Madam Chen was startled, and grabbing her daughter’s hand, felt her heart ache terribly. “If it hurts, tell him! We didn’t marry you off to suffer. From now on, don’t let him act recklessly again!”
Yu Xi wasn’t quite sure what Madam Chen meant, but not wanting to leave Lu Zhi, she said vaguely, “No, he didn’t act recklessly, he cherishes me.”
Madam Chen was half-convinced. “Are you telling your mother the truth?”
Yu Xi nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, truer than stone!”
Since she was her own daughter, Madam Chen knew exactly what was going through Yu Xi’s mind, she knew Yu Xi wasn’t telling the truth, but there was nothing to be done about it, so she could only say, “Fine, as long as the two of you get along.”
She figured Lu Zhi probably wasn’t the type driven by lust, and surely wouldn’t act recklessly all the time, maybe once or twice occasionally, so she said nothing more.
By afternoon, the two of them prepared to head back.
Madam Chen held Yu Xi’s hand, deeply reluctant to let go, the daughter she’d raised so carefully for over a decade had suddenly become someone else’s family member; her heart felt like it was breaking.
Yet Yu Xi just smiled brightly, looking utterly carefree.
Madam Chen thought, if only she’d known, she never would have filled Yu Xi’s head back then with all that talk of picking a handsome husband. But what was done was done; regret was useless now.
Old Madam Yu, too, was reluctant to part with Yu Xi, and instructed her, “Whenever you’re free, come back and stay a few days, keep your grandmother company.”
Yu Xi nodded obediently. “Okay, I’ll remember.”
Meanwhile, Yu Qing said to Lu Zhi, “My sister is young, and spoiled at home, so she can be a bit inconsiderate. Please bear with her.”
Lu Zhi glanced at Yu Xi, who was saying goodbye to Madam Chen and Old Madam Yu, and said, “My wife is quite sensible and considerate. You needn’t worry too much, if there’s ever a disagreement, I’ll be the one to give way.”
Hearing “sensible” and “considerate,” Yu Qing paused, unable to tell if Lu Zhi was sincere or joking, when had his sister ever been sensible or considerate?
Yu Guanhai, however, was delighted to hear it. “Good that you understand. Our Xi’er is the cleverest, most sensible, most adorable, quick-witted girl there is. It’s you who’s gotten the good end of the deal marrying her.”
Yu Qing: “…”
Yu Chao, eavesdropping nearby: “…”
Lu Zhi nodded. Yu Xi was young; with an old husband and young wife, they truly weren’t a perfect match, but he should give way to her a little more too.
Once the two of them got into the carriage, the Yu family finally headed back inside.
Whatever the case, having seen the two of them together today put their minds considerably more at ease.
In the carriage, Lu Zhi saw Yu Xi looking somewhat downcast out the window, and knew she felt a bit reluctant to leave too.
“If you’re reluctant to leave, just come back often in the future.”
Yu Xi wasn’t actually reluctant to leave, it was close by anyway, just a few steps away. She was thinking of all the romance novels at home she hadn’t finished reading, and had forgotten to bring them.
She looked at Lu Zhi. “Will husband come with me next time too?”
Lu Zhi answered honestly, “No. I’m busy with official duties, I won’t have time to accompany you.”
“Oh, all right,” Yu Xi had been about to say something else, but suddenly her attention was caught by something outside the window. “That’s crispy pastry cake, stop the carriage, I want to buy some crispy pastry cake.”
Lu Zhi followed her gaze and saw what looked like an ordinary shop. He asked, puzzled, “What is crispy pastry cake?”
Yu Xi handed over some silver, sending the driver to buy some. “It’s got a crispy outside but a soft, sweet cake inside. This shop just opened this year, usually there’s a long line of people buying it. Husband, don’t tell me you’ve never had it?”
Lu Zhi shook his head, he rarely ate pastries, so he truly didn’t know.
Soon, the driver had bought two packages of crispy pastry cake. Yu Xi immediately unwrapped one and held it up to Lu Zhi. “Husband, try it, it’s so good!”
Inside the oiled paper wrapping were about a dozen pieces of cake, neatly arranged, sprinkled with dried osmanthus flowers on top. Lu Zhi frowned. “I don’t eat it.”
This kind of pastry was usually overly sweet and rich; he didn’t care for it.
“Eat it, eat it,” Yu Xi said, squeezing onto his seat, picking up a piece and feeding it to him. “Husband, try it quickly!”
The crispy pastry really was very flaky, and as soon as Yu Xi picked up a piece, crumbs scattered all over Lu Zhi’s clothes.
Lu Zhi could only reach out to catch the crumbs. “You’ve dirtied my clothes.”
Before he’d even finished speaking, Yu Xi had already brought the cake up to his mouth.
