Chapter 32

Nianxi had already washed up and was ready to go to bed when she received a message from Aunt Wang.

Gu Ci rarely sought her out in the corner garden. Unlike Pei Jian, his noble upbringing and good family background made his temperament gentler. He was undoubtedly ambitious, but he didn’t have the constant tension and urgency that Pei Jian carried. He had plenty of time to spend with Nianxi and didn’t need to wait for her in the corner garden. Especially since they had just seen each other during the day, he was considerate of Nianxi’s fatigue and wouldn’t disturb her easily.

Nianxi’s hair wasn’t styled; she had casually tied it into a loose braid at the back of her head. She wore a simple and old, casual dress.

When Gu Ci saw her, he immediately looked regretful and said, “It’s my fault for disturbing your rest so late.”

Nianxi smiled softly and lightly patted his hand. “What silly things are you saying?”

Her actions carried the intimacy of lovers. “It’s hot, and I can’t sleep anyway. You’ve come at just the right time to keep me company. So, tell me, what reward do you want?”

She naturally noticed that something was off with Gu Ci. From a distance, she saw him standing alone under the osmanthus tree, looking dejected, like a stray dog without a home. So, her words and actions were more affectionate than usual.

Visibly, Gu Ci’s expression improved significantly. He held her hand, leaned in slightly, and said softly, “I don’t want a reward. I just want to give you a gift.”

Nianxi chuckled lightly. “What is it?”

Gu Ci handed over a box. “It’s a pair of pearl earrings.”

Nianxi’s heart raced. She suddenly remembered how Pei Jian had gone mad earlier that day and given her a pair of white jade earrings. In her anger, she had thrown them aside and hadn’t paid attention to them since.

Naturally, she developed a certain unpleasant suspicion. She cursed Pei Jian a thousand times in her heart, but outwardly, she smiled and said, “A surprise this late at night? How delightful.”

“It’s so beautiful. Help me put it on.”

Gu Ci had never adorned a woman with jewelry before, let alone earrings. And it was nighttime, with poor visibility. He was afraid of hurting Nianxi and hesitated to proceed.

Nianxi’s earlobe itched from his fumbling touch, but he was so clumsy that he couldn’t manage to put the earrings on. She shot him a glance, took the earrings from his hands, and before Gu Ci could even react, she had swiftly put them on herself. With a radiant smile, she asked, “How do I look? Beautiful, aren’t I?”

In truth, the sparse stars in the sky and the dim light made it hard to tell how she looked. But to Gu Ci, at this very moment, Nianxi, with her bare face, was more beautiful than ever. Unable to hold back any longer, he wrapped his arms around her slender figure, lifting her off the ground.

Nianxi extended her arms, encircling his neck. Lowering her gaze, she locked eyes with him.

His gaze was filled with tenderness and affection. “So beautiful, as if it’s a dream.”

…

After the Dragon Boat Festival, Nianxi became extremely busy. For the first time in her life, she was handling such an important matter—reviewing the account books sent by her cousin Mu and sketching the vision for her tea shop.

Her cousin Mu entirely entrusted her to manage the small building. The furniture was made of huanghuali wood, bonsai pines, water lilies, and koi fish—everything had to be adorned with the finest materials. Imagine guests stepping inside, ordering a cup of fragrant tea, browsing through a couple of books, and spending a tranquil summer day amidst the sound of cicadas and a serene forest. Wouldn’t it be elegant?

Even in winter, with snow covering the city, guests could push open the windows, sit by a red clay stove, and hold a warm cup of tea—it would evoke a unique charm.

Supporting her chin with her hand, Wang Muyi smiled warmly. “I can already foresee it—our fragrance tea shop bustling with guests, flourishing and bringing in fortunes every single day.”

That day, Nianxi discussed the renovation plans for the shop with Wang Muyi. After hearing her ideas, her cousin praised her profusely.

Feeling a bit shy, Nianxi said, “There are so many successful shops in the east and west markets. I’m not sure if this will work out.”

“It absolutely will!” Wang Muyi now had blind confidence in her.

Using tea in place of wine, Nianxi clinked cups with her.

“Well, I’ll take your auspicious words.” Nianxi couldn’t hide her excitement.

Since her rebirth, she had almost completely walked a different path from before. Initially, she was nervous, but gradually, her vision for the future became clearer. It wasn’t about how much money the fragrance tea shop had to earn. What she had been doing and all the effort she had put in over the past days still held many uncertainties. Yet, through it all, she found a firmer sense of self.

These words might sound hollow, but it had taken Nianxi nearly half a lifetime to truly understand their meaning: To love others, one must love oneself first.

Never let yourself become a subordinate to someone else’s life.

After finishing their business discussion, Wang Muyi gave Nianxi a sidelong glance and joked, “Nowadays, all the ladies in the capital envy your good fortune.”

Nianxi asked, “What do you mean?”

Wang Muyi wore a look of admiration and said, “Young Master Gu, with his remarkable character and family background, was willing to compete with a group of rowers just for your sake. Such a deeply devoted man—what woman could resist that?”

Nianxi laughed and immediately retorted, “It was your birthday the other day, wasn’t it? Didn’t the Marquis Pingyang’s heir gift you a shop? So, Sister, this is what you like? Shall I have a word with the heir for you?”

Marquis Pingyang’s heir was a typical military man. His way of doting on his wife was simple yet full of grandeur.

Wang Muyi’s face turned red as she said to Nianxi, “Hmph! And to think I was still thinking about you, planning that if our shop does well, this location could be used for a branch.”

Nianxi immediately responded with flattery, “Good Sister…”

As the two were playfully chatting, Gu Ci arrived. He wore a deep blue, narrow-sleeved casual robe. Broad shoulders, a slim waist, tall and upright—he was neat and refreshing. After greeting Wang Muyi, his gaze fell on Nianxi, and the smile on his lips never faded.

Seeing this, Wang Muyi teased, “How inconsiderate of me. The matter is already settled, yet here I am, still taking up Nianxi’s time. Such a lack of awareness.”

Gu Ci’s smile deepened. “I’m just a humble helper who listens to the shopkeeper’s instructions.”

Nianxi nodded immediately, feigning seriousness as she winked at Gu Ci. “Perfect timing—go settle today’s tea bill.”

Gu Ci smiled gently, his gaze warm. “As you wish.”

Wang Muyi found the scene before her to be immensely pleasing to both her eyes and her mood. In terms of appearance and demeanor, the two were perfectly matched, like a celestial couple stepping out of a painting.

The two sat very close together. Nianxi’s sleeve casually rested on Gu Ci’s forearm as she asked Wang Muyi, “There’s a new shadow puppeteer at the North Theatre by Zhong’an Bridge. Want to go see it together?”

Wang Muyi rejected the idea without hesitation, saying, “I’ve been out for some time now. I need to go back and help my mother-in-law with dinner.”

Marchioness Pingyang had strict rules, and whether it was for meals or outings, her daughters-in-law were always expected to serve her.

Nianxi didn’t press the matter.

After Wang Muyi left, Gu Ci immediately declared, “My mother is the most reasonable person; she would never trouble a new daughter-in-law by imposing rules on her.”

Nianxi glanced at him sideways and said, “Why are you telling me this?”

By now, Gu Ci had developed a thicker skin, thanks to her. “Who said I was talking to you? Of course, I’m speaking to my future wife.”

The two joked and laughed as they walked out, only to run into Pei Jian and Qin Lang coming in.