A Kiss, A Kiss!
Qin Yu hadn’t even stepped into the room when she saw Shen Su and Yunzhi immersed in a touching display of master-servant affection.
Noticing Yun Zhi’s hesitation to reach for the dishes, Shen Su picked up a fresh pair of chopsticks and placed some meat into her bowl.
Yun Zhi, after all, was accustomed to being a maid. Sharing a table with her mistress was unthinkable even glancing too long at the dishes would have been crossing a line.
Though she and Shen Su now treated each other as sisters, deep down, Yunzhi still regarded Shen Su as her young mistress. When it came to actually eating, she became stiff and awkward, only picking at the rice in her bowl, not daring to touch the other dishes.
“Eat more. Look how thin you are a gust of wind could blow you away.”
As Shen Su served her food, Yunzhi eagerly lifted her bowl to receive it. For a moment, Qin Yu stood outside the door, feeling somewhat out of place.
Qin Yu fell silent.
This was her room, wasn’t it? Right?
Shen Su was sitting in her premium suite, using her ice basin, eating the meal she had ordered and then enthusiastically serving a maid.
“This is really good,” Shen Su said, her eyes lighting up as she urged Yunzhi to try it. “Quick, taste this garlic shrimp!”
Yunzhi finally picked up a piece, and after tasting it, her face brightened with delight. “It’s delicious! So delicious, miss! I’ve never had shrimp this good before.”
A memory surfaced, making her nose tingle. “When I was little, my father caught some tiny shrimp to make porridge, but I never got to taste any.”
“When the porridge was done, the smell was so tempting. I couldn’t resist dipping my finger along the edge of the pot to sneak a taste. My grandma grabbed me by the ear and scolded me, saying I was greedy, a starving ghost reborn, and that I’d never find a husband.”
In their village, favoring sons over daughters was the norm.
In many households, women weren’t even allowed to eat at the table. After cooking, they’d take their bowls and sit by the stove to eat alone.
That was the life Yunzhi had grown up with.
Thinking back, Yunzhi felt like crying. Though her current life wasn’t easy, it was infinitely better than before.
Just look even a lowly servant like her now had the chance to sit at a table and eat.
Yunzhi sniffled, her eyes reddening as she looked at Shen Su. “It’s only today that I’ve learned how delicious shrimp can be.”
Shen Su smiled, her eyes crinkling. “Isn’t it good? Have some more.”
“Honestly, it’s been a long time since I’ve had this too,” Shen Su said softly. “I’d almost forgotten what shrimp tasted like.”
“But,” she added, tilting her head playfully at Yun Zhi, her tone light and casual, “if you can’t have garlic shrimp, you can always try the garlic instead.”
If you can’t change your circumstances, then do your best to find joy within them even if it means deceiving yourself.
Shen Su, trapped in her own struggles, couldn’t offer Yunzhi comforting words like “girls can achieve great things too.”
Yunzhi looked up at her.
Shen Su was already digging into her meal with gusto. “This garlic is so fragrant too.”
At first glance, Shen Su seemed like a dazzling peony bathed in sunlight someone raised amidst gold, silver, and jade, untouched by worldly concerns, always holding her head high.
But in truth, Shen Su was more like grass pushing through cracks in the rocks forever reaching for the sun, tender yet unyielding.
Yunzhi picked up her chopsticks and began serving Shen Su in return, her spirits lifting. “This garlic sauce is amazing. I never liked the smell of garlic before, but the way they’ve prepared it here is just delicious.”
Shen Su nodded repeatedly, “Yes!”
The two of them chatted back and forth while sharing the dishes on the table, completely disregarding the etiquette of “no talking during meals or before sleep.”
After finishing the meal, Shen Su rubbed her round belly, squinting her eyes in satisfaction like a contented kitten.
Yunzhi cleared the dishes, placing them in a food box to carry outside. “Then, Miss, you should rest. I’ll be leaving now. If you need anything, just call for me loudly.”
Yunzhi was still concerned about Shen Su’s earlier “crying” and couldn’t help but remind her before leaving.
Shen Su waved her hand, “Got it, got it.”
As Yunzhi reached the doorway, she “coincidentally” ran into Qin Yu. Immediately, she lifted the food box with both hands and bowed her head in greeting, “Young Master Qin.”
