Chapter 11 Shoemaking “Tell me why you didn’t end up with him!”

Chapter 11 Making Shoes: Tell Me Why You Didn't End Up With Him!

It turned out the shopkeeper wanted Yue Rongrong to return to the Marquis' residence!

After the initial shock, Du Yan shrieked in disbelief, “I must have misheard! Wasn't she sent back because she offended Miss Jin?” Her tone was laced with resentment and annoyance.

The shopkeeper replayed in his mind the morning's encounter with the person sent from the Marquis' residence. The individual was impeccably dressed, composed, and spoke with a calm, almost gentle demeanor, yet their words had sent shivers down his spine.

The person from the Marquis' residence had smiled, yet it was a smile that chilled him to the bone: “The Marquis wishes to inquire who ordered the change of personnel?”

The shopkeeper shuddered again and pushed Yue Rongrong forward: “Go on, quickly.”

Cheng Qian frowned as he watched Yue Rongrong depart, while beside him, Du Yan slammed her scissors onto the embroidery frame.

Zhong Yu and Zhen Xi exchanged a knowing glance, then returned to their embroidery.

Yue Rongrong was ushered out and made her way toward the Marquis' residence. She and Shen Jichen had had a bitter quarrel these past two days. In the past, he would have surely returned to coax her, but now, she wouldn't delude herself with such wishful thinking.

Suddenly, a smug, triumphant face flashed in her mind. It dawned on her! Could it be that Jin Tangsong hadn't had her fill of gloating in front of her? So she was being called back to be tormented further? After much deliberation, this seemed the only plausible reason. Shen Jichen doted on her and indulged her every whim, so calling her back again made perfect sense.

She curled her lips, intending to dismiss it with a laugh, but a knot of anger tightened in her chest, impossible to release. That faint smile twisted into a look of indignation. Back then, Jin Tangsong had already held the upper hand. For her sake, he had repeatedly disregarded Yue Rongrong, eventually staying out all night. Wasn't she triumphant enough? What more did she want now!

Fuming, she resolved that the moment she entered the Marquis' residence and saw Jin Tangsong, she would confront her directly and thoroughly sabotage this assignment!

Having made up her mind, she entered the Marquis' residence and was led by a maidservant into a courtyard. She found it odd that it wasn't the usual courtyard, but she didn't dwell on it. Steeling herself, she marched defiantly into the room. Finding no one, she took another deep breath, ready to seek someone out.

“What, are you looking for a fight?” A cool, lazy voice, seemingly tinged with amusement, drifted from the side. Yue Rongrong froze, then slowly turned around. She saw the moon-white curtain behind her being drawn aside, and a figure emerged, revealing an exquisitely handsome face.

Yet this face was expressionless, a stark contrast to his tone, as he gazed leisurely at Yue Rongrong.

Yue Rongrong clenched her fingers, suppressing her fluster, and calmly lowered her eyes to curtsy: “My Lord Marquis...”

Mid-curtsy, from the corner of her downcast eyes, she saw the hem of Shen Jichen’s brocade robe turn. She looked up; Shen Jichen had already moved to the other side and spoke coldly: “Come here.”

Yue Rongrong hesitated for a moment. Shen Jichen raised his eyes to look at her, and only then did she walk over. Before she could steady herself, something was suddenly thrown at her. She instinctively caught it. Looking down, she saw it was a shoe sole? She looked up in surprise, meeting Shen Jichen’s clear, cold gaze.

“What?” she asked.

Shen Jichen snapped, “A shoe sole, can’t you tell?”

Nonsense! Of course she could tell it was a shoe sole! The point was, why throw it at her!

Shen Jichen said in a deep voice, “Make ten pairs of spring boots and shoes, and ten scented sachets and pouches.”

Yue Rongrong was dumbfounded and blurted out, “So many?”

Shen Jichen said coldly, “For gifts.”

Yue Rongrong retorted, “The Marquis is from a powerful and prestigious family. Surely you don’t lack an embroiderer to do needlework? Why force me to do it!”

Unexpectedly, Shen Jichen said matter-of-factly and coldly, “Hmm, I do lack one.”

Yue Rongrong gritted her teeth in anger, “Isn’t Han Zhen in the residence? Have her do it!”

“Han Zhen? Who?” He seemed to ponder slightly. Yue Rongrong pursed her lips. Stop pretending! Didn’t you even see her home! Shen Jichen stared at her, “What’s that expression?” After a long while, he finally remembered, “You mean that person. She needs to rush to make Jin Tangsong’s wedding dress. Such a trivial matter isn’t worth troubling her.” Shen Jichen looked at her leisurely, his voice slightly cool.

