Volume One, Chapter 15: I Thought It Was Something Serious

Inside the Ji’an Hall, four people gathered around a round table, the atmosphere so quiet it felt almost eerie.

Qin Xianxian had already found her own redemption; the awkwardness and shame from moments ago had long been cast aside.

She glanced sideways at Shen Qingli beside her.

This man was also skilled at concealing his emotions, his expression calm and composed—completely different from how he had appeared just outside the door.

Noticing her gaze, Shen Qingli met her eyes briefly, their looks intersecting in the air.

Once a person loses all shame, it becomes easy to let oneself go.

Qin Xianxian simply turned her head to look at him directly, a teasing glint stirring in her eyes. In a slightly coy tone, she said, “Young Master Shen, don’t look at me like that; you’ll make me shy.”

Shen Qingli pressed his lips together and turned his head away, his abdomen tightening involuntarily. His hand resting on his knee revealed distinct knuckles.

Suddenly, Qin Xianxian felt a pang of guilt toward him.

It seemed she had left him some psychological scars!

Zhao Wanwan’s gaze flickered between the two and then settled on Qin Xianxian.

“Cousin, what are you doing here?”

Only then did Qin Xianxian turn to her, smiling brightly. “I saw you leave the mansion and worried you might lose your way, so I followed behind, but I didn’t want to disturb you, so I didn’t come forward.”

Her words were sincere.

At first, that was indeed her intention. But upon seeing her enter Ji’an Hall and then emerge with an unfamiliar man, she grew secretive, leading to an embarrassing misunderstanding.

After speaking, Qin Xianxian immediately turned her head toward the man beside her, a delicate-looking youth of about twenty.

“Oh! I don’t believe we’ve met—could you introduce yourself?”

Now, Qin Xianxian was quite curious about this man named Chen Chou.

Caught off guard by the mention, Chen Chou’s expression faltered slightly. His eyes instinctively flicked toward Zhao Wanwan, who lowered her head a little.

Qin Xianxian’s eyes narrowed.

Something was amiss.

“Miss Qin, just call me Chen Chou. I am the manager of this Ji’an Hall.”

“When did you meet my cousin?” Qin Xianxian blinked, her curiosity piqued.

“We…” Chen Chou hesitated, casting a glance at Zhao Wanwan.

Zhao Wanwan lifted her head and spoke softly, “I met Master Chen last year in Suizhou, just after the floods. I was unfortunate enough to catch an epidemic, and by chance, Chen Chou was passing through Suizhou. My life was saved by his prescription.”

“Where were you two heading just now?” Qin Xianxian pressed on.

“I was just about to escort Miss Zhao back,” Chen Chou answered quickly.

Zhao Wanwan lowered her gaze, a hint of shyness in her eyes. “I left in a hurry and forgot the way back. Suddenly, I remembered that Master Chen had mentioned Ji’an Hall before, so I thought to ask him to guide me.”

“Oh—so that’s how it is!” Qin Xianxian’s reply carried a deep meaning, seeing through but choosing not to speak. She understood well: in such a scenario, the two must already have feelings for each other.

But if Zhao Wanwan’s heart was already set on someone, and Qin An and Chu Ying’s relationship was so strong, why did things later unfold as they did?

Qin Xianxian pondered.

Surely, someone was scheming behind the scenes, ultimately forcing Zhao Wanwan and Qin An into that miserable marriage. As she looked at the radiant woman before her, thoughts of her eventual fate stirred a sudden pang of sympathy within Qin Xianxian.

Zhao Wanwan suddenly stood and bowed slightly to Chen Chou, “Since my cousin is here, there is no need to trouble Master Chen to escort me. Wanwan thanks you for your kindness.”

Chen Chou rose, forcing a smile. “If that is the case—”

“No need! The more people, the merrier. If Master Chen has time, it wouldn’t hurt to accompany us, especially since my mind isn’t too sharp and I often lose my way,” Qin Xianxian blurted out.

It seemed the two hadn’t seen each other for a long time. If their relationship was genuine, her presence might only hinder their reunion—and that would be a grave sin.

Chen Chou’s face lit up, his tone becoming lighter. “Then please wait a moment, ladies. I’ll prepare the heir’s medicine first and then escort you back immediately.”

With that, Chen Chou turned to fetch the medicine from a nearby cabinet.

