To achieve the best viewing effect for the fireworks, they were scheduled for eight o’clock in the evening.
The men chatted among themselves while Nan Chu sat beside Shang Lin, her gaze occasionally drifting toward the small desserts not far away.
Shang Lin lifted his eyes, gazing at Nan Chu’s clear features. “Hungry?”
Caught with her craving, Nan Chu didn’t hold back and nodded openly.
“I’ll get it for you.”
“No need.”
Nan Chu’s eyes curved into crescents. “I’ll just go over and eat myself.”
“Eating sweets at night can cause indigestion. Satisfy your craving, but don’t overdo it.”
Nan Chu raised an eyebrow. “Okay.”
She walked over to the dessert table and picked up the green grape crystal jelly she’d had her eye on for a while.
The jelly, green as spring water, glistened translucent under the palace lantern light.
Nan Chu picked up a spoon, scooped out a small crescent-shaped piece, and brought it to her mouth, immediately squinting in contentment.
Sweet and tangy, with a lingering fragrance on the palate.
This was the first time she’d had such an exquisite Chinese-style tea confection.
“So delicious. Is there green plum wine in this?”
“Sister-in-law has a refined palate.”
Jiang Shijie spoke with a faint smile. “It balances out the sweetness and makes the flavor fresher.”
Nan Chu looked at Shang Lin. “Want some?”
Shang Lin gave a slight shake of his head. “You go ahead.”
Xu Xiaoxiao also sidled up to the dessert table and picked up a plate of green grape crystal jelly.
“I’ll try some too.”
Xu Xiaoxiao scooped up a spoonful, and after tasting it, her eyes were full of admiration. She gave Jiang Shijie a thumbs-up.
“Your chef is something else. I studied pastry in France for years, and this is the first time I’ve had Chinese pastries with such distinctive character.”
“You flatter me.”
The conversation at the table flowed pleasantly. Midway through, Xu Xiaoxiao needed to use the restroom and dragged Nan Chu along with her.
The moment they left the room, Xu Xiaoxiao, who had been holding in her gossip all evening, finally had her chance.
She placed both hands on the ticklish spots at Nan Chu’s waist, lightly pinching them as she squinted.
“Little Chuchu, confess and get leniency, resist and get strictness. When exactly did you meet Shang Lin?”
Nan Chu couldn’t help but giggle at the teasing. “Didn’t I already tell you during the day?”
Xu Xiaoxiao kept tickling.
“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it. The way Shang Lin looks at you is practically dripping with longing.”
“With those eyes of his, he’d look at a dog and seem full of deep affection.”
“…”
Xu Xiaoxiao was a bit speechless. She stopped teasing Nan Chu and instead pushed up her non-existent glasses, analyzing with great seriousness.
“Is there a possibility that Shang Lin has had a crush on you for years, and your drunken night was just the catalyst?”
“It gave him a reason for a whirlwind marriage.”
Nan Chu chuckled. “You’re overthinking it.”
Xu Xiaoxiao raised a finger and wagged it left and right in front of Nan Chu.
“The best hunters always appear in the form of prey.”
“Think about it—during school, were there any women around Shang Lin? No.”
“After graduation, were there any women around Shang Lin? No.”
“If he doesn’t like men, then his heart belongs to someone.”
The more Xu Xiaoxiao thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. She slapped her thigh. “Case closed—the person he has a crush on is you!”
Nan Chu was momentarily stunned.
Somehow, she found herself thinking back to what Shang Lin had said at the family dinner when he’d visited the Nan household to meet her parents.
He’d said she had a crush on him for ten years.
But ten years ago, she didn’t even remember meeting Shang Lin, and the two families weren’t close enough to be considered old friends.
Nan Chu shook her head.
Impossible. Shang Lin was just trying to cover for her drunken antics so it wouldn’t reach her parents’ ears—he was deliberately helping her save face.
She analyzed it very seriously as well: “Is there a possibility that he just doesn’t want the trouble?”
