Chapter 46

“Oh.”

Shen Yao Xing casually placed it on the zither table in front of her. As she did so, the inkstone collided with the rosewood zither table, producing a slight muffled sound that was particularly jarring to Jiang Ming Yue’s ears.

His fingers tightly gripped his plain sleeves, feeling somewhat distressed.

“Did you remember everything I just said? Make sure to tell your mother.” After delivering the gift, Shen Yao Xing felt like she was instructing someone to do something after a bribe, speaking with a bit more confidence.

Jiang Ming Yue cast a cold glance at the young woman and replied indifferently, “I’ve also said before, if Miss Shen is so capable, she might as well go speak for herself.”

Seeing the man’s unhurried manner, Shen Yao Xing was deeply troubled, unsure of what he was really thinking. Could it be that he truly wanted to marry her?

Marry her…

Thinking this way, Shen Yao Xing’s gaze became strange. She stared at that flawless profile for a while, and that weird sense of familiarity surged in her heart again. So much so that her words came out without thinking:

“You… you don’t happen to like me, do you?”

The young woman was apparently unaware of subtlety, directly exposing what he had buried deep in his heart, revealing that tender and vulnerable red flesh, catching him off guard and making his heart tremble violently.

Jiang Ming Yue, who had always been cold and indifferent, instantly lost his composure. A blush spread visibly from his ears to his jade-like face, his beautiful eyes seemingly moist, filled with undisguisable shyness.

He glared at her fiercely: “How dare you say such foolish things, who do you think you are!”

His words were full of sarcasm, but it looked more like embarrassed anger.

That face as beautiful as a painting was covered with a layer of blush, his upturned eyes rippling like autumn waters, the corners of his eyes filled with allure like silk. It was as if a splash of color had suddenly been added to a clear water painting, stunning people and captivating their souls.

The impact of seeing such a beauty up close was truly great. Shen Yao Xing sheepishly scratched the back of her neck and couldn’t help but point out, “But your face is so red…”

“Heh,” the man sneered, slightly raising his chin, looking at her coldly with a red face, “Isn’t it just because I’m annoyed by your foolish words?”

Shen Yao Xing believed him, because she remembered that the men in this world were like conservative women of the old times, unable to bear such “explicit” talk, especially proud men like him. Look how his face had turned red with anger.

“I’m sorry, I was just joking.”

Jiang Ming Yue coldly snorted and turned his face away. His palm hidden behind the zither table had long since become hot and clenched into a fist, with a faint itching sensation spreading along his arm straight into his heart.

Knowing that the man had no feelings for her, Shen Yao Xing secretly breathed a sigh of relief and continued the previous topic, “If that’s the case, then you definitely don’t agree with this marriage. Let’s work together to ruin it.”

“The alliance marriage is beneficial to the Yin family, why should I ruin it?” Jiang Ming Yue looked at the distant low mountain waterfall and coldly asked in return.

“……” Shen Yao Xing didn’t immediately understand his reasoning.

Weren’t men in this world very concerned about their own marriage? Was this person born different from others, or was he so great that he was willing to sacrifice everything for his family and become a tool?

In her mind flashed images of modern novels where women sacrificed everything for the prosperity of their families, ending up scarred and forced to lick their wounds in corners – the great strong women!

Moved by her own imagination, Shen Yao Xing’s eyes held a trace of admiration when she looked at the man.

Jiang Ming Yue frowned slightly, very displeased with the young woman’s inexplicable gaze.

He had seen many looks when people looked at him, mostly fascination and greed, or fear before death. But never had anyone looked at him with such near reverence, especially this person, which made him even more displeased.

“Don’t look at me like that,” the man commanded.

Shen Yao Xing rubbed her nose and quietly shifted her gaze away.

But after being quiet for not too long, the young woman started clamoring again. Jiang Ming Yue’s eyes were cold and unmoved, until the young woman tired of talking, then he glanced at her faintly: “If you’re so concerned about this marriage, just go back and tell Shen Daren. Why are you making such a racket here?”

The young woman said listlessly: “If I could persuade her, I wouldn’t need to come find you.”

Looking at the man’s indifferent face, Shen Yao Xing, who had been holding back for two days, finally couldn’t help but pour out everything, telling him the whole story, including her elder brother’s marriage.

She also kindly lied that it wasn’t because she disliked him that she opposed this marriage, but because she didn’t want to be forced by Mother Shen to marry every day.

The more Jiang Ming Yue listened, the colder his eyes became, until he finally interrupted her as if he couldn’t bear to listen anymore: “You seem to care a great deal about that elder brother of yours.”

This sarcastic comment made Shen Yao Xing pause slightly. She blinked, feeling that this person’s focus seemed to be a bit different from hers.

“He’s my only elder brother, of course I have to be good to him.”

A sour feeling rose in his chest with the young woman’s words. Jiang Ming Yue clenched his fists, forcibly suppressing the resentful urge to leave in a huff.

His cold eyes fixed on the young woman’s face for a moment, his thin lips curving into a strange smile, his melodious voice soft and enticing: “If that’s the case, why don’t you agree to this marriage? This way you’ll be helping both your elder brother and yourself.”

Helping herself?

Shen Yao Xing looked confused, but in the next moment, a flash of inspiration struck her brain. She looked at him with wide eyes and hesitantly said, “Are you saying we should have a fake marriage, and then you do your thing and I do mine?”

Yes! How had she never thought of this before? This way, she wouldn’t have to be pressured by Mother Shen to marry, and Song Si Nian’s marriage would also be avoided. Killing two birds with one stone!

Having figured it out, Shen Yao Xing felt as if the dark clouds had dispersed and her mood brightened. Just as she was about to go agree to Mother Shen, she saw the man continue:

“Don’t be too happy too soon. After all, Shen Daren is not easy to fool.”

After marriage, things wouldn’t be as she wished. From what he understood, Shen Daren was not the type of person who would be at ease just because her daughter was married.

However, seeing the young woman’s expression, Jiang Ming Yue couldn’t be bothered to waste more words.

Shen Yao Xing, with her mood suddenly brightened, returned to the Shen residence after leaving the Yin residence and agreed to her mother’s request.