Chapter 188 Return Goods

Chapter 188 Returning the Goods

His mind was a mess, and he reached out to pull the blanket over his head.

"Our birth charts clash—" he muttered, his voice a little muffled. "That's just not scientific at all."

Cheng Ge thought for a moment, then couldn't help but start doubting himself: "Could it be... that they thought my betrothal gifts were too shabby?

But those silks and jade items I sent last time, though not the most precious, were bought with savings from years of my salary.

Or maybe... they've found out that, even though I'm a censor, I'm actually stone broke, and they think their daughter would starve if she married me?"

Cheng Ge rolled over, leaving a tiny gap in the blanket to breathe.

"That's not right, before we agreed on the marriage, her family was quite happy, saying they valued my character and promising future.

But as soon as the engagement was set, she suddenly fell so ill, and coincidentally our birth charts clash?

That's too much of a coincidence, isn't it? It feels like... like a deliberate excuse!"

A thought suddenly struck him, like a venomous snake seizing his heart—

"Could it be... they already know?!" Cheng Ge's eyes flew wide open, and he felt more and more certain about it.

Quite a few people around knew about the poison in his body. Though there was no medical check before marriage nowadays, it wouldn't stop them from investigating him.

So now—

Had they seen through his glamorous status as a censor to the possible truth that he might kick the bucket any moment?

Were they afraid? Afraid their daughter might become a widow soon after marriage?

That's why they hurriedly, even resorting to such absurd reasons as incompatible birth charts, to call off the marriage and cut their losses?

Cheng Ge suddenly sniffed, burying his face deeper into the buckwheat pillow that was still slightly damp.

Clutching the blanket, the grievance and indignation in his heart gradually gave way to a deeper sense of guilt.

He had placed his own longing for a family above the very real, cruel risks that any girl would face.

"I'm... really immoral." He pulled his face out of the damp spot on the pillow, his voice hoarse as he muttered to himself.

Though he himself didn't take the deadly poison in his body too seriously, and lacked any real sense of death—always thinking things would work out somehow—

For others, especially the girl who might be entrusting her life to him, this was a sword hanging over her head.

If he really kicked the bucket one day, wouldn't that poor girl become a widow right away?

Then his previous excitement about proposing, sending gifts, and discussing marriage, thinking it over, wasn't that basically marriage fraud?

Before, he only dreamed of marrying a wife, sharing his life, and having a true bond and home in this world.

But he subconsciously ignored the misery his failing health could cause to others.

"I was too wishful..." Cheng Ge buried his face in his hands and rubbed it hard.

"Who would want to marry a sickly guy who might drop dead at any moment? I was morally wrong."

Once he realized this, the shame and anger from being jilted faded, replaced by a deep, shameful guilt.

He scrambled out of bed, pulling out the delicate sandalwood box from his robe.

Opening the box, that warm, smooth magnolia hairpin lay quietly, still as beautiful as ever, but now it seemed to silently mock his wishful thinking and lack of consideration.

He closed the box, tucked it inside his robe, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open to go out.

Inside the Cui Zhen Pavilion—

The shop assistant looked up and saw Cheng Ge come back again. He immediately put on a professional smile: "Sir, what else do you need..."

Before he could finish, Cheng Ge placed the familiar sandalwood box on the counter.

"This, I just bought it. Can I return it?"

The assistant's smile remained unchanged, but his tone was firm: "Oh, sir, I'm really sorry.

Our shop's policy is that once a product is sold, we don't accept returns. It says so right here on the receipt..."

Cheng Ge saw the world go dark before his eyes, and the sky went dark.

No wife, no money—both gone!!!

Seeing his utterly dejected look, with his handsome face looking all scrunched up and so pitiful, the assistant's customer-service resolve wavered.

He softened his voice and advised: "Sir, look how exquisite this magnolia hairpin is? It'd be a shame to return it. Your wife will surely love it!"

The word 'wife' stabbed Cheng Ge's heart like needles, and he couldn't stop his eyes from welling up.

What wife would he have? He'd probably be a bachelor forever now.

The assistant noticed and his heart sank! Oh no! Was he about to cry?!

Had he been too harsh and hurt the gentleman? God forbid!

He quickly lowered his voice and gingerly asked: "Sir... could it be... you've run into some trouble with the marriage?"

Cheng Ge looked up sharply, his eyes wide.

Jilted—how could he admit such a shameful thing!

After all, he was a man of some standing in the capital; he absolutely could not lose face!

He forced a stern face, putting on a calm expression that said, "What are you talking about?"

His voice even rose a bit: "How could that be! My wife is crazy about me. We're even talking about moving the wedding forward!"

The more he talked, the more convincing he sounded: "It's just that I feel this magnolia hairpin is too delicate, not matching my wife's spirited and sharp temperament! Yes, not suitable! That's why I wanted to return it and choose something else!"

Hearing this, the assistant was relieved and beamed with joy.

"I see! Sir, why didn't you say so earlier! Easy! We don't accept returns, but we do offer exchanges!

Take your time looking around and see if there's a style you like better. I'm sure your wife will be satisfied!"

Cheng Ge: "..." His own words backed him into a corner, leaving him no choice but to go along.

So he reluctantly began to pace in front of the counter, pretending to browse, glancing left and right, touching here and there, his gaze vacant and disinterested.

With no wife anymore, who was he supposed to give the hairpin to now? Wear it himself?

In the brief moment when the shop assistant turned to fetch another hairpin from the storeroom, Cheng Ge's gaze inadvertently swept across a nearby counter that seemed somewhat quieter.

Most of the items displayed there were men's accessories, and his eyes were instantly drawn to one particular hairpin.

It was a jade hairpin shaped like bamboo joints.

The body of the hairpin was slender, of jade, translucent like water, bearing natural bamboo-like grain patterns.

At the head, a few masterful strokes had delicately carved several artfully arranged bamboo leaves, graceful and elongated, exuding elegance and vigor.

"Lush shade above, close nodes below; Yuli is another name for bamboo."

Instantly, the image of Lin Nanshu came to mind, with his gentle smile, standing tall and refined like jade, elegant as a gentle breeze passing by.

Hmm... this hairpin would suit Lin Nanshu quite well.