Chapter 104
Chapter 104
Shen Si was standing rather close to her – only a step or two away.
He did not look at her. His expression remained aloof, as though he had merely wandered to her side by chance.
Her heart stopped for a beat, and an inexplicable nervousness welled up inside her.
Then she remembered that Old Madam Shen was fond of Third Younger Sister, and that Shen Si would eventually marry her. Another strange emotion stirred within her. It was not jealousy. Perhaps she simply felt that Third Younger Sister should not marry him.
She had just never imagined that Shen Si would one day be with another woman. Shen Si, who had helped her so much these past few days – Lord Shen, who had always seemed so austere and distant in her eyes – would soon have another woman standing by his side.
She herself would be leaving the capital soon. This would most likely be the last time they ever saw each other.
She told herself she ought to be happy for Shen Si. Third Younger Sister was a fine woman too.
Watching Ji Hanyi from the corner of his eye, Shen Si slowed his steps and asked in a low voice, “Have you been well lately?”
Ji Hanyi paused with him and answered with proper courtesy, “I have.”
The woman before him was lovely and demure. Shen Si’s gaze settled on her fair earlobe. Beneath the fine wisps of hair, he could just make out the tiny piercing in it. Her earlobe was plump and delicately rounded.
He wondered what it would feel like if he reached out and rubbed it.
She looked lovely in earrings too. That day in the carriage, when she had leaned into his arms, her blue-green earrings had kept swaying, nearly mesmerizing him completely.
He asked, “Why aren’t you wearing earrings today?”
Ji Hanyi froze, not expecting Shen Si to ask such a question out of nowhere.
After a moment, she replied, “It wouldn’t be appropriate right now.”
Shen Si raised a brow. “Why not?”
Ji Hanyi could not understand why Shen Si was asking about something so trivial. Could a pair of earrings possibly matter?
Still, she answered honestly, “Because I have only just divorced. I should dress more modestly and keep a low profile.”
Shen Si pressed his lips together. His gaze moved to the silver clasp on the pale blue collar of Ji Hanyi’s dress, slightly tarnished with age, then to the full, vivid lips beneath her fair chin, bright even without rouge.
He looked away toward the pavilion in the distance and said softly, “You look beautiful in earrings.”
Ji Hanyi’s heart quivered. She could neither read Shen Si nor understand why he had said such a thing. Nor could she fathom what he meant by it.
Yet that seemingly casual remark left a mark upon her heart.
She did not know what it was. She only felt faintly nervous.
They were both walking very slowly now. Ji Hanyi had intended to catch up with the others ahead, but Shen Si had stopped, and since she was in the middle of speaking to him, it would have been rude to walk away.
Up ahead, Old Madam Shen and Gu Wanyun had already reached the nearby covered bridge. When Old Madam Shen glanced back, she saw Shen Si and Ji Hanyi standing together.
Gu Wanyun stared at the scene in surprise. Marquis Shen had not uttered a word since arriving, his expression cold and distant, yet now he was inclining his head slightly as he looked at Ji Hanyi.
She could not make out his expression, but she could almost feel the intensity of his gaze.
There seemed to be a trace of warmth in the way he looked at her cousin.
Old Madam Shen had noticed them as well.
She did not think much of it. For one thing, if Shen Si had harbored feelings for Ji Hanyi, he would have arranged their betrothal years ago. For another, Ji Hanyi had already married and become another man’s wife. Whatever else might be said of her son, he was certainly an upright man. He would never entertain improper thoughts about a married woman.
Seeing Gu Wanyun watching the pair, she smiled and said, “Hanyi often visited Ah Si’s study in the past. They shared a bond when they were young. After not seeing each other for so many years, it’s only natural for them to reminisce.”
At those words, the discomfort that had just risen in Gu Wanyun’s heart subsided somewhat.
That was true. Marquis Shen and her cousin had known each other before. There was nothing improper about them exchanging a few words.
She nodded lightly, then linked arms with Old Madam Shen again. “Then should we wait here for them?”
“No need,” Old Madam Shen replied. “We’ll go on ahead. I’ll send someone to call them over.”
Gu Wanyun murmured her assent and took a couple of steps, but she still could not resist looking back in Ji Hanyi’s direction.
From where she stood, Marquis Shen was directly in front of Ji Hanyi, his tall figure seeming to envelop her in his embrace. The sight stirred an unexpected surge of jealousy in Gu Wanyun’s heart.
She had never been that close to Marquis Shen before.
Meanwhile, Ji Hanyi watched as Old Madam Shen’s party disappeared into the distance. Shen Si remained where he was, showing no intention of following them.
She could not help looking up at him. “Shouldn’t we go over now?”
After all, Old Madam Shen had probably arranged today’s outing specifically for Shen Si and Third Younger Sister. It did not seem quite appropriate for the two of them to remain here talking alone.
Shen Si glanced in the direction the others had gone, shadows settling in his dark eyes, before lowering his gaze to Ji Hanyi once more.
He had not seen her in several days.
Now that the others had left, no one else was around. There were none of those bothersome old maids or servant girls. In the tranquil silence, it was just the two of them.
Shen Si said nothing. His lowered gaze quietly traveled over Ji Hanyi inch by inch.
Even dressed in plain colors without a trace of makeup, the faint orchid fragrance around her slipped into his every breath, making him recall again and again how she had taken the initiative to press her lips to his that night.
She had haunted his thoughts day and night, leaving him tossing and turning in bed.
So this was what it meant to have a taste and crave more.
When she had fallen into the water all those years ago, he had merely brushed against her lips, yet the memory had remained with him for five years. Now that he had tasted her soul-stealing sweetness, he could no longer deceive himself into letting her go.
He dwelled endlessly on the slightest change in her expression and pondered over every word she had ever spoken to him.
He had lost control. It was painful and tormenting, yet there was also a kind of sweet surrender he willingly indulged in.
Shen Si took a step toward Ji Hanyi. Her slight figure looked as though he could gather her entirely into his arms with the slightest reach. He wanted very much to hold her.
He only wanted to hold her.
He only wanted her to understand how much he had missed her these past several days. He had gone to endless lengths just to find a reasonable excuse to see her.
Yet the moment he stepped closer, the woman before him retreated a step. He stopped, his tightly pressed lips concealing every trace of emotion.
He wondered how one was supposed to approach a woman one loved.
How was he supposed to make his feelings known without making her feel he was being too forward?
He did not know.
No one had ever taught him.
Whenever he saw her, his only thought was to draw closer, to be intimate with her, to feel her skin against his, and to do every tender, passionate thing imaginable with her.
Clearly, none of that could be said to her directly.
At the moment, Shen Si did not care about anyone else.
After a long silence, he finally said, “I have Tang Yu’s original Autumn Clearing over Streams and Mountains in my study.”
Ji Hanyi froze again.
She had always wanted to see the original painting. Her father had once owned a copy, and he too had regretted never seeing the original.
She had assumed the original no longer existed. As it turned out, Shen Si had it.
But why would Shen Si suddenly mention this to her? Did he know which paintings she liked?
Her heart skipped a beat, and her thoughts began to run wild again. Could a man as indifferent to everything as Shen Si truly have paid attention to what she liked?
While she was still lost in thought, Shen Si’s deep voice came from before her once more.
“We can go and see it together now.”