A moment ago, Shen Hanxing had just taken the jade carving from Mr. Xu’s hands. He looked at the wolf and rabbit lying side by side and smiled slightly, praising, “Mr. Xu’s craftsmanship is as exquisite as ever.”
Mr. Xu laughed heartily, “You young man, there’s no need to flatter me so deliberately. If it weren’t for the favor you did for me before, I wouldn’t have rushed to make this for you. I now prefer flowers and plants over jade carvings. Don’t come asking for such things again.”
Mr. Xu was also a great scholar. Back then, His Majesty had intended for him to be the Grand Tutor[1], but Mr. Xu refused. It was Shen Hanxing who interceded to help dissuade His Majesty.
After leaving the court, he became even more passionate about tending to his flowers and plants, seldom touching the jade carvings he once loved.
“Why did Mr. Xu think I would come to collect it today?” Shen Hanxing asked casually, placing the jade carving into his arms.
Mr. Xu poured a cup of hot tea and gazed at him with an inscrutable expression, “Guess.”
Shen Hanxing couldn’t be bothered to guess and turned to leave.
Mr. Xu, seeing him not looking back, called out, “You child, your temperament is still as unlikable as before. It’s not that difficult to guess. You’re married now, and today is the Lantern Festival. The jade carving you asked me to make in a rush, isn’t it meant to be a gift for your wife today?”
Now, only Mr. Xu would say that his temperament remained the same as before.
Shen Hanxing didn’t refute the first part of the statement. He was about to say no to the second part but swallowed his words when he touched the jade carving at his chest.
Perhaps he did have such an intention after all.
However, it was the young lady who insisted on going out today; otherwise, he wouldn’t have made the trip specifically.
Mr. Xu took another sip of tea and sighed, “But do you young people really like such cute things like rabbits? The boy from the Gu family also asked me to carve a snow rabbit last year. I only agreed because of my past friendship with his father, but he didn’t come to collect it for months. I thought he had forgotten.”
Shen Hanxing’s gaze flickered, and he asked in a light voice: “Gu Yan?”
“Yes, he just came to pick it up. It must be for his wife,” Mr. Xu expressed, lowering his head to fiddle with his tools. He was about to ask Shen Hanxing if he had any unique varieties of flowers lately but looked up only to see that he was already far gone.
“Still saying can’t guess, and now you’re hurrying to deliver the jade carving?” Mr. Xu shook his head and chuckled.
From Mr. Xu’s residence to the greenhouse, it took less than a quarter of an hour.
Just as Gu Yan entered the greenhouse, Shen Hanxing arrived nearby.
His words of apology, “I have failed your feelings,” fell into Shen Hanxing’s ears.
The two people inside the greenhouse were unaware that someone outside was watching.
Lin Xingxue tried hard to alienate herself from Gu Yan, her eyes full of vigilance.
She no longer wanted to be entangled with Gu Yan.
Seeing her retreating repeatedly, Gu Yan silently placed the jade carving on the flower rack, “This was what I requested for you. It belongs to you; dispose of it as you wish.”
Lin Xingxue waved her hand again, indicating she did not want it.
She did not understand what Gu Yan was trying to do. Even if the jade carving was indeed requested for her, it should not be given to her now.
The girl’s eyes were full of wariness, and Gu Yan, seeing her demeanor, recalled how she had previously acted differently towards him.
She used to smile at him, though adhering to propriety. He could tell she had a different feeling toward him.
Now that distinction had vanished, leaving only rigid distance.
Gu Yan knew he should leave, but he couldn’t help but ask, “Are you feeling better after fainting in the bamboo forest?”
He didn’t know that Lin Xingxue had trauma from bamboo forests and assumed she fainted due to physical discomfort.
Lin Xingxue nodded: Better.
“Are you doing well in the Jinning Hou residence?”
Lin Xingxue nodded again.
Gu Yan, however, was somewhat skeptical.
If she was doing well, and if Shen Hanxing valued her, why would she faint in the bamboo forest? Everyone knew Shen Hanxing was cold-hearted. Would he truly treat Ah Xue well? Or was the return visit that day all pretense?
