Old Madam Guo beckoned Zhou Shaojin and Fang Xuan over. Taking Zhou Shaojin’s hand in one of hers and Fang Xuan’s in the other, she looked at Zhou Shaojin with a warm and loving smile, then looked at Fang Xuan, and said to everyone in the room, “Look at these two young ladies—like morning dew and bright pearls, they make one’s heart happy just by looking at them.”
Second Madam Fang’s expression immediately became somewhat stiff.
Zhou Shaojin was famously beautiful. Anyone who saw her for the first time couldn’t help but look twice. Fang Xuan was also very pretty, but standing beside Zhou Shaojin, that beauty appeared rather strained.
Was the old madam praising Fang Xuan or diminishing her?
Second Madam Fang truly wondered inwardly.
Fang Xuan’s expression also looked somewhat displeased.
If Old Madam wanted to praise Zhou Shaojin, she could just praise Zhou Shaojin—why drag her in to serve as a foil for Zhou Shaojin?
Not a single person standing in this room wasn’t shrewd.
Old Madam Guo’s status was exceptional—who would be so tactless as to correct her?
Everyone laughed heartily and chattered in praise of Zhou Shaojin and Fang Xuan’s beauty, but their gazes couldn’t help lingering on Zhou Shaojin for several moments longer.
Being scrutinized so openly by everyone made Zhou Shaojin somewhat uncomfortable, but she had always been obedient and sensible. Regardless of Old Madam Guo’s reasons for doing this, she would quietly accept it. So when everyone’s eyes fell on her, she tried her best to maintain a natural and sweet smile, behave gracefully and appropriately, and speak gently and tactfully, living up to the reputation of having received Old Madam Guo’s guidance.
Several madams watching began nodding their heads approvingly in secret. Some even quietly inquired of Yuan Shi whether Zhou Shaojin was betrothed yet.
Yuan Shi was happy to oblige and thoroughly praised Zhou Shaojin, as if she would have sought Zhou Shaojin’s hand for Cheng Xu had he not already been betrothed to the eldest young miss of the Min family. Seeing that Zhou Shaojin was indeed as gentle-natured as Yuan Shi described, those madams all took note and began chatting with Zhou Chujin.
Zhou Chujin couldn’t wait to find Zhou Shaojin a suitable match as soon as her father’s letter arrived, so she was particularly patient with these people.
Everyone present was perceptive. Seeing this, they became even more enthusiastic, making Zhou Shaojin feel uncomfortable all over. She hid behind Zhou Chujin without speaking, which only made everyone find her even more gentle and virtuous. Fang Xuan watched, choking with anger. With great difficulty, after finally paying birthday respects to Old Madam Guo, she tugged at her mother’s sleeve, wanting to go home.
Second Madam Fang also felt uncomfortable, but how could they just leave like that?
She patiently persuaded her daughter, “You’re a grown young lady now. You should know that even the sun and stars don’t revolve around you—how can you clamor to go home over such a small matter? This is Old Madam Guo’s birthday banquet. After you marry and have in-laws, will you divorce your husband every time your mother-in-law says something unpleasant?”
Her daughter had truly been spoiled by her. She needed to find another opportunity to lecture her daughter properly.
Fang Xuan could only grit her teeth and stay. She watched as Madam Li kept smiling and examining Zhou Shaojin.
A young maid came in to report, “Old Madam, the young masters have come to pay birthday respects to you!”
Old Madam Guo sat down smilingly on the luohan bed in the reception hall. Except for a few grand madams and old madams, the other female relatives hurried to withdraw.
Cheng Chi entered following his two elder brothers.
Perhaps because it was Old Madam Guo’s birthday, he wore a dark red robe with bamboo leaf patterns. His jet-black hair was bound with a white jade hairpin, and the gold thread on the apricot-colored silk-embroidered double-fish purse at his waist occasionally flashed with gleams of light. His bearing was dignified and his appearance handsome and refined.
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes couldn’t look away for a moment.
She hadn’t seen Uncle Chi for such a long time.
He was still the same as before.
No—he was even more handsome than before… more attractive…
Zhou Shaojin gazed at Cheng Chi like this in a daze. The crowd in the great hall seemed to disappear, and she could only see him—she could only see him. She paid no attention whatsoever to Cheng Xu, who walked in behind Cheng Chi.
Zhou Chujin was both anxious and angry.
Fortunately she had been cautious and stood by the standing screen, but she had forgotten that by lightly lifting the curtain she could see the scene in the reception hall.
She quietly pinched Zhou Shaojin’s arm and warned her in a low voice, “Control yourself a bit, or others will notice something’s amiss.” Then she stepped forward several paces, blocking Zhou Shaojin behind her.
Zhou Shaojin blushed with embarrassment and withdrew her gaze, but couldn’t help wanting to peek outside again.
Zhou Chujin, however, noticed that Second Madam Fang and Fang Xuan were standing not far away by the screen. With their eyes tilted slightly, they could see those who came to pay birthday respects to Old Madam Guo. Fang Xuan’s almond eyes were wide open, apparently having seen something that surprised her.
She stood on tiptoe and craned her neck to follow Fang Xuan’s gaze.
Zhou Chujin saw Cheng Chi… and Cheng Xu.
Cheng Xu had become much more subdued. The originally dazzling brilliance had suddenly transformed into quiet restraint, as if having experienced worldly trials, he had matured considerably all at once.
Zhou Chujin had originally hated him to death, but seeing him like this now, for some reason, she felt faintly sympathetic.
She sighed quietly to herself.
Who had Fang Xuan seen? And why was she so surprised… If only she had taken a fancy to Cheng Chi. Given the friendship between the Cheng and Fang families, this would actually be a suitable match.
Why hadn’t Father replied to her letter yet?
Could it be the letter hadn’t been delivered?
Or had some accident occurred?
Zhou Chujin felt somewhat anxious and uneasy.
Fang Xuan was looking at Cheng Chi.
This was the second time she had seen Cheng Chi.
The first time was on the way to pay respects to Old Madam Guo when he had turned his head and glanced at her. At that time, she had no idea who he was, but the way he looked at her felt somewhat strange, as if… he felt very emotional… leaving a deep impression on her.
This time, she had guessed who he was but hadn’t expected him to be so young. He didn’t look at all like someone in his late twenties, and his bearing was excellent. With Cheng Xu following beside him, it was like comparing stars to the bright moon—there was no comparison at all… She had heard he wasn’t married, but didn’t know why?
For a moment, Fang Xuan’s heart felt somewhat confused.
Second Madam Fang noticed and a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
If her daughter was interested, there could be no better match than this.