Chapter 52: Chao Chao’s Reminder
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation.
Creak.
The door opened, revealing Su Zhi Qing’s face, adorned with a trace of helplessness. She called out softly, “Brother Zheng Yue.” Her voice carried a tinge of sorrow.
Lu Zheng Yue stood at the door, his heart brimming with anticipation at the thought of seeing her. But Chao Chao’s unspoken thoughts echoed in his mind—
[Even the wife was once with Lu Jing Huai.]
The realization hit him like a thunderclap.
“Brother Zheng Yue? What’s wrong? Did Madam give you a hard time?” Su Zhi Qing asked, pulling him inside. Lu Zheng Yue hesitated slightly as he stepped over the threshold.
“My little sister is outside,” he sighed, lifting his younger sibling from her perch in the corner where she had been quietly watching the scene unfold.
Though only ten months old, Lu Chao Chao was surprisingly hefty.
Su Zhi Qing’s expression flickered briefly with displeasure, though it vanished so quickly that no one noticed.
“Little Sister Chao Chao is so lovely and delicate,” she said, reaching to touch the child’s head. But Lu Chao Chao wrinkled her small face in disdain and leaned away.
“Dirty,” the baby said crisply, her small mouth uttering the word with a clarity that made Su Zhi Qing’s face turn pale.
“Chao Chao, you mustn’t be so rude,” Lu Zheng Yue said, flustered. He quickly tried to explain, “Chao Chao is too young to speak properly yet. Please don’t take her words to heart. She’s just a ten-month-old child babbling nonsense.”
Seeing Su Zhi Qing’s reddening eyes, he hurriedly placed Chao Chao on a chair and moved to console her.
Su Zhi Qing bit her lower lip, her eyes glistening but stubbornly refusing to let her tears fall. This only made Lu Zheng Yue feel even more distressed.
“It was wrong of me to reach for the moon,” Su Zhi Qing said with a resigned sigh. “I am worlds apart from you, Brother Zheng Yue. I should return home. Having your company was already a blessing I never dared dream of. I shouldn’t come between you and your family.”
Lu Zheng Yue’s heart burned with urgency.
“But you sacrificed your honor to save me,” he said fervently. “I must take responsibility. I will marry you!”
“Brother Zheng Yue!” Su Zhi Qing exclaimed, startled by his vehemence. He raised three fingers to swear an oath.
“You are a pure and innocent woman. It is I who have wronged you,” he said earnestly, though he hesitated to bring up her past with Lu Jing Huai. Her tearful gaze made it impossible for him to voice his doubts. [She saved me out of kindness. To question her would be to insult her virtue.]
Su Zhi Qing sighed softly, feigning fortitude. “Brother Zheng Yue, I don’t wish to become a source of discord for you and your family. I only hope for your happiness and peace. I have no desire to be your wife, nor to destroy your bond with Miss Wen. Allow me to stay by your side as a servant, helping Miss Wen pour tea and water. To see you every day would already be happiness enough for me.” Her gaze brimmed with sorrowful longing.
Lu Zheng Yue felt deeply moved.
[Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!]
Chao Chao’s spirited chant rang in his head, making his face flush red. He quickly stepped back, turning to see the little girl staring at him with wide, shining eyes.
His head throbbed.
Clearing his mind, Lu Zheng Yue maintained his distance from Su Zhi Qing. [After falling from the cliff, she had removed her outer robe in shyness to tend my fever. Such a pure and modest girl… it must have been her boldest act in life.]
In their three months together, he had never once crossed the line, even while harboring feelings for her. He adhered to propriety, never daring to overstep.
Su Zhi Qing’s eyes betrayed a flicker of irritation.
“How could I let you serve someone as a maid? You are from a good family, dignified and self-respecting. I would never allow you to demean yourself,” Lu Zheng Yue said firmly.
“Hee-hee,” Chao Chao chuckled gleefully.
Su Zhi Qing’s dislike for the child was clear, yet Lu Zheng Yue turned to ask, “Why is Chao Chao laughing?”