Yue Rongrong’s breath hitched. It took her a long moment to exhale. Yes, Jin Tangsong’s wedding dress was the most important thing! She ignored the discomfort in her heart.

Shen Jichen’s face darkened slightly, his voice extremely cold: “You were eager to make shoes for others. Is it so difficult when I ask you to do it?”

Yue Rongrong pressed her lips tightly together and remained silent, her expression one of refusal.

After a long while, Shen Jichen’s frost-covered face tightened, as if compromising: “Do it well, and I will pay a higher price than Mrs. Wei.”

Yue Rongrong was stunned and frowned: “You investigated Wei Hui? Why?”

“Don’t ask foolish questions.” A flicker of unnaturalness passed through Shen Jichen’s eyes. That Wei Hui was merely the young master of the umbrella shop. She had only made those things for him because Mrs. Wei entrusted her to, otherwise…

Shen Jichen stared at her, his brows tightening: “Are you that short of money?”

Yue Rongrong’s eyes flickered slightly. She was still apprehensive from his mention of “Mrs. Wei.” With his influence, there was nothing he couldn’t find out. Afraid that he would investigate further and discover something, she then curved her eyebrows into a smile, her tone light and half-joking: “How could your kind of noble families understand how important silver is?”

No sooner had the words fallen than Shen Jichen’s expression changed abruptly. The gaze fixed on Yue Rongrong’s carefree smile seemed to freeze over with a layer of ice. “Your kind” — so clearly drawing a line! He asked in a low, heavy voice: “What, didn’t that escort give you silver to spend? Didn’t he cherish you like a treasure?” He said with cold sarcasm, but the ensuing pain made his breath catch.

Yue Rongrong’s heart trembled. She hurriedly turned her face away and said hastily: “We aren’t together.”

Shen Jichen’s gaze paused, his voice heavy: “Why? Back then, didn’t you abandon me without hesitation, determined to follow him through life and death?” Just mentioning it, his heart was already scarred.

Yue Rongrong’s face turned pale, and she merely retreated backward.

Shen Jichen wouldn’t let her escape, pressing forward step by step. The pain of those years came crashing down on him, overwhelming. No longer able to restrain his anger, he shouted, yet a thread of hope emerged: “Tell me why you didn’t end up with him!”

Yue Rongrong, with no room to retreat, looked up and cried out: “Because he later took a fancy to another girl, so I granted him his wish!” She abruptly turned her back, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, as if in extreme agony.

Shen Jichen froze. He should be happy that she was in such pain, yet a heavy, dull ache pierced through him.

He couldn’t ignore the turmoil in his heart, just as he couldn’t ignore the dense, sprouting joy beneath that turmoil. Precisely because he couldn’t ignore it, he felt both ridiculous and wretched. After a long moment, he laughed, a sound both mocking and bitter.

The room was extremely quiet. After a long while, Shen Jichen spoke again, his tone weary, as if after struggling fiercely with himself, or like compromise after a complete loss. He asked her: “The embroiderers of Brocade Pavilion have always served the imperial relatives and nobility. Surely the rewards are not small. What do you need so much money for?”

Hearing his question, Yue Rongrong had long since stopped caring about his tone or mood. She let out a huge sigh of relief. Probably having long anticipated this question, Yue Rongrong raised her chin and said matter-of-factly, turning around: “To buy a house.”

“What?” Shen Jichen was slightly stunned.

Yue Rongrong nodded calmly: “Living in the capital is not easy. I need a place to settle down. It’s always inconvenient to live at Brocade Pavilion year-round.”

Shen Jichen looked at her quietly, the frost in his eyes seeming to melt slightly. Yue Rongrong averted her gaze, not letting herself overthink. After a moment of silence, Shen Jichen threw another shoe sole at her. Yue Rongrong almost didn’t catch it, her body swaying. A steady, strong arm supported her hand, and her heart trembled.

His tall frame loomed over her. His hand didn’t let go. Yue Rongrong knew he was looking at her. She didn’t dare look up. After a moment of hesitation, she tried to withdraw her hand, but felt the grip around her palm tighten. Surprised, she looked up and met a pair of deep eyes.

“Do it well. For every well-made pair of shoes, there will be a heavy reward.” Shen Jichen had already withdrawn his hand and stood tall, watching her quietly.

Yue Rongrong’s eyes instantly sparkled as she looked at him: “How heavy?” She wouldn’t argue with money.

“......”