Gu Yan pondered a lot, and Lin Xingxue, seeing his increasingly bizarre expression, felt an inexplicable sense of unease.
She felt as if someone was watching her, making her very apprehensive.
But she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Ah Xue,” Gu Yan abruptly spoke firmly, staring at Lin Xingxue, “If you ever encounter difficulties in the future, you can send someone to find me. No matter how great the trouble, I will help you.”
Help her with what?
Lin Xingxue thought Gu Yan might have been drinking or had taken the wrong medicine; otherwise, why she couldn’t understand what he was saying?
The girl firmly shook her head, indicating she did not need his help.
Gu Yan forced a smile, “I know you don’t trust me anymore. But please believe that, even for the sake of the kindness you once showed me, I won’t let you fend for yourself. Although I can’t compare to Shen Hanxing now, one day…”
Before Gu Yan could finish his sentence, the sound of a bell tinkling at the door of the greenhouse interrupted.
The bell hanging on the door signaled that someone was coming in.
Lin Xingxue peeked out; though she heard the sound, she couldn’t see the person.
“One day what?”
The door of the greenhouse was pushed wide open, allowing the cold wind to rush in. Shen Hanxing sat at the entrance, half of his figure blending into the darkness behind him, making it difficult to discern his expression. His voice was icy: “Does Lord Gu think he can take my wife by stepping over me?”
The words shocked Lin Xingxue, causing her eyes to widen.
She finally realized why she had felt so tense.
She now felt like the heroine in a romance novel, caught in a confrontation with her lover in front of her fiancé!
Even though she hadn’t done anything out of line, the moment she saw Shen Hanxing, she felt as if she was done for.
She felt that her husband was truly angry.
Shen Hanxing pushed his wheelchair past Gu Yan, and his arm inadvertently brushed against the flower rack, causing the snow rabbit to fall with a “thud” and shatter into two pieces.
“Sorry, I accidentally broke your jade carving,” Shen Hanxing said with an untroubled apology.
Lin Xingxue looked at the broken jade carving, her heart racing.
Shen Hanxing came up to her and noticed her glance, a callous smile appearing on his face, “What’s wrong? Are you heartbroken?”
The girl immediately shook her head, blinking her innocent eyes at him.
Shen Hanxing snorted coldly in his heart. He scrutinized Gu Yan without much expression, “Does Lord Gu come uninvited to profess his feelings to my wife? Does your wife know about Lord Gu’s infatuation?”
“I did not mean that at all. Please don’t misunderstand, General Shen, and don’t blame Madam Shen,” Gu Yan replied with a chilly gaze.
“Do I need to consult Lord Gu before interacting with my wife? I can do whatever I want with her.”
“You…” Gu Yan restrained his anger, “As long as I am here, I will not tolerate you bullying her.”
Shen Hanxing chuckled softly, seemingly mocking Gu Yan.
He gestured for Lin Xingxue to squat down.
Lin Xingxue obediently squatted in front of him. Shen Hanxing held a strand of her hair and asked slowly, “Lord Gu thinks I treat you poorly, that I bully you? Do you also feel wronged staying with me?”
Lin Xingxue shook her head and wrote “good” in his palm.
The girl’s eyes were genuine, not like she was lying.
Shen Hanxing closed his hand, casually enunciating, “I can give you a chance. If you want to leave, I can write a divorce letter for you and let you marry the person you want to.”
Shen Hanxing laid out the tempting condition.
Gu Yan’s eyes moved, and he looked at Lin Xingxue as if waiting for her response.
When Lin Xingxue heard the words “divorce letter,” she was stunned, and then uncontrollably felt wronged.
Her husband didn’t believe her and was willing to divorce her because of Gu Yan’s few words.
The girl lowered her head, feeling inexplicably sad.
Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, Shen Hanxing’s eyes grew colder.
He released the strand of the girl’s hair as if cutting something off, “Don’t worry about the Emperor’s decree. If I say I can divorce, I definitely can. If you don’t want to stay with me, I won’t force you. I will write the divorce letter tonight…”
One, two, three…
Lin Xingxue silently counted, Shen Hanxing had already mentioned divorce three times.
