The Eldest Young Master’s Gentle Wife (10)
Jiang Zhe chuckled lightly.
He withdrew his hand and placed the cup on the table. Circling around the table, he lightly pulled out a chair with both hands, before turning to face Li Cai Wei, not saying a word during the whole process.
Jiang Zhe stood upright with one hand behind his back, and patted the back of the chair with his other hand, “Take a seat.”
Li Cai Wei: “No need, I-”
Jiang Zhe locked eyes with her, his gaze soft, his eyes deep like a clear midsummer night sky, full of twinkling stars.
Jiang Zhe: “I saw it, your ankles are red.”
Li Cai Wei looked down, and sure enough it was red and swollen.
Li Cai Wei: “That, I, I accidentally bumped into something when I was out, it's nothing.”
Jiang Zhe’s eyes turned dark. Walking forward two steps, he stretched out his arms. Li Cai Wei only felt that the sky was spinning, before her entire body fell into a warm embrace, the honey locust scent on the man's body enveloping her.
Her cheeks turned red as she struggled to get down.
Jiang Zhe lowered his head to look at her and whispered: “Don’t move.”
Li Cai Wei really didn’t move, her entire body extremely stiff.
She didn't even dare to blink.
Jiang Zhe's gaze lowered, hiding the amusement in his eyes, and gently placed her on the wooden chair. Crouching down, he gently took off her high heels.
Li Cai Wei couldn't hold back a moan.
Jiang Zhe looked up: “Hurts a lot?”
Li Cai Wei: “No.” Under Jiang Zhe’s compelling gaze, she mumbled: “A little bit.”
Jiang Zhe looked into her eyes, “First time wearing?”
Li Cai Wei: “En, en.”
“Because Father doesn’t like western clothes.” Li Cai Wei added on another sentence uneasily.
That's why, at that time, even though she liked it and could afford it, she still didn't dare to buy it.
She remembered there was a time where she and her friends, chasing after new and fashionable items, bought a western-style fountain pen. After her father found out, he was so angry he smashed the pen into pieces. If not for her mother and brother desperately holding him back, she would have been beaten harshly. But even though she escaped a beating, she was still punished by her father to kneel in the ancestral hall for the entire day, and had to rest for a month to recover.
Today, she originally didn’t want to wear high-heeled shoes. It was only because Cui Xi said, “Women outside usually wear cheongsam with high-heeled shoes.” So she changed at the last minute.
Right now, it was clear that her idea had backfired. Li Cai Wei was frustrated. Indeed, every time she was in front of Jiang Zhe, she could only lose face.
Jiang Zhe noticed her change in mood, and thoughtfully said: “Most people are not used to wearing high heels the first time. I rarely see women who, wearing high heels for the first time, can still be so elegant.”
Li Cai Wei's heart missed a beat, incredulously looking at Jiang Zhe, only to see the man had lowered his head to gently massage her ankles. From her line of sight, she could only see the man's straight nose, and beautiful curved lips.
Jiang Zhe massaged it tentatively for a while, before withdrawing his hand, his forehead wrinkled, “Your ankle is very swollen. It will need some tincture. Wait here.”
He got up and walked out. Li Cai Wei faintly heard him instructing Shui Gen: “Go… take … tincture… apply.”
Shui Gen ran off, and quickly came back with a bottle in his hand.
Jiang Zhe received the bottle and closed the door again.
Li Cai Wei guessed what he was going to do, feeling happiness in her heart, but also a sense of unreality.
Li Cai Wei: “I, I can do it myself.”
Jiang Zhe gave her a look and did not speak.
Li Cai Wei was extremely awkward. She watched with opened eyes as Jiang Zhe once again squatted down in front of her.
Jiang Zhe: “You can't control the strength.”
Li Cai Wei: “Wha, what?”
After a while, she finally responded to Jiang Zhe's meaning. After that, an acute pain in her ankle flared up, and she couldn't resist sucking in a breath in surprise: “Pain.” At the same time, her hands subconsciously tightly grasped Jiang Zhe’s shoulder.
Jiang Zhe frowned, but let it be.
Using the pain from his shoulder, he gauged the pain that Li Cai Wei was experiencing.
