"Zzt!"
It was as if a faint electric current exploded from the point of contact in the air, rapidly spreading throughout her entire body.
Time seemed to freeze.
Su Xiaoyu's mind buzzed, instantly going blank. Her entire body stiffened in place, even forgetting to breathe.
Only her heart pounded wildly in her chest, beating so fast it felt like it might shatter her ribs.
Xiao Jingheng was also stunned!
The sensation on his chin was very light, like a petal falling on his skin, carrying the unique softness of a young girl's lips and lingering with a faint sweet fragrance of osmanthus cake.
The originally calm depths of his eyes instantly rippled, his breath subconsciously paused, and even the hand holding the brush stiffened slightly.
This was the first time he had been so close to a woman—close enough to smell the faint soapberry fragrance in her hair, see the tiny fine hairs on her eyelashes, and feel the faint warmth emanating from her body.
It was an unprecedented, peculiar feeling.
How to describe it? He didn't dislike it.
In fact, he vaguely didn't want to let go.
His gaze fell on Su Xiaoyu's flushed face, so close at hand. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide open in shock, clearly reflecting his own figure within them.
Xiao Jingheng's Adam's apple rolled uncontrollably, his eyes as deep as ink that couldn't be diluted.
"Yo-Young Marquis! This servant… this servant didn't mean to!"
Su Xiaoyu was incoherent, her cheeks red enough to drip blood. Her eyes darted around, not daring to look at Xiao Jingheng.
[I'm done for, Su Xiaoyu! A few days ago, I hugged his thigh, and today I actually kissed Young Marquis's chin! This isn't how you ask for death! o(╥﹏╥)o]
[But will the Young Marquis think I'm deliberately trying to seduce him? It's over, it's over! I heard he's extremely strict with himself and hates this kind of unruly behavior the most! Palm slapping? Kneeling as punishment? No food? Will he directly sell me off? Sob… my roast chicken, my cherry pastries… all gone.]
A series of mental activities echoed right by Xiao Jingheng's ear.
The turbulent emotions stirred by the accidental contact strangely calmed somewhat upon hearing these chaotic inner thoughts.
She was worried about so much—did she really see him as so unreasonable, someone who would punish at the slightest provocation?
He lowered his eyelids, his gaze falling on the character "fish."
"Rash and careless, utterly improper."
His voice returned to its usual coolness, even colder and more stern than usual.
"Today's calligraphy practice ends here. Come to the study after dinner and copy the first ten sentences of 《Thousand Character Classic》 five times."
Su Xiaoyu, immersed in immense panic, was taken aback!
Just copying! No palm slapping, no kneeling punishment, and not even withholding her meal?
Was the Young Marquis… not punishing her?
"Yes, this servant obeys. Thank you, Young Marquis. This servant will definitely come after dinner!"
She hurriedly agreed, her expression instantly brightening, her large eyes regaining the glow of someone who had narrowly escaped disaster.
Xiao Jingheng felt somewhat stifled seeing her carefree demeanor.
Forget it!
She was just a clueless girl—why bother holding it against her?
He waved his hand, signaling Su Xiaoyu to leave. Then he called for Changfeng.
"Young Marquis, you called for me?" Changfeng pushed the door open and entered.
Xiao Jingheng stood up, walked to the window, and stood with his hands behind his back, suddenly instructing him:
"Tomorrow is the Shangsi Festival, and there are no pressing matters in the estate. Go reserve a private room on the second floor of the Drunken Immortal Inn—one with a street view."
Changfeng froze momentarily, inwardly astonished. the Young Marquis had never been one for festive crowds. In previous years during the Shangsi Festival, he would either handle official duties in his study or retreat to the suburban villa for quiet solitude. Why would he suddenly want to book a private room at the Drunken Immortal Inn this year?
Though puzzled, he respectfully replied: "Understood. I shall arrange it immediately. But… is Young Marquis hosting guests?"
Xiao Jingheng fell silent.
He couldn’t very well say it was because he recalled how, last time Su Xiaoyu followed Xiao Jingxuan to the Drunken Immortal Inn, her mind had been filled with thoughts of "how delicious the Exquisite Shrimp here is."
He also remembered how, even as she clung to his leg weeping and pleading, her eyes still held a lingering reluctance to leave the desserts on the table.
