Five Big Bosses are Too Clingy After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: How Could She Just Grab Someone’s Hand!

Chu Xingchen looked down at her skirt hem, then turned to Shen Cangzhu apologetically. “I’m so sorry! I tripped on my hem.”

She had always thought these ancient-style clothes were beautiful, and now that she had these exquisitely handmade garments, she couldn’t put them down. But beautiful as they were, she wasn’t quite used to them.

Shen Cangzhu, looking down at Chu Xingchen sitting on his foot, was also slightly dazed. When Chu Xingchen turned her head, he saw a beautiful face framed by the white fur of her red cloak’s hood. She smiled, revealing white teeth, and her pure expression, combined with her bright, clear, black eyes, stunned him for a moment.

He paused and reached out to help, but she got up herself. She patted the dust off her cloak, then noticed the ground was still dirty and led Shen Cangzhu a few steps away.

“Don’t dirty your clothes.” Shen Cangzhu was wearing a long, beautiful dark blue cloak, and Chu Xingchen worried about it dragging on the ground.

Once settled, Chu Xingchen smiled and explained what she was doing, asking if he needed anything. Shen Cangzhu replied, his emotions somewhat complex. This was the first time he had a direct, normal conversation with Chu Xingchen, maintaining eye contact.

Previously, when Chu Xingchen met them, she always had a cold face full of disgust. Facing her small face for the first time, he noticed she had a dimple on her left cheek. Her looks were initially cool and stunning, but her smile, revealing the dimple, made her look inexplicably sweet.

Shen Cangzhu momentarily lost himself, then quickly averted his gaze.

Chu Xingchen followed his line of sight. “Consort Shen, would you like some ginger tea? I see it’s cold, so I had some made.”

Assuming he might be cold from walking, Chu Xingchen casually poured a bowl of ginger tea and offered it to Shen Cangzhu. Shen Cangzhu paused, quickly rose, accepted it with both hands, and thanked her.

It was mandatory, as the Crown Princess had personally poured it for him.

“No need to be so polite. I just did it casually.” Chu Xingchen had forgotten her status, acting purely out of habit, and was surprised to receive a formal thank you.

As Shen Cangzhu walked away, a subtle sweetness lingered in his mouth. He didn’t usually care for the taste of ginger, but the tea he just drank was unexpectedly sweet.

Shen Cangzhu slowly walked back to the Bright Jade Hall. Ling Zhou was already waiting there. Seeing him, Ling Zhou immediately requested a private word. Once the attendants retired, he couldn’t wait to speak.

“Consort Shen, do you think she truly doesn’t like Xie Ziqing anymore and has decided to like you instead? She even personally poured you ginger tea!”

Shen Cangzhu narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flickering within. “How did you know?”

Ling Zhou didn’t notice the sharpness in Shen Cangzhu’s eyes, only feeling that Shen Cangzhu suddenly seemed a bit dangerous. Hearing his question, he froze, scratching his neck. “I… I just accidentally saw it.”

He absolutely couldn’t admit he was secretly observing Chu Xingchen. No, he wasn’t observing her, he was just monitoring her to prevent her from hatching any more bad schemes, since she suddenly became so weird.

Ling Zhou clenched his fist. “Consort Shen, the important thing now is whether she has decided to switch her affections to you and harbor malicious intentions toward you.”

Ling Zhou had his own reasons for suspicion. “You and Xie Ziqing are actually somewhat similar… of course, Xie Ziqing can’t compare to your presence, and his face isn’t as handsome as yours.”

Ling Zhou couldn’t help but complain, “I don’t know what’s wrong with her eyes.”

Shen Cangzhu saw through Ling Zhou’s lie but didn’t press. He merely warned him to ‘watch his words’ and then shook his head, stating confidently, “She won’t.”

“But after you left, she was still watching your back.”

Shen Cangzhu glanced at Ling Zhou. “Did it never occur to you that she might be doing it intentionally, just to spite Xie Ziqing?”

Ling Zhou slapped the table. “You’re right! Why didn’t I think of that reason?”

Ling Zhou left. Shen Cangzhu looked at the winter sunlight streaming in. Chu Xingchen’s smiling face and dimple flashed in his mind. He still felt she had changed.

And that bowl of ginger tea was truly sweet.

…

Ling Zhou was about to head back but made a detour, unable to resist going to see Chu Xingchen again. This time, he walked in openly, feigning interest by asking a few questions, then deliberately looked at the ginger tea. “What is this?”

Chu Xingchen hadn’t expected so many people to visit just to see her build a kang, but she didn’t mind. “Ginger tea. Would you like some?”

“I guess I’ll have some.” Ling Zhou still held his horse whip, his arms crossed over his chest, his chin tilted high. His eyes were sparkling, yet he feigned disdain.

Ling Zhou was the youngest of the five. Chu Xingchen smiled at his appearance, unconsciously viewing him with the fondness one might have for a junior schoolmate. She smiled, poured him a bowl, and handed it over.

Ling Zhou’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected Chu Xingchen to actually pour him a bowl. He stammered his thanks and reached for it.

He was staring at Chu Xingchen and wasn’t watching his hand, nearly spilling the bowl. Chu Xingchen quickly grabbed his hand to steady him. “Careful, don’t scald yourself.”

Chu Xingchen gently settled the bowl in Ling Zhou’s hand. She sighed with admiration. He is indeed a martial artist, young and full of vigor. Ling Zhou was dressed so lightly, yet his hand was warm, unlike her own, which was cold from being outside.

Ling Zhou’s hand was warm, and the touch of Chu Xingchen’s cool hand sent a jolt through him.

She… she grabbed my hand on purpose, didn’t she? How could she just grab someone’s hand?!

Ling Zhou grew up in the military camps of the Northern Frontier, surrounded only by men—men who smelled of sweat and feet. It seemed even the mosquitoes in the camp were male. He rarely saw girls until he was packaged and sent to the capital as Lord Ling.

The first girl he truly interacted with was the Crown Princess, but they were always on bad terms, disgusted by each other, let alone having any physical contact. Yet, suddenly, she had grabbed his hand.

Ling Zhou nearly jumped out of his skin. He pointed at Chu Xingchen. “You… you… Hic.” In his nervousness, Ling Zhou let out a loud hiccup.

The hiccup was so loud that Ling Zhou was utterly mortified. He shoved the ginger tea back into Chu Xingchen’s hands, threw out the words “I don’t want it anymore” and fled.

Chu Xingchen looked at the returned ginger tea, then at Ling Zhou, who was running away as if chased by a ghost, and was utterly confused. “I barely said anything. How did I offend him this time?”

She truly didn’t understand this young man.

Since the ginger tea was already poured, it couldn’t be wasted. Chu Xingchen tilted her head back and gulped it down.

On the other side, Ling Zhou bolted back to the Flying Feather Hall. He slammed the door shut and let out a sigh of relief, followed by another loud hiccup.

“What’s going on? Why am I still hiccupping?” Ling Zhou bit his fingers, his mind racing. “That’s not the problem! The problem is she grabbed my hand!”

He looked at his hand, feeling the lingering cool sensation, and violently rubbed it twice.

“Brother Cangzhu was wrong, too. She really doesn’t seem obsessed with Xie Ziqing anymore. She might want to be with us…”

If that was the case, she would eventually come for him. What should he do then? Should he accept her? If he had a child, could he still return to the Northern Frontier?