Was that the important part? The important part was that her father was getting married. She was going to have a stepmother.
Her charming, radiant face was practically crinkling with delight.
Lying lazily in the carriage, Cui Yunchu repeatedly examined the birth details in her hands. “Isn’t the age gap a little too large?”
“An old husband and a young wife.” Cui Yunchu closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth stretching almost to her ears.
“Miss, don’t celebrate too soon,” Xing’er said. “I don’t think the Prime Minister will agree.”
“Adding a little trouble to his life is good enough.”
There was no denying that Shen Xiabai suited her perfectly. From childhood until now, aside from him, there were very few people capable of making that old man suffer a setback.
The carriage stopped outside Wangyue Tower. Led by a waiter, Cui Yunchu arrived at a private room on the second floor. When the door opened, she saw two fluffy heads pressed together, whispering conspiratorially.
Cui Yunchu raised an eyebrow. Judging by their expressions, had they really broken off their engagement?
Hearing the noise, the two turned around in unison and rose to their feet.
“Miss Cui.”
“Cui, you’re finally here.” Chen Miaohe came forward with an innocent, friendly smile.
Cui Yunchu swept her gaze over their faces and had the distinct feeling that she had walked straight into a trap.
“Cui, what would you like to eat? Order whatever you want. Young Master Shen is treating us today.”
Cui Yunchu glanced at Shen Zilan. “Really? Has Young Master Shen received his salary? How generous of you.”
Shen Zilan smiled shyly, his cheeks faintly flushed.
“He may be young, but he’s still a son of the Shen family,” Chen Miaohe said. “The Shen family is fabulously wealthy. To him, the cost of one meal is nothing.”
Cui Yunchu immediately thought of the Shen family’s treasury, and her heart began to itch again…
“Isn’t it your uncle who has the final say in the Shen family?” she muttered.
Both Chen Miaohe and Shen Zilan stared at her, making Cui Yunchu feel somewhat uncomfortable—especially with the suggestive arch of Chen Miaohe’s brows. It was obvious that something was going on.
The waiter brought over the restaurant’s menu. Cui Yunchu cleared her throat and proceeded to order only the most expensive dishes. Even the wine was the kind Shen Xiabai had previously ordered Yu Feng to purchase.
Shen Zilan’s expression changed slightly.
Cui Yunchu asked, “Is there a problem?”
After all, this was the standard to which people usually treated her when they invited her to dinner.
Shen Zilan nodded.
However, his household had long since restricted his spending. Even if he emptied his salary, he had no idea whether it would be enough to pay for this meal.
Chen Miaohe hardly stopped talking for a moment. She dragged Cui Yunchu into conversations about everything under the sun, and Cui Yunchu was perfectly capable of talking nonsense as well. The two of them chattered until their mouths went dry, yet not one useful word had been exchanged. Shen Zilan sat beside them, growing increasingly anxious.
Only when all the food and wine had been served did Cui Yunchu finally stop talking and lower her head to eat.
When she ate, she truly did nothing but eat. She neither looked up nor spoke. Several times, Chen Miaohe tried to begin, “Cui, actually…”
“This sweet-fermented rice dumpling soup is delicious. Try some.”
Every time Chen Miaohe tried to speak, Cui Yunchu brushed her off with some casual nonsense. As a result, the entire meal ended without them ever getting to the point.
After filling her stomach, Cui Yunchu burped and looked up, only to discover that the other two were staring at her. Neither of them had eaten much.
She smiled faintly. “I’m full. Take your time.”
“You two aren’t drinking that wine, are you? It would be a waste to leave it here, so I’ll take it with me.”
She seemed to have genuinely come only for a meal. She rose and prepared to leave.
Chen Miaohe and Shen Zilan stared at her in stunned silence.
“Miss Cui.” Shen Zilan abruptly stood up. “There’s something I need to say to you.”
Chen Miaohe immediately nodded in agreement.
Cui Yunchu hugged the wine jar to her chest and looked at the two idiots.
