Exchange Fate! She Saved the whole family and the Short-Lived Marquis!-Chapter 176: Xiao Chengyu Is Getting a Little Possessive
"You can’t blame the marquis, if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to sit here and read peacefully," Fu Shinian said, "It’s my own fault for not being steady enough. The marquis told me to close my eyes, but I couldn’t do it."
Xiao Chengyu at this moment only wanted to raise his hand to cover Fu Shinian’s eyes.
For some reason, such a thought suddenly appeared in his mind.
"Marquis, about that mad horse, have you found anything?" Fu Shinian asked.
"We’ve interrogated the people at the stables and searched them, but found no clues. Little General Gu personally inspected that horse; there were no injuries or suspicious hidden weapons on it."
"I’ve already sent for a coroner to examine if the horse consumed any poison. Both Little General Gu and I have stationed people to keep an eye on the stables," Xiao Chengyu said, "to see if we can find any clues."
Fu Shinian nodded, "Even though there’s no evidence, I still suspect Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing."
"The two of them weren’t invited but came to the stables anyway, and Lin Qingqing insisted on competing with my eldest sister. I don’t think that’s just simple competitive spirit."
Xiao Chengyu nodded, "I’ve also arranged for people to watch Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing."
After a pause, Xiao Chengyu said, "I came with Little General Gu. I saw Mrs. Gu was at the residence. Could it be that Little General Gu and your eldest sister are about to have good news?"
"Mrs. Gu is here to propose," Fu Shinian’s eyes lit up as she spoke of it.
Xiao Chengyu’s eyebrows slightly raised, "Is that why you’ve been particularly enthusiastic towards Little General Gu before?"
Fu Shinian blinked, "Was I particularly enthusiastic?"
"A bit overly enthusiastic." Xiao Chengyu nodded.
"I do have a high opinion of Little General Gu," Fu Shinian said.
Xiao Chengyu thus understood that Fu Shinian had no other intentions towards Gu Yunze.
"You should rest well," Xiao Chengyu said, "I’ll find out as soon as possible."
Fu Shinian nodded, and before Xiao Chengyu left, he said, "Since the Gu family has come to propose, when can I come?"
Fu Shinian blurted, "Have you been waiting for my consent?"
"Of course." Xiao Chengyu nodded, "I need your agreement after all."
Fu Shinian blushed and softly said, "Nanny Yu, can you take Chunyu and Chunmian outside? I have something I want to say to the marquis."
"Yes." Nanny Yu responded and took Chunyu and Chunmian outside.
Only then did Fu Shinian say, "Last time when the marquis mentioned it to me, I was too surprised to ask."
"Ask away." Xiao Chengyu also grew nervous, not knowing what Fu Shinian was planning to ask.
"When did the marquis change his mind?" Fu Shinian asked, "Earlier, you mistakenly thought I... had feelings for you, and you clearly stated you couldn’t respond?"
Even now, Xiao Chengyu wished he could slap himself for that.
He lowered his posture, his gaze falling even lower than Fu Shinian’s as he looked up at her.
It was the first time Fu Shinian looked at Xiao Chengyu from such an angle, giving her a sense of superiority.
She knew Xiao Chengyu did this on purpose.
"I don’t know when I started liking you," Xiao Chengyu said, "Perhaps it’s when you always brought snacks over, making an excuse for me to accompany you while you ate, encouraging me to eat more. Watching you stuff snacks into your mouth like a squirrel was simply adorable."
"Or maybe it was the day of the hunt when you took the wrong bundle..."
Fu Shinian’s eyes widened, her face turning bright red, "You still remember that?"
Xiao Chengyu smiled slightly, "Sorry, the scene was too beautiful to forget."
"You!" Fu Shinian turned her head, rendered speechless.
She never knew Xiao Chengyu had such a shameless side.
"Or perhaps, it was in Ganning City, suddenly seeing you appear in front of me. Though I was afraid, I was also surprised and delighted." Xiao Chengyu’s voice grew softer and gentler.
Fu Shinian sat on the bed, somewhat dazed.
Was it that early....
Was he really not lying to her?
Xiao Chengyu suddenly chuckled lightly, with a bit of self-mockery, "At that time, I thought you were affectionate towards me, but you were simply too kind-hearted, just wanting to save me. I was overthinking."
Fu Shinian opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but not knowing how to put it.
"But even so, I still want to be a bit forceful." Xiao Chengyu raised his head, earnestly and sincerely looking at Fu Shinian, "Shinian, can I be forceful just this once?"
Fu Shinian’s hands resting on either side of her legs unknowingly clenched, her fingertips tightly gripping the cushion beneath.
She was silent for a few moments, then said, "If the marquis was so moved early on, why did you say you couldn’t respond?"
Fu Shinian furrowed her brow, "Was it because you thought your health wasn’t good and feared you wouldn’t live for many years, leaving me behind, thus hurting me?"
Xiao Chengyu remained silent, acknowledging it.
Fu Shinian suddenly tugged at her lips and asked, "Why is the marquis not afraid of implicating me now?"
Xiao Chengyu moved his mouth, about to say something, but Fu Shinian spoke again, "Although your health seems normal now, what if it suddenly relapses?"
Fu Shinian tilted her head and said, "Didn’t you say yourself that there were several such instances before?"
Xiao Chengyu: "..."
Oh, that was indeed what he said.
Xiao Chengyu pleaded, "Could you just forget those silly things I said?"
Clearly, he had been calling her Shinian, but now he switched to calling her Second Lady.
But the words "Second Lady," spoken by Xiao Chengyu this time, sounded different from before.
Now when Xiao Chengyu said "Second Lady," it was somehow more intimate.
It was like... like Xiao Chengyu was acting coquettish with her.
"Why isn’t the marquis worried now?" Fu Shinian asked.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Chengyu’s face turned red, and he said, "I want to be selfish for once."
"Moreover, I’m now more certain it was Xiao Fengxing’s doing," Xiao Chengyu said, "The most important thing is, I realize I can’t stand by and watch you marry someone else."
Xiao Chengyu took a deep breath, "Earlier, when Madam Fu gave me that list, I did everything I could to find flaws in each person on it."
"Seeing you talk to other men, my first thought was whether your family was considering a marriage proposal with that person."
"Then, I’d start plotting how to sabotage it," Xiao Chengyu said, "I knew it was despicable, but I couldn’t control myself."
"If you were to marry another, I couldn’t offer my blessings and would even fear resorting to any means to take you back," Xiao Chengyu sighed, "even if it meant destroying your husband."
Fu Shinian was truly shaken by Xiao Chengyu’s words.
Why did it feel like Xiao Chengyu was a bit perverted?
She really hadn’t expected Xiao Chengyu to say such things.
"Would you really..."
Before Fu Shinian could finish, Xiao Chengyu looked up, a hint of stubbornness on his sincere face, "Yes."
Fu Shinian: "..."
Fu Shinian let out a huff, "Then why bother saying anything, doesn’t this mean I can only marry you?"
