His eyebrows were as delicate as a painting, and his eyes were like twinkling stars.
His tall and straight figure leaned against the doorframe.
Wasn't this the very person Ruan Jiu had been longing for day and night?
Ruan Jiu trotted forward, staring at Xie Jingchu intently with her big, bright eyes that sparkled with excitement.
Xie Jingchu's eyes curved into a charming arc. He reached out his hand and lovingly pulled Ruan Jiu into his arms.
Just then, Shen Yu gave a light cough.
Ruan Jiu shyly buried her face in Xie Jingchu's chest.
She whispered, "Let go of me quickly. Big brother is still here."
Xie Jingchu seemed not to hear her. Instead, he tightened his hold on her.
After such a long separation, he wished he could meld Ruan Jiu into his very being.
Shen Yu beside them simply couldn't bear to watch any longer.
He stood up, scratched his head, and said, "Well, I'll leave so as not to disturb you two."
It was only after a long while that Xie Jingchu finally let go of Ruan Jiu.
Looking at her blushing face, which was incredibly cute, he couldn't tear his eyes away for a single moment.
Feeling Xie Jingchu's burning gaze on her, Ruan Jiu covered her face and shyly lowered her head. "Why do you keep looking at me?"
Xie Jingchu hooked the corner of his lips. "My A Jiu is so cute. I just want to take a bite."
Ruan Jiu buried her head even lower and bit her lip. "You're so shameless!"
Suddenly, Ruan Jiu remembered that before Xie Jingchu showed up, she and Shen Yu were talking about investigating Xie Jingchu's background. She wondered if Xie Jingchu had heard their conversation.
So, she looked up at Xie Jingchu. "You haven't told me yet. Why did you suddenly come to the capital?"
Xie Jingchu replied, "If I hadn't come, I was afraid my future wife would be snatched away by someone else."
Seeing that Xie Jingchu looked normal, as if he hadn't heard the conversation between her and Shen Yu, Ruan Jiu secretly let out a sigh of relief.
"What are you talking nonsense about?"
"This time, Shen Yu was forced to marry someone else. Maybe next time it will be your turn. So I had to come and take you back quickly!"
Although Xie Jingchu said these words with a smile on his face, they were exactly what Ruan Jiu was worried about.
They failed to achieve their goal this time. Maybe they would set their sights on her in the future.
"Okay. Let's go and tell mother and the others that we'll set off for Qinzhou tomorrow."
When Qin Shuang saw Xie Jingchu, she was very enthusiastic and kept bustling around to make tea and pour water.
However, Shen Wenshan didn't seem to be in a good mood.
He gave Xie Jingchu a cold look and said, "I wonder what brings Young Master Xie here?"
His tone was full of estrangement.
Xie Jingchu gave a faint smile and said respectfully, "Uncle Shen, just call me Jingchu."
After a pause, he continued, "Now that the matter of the Shen family has been resolved, I'm here specifically to take A Jiu back to Qinzhou."
Hearing this, Shen Wenshan shot a sharp look at him and snorted. "You want to take my daughter away as soon as you come? Don't even think about it!"
When they were in Qinzhou before, he had already noticed that the relationship between Xie Jingchu and Ruan Jiu was extraordinary.
Although Xie Jingchu was a capable and smart person who was also good to Ruan Jiu, he still felt unhappy when he heard that Xie Jingchu wanted to take Ruan Jiu away. So his tone became harsher.
"Father!" Seeing Shen Wenshan's fierce expression, Ruan Jiu immediately said, "I originally planned to go back to Qinzhou after big brother got married."
"Qinzhou is no match for the capital! Tomorrow I'll take you to the Shen family's shops. You can choose any one you like, and I'll give it to you." Shen Wenshan tried to persuade her.
Ruan Jiu smiled. She knew that Shen Wenshan was reluctant to let her go.
