Chapter 17 (2/2)

Understanding dawned on several of the staff. Someone must have wanted to keep that woman happy, to force them to put on such a performance.

Back in the mansion, Tang Qiu looked at the sight of the overflowing wardrobe and felt her heart swell with something inexplicable. She ran downstairs, her footsteps sounding to a joyful tempo. She was going to cook dinner for her husband, to repay her husband’s efforts in taking her out shopping.

“Qiu, do you need any help?”

Tang Qiu was about to say no when she recalled that he was ill; it must be lonely to have to sit in his wheelchair all day. It wouldn’t hurt to let him help her out in small ways, to be mindful of his feelings and prevent him from feeling inferior. “You can help me peel the onions,” she said, lifting her brows at him.

Jiang Shaocheng couldn’t help his mouth curling upwards at her tone; one she might use to speak soothingly to a child. “Alright, I will.”

In between her tasks, Tang Qiu would occasionally glance his way, as though afraid he would hurt himself. In half an hour, they were done and dinner was ready.

“This is the first meal we made together, dear. Hurry up and try it, it’s sure to taste wonderful.”

Jiang Shaocheng took a bite. It was delicious indeed, but then again, he had always known she was a skilled cook. She had only said that they made the meal together to please him; he had done no more than chop the garlic and peel the onions.

As they ate, Tang Qiu kept chattering away, “I’ll make soup for you tomorrow, with some herbs to nourish your qi and blood, and we’ll save some money for your treatment in the future. Oh, and tomorrow morning I’ll take you out for a walk…”

Jiang Shaocheng listened in silence, nodding from time to time. He watched her lips move, and was faced with the sudden urge to kiss her. And he was a decisive man of action; when had it ever been in his character to deny himself the pleasure of what he desired? Without hesitation, he cupped the back of her neck and kissed her.

“Oh.” Tang Qiu made a dazed sound of surprise, her vision blocked by his hands over her eyes. In the darkness, the scent of fresh, cool pines on him was even more heady and intense.

“Qiu, we’re married. Kissing isn’t anything unusual, is it?” He wanted to nudge his way into her heart, just a little, the way she had his.

He would wait for her to grow comfortable with him, to fall in love with him… and only then could he reveal all his secrets to her.

He didn’t want to let her go.

“It isn’t,” Tang Qiu echoed. She sucked in a few breaths. No feelings might exist between them, and they were no regular couple, but they were married nonetheless. If she were to refuse some of his requests, she feared that it would wound him into thinking that she disliked him.

When Jiang Shaocheng heard her reply, he couldn’t hide the interest that flickered across his dark eyes.