Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 795 - 993

Chapter 795: Chapter 993

"Kindly follow me, please!" The shopkeeper led the way up a wooden staircase.

The dumpling shop was just a small place, with a wooden staircase that could only accommodate two people going up and down. Because they needed to leave room for people coming down from upstairs, everyone lined up to ascend.

Zhao Minhua was at the front, with Xiao’er following behind her, Fu Ranhui afterwards, and Zhao Youwei bringing up the rear.

Zhao Minhua was almost at the top of the stairs when a waiter carrying a large soup basin came down. Seeing the shopkeeper leading people upstairs, he waited at the side of the stairs, planning to go down only after they had all ascended.

Two frolicking children emerged from the second floor corridor and were running down the stairs. One of them, too excited, bumped into the waiter.

The contents of the waiter’s basin—a few dumplings and a lot of soup—splattered towards Xiao’er and her company.

Zhao Minhua hurried up, while Xiao’er realized she couldn’t avoid the splashed soup. Moving forward put her more in path of the soup splash, and there were people behind her, so she quickly raised sleeve to shield her face.

Seeing this, Zhao Youwei leapt up three steps to shield Xiao’er.

Most of the leftover dumplings and soup landed on his back, with a little bit splattering on Fu Ranhui’s face and hair.

The shopkeeper quickly apologized and scolded the waiter, "I am sorry, esteemed guests, I really am. How much was your clothing? I’ll reimburse you for it! What were you thinking, waiter? Couldn’t you give way to the incoming guests? Look at you! You’ve covered our customers with dumpling soup; can you pay for this?"

The waiter, frightened, also hurriedly bowed in apology, "I’m sorry, customer, I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose."

The two mischievous children, seeing the trouble they’d caused, scampered back to their parents in the private room, too scared to emerge again.

"Those two naughty kids are so annoying! They caused this and didn’t even apologize. Just ran off! Whose unruly children are these?" Zhao Minhua exclaimed indignantly.

Xiao’er lowered her arm and, seeing Zhao Youwei had taken the brunt of the soup spill for her, asked, "Mr. Zhao, does the soup burn? Did you get scalded?"

"It’s alright, it doesn’t burn." Zhao Youwei shook his head as he used his sleeve to wipe off the soup dripping down his neck.

Fortunately, the soup had been left over from a customer’s meal and had already cooled. Otherwise, it would have been a painful experience.

Seeing this, Xiao’er took out a handkerchief and handed it to Zhao Youwei, "Mr. Zhao, you can use this to clean up!"

"Thank you." Zhao Youwei thanked her as he grabbed the handkerchief and proceeded to wipe away the soup on his neck.

Fu Ranhui extended a handkerchief towards Zhao Youwei too, but upon seeing Xiao’er’s action, she quietly pulled it back.

Zhao Minhua happened to see this and instructed, "Princess, would you please help my elder brother wipe off the soup on his back!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Ranhui prepared to use her handkerchief to clean Zhao Youwei’s back.

"No need, I’ll go home and change." Zhao Youwei shook his head, declining her offer.

"Sir, how much was your clothing? I’ll pay for it!" The waiter tentatively offered, though the thought pained him.

"There’s no need for that, it isn’t your fault." Zhao Youwei gently shook his head, then turned to Xiao’er and Fu Ranhui, "Princess Rui, Princess, I shall return to change my clothes. Please excuse me."

"Let’s leave as well! Princess has soup stains too, and my sleeves also got a bit damp." Xiao’er, feeling uncomfortable from the smell of dumplings, suggested.

"Alright, let’s go!" Although Zhao Minhua was the only one who had managed to avoid the mess, since everyone else had soup stains, she couldn’t possibly stay and eat dumplings on her own.

The shopkeeper and the waiter saw them out, constantly bowing and thanking them, "Thank you so much, you are truly kind people!"

Once Xiao’er returned home, she went to the bathroom for a shower, washing her hair as well.

Shangguan Xuanyi came in and, seeing her taking a bath, asked curiously, "Why are you taking a bath at this time?"

He moved closer, took the towel from her, and helped wipe her wet hair.

"Don’t even ask. We were out eating dumplings earlier, and I was nearly drenched in dumpling soup."

"What happened? Were you scalded? Where did the soup splash?" Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyi anxiously started to check Xiao’er for any injuries.

Xiao’er quickly grabbed his hand, "It’s okay, Young Master Zhao took the brunt of the splash. Just a bit of soup got on my sleeve. Luckily, the soup had already cooled, otherwise Young Master Zhao would have been injured."

"Zhao Youwei? How did you run into him?" Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t hide the hint of sourness in his voice, as he hadn’t forgotten how unusual the other man’s gaze towards his darling had been.

Xiao’er tugged at the towel in Shangguan Xuanyi’s hand, indicating him to continue drying her hair, "The Princess invited me to the cloth shop to buy fabric. She wants to make clothes for Young Master Zhao. Speaking of which, since Zhao Youwei took the dumpling soup splash for me, I should thank him with a change of clothes."

Xiao’er briefly explained the situation.

Upon hearing this, the sourness in Shangguan Xuanyi’s heart intensified, and he couldn’t suppress his jealousy any longer, "No! Next time, you’re not to pick fabric for any man other than me. Actually, not just fabric, anything at all! And absolutely no giving clothes to any other man. Giving anything to any other man is out of question."

Xiao’er realized the jealousy emanating from him and turned, "What’s the matter? Are you stewing in jealousy? It’s only normal to show gratitude to someone who has helped me. Your jealousy is groundless! Besides, he’s already engaged."

Of course, Shangguan Xuanyi would not reveal his rival’s feelings to Xiao’er. It was a man’s instinct to be protective.

"I will thank him. If he’s helped you, it’s as if he’s helped me. After all, you are my woman!"

"That will do." Xiao’er didn’t object to that. After all, a wife and husband are as one; it doesn’t matter who gives the thanks."

Xiao’er, having just taken a bath, was gentle and fragrant, which stirred up Shangguan Xuanyi’s desires. With his inner strength, he quickly dried Xiao’er’s hair, then picked her up and made for the bed.

"Wait, I’m hungry; I haven’t eaten lunch yet!"

"I’m hungry too. Let me feed you!" Shangguan Xuanyi suggested, his intent clear.

...

When Zhao Youwei arrived home, after taking a shower and washing his hair, he looked at the handkerchief on top of his dirty clothes and picked it up. He could faintly smell a hint of fragrance, along with the scent of dumplings.

He regretted using it to wipe off the soup from his neck. He had barely started using it when he’d noticed the unique and delightful fragrance, which was coming from her.

He decided not to use the handkerchief any further, and hurriedly left.

Zhao Youwei carefully washed the handkerchief himself, then left it to dry on the windowsill of his study.

Once the handkerchief was completely dry, he picked it up, sniffed it, but the fragrant smell had disappeared. He neatly folded the handkerchief, placed it in an exquisite wooden box, then tucked the box away in a drawer before he left the study.