Chapter 131: Even Though You Were Once Husband and Wife, You Should Now Maintain a Proper Distance
Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Even Though You Were Once Husband and Wife, You Should Now Maintain a Proper Distance
Shen Tingyu glanced up at her. Seeing her looking a little flustered, his gaze softened instinctively. "Don’t worry. Let me take a look first."
This "look" lasted for nearly a full hour.
At one point, Zhiqiu came in to announce that dinner had been prepared in the side hall.
Shen Tingyu acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing, his lashes lowered as he focused on taking her pulse.
From Cui Lingyao’s angle, she could see a slight crease forming between his eyebrows.
The atmosphere grew a little tense.
When his hand finally left her wrist, Cui Lingyao asked tentatively, "Have I caught a cold? Should I drink a bowl of ginger soup later?"
The crease between Shen Tingyu’s brows didn’t fade. It seemed he still couldn’t get a clear reading of her pulse.
He stared at her face for a moment, then, instead of answering, posed a question of his own. "Have you felt any discomfort lately?"
"No," Cui Lingyao said, shaking her head. "Aside from my knees being a bit sore from kneeling for so long, everything else is fine. My energy levels are good, too."
’In her own world, she’d been paralyzed and bedridden with ALS for half a year, so she was especially mindful of this body’s condition.’
’She could say with confidence that, so far, she hadn’t felt a single thing wrong with this body.’
’There weren’t even symptoms of a cold.’
The certainty in her voice made Shen Tingyu relax a little. "Then perhaps my skills are still lacking, and I was making a big deal out of nothing."
Cui Lingyao asked curiously, "So what problem did you find with my pulse?"
"I wouldn’t say there’s a problem,"
Shen Tingyu said softly, "it’s just that it’s different from last time. Your pulse is somewhat sluggish and obstructed..."
’It’s not like that of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. It’s more like...’
’Her pulse has changed too much in just two months.’
’But he couldn’t pinpoint any specific illness or deficiency.’
’Then again, after the pain of losing her mother and having to deal with Xie Jinbai’s pestering, it was understandable that her pulse might change.’
Shen Tingyu mulled it over for a long while, but he still felt uneasy. "Once we’re back in the Capital City, we should have an Imperial Physician take your pulse again."
’He really doesn’t trust his own medical skills.’
’Then again, it’s also a case of his concern clouding his judgment.’
Cui Lingyao was touched and nodded in agreement. "Alright, I’ll remember."
’She didn’t know how long she would be using this body, so she definitely cared about its health.’
Just then, Zhiqiu came to announce once more that dinner was ready.
It was dinnertime, so there was no reason to send him home.
Cui Lingyao rubbed her sore wrist as she stood up. "Come on, let’s go eat before the food gets cold."
Shen Tingyu did not refuse.
The two went to the side hall, washed their hands, and sat down.
They ate their dinner in silence. As the meal was nearing its end, Shen Tingyu’s expression suddenly faltered, and he looked up at her.
"What’s wrong?" Cui Lingyao asked, confused.
"..." Shen Tingyu was silent for a moment. He lowered his gaze and pursed his lips. "It’s nothing."
The small interlude passed quickly, and Cui Lingyao didn’t give it another thought.
When dinner was over, Shen Tingyu showed no hurry to leave.
He walked out of the side hall and stopped under the eaves. Gazing up at the bright moon, he said, "You know, we’ve never played a game of Go against each other. Yaoyao, would you care to play a round with me?"
"..." Cui Lingyao was at a loss for words.
’She remembered that before Xie Jinbai left this morning, he’d said he would come over tonight.’
’This was exactly the time he might show up. If he were to find them together, wouldn’t that be...’
But the man before her, Shen Tingyu, had such an earnest look in his eyes, as if he truly had a sudden urge to play a game of Go under the moon.
’Between them, she had always been the one receiving his help and his care. This was the first time he had ever asked anything of her.’
’It’s only one game.’
’It would be too heartless to refuse.’
