Sang Yao stood under the restaurant, surrounded by many people coming and going.

Perhaps it was because of the wine she had just drunk, she didn’t feel it when she was talking to Sang Yin earlier, but now that the night wind blew, her head felt a bit hot.

She lifted her skirt and ran towards Xie Yun. Standing beside him, Xie Yun naturally reached out and held her hand, then said, “Let’s go.”

The night market was bustling, with the street full of noise. The sound of flutes, lutes, and the inviting calls from tea houses and wine shops filled the air. Xie Yun had only stood there for a while, but many young women stopped to sneak a peek at him.

His demeanor was cold, incompatible with the lively atmosphere of the street.

Jinglian had long been waiting by the carriage, smiling as he watched the young master and the young madam approaching him.

As he had said before, usually, when he looked at Xie Yun alone, he felt that everything was not pleasing to the eye. It was only when he stood with Sang Yao that he found it pleasing.

Sang Yao hung her hand down, the hands held together hidden under the thick sleeves of their clothes. Her steps seemed a bit floating, not so much that the wine made her confused, but it was indeed different from usual.

She looked up at Xie Yun’s sharp jawline and said to him, “The last time I came to the night market was three years ago.”

Xie Yun hadn’t been to the night market. If he went out at night, it was mostly for unavoidable social gatherings, but he didn’t like drinking or socializing. To him, these gatherings were just places to discuss business without beating around the bush.

Seeing that he didn’t react, Sang Yao continued, “It was the Mid-Autumn Festival three years ago. I made lanterns myself, and they were especially beautiful.”

As the two of them approached Jinglian, Sang Yao glanced at the young couple passing by holding hands beside her, feeling a little envious. She then said to Xie Yun, “Look, they must often come out together.”

“You come back so late every day, and we are together in the room every day. Don’t you feel a little bored?”

Xie Yun slowed down and asked deliberately, “Don’t you?”

His expression was calm as he spoke, “Don’t you want to be with me every day in the room?”

The two of them had come closer and closer to Jinglian. Sang Yao puffed up her cheeks. She glanced at Jinglian, then stood on tiptoe, looked up at Xie Yun, and said softly, “Don’t you want to walk with me? You’ve never accompanied me shopping before.”

“And it’s still early, why go home so early?”

Xie Yun tilted his head slightly, said something in her ear, and a blush spread across Sang Yao’s face. She shyly scolded him, “Shameless.”

Xie Yun’s face flashed with a smile, then he said, “Is it bad?”

Jinglian watched the two of them whispering to each other, with a polite smile on his face, but he was actually very anxious.

What were they talking about? They were not outsiders! What’s wrong with saying it in front of him!

Madam, why are you blushing!

He straightened his back and made way for them, saying, “Young Master, Young Madam, please.”

Sang Yao was still looking at Xie Yun. The hand hidden under her sleeve was holding his fingers. In the expectant eyes of the young girl, he said to Jinglian, “You wait here.”

Jinglian: “…Yes.”

Sang Yao suddenly became happy. She held Xie Yun’s hand and happily walked towards the street with him, then looked up and said, “I’m also thinking for you. You are always busy, so you should come out for a walk.”

She scanned the street vendors and said generously, “What do you want? I’ll buy it for you.”

Xie Yun walked slowly, with a variety of items on both sides, but he did not look sideways. He responded very cooperatively, “I didn’t expect Yao Yao to be so thoughtful.”

Sang Yao nodded and said, “It’s natural.”

After saying that, she stopped with Xie Yun in front of a pastry shop. The table was full of various pastries emitting a fragrance of glutinous rice. A young girl was selling pastries, with a man busy steaming baskets behind her.

The young girl glanced at Xie Yun and then naturally asked Sang Yao, “Madam, what flavor would you like?”

Sang Yao was actually already full, but the pastries smelled too good. She wanted to try a bite and looked at the basket that hadn’t been steamed yet. She asked, “What’s steaming right now?”

“Jasmine pine blossom. Madam, would you like to try it? It’ll be ready soon. The last batch sold out quickly.”

“Madam, why don’t you wait a moment? I’ll get you a freshly steamed one.”

Sang Yao was soon convinced. She said, “Okay.”

While waiting, Sang Yao saw peachwood pendants being sold across the street. She became curious and said to Xie Yun, “Wait for me here, I’ll go take a look.”

She ran to the other side of the street, where an old man was walking around with a wooden frame. When he saw Sang Yao coming over, he stopped and said cheerfully, “Young lady, take a look.”

At a glance, Sang Yao saw many peachwood carvings, among which an inconspicuous white crane caught her eye. But it wasn’t because she thought of Xie Yun; among all the carvings, it was the cutest.

To be honest, Sang Yao didn’t see clearly what was written on the wooden sign. She thought it was a chubby duckling.

The old man took down the cute little crane and said, “Young lady, this one isn’t well carved. It was done by my eight-year-old grandson in a hurry when we were cleaning up. If you want a crane, I’ll get you a new one.”

Before Sang Yao could say anything, a slightly embarrassed young man beside her suddenly spoke, “Mis… Miss!”

Sang Yao turned her head to see a slightly red-faced young man standing beside her, looking down at her.

“Is there something you need?”

Seeing her look at him, the young man’s face reddened even more. He clenched the folding fan in his hand and hurriedly introduced himself, “I am Li Qi from the Li family in Qinghekou. I saw the young lady over there just now… I wonder if I could have the honor of getting to know you.”

“I didn’t mean to offend the young lady. It’s just that…”

Because he couldn’t resist, he was usually reserved. This was the first time in his life that he felt so amazed and captivated by someone. He met such a girl who made his heart race even with just a glance at her hair.

