Shen Yun chuckled softly, his breath tickling her earlobe as he whispered, "Wifey, don't look at your husband like that, or I might not be able to restrain myself." His voice was thick with a nasal tone.
Su Xiaoqi felt her heart flutter again. She quickly regained her composure, broke free from his embrace, and sat on another chair.
Before she could question Shen Yun, he put on a pained expression. "What do you take your husband for, wifey? Like clothes, used and then discarded?"
Su Xiaoqi’s eyes widened, her peach blossom eyes filled with disbelief.
"What do you mean, I, I did what?" It was a simple matter, yet he managed to make it sound so ambiguous.
Shen Yun pursed his lips and blinked again, his expression innocent.
Su Xiaoqi became angry. "Hey, Shen Yun, speak with a conscience! It was you, acting like a lecher, trying to take liberties with me in broad daylight! If I hadn't stopped you in time, who knows what you would have…"
"Does wifey mean I shouldn't have done this in broad daylight? Then your husband will choose another time next."
"Bah, bah, bah, no, Shen Yun, you, hey, how did I not notice you were so shameless before? I thought you were a true gentleman, proper and dignified." She never imagined he was a wolf in sheep's clothing.
"Wifey, watch your words, your husband only acts this way towards you." As Shen Yun spoke, he moved closer to Su Xiaoqi, pulling her back into his arms.
Su Xiaoqi instinctively tried to struggle.
But then she heard Shen Yun whisper almost inaudibly in her ear, "Wifey, don't move, let me hold you for a while, just for a while."
If one listened carefully, there was an unspoken vulnerability in Shen Yun's voice.
A pang of tenderness shot through Su Xiaoqi. Her hands moved faster than her brain, and she froze as instructed. Almost in a trance, she reached up and clasped his neck, resting her head on his shoulder and gently kissing the corner of his mouth.
Shen Yun’s heart swelled with joy. Perhaps Xiaoqi herself didn't realize it, but these small gestures revealed her feelings for him. Even if they weren't as deep as his for her, they were certainly not insignificant.
"Wifey, I am so happy. To have you as my wife in this life is truly Yun's greatest fortune." Shen Yun’s earnest voice held a steadfastness that made Su Xiaoqi believe him instantly.
She gently caressed Shen Yun's cheek, kissing him repeatedly. Somehow, their lips met again. This time, Su Xiaoqi didn't resist; she didn't struggle and willingly became entwined with Shen Yun.
When they finished again, darkness had fallen. Guo'er came in to ask if they wanted dinner and saw her masters sitting in such an intimate pose… She gasped softly, immediately covered her eyes, and retreated.
Startled, Su Xiaoqi hastily pushed Shen Yun away, looking as guilty as if she were having an affair.
Shen Yun chuckled contentedly. "Wifey, we are husband and wife, why are you so flustered?"
Su Xiaoqi glanced at him, her expression a mix of娇 (jiāo - charmingly delicate) and 嗔 (chēn - playful displeasure). To Shen Yun, it held no power, but instead stirred his passion.
He straightened himself, preventing his desires from taking over, and tried to keep his tone normal. "Wifey, let's have dinner." He wasn't actually very hungry, but he heard Su Xiaoqi's stomach rumble and feared she might starve.
While Guo'er went to the kitchen to fetch dinner, Shen Yun and Su Xiaoqi discussed the upcoming imperial examinations. "I will be away from home for a few days. Will you stay at the Duke's mansion, wifey?" Liu Yuanming’s situation wasn't directly handled by Xiaoqi, but he feared Liu Yuanming might blame him and Xiaoqi. Xiaoqi needed to be careful, and it was also possible that Liu Yuanming might target him. He would rather that, as at least he wouldn't have to worry about Xiaoqi's safety.
"Do I have to go?" Su Xiaoqi asked softly, muttering.