“A few days ago, Second Princess Xiao Lan went to the Shen residence and chatted with Lord Shen for quite some time at the waterside pavilion,” Chen Miaohe said. “The two of them were exchanging meaningful glances. Lord Shen is no good. You should consider Young Master Shen Zilan instead.”
“…”
Shen Zilan turned to Chen Miaohe and lowered his voice. “When did I ever say my uncle and the second princess were exchanging meaningful glances?”
“Is that the important part?” Chen Miaohe bared her teeth. “He isn’t your uncle anymore. You need to treat him as an enemy.”
“What enemy? He’s still my uncle.”
“Your uncle is a bad person.”
“Your uncle is the bad person! What are you talking about?”
The two of them traded one remark after another and were about to start arguing. Cui Yunchu would have turned around and left long ago if she hadn’t already eaten her fill and had nothing better to do.
“Shut up.” Chen Miaohe shot Shen Zilan a cold glare. “Have you forgotten why we’re here today?”
Shen Zilan fell silent.
Chen Miaohe gave Cui Yunchu an awkward smile.
Being the polite person she was, Cui Yunchu smiled back.
“Say something.” Chen Miaohe nudged Shen Zilan with her elbow.
“Didn’t you just tell me to shut up?”
Chen Miaohe: “…”
She wanted to kick him to death.
Shen Zilan pressed his lips together, as though he had waged a long internal struggle. At last, he spoke slowly and haltingly.
“Miss Cui, I… I… I would like to ask for your hand in marriage.”
Chen Miaohe hid behind Shen Zilan and whispered something to him. Shen Zilan then said, “Actually, I fell in love with you from the moment we first met. I apologize on behalf of my uncle for his fickleness. You…”
“Miss Chen.” Cui Yunchu interrupted him and leaned sideways to look at Chen Miaohe, who was hiding behind Shen Zilan. “Why don’t you come out and say it yourself?”
“Huh?” Chen Miaohe froze.
Cui Yunchu said, “Stop pretending. I heard everything just now. Young Master Shen’s speech was all coached by you.”
Embarrassment spread across both their faces.
Cui Yunchu began spouting complete nonsense. “I know I’m as beautiful as a celestial maiden, but I’m still a perfectly normal woman. I’m not interested in women, so stop wasting your time on me. Otherwise, I’ll tell your parents.”
Chen Miaohe looked utterly shocked.
“It’s not me!”
She had only just broken off her engagement. If her parents now decided she had feelings for women as well, they would send her back to the beginning of time and remake her from scratch.
Cui Yunchu continued her nonsense. “Don’t pretend. I knew from the very beginning that you liked me.”
“I don’t!”
Cui Yunchu’s expression darkened. “You don’t like me? How heartbreaking.”
“That’s not what I meant!” Chen Miaohe protested, unable to explain herself. “I like you, but not that kind of liking.”
“I never said what kind of liking it was.”
“…”
Everything had descended into chaos.
Shen Zilan and Chen Miaohe were both completely bewildered.
Cui Yunchu grinned broadly, clearly in an excellent mood.
Two idiots together—they really were a perfect match.
“If that’s all, I’ll be leaving.”
Shen Zilan immediately said, “There’s more. I can help your elder brother secure a position in the Ministry of War. Would you be willing to accept my proposal?”
Cui Yunchu’s departing footsteps slowed. She turned back and looked at Shen Zilan once more.
She stared at him silently for a long while.
Chen Miaohe said, “That’s right, Cui. This is his sincerity. You have to believe him.”
Cui Yunchu returned to her chair and sat down. Tilting her head, she looked at Shen Zilan. “Really?”
Shen Zilan nodded. “I made arrangements with officials in the Ministry of Personnel long ago. Once tomorrow’s civil-service selection is over, your elder brother will definitely receive the position he wants.”
Cui Yunchu asked, “Young Master Shen, why are you so certain it will succeed?”
“The chief official in charge of the selection has already agreed to it.”
“Miss Cui, I know there is some old resentment between our families, but I have never harbored the slightest ill will toward you or the Cui family. What happened back then was my Shen family’s fault. Rest assured—I will never make things difficult for you because of it. And once you join the Shen family, I will protect you.”
