Zhou Shaojin smiled with pursed lips.
If the socks she’d made before had a rather ethereal, otherworldly quality, the socks she was making now had the flavor of worldly splendor.
She preferred Uncle Chi to live like an ordinary mortal, not like a monk with a heart as withered as dead wood.
※※※
As soon as Cheng Chi stepped into the courtyard, he saw Zhou Shaojin sitting by the window in the inner room doing needlework.
The morning sunlight fell like broken gold through the leaf gaps of the tall, canopy-like scholar tree onto the blue stone floor tiles, adding a touch of tranquility to the cool corridor. Zhou Shaojin, fair-skinned as snow, sat there with gentle features, like a jade figurine with flowing pearlescent light that reached all the way into Cheng Chi’s heart.
He strode over.
Someone saw him enter and gave a low exclamation.
Zhou Shaojin raised her head. Her expression was also soft, then her eyes widened. She looked stunned, blinking like she’d been startled.
Cheng Chi smiled.
Somehow, he loved seeing her show this expression in front of him.
Making her surprised and amazed.
Even the most ordinary, mundane things became interesting to him.
Cheng Chi quickened his pace.
Zhou Shaojin suddenly seemed to awaken. A brilliant smile like summer flowers bloomed on her face. She tossed aside her needlework and ran out.
“Uncle Chi, Uncle Chi…” Her sweet, soft voice was almost coquettish, as if complaining about why he had left her for so long before returning.
Cheng Chi felt his heart stir at the thought and wanted to open his arms to embrace her.
But she abruptly stopped at the threshold of the hall. Her eyes were clear and bright, yet carried a rippling smile. Her flushed cheeks were even more like blooming roses, enchantingly beautiful.
“Uncle Chi!” She called to Cheng Chi warmly, her voice carrying infinite tenderness through a hundred turns, her slender, delicate hands nervously wringing together.
Cheng Chi felt his blood surging and boiling. He wished he could gather this little person into his body.
He took a deep breath and bit his tongue tip, forcibly suppressing the throbbing in his heart.
Nanny Shang and the others acted as if they hadn’t seen Cheng Chi enter, but the servant women attending Guan Ge’er came forward in a rush to pay respects to Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him. The restless heat in his heart cooled somewhat. He revealed a refined, elegant smile, raised his hand to let the women who were greeting him rise, then strode into the hall. As he walked toward the inner room, he said, “Why didn’t you go watch the dragon boat race today? Didn’t Cousin Zheng reserve two private rooms? Didn’t she send you an invitation?” As he lifted the curtain, he saw a small baby lying on the kang. Cheng Chi’s voice caught and he said, “Is this Guan Ge’er?”
Uncle Chi had been gone for so long, yet he knew everything about what was happening around her. She didn’t even need to tell him much—it was as if he hadn’t been away for over a month but had merely gone out yesterday.
Joy flooded Zhou Shaojin’s heart like a breached river, wave after wave of delight washing over her.
Her mind was muddled. She had no idea which question to answer first and which second, and said in confusion, “I didn’t want to go out. It’s so hot outside. I stayed home making socks for you. Then I kept Guan Ge’er here. I was afraid Sister would be too embarrassed to ask Cousin Zheng for help. What if Guan Ge’er got sick from the sun?”
But Cheng Chi immediately understood her meaning.
Seeing that Guan Ge’er was much fairer, sturdier, and his features more developed than when the wet nurse had carried him out the day he went to offer congratulations, he couldn’t help bending down to poke the baby’s rosy little sleeping face with his finger.
Guan Ge’er burst into loud wails with his eyes closed.
Cheng Chi was somewhat dumbfounded.
Zhou Shaojin couldn’t help laughing.
Nanny Shang quickly brought the wet nurse in to carry Guan Ge’er out.
Little maids came in to serve tea and refreshments.
Cheng Chi felt somewhat embarrassed and said, “I didn’t expect babies to cry so easily.”
Zhou Shaojin’s eyes smiled with unspeakable tenderness as she said, “He has quite a temper. Just now I merely nuzzled his face and he started crying!”
“Really?” Cheng Chi sat by the large kang near the window. He saw in the small basket on the kang table an unfinished pair of socks, and several finished pairs placed below the kang table.
His eyes focused slightly as he asked, “Who are these for?”
Could they be for Liao Shaotang?
Because of matters from her previous life, she had always held Liao Shaotang in high regard.
As the thought flashed by, he immediately felt somewhat uncomfortable.
That Liao Shaotang truly had good fortune cultivated in his previous life—in this life he didn’t have to do anything and Zhou Shaojin already viewed him favorably!
He suddenly felt sour inside and indignant on Zhou Shaojin’s behalf, saying, “He doesn’t even know about the previous life. You don’t need to treat him so well, lest he become suspicious.”