Chapter 135
Chapter 135
Ji Hanyi was taken aback when Shen Changling held out a jade pendant to her. It was a ring-shaped pendant carved with two fish, made from fine jade and clearly something he normally wore on his person. She hurriedly declined it.
She certainly could not accept Shen Changling’s personal jade pendant. They had only met a handful of times, and such an intimate gift would invite gossip if anyone saw her with it.
Shen Changling insisted on offering it to her. “It isn’t anything valuable. I have plenty of pendants. My mother told me about your divorce, and you must be facing all sorts of difficulties now. Just take it. Who knows? You might truly have need of it one day.”
“I bullied you when we were children. Consider this my apology.”
Ji Hanyi appreciated the sentiment, but so many years had passed since that childhood incident that she had long since stopped holding it against him.
She shook her head again. Before she could refuse, a hand abruptly reached between them, and long, slender fingers plucked the pendant straight from Shen Changling’s hand.
Both of them froze and looked at Shen Si, who stood before them.
His expression remained as cool and aloof as ever, but his eyes were glacial as he looked at Shen Changling. “Have you left your wits at home? Do you not understand how improper it is to exchange private gifts with a woman?”
Shen Changling had inexplicably earned another rebuke from Fifth Uncle, but he did not dare argue.
Apart from the young ladies of the Shen Residence, he spent nearly all his time at the military camp and had little contact with women. His disreputable friends sometimes summoned women to entertain them, but those women were registered as lowborn, and he had never thought to ingratiate himself with or grow close to them. With Ji Hanyi, he had simply spoken with complete sincerity, saying whatever came to mind without considering anything else.
Only after Fifth Uncle’s reprimand did realization dawn on him. His heart sank, and he hastily apologized to Ji Hanyi again.
Ji Hanyi found Shen Changling simple and guileless and did not hold it against him in the least. At least she never had to search for hidden meanings when she spoke with him or guess at his intentions.
She could not help turning toward Shen Si and putting in a word on Shen Changling’s behalf.
Shen Si pressed his lips together and regarded Ji Hanyi in silence. Then he tossed the pendant back into Shen Changling’s hand and turned away without another word.
The sudden chill in Shen Si’s expression startled Ji Hanyi, and it clearly frightened Shen Changling as well. He quietly whispered to her not to be afraid. The two of them followed behind Shen Si, no longer daring to speak, and entered the restaurant with him.
Although Ji Hanyi was supposed to be hosting the meal, Wen’an handled all the arrangements. After leading them to a private room, he finally breathed a sigh of relief as he withdrew, but not before casting another glance at Shen Changling.
How could Third Master be so utterly clueless?
Once they were seated, none of the three spoke beneath the chill of Shen Si’s expression. Even the usually talkative Shen Changling was unusually quiet.
Ji Hanyi felt even more uncomfortable. Shen Si was seated directly opposite her, and after what had happened in the carriage, she felt even more pressure than Shen Changling beside her.
The dishes were soon served. Wen’an had ordered them, but to Ji Hanyi’s surprise, several were dishes she had once loved.
She stole a glance at Shen Si. She had told Wen’an to order according to Shen Si’s tastes. Could it be that Shen Si liked the same things she did?
Ji Hanyi quickly dismissed the thought. That was impossible. He was notoriously particular about his food. He refused to eat anything even slightly too sweet, salty, sour, or spicy. She had heard that the Shen Residence maintained an entire kitchen solely for Shen Si, yet it was still frequently thrown into chaos trying to satisfy him.
When all the dishes had arrived, Shen Si did not pick up his chopsticks, so neither Ji Hanyi nor Shen Changling dared to touch theirs.
There was such an innate nobility and poise about Shen Si that his mere presence made others feel constrained.
Shen Si looked at the tense Ji Hanyi opposite him, then at Shen Changling, who was staring longingly at the food. He silently pursed his lips and picked up his chopsticks.
Only after Shen Si took the first bite did Ji Hanyi begin to eat.
Shen Si barely touched the food afterward, taking only a few bites without saying a word. Tension hung heavy in the room until he stood and said he had to step outside. At once, Ji Hanyi and Shen Changling both breathed a sigh of relief.