Cui Lingyao found she simply couldn’t say no.
...
The Go board was set up in the courtyard.
They sat facing each other under the bright moonlight.
A small stove was set up beside the table with a teapot on top, which was boiling and bubbling away. BUBBLE... BUBBLE...
Zhiqiu stood at their side, pouring tea for them.
Cui Lingyao drew the black stones, so she made the first move without hesitation.
Her skill in Go had been personally taught by Cui Mingrui.
While she couldn’t claim to have surpassed her teacher, she certainly wouldn’t bring shame upon her brother.
Even when playing against Xie Jinbai, their games were always a close match, with wins and losses on both sides.
Now, facing the renowned Eldest Young Master Shen from the Capital City, she wasn’t about to be easily outmatched.
Both played with intense focus.
Halfway through the game, the board was at a tense deadlock. Just as it reached its most exciting point, it was Shen Tingyu’s turn. He looked up with a smile and asked, "Shall we make a small wager?"
Cui Lingyao, completely immersed in the game, was taken aback. "What?"
"It’s rare to find a worthy opponent. Don’t you want to raise the stakes a little, Yaoyao?" Shen Tingyu’s eyes crinkled with a smile as he proposed, "How about this: if I win, you paint a portrait of me as a keepsake. What do you say?"
In her younger years, before her marriage, Cui Lingyao, as the eldest daughter of the Changping Marquis, had a reputation in the Capital City for her artistic talents.
She excelled at painting, particularly portraits.
However, as an unmarried young lady, her works were not circulated publicly.
She had only ever painted small portraits for a few of her closest friends.
Once, when Chen Minrou was meeting with friends, she brought one out to show off like a prized treasure.
The portrait was said to be indistinguishable from the real person, incredibly lifelike.
That was how her extraordinary skill in painting became widely known.
Later, she married into the Royal Family—and to a man like Xie Jinbai, a veritable living King Yan. After that, not even the most powerful aristocratic families dared to come and request a painting from her.
This only served to elevate her paintings to a near-mythical status.
Cui Lingyao hadn’t expected him to be interested in that.
’It’s just a portrait.’
She nodded and said magnanimously, "Even if you lose, I’ll still paint one for you."
Shen Tingyu smiled. "Alright."
He picked up a stone and placed it on the board.
The state of the game shifted in an instant.
Cui Lingyao immediately refocused, her expression turning serious.
After a long moment of contemplation, she finally picked up a stone and placed it.
Shen Tingyu’s eyes never left her. The moment she made her move, he raised an eyebrow slightly and placed his next stone without a second thought.
After a few more exchanges, the black stones began to show signs of defeat.
By the time Cui Lingyao realized what had happened, the situation was irreversible.
She furrowed her brow and glared at the man across from her.
’When he suggested raising the stakes, he had already been digging a trap for her.’
’And he had been completely certain she would fall right into it.’
’So treacherous!’
Her accusatory gaze seemed to spell out those two words, making Shen Tingyu feel a little uncomfortable.
He pursed his lips and gave a light cough. "It was just a narrow victory."
Cui Lingyao: "..."
She looked away and began clearing the pieces from the board.
Shen Tingyu helped her clear the board. Worried she was upset about losing, he consoled her in a low voice, "Your skill is superb. You were just caught off guard for a moment and didn’t see through my strategy."
Cui Lingyao glanced at him. "I’m not angry."
’She could take a loss.’
Shen Tingyu couldn’t hold back a smile. The corner of his eye glanced toward a certain corner as he asked, "How about another round?"
Cui Lingyao gestured toward the sky and politely declined with a shake of her head. "It’s very late. Tomorrow is the day of my mother’s funeral procession, and I have to be up early."
This was true.
As he was leaving, Cui Lingyao walked him to the courtyard gate. Shen Tingyu paused. After a moment’s hesitation, he suddenly leaned in closer and said in a hushed voice, "Even though you two were once husband and wife, you should be mindful of propriety now. Don’t..."