She suddenly looked up at Shen Hanxing. Shen Hanxing, meeting her gaze, paused in his speech and questioned coldly, “Have you made up your mind?”
The girl nodded slightly.
Shen Hanxing clenched his fists. ‘Then let’s go back now and get a divorce…”
Before the word “letter” could be said, a shadow suddenly fell in front of Shen Hanxing.
The girl grasped his wrist for leverage, rising, her lips perfectly poised to cover those soft red lips, sealing Shen Hanxing’s mouth completely.
In an instant, their breaths seemed to slow down.
Shen Hanxing choked on all the words he wanted to say. The sensation of her lips on his was soft and tender. The girl didn’t go any further; she merely pressed against his lips, gently rubbing them, like savoring a piece of pastry.
For the first time, Shen Hanxing experienced the feeling of having his mind go blank.
Their eyes locked, and Lin Xingxue’s face suddenly lit up with a flush; she abruptly pulled back, seemingly startled by her actions.
Shen Hanxing quickly grabbed her arm to prevent her from colliding with the flower stand behind her.
But as he pulled her, the girl fell against him, their noses almost touching, and the distance was once again close enough to hear each other’s breath.
They stared at each other quietly, and the girl’s eyes couldn’t help but wander to his lips.
She found the taste of her husband’s lips quite pleasant and wanted to taste it again.
The atmosphere was ambiguous and captivating. The girl lightly nudged his nose with hers, her watery and dreamy eyes gazing at Shen Hanxing, making it challenging for anyone not to fall under her spell.
Shen Hanxing tightened his grip on her arm and gently rested his hand on her lower back.
Suddenly, there was another “ding.”
Gu Yan was no longer in the greenhouse.
Lin Xingxue snapped back to her senses, finally realizing what she had done. She hurriedly retreated, her temperature rising, and her neck, ears, and cheeks quickly flushed red.
The girl covered her face, overwhelmed with mortification and vexation.
Wu Tong was right; those romance novels shouldn’t be read too much.
Look, she was misled by the books—thinking that a kiss could silence someone, but it was… a lie?
No, it seems her husband didn’t bring up the divorce again.
Lin Xingxue cautiously peeked at Shen Hanxing.
Shen Hanxing sat there, indeed not mentioning the divorce anymore, and his ears seemed to have taken on a suspicious red hue.
He beckoned with his finger, and Lin Xingxue took small steps towards him, unable to meet his gaze again.
“No going to…”
Before Shen Hanxing could finish, his mouth was firmly covered.
The girl glared at him, warning him not to say anymore, forgetting her shyness.
Shen Hanxing pushed her hand away and squeezed her palm. “No regrets?”
Lin Xingxue shook her head; she certainly didn’t regret it.
Shen Hanxing chuckled, his laughter carrying a hint of delight.
He played with the girl’s delicate little hand and asked, “Do you remember the punishment you owe me from New Year’s Eve?”
Punishment?
Why did her husband suddenly bring this up?
Lin Xingxue hesitated but nodded.
Shen Hanxing leaned closer to her and whispered, “Don’t struggle later.”
Don’t struggle what?
Before Lin Xingxue could fully process the meaning, Shen Hanxing suddenly tightened his grip around her lower back, gently nudged her head, and her lips met his once again.
The girl’s eyes widened in panic, and recalling the punishment, her body stiffened and didn’t dare to move, unlike earlier when she had felt bold enough to touch his lips.
She opened her eyes wide, and Shen Hanxing’s dark, enigmatic gaze reflected in her own, like the surface of the sea before a storm.
She closed her eyes in nervousness and found that her sense of touch became even more acute, caught in a dilemma.
A hint of amusement crossed Shen Hanxing’s eyes. He wasn’t a gentleman, nor was he as innocent as the young woman; he wasn’t going to let go of the rabbit meat so close to his lips.
Lin Xingxue initially thought it was just a simple touch of their lips, but when she realized Shen Hanxing’s invasive intentions, the obedient rabbit began to struggle in panic.
But she was no match for the strength of a predator. She clung to his collar, her breathing growing more rapid as he continued to dominate her mouth without mercy.
