With such an obvious look, how could Bai Hedu not notice?
A trace of helplessness passed through his heart.
He had never cared much about others’ feelings, but when he thought that if he agreed to Wu Xiaoya, she might become unhappy—losing her lively spirit and turning dull again—he said—
“Choose something else.”
Yun Manxia felt a weight lift from her heart, and the corners of her lips curved slightly upward.
Wu Xiaoya was unwilling to give up and wanted to say more, but when she met the man’s gaze, her breath caught.
“…I haven’t thought of anything yet.”
She bit her lip, lowered her head, and didn’t dare speak further.
Bai Hedu said, “Then think it through before telling me.”
“…Ninth Master, I’ll go get back to work,” Wu Xiaoya said, turning to leave.
“Stop.”
Her heart skipped a beat, unease rising.
At that moment, Aunt Wu came over to plead for her daughter. “Ninth Master, Xiaoya has been spoiled by me and doesn’t understand things well. I hope you won’t hold it against her.”
Bai Hedu raised his eyes, his tone calm and unreadable. “Aunt Wu, since you know she doesn’t understand things, then teach her properly. I don’t want her to still not know how to speak to Madam, and I don’t want today’s incident to happen again.”
Aunt Wu’s expression changed slightly.
She understood the warning.
In the past, whenever she spoke, Ninth Master would give her some face. But today, it was clear he was displeased, disregarding her dignity and admonishing her in front of so many servants.
Lowering her head, she hurriedly said, “Yes, Ninth Master, I will teach Xiaoya well.”
Bai Hedu nodded. “Go back to your work.”
Aunt Wu quickly pulled Wu Xiaoya away.
Bai Hedu glanced at the bouquet placed to the side and extended his hand.
Lin Shen understood and brought it over.
The bouquet was beautiful, a fiery red color, just like romantic roses.
Yun Manxia hadn’t reacted yet when the bouquet was suddenly handed to her.
She lowered her head in a daze.
Seeing that she didn’t take it, Bai Hedu asked, slightly puzzled, “You don’t like it?”
Yun Manxia’s heartbeat quickened. “I like it!”
She carefully held the bouquet in her arms, her slender fingers gently brushing the delicate petals. The more she looked, the more she liked it.
Looking at her face, even more radiant than the flowers, Bai Hedu asked, “Are you happy now?”
“What?” Yun Manxia looked at him in confusion.
At the side, Lin Shen spoke, “This morning, Ninth Master noticed you seemed a little unhappy, so he prepared this bouquet.”
Yun Manxia froze. She hadn’t expected such thoughtfulness behind this gift.
Her heart swelled with emotion, and she couldn’t help thinking of her previous life again.
How much had he quietly done for her that she never knew about?
Seeing she didn’t respond, Bai Hedu frowned slightly. “If…”
Before he could finish, a fragrant presence rushed into his arms—the girl’s soft body hugging him.
“I’m very happy! Husband, thank you!”
The rest of his words were instantly swallowed. His tall figure stiffened slightly, but he didn’t push her away.
Instead, Yun Manxia became shy herself and quickly stood up, her cheeks flushed. “I’ll go put the flowers away!”
With that, she ran upstairs as if escaping, her footsteps echoing—tap tap tap.
Wu Xiaoya had just finished speaking with Aunt Wu and was about to return to her room when she saw Yun Manxia run past her holding the bouquet. She gritted her teeth in hatred.
Someone tagged her in a group chat.
[Guoguo: @Yaya Xiaoya, when will the flowers arrive? I’m already looking forward to them!]
Irritation surfaced in her eyes as Wu Xiaoya quickly typed.
[Yaya: Sorry, something unexpected came up. I can’t deliver them anymore.]
Yun Manxia returned to her room, placed the bouquet down, and went downstairs again—only to find that Bai Hedu was still there.
Her steps paused, but she still walked over and sat on the single sofa beside him—the closest spot to him.
“You put them in your room?” he asked.
“Mhm!” Yun Manxia nodded. Then her delicate brows furrowed slightly in concern. “If I just leave them like that, will they wilt quickly? Maybe I should find a bigger vase and put them in water? At least they’ll last longer.”
Seeing her think so seriously about it, clearly cherishing the bouquet, Bai Hedu’s cold expression softened slightly.
“Why were you unhappy this morning?” he asked.
Hearing this, Yun Manxia glanced at him, then pouted and muttered something softly.
“What?” Bai Hedu didn’t catch it.
Yun Manxia raised her head, her voice louder, a little annoyed. “I said, why did you let Wu Xiaoya change your medicine last night?!”
Her cheeks puffed up. “You’re not without a wife! How can you let another woman do something like that? Can’t you have some awareness as a married man?”
“Cough!”
Lin Shen, who had been secretly drinking water nearby, choked immediately.
Yun Manxia and Bai Hedu both looked at him.
Bai Hedu narrowed his eyes slightly.
Lin Shen’s heart tightened. He quickly put down his cup, grabbed a file bag nearby, and said seriously, “Cough, Ninth Master, I’ll take these to the study.”
He hurried off, not daring to stay a second longer—afraid that “married man” Ninth Master would find him an eyesore.
Bai Hedu withdrew his gaze, somewhat stunned, a strange feeling stirring in his heart.
“…You were unhappy because of this?”
“Isn’t this enough reason to be unhappy?” Yun Manxia said, sounding aggrieved. Her voice suddenly softened, and her bright, beautiful eyes dimmed. “Or do you think that since we haven’t registered our marriage yet, you don’t consider me your wife?”
Bai Hedu: “…That’s not what I think.”
The decisive and commanding Ninth Master Bai, who always made firm decisions, suddenly didn’t know what to do.
Looking at his gloomy little wife, he said helplessly, “I didn’t have her change my medicine. It’s always been Ning Fei. He had something to attend to last night and left early, so I told him to find any servant. Who told you I asked Wu Xiaoya?”
“Really?” Yun Manxia suddenly looked up, her eyes lighting up again.
“Really,” he said, his voice carrying a gentleness he didn’t even notice.
Yun Manxia finally smiled again. Holding his arm, she spoke in a coaxing tone, “Then when will we go register our marriage?”
Her tone tried to sound casual, but a hint of shyness remained.
Bai Hedu paused, then said calmly, “After my leg injury recovers.”
Not long after, she ran upstairs happily, preparing to place the bouquet into a large vase.
Bai Hedu watched her slender, graceful figure, his gaze gradually darkening.
Thinking of his own condition, his hand tightened slightly on the armrest, a shadow passing over his expression.
Closing his eyes, a heavy gloom settled over him.
Register the marriage?
As someone who was dying, was it necessary for him to delay a girl like her?
He hadn’t cared about the previous ones, but Yun Manxia… made him hesitate.