Shen Yun was direct. "If you don't go, I fear I will be too worried at the examination hall." This statement warmed Su Xiaoqi's heart. She had never imagined that the usually serious and composed Shen Yun would have such a side.
"Alright, it's a good time for Yiyi and I to discuss some matters."
The following days passed quickly. Su Xiaoqi focused on preparing proposals at home, as she was planning to open three shops. Although there were existing templates, each location had its own unique circumstances. She still needed to design the renovation styles based on the local reality. Most importantly, she needed to select personnel.
According to Yiyi, their family's shops had always been open, but they sold ready-made clothes and fabrics. However, there were too many such shops in the capital, and their products lacked distinctiveness, resulting in lukewarm business, and occasional monthly losses. Therefore, Du Yiyi had long wanted to close them and start a new venture.
During this period, Shen Yun did not leave the house. He had already contacted everyone he needed to, paved the necessary paths, and sought guidance where needed. He preferred to spend quiet days at home with Xiaoqi.
At the end of February, Su Xiaoqi presented the renovation plans for the three shops to He Qiulei and Du Yiyi. She had enhanced the original style of the shops, and with sufficient funds, they could be renovated quickly.
Aside from this, Su Xiaoqi visited the Duke's mansion several times. The Old Madam’s injuries had healed, and the agonizing pain, like ants gnawing, had subsided, improving her complexion. Furthermore, by taking the health pills mixed with spiritual herbs that Su Xiaoqi prepared, her body was unknowingly becoming stronger.
The Princess Consort's mansion also maintained close contact with her. Initially, she disliked visiting the Princess Consort's mansion, finding the strict rules and customs too restrictive. However, Shen Yun suggested she go. After all, with the Princess Consort's mansion as a backing, anyone in the capital who wanted to harm her would need to carefully consider if they could escape the Princess Consort's wrath. They would also not dare to treat her as an ordinary person without any influence, disposing of her as they pleased. Su Xiaoqi reluctantly bore the discomfort and visited the Princess Consort's mansion every three to five days.
Besides that, she preferred inviting Bao Ge'er and Princess Huian to play at her home. They could cook and play together. She had even had a slide built for Bao Ge'er at home. Of course, she only drew the drafts, Shen Yun refined and modified them, and then had Meng Qiulei take them to the carpentry workshop.
Meng Qiulei was a person with immense business acumen. After He Qiulei delivered the finished slide to their home and installed it in the courtyard, his eyes gleamed, and he couldn't look away. "Can you make another one of these? Can I buy it?"
Su Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow. "What do you need it for? You're a grown man, are you going to slide down it?"
"No, no, of course not. My brother's children can. And my brother's superior, and other officials' children…" He Qiulei swallowed hard and proposed, "How about making more? I'll be responsible for selling them, and we can split the profits fifty-fifty."
Su Xiaoqi blinked, remaining silent. She wondered how He Qiulei's mind worked, to always connect everything with making money. He truly wasted nothing. Seeing Su Xiaoqi's silence, He Qiulei grew a little uneasy and tentatively said, "Uh, fifty-fifty, perhaps not. This was your idea, after all. How about sixty-forty, you get sixty, I get forty?"
"I only provide the drawings. You cover the material costs, find the people, and sell the goods?" Su Xiaoqi asked.
He Qiulei nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, if sixty-forty doesn't work, I'm fine with seventy-thirty too." After all, it was a split after deducting costs. If Xiaoqi agreed, this would mean another source of income for them. Based on his business intuition, this venture was guaranteed to be profitable.
Su Xiaoqi's heart bloomed with joy, but on the surface, she maintained her composure. "Sixty-forty it is. Although my drawings are rare, you work hard running errands every day." He Qiulei’s eyes brightened even further. He eagerly took the drawings Su Xiaoqi handed him and scurried off.
Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun exchanged a look, shrugging as if to say she hadn't said anything. "Wifey, don't worry, he won't lose out," Shen Yun said with a smile. He Qiulei was a shrewd one.