Qin Yu nodded slightly and stepped into the room.
Yunzhi let out a sigh of relief and carried the food box downstairs.
She couldn’t help but marvel inwardly, what luck! Thankfully, Qin Yu had just finished eating and was coming upstairs. Otherwise, she would’ve spent the entire meal on edge, unable to savor a single bite.
“You’ve finished eating?” Shen Su asked as soon as Qin Yu entered, eager to share. “Today’s food was especially delicious.”
Qin Yu sat at the table, pouring herself a cup of water without even glancing at Shen Su.
Shen Su tilted her head in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
She leaned in, standing in front of Qin Yu with her hands on her knees as she bent down to look at her, asking softly, “Who made my lady angry? I’ll grab a shoulder pole and go beat them up!”
Shen Su was too close, and Qin Yu finally reacted.
She furrowed her brows, leaning back slightly as she glared at Shen Su, trying to put some distance between them.
Shen Su suddenly grinned and deliberately blew air at her. “I ate garlic.”
She puckered her lips playfully, pretending to go in for a kiss. “Come on, sister, give me a smooch~”
Qin Yu, “…”
Sorry, but with that garlic breath, she really couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Qin Yu raised a hand to push Shen Su’s face away, her entire being radiating refusal.
Her palm had touched Shen Su’s lips, and she even pulled out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe her hand in disgust.
Shen Su watched her with amusement, grinning as if observing a big dog licking its paw.
After a full meal, bending over was uncomfortable, so Shen Su crouched in front of Qin Yu and poked her calf. “Who upset you?”
It was only when she looked up that Shen Su noticed fine beads of sweat at Qin Yu’s temples.
But Qin Yu rarely sweated.
Shen Su blinked, as if she had guessed something.
Young Miss Qin had gone downstairs to eat earlier than her and should’ve finished long ago. Moreover, she wouldn’t have been idly chatting with the men downstairs, so logically, she should’ve returned half an incense stick’s time ago.
Shen Su paused slightly. “Why didn’t you come in?”
Qin Yu must have seen her and Yunzhi eating in the room and, not wanting to make Yunzhi uncomfortable, decided to wait outside until they finished.
Qin Yu’s expression finally softened a little as she looked down at Shen Su. “Just standing to aid digestion.”
A glimmer of laughter appeared in Shen Su’s eyes.
She stood up, took Qin Yu’s cup, rinsed her mouth with water, and after confirming there was no lingering taste, kissed the corner of Qin Yu’s lips.
It seemed she had successfully cheered her up, because Qin Yu, though sitting primly, asked her, “What else do you want to eat tonight? Just tell the innkeeper directly and have him make it for you.”
Oh, Shen Su had plenty of cravings.
The two took an afternoon nap and didn’t leave the room until nearly dusk.
Though the heat outside still lingered, it was nowhere near as oppressive as it had been at noon.
Qingmu and the others had already gone out to enjoy themselves, so Qin Yu and Shen Su were among the last to leave.
“Buying clothes?” Manager Zhou enthusiastically recommended a few shops. “By the way, there’s a Qin Family tailor shop in the west of the city. Would the young master like to take a look?”
Qin Yu glanced back. Although the red marks on Shen Su’s body had faded, she might still be uncomfortable. Making a special trip to the Qin Family shop seemed a bit excessive. “Let’s just look around nearby.”
Shen Su and Yunzhi had no spare clothes to change into, so Qin Yu took them to buy a few outfits.
There was also the jade hairpin in Shen Su’s hair, which still belonged to Qin Yu. She planned to buy her a gold hairpin instead.
Shen Su’s bright and striking features would suit gold hairpins well.
Manager Zhou chuckled and remarked casually, “The young master is very good to Miss Su.”
Qin Yu paused. “Am I?”
Manager Zhou also hesitated. “Aren’t you? I dote on my wife to this extent buying clothes and jewelry for her.”
After hearing this, Qin Yu reflected that she had indeed been quite good to “Su Qingqing.”
But her initial intention had been to eliminate “Su Qingqing” after using her.
“Su Qingqing” was clever, and because she was clever, she knew how to please Qin Yu. Such a person was a potential threat.