The temperature in the greenhouse seemed to rise continually until it reached a critical point and finally stopped.
The girl weakly leaned against Shen Hanxing, burying her head in his neck, unable to lift it for a long time, her breaths coming in small, hurried gasps.
Shen Hanxing turned his head slightly, still able to see the flushed redness of her ear roots.
He held her hand, but she forcefully shook it off, and he didn’t get angry.
“You kissed me first, so isn’t it fair that I get a kiss back?”
Lin Xingxue glared at him, thinking how unreasonable he was. She did kiss him, but she hadn’t bitten him, and…
When she looked up, a small wound was visible at the corner of her lips.
Her lips were as red as if stained with blood, and her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, making her look as though she had done something mischievous.
“You also bit me.”
Shen Hanxing raised his right wrist, showing her the wound he had received in the bamboo forest.
The wound had already scabbed over, but Qi Ye had said it would definitely leave a scar.
The girl felt a pang of guilt from his words. She sulked for a while before grabbing his hand and writing in his palm: Don’t say such things again.
She didn’t even want to write the word “divorce.”
Shen Hanxing helped her up and laughed, “Did you actually think I’d write it? I was just teasing him.”
“Alright,” Shen Hanxing agreed surprisingly easily, “I won’t say it again next time.”
Next time, he would just act directly.
Lin Xingxue was unaware of Shen Hanxing’s wicked thoughts. When they left the greenhouse, they saw Luo Yan standing nearby, stopping the maid from approaching.
The maid had been called away for other errands and had only just managed to return, but she was stopped from coming closer.
The greenhouse had several windows facing the corridor, and from the outside, the silhouettes of overlapping shadows could be faintly seen on the paper windows.
Both the maid and Luo Yan had their backs turned, pretending not to have seen anything.
At that moment, two pairs of eyes glanced over, and Lin Xingxue lowered her head to hide her awkwardness. She felt as though someone had seen through what had just happened.
The carriage briskly left the Xu residence and headed towards the bustling Guangsheng Street.
The long street was bustling with activity, lined with stalls on either side where vendors shouted their wares. Strangers moved through the crowd, their faces obscured by masks, allowing them to act freely and whimsically.
Tonight, there were fewer concerns about etiquette between men and women, and some bold girls even looked directly at the men they admired.
Autumn-like gazes[2] frequently turned towards him. Though Shen Hanxing was seated in a wheelchair, his face still attracted many curious glances from young girls.
At this moment, no one knew his identity and his charming face was even more appealing.
Lin Xingxue puffed out her cheeks, trying to hold back her irritation but eventually couldn’t help glaring at the girls who were looking over.
“Stop looking, his wife is getting angry.”
“Is that his wife? Could she be his sister? They don’t seem very close, do they?”
“Could it be? Look at their outfits; they are quite similar, but they do seem a bit distant.”
The murmuring of two girls reached Lin Xingxue’s ears.
Just then, they passed a mask stall, and Shen Hanxing raised his hand to signal Luo Yan to stop. He casually picked two masks: one of a wolf and one of a rabbit.
He put the wolf mask on himself, which looked somewhat intimidating, while the rabbit mask was quite cute.
Shen Hanxing gestured for Lin Xingxue to squat down, then carefully placed the rabbit mask on her face. When she stood up, he took her hand, making it clear to everyone their relationship.
The girl’s mouth couldn’t help but curve into a smile. She took the opportunity to touch Shen Hanxing’s hand as if praising him for his good deed.
As they walked along the street, Shen Hanxing’s arms gradually filled with items.
Lin Xingxue had never participated in such a lively festival, and whenever she saw something new and interesting, she would glance at it. Shen Hanxing bought one of everything she looked at, and soon his arms were piled high.
On top of the pile was a sugar painting and a tanghulu. The tanghulu was round and seemed like it was about to fall off.
Shen Hanxing sighed inwardly and resignedly held the tanghulu.
After walking through the entire long street, they arrived at the riverside.
Several water pavilions were set up around the river, and tonight there would be a fireworks show here. The best viewing spots were still available.
Shen Hanxing led Lin Xingxue to a spot not far from the riverbank. He looked at the young woman but could only see an exceptionally cute rabbit mask.
