Shang Yunruo retracted her hand as if scalded, clenching her fists and pressing them tightly against her chest. Like a startled rabbit, covering her eyes only made others feel an impulse to tease her.
Chu Yan's eyes were gloomy. He suppressed the urge to tear off the gauze on her eyes and asked again, "Sister-in-law, why are you afraid of me?"
Shang Yunruo pursed her lips and carefully explained, "I'm not afraid of you. I'm blind, so I feel insecure when someone gets too close to me."
Chu Yan gave a nonchalant "oh", took a step back, and stood there politely with his head slightly lowered.
His voice, as clear as jade, carried a hint of sadness. "I thought sister-in-law disliked me like others and didn't want to have contact with me."
Shang Yunruo's heart tightened. She came here to gain his favor. She couldn't start off on the wrong foot with him.
"No, how could I dislike you? We're family after all."
"Family? My family has never been kind to me."
Chu Yan slightly raised his eyes and looked at her blushing cheeks as she was eager to explain. He curled his lips and there was a glint of playfulness in his eyes.
Where did her initiative and enthusiasm from last night go? In front of him, she was as easily frightened as a rabbit. This woman really treated him differently from her own husband!
Shang Yunruo didn't know what Chu Yan was thinking. She thought he didn't believe her. Then, an idea struck her and she took out a sachet she embroidered herself before she got injured.
A sachet embroidered with mandarin ducks was a token of love between lovers, while those embroidered with landscapes or flowers could be given to anyone. This sachet was originally intended for Chu Jinli, but she was afraid Jinli wouldn't like mandarin ducks, so she embroidered landscapes instead. It was just right to give it to Chu Yan.
She could embroider another one for Jinli after her eyes got better. Making a good impression on Chu Yan during their first meeting was the top priority.
She held up the sachet, raised the corners of her mouth, and said gently and amiably, "Look, this is a sachet I embroidered for you before I got injured. Can you still say I don't consider you family?"
Chu Yan raised his eyebrows in surprise and slightly retracted his curled lips. His narrow eyes stared at the sachet in her delicate hand for a while before he slowly stepped forward and took it.
On the deep blue silk, golden threads of high quality embroidered mountains, rivers, and two white clouds on the mountains.
His thumb gently stroked the white clouds. The sunlight reflected his black eyes into an amber color, shining brightly.
Shang Yunruo didn't know he was looking at the sachet intently. Since he didn't say anything for a long time, she asked uncertainly, "Do you like it?"
After a pause, Chu Yan asked instead of answering, "Does my brother have one too?"
Shang Yunruo thought for a moment and said firmly, "Yes, he does."
If she said no, he would know the sachet was originally for his brother, not for him.
After another moment of silence, Chu Yan slowly said, "This sachet is really beautiful. It's the first time someone embroidered a sachet for me by hand."
Although she couldn't see Chu Yan's expression, his tone seemed different from before. It was lower and more sincere, as if it also contained a touch of emotion.
Shang Yunruo felt a twinge of pity and was faintly self - reproachful for her deception.
She called out to Chu Yao and asked everyone to put down the things they brought. "I prepared all these for you. If you need anything else, just tell me."
Originally, she planned to leave right after giving the gifts. The faint guilt and fear in her heart made her not want to stay any longer.
But Chu Yan stopped her. "Are you leaving already, sister-in-law? You've given me so many things. Come in and have a cup of tea before you go."
Shang Yunruo said, "It's better not to bother you."
Chu Yan asked, "Why won't you come in even when you're already at the door, sister-in-law?"
Shang Yunruo didn't know how to answer. She couldn't say that in her dream, he had humiliated her wantonly without any regard for ethics, so she was afraid to get close to him.
Since she didn't answer, he thought she had acquiesced. He reminded her, "The ground is uneven. Walk slowly, sister-in-law. I'll go make some tea."
Shang Yunruo opened her mouth but finally didn't say the words of refusal. She held onto Chu Yao's arm and stepped into the yard.
She had never set foot in Chu Yan's yard even in her dream. She carefully stepped over the threshold of the main room. It suddenly got dark in front of her eyes, but her eyes felt more comfortable.
But she also understood that it was because there was no lighting in the room at all. He probably couldn't afford candles.
She sat on the armchair. The armrests were worm - eaten and the sawdust was sticking out. It felt prickly to the touch. She touched the table again. Although it was spotless, the tabletop was very rough due to years of lack of maintenance.
Suddenly, there was a sound of a teacup breaking outside. Was Chu Yan making tea by himself?
Letting the future big bad guy make tea made her feel restless. She quickly told Chu Yao to go and help.
After a while, Chu Yan came back alone, carrying the tea. He placed the covered bowl beside her hand and said, "Don't blame me, sister-in-law. I'm always clumsy. Fortunately, Chu Yao helped me."
Shang Yunruo thanked him with a smile. She picked up the bowl, lifted the lid, and smelled it. She frowned slightly. This wasn't last year's old tea but seemed to be from three or four years ago.
The second young master of the Marquis of Ningguo Mansion couldn't even afford candles in his own home, used shabby furniture, and drank old tea that was almost spoiled.
If it were her, she would have been angry and caused a ruckus in the family long ago.
Chu Yan's voice sounded again. He let out a self - deprecating laugh. "This place can't be compared with my brother's food, clothing, and daily necessities. Sister-in-law, don't dislike it."
Shang Yunruo put down the teacup and said without hesitation, "How could this be your fault? If I'm going to dislike anyone, it should be those who fawn on the powerful and bully the weak. Since ancient times, worthy people don't care about their origin. You will surely become an outstanding person in the future!"
"Do you really think so, sister-in-law?"
Chu Yan's expression wasn't as clear and excited as his voice. His handsome face was full of laziness, and his deep eyes were looking at her inquisitively.
You didn't say that before, he curled his lips slightly and sneered in his heart but didn't expose her.
"The marquis is back!"
Following Chu Yao's shout outside, Shang Yunruo suddenly stood up and accidentally knocked over the teacup. The tea wet her sleeve, but she didn't care.
Chu Yan coldly watched the knocked - over teacup. His eyes were gloomy.
She looked towards the bright doorway, trying hard to see the tall figure walking in through the thin gauze, but she could only see a vague shadow.
Her beloved husband spoke. His voice was deep, slightly different from last night's but generally the same. "A Yan, were you okay yesterday..."
His voice suddenly stopped. The room fell into an eerie silence.
Chu Jinli had just come back from outside. He came to find Chu Yan first to ask what had happened during the wedding ceremony yesterday.
He was dissatisfied with this marriage and didn't want to succumb to the power of the prime minister and marry his daughter. So he deliberately planned to give her and the entire prime minister's mansion a hard time before the wedding ceremony to show that he wasn't easy to handle.
Who would have thought that as soon as he entered the door, he saw his newly - wed wife.
Was she here to demand an explanation?
He knew the reputation of the prime minister's daughter for being domineering and didn't want to deal with it. So he quickly turned around and walked outside. "I have something else to do. I'll leave first."
"Husband."
The soft call made him unconsciously stop. Shang Yunruo had already walked in front of him. Her delicate hands tugged at his sleeve. Her pink dress was bathed in the light, looking like a flower fairy from the forest.
She softly said, "Husband was very gentle with me last night. Husband doesn't dislike A Ruo, right?"
... Last night?
Chu Jinli was startled. He suddenly turned around and looked at Chu Yan, who was standing beside him with his eyes half - lowered, looking a bit indifferent.