The two sat leaning against each other in silence, the room quiet.
This continued until dark, when Mrs. Qu outside asked if it was time for dinner. Shen Xiaoyan realized it was already so late.
For dinner, the Huo family did not eat with Shen Xiaoyan and her group. They were unwilling, and Shen Xiaoyan had no such thoughts. Befriending servants was something she never considered.
The Huo family took their meals to the front gatehouse, while Shen Xiaoyan and her group remained in the east wing study of the main house.
They sat around the table eating, and no one spoke.
Shen Xiaoming knew that Zheng Wei and Sima Han would be leaving tomorrow, and felt a pang of sorrow. He wanted to cry but feared his two sisters would be upset, so he simply lowered his head and ate, not uttering a sound.
After this somber dinner, they each returned to their rooms.
Watching Mrs. Qu and the Huo sisters come to clear the dishes, an idea flashed through Shen Xiaoyan's mind: a life without cooking or washing dishes was truly blissful, wasn't it?
Zheng Wei had been observing Shen Xiaoyan. He had expected her to cry or make a scene, or perhaps to directly tell him not to go. But Shen Xiaoyan showed none of these reactions. She was simply distant, silent, and did not look at him.
It wasn't until they were in bed and Zheng Wei held Shen Xiaoyan in his arms that he finally spoke, "Why hasn't Mi Mi been talking?"
Shen Xiaoyan mumbled, "I don't know what to say."
Zheng Wei was momentarily speechless. He didn't know what to say either.
Missing her was inevitable, but he was unwilling to simply let him leave. Moreover, there was Sima Han; he couldn't abandon him at the last moment.
Before Zheng Wei could say anything, Shen Xiaoyan had already turned her body, her small hands reaching out to touch him.
Zheng Wei was surprised and asked, "What are you doing, Mi Mi?"
Shen Xiaoyan didn't look up, just nuzzled against Zheng Wei's chest, her voice reaching his ears, "I'm going to pounce on you."
Zheng Wei found it amusing. The last time this little woman said she would pounce on him, she ended up being the one pounced on by him.
Perhaps thinking of last time, Shen Xiaoyan's grip suddenly tightened, and she directly undressed Zheng Wei.
Zheng Wei wanted to move, but Shen Xiaoyan's increased strength pinned him in place. Shen Xiaoyan's muffled voice followed closely, "Don't move."
Zheng Wei was flustered. This woman, he truly didn't know what to say to her.
That night, Zheng Wei felt Shen Xiaoyan was more passionate than ever before, allowing him to see a different Shen Xiaoyan and to feel Shen Xiaoyan's deep reluctance to part.
However, Shen Xiaoyan was not a clingy woman. She would not, out of her own reluctance, force Zheng Wei to stay by her side.
April 26th, as the first rays of morning sunlight hit the curtains, Shen Xiaoyan opened her eyes.
She turned her head to look at Zheng Wei and found that he was also awake.
"Awake?" Zheng Wei saw Shen Xiaoyan looking at him and immediately wore a doting smile.
"En, let's get up," Shen Xiaoyan replied and prepared to sit up and dress.
Zheng Wei, however, gently tightened his arm, pulling Shen Xiaoyan into his embrace. Shen Xiaoyan didn't struggle and leaned into his arms.
After a while, Zheng Wei finally said, "Mi Mi, wait for me to come back home."
Shen Xiaoyan quietly agreed. They hugged for a while longer before getting dressed and getting up.
They went to the main house and found Yue Qingxin, Sima Han, and Shen Xiaoming already there.
Seeing the three, Shen Xiaoyan's face flushed slightly. They had woken up late.
But in the next second, Mrs. Qu relieved her embarrassment.
Mrs. Qu brought in breakfast with her two daughters. The meal was very rich, with small steamed buns, flower-shaped pastries, and steamed bread, all just made and still steaming.