He had to ask, “Are you afraid of water?”
Lin Xingxue nodded and shook her head. She added in Shen Hanxing’s palm: I’m not afraid if you’re here.
The little girl was very good at comforting people.
A smile appeared at the corner of Shen Hanxing’s lips. He held Lin Xingxue’s hand tightly, “Then follow me.”
He led her into the best water pavilion, where the candlelight and fireworks reflected on the water’s surface. Inside the small pavilion were cakes and tea, with windows on both sides that could be opened, extending to the center of the river.
The performance team rowed their boat to the center. Lanterns under the pavilion lit up one by one, signaling the start of the fireworks show.
Lin Xingxue looked into the distance while taking the tanghulu from Shen Hanxing’s arms.
She had just taken a bite when the lanterns on the boat all lit up, and the fuses ignited in perfect arcs. A variety of fireworks shot into the sky, blooming and bursting in the dark night.
People on the boat waved sparklers and performed tricks, their warm light contrasting with the cool water, creating a dazzling display.
Lin Xingxue forgot to take another bite of the tanghulu. She stared at the fireworks, which kept appearing and fading as if the festivities would never end.
Ripples spread across the water as an amusement boat circled the pavilions, performing small acts for the guests.
The masked man in front of the girl conjured a peony, but she remained unmoved. Instead, she gazed at the recently ignited sparkler, her peach blossom eyes exceptionally bright.
“Here’s a gift for you.” The man quickly produced a sparkler, lit it, and handed it to her.
Lin Xingxue happily took it. At first, she was a bit scared, but upon seeing that it wouldn’t hurt her, she followed the gestures of others, spinning and waving the sparkler.
The girl joyfully danced around Shen Hanxing with the sparkler, her smile radiant as she tugged at his sleeve, watching the final moments of the fireworks together.
The distant fireworks continued to sparkle, while the pavilion grew quiet.
Lin Xingxue crouched beside Shen Hanxing, the sparkler cooling in her hand. She looked at Shen Hanxing’s face, her heart racing so fast it felt like it might burst from her chest.
She suddenly understood why the other girls kept peeking over.
Even though she saw his face every day, she couldn’t help but feel excited.
She secretly hooked one of Shen Hanxing’s fingers. She saw his dark eyes gazing at her, reflecting the fireworks in the sky, they seemed bright and encouraging.
She stood up and lightly touched his lips, barely making contact before retreating.
The sweetness of the hawthorn syrup[3] still lingered on her lips, excessively sweet.
Shen Hanxing pressed his lips together, and the girl hurriedly retreated into the pavilion, leaving the remaining half of the tanghulu in Shen Hanxing’s hand.
The remaining half of the tanghulu dangled precariously from the stick until it finally fell into someone’s mouth. The sweet taste didn’t cause any aversion but rather made him smile with pleasure.
As the last round of fireworks faded, the show quietly came to an end.
Shen Hanxing pushed his wheelchair into the pavilion and placed the jade carving on the table, easily capturing Lin Xingxue’s attention.
The white rabbit lay beside the wolf, just like the snow sculpture from that day. But this was carved from high-quality Hetian jade, never to melt away.
Lin Xingxue held the palm-sized jade sculpture, her eyes sparkling as she pointed to herself: Is this for me?
“Yes, it’s yours,” he said, extending his hand to Lin Xingxue with a charming smile, “Little rabbit, would you like to go home with this big bad wolf?”
Lin Xingxue looked at his rare smile, confused but obediently nodded.
Shen Hanxing held the girl’s soft little hand and gently murmured, “Then you can’t escape anymore.”
There was no chance of escape anymore.
Once the rabbit entered the wolf’s domain, it could only belong to the wolf.
Translator’s note:
Anon: MAN, that took me so long to edit, hope y’all enjoyed this chapter. *proceeds to collapse*
[1] Grand Tutor was responsible for the education of the crown prince or other important members of the royal family
[2] poetic way to describe someone’s eyes as clear, deep, and emotionally expressive, similar to how the serene and reflective qualities of autumn water can be; the young girls’ gazes are admiring and intense
[3] from the tanghulu