Fortunately, he went out today; otherwise, he might have missed her.

“Young lady! Can we get to know each other?”

Sang Yao used to encounter this kind of situation often when she went out. Her sister taught her that she didn’t need to pay attention to them.

Considering that this person spoke quite politely, Sang Yao smiled at him and said, “I’m sorry, but I’m already married. My husband is over there…”

Before she could finish her sentence, her shoulder was hugged, and a familiar cold fragrance invaded her senses. A man’s voice sounded in her ear, “Her husband is here. Do you have something to say?”

Xie Yun was still holding the pastries for her, his face calm and his voice cold.

It wasn’t particularly surprising, actually. He had been too excited earlier and hadn’t noticed Sang Yao’s hair arrangement until now.

Li Qi looked at Xie Yun. The man was handsome, and his expression was very displeased, giving off an intimidating aura despite his handsome face. Li Qi subconsciously felt a bit intimidated.

He looked at Sang Yao again. Unlike the current trend of delicate and fragile beauty, this girl had bright eyes, white teeth, and snow-white skin with red lips. Even if she just smiled politely, it gave people a shocking sense of ultimate beauty.

He felt very regretful.

But thinking that this man seemed difficult to deal with, what if he treated her badly in the future? Then he would still have a chance, right?

He gathered his courage and, under Xie Yun’s imposing gaze, said awkwardly, “I… I don’t mean anything else, just want to know the lady’s name.”

“It’s also good to make a friend.”

Sang Yao clearly felt Xie Yun’s arm around hers tighten. She knew without looking that Xie Yun’s expression was not good.

Recalling Xie Yun’s style, Sang Yao hurriedly spoke before Xie Yun could, “Let’s forget about it, it’s not appropriate.”

Seeing Sang Yao refuse repeatedly, Li Qi wanted to say something else, but under Xie Yun’s cold gaze, he retreated slightly and said, “Sorry for bothering you, miss.”

After the man left, Sang Yao showed the little crane in her hand to Xie Yun and said, “Xie Yun, look how cute this is.”

Xie Yun glanced at it and didn’t say anything.

Sang Yao looked up at him and asked, “Why aren’t you talking?”

Xie Yun replied, “It’s okay.”

He paused, staring at Sang Yao with an unfriendly expression, and said dangerously, “Why did you say it was inappropriate just now, instead of saying I didn’t want to?”

“What, if you weren’t married, could you have talked to him?”

Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol, but Sang Yao was bolder. She actually thought about it carefully and then deliberately said, “If I hadn’t married you, why couldn’t I tell him?”

After a moment of silence, Xie Yun asked, “What did you say?”

Sang Yao bought the chubby crane, paid for it, and continued to hold Xie Yun’s hand. She said, “Have you forgotten what it was like when we weren’t married?”

Whenever Sang Yao thought back, she felt a bit dissatisfied. She spoke normally, but there was a hint of complaint in her tone, saying:

“You said you married me to deal with family pressure and used Rong Yan’s matter to coerce me. If that’s the case, why can’t I interact with others?”

“…”

They had been married for almost a month now, and she remembered very clearly that before they got married, Xie Yun would call her Miss Sang all the time. Occasionally, he wouldn’t even greet her when he saw her.

Xie Yun was speechless with anger.

He thought this person must have drunk too much.

They had already walked quite a distance, but everything she said made sense. Xie Yun pursed his lips, unable to figure out how to refute her for a moment.

They quickly walked down the street. On the way back, Sang Yao put the wooden carving she had just bought into Xie Yun’s hands and said, “This is for you.”

Xie Yun held the chubby duck in his hand, still holding the half-eaten pastry that Sang Yao had given up on. He stood still, waiting for the two of them.

Xie Yun helped Sang Yao onto the carriage, and the dim carriage felt a bit stifling.

As the carriage slowly moved, Sang Yao leaned against the carriage and looked outside. She had already forgotten the conversation just now and felt dizzy after looking outside for a while.

She moved closer to Xie Yun, and in a leisurely manner, she asked him, “Xie Yun, why aren’t you talking?”

Xie Yun naturally hugged her. He didn’t say that he was still upset about what Sang Yao had said earlier.

But it didn’t make much of a difference. He was just short of writing “unhappy” on his face. “I don’t feel like talking.”

Sang Yao was still leaning against him, and her tender fingers played with the leather strap of his belt. She casually asked him, “Why don’t you feel like talking?”

He replied, “You’d better reflect on yourself.”

Sang Yao let go of his hand and asked, “Reflect on what?”

Xie Yun looked at her and said, “Didn’t you used to dislike me?”

Although it seemed like he was asking her, his tone was very certain, as if no matter how she answered, the answer would only be the one in his heart.

Feeling a bit tipsy again, Sang Yao’s head was a bit dizzy. She leaned against his shoulder and closed her eyes to rest, not answering.

Taking advantage of the dim moonlight shining in from the window, Xie Yun lowered his eyes to look at the girl’s tightly closed eyes. He poked Sang Yao’s chubby cheek and said, “Pretending to sleep won’t solve the problem.”

Sang Yao still didn’t say anything, as if she had really fallen asleep.

After a while, Xie Yun still couldn’t understand. “I think you still need to explain it to me.”

He snorted lightly, very dissatisfied with her, and said, “I like you. Do you see me giving others a chance?”

His tone carried his usual sarcasm. Besides these two points of sarcasm, his voice was very calm and gentle, as if he was casually talking about something insignificant.

But the girl who had been leaning against his shoulder slowly opened her eyes in the silence.