NOVEL WEB Chapter 4: The Shen Family
“What’s wrong with you?” Seeing her daughter frowning, Madam Sui asked her.
Pouting, Liu Jiyu raised her head to look at her mother and said, “Mother, I have been too harsh on third brother Mei in the past. I want to be good to him.”
However, hearing that confession from her daughter, Madam Sui couldn’t help but laugh out loud, tapping Liu Jiyu on the forehead with her index finger she said, “You have the nerve to say that now. You have always been arrogant and indifferent to others. He has sent you so many things, and you didn’t even bother to return the favor. Not only that, you often looked at him coldly. It’s lucky for you that he is good-natured. If it were someone else, they wouldn’t bother with you at all. What, you’ve only just realized this now?”
Liu Jiyu’s face turned red with embarrassment as she nodded silently, then she hurriedly asked, “Mother, how should I be good to him?”
“That’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself.”
Madam Sui didn’t plan to intervene in her affairs. She would merely observe how her spoiled daughter would solve them.
The little girl responded with an “Oh” and then snuggled back into Madam Sui’s arms as she was deep in thought.
***
Liu Jiyu’s thirteenth birthday was approaching. It was on the twenty-eighth of May, which meant there were only a few days left. Madam Sui suggested that Liu Jiyu send invitations to her close girl friends, asking them to come to her birthday banquet.
In the Bamboo Dew hall of the Liu residence, girls and young masters from both the Liu and Mei families were gathered, chatting together.
“Hey, did you invite Sister Mu as well?”
“Ah! And Jiaojiao.”
“And, and…”
Unable to bear it any longer, Liu Jiyu stuffed a piece of cake into Yunrumei’s mouth and glared at her, “Be quiet, will you? Whose birthday is it, mine or yours?”
“I think Meimei is just worried about you,” Mei Jianxue said with a smile, casting a look at Liu Jiyu.
Mei Jinyan also looked at her, asking, “Yinyin, what do you want for your birthday gift? Big brother will buy it for you.”
“Or if you have any wishes, second brother can help make them come true,” Mei Shenxing also said with a smile, looking at Liu Jiyu.
Liu Jiluan rubbed the girl’s head, turned to the two, and said with a smile, “The two young masters need not trouble themselves. Don’t spoil Yinyin too much. Later, she’ll become increasingly arrogant.”
Liu Jiyu pouted but didn’t say anything, acknowledging that she had indeed been overly spoiled before.
Suddenly, Yunrumei exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention. “Yinyin, why didn’t you invite the Shen family?”
Liu Jiluan was taken aback as she looked at Liu Jiyu with a hint of confusion. Logically, the first person to be invited should have been Shen Zhizhi, as in the eyes of others, Shen Zhizhi and Liu Jiyu were the closest friends. Even Yunrumei might have to take a back seat.
After all, everyone knew that Liu Jiyu was fond of Shen Huan.
Seeing her silence, Yunrumei’s eyes twinkled, and with a mischievous smile, she hooked her arm around Liu Jiyu’s neck, saying, “I get it now, do you want to go invite her in person?”
When it came to Shen Zhizhi, Liu Jiyu’s heart was filled with resentment. In her past life, she had died of illness in the Shen family, and Shen Zhizhi had played a role in that. To think Liu Jiyu had considered her a close friend, it was hilarious.
Why did Shen Zhizhi want to harm Liu Jiyu? Liu Jiyu only found out shortly before her death in her previous life that Shen Zhizhi had harbored affection for her own brother, Shen Huan. It was both ridiculous and disgusting.
Coming back to her senses, Liu Jiyu knew she couldn’t just sever ties with the Shen family all at once, as that would surely raise suspicions.
“I didn’t write it? Then just add it.” The girl’s demeanor was indifferent, as if she didn’t take Shen Zhizhi to heart at all.
Yunrumei, however, sized her up and down, making Liu Jiyu feel uncomfortable, “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“You, not long ago I saw you quite enjoyed her company, how come today your tone seems like your affection has disappeared into thin air?”