Even if “Su Qingqing” appeared harmless and delicate, a woman who dared to drug her, climb into her bed at night, and even preserve her chastity while escaping from bandits with Yunzhi couldn’t possibly be as meek as a kitten.
Qin Yu rubbed her fingertips thoughtfully.
Shen Su, seeing her approach, blushed at the ears and extended her fair, slender hand toward Qin Yu with sparkling eyes.
Palm facing up.
Qin Yu, who had been holding one hand behind her back, lowered it and hesitated for a moment before preparing to place her fingers in Shen Su’s palm. Then she heard Shen Su sweetly say:
“Lend me one tael of silver. I’ll repay you tenfold tonight.”
Qin Yu: “Oh.”
Borrowing money.
“Gambling?” Qin Yu frowned. “How else would you repay tenfold?”
“Not gambling,” Shen Su shook her head, her tone mysterious. “I’m buying something. As for how I’ll repay you, you’ll find out tonight.”
Shen Su sent Yunzhi to pick out a few books for her, planning to study them intensively.
Qin Yu simply untied the money pouch from her waist and handed it to Shen Su. “Take as much as you need.”
Consider it a small compensation.
After “Su Qingqing” met her end, Qin Yu would find her closest relatives and treat them well, a way to fulfill filial duties on her behalf.
Shen Su had no idea what Qin Yu was thinking. She took one tael of silver from the pouch and handed it to Yunzhi, instructing, “Get the bold and explicit ones.”
Yunzhi hadn’t even left yet, but her face was already burning. The silver in her hand felt scorching. She whispered, “What counts as bold and explicit?”
Shen Su thought for a moment. “The kind where you can’t bear to look after flipping through, that’s what I want.”
Yunzhi: “…”
Yunzhi went to buy the books while Qin Yu took Shen Su to shop for clothes.
From undergarments to outer robes, they bought about five or six sets, even selecting matching shoes.
Shen Su hadn’t felt this carefree in a long time. Like a butterfly, she flitted among the colorful garments in the tailor shop.
Inside the shop, Qin Yu sat in a chair, her long legs crossed, sipping a cup of cold tea as she patiently waited for Shen Su to pick her clothes.
“How about this pink one?” Shen Su smiled brightly, holding up a ruqun to her body.
Qin Yu nodded. “Buy it.”
For someone destined to die, this was compensation.
“And this blue one?”
“Buy it.”
She might feel a bit guilty towards Shen Su, but if it made her happy, then so be it.
“This soft yellow one seems to match my skin tone better.”
“Buy that too.” Qin Yu nodded.
Let it all be buried with her.
Shen Su blinked, sensing that the young mistress was unusually accommodating today, as if granting her every wish.
“Miss, would you like the one in your hands as well?” The shop assistant was practically beaming, thrilled to have such a generous customer today.
Noticing Shen Su silently running her fingers over a pale blue silk dress, her long lashes lowered like crow feathers, he finally spoke up.
Shen Su snapped out of her thoughts and smiled. “Yes.”
She didn’t even need to ask Qin Yu this time.
“Huh? Doesn’t that person in the shop look just like the young master?”
Someone outside muttered.
“Look alike? You idiot, that is the young master! Can’t you see Miss Su is there too?”
Qin Yu turned her head at the sound and saw Chen San and his group passing by outside.
This town really was too small even a casual stroll could lead to an encounter.
Chen San and the others seemed to have just come from somewhere else, shoving and jostling each other as they walked. When they passed the clothing shop, one of them casually glanced inside and spotted Qin Yu and Shen Su.
Qin Yu’s gaze swept over them before she looked away, sipping her bitter chrysanthemum tea in silence.
She had already laid the groundwork for dealing with Chen San. She could take care of him anytime.
But as she drank the bitter tea, she hesitated.
Once everything was settled, she’d have to eliminate “Su Qingqing”.
But aside from knowing her secret, “Su Qingqing” hadn’t actually done anything wrong.
Especially when Shen Su leaned closer and whispered, “I picked out a bellyband for you.”
Qin Yu’s frown deepened.
See? “Su Qingqing” even bought clothes for her!
Even if it was with her own money.
Qin Yu thought, maybe she could delay it a little longer.