Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Was Han Zhang really just asking casually?

Of course not.

He did it on purpose.

Because the ancient codes of etiquette were strict, and his interactions with Shen Qinglan could easily be discovered by the Shen family with the slightest carelessness. Moreover, Shen Qinglan was already of a considerable age, and the Shen family would soon arrange a marriage for him again.

Therefore, Han Zhang did not have much time.

He could not continue to interact with Shen Qinglan under the guise of brotherhood. Only by revealing the other's identity could their relationship advance further.

Watching the young man who had foolishly taken the bait with just a little probing, Han Zhang felt a smile ripple through his heart.

Well, such a foolish young man deserved to be taken back to his den.

After all, if someone so naive married someone else, who knows how badly they would be deceived.

Thinking this...

Han Zhang's expression suddenly stiffened. Meeting the undisguised anticipation and affection in Shen Qinglan's eyes, as if finally realizing something, his handsome face flushed bright red.

His breath caught, his Adam's apple moved, and he could hardly speak clearly: "I—Worthy Brother, you... this..."

His heart pounded like a drum.

His chest rose and fell so visibly that it was almost impossible to hide, and all of this fell into Shen Qinglan's eyes.

Instantly, Shen Qinglan's anxiety turned into ecstasy!

Brother Han's reaction clearly showed that even if his implied confession was unintentional, he did not reject or dislike it.

As long as Brother Han did not reject his feelings, there was still hope between them.

This was wonderful.

Shen Qinglan could not suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth, and his confidence returned, turning him a bit proud as he said, "What 'I'? I'm giving this jade pendant to you, Brother Han, and you are not allowed to refuse!"

"But, this jade pendant is..." a token of love.

Han Zhang clutched the jade pendant, his face flushed, at a loss.

After a long pause, he finally blurted out, "Worthy Brother and I are brothers—how can we... how can we do this?"

The young man laughed even more happily.

Brother Han only struggled over their identities, not with his feelings—what did that mean?

It meant that Brother Han definitely had feelings for him too!

Shen Qinglan almost wished he could wipe away the disguise right then and there, reveal the mole that signified his fertility, and excitedly tell Han Zhang that he was a ge'er.

But with people coming and going, it was clearly not the right time.

In the end, he had to suppress his impulse, his cheeks flushed, as he said, "If your heart is in it, why can't it be? If Brother Han had no intention, he would have thrown away the jade pendant long ago—why are you still holding it?"

"I—I don't!"

As if stung by the words, Han Zhang hastily stuffed the jade pendant back into Shen Qinglan's hand.

Then, speaking so quickly his words were almost unintelligible, he defended himself: "I just... didn't react in time. This jade pendant is too meaningful. Worthy Brother should keep it for your future spouse. As your elder brother, I cannot accept it."

Having said that.

He flusteredly turned around to escape.

But Shen Qinglan grabbed him.

The young man forcefully pressed the jade pendant back into his hand, leaned close to his ear, and said in a tone that left no room for refusal:

"No! Since I've given this jade pendant, there's no taking it back. Brother Han, keep the pendant. Come find me at the study in three days—I have something to tell you."

Then, as if thinking of something, he added domineeringly, "If you don't come, I'll come to your house—I mean what I say!"

"Worthy Brother, you..."

Han Zhang stood there at a loss, anxious and flustered, wanting to say more.

Unfortunately, Shen Qinglan gave him no chance to respond.

Having said that, he had summoned tremendous courage. Now that he had said it, his cheeks burned with shame, and he felt terribly embarrassed.

"Alright, Brother Han, it's settled. It's late today, so I'll return to the manor. See you in three days."

With that, Shen Qinglan also ran away quickly, embarrassed and flustered.

Leaving Han Zhang standing there, staring in the direction he had gone for a good while before carefully putting the jade pendant into his bosom. The corners of his mouth curled into an immensely pleased smile.

His handsome young husband could be brought home soon~

...

Meanwhile.

Shen Qinglan was utterly embarrassed by his own lack of restraint in proactively confessing his feelings, but the happy smile on his face was impossible to hide.

He was certain that from how flustered Brother Han had been just now, he must have feelings for him too.

He wasn't in unrequited love—he and Brother Han had mutual feelings!

And Qiao Dong, Qiao Xi, and the other two, who had been following nervously behind to protect their young master, finally breathed a sigh of relief. They saw that their young master was finally willing to return to the manor. But then they sighed inwardly at the smile of budding love on their young master's face.

The young master and his servants boarded the carriage back to the manor.

Qiao Dong asked with concern, "Young Master, what did you say to Master Han just now? We saw Master Han looking as if he had been frightened?"

Did their young master flirt with Master Han?!

Although that statement was quite inappropriate for someone like him, given their young master's temperament, it wasn't entirely impossible.

After all, when their young master's temper flared, he was fierce enough to even go against his father.

