A Stolen Romance - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: I Missed You So Much

Seeing the small, simple sedan chair with its blue cloth cover parked inside the second gate, Shi Yuning felt her heart flutter inexplicably. She had never seen Xie Zhaoran use such a plain, even crude, form of transport. Xie Zhaoran was always surrounded by a retinue of people, with a gorgeous, intricately carved carriage adorned with dazzling decorations.

Shi Yuning waved to her servants, instructing them to take the sedan chair bearers to rest. She would personally welcome this guest. Once the servants were gone, Shi Yuning quickly walked over to the sedan chair, lifted the curtain, and leaned inside.

Xie Zhaoran smiled, her eyes shining as she looked at her, causing Shi Yuning’s heart to swell. They had only been separated that morning, less than a day, but Shi Yuning felt as if it had been a month since she last saw Xie Zhaoran. She missed her so much. She hadn’t realized it until she saw her, and then all her longing burst forth at once.

Xie Zhaoran raised an eyebrow. Her beloved had lifted the curtain and leaned in, saying nothing, just staring at her. She was about to ask what was wrong when the first syllable left her lips, her own lips grew warm.

Shi Yuning had squeezed into the sedan chair, leaned forward, wrapped her arms around Xie Zhaoran’s neck, and kissed her passionately. Xie Zhaoran didn’t know why Shi Yuning was so sudden, but she couldn’t resist her beloved’s advance, no matter the reason. She reached out and pulled Shi Yuning closer by the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. Their lips and teeth intertwined, their minds lost in the moment. A couple of soft, bone-melting moans occasionally echoed within the small sedan chair.

After the kiss, Xie Zhaoran pulled Shi Yuning to sit beside her, catching her breath and calming the fire that had been ignited within her. Shi Yuning felt completely weak. She let Xie Zhaoran pull her closer, squeezing in beside her. The sedan chair was so narrow that to fit two people, they had to sit pressed tightly together.

Shi Yuning felt like half her body was draped over Xie Zhaoran. She rested her head against Xie Zhaoran’s neck, her warm breath caressing Xie Zhaoran’s skin. Xie Zhaoran felt a tingling sensation, but she cherished Shi Yuning’s intimate dependence. She shifted slightly and held her beloved close, smiling softly.

“Why are you so proactive this time? Not shy anymore?”

Shi Yuning heard the teasing tone in her voice and knew she was referring to what happened at Auntie Tian’s house. She wasn’t shy; she just couldn’t hold back. She cleared her throat and asked the question that was on her mind. “Why are you here? Don’t you have something important to do?”

Xie Zhaoran kissed her on the temple. “I’m here to ask for your hand in marriage. This is the most important thing of all.”

Shi Yuning laughed, thinking she was joking. She played along. “You came here just like this to propose? Aren’t you afraid my mom will break your legs?”

“I only have one good leg left. Surely your mother isn’t that heartless?” Xie Zhaoran had thought about this. She felt it was best to come in her current state, as anyone who saw her would surely feel a little sympathy. Xie Zhaoran hoped Tu Chunhua would soften a bit because of her injuries. She didn’t expect to propose and get an immediate “yes” on her first visit. She just hoped they would give her a chance, and she would take it one step at a time.

“Maybe you should wait a bit. I was actually just about to talk to my mom about us.”

“Hmm?” Xie Zhaoran’s eyebrows shot up. “Talk about what?”

Shi Yuning said, “That we want to be together.”

Xie Zhaoran’s heart stopped for a moment, then began to beat fast and hard.

Shi Yuning continued, “I already told my dad. I was just about to tell my mom when you arrived.”

Xie Zhaoran’s heart beat even more fiercely. “Wait, you mean, your dad, Uncle Shi, he already knows?”

Shi Yuning nodded. “He knows.”

Xie Zhaoran was overjoyed. She had planned to take things slowly and make a good impression first, but she never expected Shi Yuning to have already told her father. She pulled Shi Yuning out of her embrace and kissed her fiercely, then, feeling it wasn’t enough, began to kiss her tenderly, unable to get enough.

Xie Zhaoran’s excitement made Shi Yuning incredibly shy. She was dizzy from the kisses, her mind unable to think straight. Xie Zhaoran wanted nothing more than to melt Shi Yuning into her very bones. She held her tightly. “Ningning, it’s so good to have you.”

In their relationship, Xie Zhaoran had always thought she was the brave and proactive one. Now she knew that the truly brave one was her Ningning.

“Good. Even if my other leg breaks today, it would be worth it.”

…

Tu Chunhua was surprised that all the dishes were on the table, but the guest still hadn’t come into the room. She was about to send someone to check when she saw Shi Yuning slowly helping a girl in from outside. She recognized Xie Zhaoran, but she didn’t dare to connect her with the girl in front of her. No one had told her that Xie Zhaoran was so severely injured. One of her legs was tied with a splint, and it looked like it was broken.

“Oh my, what happened? Ningning, why didn’t you say anything earlier?” Tu Chunhua quickly told a servant to bring a soft cushion and helped Shi Yuning settle Xie Zhaoran into a chair.

After sitting down, Xie Zhaoran immediately thanked her and bowed respectfully to both Tu Chunhua and Shi MinDa. Tu Chunhua warmly accepted her greetings, but Shi MinDa gave a perfunctory nod.

“I was wondering why you took so long to come in. So Miss Xie was too injured to walk. Ningning, you should have told us earlier so we could have arranged a sedan chair.”

Shi Yuning blushed when Tu Chunhua mentioned how long she had taken. She had forgotten about the kiss in the sedan chair.

