Chapter 38: Peeping

"I did not smile," Xue Ao maintained a stern face, yet the laughter in his eyes could not be concealed.

With her head lowered, Liu Chuyan naturally didn't notice it and remained silent, unwilling to acknowledge him.

Seeing her wordless, Xue Ao pressed a handkerchief into her palm. "Wipe your tears, or the ointment on your face will be wasted."

"I don't need your concern." Liu Chuyan covered her face, refusing to accept it.

Covering her face like this was futile, for the ointment would only smear onto her hands. Still, she would not be persuaded, and Xue Ao could only try to provoke her. "Are you afraid I'll see how unsightly you look?"

"Who cares if you see!" Caught off guard by his tactics, Liu Chuyan flung his hand away and glared at him, furious.

Xue Ao suppressed a laugh and pressed the handkerchief into her hand again. Seeing the red marks on her forehead and chin, a pang of pity softened his expression. "Go on, wipe your tears."

"Who wants your stinky handkerchief?" Liu Chuyan pushed his hand aside and used her own silk kerchief to dab at her eyes.

"Fine, fine. Kindness mistaken for ill intent," Xue Ao said helplessly. Seeing her so upset and aggrieved, he teased, "Why were you so reckless as to poke a hornet's nest?"

"Mind your own business," Liu Chuyan snapped, already disliking him, and now, with his self-important display before her, she found him even more detestable.

Her tone was sharp, and Xue Ao, fearing further provocation, turned to leave.

Just then, Songling returned with a bowl of chilled aloe jelly. She was startled to find Xue Ao standing by Liu Chuyan's bedside, having just left the pavilion, and hurriedly closed the door behind her. Approaching, she composed herself and said, "Miss, the day is hot; have some aloe jelly to cool off."

"You must think my temper is running high," Liu Chuyan shot Xue Ao a glance.

In truth, Songling had brought the aloe jelly as a pretense, afraid Liu Chuyan would notice she had sneaked out of the villa and not stayed by her side. But unexpectedly, her words had the opposite effect.

"Songling, she can't have aloe jelly. After being stung by wasps, one must avoid spicy and cold foods. Also, be sure to apply the ointment the doctor left every day, but take care not to get any in the eyes. Remember this."

"Yes," Songling replied. She had just heard that Liu Chuyan had been stung and shouldn't eat cold foods. But upon returning, the kitchen had nothing else, so she brought what she could. Now she could only accept the reprimand humbly.

Liu Chuyan feigned deafness, lost in thought.

Xue Ao, seeing this, quietly moved toward the stairs.

"Stop!" Liu Chuyan suddenly looked up and called after him. Realizing her tone was off, and remembering she needed his help, she corrected herself, "Second Master Xue, please stay."

"What instructions does Miss Liu have for me?" Xue Ao was both surprised and delighted that she would call him back, and turned around at once.

Liu Chuyan raised her hand, sending Songling away. "Second Master Xue, are you close friends with Young Master Zhou?"

She couldn't have known he had sent Songling on an errand—Songling had only just returned—so it must have been about something else. Xue Ao nodded. "We are."

"Please have a seat, Second Master Xue."

His surprise grew—Liu Chuyan inviting him to sit was beyond his expectations.

"I have a few questions I would like to ask you, regarding Young Master Zhou. Please, let us speak sitting down."

Her voice was gentle as a spring breeze, yet her expression was solemn and composed, leaving Xue Ao both uneasy and inexplicably moved. Such contradiction! In the end, he obediently fetched a chair and seated himself a foot from her bedside.

"I wish to ask: what kind of person is Young Master Zhou? How does he conduct himself with others? Please, tell me honestly, without bias." Han Shujing might be matched with Young Master Zhou, and as a cousin, Liu Chuyan felt she owed it to her caring elder cousin to inquire. She thought of Xue Ao, who was known for his fairness and had a close friendship with Zhou Fuyun, and after much deliberation, decided to ask him.

Xue Ao knew she must be asking about Zhou Fuyun. Hearing this, his heart skipped a beat—this was not good. Not long ago, he had heard that Madam Zhou fancied a young lady from the Han household as a prospective daughter-in-law, seeking to continue the family line. Could it be Liu Chuyan? She was now an orphan, with only Old Madam Han as her support. Marrying her would mean no troublesome in-laws, and once in the Zhou residence, she would be entirely at her mother-in-law's mercy. The Zhou family's circumstances were not prosperous; this marriage could even save on betrothal gifts. It made sense Madam Zhou would choose her.

Now, with Liu Chuyan inquiring after Zhou Fuyun, he felt his guess must be close to the truth. He cleared his throat. "Indeed, I am very close to him, and I know him to be filial, courteous, strong-willed—a man of deep feeling and loyalty. Especially towards his late wife, whom he still cannot forget. Fortunately, he has a clever, obedient daughter to remember his wife by each day." These were all truths, and he had not slandered Zhou Fuyun's character. However, for a woman, a man so devoted to his late wife was not a good prospect—a heart so full of the past could never wholeheartedly embrace the future, and that was something no woman could accept.