The little girl pouted and spoke in her babyish voice, “She… wants fall… into… Second Brother’s arms.”
Su Zhi Qing flushed with both embarrassment and anger.
[Hahaha!]
[Second Brother wants to be a stand-in husband!!]
Lu Zheng Yue frowned. [What does that even mean?]
[Oh, heavens have mercy on my poor Second Brother!]
Chao Chao’s eyes were filled with pity. [Second Brother, if you don’t believe me, invite your friends and the person you fancy. You’ll see… hee-hee-hee…]
Lu Zheng Yue took a deep breath and carried Chao Chao. “Zhi Qing, you’ve only just returned to the capital. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, I will introduce you to a close friend of mine.”
After a pause, he added, “He’s highly talented. You’ll surely admire him.”
Su Zhi Qing let out a light humph. “I admire no one but Brother Zheng Yue.”
When Lu Zheng Yue finally left with Chao Chao in his arms, Su Zhi Qing leaned against the doorway, staring after him with a lovestruck expression until he disappeared from sight.
As they walked, Lu Zheng Yue asked, “Chao Chao, you don’t like her?”
Neither his mother nor Chao Chao seemed fond of Su Zhi Qing.
“No,” the little one said emphatically, nodding her tiny head.
“Bad!”
Lu Zheng Yue returned Chao Chao to the Listening Wind Courtyard before heading to the Bright Virtue Courtyard to see his elder brother. He spent the late hours of the night learning about the tumultuous events that had transpired.
As the midnight hour deepened, he stood silently in a corner of the Listening Wind Courtyard, staring at the light streaming from within. Madam Xu was feeding Chao Chao egg custard when Deng Zhi approached.
“Second Young Master is outside. Should I invite him in?”
[What’s the point? Let him freeze a little. Maybe he’ll gain some clarity.]
[He made Mother ill for that woman’s sake.]
Madam Xu shook her head, choosing to ignore him.
No one knew when Lu Zheng Yue finally left.
The next morning, he took Su Zhi Qing to meet his most cherished friend. Seeing her dressed in a vibrant blue gown, his heart trembled slightly.
Lu Jing Huai’s favorite color was blue.
“Brother Zheng Yue, I didn’t want people to look down on you, so I put extra care into my attire. Do you think it looks good?” she asked, biting her lip. Her eyes sparkled with a beauty that seemed to bring her to life.
Lu Zheng Yue clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms.
“It looks beautiful. More beautiful than ever before,” he replied.
Her heart skipped a beat at his words.
“It’s all for you,” she said with a playful pout, following him into the restaurant.
Lu Zheng Yue had reserved a private room. The server led them into an elegant chamber where a young man dressed in a flowing blue robe was admiring the calligraphy on the wall.
Lu Zheng Yue suppressed the fury rising within him, the events of the previous night still vivid in his mind.
“Brother Jing Huai…” he called out.
Lu Jing Huai turned around, his gentle smile as refined as jade.
“Brother Zheng Yue.”
He exuded warmth, the very picture of a noble gentleman. Su Zhi Qing kept her head lowered, not daring to look at him, as though burdened by an overwhelming restraint. She followed closely behind Lu Zheng Yue, her unease palpable.
“How is your injury, Brother Zheng Yue?” Lu Jing Huai asked as they took their seats. Su Zhi Qing sat beside Lu Zheng Yue, directly across from Lu Jing Huai.
“Thanks to Zhi Qing’s help, I was fortunate to survive,” Lu Zheng Yue replied with a faint smile.
Lu Jing Huai’s clear gaze turned to Su Zhi Qing, and he bowed slightly in acknowledgment.
“Brother Zheng Yue and I have been friends for many years. Saving him is akin to saving me. Allow me to toast you, Miss, for your kindness.” His tone carried genuine respect.
“Young Master overpraises me. How could I stand by and do nothing for a life in peril?” she replied.
Their exchanges were measured and careful, as though treading on thin ice.