“After all, feelings themselves are something that can break bones and injure muscles.”
Xu Xiaoxiao paused slightly, the joking expression on her face receding a bit.
She studied Nan Chu’s expression, knowing this had hit a sore spot for her.
Over the years, Xu Xiaoxiao had watched Nan Chu chase after Lu Si the whole time.
If Lu Si didn’t like Nan Chu, he could have just rejected her outright, but he wouldn’t. He always gave her hope just when she was about to give up.
Ugh, what a jerk!
The more Xu Xiaoxiao thought about it, the angrier she got. After hesitating for a moment, she still spoke up.
“Chuchu, then what are your thoughts on you and Shang Lin?”
Nan Chu’s voice was calm: “Let it take its course.”
“If feelings can develop between us, we’ll get along well.”
“If they can’t, being respectfully distant with each other isn’t bad either.”
Xu Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly, not knowing what else to say, so she could only offer comfort.
“Don’t worry, I have faith in you two. I think Shang Lin treats you pretty well.”
Nan Chu looked at her: “What makes you say that?”
“He seems cold and aloof, but when you took the little cakes earlier, he reminded you that eating sweets at night would cause indigestion. That’s pretty attentive.”
Nan Chu nodded: “Indeed.”
The two chatted outside for a while, then returned to the room.
When she pushed open the door, Shang Lin happened to be walking out with his phone to take a call.
The two brushed past each other, and Nan Chu could smell the cool fragrance on the man.
Steady. Calming.
The faint, lingering frustration in her heart eased a little. Looking at the exquisite pastries and snacks, she turned her emotions into appetite.
By the time Shang Lin came back, Nan Chu was holding a plum lychee crisp in one hand and a rose green fruit jelly in the other.
Just as she was about to dig in, she sensed a cool gaze landing on her plate.
Nan Chu looked back at him, then glanced down at the dish in her hand, subtly moving it back a little.
Her clear eyes blinked: “…You said earlier you didn’t want any, so I didn’t get a portion for you.”
After a second of silence, Nan Chu felt that saying it that way wasn’t quite appropriate.
Shang Lin had finished the soufflé last time, so he probably liked desserts too.
He suddenly looked at her—he must want to eat it.
Since he wanted it, she should give it to him.
Nan Chu held out the plum lychee crisp in her left hand: “Then here, you take this plum lychee crisp. I’ll go get another one.”
Shang Lin’s gaze paused slightly, then his tone carried a hint of amusement.
“They’re all yours. Eat up.”
He paused, then added: “If you like them, I’ll have the chef make them for you at Qingshan Residence tomorrow. You can’t have any more today.”
Nan Chu’s face felt a little warm, a bit embarrassed.
She knew Shang Lin meant well, so she didn’t dwell on it and nodded, saying okay.
Later, everyone chatted for a while longer. Xu Xiaoxiao was a natural at warming up to people and quickly hit it off with Shang Lin’s friends.
As for Nan Chu, she wasn’t sure if she’d simply eaten too much—all the blood flow seemed to have gone to her stomach for digestion.
Her eyelids felt heavy, and she tilted her head to rest on Shang Lin’s shoulder, actually falling asleep.
Shang Lin glanced at Nan Chu leaning against his shoulder.
Her fair cheeks were tinged with a rosy flush, soft and delicate.
Shang Lin cast a light, sidelong glare at Jiang Shijie, who immediately shrank his neck.
“I didn’t think sister-in-law would like my pastries that much. The green plum wine—it’s not strong.”
Shang Lin couldn’t be bothered with Jiang Shijie. He scooped Nan Chu up in his arms.
“I’m taking her back. You all enjoy yourselves.”
“Lin-ge, we haven’t watched the fireworks yet! There’s still five minutes…”
“No need.”
“Then let’s head straight to the room I’ve prepared for you~”
Jiang Shijie exhaled a puff of smoke, letting out a slight sigh.
Brother Lin, I’ve got everything ready for you, brother. The rest is up to you now.