They sat around the round table for this meal. Shen Xiaoyan picked up a bun, took a bite, and immediately praised, "Delicious."
The others also chimed in with their agreement. The filling was fresh wild vegetables mixed with tofu, which was very fragrant.
After breakfast, Zheng Wei and Sima Han were to leave.
They did not intend to use the family's cart, as mules were too slow for a long journey. Moreover, Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin would still need a vehicle to go to town.
Huo Si was a skilled driver, and today he would drive Zheng Wei and Sima Han to town, and then they would take a carriage from there.
Zheng Wei and Sima Han stood by the cart, their eyes fixed on Shen Xiaoyan and Yue Qingxin standing at the doorway. After a long look, they finally got into the cart.
They dared not say a word, ask a question, or even look again, for fear of softening their resolve and staying behind.
By the gate, Shen Xiaoyan, Shen Xiaoming, and Yue Qingxin stood there, watching the cart gradually move away. Even when it was no longer visible, they reluctantly withdrew their gaze.
Another quarter of an hour passed. Huo Fen and Huo Ying exchanged glances from behind, then Huo Fen spoke, "Madam, Young Master, let's go inside."
Hearing Huo Fen's voice, Shen Xiaoyan slowly turned her head. The first thing she saw was Yue Qingxin's tear-streaked face.
She reached out to wipe Yue Qingxin's tears, only to realize her own face felt cold.
Gently touching her cheek with her right hand, she felt the coldness. Shen Xiaoyan looked at the tears on her fingertips and realized she, too, had been crying.
Taking out a handkerchief, she wiped away her own tears, then wiped Yue Qingxin's. She said, "Elder Sister, don't cry. It won't be long before they return."
Yue Qingxin nodded without speaking and walked away with Shen Xiaoyan towards the backyard.
Shen Xiaoyan looked at Shen Xiaoming and said, "Xiaoming, hurry to your study. Be careful or the teacher will hit your palm."
Shen Xiaoming looked at Shen Xiaoyan with concern. He didn't want to go to study today; he just wanted to stay home with his sister. His brother-in-law had left, and his sister must be very sad.
Shen Xiaoyan knew what Shen Xiaoming was thinking without guessing. She said, "Elder Sister is not as fragile as you think. Go to your study quickly."
After hesitating for a long time, Shen Xiaoming could only go back to get his schoolbag and hurried towards the study.
Shen Xiaoming instructed Mrs. Qu to lock the main gate, and then returned to the backyard with Yue Qingxin.
They parted ways upon reaching the backyard. Yue Qingxin said she hadn't rested well and wanted to go back to sleep.
Shen Xiaoyan knew she was going through emotional turmoil and didn't say much, only nodding and saying, "I also didn't sleep well. I'll go back to sleep too. Just don't forget to eat something at noon, Elder Sister."
Yue Qingxin agreed and quickly returned to the west wing.
Shen Xiaoyan watched the door of the west wing close and then entered the main house.
Luoluo ran out from a corner, followed by Baibai. The two cats followed Shen Xiaoyan into the main house one after another. Lao Hei and Heizi, who came from behind, were a step slower and were slammed shut outside the east wing by Shen Xiaoyan.
Lao Hei and Heizi pawed at the door. After waiting for a while and seeing that it wouldn't open, they circled the main house twice and then ran out of the main house to play outside.
Inside the east wing room, Shen Xiaoyan sat at the table, holding a small porcelain cup, staring blankly at the small cup of water.
Until the water cooled from hot, she had not taken a single sip.
Luoluo and Baibai rolled around on the kang bed playing for a while. Seeing Shen Xiaoyan still in this state, they couldn't help but worry.
Just as Luoluo was about to speak and comfort her, Shen Xiaoyan smiled, "Hmph, let him go. He'll regret it."
Shen Xiaoyan's words were abrupt and made Luoluo quite confused.
So, Luoluo asked, "What are you talking about? Who is going to regret it? Regret what?"