Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Letter to My Wife (5)

Her gentle gaze settled on Jiang Shi Yue’s face as she spoke softly. “Miss Xiu Xiu, is Miss Zi Yu’s bangle done?”

“Yes, Miss Cheng,” Jiang Shi Yue answered honestly.

“Then can I… take a look?” Miss Cheng hesitated, her voice small.

Of course Jiang Shi Yue did not mind. She readily handed over the little wooden box.

But the round-faced maid beside her frowned on instinct, though she did not dare say anything.

Jiang Shi Yue flicked her eyes at her, then calmly looked away.

By now, Miss Cheng had carefully opened the box and gently taken out a gold bangle.

The bangle was crafted beautifully, with an openwork twin lotus pattern set with pearls and jade. On the inside, two small characters were engraved – Zi Yu.

Miss Cheng examined it closely. For some reason, the hand holding the bangle trembled slightly, but then she put on a clear, pretty smile and said gently, “I think Sister Zi Yu will love this bangle. The ends meet and link together, never ending – an eternal circle, forever round. She and Brother will live in harmony and wholeness for a lifetime.”

Before Jiang Shi Yue could speak, Miss Cheng’s maid suddenly cut in. “Miss, your health isn’t good. The wind is strong outside. You should go back and rest – don’t catch a chill.”

Miss Cheng did not say anything else. She only nodded, carefully put the bangle back into the wooden box, and returned it to Jiang Shi Yue with both hands.

“Miss Cheng, I won’t disturb you any longer,” Jiang Shi Yue said with a bright smile as she hugged the wooden box and followed the round-faced little girl again.

After passing through a narrow corridor, they came to a wide garden. On a bench beside it sat a young man reading.

He had handsome brows and eyes and wore a suit, holding an English book. If he could read English, he must have received a Western education. And with the Cheng Family’s wealth, it was no surprise that Young Master Cheng had studied abroad.

“Young Master, Miss Xiu Xiu is here,” the round-faced maid said immediately and respectfully.

Young Master Cheng lacked the arrogance of a spoiled rich boy. Instead, he was especially approachable. He gave Jiang Shi Yue a warm smile, took the wooden box, and set it casually to the side. “Miss Xiu Xiu, it’s finished, is it? You really put your honored father to trouble.”

“As long as Miss Zi Yu likes it,” Jiang Shi Yue said with a smile, drawing her gaze away from the box. “Oh, right, Young Master Cheng. I ran into Miss just now. She said ‘forever round, forever whole,’ and wished you and Miss Zi Yu an everlasting union.”

When he heard that, Young Master Cheng seemed to freeze for a moment. A flicker of awkwardness crossed his face, but he quickly returned to his gentle, polished look, as if it were all an illusion. He was just about to speak when fine threads of rain suddenly began to fall.

He looked up at the sky, brushed the cool rain with his fingers, and could not help sighing. “Miss Xiu Xiu, it’s almost evening. I’m afraid there’s going to be a storm. If you don’t mind, rest in the guest room for the night. I’ll have someone inform your honored father.”

Jiang Shi Yue did not mind at all. She was not shy about it either, and nodded with a cheerful grin. “Then thank you, Young Master Cheng!”

The round-faced maid quickly led Jiang Shi Yue away. When they reached the guest room, it was comfortable despite the name. Behind a folding screen stood a traditional mortise-and-tenon canopy bed, rosewood inlaid with zitan and carved with delicate chi-dragon patterns, and the two layers of bed curtains were gathered into a half-moon shape.