NOVEL NEXT chapter 34
Wei Changtian returned when it was almost midnight.
Lu Jingyao had already gone back to her room, and it was unclear whether she was asleep or not. Autumn Cloud and Yan’er, on the other hand, had stayed up until now.
They always did this, waiting until the drumbeat at 2 am before going to sleep if Wei Changtian still hadn’t returned.
“Young master, you didn’t go to Pingchang Pavilion today, did you?”
Looking at Wei Changtian’s tiger-patterned robe, the two women were somewhat surprised.
They recognized the clothes because Wei Xianzhi would occasionally wear them too.
The only difference was that one had gold thread and the other had silver thread embroidery.
“Who told you I went to the brothels?”
Wei Changtian took a sip of tea and pulled out the few pieces of jewelry he had brought back from the Zhang estate, smiling, “Just in time, I brought some small gifts for you.”
“These are…”
In almost an instant, the two women were captivated by the sparkling jewelry on the table.
It was as if they were like the dragons in Western fantasy stories, and women were indeed born to love shiny things.
Moreover, the hairpins, earrings, and other accessories on the table were far more exquisite and valuable than ordinary jewelry.
Even Wei Changtian could tell that these trinkets were priceless, let alone Autumn Cloud and Yan’er.
The two women carefully picked up each piece of jewelry, admiring them with great enthusiasm, their eyes shining with joy.
Looking at them, Wei Changtian suddenly remembered the way he used to be when he first started “studying” in his previous life.
He was just as focused, his eyes shining with excitement and enthusiasm…
Although he had a girlfriend later on and didn’t need to indulge in self-pleasure, that feeling had never reappeared.
After briefly reminiscing about his past youth, Wei Changtian asked the two women, “How about it? Is there anything you like? Take it directly.”
“Young master…”
Autumn Cloud reluctantly put down the jewelry in her hand, her expression both moved and resolute: “We’re not worthy of wearing such fine jewelry. You should keep it for your wife; she’ll definitely be delighted.”
“Yes, indeed!”
Yan’er also nodded in agreement: “I and Autumn Cloud added together aren’t even worth as much as this one hairpin. If we really wore it, we’d be afraid our heads would be too heavy to lift.”
The two women chatted, firmly refusing the valuable items.
As Wei Changtian listened to their various reasons, he felt both amused and pleased in his heart.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Come here!”
Without another word, he pulled Ying’er to his side and picked up the red pearl earrings that had caught her eye the most from the table.
The silver hook and gold thread, with a three-colored small butterfly embedded in the two red pearls, perfectly matched Ying’er’s playful temperament.
“Don’t move your head!”
Wei Changtian’s serious expression commanded, and Ying’er, after a moment of hesitation, guessed what he was going to do.
After a brief pause, her small, flushed ears slowly leaned in.
The silver hook entered the hole, and he gently pinched Ying’er’s hot earlobe.
After putting on the earrings, Wei Changtian turned to Qiuyun.
“Do you need my help?”
“Th-this…”
Qiuyun’s face turned red as she hesitated for a while, finally reaching out to take a nearby, relatively inexpensive-looking hairpin with a five-colored jade pendant.
She gently inserted the hairpin into her hair, her lowered eyelids hiding a mix of anxiety and delight.
“This is just right!”
Wei Changtian smiled at the two of them: “What’s wrong with wearing it? I don’t see your necks being broken or anything.”
“G-g-gentleman, please don’t tease…”
Qiuyun lowered her head, as if she had really been pressed down by the hairpin.
On the other hand, Ying’er adapted quickly, her small face now filled with a joyful smile.
Girls, after all, would be happy when they got what they loved.
And, of course, they had to show it off.
She gently swayed her head, resisting the urge to run back to her room to check herself out in the mirror, and softly asked: “Sir, Qiuyun sister, does it look good?”
“It must look good!”
Wei Changtian nodded seriously: “Like a sinking fish, a fallen wild goose, a closed moon, and a shy flower.”
Ying’er looked puzzled, blinking her eyes: “Sir, what does this mean?”
“Hmm?”
Wei Changtian was taken aback for a moment, but quickly reacted.
This world didn’t have the “Four Beauties of ancient China,” so naturally, these idioms hadn’t been created either.
“Cough, it means that fish would forget to swim when they see you, and wild geese would fall down when they see you…”
After explaining, Ying’er immediately burst out laughing.
“Quack quack quack! Sir, where did you learn these flattering words?”
“This doesn’t need to be learned? With my talent, it’s just a matter of speaking.”
“Then praise Qiuyun sister!”
“Let me think for a moment…”
The room was filled with joyful and harmonious laughter.
Meanwhile, Lu Jingyao, who was eavesdropping behind the door, almost fainted from envy.
She hadn’t slept at all, actually.
When she heard that Wei Changtian was going to the pleasure quarter, she couldn’t sleep, waiting until now, but the result… This was even worse than going to the pleasure quarter!
Why was she inferior to Qiuyun and Ying’er?
She was clearly more beautiful, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and came from a wealthy family.
Why didn’t he think of me when he brought back all those accessories?
Hmph!
Lu Jingyao’s anger grew as she thought about it, her resentment building up to the point where she didn’t even notice when the voices outside stopped.
“b*stard! I hate him to death!”
She wiped away her tears while muttering curses under her breath, but was startled by the sudden voice in her ear.
“Who are you cursing?”
“Ah!”
Looking at the person in front of her, Lu Jingyao felt like her heart had skipped several beats, and then she awkwardly sat down on the floor with a thud.
“You, you…”
“What’s with you? I’ve been watching you for half a day.”
Wei Changtian glanced at Lu Jingyao as if looking at an idiot, knowingly asking, “Who were you just arguing with?”
“…”
Lu Jingyao remained silent.
She wanted to cry, but didn’t want to show weakness in front of Wei Changtian, so she bit her lip hard, her eyes red and tears welling up, her gaze both pitiful and stubborn.
Wei Changtian ignored her and walked into the room.
Lu Jingyao took advantage of the opportunity to quickly get up from the floor, and then saw the sudden appearance of several accessories on the table.
Her slender body trembled, and her eyes sparkled.
All her resentment dissipated instantly, replaced by joy and a hint of dissatisfaction.
He still remembers me…
But why did he let Qiuyun and Yuan’er choose first?
Is it because he thought I was already asleep? Ah! It must be!
Oh! That hairpin is so beautiful…
Lu Jingyao’s thoughts were a jumbled mix of emotions, and she even started to think about whether she should pretend to be reluctant to accept.
Then she heard Wei Changtian say calmly:
“I won’t be home tomorrow, so you’ll have to deliver these things to Qiaoling for me.”
“All of them?”
“Yes.”
“Are you not giving any to others anymore?”
“Give to others? Ah! Thanks for reminding me!”
Wei Changtian patted his forehead, pulling out a exquisite jade hairpiece: “This one’s for my mother!”
“Is that all?”
“No more, really no more.”
Wei Changtian counted on his fingers: “My mother, Qiaoling, Qiuyun, Yuan’er… everyone has one now.”
Lu Jingyao: “……”