Chapter 3

Chapter 3

We dandies all share one defining trait.

We are fiercely loyal.

So when Mother and my two sisters-in-law called me into the room and asked what I thought of Xie Jinghong, I gestured wildly with excitement. “He’s wonderful! Talented and good-looking-I like him so much! Mother, why don’t you give his family a little more as betrothal gifts?”

Mother tapped me on the forehead. “Since when does a girl give a man betrothal gifts?”

“Didn’t you say that after Xie Jinghong and I marry, he’ll live with me at our home?”

I hugged Mother’s arm and shook it. “Isn’t that basically him marrying into my family? By both sentiment and reason, we should be the ones giving the dowry.”

My eldest sister-in-law glanced at me.

“Yaoyao has a point, Mother. The Xie Clan’s current circumstances are rather poor. Since we are to become in-laws, even if there isn’t much else we can help with, we can at least lend a hand with the young masters’ and young ladies’ tuition.”

I nodded vigorously.

My second sister-in-law smiled as well. “That’s right, Mother. If the Xie Clan does better, Yaoyao will do better too.”

I continued nodding with all my might.

Mother sighed.

“Very well. That child Jinghong-I truly do like him. Eying, prepare another generous gift and send it to the Xie Clan. Tell Madam Xie as well that if the children are willing, I can send them to Huaishan Academy to study.”

My eldest sister-in-law nodded. “Yes.”

“Thank you, Mother! Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law!”

I cheered and threw my arms around Mother and my sisters-in-law. Amid their laughing scolds, I ran to the front courtyard to tell Xie Jinghong the good news.

But when I entered the courtyard, I found Xie Jinghong holding a needle, mending his torn sleeve.

Pale sunlight spilled through the window lattice onto him, and for a moment, I felt as if I had returned to that summer afternoon six years ago.

I had woken from my nap feeling restless and stifled, so I wandered over to the lotus pond to sit for a while.

Only when I reached the pond did I realize there was someone in the classroom beside it.

Xie Jinghong sat by the window, head lowered as he wrote something.

Suddenly, a light breeze swept over the lotus pond and drifted into the classroom.

Xie Jinghong lifted his head into the wind and caught a tiny flower petal that had fallen from who knew where. He gazed at it for a moment, and on that face, which was usually so solemn, there appeared a faint, gentle smile.

But the smile vanished almost as soon as it came, because he noticed me and turned to look in my direction.

The two figures abruptly overlapped.

Xie Jinghong paused slightly, then set down the needle and thread with some awkwardness. “Lady Yao, were you looking for me?”

For some reason, my joy dimmed a little.

I haltingly told him the good news.

Xie Jinghong’s expression was complicated.

He was silent for a while, then carried a tea tray to the stone table in the courtyard and gestured for me to sit.

“When you and I meet, propriety dictates it should be in the main hall. But now… I can only wrong you by having you sit outside.”

“It’s all right. The weather is nice. It’s more comfortable outdoors.”

For some reason, I did not mock him for being even more old-fashioned than my father. I even obediently picked up the teacup.

“I thought you disliked me very much,” Xie Jinghong said softly.

I did not hear him clearly. “What?”

“Nothing.” He looked away. “Thank you. I… Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No-”

I was just about to shake my head when inspiration suddenly struck. “Actually, there is!”