Fifteen minutes later, Jiang Zhe withdrew his hand. Li Cai Wei fell softly back on the chair, cold sweat soaking her body.
Jiang Zhe wanted to wipe her sweat, only to find that his hands were covered in the tincture. As such, he ordered Shui Gen: “Serve the water.”
Shui Gen replied loudly outside the door: “Yes.”
After Jiang Zhe’s washed his hands clean, he conveniently helped Li Cai Wei to wipe her face. He stopped Cui Xi as she was going out, “Next time, support Young Mistress more when she wears high heels.”
Cui Xi nodded, stunned.
Jiang Zhe: ………
Jiang Zhe: “Forget it.”
Cui Xi's face was blank. What does the Eldest Young Master mean?
From this day onwards, the people of the Jiang estate found that the Eldest Young Master came back earlier and earlier. Every day, Jiang Zhe would always go back to see Mother Jiang first, or eat a light meal, or talk, occasionally sending some small trinkets, saying "They were picked by Li Cai Wei, not knowing if Mother likes it or not."
Mother Jiang was too happy, how could she not like? After many of such incidents, she also let down her guard towards Li Cai Wei.
After the sky turned dark, Jiang Zhe returned to his own courtyard, sometimes in the study, sometimes in the main hall. Without exception, he will always ask Shui Gen to send a message. “Let Young Mistress send some snacks/tea, etc.”
Li Cai Wei held a bowl of bird’s nest and walked into the study. Because of Shui Gen's message, the people in the house knew that it was prepared by Young Mistress for Eldest Young Master, so the servants would always prepare good ingredients.
Jiang Zhe waved Shui Gen away, closed the door, took out a book and sat down, casually saying: “I have no appetite. You drink the bird’s nest.”
Li Cai Wei: “Ah?”
Jiang Zhe eyes didn't leave the book, patiently repeating: “I let you drink the bird’s nest.”
Li Cai Wei: “But, this is for you.”
Jiang Zhe: “I don’t want to drink.”
Li Cai Wei: “Then I'll let Cui Xi return it to the kitchen.”
Jiang Zhe suddenly put down the book and walked to her. As he passed by the table, he picked up the bird’s nest, stirred it with a spoon and stood before her, saying: “Open your mouth.”
Li Cai Wei subconsciously followed, a spoonful of bird's nest suddenly fed into her mouth.
Li Cai Wei: *Cough, cough* “…Jiang”
Jiang Zhe: “Swallow, then talk.”
Li Cai Wei did as told, “Jiang…” *Cough, cough*
With a few repeats of this scene, the bowl of bird's nest had finished.
Li Cai Wei was a bit sullen, “That bird's nest was for you to eat, but now you've given it to me. If Mother knew, she would be unhappy."
Jiang Zhe still sported a cold look, but looking closer, laughter faintly flashed through his eyes, “Then don’t let Mother know.”
Li Cai Wei: “But”
Jiang Zhe: “I remember that you don’t really know how to walk in high heels. Let’s practice now. I will help to observe and correct you.”
Li Cai Wei’s face was slightly red, but still helplessly nodded to Jiang Zhe’s serious face.
Jiang Zhe supported her, “Yes, don’t take too big a step. Stick out your chest, raise your head, straighten your knees and take small steps.”
He was like a teacher teaching toddlers to walk, patient and gentle.
Li Cai Wei subconsciously followed his pace, following Jiang Zhe's words and adjusting her posture step by step. Compared to her private practice, it was much easier, and the results were gratifying.
She looked at the gentle man under the light. In a moment of fascination, she didn't pay attention to her feet, and her body suddenly tilted to one side.
Jiang Zhe hugged her in time, his eyes showing obvious concern. She heard him ask, “Are you alright?”
———————
TN: Hi guys, I don’t know the onomatopoeia for coughing so *cough cough*
I’m not sure why this chapter took so long to translate, I think it’s been 2 hours? Double the time I usually take. Anyway, my brain’s tired right now. I know I usually post more but this is probably going to be the last one for the day. I’ll have this whole arc out by the end of this week, though (20 chapters in total – we’re now halfway into the first arc, yay!)
On a side note, I like how the relationship is developing in this chapter, so sweet, though I’m still confused about Jiang Zhe’s opinion of Li Cai Wei. He’s so hot and cold that its confusing.