Chapter 44: I Just Forgot, I Didn’t Misspeak, Why Should I Apologize?

Last time at Tianxiang Residence, Zhou Jingshen had been called away at the last minute and missed the chance to see Pei Taifu descend the stairs.

He had repeatedly reminded Shen Luchu to glance at him, but Shen Luchu completely ignored him.

Today, while out running errands, Zhou Jingshen happened to pass by the Taifu Mansion. His curiosity was piqued again, and he instinctively glanced a few more times towards the Taifu Mansion.

Unexpectedly, he really spotted something!

Zhou Jingshen heard someone faintly shout “Madam” at the entrance of the Taifu Mansion, and his ears immediately perked up.

He crouched behind the carriage window, afraid of being noticed. He could only cover his face with the curtain, peeking through the gap with his eyes.

He saw a carriage parked at the entrance, and a slender figure slowly getting into it.

From a distance, Zhou Jingshen could barely make out a side profile, but the person’s male clothing was clearly visible.

“Tsk!”

White… was excited.

It was a man.

Zhou Jingshen slammed the curtain shut, grumbling, and sat back in the carriage.

But that didn’t change anything.

He was just curious for a moment. Pei Taifu had no connection with them. Who he married, or whether he even got married, had nothing to do with him and didn’t affect him in the slightest.

On the contrary, it was Shen Luchu…

Zhou Jingshen thought of Shen Luchu and felt a sharp pain in his head.

He had never known that Shen Luchu had once made such a promise to Jiang Shiyuan three years ago.

And Shen Luchu had actually forgotten about it.

Such an important thing, and someone actually forgot?

Even Zhou Jingshen felt it was hard to believe.

So, over the years, Jiang Shiyuan wasn’t shamelessly pursuing him. She had just been deceived by Shen Luchu.

What was Shen Luchu doing? Playing with people’s emotions?

Now that Jiang Shiyuan wasn’t playing with him anymore, he should have stopped, so why was he making such an irrational fuss?

That day, when Jiang Shiyuan didn’t lash the whip on his face, it was already showing him enough respect.

Zhou Jingshen didn’t understand what Shen Luchu was thinking. He was even a bit afraid to see him.

But what he feared came to pass. As soon as Zhou Jingshen returned home, Moyu, Shen Luchu’s attendant, came running over and said to him, “Young Master Zhou, please go and persuade my young master.”

Moyu’s face was drooping, looking as bitter as an aged pickle.

“What happened to him?”

Moyu sighed, “Since returning from the other estate, my young master has locked himself in the study and been studying hard.”

“Isn’t that good?”

Moyu shook his head, “If it was just studying, I wouldn’t be so worried. But my young master hasn’t slept for days.”

Since they were friends, Zhou Jingshen felt concerned and immediately headed to the Wenyuan Marquis’ residence.

The residence was eerily quiet. Princess of Wenhe was out attending social events, and the Marquis of Wenyuan was always busy, spending nearly three hundred days of the year at the government office.

The relationship between Princess of Wenhe and the Marquis was no secret anymore.

Zhou Jingshen snapped back to reality and entered Shen Luchu’s study, only to be shocked by the sight before him.

The study was a complete mess, with books scattered all around and crumpled paper balls everywhere.

Shen Luchu sat at the desk, engrossed in his writing, still wearing the outfit from the gathering at the other estate, looking wrinkled and disheveled.

“Luchu?” Zhou Jingshen called out.

Shen Luchu didn’t look up, “I’m busy. The imperial exam is coming soon. I need to focus on my preparations.”

His voice was hoarse, like an old cartwheel bumping along a rough mountain road.

“This time, the top scholar will be mine. I will win all three rounds and show Jiang Shiyuan that I didn’t misspeak!” Shen Luchu muttered to himself, as if speaking to someone else, or more like trying to hypnotize himself.

Shen Luchu rubbed his tense head and said, “If you want to marry Jiang Shiyuan, then apologize to her properly. She’s waited for you all these years. If you humble yourself and speak nicely, she’ll definitely give you another chance.”

Suddenly, Shen Luchu looked up and said firmly, “I just forgot, I didn’t misspeak. Why should I apologize?”

Zhou Jingshen looked at Shen Luchu’s bloodshot eyes and haggard face, feeling a burst of anger that nearly made him want to punch him.

What was Shen Luchu being so stubborn for?

If he made a mistake, he should correct it. If he liked someone, he should pursue them. There was still a chance.

“Luchu, that day at the other estate, you went too far. Jiang Shiyuan was really angry. I know you care about her, which is why you lost control in the heat of the moment…”

“No, I don’t care about her.”

Zhou Jingshen tried to continue comforting him, but before he could finish, Shen Luchu interrupted loudly.

“There are so many people who like me. Do I have to care about each of them?”

Shen Luchu retorted, his expression full of disdain.

Why did everyone keep telling him to apologize to Jiang Shiyuan? Moyu, Zhou Jingshen, it seemed like they all thought he couldn’t live without her.

No!

He was doing fine!

Even without Jiang Shiyuan, he would be fine. He could still become the top scholar.

Shen Luchu’s arrogant words hit Zhou Jingshen like a hammer, making his head spin.

He had always thought Shen Luchu was exceptionally smart and envied him, but now all he could think of were four words: “No cure for him!”

Shen Luchu was beyond saving!

Even at this point, he still couldn’t see his own heart?

Since he couldn’t be awakened, Zhou Jingshen decided not to care anymore.

With a helpless sigh, Zhou Jingshen shook his sleeves and walked out.

After the reinforcements failed, Moyu almost cried in frustration, his forehead breaking into a cold sweat.

His mind was racing.

Since the lady didn’t like Jiang Shiyuan, the young master must be hoping to win the top scholar to make the lady compromise and allow Jiang Shiyuan to enter.

But Jiang Shiyuan was about to marry someone else, she wouldn’t wait for him to pass the imperial exam.

Should he tell the young master that Jiang Shiyuan was already promised to someone else? Would that make him wake up?

Moyu hesitated for a long time, then finally made up his mind.

He returned to the study, just about to speak—

“Get out!”

“Don’t bring up any news about Jiang Shiyuan again. I don’t want to hear it.”