Shen Zhixi was satisfied and stood up with a smile.
“I originally thought about having you wipe yourself down, but the doctor also said that your body is weak right now, and you shouldn’t come into contact with water too often to avoid dampness entering your body and affecting your recovery. Anyway, the weather is still comfortable now, and you haven’t sweated much, so you’re not dirty.”
“Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
Tang Zhou sensed her getting up and stood up as well.
His obedience truly pleased Shen Zhixi both physically and mentally. She hoped that when the time came… he would be just as obedient.
“Then rest early. I’ll head out first. Same as before, if anything happens, remember to call for me.”
Tang Zhou took a step outward and nodded slightly, replying with a single “Alright.”
After leaving the room and hearing her close the door, Tang Zhou lowered his head again toward the spot on the table where the lily of the valley pot was placed. Although he couldn’t see it, he stared at it for a long time before finally sitting back down and reaching out to touch the lily of the valley once more.
This time, his movements as he caressed the petals were even more meticulous.
It was just that, even though Shen Zhixi had already left the room, her voice still echoed incessantly in his ears.
“Through countless twists and turns, all just to meet you.”
If he didn’t know that Miss Lily didn’t mean it that way, he might have thought she was using the flower’s name to express ambiguity toward him. If it were before tonight, he would have thought she was playing dumb, but now… how could someone so sincere and selflessly devoted be feigning ignorance?
He withdrew his hand and then raised his right hand, which had been resting on his knee.
In his palm lay a candy bean.
He unwrapped the candy paper and brought it to his lips, about to swallow it, when he caught a whiff—why did it also seem to smell like lily of the valley?
After a moment of stunned silence, he wrapped the candy bean back in the oiled paper.
Then, he clenched it tightly in his palm.
As soon as she returned to her own room, Yuanyang came to tell Shen Zhixi that the bathwater was ready, and she could go bathe right away.
Carrying her change of clothes, she headed to the small bathing room, distracted all the way.
“Miss, how is Tang Zhou? Did he react to what we said in the kitchen?”
Yuanyang’s words snapped her back to attention.
She stood before the bathtub, took off her clothes, and was helped into it.
“He naturally took the bait. I’ve said I don’t do things I’m not sure about. It’s just that this plan succeeded, and we should move on to the next step right away. Right now, he only feels gratitude toward me, mixed with some guilt, but that’s ultimately not enough.”
As she spoke, she leaned back.
Yuanyang came over holding a bottle, pouring bath oil into the tub, and asked, “Then has Miss thought about what to do next?”
“The next step…”
Shen Zhixi murmured thoughtfully, turning her mind over, her eyes growing brighter the more she thought.
“Miss, what are you smiling about?”
“I’m smiling because Tang Zhou is about to fall into my spider cave.”
Shen Zhixi glanced sideways at Yuanyang, speaking mysteriously, “For this next plan, we’ll need Mama Cui’s help. She was the closest person to Mother while she was alive, and besides you, she’s the one I trust most now. With her help, we’ll surely achieve twice the result with half the effort. This Tang Zhou—I must have him.”
“What does Miss plan to have Mama Cui do?”
“Have her help put on a play.”
“A play? What kind of play?”
“Naturally, a play for Tang Zhou.”
…
The next day, Tang Zhou actually woke up quite early.
His condition today was clearly much better than on the first day.
After breakfast, Shen Zhixi prepared to go out. She carried a small stove into Tang Zhou’s room, with charcoal burning inside. On top was a small clay pot containing Tang Zhou’s lunch.
“You don’t need to tend to it. The charcoal won’t keep burning forever—it will go out on its own, but it should last for a while. By around noon, the porridge in the pot should still be warm. There’s a towel placed nearby, along with bowls, chopsticks, and a spoon. When you touch the clay pot, use the towel as a pad so you don’t burn your hands.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Tang Zhou nodded to her from his seat at the table, but even after speaking, he still seemed hesitant.
“Tang Zhou, please don’t be so formal with me. If you have something to say, just say it.”
Tang Zhou took a deep breath and decided not to hesitate any longer.
“Lily.” Last night, he had promised not to keep calling her “Miss,” and today he was earnestly keeping that promise. “I’m very grateful to you and your sister for saving me, but I don’t want to disrupt your daily routines because of me, nor do I want to become too much of a burden. So, you don’t need to close up shop early and rush back just for my sake. Your own livelihood is what matters most.”
After he finished speaking, there was no reply from Shen Zhixi for a long while.
Finally, she stammered out a response.
“I… actually, I… Last night, I didn’t come back early just because of you. It was also because… because…”
“Because of what?” Tang Zhou frowned slightly, sensing her hesitation. “Did something happen?”
Seeing that he had taken the bait, Shen Zhixi continued her act of deception.
“Actually, it’s nothing too serious. I can handle it myself, so don’t worry.”
The more she said this, the more Tang Zhou became convinced that something unpleasant had indeed happened. The more she insisted she could manage, the more it indicated that the matter must be weighing heavily on her.
“Just now, you told me not to be formal with you, but now you’re hiding things from me.”
“I…”
Shen Zhixi pretended to be speechless, though inwardly she was overjoyed.
“Lily.” Tang Zhou called her name solemnly.
Her heart skipped a beat, feeling that this ordinary name sounded inexplicably more pleasant coming from his lips.
“My eyes may not be able to see, so perhaps I can’t help you much, but at the very least, I can offer some advice.” He spoke earnestly, as if he truly had a way to solve all her troubles.
“No.” Shen Zhixi firmly refused, her tone resolute. “This is something you can’t help me with.”
Naturally, this only made Tang Zhou even more curious.
“Are you so sure?” he asked, his expression serious.
Shen Zhixi sighed, relenting slightly. “It’s just a matter with a relative of mine. I can handle it myself—it’s not like she can eat me alive. Anyway, I need to get going now. The clay pot is very hot, so please don’t touch it.”
She stood up, looking down at him and repeating her warning.
“Remember, don’t touch the clay pot. I’ll try to come back as early as possible tonight.”
Tang Zhou simply nodded without replying.
He was still preoccupied with the matter Shen Zhixi had been evasive about, and he couldn’t help but worry. She already had so much on her plate, including troublesome and distressing matters, yet she still had to spare attention to care for him, an injured man.
Because of this, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of guilt.
But by the sound of it, she had already walked away, and there was no chance to press further.
For the first time, he felt utterly useless.
Shen Zhixi had already changed her clothes in the carriage.
Upon returning to the Shen residence, she immediately summoned Mama Cui.
“My dear ancestor!” Mama Cui’s voice rang out even before she entered the room. “It’s been days since you’ve stayed at home. I thought your mother’s memorial day was still far off. What on earth is going on with you? Why did you suddenly move to the bamboo forest cottage?”
Mama Cui was in her forties or fifties, with a slender yet remarkably robust physique.
Shen Zhixi often felt a bit intimidated by her, because in this household, aside from her late mother, only Mama Cui dared to scold and reprimand her. It wasn’t a case of a wicked servant bullying her mistress, but rather a concerned elder admonishing a disobedient child.
“Mama Cui, don’t worry. Listen to me carefully. Our household is soon going to have a chubby little baby.”