You Stole My Husband, So I Seduced Your Son - Chapter 33

Zhou Minghai affectionately stroked Ningning’s hair and picked up her calligraphy practice sheet to examine it.

As he reviewed her work, he nodded repeatedly. “Madam Min’s guidance has truly been exceptional. In three years of practice, my daughter hasn’t shown such remarkable progress as she has in these past three days.”

Despite the praise, Min Rongxue remained cool and composed, while Ningning beamed with delight.

“Father, you can’t just praise Madam Min! You have to praise Tutor Ji too. She stays up with me at night to practice calligraphy!”

Liyue, suddenly thrust into the spotlight, blushed and said shyly, “Ningning is the one who works so hard. She insists on practicing for an extra quarter of an hour every night.”

Zhou Minghai was pleased with his daughter’s diligence. He prompted her, “Ningning, since your tutors are so dedicated, have you prepared a teacher’s appreciation gift?”

Ningning tilted her head thoughtfully. “Madam Min is devoutly Buddhist. I’ll ask Grandmother for a Buddha statue to give her. As for Sister Liyue… Mother mentioned giving her a coral bracelet, but she declined it. I’ve been wearing it these past few days anyway, so I’ll give it to her as a teacher’s appreciation gift.”

“Absolutely not! That’s far too valuable,” Min Rongxue protested immediately.

Ningning, unsure whether the Buddha statue or the coral bracelet was more precious, looked at Zhou Minghai with confusion.

Zhou Minghai had brought up the matter himself, unwilling to lose face. He knew Min Rongxue’s aloof nature meant she might bluntly reject his offer.

He forced a strained laugh. “It’s just a child’s heartfelt gesture, Madam Min. If you find the Buddha statue too valuable, please accept Liyue’s Coral Bracelet. Refusing would break Aunt Song’s heart—and Ningning’s too.”

Turning to Min Rongxue, whose face remained cold, he added, “It’s just a coral bracelet. Nothing particularly valuable.”

Indeed, what was coral worth? To the Min Young Miss of yesteryear, it was something she’d casually gift to her maids.

Yet now, she found it too precious to accept.

Anxious to diffuse the awkward atmosphere, Zhou Minghai immediately prepared to take his leave. As he turned to depart, Nanny Yun pulled Ningning forward, glancing back to bid Min Rongxue farewell.

“After staying for several days, we’re returning home today. We’ve troubled Madam these past few days.”

They were leaving already?

Despite her displeasure, Min Rongxue still escorted them to the courtyard gate out of courtesy.

As Zhou Minghai reached the gate, he noticed several additional carriages. Lifting the curtain of one, he found Song Xuwan already seated inside.

Turning back, he saw Nanny Yun hurrying over, pulling Ningning along with one hand and carrying luggage in the other, followed by Min Rongxue, who had come to see them off.

It was too late to say anything. He politely bid farewell to Min Rongxue, climbed into his carriage, and left. He had no desire to see Song Xuwan at that moment.

Coincidentally, Song Xuwan felt the same way. She happily sat with Ningning, asking her what she had learned these past few days.

At the courtyard gate, Min Rongxue saw off Song Xuwan and her husband, then turned to give Ji Liyue a cold glare.

“Why did you accept the coral bracelet? Did you want it that badly?”

Ji Liyue felt deeply wronged. She hadn’t wanted it at all. The first time Song Xuwan had offered it, she had vehemently refused.

The second time, Song Xuwan presented it as a greeting gift. Seeing Min Rongxue’s tacit approval, Ji Liyue had even felt a flicker of joy.

But soon, she noticed the icy glint in Min Rongxue’s eyes whenever she looked at the coral bracelet. Terrified, Ji Liyue quickly found an opportunity to return it to Song Xuwan.

She knew it was impolite to return a gift, but she didn’t know what else to do.

Today, she had only accepted the gift out of sheer helplessness. How had it become something she wanted?

“Ningning insisted on giving it to me,” she said, her voice trembling with suppressed tears.

Min Rongxue scoffed coldly. “If your eyes hadn’t betrayed your desire, would Ningning have even thought to give you this?”

Ji Liyue burst into tears. She hadn’t truly wanted the gift. She had simply admired Ningning’s vibrant daily attire, which brought her joy. She adored Ningning, who reminded her of the cheerful girls in New Year’s paintings, radiating festive warmth.

“I didn’t—”

Before she could finish, Min Rongxue cut her off sharply. “A young girl like you, flaunting red and green, dressed so flamboyantly—who are you trying to impress?”

“You’re overstepping your place!”

Min Rongxue stormed off, leaving Ji Liyue swaying on her feet. Was she truly not being proper?

She was the most virtuous girl she knew. Yet, in her mother’s eyes, she was so contemptible?

As the courtyard fell silent, Ji Moyang’s heart sank. The person had escaped!

Unable to see them off, he waited until the commotion subsided before casually approaching the courtyard gate. There, he found Ji Liyue’s frail figure trembling uncontrollably.

“What’s wrong? Missing Ningning already?” he asked, stepping closer.

Unable to bear her anguish alone, Ji Liyue poured out her heart to Ji Moyang.

She wept, “I never cared for those gold and silver ornaments or those red and green dresses. I was just happy seeing Ningning so cheerful every day, and that made me happy too.”

Ji Liyue recounted her joyful experiences of the past few days to Ji Moyang, her voice heavy with sorrow. “I always felt like our family lived in a dark corner, never seeing the sunlight. Ningning was like a little sun, bringing warmth wherever she went.”

“Yes,” Ji Moyang agreed.

He understood this feeling deeply. He had always believed he was merely lustful, but perhaps, like Liyue, he had also fallen for that radiant, warm person.

Seeing her was like being burned by the sun, the pain searing his eyes. Even with his eyes closed, he couldn’t forget her.

Restless, he remained at the Annex, Song Xuwan’s image haunting his every thought. With a sigh, he decided to visit Fuyun Temple.

Upon arriving, his classmates immediately surrounded him. Xia Yongyan, ever perceptive, remarked, “Moyang, you’ve been absent these rainy days. Were you captured by a demon? You look like you’ve had your life force drained!”

Terrified that the experienced Xia Yongyan might see through his facade, Ji Moyang quickly changed the subject. “Hongyuan, why are you wearing so many sachets?”

“Oh, these?” Zu Hongyuan proudly displayed his collection. “I’m wearing them so Xia-xiong and Lu-xiong can help me choose the best one to take home.”

“Don’t you already have a fiancée?” Ji Moyang asked, puzzled. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to wear someone else’s pouch now, would it?”

Zu Hongyuan sighed dejectedly. “I do, but it’s as good as not having one. Her family’s rules are so strict. We’ve been engaged for two years, and she hasn’t even given me a pouch. If I wear someone else’s pouch home, it’ll make her jealous. Maybe then she’ll finally embroider one for me properly.”

“You’re so clever!” Xia Yongyan praised. “One pouch isn’t enough. Take all these dozen or so home. Your younger sister will definitely love you even more.”

Even Lu Zhengwen couldn’t help but laugh. “Hongyuan, don’t listen to Yongyan’s nonsense. If you actually wear another woman’s pouch home, I don’t know if your fiancée will love you more, but she’ll definitely think you’ve been seeing someone else. You’ll never be able to explain it away.”

Realizing how unreliable his plan was, Zu Hongyuan awkwardly removed the pouches. Reluctant to throw them away, he shoved them all at Ji Moyang.

“They’re all yours. The embroidery is so exquisite—it’d be a shame to waste them. Keep them. After all, you don’t have a fiancée to get jealous.”