Chapter 107: Breakfast Was the Victim
Wang Gege ended up with heavy dark circles beneath her eyes after failing to fall back asleep once Xie Rong had left the bedchamber.
Even now, seated in the dining hall, she absentmindedly poked at the breakfast laid before her, treating the delicate pastries and steamed buns as though they had personally offended her.
’Hmph... Who told him to leave so obediently?’
She puffed out her cheeks before viciously stabbing a piece of steamed cake with her chopsticks.
The dining hall fell into an unusual silence.
"Is something the matter, Taotao?" Old Madam Xie’s gentle voice instantly snapped Wang Gege out of her thoughts.
"Huh?" She blinked before realizing everyone at the table was looking at her.
Even the servants standing nearby had subtly lowered their heads, pretending they had heard nothing.
"Ah..." Wang Gege let out an awkward laugh. "Nothing, Grandmother. This granddaughter was merely thinking about something."
She forced a smile as her gaze instinctively swept across the table.
Unfortunately... It landed directly on Xie Rong.
He happened to be looking at her as well and eventually their eyes met.
Wang Gege’s heart skipped a beat. She pursed her lips before stiffly looking away, pretending to be unusually interested in the bowl of porridge before her.
Xie Rong quietly withdrew his gaze as well, his expression remaining as composed as ever.
Only Old Madam Xie looked between the two of them, her brows knitting together almost imperceptibly.
Something did not seem quite right.
Yesterday, the young couple had still appeared perfectly harmonious. Yet this morning, the atmosphere between them was so strange that even she could sense it.
Old Madam Xie smiled knowingly, though she said nothing for the moment.
Instead, she casually picked up a pair of serving chopsticks and placed a steamed dumpling into Wang Gege’s bowl.
"Taotao, you’ve hardly eaten. You should eat more."
Wang Gege immediately smiled. "Thank you, Grandmother."
No sooner had she lowered her head than another pair of chopsticks entered her field of vision. A slice of braised fish was gently placed into her bowl.
She froze.
There was only one person seated close enough to do that.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
Xie Rong had already withdrawn his chopsticks and resumed eating as though nothing had happened. Not a word escaped his lips.
Wang Gege stared at the piece of fish for a long moment before forcing a smile.
"Thank you... Husband." The word husband came out just a little more heavily than necessary. "But..." She gently pushed the fish to the side of her bowl. "I don’t like braised fish."
The dining hall instantly fell silent.
Xie Rong finally looked up at her.
Across the table, Qing’er’s eyes widened ever so slightly.
’Young Madam... Didn’t you specifically ask the kitchen to prepare braised fish yesterday?’
Even the servants standing nearby exchanged bewildered glances.
Old Madam Xie blinked in confusion before looking at Wang Gege. "Taotao..."
Her brows furrowed. "I seem to recall that yesterday you praised the braised fish prepared by the kitchen. You even said it was especially delicious."
Wang Gege’s smile stiffened, "Did I?"
Old Madam Xie nodded without hesitation. "You did."
Qing’er lowered her head, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling.
The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.
Only Xie Rong remained composed.
After a brief silence, he calmly picked up the slice of braised fish from Wang Gege’s bowl and placed it onto his own plate.
"Then this husband shall have it." He took a bite before turning slightly toward her, "What would Furen like to eat?"
"If it is not on today’s menu, this husband shall have the kitchen prepare it immediately."
Wang Gege nearly choked on the air she had just inhaled.
"A-Ah..." She waved her hands hastily. "There is no need. This one is satisfied with all the dishes."
Realizing everyone’s eyes were still on her, she immediately lowered her head and offered an embarrassed smile.
"Father... Grandmother... This one apologizes for behaving so discourteously at the dining table."
Old Madam Xie chuckled softly. "There is nothing to apologize for."
"If you don’t like something, simply say so." She then glanced at Xie Rong before smiling knowingly, "It is only natural for a husband to remember his wife’s preferences."
Master Xie merely nodded in agreement. "A husband and wife should care for one another."
Wang Gege could only force an awkward smile, "Yes, Father."
Meanwhile, Xie Rong quietly continued eating the braised fish without another word. Only after the meal had nearly come to an end did he gently set down his chopsticks. "Father."
Master Xie looked up. "What is it?"
"There is something regarding Chuntao’s death that this son wishes to discuss with Father after breakfast."
The smile on Old Madam Xie’s face gradually faded.
Master Xie’s expression also became solemn. "Has there been progress?"
"There are a few matters that require Father’s attention." Xie Rong subtly explained.
Master Xie nodded. "Very well. We shall speak in the study."
"Yes."
Xie Rong gently set the cloth aside after wiping his lips and was about to rise from his seat when he suddenly felt a light tug on his sleeve.
He lowered his gaze.
Wang Gege was looking at him expectantly, her fingers still pinching the edge of his sleeve.
"What is it?"
"Can you tell me too?" Her voice was noticeably softer than before. "After all... Chuntao was my servant."
Xie Rong lowered his gaze to the hand clutching his sleeve before looking at her. "I was under the impression that Furen no longer wished to speak with this husband."
Wang Gege’s face instantly heated, "T-That’s different! Chuntao’s matter is important."
Xie Rong looked at her for a long moment before the corners of his lips lifted almost instantly.
"Very well." He turned to Master Xie, "If Father has no objections, Furen may accompany us."
Wang Gege immediately shifted her hopeful gaze toward Master Xie, blinking at him expectantly.
Master Xie looked at her before letting out a faint sigh. "Taotao, it would be better if this matter were discussed among us first. Afterward, Rong’er will explain everything to you."
Wang Gege’s shoulders instantly slumped, "Oh."
"Be patient," Old Madam Xie said gently with a smile. "There is no need to rush. Since Rong’er has promised to tell you, he certainly will not keep it from you."
Wang Gege could only nod obediently. "Yes, Grandmother."
Yet, the moment everyone’s attention shifted elsewhere, she quietly leaned toward Xie Rong.
Her fingers reached beneath the wide sleeve of his robe and mercilessly pinched his forearm.
Xie Rong’s brows twitched immediately. He turned to look at her.
Wang Gege immediately put on the sweetest smile she could muster.
"Husband..." She gritted her teeth so subtly that only he could notice. "You knew Father wouldn’t allow it, didn’t you?"
Xie Rong looked at her without the slightest trace of guilt, "I did."
Before Wang Gege could utter another word, Xie Rong had already withdrawn his sleeve from her grasp.
He turned to Master Xie as though nothing had happened. "Father, shall we?"
Master Xie rose from his seat. "Mm."
The two men strode out of the dining hall one after the other, leaving Wang Gege sitting there in stunned silence.
She stared at Xie Rong’s retreating figure with her eye twitching slightly.