Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 397: As If He Were Deliberately Waiting Here to See Her
This time, Xiao Shiqing wasn’t setting up any barriers; he just showed up at Li Niang’s tofu bun shop to buy buns, and Li Hua, who was up early for errands, happened to pass by to buy buns too, and that’s how the two bumped into each other.
If she had known she would meet him, Li Hua might have preferred to leave home a moment later or earlier.
However, hindsight is priceless; now that she saw him, Li Hua couldn’t avoid him conspicuously, which would have attracted attention, so she had to brace herself and act nonchalant as she bought buns.
There was no need for a greeting since they weren’t familiar, Li Hua thought.
Yet the usually silent Xiao Shiqing took the initiative to greet Li Hua, "Miss Li, where are you headed?"
This question was abrupt. After all, they had no relationship, and it was quite forward of him to ask such a question to an unmarried lady.
Besides, it seemed unbelievable to Li Hua. Previously, she had wanted to see him but couldn’t, and now that she didn’t want to, he kept appearing. How could that be?
Thinking this in her mind, she calmly replied, "Just out to buy breakfast, like the Princely Heir."
Her reply was noticeably dismissive.
Something she would neither dare to think nor do in the past now came effortlessly, and Li Hua couldn’t help but sigh how times had changed.
When you care about someone, you don’t want them to be hurt; when you don’t care, anything goes.
Xiao Shiqing naturally sensed Li Hua’s indifference but didn’t say anything. For him, her response was already the best outcome.
After all, he had anticipated she wouldn’t pay attention to him. His behavior was presumptuous to any young lady.
He knew he shouldn’t be like this, but he couldn’t help it.
He didn’t want to miss any chance encounter with her, cherishing the brief meetings and those moments that vaguely resembled her.
So he came early to wait for her; seeing her once calmed his heart inexplicably.
Recently, Xiao Shiqing had been busy. Originally for two people, now only he was handling things, naturally making him busier, going from one task to another. So he couldn’t stay long and left after seeing her.
Li Hua just found Xiao Shiqing odd, as if he intentionally waited there to see her. The thought was absurd, and she quickly dismissed it.
In the past, he wouldn’t go out of his way for her, maybe when they were young, but those memories were so distant she could barely remember.
She just recalls never experiencing that at the Xiao Mansion.
So now it was impossible; Xiao Shiqing wasn’t the type to do something for an unfamiliar girl.
Perhaps everything was just a coincidence.
Li Hua quickly put it out of her mind and went to her shop to attend to her business.
Coincidentally, Xiao Shiqing’s work was in the area of the shopping mall.
Originally, Pei Ji’an was responsible for it, but the Emperor asked him to stay home with his wife, so everything fell to Xiao Shiqing.
Seeing Li Hua in the department store, Xiao Shiqing was both surprised and delighted.
Yes, by now, seeing her was enough to uncontrollably make him happy.
Conversely, Li Hua felt quite resistant, as this meant she had to extend her act of nonchalance. Ordinarily, she wouldn’t be so burdened in front of unfamiliar people, but now—she had to maintain the facade all day.
Things weren’t easy for Li Hua, nor were they for Qu Fulan.
After seriously deciding to have children, the two didn’t only indulge at night, but even in the daytime, it took a toll.
Actually, Qu Fulan wasn’t too fixated on getting pregnant, but Pei Ji’an seemed very eager for her to conceive, more so than ever before, making it overwhelming. However, she couldn’t bring herself to deny him.
Even though it was physically demanding, the process was quite enjoyable. You can’t want the pleasure without the effort; life’s not that generous.
Rest when tired, there’s no pressure now, it’s the perfect time to prepare for pregnancy. They’re both healthy, maybe they’ll succeed on the first try.
Qu Fulan leaned against him, subconsciously imagining what their child would look like.
Both of them were good-looking and had no apparent flaws. Even if the child wanted to inherit shortcomings, they wouldn’t find any. The child would surely be a charming, cute baby.
She wondered whose temperament the child would take after. Her temper was alright, while his nature was somewhat aloof. Yes, aloof; she noticed it when she was a maid for him, he seemed agreeable on the surface, but not necessarily. You could tell from how the servants didn’t dare to act up in his presence.
If the child turned out to be mature beyond its years like him, that wouldn’t be so bad either.
Thinking about this made Qu Fulan smile.
"What are you laughing at?" The man looked down at her.
"Thinking about the child." Qu Fulan replied instinctively.
Pei Ji’an paused briefly, then chuckled, "In your imagination, is the child a boy or a girl?"
"I haven’t thought about that. Because boy or girl, they are my child, and I will love them both."
"I hope it’s a girl, just like you."
Talking about children inevitably led to the process of making them.
When they woke up again, Qu Fulan was thankful she married into the Pei Mansion, where the elders weren’t strict or set rules, allowing her to indulge with him during the day without fear of gossip.
This era is particularly harsh on women.
On this subject, Li Hua could speak the most. Before, at the Xiao Mansion, if she slightly misstepped, she’d face gossip from the servants, not to mention Mrs. Xiao’s reproach. To please Mrs. Xiao, she’d obey everything but found no benefit.
Only now did she understand what she didn’t before: to those who dislike you, everything you do is wrong in their eyes.
So it’s not oneself that’s wrong, but those who can’t appreciate you. Avoiding those people and being oneself is best.
Now she’s quite happy being herself, as long as she doesn’t meet those who unsettle her. She decided to go listen to a storytelling session to relax; after all, ’Dream of the Red Chamber’ was so popular, she always wanted to hear it, and she couldn’t miss the chance now.
Unfortunately, there weren’t enough rooms available. Many people shared rooms, and when the waiter asked if she minded, before she could respond, someone emerged from a room.
Who else but Xiao Shiqing?
"Miss Li."
Was she to share a room with Xiao Shiqing? Li Hua was about to refuse.
Then Xiao Shiqing said, "I have to leave. You can have this room."
With that, he left before she could respond.
Thus, Li Hua didn’t resist, entering the room, ordering two dishes, and waiting for the storyteller to return during the break.
What she didn’t know was, Xiao Shiqing’s departure was a last-minute decision.
She also didn’t know, the room happened to overlook her shop.
Of course, if she sat opposite, she would notice this view if she looked back.
But the storyteller returned, and the food was served, leaving Li Hua with no attention to spare elsewhere.
Unaware, she didn’t see that Xiao Shiqing, who should have left, was in another room with a perfect view, observing her situation.
