Chapter 114: A Chance Encounter

"All of this was arranged by Miss Qin’er… your husband didn’t have to worry about a thing."

When he mentioned "Miss," Master Zhou paused for a moment. Inside the residence it was fine, but outside, he knew Liu Qin preferred to keep her daughter’s identity a secret. As for who Qin’er was, he had naturally already informed his wife.

Understanding the pride and relief in her husband’s words, and finally realizing who this little young master before her was, Yao Xuanyong, though somewhat surprised, still smiled gently, “Thank you so much, Qin’er.”

“No need, no need. If there’s anything Mistress feels dissatisfied with, just say the word. I’ll have them take care of it immediately.”

“There’s nothing to be dissatisfied about. This place is wonderful; I really like it.”

Master Zhou introduced everyone one by one and then asked the two children to step forward and call the older boys “brother.”

“Big brother, you’re so handsome.”

Three-year-old Zhou Chengzhi looked straight at Liu Qin with bright, sparkling eyes, full of admiration.

Liu Qin’s face lit up with joy. “Really, little junior brother? Am I more handsome, or are those big brothers over there more handsome?”

She gestured toward Jiang Li and the other two. Jiang Li and Fang Nuo couldn’t help but smile, and even Xiao Wu’s face twitched slightly.

Zhou Chengzhi tilted his little head, considering. Those brothers were all handsome, but the little big brother in front of him was the one he liked best. Quickly, he withdrew his wandering eyes and stared straight at Liu Qin. “Big brother, you’re the most handsome.”

“Haha, little junior brother, you have good taste.”

Liu Qin laughed heartily and planted a kiss on Zhou Chengzhi’s cheek with a smack.

Her bold gesture nearly caused Master Zhou to choke on his tea; he awkwardly lowered his head, pretending not to see.

Though Yao Xuanyong felt a bit shy, she was pleased that the young lady liked her children.

Jiang Li and Xiao Wu, however, were a little displeased. Their junior sister had never treated them that way; was a little kid more attractive than they were?

Seeing Zhou Chengzhi grin foolishly while touching his face only made them more annoyed. They had never enjoyed such treatment—why should this little brat get it first?

Almost five-year-old Zhou Ruomei watched all this with curiosity. Everything here was completely different from her old home—the courtyard was beautiful, the house was beautiful, and these big brothers… they really were, truly, very handsome.

Thus, the Zhou family mother and children settled in.

That night, after the children had fallen asleep in the side rooms and the main room’s lights were extinguished:

“Xuanyong, I know you’ve endured hardships these many years. From now on, I will never let you suffer again.”

“Runan, I never felt hardship. Being with you, I never felt it was hard. Not only that, my heart is filled with happiness, with… joy.”

“Xuanyong…”

His voice trembled slightly but gradually grew heavier.

With the soft rustle of clothing being shed, the air in the room grew warm. Darkness could not conceal the boundless springtime radiance within.

The moon blushed and hid deep within the clouds.

The next day dawned bright and sunny.

Master Zhou took a day off to accompany his wife to the market to purchase daily necessities. He also planned to have two sets of clothes tailored for the three of them, for now was different from before—they needed attire suitable for receiving guests.

They first bought rice, flour, and other everyday goods, instructing the shopkeeper to deliver them to the house.

Then the family of four turned toward a ready-made clothing shop.

The garments in the shop were modern in style, and the shopkeeper’s wife did not look down on them for their plain cloth clothes. She spoke softly and patiently as she introduced the items.

Yao Xuanyong inquired about prices. Finding them too expensive, she whispered to Master Zhou, “Husband, why not buy some fabric and let me make the clothes myself?”

Though Master Zhou wished to dress his wife and children elegantly, he knew their funds were limited and could not be spent frivolously. He nodded in agreement. Seeing the children reluctantly pulled away from the clothes they liked, his heart ached. He felt like a useless father.

At the fabric store, Yao Xuanyong carefully selected and bargained fiercely, ignoring the disdainful glances of the apprentice. Finally, she bought fine cotton cloth for the two children and a piece of light gray silk for her husband.

When it came to herself, she bit her lip and purchased several yards of exquisite moon-white cotton cloth, unwilling to spend on silk. Fine cotton was already more than twice the price of coarse cotton.

Master Zhou’s eyes grew moist. Xuanyong always did this—she reserved the best for him and the children but was never willing to indulge herself.

He had wanted to stop her but fell silent instead. A thought grew clearer in his heart.

“Xuanyong, one day, I will surely give you and the children a good life.”

After leaving the fabric store, they bought two packets of pastries for the children and happily headed home.

Passing by a stall selling embroidery threads, Yao Xuanyong stopped.

“Husband, wait here a moment. I want to take a look.”

Master Zhou nodded.

As she approached the stall, the woman choosing threads turned around—and froze.

The woman stood motionless, her gaze beyond Yao Xuanyong to something behind her.

Xuanyong nearly bumped into her, but the woman was oblivious, standing there dazed.

Curious, Xuanyong looked her over. The woman had a long face, delicate features, gentle brows, and a graceful figure, embodying the unique tender beauty of Jiangnan women.

Yet now tears shimmered in her eyes, and she bit her lip softly, as if suppressing deep pain.

What hardship had befallen this woman?

Xuanyong wondered silently, and without realizing it, followed the woman’s gaze backward.

She was shocked beyond expectation. The woman was staring fixedly at her own husband.

Master Zhou was speaking softly to his son in his arms when he felt a piercing gaze upon him. Looking up and finding its source, he was startled to see Cui Liu.

He felt some guilt toward Cui Liu. Though he had never responded to her, neither had he refused her. In any case, he had given Cui Liu hope, only to shatter it.

He did not know what the young lady had told Cui Liu and dared not ask. Since then, he had never seen her again.

Yet today, here they met unexpectedly.

He stood awkwardly, unsure what to do. The pain in Cui Liu’s eyes was so deep and heavy that even from more than ten meters away, it pierced the air and wounded his heart.

Yao Xuanyong immediately noticed her husband’s unusual expression.

Did he know Cui Liu?

A wave of bitterness and sorrow surged in her heart. She did not want to believe her husband had changed, but the scene before her left her no choice but to entertain such thoughts.

Suppressing her sorrow, she stepped beside Master Zhou and softly called, “Husband.”

He snapped back to reality, his face flushed. Could Xuanyong have noticed something?

At the thought, his eyes flickered nervously, avoiding her gaze.

But he was innocent—had done nothing unfaithful. Thinking this, he calmed down and smiled gently, replying, “Yes, my wife, let’s go.”

One arm cradling their son, the other holding their daughter’s hand, the family of four slowly walked away.

Behind them, Cui Liu was left with only the warm, tender scene and their retreating figures.

“Cui Liu sister, you’re here! You’re so easy to find.”

A little girl’s breathless voice came from behind.

Even the words “Cui Liu sister” reached Yao Xuanyong’s ears.

Her? Called Cui Liu? (To be continued.)