Shen Si took it all in, his eyes dark and impassive. He walked out and stood beneath the eaves, gazing at the lights below.
Wen’an watched his lord’s lonely figure retreat from the room. At this moment, he feared he was the only one who truly understood his lord’s disappointment.
The night breeze drifted past, but no emotion stirred in Shen Si’s silent eyes.
Around Shen Si, Ji Hanyi had never once looked as relaxed as she did in front of Shen Changling.
She could even take the initiative to plead on Shen Changling’s behalf, speak softly with him, and exchange what seemed like knowing looks. To Shen Si, every one of those things was its own exquisite torment.
He could not bear to watch any longer.
He did not like having other men around her.
Wen’an quietly approached Shen Si and murmured, “My lord, Miss Ji and Third Master are alone in there. Isn’t that somewhat inappropriate?”
Shen Si glanced coolly at Wen’an. After a brief pause, he turned and walked back inside.
He stopped at the doorway. Shen Changling’s hearty voice carried from within, followed by Ji Hanyi’s soft reply, tinged with laughter. Shen Si’s raised hand paused before he pushed open the door.
The voices inside cut off abruptly.
Shen Si looked at Ji Hanyi. A faint smile still lingered on her face, and beneath the bright lamplight, her fair complexion looked smooth and flawless.
She was lovely and demure to begin with, and all the more captivating when she smiled. How could Shen Changling not be drawn to such a sight?
Shen Changling was only twenty, close to her in age.
Shen Si lowered his gaze, hiding every trace of jealousy, and returned to his seat.
He watched Ji Hanyi take bite after bite, her cheeks puffing slightly as she chewed. This was the first time he had seen her like this. She looked utterly ravenous.
The corner of his mouth twitched. Only after she had nearly finished did he set down his wooden chopsticks, clean and dry his hands, and look toward Shen Changling.
Shen Changling froze when he caught Fifth Uncle’s gaze. Fifth Uncle had already set down his chopsticks. According to etiquette, once an elder stopped eating, the younger generation had to promptly do the same.
Still, he felt rather aggrieved. He had barely gotten the chance to speak properly with Ji Hanyi.
Now that he was seeing Ji Hanyi again, even their brief conversation had brought surprise after surprise. It turned out that she knew how to ride a horse and was also an expert at pitch-pot.
Once they began discussing pitch-pot techniques, they discovered they had a surprising amount to say to each other.
It was also the first time he had seen Ji Hanyi’s features so clearly from such a close distance. Her young face was fair and delicate, set off by her green robes, with a dainty nose and red lips. More than once, he caught himself staring.
Nothing about her suggested that she had ever been a married woman. There was something soft yet serene and resilient about her that made him want to protect her.
The mere thought that she might have a hard life after her divorce made his heart ache.
Still, he did not dare break the rules of etiquette, so he hurriedly set down his chopsticks as well.
When both Shen Changling and Shen Si stopped eating, Ji Hanyi paused in surprise. She could hardly continue while the two of them watched, so she quickly put down her chopsticks too.
On the way downstairs, Shen Changling quietly asked Ji Hanyi whether she had eaten her fill. Ji Hanyi glanced at Shen Si, who was walking ahead of them, then nodded. “I’m full.”
She truly was. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed such delicious food. She had completely forgotten the decorum expected of a well-bred young lady – the small bites and slow chewing – and simply tucked in.
Now, however, Ji Hanyi felt mostly guilty. She had intended to thank Shen Si properly, but he had barely eaten. It seemed the food at this restaurant was not to his taste.
When she went to pay the bill, Wen’an approached her with a smile. “Miss Ji, there’s no need for you to spend any money. The Marquis already had me settle the bill.”
Ji Hanyi froze again and looked toward the black-robed figure standing beside the carriage. Her guilt deepened.
By the time she reached Shen Si, she heard him telling Shen Changling to go home first.
Shen Changling looked thoroughly disappointed. He tried to glance past Fifth Uncle at Ji Hanyi to say goodbye, only for Fifth Uncle to block his view and urge him to leave at once.