Chapter 5

I couldn’t be bothered with them.

I’d been busy lately. Busy bringing Qingfeng food.

Zhou Jichuan had so many pastries he couldn’t finish them. Whenever he gave me the leftovers, I secretly took them to Qingfeng.

Qingfeng accepted the pastries, the tips of his ears turning pink. “Thank you, Miss Xiao Qiao.”

I leaned closer. “Qingfeng, let me feed you.”

He was just opening his mouth.

A heavy stamp of a foot sounded behind us.

We both turned. Zhou Jichuan stood beneath the covered walkway, his face thunderous, his eyes practically popping out.

[You little brat! I give her food out of the goodness of my heart, and she turns around and feeds it to Qingfeng?]

[She’s never fed me! Not once! Boohoohoo… ┭┮﹏┭┮]

[What’s so good about Qingfeng? Is he richer than me? Better-looking than me?]

He raised a hand and pointed at me, signaling for me to come inside.

I stuffed the remaining pastries into Qingfeng’s arms and took the opportunity to feel his chest.

Lovely~

Zhou Jichuan called me into his room, spread out some paper, and wrote furiously:

“Why did you give Qingfeng the pastries I gave you?”

“He doesn’t like sweet things.”

I thought for a moment. “Then perhaps you could give me savory pastries next time, my lord.”

His brush hand trembled. He wrote again: “Since when have you two been so close?”

Puzzled, I said, “We’ve always been this close.”

“Oh, my lord!”

Something suddenly occurred to me. Twisting my fingers shyly, I asked, “How many people are in Qingfeng’s family? What sort of girl does he like? Do you think someone like me would suit him?”

The comments had said I’d marry him sooner or later, after all. I might as well bring it up first.

Zhou Jichuan’s brush clattered to the floor.

[Xiao Qiao likes Qingfeng?]

[She said she likes Qingfeng? Wants to marry Qingfeng?]

[Why why why WHY????!!!! AAAAAH!!!! What have I done wrong????]

I scratched my head.

What did he mean, why?

Anyone with eyes could see Qingfeng’s good points.

I pressed him. “Well, my lord? Will you agree or not?”

He shook his head like a rattle drum.

[Agree, my foot! Not a chance!]

[I’ll transfer Qingfeng! Put him on night-soil duty! Let him empty chamber pots for the rest of his life!]

I’d still like him if he emptied chamber pots.

Zhou Jichuan bent to retrieve his brush, scrawled a line, and pushed it toward me:

“He won’t do. He doesn’t like you.”

I tilted my head. “How do you know, my lord? I’ll ask him myself.”

He caught my sleeve, hurriedly dipped his brush in ink, and wrote:

“I asked him.”

Really?

That was a pity, but never mind.

The comments had said he’d become my husband eventually. All I had to do was wait for Zhou Jichuan to marry me off to him.

The comments:

[The supporting girl actually wants to marry the guard?]

[But doesn’t she like the hero? This isn’t the right script, is it?]

[Why does it feel as though the hero is terrified she’ll leave?]

Of course he was afraid I’d leave.

After all, no one in the world understood him better than I did.