Exchange Fate! She Saved the whole family and the Short-Lived Marquis!-Chapter 177: The Young Lady Clearly Likes Him!
Fu Shinian’s words didn’t carry any blame or dissatisfaction; instead, it sounded more like she was being coquettish.
Xiao Chengyu’s eyes brightened slightly as he said, "Yes, I won’t let you marry anyone else, and I won’t marry anyone else either."
Xiao Chengyu leaned in a little closer and whispered, "Shinian, I’ve realized my mistake."
"Can you give me a chance?"
Fu Shinian puffed out her cheeks in frustration, "You’re so unreasonable, even if I don’t agree, I! Still, can’t marry anyone else?"
"Yes." Xiao Chengyu paused, then suddenly realized, "You’re agreeing, right?"
Fu Shinian raised an eyebrow slightly, "You’re being so overbearing, I have no choice but to agree, right?"
Xiao Chengyu sighed, somewhat humbly, "Shinian, do you love me?"
Fu Shinian opened her mouth, wondering why he was still asking at this point.
Does she really have to spell it out for him?
"If I don’t want to, even if you’re overbearing about not letting me marry anyone else, I could just choose not to get married at all, why must I marry you?"
"Even if I don’t get married, my parents would still be willing to support me for a lifetime, and after their passing, my brother would continue to support me."
Xiao Chengyu finally understood what Fu Shinian meant.
The little lady clearly liked him too.
The blush on her cheeks became particularly noticeable at that moment.
Xiao Chengyu’s eyes sparkled, and the smile on his face grew wider.
He was so excited that he didn’t know what to do; all his usual calmness vanished, appearing even more restless than Fu Changqin.
Xiao Chengyu raised and lowered his hands repeatedly, finally resting them on Fu Shinian’s shoulders, which made him feel more grounded.
But before he could make another move, he heard Nanny Yu coughing from outside the window.
And then he saw Nanny Yu already standing by the window.
His attention had been entirely on Fu Shinian, so he hadn’t noticed her presence.
"Ahem." Xiao Chengyu awkwardly stood up.
Then Nanny Yu said, "Lord, the young lady should rest now."
You better hurry back to the mansion and start the proposal arrangements, why linger here?
"I should be going back." Xiao Chengyu said softly to Fu Shinian again, "I’ll head back to the mansion and tell my mother about the proposal."
Fu Shinian lowered her head, her face turning red up to her neck.
Her legs swayed a bit, and her toe accidentally kicked Xiao Chengyu’s leg.
Although the touch was light, both of them froze.
A tingling sensation spread from where Fu Shinian’s foot made contact with Xiao Chengyu’s leg, and for a moment, Xiao Chengyu felt his scalp tingling.
Xiao Chengyu, unusually, started to stammer nervously, "That... um, I... ahem... I’ll be going now."
After speaking, Xiao Chengyu lowered his gaze, his eyes falling almost uncontrollably on Fu Shinian’s feet.
Earlier she had been reclining on the couch and for comfort, had taken off her shoes and socks.
Now her bare foot was partially visible from beneath her skirt.
Her pale foot peeked out slightly, with five toes that were pink, and nails covered with a light pink polish, resembling seashells.
Suddently, Xiao Chengyu felt a rush of heat, as if a fireplace appeared beside him, his eyes fixed on the toes poking out from under the skirt, unable to look away.
Fu Shinian noticed his gaze and looked down, finally realizing what Xiao Chengyu was looking at.
Her face turned an intense shade of red, and she quickly tucked her foot back under her skirt.
Unable to resist, she impulsively used her toe to lightly poke at Xiao Chengyu’s leg, this time through the fabric of her skirt.
Xiao Chengyu became completely paralyzed, feeling his lower leg go numb and unable to move.
He even considered reaching out to grab Fu Shinian’s little foot, as his mind filled with thrilling images.
Nanny Yu couldn’t bear to watch any longer and reminded her, "Young lady."
Fu Shinian quickly withdrew her foot.
Xiao Chengyu didn’t dare to stay any longer, only having a stronger urge to marry Fu Shinian as soon as possible.
Walking down the road, Xiao Chengyu couldn’t help but smile foolishly, thinking about how Fu Shinian had just kicked him.
Clearly, she likes him!
Xiao Chengyu returned to tell his old madam about it, while at the Fu Mansion, although the two families had already exchanged letters confirming the engagement, they couldn’t have Gu Yunze stay much longer.
At the right moment, they took Gu Yunze away, who left reluctantly.
After they left, Nanny Yu quickly reported to Fu Shinian about Xiao Chengyu’s proposal.
"The Lord has already rushed back to the Marquis’ Mansion to discuss the marriage with the old madam," Nanny Yu said.
However, she had only been watching in the courtyard, unaware of Xiao Chengyu’s overbearing confession to Fu Shinian.
Madam Fu sighed, not knowing how to feel, experiencing both relief and a sense of melancholy over her daughter’s impending departure.
If Mrs. Yan were here, she’d be putting on a sour face.
Mrs. Yan was actually in Yan Liqing’s room, first scolding Yan Liqing for not seizing the opportunity and then snidely remarking that Fu Mingzhu was clever to have found such a good husband-to-be.
This time, Yan Liqing didn’t bother to respond, letting her words in one ear and out the other, hoping they wouldn’t reach Madam Fu.
However, since they were staying at the Fu Mansion, how could Madam Fu not know?
When the servants reported this, Mr. Fu was also present.
Madam Fu remained calm, whereas Mr. Fu was extremely angry, "Honestly, your sister-in-law is... is an utterly wasted match for your brother!"
"You’re telling me," Madam Fu soothed him, "I’ve heard that on the second day of their visit, Liqing and Si Kang both wrote letters to Housekeeper Zhou to have them sent to the Jinzhou family home."
"I suppose they’re reporting back to the family," Madam Fu said. "Once my parents and elder brother become aware, they won’t allow her to act recklessly."
Meanwhile, when Xiao Chengyu returned to the mansion and told the old madam that Fu Shinian finally agreed, the old madam was overjoyed.
The news about the Gu family bringing box after box of betrothal gifts to the Fu family had already spread while Mrs. Gu was still at the Fu Mansion.
People were still speculating which daughter of the Fu family the Gu family intended to propose to.
Most people guessed it was Fu Shinian.
But once Mrs. Gu left the Fu Mansion, the news that the Gu family was proposing to Fu Mingzhu on behalf of Gu Yunze quickly spread around the capital.
Not long after, even Xiao Fengxing found out.
In his study, Xiao Fengxing broke the brush he was holding when he heard the news.
Chang Tai thought to himself, didn’t the second young master always dismiss Fu Mingzhu? Why such a big reaction now?
Xiao Fengxing pressed his lips tightly, unsure if it was stubbornness or some other emotion blocking his heart.
Originally, when Fu Mingzhu firmly broke off their engagement, he had said she couldn’t find a better match than him.
Yet now, Fu Mingzhu was betrothed to Gu Yunze instead.
Xiao Fengxing had no choice but to admit, albeit unwillingly, that Gu Yunze was indeed better than him in some ways.
That night, Dian Cui, the maid beside Xiao Fengxing, reported, "Madam, the second young master said he has some business to attend to tonight and that you needn’t wait for him."
