The night deepened, with cool breezes whispering through the air.
Shen Sangning had been waiting in the rocking chair for a long time when she finally saw Pei Ruyan appear.
The man’s figure appeared even more slender under the lampshade, his features as pure and luminous as white jade under the moonlight.
Zisu hurried to Shen Sangning’s side and whispered, “Before I could even deliver your prepared remarks, the Heir agreed to come for dinner.”
Hadn’t he just told her he would sleep in the study? Why did he agree so easily?
Before Shen Sangning could rise, Pei Ruyan had already strode to her side, his broad shoulders blocking the dappled light that had been falling on her face.
“From now on, I will stay in this courtyard on the 1st, 15th, and 20th of each month.”
His expression was tense, and after speaking, he asked somewhat uncertainly: “If you’re unwilling—”
Before he could finish with “I won’t force you,” Shen Sangning quickly rose from the rocking chair. “I’m willing!”
She had always been willing.
Although she still thought three times a month was rather sparse, since he was willing to compromise, she shouldn’t push her luck.
Shen Sangning pointed to the sky, reminding him—
“Today is the 15th.”
Her clear voice couldn’t conceal her delight, even the tail end of her words lifting slightly.
The dark clouds dispersed, revealing the bright full moon in its entirety.
The two gazed at each other in the cool breeze.
Pei Ruyan nodded: “Mm.”
Mama Liu from the small kitchen brought the dishes to the table. “Heir, Young Madam, dinner is served.”
Hearing this, Pei Ruyan stepped inside.
Ziling approached Shen Sangning’s ear and lowered her voice. “Since the Heir was going to share your bed anyway, should we withdraw the medicine?”
This way there would be no risks, Ziling thought.
“It’s already done,” Shen Sangning said firmly. “We’re not withdrawing it.”
Better safe than sorry—what if he only intended to sleep innocently?
With the medicine administered, she could do whatever she wanted.
Shen Sangning lifted her skirt and entered the room.
Instead of sitting opposite Pei Ruyan, she moved the rosewood stool to his side and sat close to him.
The intimate gesture caught Pei Ruyan’s attention.
Shen Sangning’s lips curved into a smile as gentle as spring breeze, revealing two small dimples.
She picked up her chopsticks herself, took a small bowl, filled it with sweet soup, and placed it before Pei Ruyan—
“To warm your stomach. Drink plenty.”
Her tone was caring. After speaking, she paused, then began serving him food to avoid being too obvious.
Pei Ruyan looked down to see a full bowl of food and found her excessive attentiveness somewhat unusual. “Just act as if I’m not here and eat normally.”
After saying this, he picked up his chopsticks, his gaze falling on the fish.
“Sea bass?”
His mind recalled Shen Yi’s words from noon. Frowning slightly, he said quite seriously, “You don’t need to listen to your father.”
Actually, the dinner had been prepared by the small kitchen, and Shen Sangning only discovered there was sea bass when it was served.
She chuckled lightly. “It’s healthy. If you don’t like it, just drink the sweet soup.”
Among all the dishes on the table, only the sweet soup had been her special effort.
Pei Ruyan nodded and began eating his food slowly and carefully.
Shen Sangning focused on her own meal while occasionally glancing at him, noticing that the sweet soup in his bowl remained untouched.
Did he not like it?
She didn’t want to urge him repeatedly, as that would seem too suspicious.
Anyway, he was staying the night—even if he didn’t drink the soup, it shouldn’t matter. With a man and woman sharing a bed, she didn’t believe…
No!
She really wasn’t sure he would cooperate obediently in conceiving a child.
This soup, this medicine—he must consume it!
Thinking this, Shen Sangning pushed the bowl of sweet soup closer to him. “If you don’t drink it soon, it’ll get cold.”
Aside from the sweet soup, Pei Ruyan had eaten all the other dishes.
He wasn’t a picky eater, so surely he couldn’t have known it was drugged?
Seeing his hesitation, Shen Sangning picked up the bowl, stirred the thick mixture of lotus seeds and glutinous rice balls, scooped a spoonful, and brought it to his lips.
A flicker of surprise passed through Pei Ruyan’s eyes, puzzled by her sudden enthusiasm, then he heard her cheerful tone—
“You helped me today, and I want to thank you.”
“I’ve carefully considered your words. A good relationship between husband and wife benefits the children too. I’d like to start by building our bond.”
She spoke with such earnestness, as if genuinely revealing her feelings.
Pei Ruyan watched her quietly, lowered his gaze to the sweet soup in the bowl, and hesitated. “You…”
Just as he was about to say something, the spoon moved closer, touching his lips.
The girl’s fervent gaze made it impossible for him to refuse.
He slightly bowed his head, about to take the spoon into his mouth.
Shen Sangning felt a wave of relief, on the verge of success, when suddenly a white shadow flashed by, accidentally bumping into her wrist.
The soup bowl shattered on the floor, and a greedy white cat emerged nearby, licking the spilled soup.
Furious, Shen Sangning frowned and exclaimed in frustration, “Ning Hou!”
The cat looked up at the sound, a lotus seed still stuck to its mouth, its proud blue eyes glancing left and right.
It was the cat Pei Ruyan kept in the courtyard.
In her previous life, this cat often darted into Fuhua Garden. Shen Sangning would always feed it, and gradually, it grew familiar with her.
After Pei Ruyan’s death, the cat became entirely hers.
Its arrogance, reminiscent of someone’s stubbornness, was unbending except when it lowered its head to beg her for food.
Pei Ruyan also showed displeasure in his expression, but upon hearing Shen Sangning’s words, he asked puzzledly, “How do you know its name?”
At this, Shen Sangning’s angry expression stiffened, and she quickly made up an excuse, “Ahem, I heard it from the servants.”
She deliberately avoided specifics; if Pei Ruyan really investigated, he’d find out she was lying.
Seeing Pei Ruyan’s indifferent expression and that he didn’t press further, she added, “The sweet soup spilled. Let me serve you another bowl.”
The main task must not be forgotten.
Pei Ruyan softly agreed, but the next moment, Yufei rushed into the room, looking somewhat embarrassed as she picked up Ning Hou.
“Heir, Young Madam, this servant will take Ning Hou to stand in punishment.”
As Yufei was about to leave, she noticed the young madam about to feed the heir lotus seed soup.
Immediately horrified, she exclaimed, “Heir, have you forgotten you’re allergic to lotus seeds?”
Allergic?
Before Pei Ruyan could react, Shen Sangning withdrew her hand.
She truly hadn’t known about this. “You’re allergic? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
But Pei Ruyan remained silent for a moment, then turned to Yufei with a forgetful expression and asked, “Allergic?”