Chapter 32: Lingering Affection

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Lingering Affection

Cui Lingyao complained inwardly for a moment, but explained aloud, "Mother is craving some Lotus Cake, so I was heading to the Lotus Pond. I was walking too quickly and bumped into you, Cousin. I’m terribly sorry."

...Lotus Cake.

As if he’d remembered something, Shen Tingyu’s gaze faltered for a second. He let go of her shoulder and said, "It’s fine. I was actually looking for you. I’ll walk with you."

As soon as his hand left her shoulder, Cui Lingyao realized how close they had been. She instinctively took a step back. Hearing his words, she looked up in astonishment. "What could you possibly need to say to me, Cousin?"

’In the original owner’s memories, this cousin of hers had never once actively sought her out in three full years.’

’Even when she had first arrived at the Duke Mansion, before she had revealed her affections, he had always been very careful to maintain his distance.’

Shen Tingyu didn’t speak, just lowered his gaze to stare at her.

’It was still the same face.’

’Arched brows, almond eyes.’

’Beneath long lashes, her pupils were dark and lustrous, clear and radiant.’

’But before, whenever she looked at him, they had always been filled with a besotted adoration.’

’Ignoring her gravely ill mother, shamelessly pestering a man who had no feelings for her.’

’Her words and actions were inappropriate, utterly shameless.’

’Shen Tingyu didn’t like it.’

’He was even disgusted by it.’

’And now...’

’This pair of beautiful almond eyes met his gaze.’

’They were clean and clear, open and frank.’

’There was surprise, a flicker of distraction, and Shen Tingyu could even see a flash of wonder in her eyes. The only things missing were a young maiden’s shyness and... her infatuation.’

The man’s gaze was too focused, and it lingered on her face for too long.

Cui Lingyao didn’t understand why, so she turned her head to avoid his gaze.

"Cousin?"

Her subtle reminder made everything fall silent for a moment.

Shen Tingyu was startled by his own rudeness. He pressed his lips together slightly, turned to the side, and said, "It’s hot here. Let’s talk as we walk."

Cui Lingyao: "..."

She said nothing more and continued walking.

Shen Tingyu followed her.

The two walked side-by-side. Shen Er and Zhiqiu, being exceptionally tactful, followed at a distance, not daring to disturb their masters’ conversation.

Soon, they reached a covered walkway.

Shielded from the harsh sun overhead and caressed by the occasional breeze, it was significantly cooler.

Cui Lingyao let out a long sigh of relief and took out a handkerchief to wipe the light sheen of sweat from her brow. As she raised her hand, her wide sleeve slid halfway down, revealing a stretch of her pale, smooth wrist.

Shen Tingyu glanced at it from the corner of his eye before discreetly lowering his gaze. "How is Aunt doing?" he asked. "I was originally on my way to visit her when I happened to run into you, Cousin."

’So, he was actually planning to visit the courtyard where she and her mother lived?’

Cui Lingyao was even more astonished.

’Although Mrs. Shen was the Lord Duke’s only daughter and Shen Tingyu’s only aunt, he had never once actively visited her in the past three years, even when she had fallen gravely ill several times.’

’This time... What on earth has gotten into him?’

Despite her inner complaints, Cui Lingyao still answered dutifully. "Mother’s illness this time has made me realize just how foolish my past behavior was," she said. "I’ve offended you so much over the past few years, Cousin. Please, be the bigger person and don’t take my foolishness to heart."

Her words made it sound as if she had truly recognized her mistake.

And that she intended to turn over a new leaf.

’That infatuation, which had cost her all of her pride and dignity, had been abandoned so cleanly, without the slightest hesitation.’

’Even with him, the very object of that obsession, standing right beside her, she showed no sign of wavering or lingering affection.’

’Shen Tingyu, who had personally experienced just how unscrupulous Pei Shuyao could be, found it all very peculiar.’

He turned his head and gave the girl beside him a long look, as if confirming something. A smile touched his clear, gentle eyes, and a soft ripple seemed to spread through their depths.

They were gentle and tender.