The four of them exchanged glances, silently guessing what happened.

Just as expected.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan's cheeks immediately flushed, but he puffed out his chest proudly and said, "Brother Han wasn't scared; he was shy. I just told him how I feel."

The four of them: "..."

They knew it!

Qiao Xi took a despairing breath: "Young master, we know you have a free-spirited nature, but you still gotta follow proper manners. You are a young lad—how is it proper for a lad to confess to a man?"

Qiao Xi also chimed in worriedly: "Yes, young master. If you are so immodest, what if people look down on you in the future..."

Qiao Nan looked serious and said solemnly: "Young master, love is the hardest thing to control. You couldn't help yourself with Master Han, and we cannot stop you. But you absolutely cannot let yourself be manipulated like this. If Master Han's heart changes in the future, you might get eaten alive. Young master, do you understand?"

Qiao Xi sighed even more: "Young master, didn't we agree before leaving? Let Master Han first fall for you disguised as a man, then slowly reveal your identity. That way his feelings'd be deep and steady. How could you have forgotten all that in the blink of an eye?"

In matters of the heart, whoever speaks first loses the upper hand.

For the young master to rush and confess in this way—if you two really marry in the future, who knows how much grief you might suffer!

The four attendants exchanged glances, their faces full of worry and dejection.

Shen Qinglan was also flustered by their words: "Th-then what do we do now? I already said it..."

"I... Qiao Dong, Qiao Xi... sniffle... Qiao Nan, Qiao Bei—I didn't intentionally forget what you told me, but as soon as I see Brother Han, I just... I can't think of anything else..."

The young guy's eyes got red with anxiety, glistening with tears.

He liked Brother Han, but he didn't want to live the rest of his life in misery.

What do I do, what do I do, what do I do? What should he do now?

Since ancient times, the terror of the honey trap lies in that even knowing the beauty is poisonous, you still can't help but indulge, like a moth to a flame.

Because feelings have never been something you can control.

The only ones who can truly control their hearts are people with rock-solid willpower.

And Shen Qinglan sure wasn't one of them.

Otherwise, isn't there a saying: 'Winning the heart is the best strategy'?

Although Qiao Dong and Qiao Xi and the others could see the problem, they couldn't think of a solution in the moment.

In the end, they could only sigh and say:

"Never mind, young master. Let's discuss this after we return to the residence. Right now the most important thing is this Glazed Revolving Lantern and Moonlight Cloud Brocade—when we bring them back, how are we gonna explain to the madam?"

After all, these were the top prizes of the temple fair lantern riddles. With their young master's skills, anyone who sees them would guess they're gifts from someone else.

And what kind of relationship would allow someone to casually give such valuable items? That's worth looking into.

Shen Qinglan hugged the two items, feeling both troubled and happy, both afraid his mom would find out about his secret romance and unwilling to part with his beloved's gifts.

After going back and forth, his lovestruck brain won in the end.

So, the young lad, who had just been teary-eyed, quickly wiped that look away, put on a stern face, and said fiercely:

"Brother Han won these especially for me. None of you better tell me to throw them away!"

The four of them were helpless: "But young master, you really can't show these in public. The madam will surely suspect something."

"Then... just say it was An Ge'er who gave them to me. An Ge'er is good at poetry and literature; saying it's from An Ge'er should be fine. My mom can't just go confront An Ge'er right away, can she? Besides, I said I was going out with An Ge'er today."

"After a few days, when my mom starts getting suspicious, I'll have already sworn eternal love with Brother Han by then. When she finds out then, it'll work out perfectly—it'll force Brother Han to come propose..."

"Brother Han is an honorable gentleman. If we pledge our love, he definitely won't betray me."

"But honorable gentlemen often hem and haw, and the longer things drag, the more chances for things to go wrong. To avoid too many complications with Brother Han, it's better to have him come and propose early."

The more Shen Qinglan spoke, the more he thought his plan was brilliant.

Thinking of the scene of marrying his beloved in the future, he was both excited and shy, casting all his previous worries to the wind.

The four of them—Qiao Dong, Qiao Xi, Qiao Nan, and Qiao Bei: "..."

The young master always gets clever at exactly the wrong times.

Following a master like this, they felt their future was pretty grim!

At the same time, they silently cursed Han Zhang as the source of all their troubles.

Back then, although their young master was simple-minded, he was never muddled on important matters.

Even the heir of the Jinyang Earl's mansion, who was both talented and handsome and had proposed after 'saving the beauty' when their young master was at a low point, never truly captured the young master's heart.

But this Master Han, with nothing more than just standing there, had managed to charm their young master completely.

What a seductive fox!

Qiao Dong and Qiao Xi and the others were fuming.

Meanwhile, Shen Qinglan was alternately blushing and shy, lost in thought, smiling brightly and happily.