Qin Xianxian caught the key word in his words.

Medicine?

She turned to glance at Shen Qingli, who had remained silent. Though his tone was calm, a trace of concern surfaced. “Is Young Master Shen ill?”

Shen Qingli sensed the care in her voice and looked back at her with a faint smile. “It’s medicine for an elder in the family. I happened to have some free time today, so I came to collect it.”

“By the way, cousin, didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well yesterday? Why not have Master Chen check your pulse? You’ve always been frail, so some treatment is in order,” Zhao Wanwan’s kind-hearted nature emerged again.

Shen Qingli’s expression shifted subtly as he regarded her with concern.

“Alright! Then I’ll start by taking Miss Qin’s pulse,” Chen Chou said before Qin Xianxian could reply. He put down the herbs and took up the pulse pillow and gauze, approaching them.

“…Yesterday, I just said those things casually. Now I’ve only brought trouble upon myself. I feel fine today; there’s no need,” Qin Xianxian protested.

Suddenly, Shen Qingli reached out, grasped her wrist firmly, and placed her hand on the table.

“You’ve come all this way. Taking your pulse will only take a moment. It won’t hurt,” Shen Qingli said firmly.

The three of them looked at her intently. Qin Xianxian felt like a roasted duck pinned down on a rack. If she refused, the next moment they would surely devour her.

“Fine,” she relented, placing her hand on the pulse pillow.

Chen Chou draped a gauze over her wrist, his fingertips resting on her pulse.

Immediately, his brow furrowed slightly.

It’s said that the most dreaded moment in traditional Chinese medicine is when the doctor’s expression turns serious while taking your pulse. Qin Xianxian suddenly felt the weight of pressure.

“Miss Qin, please switch hands,” Chen Chou requested.

This time, Qin Xianxian was very cooperative, placing her other hand on the pillow.

Chen Chou continued, his frown deepening.

“What is it? Do I have some terrible illness?” Qin Xianxian drew a sharp breath, impatiently asking.

Chen Chou blinked rapidly, his tone seeming to conceal something. “Miss Qin, you’re just slightly deficient in qi and blood. With some treatment, you’ll be fine.”

Shen Qingli’s eyes darkened.

Qin Xianxian sensed something was amiss. Could it be a serious condition he couldn’t openly mention in public?

“Master Chen, my hands are a bit dirty. I want to wash them. Could you please show me the way?”

Chen Chou lifted his eyelids, looking at her. “Certainly, Miss Qin. Please follow me.”

“I’ll be right back. You all wait here,” Qin Xianxian said to the others as she stood.

Following Chen Chou into the back courtyard of Ji’an Hall, Shen Qingli, already sensing their tacit cooperation and worried for her, wanted to follow.

“Master Chen, please have some tea.” Zhao Wanwan, sensing the tension, spoke first, pouring tea with a gentle smile. “A lady’s privacy is best left unprobed, sir.”

Concern breeds confusion.

Recognizing his lapse in decorum, Shen Qingli sat upright. “Thank you for the reminder, young lady. I apologize for my indiscretion.”

“I noticed you and Xianxian seem quite close,” Zhao Wanwan said, recalling the scene just outside the door.

Shen Qingli knew she was testing him, and that Zhao Wanwan’s concern for her cousin was innocent.

With a smile, he sincerely replied, “I am truly fond of her.”

His words startled Zhao Wanwan, who looked up in surprise. She hadn’t expected such blunt honesty.

Meanwhile, Qin Xianxian and Chen Chou entered the back garden.

“Master Chen, now that it’s just the two of us, you can be honest. Is there something wrong with my health?”

Chen Chou glanced at her, lowering his gaze slightly. “Miss Qin, your pulse is thin, slow, and weak. Without proper care, if you marry, it may be difficult for you to conceive.”

“…”

She had expected something serious, but had long known this...

In the original story, the heroine was always frail and struggled to conceive; she and the male lead were married for three years without success, only conceiving near the end.

Seeing her silence, Chen Chou thought the news had hit her hard and tried to comfort her. “Miss Qin, don’t worry too much. With proper treatment and time, you should—”

Before he finished, Qin Xianxian turned and left.

Chen Chou only vaguely heard her mutter to herself:

“In this day and age, even pets are being neutered. Who still wants to have children?”