Full Hall of Pear Blossoms Overwhelming Crabapple - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I never expected to run into Shen Jibai in a tucked-away corner like this.

“Brother Shen, I have admired you for so long. Could you possibly…”

A sweet, delicate voice drifted over from the other side of the rockery.

Good heavens.

Which noble young lady was this bold? In broad daylight, she actually dared to have a private tryst with a man outside her family.

I poked my head out, wanting to sneak a look at who it was, only to catch sight of a familiar face. I immediately turned and ran.

“Ah Tang.”

A cool, clear voice sounded behind me.

My steps stopped at once.

He had noticed me.

I had stumbled upon Shen Jibai’s secret. Would he blame me for ruining his good fortune?

But Shen Jibai never showed his emotions, so I could not tell whether he was angry.

“A lady’s reputation is important. Do not say such things again.”

He gently reprimanded the girl, then strode toward me.

The two of us walked side by side, silent the whole way.

I could not stand the quiet, so I forced a laugh and tried to smooth things over. “Cousin, you truly are blessed. There are quite a few ladies in Capital City who admire you.”

“Oh?”

He lifted his eyes and studied me carefully, his dark gaze deep and unreadable.

For no reason at all, I felt a little uneasy.

“Why haven’t I seen you wear the coral earrings I gave you the day before yesterday?”

Earrings?

Then I remembered.

Shen Jibai had gone out on official business and returned the day before yesterday with gifts. Every young lady in the Shen family had been beaming.

At the time, I had been standing in the corner and had never imagined he would bring anything for me.

Yet Shen Jibai not only had a gift for me, he had placed the box right in front of me.

I had been lost in thought then and did not come back to my senses for quite a while.

“You don’t want it?”

There was a hint of laughter at the end of his words. His voice was clean and gentle, brushing against my heart like a feather, there and not there.

For some reason, I hurriedly took the box and muttered, “Thank you, Cousin.”

What a joke. I was nothing but an orphan girl.

I ate their food and used their things.

If the master of the house gave you something, how could you dare refuse?

Of course, accepting it was one thing. Not daring to wear it was another.

That night, when I returned and opened the box, my aunt beside me cried out in surprise.

“This is the famous red coral from the East Sea. It is extremely expensive. The head of the household actually gave this to you.”

Startled, I looked up and met my aunt’s meaningful gaze.

…

My thoughts returned to the present. Shen Jibai was staring at me with a burning gaze, as though determined to hear my answer.

Left with no choice, I gave a dry excuse.

“Coral is precious. I was afraid I might lose them if I wore them, so I put them away for safekeeping.”

“Is that so?”

I could not tell from his voice whether he was pleased or angry, but my heart was in utter turmoil.