He only said indifferently: "Not for hosting. I’m taking Su Xiaoyu out for a stroll tomorrow."
"Taking Miss Xiaoyu?"
Changfeng was startled, wondering if he had misheard. the Young Marquis was actually taking a maid out for a festival? Such a thing had never happened before!
As if unaware of his shock, Xiao Jingheng continued: "Remember to reserve a portion of Exquisite Shrimp. And save portions of the other signature dishes as well."
Changfeng inwardly clicked his tongue.
It was rare to see the Young Marquis so attentive toward a young woman. Could it be that he had finally come to his senses and was opening up to romance?
Changfeng acknowledged the order and briskly withdrew to handle the arrangements.
Had Xiao Jingheng known what Changfeng was thinking, he would have scoffed.
His arrangements were merely for the sake of balancing work and leisure.
That girl always seemed somewhat afraid of him, constantly assuming he would punish her, viewing him as stern and unapproachable.
Taking her out this time might help her relax a little, and perhaps… he could sooner overhear some useful inner thoughts.
After all, those "gossipy" remarks about court affairs and crises tended to surface most readily when she was at her most relaxed.
…
Meanwhile, on her way back to the courtyard, Su Xiaoyu happened to "bump into" someone.
Xiao Jingxuan.
"Xiaoyu! Su Xiaoyu!"
A deliberately hushed voice called from behind the rockery.
Startled, Su Xiaoyu turned to see Xiao Jingxuan peeking out from behind the artificial hill, vigorously waving her over.
"Second Young Master? What are you doing here?"
As she approached, she noticed Xiao Jingxuan dressed in practical martial attire, his hair slightly disheveled and sweat beading on his forehead.
His handsome face bore a trace of nervousness, a stark contrast to the sunny, carefree profligate image he had presented at their first meeting.
Xiao Jingxuan glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before stepping out from behind the rockery.
He looked Su Xiaoyu up and down, his eyes filled with sympathy and guilt:
"Xiaoyu, I heard you were transferred to serve in my elder brother’s study. Are you… alright?"
"It’s all my fault. I’ve dragged you into this."
His elder brother was nothing but an ice block—a merciless enforcer who showed no leniency when punishing others, not even to his own kin.
Just take his own situation: these past few days had been pure misery. Not only did he have to practice horse stance at the training grounds for two hours daily, but the martial instructor would watch him with a rattan cane, ready to strike his calves at the slightest wobble, leaving him grimacing in pain.
And that wasn’t all—his entire monthly allowance had been confiscated by that heartless tiger of an elder brother. Even buying snacks required borrowing from Lingxi.
If his own blood brother was treated this harshly, who knew how much worse Su Xiaoyu, his "accomplice," was being ground down in their elder brother’s clutches?
Xiao Jingxuan grew more and more guilt-ridden as he thought about it. Looking at Xiaoyu's face, it seemed… rather rosy?
He automatically assumed Su Xiaoyu was putting on a brave front, which made him feel even worse.
"Xiaoyu, be honest with me. How did Elder Brother punish you? Did he make you grind ink all day, nitpick everything you did, force you to memorize those convoluted laws, or… withhold your meals?"
"You must have suffered unfairly, and it's all my fault. That day, I shouldn't have…"
"Young Master!" Su Xiaoyu interrupted him, seeing his speculations were getting out of hand. "The Young Marquis didn't really punish me, truly."
If copying texts counted as punishment, then maybe.
But considering she had committed such a major mistake, merely being assigned to copy texts was something Su Xiaoyu felt could hardly be considered punishment at all.
Moreover, the Young Marquis had rewarded her with delicious food and even personally taught her how to write.
So, she genuinely didn't feel wronged in any way.
Yet, seeing her 'forced smile' and her attempts to comfort him instead, Xiao Jingxuan felt even more unsettled.
He was convinced Xiaoyu must be too intimidated by his elder brother's tyranny to speak the truth—perhaps she had even been threatened!
That elder brother of his was most adept at tormenting people in such subtle ways!
Just one icy glare from him was enough to make one's legs go weak for three days.
Not to mention his endless 'disciplinary' methods—how could a young girl like Xiaoyu possibly withstand them?