Jas glared at Yan Jian, desperately suppressing the raging fire of anger.
He wanted to smash the shop, wanted to recklessly break all those items she treasured, and then toss a stack of bills in her face before walking away, exuding a sense of triumph and satisfaction.
But he was painfully aware that such thoughts could only remain thoughts—he just couldn’t bring himself to do it!
He rembered how, at the age of thirteen, he was sent alone to Europe, studying and growing up quietly, being ridiculed by classmates upon discovering his identity... didn’t he endure all of that? Didn’t he refrain from smashing people’s windows? So what was he trying to do today?
Yan Jian knew he was glaring at her, eyes full of anger. She t his gaze with clarity and determination: "What, are you not satisfied, sir? I know what trick you’ll try next—complain about , right? Then go ahead, sir, I really don’t care."
"Moreover, the laws and regulations in this world are all made by people, so naturally, they all have loopholes. I also know how to exploit the loopholes in consur protection laws. For example, I could firmly claim these goods are not for sale and only displayed for decoration; or that these items have already been orally reserved by a custor; or even that these items are under restoration and therefore not suitable for sale, actually protecting your rights."
"You!" Jas was indeed infuriated, sneering bitterly, "Truly a descendant of the Tang Family, so adept at finding legal loopholes!"
Yan Jian quickly glanced at him with disdain.
That glance suddenly reminded him of the way swallows dart through the breeze and sunlight.
And also, a Tang poem that corresponds to her na: The chilling wind softly dances, plum blossoms flutter and red apricot blooms. In the deep night, the swing ropes hang askew, words fade amidst the mystical pavilions.
All so light and beautiful, yet always evoking a sense of lancholy and loss.
Thinking of this, Jas felt alarm bells resounding in his mind.
He was going crazy, inexplicably learning an ancient Chinese poem, even seeking advice on its subtle anings was one thing, but being able to recall it so effortlessly, word for word!
Yan Jian wasn’t sure what he was so shocked about, only noticing his deepening blue eyes fixed intently on her. She was also afraid. Since that night’s incident, the demons in her nightmares all had such blue eyes.
He had been her long-standing nightmare, and if it weren’t for rembering she was a mber of the Tang Family, she would have long fled far from him.
She took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible, "I’ve said everything I have to say, with all due benevolence and justice. So please, sir, don’t be persistent. Give up the idea of filling your office with our items; it won’t be a harmonious blend of East and West, just a disjointed mix. That wouldn’t be respectful to these old items, it would be desecration."
Though Jas was furious, his ears remained keen, quickly catching the key points in Yan Jian’s words.
He suddenly laughed, pride shining in his blue eyes.
"That’s easy, you say I don’t respect these old items enough, then I’ll respect them properly; you claim my office looks disorganized, then I’ll just tear down the current decor and start over, won’t I? However it seems respectful to these items I’ll decorate, however it avoids mixing styles I’ll find the solution."
He gestured around the shop, "Since your elder sister managed to renovate this place to make all the old items feel at ho, I’ll follow this style too. How about it, am I sincere enough now? Do you have anything left to say?"
Yan Jian seed caught by the question, gently biting her tongue, a blush of embarrassnt creeping up her cheekbones.
He grew even more pleased: "It’s settled then."
Yan Jian’s expressive eyes suddenly glared at him again: "My elder sister put so much effort into renovating this place, consulting many knowledgeable old experts for guidance, what do you know? I worry that even with your intentions and finances, you still won’t find the right people."
Jas stepped forward and suddenly reached out, grabbing Yan Jian’s wrist over the counter with his long arm: "Don’t get smug too soon, you can’t stump . I’ll hand over my office to you right now, you go asure it, you’re in charge of the renovation. However it pleases your eye, however it leaves you speechless, that’s how you arrange it."
He pointed at the service notice board behind the counter: "You see, your shop already has ’overall design’ as an option, don’t tell you have another excuse to keep refusing !"
.
He almost fiercely threw out these words, Yan Jian lifted her eyes bravely eting his blue ones.
A small spark of joy ignited within her.
