Chapter 56: Flowers in Bloom
Wang Gege carefully trimmed the flower stems before placing them one by one into the porcelain vase.
She took two small steps backward before tilting her head, studying the arrangement from different angles.
"Perfect..." A satisfied smile immediately spread across her face.
The room suddenly felt much livelier.
She gently adjusted one of the blossoms that leaned too far to the side before happily nodding to herself, "They’re even prettier in a vase."
Standing quietly nearby, Qing’er couldn’t help but smile as well.
Her gaze rested upon Wang Gege’s cheerful expression for a long moment before she softly said, "This servant... truly likes seeing Young Madam like this."
Wang Gege blinked and turned around. "Like what?"
Qing’er lowered her eyes with a gentle smile.
"Happy." She paused for a brief moment, "Young Madam smiles much more often now." Her voice remained soft. "The atmosphere within the courtyard has changed as well."
Before... every time Qing’er entered the room, she would quietly wonder whether Young Madam had cried again. The timid young woman rarely smiled, spending most of her days sitting in silence with her thoughts to herself.
But now, laughter could occasionally be heard from the room. Even the servants working outside seemed much more relaxed.
Qing’er looked at Wang Gege once again, "This servant truly prefers the current Young Madam."
Wang Gege looked at Qing’er for a long moment. Her gaze slowly drifted toward the faint swelling that still lingered upon Qing’er’s cheek, "Is it still hurting?"
Qing’er instinctively raised a hand to touch her cheek before shaking her head with a smile.
"It no longer hurts, Young Madam." She lowered her eyes. "Besides... This servant feels it was worth it."
Wang Gege fell silent. Seeing Qing’er’s smile made her chest feel unexpectedly warm.
Back in her previous life, she had always believed protecting someone required great strength. She had merely stood up and spoken a few words, believing it would cause her more harm.
Who would have thought, here, those few words would become something Qing’er remembered so dearly.
A helpless smile slowly appeared upon her lips, "I was only doing what anyone should do."
Qing’er immediately shook her head, "Not everyone would." She lowered her eyes. "Especially not for a servant."
Those simple words made Wang Gege pause. She unconsciously recalled the scene inside the restaurant.
Had Xie Rong not arrived, she honestly wasn’t certain how things would have ended.
Her gaze slowly drifted toward the vase resting upon the table. The fresh blossoms gently swayed as a light breeze entered through the open window.
A smile unconsciously returned to her face, "Husband really has good taste."
Qing’er blinked before quietly covering her mouth, trying to hide the smile creeping onto her own lips.
Seeing Qing’er’s reaction, Wang Gege immediately became embarrassed. "W-What?"
"This servant didn’t say anything."
"You don’t have to." Wang Gege turned away awkwardly, "My face is getting hot."
Qing’er could no longer suppress a soft laugh. The room quickly filled with gentle laughter once again.
"May this servant say something, Young Madam?" Qing’er asked after their laughter gradually faded.
"Sure, go on." Wang Gege’s smile remained on her lips.
Qing’er lowered her head respectfully before speaking. "This servant still remembers... when Young Madam first entered the Xie Residence, you were rather reserved before Young Master."
She paused briefly, "But today... This servant noticed that Young Madam called Young Master ’Husband’ very naturally."
Wang Gege blinked in surprise. "Really?"
Qing’er nodded with a gentle smile. "Yes. This servant only realized it after hearing Young Madam mention Young Master just now."
Wang Gege lowered her eyes thoughtfully. She carefully recalled everything that had happened throughout the day.
From the moment they left the residence until shopping together, walking through the marketplace and even at the restaurant, without realizing it, she had indeed addressed him as "Husband" time and time again.
A faint smile slowly appeared on her lips, "I suppose... I’ve already gotten used to it."
Qing’er smiled gently, "This servant is truly happy for Young Madam."
After all, compared to the timid young woman who had first entered the Xie Residence, the current Young Madam seemed much more relaxed whenever she was around Young Master.
And because of that, they looked more and more like a real married couple.
Just then, a faint buzzing sound drifted in from the open window. Both Wang Gege and Qing’er instinctively turned their heads.
A tiny bee lazily flew into the room, circling the bouquet of fresh blossoms that rested inside the porcelain vase. Its little wings fluttered rapidly as it moved from one flower to another.
Wang Gege chuckled softly, "It seems even the bees think these flowers are beautiful."
Qing’er nodded with a smile.
At that same moment, soft knocks reached their ears. Qing’er immediately stepped forward and opened the door. Upon seeing the visitor, she lowered herself into a respectful bow.
"Greetings, Young Master."
Xie Rong gave a faint nod before stepping inside.
His blindfolded gaze briefly swept across the room before settling upon the vase of fresh blossoms resting on the table. He remained silent for a brief moment before calmly saying, "Furen... We need to go somewhere."
Wang Gege blinked in confusion. "Somewhere?"
Xie Rong nodded faintly, "Chuntao wishes to speak with you."
The smile on Wang Gege’s face gradually disappeared, "She wants to see me?"
"Mm." Xie Rong nodded lightly.
Wang Gege lowered her eyes in thought for a brief moment before giving a small nod. "Alright."
Without asking another question, she walked toward the door.
Qing’er quietly stepped aside to let both of them pass. Only after Wang Gege and Xie Rong had disappeared beyond the courtyard gate did she gently reach for the wooden door.
As she was about to close it... A tiny voice suddenly echoed from inside the room.
"Ah... I missed the chance to introduce myself..."
Qing’er’s hand froze, and she slowly turned her head.
"Who?"
Silence.
The room remained exactly as she had left it. After waiting for several breaths, she gently shook her head.
"This servant must have heard wrongly."
With that, she slowly closed the door.