Liu Jiyu scoffed, nonchalantly saying, “A gentleman’s friendship is as mild as water, isn’t it? Does it have to be all dramatic?” Hearing this, everyone present laughed.
Yunrumei was amused, “I’m having a serious conversation with you, and here you are, joking with me.”
Liu Jiyu huffed, “What I said is the truth, how can it be considered joking?”
Mei Jinyan looked at the two girls bantering before asking Liu Jiyu gently to soothe the tension,”What books are you reading these days?”
Liu Jiyu felt somewhat embarrassed, but she managed to answer, “I’m quite naughty. I rarely read books, but I do read some story books.”
When she was young, Liu Jiyu didn’t like reading at all. However, after marrying into the Shen family, she began reading books every day and gradually realized the wonders within them and later became fond of them.
Liu Jiluan poked her head with her index finger, “I didn’t want to mention it, but here you are, all grown up, yet hardly seen in the ancestral school these days.”
“I’ll start going there tomorrow then,” Liu Jiyu said. In this lifetime, she also wanted to go to school. Her statement drew many curious glances from those in the room.
Liu Jiyu was puzzled with the gazes which were thrown at her, “Why are you all looking at me like this?”
Yunrumei stared at her with a puzzled expression, “Liu Yinyin, why are you acting so strangely?”
Liu Jiyu felt uneasy inside but said, “How am I acting strangely? Is it really so strange for me to want to go to school?”
Liu Jiluan chuckled, “It’s not really strange, but considering the fact that you’ve never been fond of reading, your actions today are indeed surprising.”
Liu Jiyu looked at her sister and smiled, “You guys just think I’ve changed. I don’t. I just find it boring hanging around the courtyard, so I thought I’d go check out the ancestral school.”
Everyone laughed again at her answer.
Yunrumei pointed at her with one hand and held her stomach with the other, seemingly amused. “I was wondering about your change, but after hearing that last part, I realized you haven’t changed at all. You’re still the same as before.”
Liu Jiluan also chuckled, “If you want to go, then go, but don’t disturb the teachers and sisters in the ancestral school, understood?”
Liu Jiyu nodded eagerly, “Understood, understood.”
With this thought in mind, Liu Jiluan suddenly remembered an issue. The ancestral school’s classroom was located in the courtyard at the back of the street, and unfortunately, there were many dogs in the back street. Liu Jiyu was extremely afraid of dogs, and the maidservants couldn’t be relied upon. What should they do?
Liu Jiluan glanced at everyone present, while forming a plan in her mind. “Third Young Master Mei, there’s something I’d like to ask of you. Would you be willing to listen to my request of favor?”
Mei Shuyu raised his eyes and looked at her, then he said calmly, “You may speak.”
After pondering for a moment, Liu Jiluan continued, “Yinyin will be going to the ancestral school tomorrow, and it’s located in the back street where there are many dogs. Yinyin has always been afraid of dogs. I wonder if you could help to escort her to the ancestral school? Your courtyard is close by, and you’re close with her.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Jiyu nearly jumped off her seat. Mei Shuyu would escort her to school???
“Sister, I don’t want to!” she protested.
Liu Jiluan glared at her. “So you’d rather face the dogs alone?”
Liu Jiyu shrank back. She was indeed extremely afraid of dogs, but… she was even more afraid of Mei Shuyu…
Seeing her refusal, Mei Shuyu’s gaze darkened, but he remained silent. Seeing his reaction, Liu Jiluan said, “If you find it difficult, then forget it. I’ll find someone else.”
“Not difficult.” Mei Shuyu said. Liu Jiyu looked as if she had seen a ghost, while staring at the young man. Wasn’t it him who wanted to distance himself from her the other day?
Liu Jiluan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. “Well then, thank you very much, third Young Master Mei”
Mei Shuyu remained silent, only shaking his head without saying a word.