So even if she wanted to keep finding reasons, it wasn’t impossible, like claiming she didn’t understand this field, or said she had to study and had no ti, but astonishingly, she said nothing and instead nodded.
"Okay."
Jas didn’t expect her to agree so quickly, and with such a simple word.
He couldn’t help but be stunned, asking, "You agreed?"
Yan Jian stifled a sigh, eting his gaze: "Yes, I agreed."
He frowned slightly, "Why did you agree?"
Yan Jian calmly replied, "At least I’m studying fashion design. Although renovation and fashion are different, they both require design. The basic idea of design is the sa in the end, so I can do it."
He wondered what expression to put on his face in response? But before he could decide, his lips unconsciously curled upward: "Alright, then it’s a deal."
Sighing to himself in resignation, he asked himself: "Jas, why are you so happy?"
.
Shi Nian ca ho from work, and the five of them had a lively dinner together. Shi Nian then grabbed Tang Yanqing’s hand and led him upstairs.
Tang Yanqing was being coy, turning back to the three and bowing: "Sorry, I’d promised to watch the drama with you all."
Ye He and Xiao Mai laughed so hard they covered their faces, while Rosa teasingly admonished him without raising her head or opening her eyes while cracking open sunflower seeds with her orchid-shaped fingers: "Why hurry upstairs right after dinner? Be careful, your food hasn’t digested yet, overexerting could lead to appendicitis."
Shi Nian stomped her foot in embarrassnt: "You gossipmongers, will you die if you stop thinking that way? I’m taking him upstairs because I have to ask him sothing privately."
Ye He and Xiao Mai instantly held each other’s hands.
Ye He said: "Yanqing, do you love ?"
Xiao Mai imdiately replied: "Love, love love love love."
Ye He blushed charmingly: "Then... shall we make love?"
Xiao Mai nodded vigorously: "Love must be expressed, of course~"
Rosa let out a loud laugh, even Tang Yanqing himself chuckled as he leaned on the staircase railing, nearly slipping.
Shi Nian blushingly glared at Ye He and Xiao Mai but still sighed and gave them a thumbs-up behind Tang Yanqing’s back.
She had privately asked them to try their best to make him laugh more.
Laughter banishes a thousand worries; as long as he can still laugh, everything will be okay.
Even if she has to be the one to amuse him, it’s worth it.
.
Shi Nian pulled Tang Yanqing into the study.
The study was narrow, and there was a folding bed set up on the floor for him. Unfolding the bed at night left little room in the study.
Shi Nian had to sit cross-legged first, staring at him as she held her toes.
He still had a smile on his face, and sat down happily asking, "What do you want to talk about?"
Shi Nian’s face turned red: "I heard even the horses in your stable know you’ve moved into my house."
Tang Yanqing laughed: "Oh, that. It wasn’t intentional, really. I just figured since I’m moving here, our horses won’t see for quite so ti. I told them not to miss and to think about the mares instead, so they all found out."
He mischievously shifted the topic, prompting Shi Nian to kick him in frustration.
He didn’t evade, instead catching her ankle quickly and resting it on his leg, gently massaging her foot.
Won inevitably wear high heels at work, so every woman’s feet are actually a zone of fatigue, and his massage made her relax enough to close her eyes.
Cherishing him that way, she softly complained: "I had planned to scold you properly, but since even the horses understand you, at least you taught them a foreign language. That’s a great rit, so I’ll let it go."
He laughed warmly: "It’s fine, settle accounts as you wish. Just being with you, talking, even arguing, makes happy."
Shi Nian suddenly opened her eyes.
That peculiar foreboding feeling again.
She then kicked him: "What are you talking about? It sounds so lancholic."
It was his turn to raise his eyebrows: "What did I say? Why would it sound sad?"
She quickly frowned and shook her head: "I must be overreacting. It’s nothing."
She kept that strange premonition to herself, not wanting to tell him. He’s under enough stress already; she didn’t want to add to his burden. Besides, maybe she’s just overthinking it.
Seeing her silence, he lightly tickled her sole: "Sleeping Beauty, do you know what my family’s reaction was when they heard I was moving in with you?"
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