Lu Zhi frowned and took a small bite, too much flaky crust, too dry, and it caught in his throat, very unpleasant to eat.
Yu Xi, however, looked at him expectantly. “Husband, is it good?”
Lu Zhi brushed the crumbs off himself. “Mm, it’s all right, but eating too many sweets is bad for the teeth. Eat less of it from now on.”
Yu Xi didn’t care about any of that, she’d wanted to eat crispy pastry cake for a long time. Right then, she stuffed the remaining half of the piece in her hand into her own mouth. “It’s so good!”
Before Lu Zhi could recover from the shock of watching her eat the half piece she’d left over, her hand landed on his chest, patting it lightly, then patting again.
“Husband, let me help pat off the crumbs.”
“That’s enough,” Lu Zhi said, catching her hand as it reached toward his waist, a bit of a headache coming on. “I’ll do it myself.”
Yu Xi felt a bit of regret, she hadn’t gotten to pat enough yet. Lu Zhi’s body really was hard and firm, quite fun to pat, she wanted to pat some more.
She blinked, then looked at his large, dry, warm hand holding hers.
Lu Zhi quickly let go of her hand. “Sit back.”
Yu Xi reached out again. “Let me pat you a little more.”
Lu Zhi moved to the other side and looked at Yu Xi. “Don’t move.”
Yu Xi said, “Oh…”
Fine, not moving then, hmph!
Although Yu Xi didn’t move again, her mouth kept going nonstop. “Husband, I want to send a share of this crispy pastry cake to Mother, do you think she’ll like it?”
Lu Zhi didn’t expect her to have such thoughtfulness, and nodded approvingly. “It’s the thought that counts, Mother will like it.”
“But I only bought one package, will it be enough for Father and Mother?”
“It’s enough. Too many sweets are hard to digest, you shouldn’t eat much either.”
“Then should I send a share to Third Brother too? I’ll split mine in half for him, since I only bought two packages. Husband, do you think that’s all right?”
Lu Zhi closed his eyes. “Either is fine.”
Seeing Yu Xi about to say more, Lu Zhi, at the end of his patience, said, “Until we get back to the residence, you’re not allowed to talk anymore.”
Yu Xi said, “Then can I talk again once we’re back?”
Lu Zhi said, “…Yes.”
Lu Zhi took a deep breath, looked at Yu Xi, and seeing her watching him with her large eyes, said, “When you go out and socialize from now on, every word and action reflects on the Lu family’s reputation. Remember to be careful with your words and actions, speak as little as possible. Understood?”
Having said this, seeing that Yu Xi wasn’t answering, Lu Zhi paused, then asked again, “Do you understand?”
Yu Xi was silent for a moment, then suddenly pointed at her own mouth and shook her head, saying in an extremely tiny voice, “Husband, I can’t talk.”
A vein twitched on Lu Zhi’s forehead. “…Fine.”
He glanced at her again, only to see her looking utterly innocent, and upon noticing him looking, tilted her head curiously, obedient as a rabbit.
Having confirmed she wasn’t deliberately being contrary, Lu Zhi had nothing more to say, and could only console himself, never mind.
The carriage stopped at the gate of the Lu residence. After entering, Lu Zhi went straight to the study, and Yu Xi returned to the back courtyard.
On the way, Lu Zhi ran into Lu Fan, who had just come back from school and was wandering around.
Lu Zhi called him over. “Finished your schoolwork today?”
Lu Fan nodded hurriedly. “All finished, and I even wrote two pages of calligraphy practice.”
Then, Lu Fan spoke up carefully, “Big brother, I got first place in this month’s exam! Tutor said my essay was well written, very much in your style.”
“Good,” Lu Zhi said, a trace of a smile in his eyes, patting his head. “But don’t get arrogant or complacent. Keep working hard. Understood?”
“Understood!”
Having been praised, Lu Fan couldn’t help laughing bashfully, his big brother had praised him, hehe!
Seeing him like this, Lu Zhi silently thought, such a child’s heart. “Your sister-in-law bought crispy pastry cake and was planning to send some to you. Go get it, so she doesn’t have to send someone over.”
Hearing there was crispy pastry cake, Lu Fan’s eyes lit up. He thanked Lu Zhi and ran off quickly.
Watching his retreating figure, Lu Zhi couldn’t help wondering, why did children all love such overly sweet things? Was it really that good?
·
Yu Xi had just had someone deliver a package of crispy pastry cake to Madam Lu, then split off four pieces for Xique, planning to keep the remaining seven for herself.
She’d just taken one bite when she heard Lu Fan’s loud voice approaching. “Sister-in-law! I’ve come to eat the cake!”