"Young Master Zhou is indeed a good man, devoted to his late wife, and so caring to his daughter as well." As expected, Liu Chuyan's brows knitted, and though she spoke well of him, she had already dismissed him in her heart. With her disapproval, Old Madam Han, who adored her, would never force her, and even if Madam Zhou came to propose, it would not matter.

Xue Ao silently apologized to Zhou Fuyun: "Next time, next time, I'll speak well of you. Today, before Liu Chuyan, it's best I say nothing in your favor."

"Does Miss Liu have any other questions? I will answer truthfully."

Liu Chuyan shook her head; that was all she wished to know. After all, everyone could see Zhou Fuyun’s conduct and character, even Han Shuwei. Only his feelings for his wife were hidden from outsiders; who could say whether he would treat Han Shujing well? Since Xue Ao put it so, she would advise Han Shujing to consider carefully, and urge Second Madam Han to look elsewhere.

"Why do you ask about him, Miss Liu?"

Since Han Shujing's reputation was at stake, Liu Chuyan would not speak carelessly. She stared at the mud-caked tips of his shoes, troubled. "It was only a passing question."

Her discomfort and embarrassment confirmed, in his mind, that she found the match unsuitable. Xue Ao was nearly giddy with relief—thank goodness she had asked him first, thank goodness he had extinguished her interest, thank goodness she would never choose Zhou Fuyun now. Zhou Fuyun had a difficult mother above and a troublesome daughter below—how could that compare to himself? He had no one to answer to—his mother couldn’t control him, his elder brother left him be; he was truly free and unburdened. For Liu Chuyan, he was the best choice. Besides, he’d waited for her all these years. When she came of age, he would propose at once. Yes, that was decided.

Liu Chuyan, having sorted her thoughts, looked up at him, only to meet a pair of eyes sparkling with secret delight. Was he imagining things? This man, truly! And to think she believed him impartial. Inwardly, she scoffed, "Thank you, Second Master Xue, I understand now. You don’t look well—why not rest in the pavilion a while, and head home early, so your mother won’t worry?"

A clear dismissal, casting him aside after use. But Xue Ao, his purpose achieved, took no offense and cheerfully returned to the pavilion.

Liu Chuyan, however, was greatly troubled, unsure whether to repeat Xue Ao’s words to Han Shujing. She sensed he had hidden or exaggerated something, but he had no reason to do so—had she misunderstood? Never mind, Han Shujing was rational; even if she had feelings for Young Master Zhou, she would consider the matter carefully. Liu Chuyan would simply relay the conversation and let Han Shujing judge; she wouldn’t take her word alone.

"Miss, the medicine is here." Songling had waited at the door until Qinghe brought the medicine and then knocked.

"Come in." Liu Chuyan, weary, reclined on her pillow and only sat up to take the medicine as Songling approached.

Songling could not fathom what her mistress and Second Master Xue had spoken of, but seeing her so distressed, dared not ask and quietly withdrew.

After drinking the medicine, drowsiness overtook Liu Chuyan. She curled up with her quilt on the bed and closed her eyes. But suddenly, the string of the jade Guanyin at her neck snapped—one end, with the pendant, fell down her back, the other went missing. It pressed uncomfortably against her, making sleep impossible. Her arm ached from the fall and couldn’t reach behind her; if she sat up and shook it out, she feared it would fall and shatter. She walked to the bronze mirror to look for the missing end.

From above, Xue Ao heard the commotion, rubbed his hands, and leaned over to peer down. But the floorboard gap was too narrow to see anything, so he pried it a little wider—about half a finger’s width—before stopping. Looking again, his eyes widened.

Liu Chuyan had loosened her collar and was feeling at her neck. The graceful curve of her slender throat, the pale, rounded slope of her shoulders made his mouth go dry. He had never before glimpsed a woman’s shoulder—who knew it could be so alluring? He was fully aware that peeping at a woman was wrong, but the struggle in his mind could not rein in his desire. He reasoned that, as he was bound to see it in the future, a little glimpse today would do no harm. Swallowing hard, he watched as her robe slid from her shoulders to her waist, revealing a back as smooth and white as snow. She wore only a pink undershirt, its thin fabric shielding her modesty, but the roundness that rose beneath it left little to the imagination. Beauty of face and figure—she was truly his girl.

Liu Chuyan never imagined someone above would prize up the floorboards and spy on her. When her robe slipped, she started, and just then, the jade Guanyin slipped off and fell to the floor. She turned quickly to search for it. Fortunately, it had landed on the hem of her skirt and was not broken. She breathed a sigh of relief.

That jade Guanyin... it was a gift from him...

Author’s note: Ah! The male lead is so shameless!