"The capital is indeed a good place, but this is not a good time to stay here. After all, you don't want to see me end up like big brother, do you?"
Ruan Jiu's words made Shen Wenshan's eyes darken.
They were lucky this time. If Shen Yu had really married the eldest daughter of the Zhou family, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Qin Shuang also understood these principles, but she just couldn't bear to part with Ruan Jiu.
But what could she do?
If the Shen family failed to protect Ruan Jiu, she would probably regret it for the rest of her life.
Qin Shuang's mouth drooped. "A Jiu, can you stay until after the New Year?"
Seeing the anticipation in Qin Shuang's eyes, Ruan Jiu calculated that there were only about half a month left until the New Year.
She finally couldn't bear to refuse.
She said with a smile, "Okay."
The New Year's Eve dinner of the Shen family this year was extremely lively.
It was not only because Shen Yu had taken a concubine but also because of the presence of Ruan Jiu, the apple of their eye.
Qin Shuang couldn't wait to put all the dishes into Ruan Jiu's bowl.
Shen Yu pretended to be angry and complained that Qin Shuang was being partial, which made everyone burst into laughter.
Looking at the mountain of food in her bowl, Ruan Jiu felt a flood of emotions.
Although in previous years at the New Year's Eve dinner of the Xie family, Ruan Jiu had sat at the same table with the Xie family members as if she were one of them, this time she truly felt the sense of family reunion.
No wonder people said that blood relations were special. This feeling was really wonderful.
It was not only hard to part with but also made people want to get closer and closer.
She even became a bit greedy for the warmth in it.
"How old are you, Jingchu?"
Qin Shuang's words pulled Ruan Jiu back from her thoughts.
Xie Jingchu replied, "I'll be twenty-two soon."
Qin Shuang sized up Xie Jingchu carefully. At his age, it was quite rare for a man not to be married yet.
It was obvious that Xie Jingchu was truly in love with Ruan Jiu.
Although people said that Xie Jingchu was ruthless and eccentric in his actions, in Qin Shuang's eyes, he was extremely attentive to her daughter.
She would naturally feel at ease entrusting Ruan Jiu to him.
So, Qin Shuang glanced at Ruan Jiu and said with a smile, "A Jiu will be seventeen next year. It's time for her to get married."
As soon as she said this, Ruan Jiu almost choked.
She coughed violently several times and drank all the water in her teacup before she could calm down.
She shyly lowered her head and let out a soft cry, "Mother! What are you talking nonsense about!"
Shen Yu and Zhou Zhaodi beside them exchanged a look and then both pursed their lips and snickered.
Only Shen Wenshan looked unhappy. He snorted and said, "Yes, A Jiu is still young. It's not too late for her to get married in three or five years."
"Three or five years?" Qin Shuang exclaimed.
Then she put down her chopsticks and immediately grabbed Shen Wenshan's ear. "Do you want A Jiu to become an old maid?"
Shen Wenshan covered his ear and said with an embarrassed smile, "Madam, please let go first. There are so many young people watching. Please give me some face."
It was said that Shen Wenshan doted on his wife. Today, Ruan Jiu finally witnessed it.
However, Shen Yu looked as if he was used to it.
Qin Shuang let go of Shen Wenshan's ear, crossed her arms, and stared at him.
Shen Wenshan rubbed his ear and said cautiously, "I just can't bear to let A Jiu get married so early."
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu put down his chopsticks and held Ruan Jiu's hand.
He looked at Shen Wenshan and his wife seriously and said solemnly, "Whether it's three years, five years, or ten years, twenty years, I'm willing to wait.
As long as A Jiu can marry me!
I swear that in this lifetime, I will only love A Jiu."
Ruan Jiu suddenly raised her head.
Meeting Xie Jingchu's sincere and passionate gaze, her heart skipped a beat.
Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she quickly buried her head.
Loving only one person in a lifetime.
Could it be that he heard what she said to Shen Yu?