Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 40 Jewelry Box!

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Jewelry Box!

She hadn’t felt this way in a long time.

"Madam, if there’s nothing else, I will step out."

"Mm, go on with your work."

After leaving the study, Nanny Wu went back to her own room.

With silvery-grey hair, she was now 65 years old, her given name being Wu Lifang, and she was currently the eldest person in the Leng Family.

When Grandfather Zishen was alive, she had already been serving the Leng family, tasked with massaging the old master’s legs and taking care of his feet.

Although she had never married and knew very few characters, after the old master’s passing, she single-handedly raised Li Zihan and had been diligently looking after Madam Lai’s daily life over the years.

For this reason, everyone respectfully called her Nanny Wu.

Even though her status was not as high as Nanny Chen’s from Li Garden, she was nevertheless a person of considerable importance in Nanjiang Villa.

Madam Lai trusted her greatly.

The bedroom was dim, and Nanny Wu didn’t turn on the light.

She dragged her heavy steps towards the wardrobe.

After opening the door, in the middle section, there was a locked drawer that was quite spacious but contained only one dark red jewelry box.

Simple and rustic, made of tulipwood.

On the front were several lotus leaves, two budding lotus flowers, and two little carps, created with relief artwork, exquisite in detail, while two fully bloomed twin lotuses adorned the lid of the wooden box.

Nanny Wu didn’t open it; she merely touched the line of small characters on the box, "To hold your hand and grow old with you," then bowed deeply.

When she raised her head, her eyes were moist.

Events from more than two decades ago were vivid in her memory.

A night with endless autumn rain, a helpless young girl...

"Miss Yi, I am sorry."

As she spoke, Nanny Wu gently rolled up the cuff of her shirt and cut a gash in her own arm with a fruit knife with determination.

The aged arm already bore several scars.

Blood started flowing out in an instant...

"Miss Yi, your day of suffering is coming soon. All these years, whenever I think of that incident, my heart feels as if it’s on fire with discomfort."

"I am sorry, please forgive my sins!"

Gradually, the wound stopped bleeding.

Nanny Wu didn’t apply any medicine, just cleaned the surrounding area, then pulled her sleeve back down.

This form of atonement helped alleviate her guilt.

At this moment, there was a knock at the door.

"Nanny Wu, the madam is asking for you."

"I understand."

While responding, Nanny Wu locked the drawer, then tidied her hair now turned white with age, and left the bedroom.

It was already eight o’clock, and other than two servants meticulously cleaning the hall, no one else was allowed to roam freely in Nanjiang Villa.

Madam Lai had poor sleep, and eight o’clock was the cutoff point.

Nanny Wu ascended to the third floor by the stairs.

Before entering, she paused to consider for a moment, guessing that perhaps it was something to do with Lin Ping.

The door was ajar, the light inside soft and gentle.

"Come in."

The voice sounded very tender; it seemed her mood was good—perhaps Madam had come to a realization?

Nanny Wu’s brows gradually relaxed as she pushed the door open and entered.

"Madam, did you call for me?"

"Get some wine, and some cucumbers too, and don’t let anyone see you."

Nanny Wu looked towards the balcony in surprise.

She saw Madam Lai lying sideways on a lounger, her back turned, her whole figure appearing extremely slender.

She had been insisting on a vegetarian diet for many years.

Even when the family doctor emphasized during check-ups that it was essential to include lean meats appropriately for health benefits, Madam Lai always ignored such advice, continuing as she always had.

Zishen was also troubled by this.

Several cooks had come and gone in Nanjiang Villa, none capable of whetting Madam Lai’s appetite.

Drinking alcohol?

That was strictly forbidden by the doctor!

"Madam, what is this about..."

"Suddenly felt like having a drink, quickly go fetch it."

Nanny Wu didn’t immediately leave but was ready to persuade further, only for Madam Lai to speak again: "Oh right, Nanny Wu, bring a plate of beef too. I haven’t eaten much and suddenly fancy some."

Nanny Wu: "..."

Madam Lai: "Why aren’t you going?"

"Yes, Madam."

The solid wood door closed slowly, and Nanny Wu left the third floor with a heavy heart.

All the way down, she was troubled by the sudden request for alcohol and beef.

...

Li Garden.

Li Zishen had a lot of things to deal with today, so he went to the corporate building right after dinner.

At this moment in the study, it was pitch-dark.

Tang Xiaowan tiptoed in through the door.

Indeed, she found what she wanted on the desk, a small pig wood carving.

After taking a few photos, she carefully put it back in its place.

Upon leaving, she hummed a little tune, nervously afraid that Li Zishen might suddenly come back at that moment.

"Hey, stop right there!"

Tang Xiaowan: "..."

"Skulking around, where did you go?"

Tang Xiaowan turned around slowly, replying with a grin: "I was just checking to see if your brother came back."

"Oh, so you were looking for him?"

"I was thinking of going out for a stroll this weekend, so I came over to ask ahead of time..."

"Going back to Mei Garden?"

Tang Xiaowan: "..."

Li Zihan smirked mischievously, "I guessed right, didn’t I?"

Actually, Tang Xiaowan had just made up an excuse for herself on the spot, not expecting that Li Zihan would be so astute to directly guess her plan for a few days later.

"How do you know about Mei Garden? What did your brother tell you, what exactly did he say?"

Tang Xiaowan looked so desperate and anxious, it dawned on Li Zihan that he’d said something wrong and forgotten his brother Li Zishen’s admonition.

About Mei Garden, not a single word was to be mentioned.

Li Zishen had told his brother so that he would understand there was a puppet master hiding in the shadows, ready to emerge at any time.

Tang Xiaowan’s safety was only guaranteed within Jin City.

Since those masked figures could bypass all surveillance and reach the study, this meant they knew Mei Garden like the back of their hand.

Therefore, it was too dangerous for Tang Xiaowan to return to Mei Garden casually.

"Spill it! What else is there?"

Seeing Tang Xiaowan growing more anxious, Li Zihan hurriedly continued: "Oh, it’s like this, I heard from my brother that you are from Qingcheng, and where you live is called Mei Garden, that’s all I know, what’s wrong?"

"Oh, it’s nothing."

It was a well-known fact to everyone in Li Garden, truly nothing to make a fuss about.

Oh yes, and that old man, Second Uncle Lai!

Such a wicked move, stirring things up over the internet!

But since he knew, then Li Zishen’s mother definitely knew too.

At that thought, Tang Xiaowan felt slightly awkward.

"You go on, I’ll head downstairs first."

"Hey, wait for me."

Tang Xiaowan stopped in her tracks, her lips curving into a slight smile: "Please, be clear, this is the fourth floor. I don’t take the elevator, I use the stairs."

"No problem, no problem, consider it exercising."

"Oh, alright then, suit yourself!"

The two of them chatted and walked down until they reached the stairwell on the second floor, when Tang Xiaowan suddenly remembered the fainting incident from the night before.

Although she had some recollection, it was all a blur, so she raised her doubt.

Li Zihan didn’t hide a thing.

From brother Li Zishen carrying Tang Xiaowan back to her bedroom, to Li Weilian treating her with acupuncture, and to Nanny Chen spoon-feeding her half a bowl of herbal medicine.

He recounted everything vividly, as if he were a storyteller.