Chapter 107 [Rebirth Side Story] Xue Lingyu returned to three years ago...

Chapter 9 [Rebirth Side Story] Xue Lingyu returned to three years ago...

When Xue Lingyu woke up, he found himself back three years in the past. At that time, Jiang He had not yet publicly expressed her feelings for him at the banquet, and he had not humiliated her or broken her heart. Everything was still in time.

Both his mother and father held deep prejudices against merchant families. Even though the Jiang family was the richest family in the capital, in their eyes, they were still not good enough for the eldest son of a noble family.

Xue Lingyu knew that if he couldn't persuade his mother and father, he would likely have to wait for Jiang He to return from Wudu City, just like before, before he could serve Jiang He as a concubine.

He didn't want Jiang He to suffer so much anymore; he wanted to become her rightful husband when she was seventeen.

However, it was three years later that the Jiang family became imperial merchants, and Jiang He took over the business and gained the emperor's favor. At that time, Jiang He was still a disgrace to the capital, spending his days idly, sightseeing, and doing nothing of substance.

In any case, Xue Lingyi would not agree to Jiang He's marriage proposal.

Since that's the case, Xue Lingyu decided to be willful this once. He had never had the courage before, valuing his pride above all else, but Jiang He had done so much for him and suffered so much, so he had to do something in return.

He went out at the time he remembered and was indeed attracted by a jewelry shop along the street. He knew that this was the Jiang family's shop. It was through this shop that Jiang He had schemed to get the red jade hairpin into his hands. She never appeared from beginning to end. Xue Lingyu only found out about this a long time after she got it.

Seeing that his gaze was fixed on the red jade agate hairpin, the shopkeeper immediately stepped forward and said, "Young Master Xue, this hairpin is made of agate produced in Nandong County and crafted by skilled artisans. It is the only one of its kind in the capital and is a perfect match for you."

Xue Lingyu nodded. "It looks very nice. Please wrap it up for me."

The shopkeeper was surprised that the young master's instructions had been completed so quickly, and that Xue Lingyu hadn't even asked the price before so easily asking for it, which meant she really liked it.

Such high-quality agate would be highly sought after outside, fetching at least a thousand taels of silver. Yet, it was sold to Xue Lingyu for only ten taels.

If Jiang He hadn't been afraid that Xue Lingyu wouldn't accept the gift if she delivered it herself, she would have given him such a precious gift without taking a single penny.

She wanted to give her beloved something, but she still had to go through all sorts of roundabout ways. Although Jiang He felt depressed, there was nothing she could do. She secretly watched Xue Lingyu from inside, afraid of disturbing him.

The kite she gave him had already been torn up, and she didn't want the hairpin to be destroyed as well.

Just as Xue Lingyu was about to leave, he caught a glimpse of a corner of clothing in the inner room of the shop. He immediately recognized it as Jiang He. So she was actually watching from inside.

Xue Lingyu recalled that because of his elders, he had always deliberately kept his distance from Jiang He, and had even taken a detour several times when he saw her, which made Jiang He afraid to come out and see him.

Since Jiang He isn't coming out, he'll go in.

"Manager, I've heard that you sell rare and precious items in your inner room. I'm quite curious." Without waiting for a reply, Xue Lingyu left her personal attendant outside and went inside, lifting the curtain.

The shopkeeper tried to stop her but it was too late, and Jiang He had nowhere to hide, just as her eyes met Xue Lingyu's.

"Young Master Xue..." Jiang He's face immediately turned red, and she stammered, not knowing what to say. She was also worried that if she was caught like this, would Xue Lingyu hate her even more?

"Why are you blushing?" Xue Lingyu subconsciously reached out to touch her, but saw that Jiang He was stunned. Thinking that the two of them were no longer husband and wife as before, and could not be so intimate, Xue Lingyu restrained herself.

The current Jiang He is not as mature, composed, and shrewd as she was when they first met. She is still a naive girl, full of joy and trying every means to please her sweetheart. She wants to get close to him, but she is also afraid of displeasing him. Her inner conflict is clearly written on her face.

Xue Lingyu took out the red jade and agate hairpin and said sincerely, "I really like this hairpin, thank you."

Jiang He was somewhat surprised, "Young Master Xue knows it was me who sent it?"

She hid it so well, and the shopkeeper didn't give anything away, so how could Xue Lingyu be so clever as to guess it right away?

Xue Lingyu nodded and said softly, "I like it very much because it was given to me by you."

Jiang He's eyes immediately lit up. "You don't hate me anymore?"

The things she sent to Xue Lingyu in her own name were either returned or met the same fate as the paper mandarin duck. Over time, she thought that Xue Lingyu would never accept anything she sent again, and that he would not want to see her anymore.

"I've never disliked you, Jiang He. I didn't tear that paper mandarin duck on purpose. My father found out I had accepted your gifts and was worried about my reputation, so he resorted to this tactic," Xue Lingyu explained slowly.

He said in a low voice, "You can send it next time. I'll hide it secretly so the elders won't find out."

A smile spread across Jiang He's face, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"

"Of course, but even if you don't like studying, don't always hang out with your bad friends. You're so good at planning, going into business is also a way out." Xue Lingyu paused. "Most importantly, you can't go to Qingqiufang, or I'll ignore you."