Shi MinDa, who was already observing the two with a critical eye, immediately noticed Shi Yuning’s unusual behavior. Looking at her lips, which were redder and more moist than before, Shi MinDa had a bad feeling. The thought of that possibility made his chest ache. He clutched his heart.

“What’s wrong?” Tu Chunhua asked, seeing his reaction.

Shi MinDa shook his head. “Nothing.”

Xie Zhaoran looked at Shi MinDa, meeting his gaze, which was filled with scrutiny and displeasure. Xie Zhaoran smiled slightly, politely allowing Shi MinDa to look her over. Shi MinDa, seeing that Xie Zhaoran was clearly smarter than his daughter, felt a pang of worry. He thought his daughter might be being deceived. This Miss Xie was a former Crown Princess. Why would she suddenly fall for his daughter?

He was well-read and knew that there were people with special preferences in this world, like the former dynasty’s Princess Mingzhu, who was fond of women and kept many beautiful ladies in her estate. But this was not the right path. Didn’t Princess Mingzhu later have children and a happy life with her husband, and she even drove out those beautiful women from her home? A few of them who genuinely loved the princess couldn’t bear the rejection and took their own lives outside the princess’s residence. Thinking of this, Shi MinDa’s gaze toward Xie Zhaoran became even more hostile. He worried his silly daughter was being deceived.

Meanwhile, Tu Chunhua had seated Xie Zhaoran and was enthusiastically serving her food, encouraging her to eat more. “I heard from Ningning about what happened. Thank you so much, Miss Xie. If it weren’t for you, Ningning would have been in danger,” Tu Chunhua said, her gratitude genuine.

Shi MinDa snorted coldly in his heart. He had been grateful for Xie Zhaoran too, but now he suspected that Xie Zhaoran had used her life-saving kindness to win Ningning’s heart.

“Ningning also saved me. I wouldn’t have survived without her either,” Xie Zhaoran said honestly. Tu Chunhua knew it wasn’t the same, but she was still grateful to Xie Zhaoran.

She was a little puzzled by this sudden visit. “Miss Xie, did you come here for something?” she asked directly. After all, she was planning to repay her kindness.

Xie Zhaoran put down her chopsticks, her expression a little crestfallen. “To be honest, Auntie, I have nowhere else to go.”

Tu Chunhua paused, chopsticks in hand, not understanding what Xie Zhaoran meant. Had something happened to the Xie family? Shi MinDa knew a little but was in no mood to explain for Xie Zhaoran.

Shi Yuning jumped in to help. “Mom, we have plenty of rooms. Why don’t we let Zhaoran live with us?”

Tu Chunhua had no objections. “Of course, that’s not a problem. Miss Xie can stay as long as she wants.”

Shi Yuning’s eyes lit up. “What about for a lifetime?”

Tu Chunhua didn’t even think. “Yes, that’s fine. Why not? As long as Miss Xie wants to stay, she can. We have plenty of empty rooms in our marquisate.”

Xie Zhaoran smiled sincerely. “I’d like that. I’d like to stay for a lifetime.”

“Huh?” Tu Chunhua felt there was something off about what Xie Zhaoran said.

Xie Zhaoran suddenly supported herself on the armrests of her chair and stood up with difficulty. “Auntie, I came here today because I want to be honest with you about something—”

Before she could finish, Shi MinDa suddenly interrupted. He had been about to say something the moment he saw his silly wife being led astray by their daughter. “Let’s eat first. The food is getting cold.”

Tu Chunhua glared at him, thinking, What’s wrong with Shi MinDa today? He was being so improper. Eating was not as important as Xie Zhaoran. When a life-saver had a request, she should respond positively. “If the food is cold, we can heat it up. Miss Xie, please go ahead and say what you need to say.”

Shi MinDa sighed. Fine, don’t blame me for not warning you. He quietly lowered his head and began to eat.

Xie Zhaoran bowed deeply to Tu Chunhua and said seriously, “Auntie, I have feelings for Ningning, and I want to be with her for the rest of our lives. I hope you will give us your blessing.”

Clatter. The chopsticks in Tu Chunhua’s hand fell to the floor. Shi Yuning quickly picked them up and put them back on the table.

Tu Chunhua’s face was blank, but her eyes were wide. She looked at the dirty chopsticks, then at Shi Yuning, then at Xie Zhaoran, and finally at Shi MinDa. “You knew about this?”

Shi MinDa looked innocent. “I just knew about it half a day before you did.”

Tu Chunhua frowned. “So I didn’t hear wrong just now? That was what she meant?”

Shi MinDa nodded. “Yes.”

Xie Zhaoran’s eyes were filled with determination. “Auntie, I am serious about Ningning.”

Shi Yuning also looked eager. “Me too, Mom. I want to be with Xie Zhaoran.”

Tu Chunhua snapped out of her shock. “Everyone, sit down, sit down. Hurry up and eat. The food is getting cold.” She picked up the chopsticks that had fallen to the floor without getting a new pair and began to eat from her bowl. Shi MinDa’s expression tightened. Shi Yuning’s heart also leaped into her throat.

“Mom?” she asked tentatively.

Tu Chunhua looked up from her bowl, smiling. “Don’t just stand there. Hurry and eat. You haven’t eaten well these past few days, have you?” As she said this, she put a piece of green pepper, which Shi MinDa hated, into his bowl.

“Mom? Did you agree?” Shi Yuning was a little confused by her mother’s reaction.

When she heard her daughter’s words, the forced smile on Tu Chunhua’s face vanished, and a flicker of pain crossed her eyes.

“I don’t agree.”

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