That look made Cui Lingyao’s heart skip a beat. Just as she was about to say something, her nose caught the faint scent of flowers.

Only then did she notice a sea of pink flowers blooming just ahead and to their side.

The lotus blossoms, pure and flawless, were basking in the sunlight—a breathtaking sight.

Their delicate fragrance drifted over on the breeze.

Cui Lingyao’s eyes brightened, and she quickened her pace.

The long, covered walkway they were on forked ahead, leading to a viewing pavilion by the Lotus Pond.

The Duke Mansion’s Lotus Pond had clearly been painstakingly maintained by the gardeners. The pond itself was vast, with the blossoms blooming in its center.

To pick the flowers, one needed to take a small bamboo raft.

Shen Tingyu ordered a servant behind him to prepare a raft, then asked her, "Can you swim?"

Cui Lingyao shook her head. "...I can’t."

Shen Tingyu smiled. "Then I’ll go with you."

"..." Cui Lingyao was silent for a moment before asking in confusion, "Cousin, what do you mean?"

’Why was he suddenly acting so familiar with her?’

’It couldn’t be that he was so used to me chasing after him that now that I’ve stopped, he feels his charm is lost and has decided to string me along, could it?’

’But clearly, Shen Tingyu wasn’t that kind of person.’

His slightly lowered lashes trembled as he explained, "The raft isn’t safe. I’ll accompany you. If there’s an accident, I can protect you."

’If she really was...’

’Then she should be afraid of water.’

Cui Lingyao wanted to say that Zhiqiu could accompany her.

But Zhiqiu, a short distance away, had already covered her mouth and taken a few steps back, tactfully proclaiming, "The Young Master has a point. I can’t swim either."

Cui Lingyao: "..."

She shut her mouth, saying no more.

’The original owner’s obsession with Shen Tingyu was practically pathological. She could become disheartened by his coldness and slowly give up on him.’

’But she had only been "disheartened" for two days. Faced with the man she loved actively trying to get closer, she should be ecstatic.’

’Continually rejecting him so coldly and showing such resistance would make anyone think something was off.’

’If she kept refusing, even Zhiqiu would probably start to suspect that her mistress had been replaced.’

’With Shen Tingyu’s sharp intuition, he would be even more likely to sense that something was wrong.’

’Most importantly, Xie Jinbai’s people were most likely watching her from the shadows.’

’Any tiny thing she did that was different from the original owner would become "evidence" for him to confirm her identity.’

Cui Lingyao couldn’t refuse any longer.

She lowered her head. "Then I’ll have to trouble you, Cousin."

Her voice sounded a little dejected.

Shen Tingyu felt like laughing when he heard her tone.

Just then, a servant brought the bamboo raft over.

It was meant for sightseeing. Perhaps to create an artistic effect, it was made of just a few bamboo poles tied together side-by-side, floating precariously on the lake’s surface.

—It looked really unsafe.

Moreover, Cui Lingyao was genuinely afraid of water, which only made it seem more dangerous.

Her brow furrowed instantly.

Shen Tingyu had already stepped onto it and held out a hand to her. "Come on."

"..." Cui Lingyao froze.

She looked up at him, her expression indescribable.

’Wasn’t he supposed to be cold and distant? Hadn’t he never let this cousin of his so much as touch the hem of his clothes?’

’How could he be offering her his hand now?’

His hand was extended toward her.

’Based on the original owner’s personality, she should have grabbed it without a second thought.’

Zhiqiu, at the side, had eyes filled with excitement. She was already squealing internally. If not for the difference in their stations, she probably would have shouted for her mistress to rush forward.

"..." Cui Lingyao took a deep breath. ’It’s just holding his hand,’ she told herself. ’It’s nothing.’

She raised her hand and placed it in his palm.

The moment their hands touched, Shen Tingyu’s knuckles trembled slightly, as if he’d been burned. Then, he curled his fingers, firmly grasping the girl’s slender hand.

Holding her skirt with one hand, Cui Lingyao let him pull her onto the bamboo raft.