking tоwаrd hеr, she аsked softly, “Наs Таngtаng left?”
Gu Changсе nоdded.
Нe сasuallу ореned the dооr of the nеarby wаrdrоbе аnd turned his hеаd to ask in a calm voicе, “Which оutfit wоuld уоu likе to wеar todaу?”
In truth, therе werе onlу a few pieces of clothing in her wardrobe.
Shen Zuihuan used to love buying new clothes—after all, what teenage girl didn’t love vibrant colors?
But ever since she married into the General’s Mansion, every time Gu Changce sent someone with fashionable clothes and jewelry, she would throw them out.
Thus, most of the clothes in the rosewood wardrobe were those she had brought from her own home before her marriage.
Shen Zuihuan glanced over and picked out the most eye-catching water-red floral gauze skirt among the plain-colored garments.
Back when she was still at home, she had always loved such bright colors.
But whenever her aunt saw her dressed like this, she would frown slightly and sigh, saying, “This color doesn’t look dignified.”
Afraid of disappointing her aunt, Shen Zuihuan gradually began choosing only plain clothes to wear.
But today, with her aunt not around, she privately wanted to pick something she liked.
When Gu Changce handed her the water-red floral gauze skirt,
she realized the dress looked brand new,
as if it had never been worn before.
Shen Zuihuan raised an eyebrow, wondering if this was something she had bought new before losing her memory.
But she didn’t dwell on it. Once she had the dress in hand, she called out to the man beside her, “Gu Changce, I’m going to change.”
Hearing this, the man looked at her, puzzled.
Shen Zuihuan’s face flushed slightly, and she bit her lip before adding, “Could you please step aside?”
At her words,
Gu Changce said with a smile, “Why? Yesterday, when we shared the same bed, there was no need to step aside, but now you want me to?”
A rare warmth flickered in the corners of his eyes, and his gaze lingered ambiguously on her rosy lips.
Shen Zuihuan couldn’t help but recall the events of the previous day.
She thought to herself, what nonsense is this man talking about?
Her fingers, clutching the skirt, tightened uncontrollably.
Just as she was about to say something in flustered anger, she saw Gu Changce had already moved behind the screen.
The anger that had been rising in her heart was abruptly suppressed.
Caught in this awkward state, Shen Zuihuan felt frustrated.
Suddenly, she remembered that it had been the same when they were studying together.
Gu Changce would always provoke her anger, only to rush to comfort her afterward.
Day in and day out, she couldn’t understand what he was trying to achieve.
She sighed helplessly and slowly changed into her clothes.
By the time she finished putting on her shoes and socks,
Gu Changce had already washed up, dried his face with a towel, and tied up his hair.
He had returned to his usual dignified and solemn appearance.
He opened the door and let Qiu Yan, who had been waiting outside, come in to help Shen Zuihuan with her hair.
Shen Zuihuan sat in front of the dressing table,
while Gu Changce sat on the daybed, waiting for her.
Qiu Yan carefully combed her soft, cascading hair,
while Shen Zuihuan opened the black lacquer makeup box with gold-painted patterns in front of her, her slender white fingers gently sifting through the jewelry inside.
After Qiu Yan finished styling her hair, Shen Zuihuan, with a slightly indifferent expression, casually handed over an ordinary green jade hairpin for Qiu Yan to secure in her hair.
At the same time, her bright, shimmering gaze met Gu Changce’s in the bronze mirror.The moment their eyes met, Shen Zuihuan pouted unhappily.
She suddenly said to the man lounging comfortably beside her, “Gu Changce, tell me the truth.”
Upon hearing the word “truth,” Gu Changce’s heart skipped a heavy beat.
He suspected she had noticed something amiss.
His gaze shifted away guiltily, and he spoke hesitantly, testing the waters, “…What haven’t I been truthful about?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Shen Zuihuan suddenly turn around, her small face full of seriousness as she looked at him.
She asked, “In the years since I married you, have you treated me poorly? Otherwise, why would I have so few clothes and jewelry?”
She had already felt puzzled when she saw the clothes in the chest earlier.
Although she had always preferred simple, plain clothing, she could still tell whether the clothes were genuinely plain in color or simply faded from washing.
Many of those clothes bore faint signs of wear, as if they had been worn for several years.
Now, opening the jewelry box only confirmed her suspicions.
Inside, there were only a handful of pieces, several of which looked familiar—meaning they were bought before she turned fourteen.
Thinking this, Shen Zuihuan already had a vague guess in mind.
She had wondered before why the version of herself in the dream would treat Gu Changce that way.
Now she understood—it was because he had mistreated her first.
With this thought, her gaze toward him carried a hint of anger.
Meeting her eyes, Gu Changce froze for a moment.
It seemed he hadn’t expected her to play the victim first.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t bought her clothes and jewelry.
In the early years of their marriage, every time he received his salary, he would buy things to send to her.
He had nearly emptied the latest styles from Luo Embroidery Workshop and Treasure Pavilion, but without exception, Shen Zuihuan had thrown them all away in disgust.
She despised him as a person, and by extension, she hated the things he gave her.
Yet now she was saying this.
But since he had deceived her, he couldn’t say anything.
He had no choice but to reluctantly take the blame.
He lay back on the couch, resting the back of his hand on his forehead, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed as he replied lazily and calmly, “…Yes, it’s my fault. I’ll take you to buy new clothes and jewelry tomorrow.”
Hearing this, Shen Zuihuan nodded in satisfaction.
She stood up from the dressing table and walked gracefully over to Gu Changce.
Her eyelashes rested quietly beneath her eyes as she looked down at him from above, her tone coquettish and demanding, “Then I want to go to Luo Embroidery Workshop!”
Luo Embroidery Workshop was the largest clothing store in the capital.
Gu Changce’s lips curved into a slight smile as he agreed, “Alright.”
Seeing Shen Zuihuan chuckle softly, he couldn’t help but smile along.
It was almost afternoon now.
Having the small kitchen prepare a meal would be too much trouble.
Besides, Gu Tang was still waiting for him at the training grounds.
Gu Changce and Shen Zuihuan settled for a light breakfast.
After the meal, Gu Changce asked her, “I’m going to the training grounds this afternoon to teach Rou Jia archery. Would you like to come and watch?”
He had asked casually, as Shen Zuihuan had never shown interest in martial arts before.
Unexpectedly, she agreed without hesitation.
He looked up in surprise.
Just then, he saw Shen Zuihuan still chewing on a small glutinous rice ball, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
She swallowed the rice ball with effort, smiled at him, and said in a sticky, affectionate tone, “I want to go with you.”