The Qingqiu Fang was full of beautiful young dancers, and he was afraid that Jiang He would go astray at such a young age.

"I promise you everything!" Jiang He said hastily. These were all very easy things for her to do. At most, she would play crickets with her friends and have a few drinks at gatherings. She would never dare to gamble or indulge in lust.

"Can I see you more often in the future?" Jiang He asked cautiously, she just wanted to see Xue Lingyu more often.

She was self-aware enough to know that the two of them were worlds apart in status. Unless Xue Lingyu also liked her and was determined to marry her, she would never marry him under any circumstances.

Her obsession was subtly at work; she kept staring at the man before her, whose face was as beautiful as a spring flower, as if afraid he would disappear at any moment.

"sure."

Counting the time, the banquet was approaching. Before the banquet, the Jiang family had proposed marriage once, offering most of the Jiang family's wealth as a betrothal gift, but it was rejected by her mother. Jiang He was unwilling to give up at that time, and chose to pour out her heart to him again at the banquet.

Xue Lingyu gestured for Jiang He to extend her hand. Now, there was not a single scar on her tiger's mouth, nor were there any marks on her arms from saving his mother. Whenever Xue Lingyu thought of the scars he saw on Jiang He's body on their wedding night, he almost burst into tears.

He choked up as he gave instructions one by one: "Don't be so reckless in your actions, and don't always rush to the front. Take care of your health. Although I like plum blossoms, I don't like blood plum blossoms. If you really want to ask me to marry you, then do it after the banquet."

"I'll do whatever you say, please don't cry." Jiang He didn't know why Xue Lingyu's eyes reddened as she spoke, and her heart ached as well. She couldn't bear to see her beloved cry.

She wanted to comfort Xue Lingyu and hug her, but due to the taboo against jeopardizing relationships between men and women, she couldn't afford to further damage Xue Lingyu's reputation.

Wait, he just mentioned proposing marriage...

Seeing that she had only just realized what was happening, Xue Lingyu burst into laughter through her tears, saying, "You idiot."

He couldn't stay in the inner room for too long, otherwise the servant would definitely become suspicious. If his father found out that he was seeing Jiang He in secret, he would definitely keep him at home and not let him go out.

Even after Xue Lingyu left, Jiang He was still immersed in what he had said.

Does Xue Lingyu mean that she can propose to him after the banquet?

Is he willing to marry me?

Jiang He returned home that night, so excited that she couldn't sleep all night. She was thinking about how to propose to Xue Lingyu. She had to work hard and strive to take over the business as soon as possible and make a name for herself so that she would have the confidence to impress Xue's parents and marry their eldest son to her.

Jiang Shangyi recently discovered that her eldest daughter was actually taking the initiative to ask her for advice on business matters, and was no longer just idle around like before, which made her quite gratified.

She only has one daughter, so the business will naturally be inherited by Jiang He.

Jiang He gradually changed and stopped paying much attention to her old friends.

As someone who was sought after by the scions of aristocratic families, Xue Lingyu had attended many banquets, both large and small, but this banquet was the one he was most nervous about.

His relationship with Jiang He completely broke down at this banquet, which also caused a rift between the Jiang and Xue families.

He will absolutely not let this happen a second time.

Xue Lingyu attracted everyone's attention as soon as he appeared. Although these people were on good terms with him on the surface, most of them avoided him like the plague after the Xue family fell into misfortune, and some even wanted to kick him when he was down.

Xue Lingyu took a deep breath and remained indifferent to everyone.

However, some people took the initiative to approach them.

"I heard that playboy Jiang He has become much more well-behaved lately. Wasn't she fawning over you before? Could it be that she's following your lead, becoming a playboy again?"

"I heard she also got an invitation to the banquet. It must have cost her a lot of money. Merchants are merchants, they reek of money and can't be treated like royalty."

Xue Lingyu, unable to bear it any longer, said coldly to the man, "Shut up."

This man was also a young master from a prominent family, and he was fond of gossiping. Seeing Xue Lingyu's sudden change in expression, he said awkwardly, "Why are you angry for no reason? Did I say something wrong? I remember you used to hate being bothered by Jiang He."

Xue Lingyu was too lazy to waste words with him and turned to leave, but unexpectedly saw Jiang He.

The young master from the noble family had spoken ill of someone in front of others, and he immediately felt embarrassed and quickly made his escape.

Xue Lingyu knew that Jiang He must have heard, and before he could say anything to comfort her, Jiang He stretched out her hand from behind her back, holding a plum blossom, and handed it to Xue Lingyu.

She didn't take the man's words to heart; at that moment, her eyes were only on Xue Lingyu.

"Here, this is for you."

The scions of prominent families at the banquet began to discuss this scene.

"It's like a toad trying to eat swan meat. She's even chased him to the banquet. Just wait and see how Young Master Xue will humiliate her."

"Those who come from merchant backgrounds are vulgar."

"Is Jiang He crazy? How could Young Master Xue accept her flowers without regard for his reputation?"

To everyone's surprise, Xue Lingyu took the words from her hand and gave a faint smile.

"Thank you, I like it very much."