Chapter 1044: Overwork

After a night’s sleep, Cheng Yaojia had long lost the courage of the previous night and was too ashamed to know what to do. Suddenly, she sensed the man beside her move, as if he was about to wake up. Startled, she quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep again.

Seeing Cheng Yaojia close her eyes again, a playful smile appeared on Song Qingshu’s lips. Actually, he had woken up as soon as she moved; his feigned sleep was purely to tease her.

“Eh, sleeping so soundly in a foreign man’s bed?” Song Qingshu said deliberately.

Cheng Yaojia’s fingers gripped the hem of her cl0thes tightly. Since she was pretending to be asleep, she might as well continue.

“So soft.” Song Qingshu mischievously moved his hand again, causing Cheng Yaojia’s whole b0dy to tremble slightly.

Men are always so energetic in the morning. Song Qingshu felt the beauty in his arms was soft all over and couldn’t help but caress her a few times.

Cheng Yaojia had been biting her lip, enduring the pain, but at this point, she couldn’t pretend any longer. Just as she was about to explode, Song Qingshu, as if anticipating her arrival, released her and got out of bed.

Judging from the sound, it seemed he was getting dressed. Cheng Yaojia thought to herself, “This man is really wicked. Does he think I don’t know he’s taking advantage of me?” However, she was pretending to be asleep and could only remain curled up in bed.

“Madam, it’s time to get up. The sun’s high in the sky.”

Finally, she didn’t have to pretend anymore, and Cheng Yaojia secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But soon, his words made her blush deeply. Who wakes someone up like that? And what’s with the “sun’s high in the sky”?

Song Qingshu hadn’t expected that a casual remark from his past life would make her blush again. Seeing her awkwardly sitting on the bed, tightly wrapped in the blanket, he couldn’t help but chuckle, “Madam, why are you doing this? I saw it last night, didn’t I?”

“You even t0uched it!” Cheng Yaojia thought indignantly.

“Last night is last night, and today is today,” Cheng Yaojia said, her face flushed, wrapped in the blanket.

“Alright, alright, I won’t disturb you any longer, Madam, as you prepare for your bath,” Song Qingshu smiled and went out, thoughtfully closing the door behind him. “I’ll have someone bring you some water to wash up later.”

“Hey~” Cheng Yaojia exclaimed in surprise, quickly stopping him. “No!”

Song Qingshu stopped at the doorway, looking puzzled. “Could you bring me some water…” As soon as the words left her mouth, Cheng Yaojia realized she had gone too far and quickly added, “I don’t want anyone to see me… I’ll be spending the night in your room.”

She had expected someone of his high status to simply walk away, but to her surprise, she was met with a warm and gentle smile: “Sure, please wait a moment.”

After Song Qingshu left, Cheng Yaojia was still somewhat dazed, murmuring to herself, “He’s truly a very good man…”

After Song Qingshu finished washing up, he asked a servant to prepare a clean cloth and basin of water. He personally fetched a basin of water and brought it to the room door. Just as he knocked and called out to Cheng Yaojia, Suo Etu appeared, smiling broadly, coming from the artificial hill.

“Good morning, my dear brother.” Suo Etu cupped his hands in greeting, then suddenly noticed the basin of water in Song Qingshu’s hand and flew into a rage. “What’s wrong with the servants in this garden? How can they make you do these things yourself?”

Song Qingshu looked utterly bewildered. “I…”

Before he could think of an answer, the door creaked open, and Cheng Yaojia emerged. “You’re back…!”

At that moment, she also saw Suo Etu not far away, and the faint smile on her face instantly froze.

“Oh~ so it was to win a smile from your beauty,” Suo Etu immediately revealed a knowing look. “My brother’s methods are beyond my reach.”

Cheng Yaojia, blushing, snatched the basin of water from Song Qingshu’s hands and slammed the door shut.

Song Qingshu was both amused and exasperated. What a mess! He’d gone to so much trouble, and in the end, he hadn’t gotten any credit.

Seeing that he had been turned away, Suo Etu suppressed a laugh and approached, saying, “Brother, it’s not that I’m being nosy, but sometimes you can’t be too nice to w0men, otherwise they’ll take advantage of you…”

Song Qingshu had no interest in discussing his secrets to managing w0men and quickly interrupted, “I wonder what brings Brother Suo here so early?”

“Oh, it’s like this,” Suo Etu said with a smile, “Today, the Yangzhou Textile Commissioner has invited us to his residence for a chat. Hehe, we’re brothers, so let’s not stand on ceremony. The Yangzhou Textile Commissioner’s position is quite lucrative; he’s certainly made a fortune over the years. This time, he’s definitely prepared a generous gift for us…”

Song Qingshu’s brows furrowed slightly. He frowned, disliking such official dealings, and besides, he had important matters to attend to today. He didn’t want to waste time socializing with Yangzhou officials, so he politely declined, saying, “Thank you for your kindness, Brother Suo, but I’ve been too tired these past two days and would like to rest in the garden.”

“Too tired?” Suo Etu craned his neck to look at the tightly closed doors and windows of the room behind him, a knowing smile spreading across his face. “Faced with such a beautiful young w0man, few men could resist. In that case, I won’t disturb you any longer, my virtuous brother, haha.”

Suo Etu had originally been quite wary of Tang Kuo Bian’s purpose in coming, but now seeing him so engrossed in women, all the better.

Song Qingshu saw Suo Etu off and returned to his room, only to find Cheng Yaojia sobbing on the table. Startled, he quickly went over and supported her shoulders: “Madam, who has made you so sad?”

Cheng Yaojia sat up abruptly, glaring at him with tears streaming down her face: “It was you!”

“Me?” Song Qingshu looked bewildered. “If someone sees me in your room, my reputation will be ruined!” Cheng Yaojia said, increasingly heartbroken. She had excitedly run out to greet him, only to find out he had other people with him.

“Oh, is that so?” Song Qingshu comforted her. “Don’t worry, Suo Etu doesn’t know who you are, and he’s one of the highest-ranking officials in the Qing court. Why would he care about your affairs? He’ll forget about it in a minute. Besides, out of consideration for my feelings, he definitely won’t spread rumors about our relationship. So, Madam, you don’t need to worry at all.”

“Really?” Cheng Yaojia asked suspiciously.

“Of course it’s true. You’re crying like a little kitten. Hurry up and get ready, I’ll take you out.” Song Qingshu smiled as he gently wiped the tears from her cheeks with his fingers.

After last night’s events, their relationship had unknowingly reached a new level.

Song Qingshu’s intimate gestures came naturally, and although Cheng Yaojia was a little shy, she didn’t find anything wrong with them.

“Would you like me to comb your hair?” Song Qingshu asked with a smile.

“No, thank you.” Cheng Yaojia was initially tempted, but the tingling sensation she felt last night when his hand touched her hair made her too afraid to try. Besides, it was broad daylight now, and without the cover of night, her courage from last night had vanished.

“Where are we going later?” Cheng Yaojia asked, trying to ease her embarrassment as he combed her hair.

“Didn’t you want me to go and rescue your husband?” Song Qingshu reached out and gently lifted a strand of her hair.