Yu Xi frowned, she had never intended to send him any, so where had he come from?
Lu Fan entered the room, saw the six pieces of cake in the oiled paper wrapping in front of Yu Xi, and reached out with a smile. “You don’t need to share with me, I’ll just finish it and go.”
Before his hand even reached it, Lu Fan got smacked.
Yu Xi guarded the crispy pastry cake in front of her. “Who said you could have any?”
She still remembered this brat saying she and Lu Zhi didn’t match!
Lu Fan begged her. “Give me just one bite, big brother told me to come, give me one bite quickly!”
“No,” Yu Xi said, and not only refused but ate one piece after another right in front of him. “Just no.”
Lu Fan’s mouth was watering. He wanted crispy pastry cake so badly, but his father only gave him two coins of pocket money a month, and one package of crispy pastry cake cost thirty wen.
“Please,” Lu Fan cupped his hands together, begging Yu Xi. “Sister-in-law, dear sister-in-law, please just give me one bite.”
Boys his age were the best at reading the room and switching sides, Yu Xi had grown up scheming against Yu Chao at home and had long since seen through such tricks.
Giving cake to Lu Fan would be like throwing a meat bun at a dog, gone forever with nothing in return. So Yu Xi wouldn’t give him any.
Seeing that Yu Xi wasn’t moved, Lu Fan stood up angrily. “Stingy! You won’t even give me one piece of crispy pastry cake, I’m telling big brother!”
As soon as he said this, he was grabbed by the back of his collar. Yu Xi’s voice rang out from above his head. “If you dare tattle, I’ll beat you into crispy pastry cake.”
Lu Fan immediately caved. “I was wrong, I absolutely won’t say another word.”
Before, when Yu Chao said his sister was terrifying, Lu Fan hadn’t thought much of it, always arguing that his own big brother was the scariest.
Now it was settled, the two of them were a matched pair in this family. His whole life was ruined.
The moment Yu Xi let go, Lu Fan immediately scurried off in embarrassment, not forgetting to cling to the doorframe and toss back one last line. “You’re nowhere near as good as my cousin Zhengyu! I hate you!”
Yu Xi shook her fist at the direction he’d left in, if she’d known, she’d have given that little brat a beating!
But who was Cousin Zhengyu?
Yu Xi thought about it for a moment, then quickly put it out of her mind, whoever, who cares.
That evening, after washing up, Yu Xi waited in her room for Lu Zhi to come. She’d already decided, tonight, she was absolutely going to sleep leaning on his shoulder!
The sky was fully dark and Lu Zhi still hadn’t come. Seeing Yu Xi still craning her neck to look for him, Xique couldn’t help saying, “Miss, why don’t we send someone to ask? The young master might still be busy.”
“No need,” Yu Xi said, getting up and throwing on a robe. “I’ll go ask him myself.”
Meanwhile, in the study.
Lu Zhi had just finished the last document and was about to turn in when he heard footsteps outside.
Then came Yu Xi’s voice. “Husband, are you asleep?”
Yu Xi was peering into the study, it was so late, why was the light still on? He should be resting.
The door opened, and Lu Zhi asked her, “Why did you come?”
Yu Xi said with a smile, “I came to call you back to sleep!”
As soon as she said this, the servants around them all lowered their heads.
Lu Zhi glanced at her loosely wrapped outer robe. “Come in and talk.”
Yu Xi happily entered the study, and as soon as she stepped in, smelled the scent of ink. There were so many books in the study, she looked around and thought, no wonder it’s called a study!
Lu Zhi closed the door, then said to her, “From now on, I’ll come to the back courtyard once every ten days. I’ll have the attendant notify you in advance, you don’t need to come looking for me specially.”
“Once every ten days?” Yu Xi looked at him and shook her head immediately. “No, that’s too little.”
Lu Zhi paused, not expecting her to say this. “Then how often would you want me to come?”
“Every day, of course!” Yu Xi said, twisting her handkerchief as she looked at him, not seeing anything wrong with what she’d said. “Everyone sleeps together every day.”
In the romance novels Yu Xi read, the male and female leads slept together every day. Once every ten days was far too little.
Lu Zhi had no idea who this “everyone” she spoke of referred to, but to him, once every ten days was already enough to give Yu Xi due respect and dignity, any more than that, he simply couldn’t manage.
He lowered his eyes. “Once every ten days. No more discussion.”
Seeing him like this, Yu Xi drooped her head, dispirited. “Fine.”
She’d find a way somehow! She would definitely manage to sleep together every day!
Having said his piece, Lu Zhi saw she still hadn’t left. “What is it?”
He saw Yu Xi fidgeting, a blush rapidly spreading across her cheeks. “Husband, I want that… you know, that! Can we do it one more time?”