Becoming the Cannon Fodder Wife of Crazy and Powerful Official - Chapter 21

Xie Asheng sat dazed in the chair, his reaction so abnormal that Xin Yueying failed to notice Shen Qingqi had already returned. She stared blankly at Xie Asheng, “Did you lose something important?”

“Not exactly.” Xie Asheng’s gaze lingered on Xin Yueying’s face. After a moment of distraction, he abruptly changed the subject with stiff formality, “Miss, may I ask your honorable name?”

“She is Shen Shiniang, my wife.”

Xin Yueying turned toward the voice and saw Shen Qingqi standing at the doorway.

Xie Asheng stood up and looked back at Shen Qingqi.

When their eyes met, Xie Asheng froze completely.

“You’re actually alive?!” Xie Asheng’s tone was incredulous.

“Yes, and you’re also alive.” Shen Qingqi responded with a faint smile.

Shen Qingqi’s smile faded as he indifferently averted his gaze, finally settling on Xin Yueying’s face. “Come here.”

“? ” Xin Yueying felt uneasy. Their exchange about life and death, followed by Shen Qingqi’s summoning her, left her uncertain. She couldn’t help but worry that Shen Qingqi might lose control.

After all, this Xie Asheng was Shen Qingqi’s future arch-nemesis—the very man who would eventually hang Shen Qingqi’s corpse from the city walls for three days.

Xin Yueying forced an ingratiating smile and walked toward Shen Qingqi at an excruciatingly slow pace. As she passed Xie Asheng, she stole a glance at his expression.

His round eyes were wide with fury, as if flames burned within them. She looked down at his hands—clenched into tight fists—then glanced again…

“Come here.”

Before she could observe further, Shen Qingqi urged her again.

Xin Yueying reached Shen Qingqi’s side.

“Where’s Huo Qi?” she asked.

Shen Qingqi turned his wheelchair toward the cart. “He’s running an errand for me.”

“Why did you return so late?” she pressed.

Shen Qingqi reached onto the cart and retrieved two bundles, one of which jingled faintly, “I picked up some things on the way.”

He handed her both bundles, then pulled out a warm steamed bun from his sleeve, “Your dinner.”

Xin Yueying examined the bundles in her hands. “What’s inside these?”

“Some clothes and jewellery I bought for you along the way. Take a look for yourself. I need to speak with Xie Asheng alone,” Shen Qingqi said.

Xin Yueying took the bundles and the bun, then turned to head inside.

As she lifted the door curtain, she glanced back at Xie Asheng—still standing there, glaring at Shen Qingqi with unblinking intensity.

She tossed the bun onto the table, her curiosity overriding everything else. She wanted to see what Shen Qingqi had bought her. Placing the bundles on the kang, she quickly lit a lamp and eagerly unwrapped them under its glow, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

One bundle was filled with hairpins, jade ornaments, and jewelry.

The other contained clothes and shoes. She rummaged deeper, then suddenly paused. Her fingers brushed against something delicate—a sheer, bluish-white undergarment. She shook it out.

It was a silk dudou, embroidered with a golden crescent moon above lotus blossoms, two koi fish playfully circling beneath.

Xin Yueying was baffled. Why would he give me this?

Does he… like me?

Unlikely. She hadn’t been here long enough—the house renovations weren’t even finished yet!

Besides, Huo Qi had never once said to her,

“Miss, it’s been so long since I’ve seen the young master smile like this.”

Probably not, then.

Setting the items aside, she pressed her ear to the wall, straining to hear the conversation outside.

Nothing.

Xie Asheng still seemed too stunned to speak. After a long silence, she finally heard footsteps crossing the courtyard.

She scrambled onto the kang, not even bothering to remove her shoes, and quietly cracked open the window to eavesdrop.

But just as she leaned in—

WHOOSH.

The window was flung open from the outside. Xin Yueying lurched forward, nearly tumbling headfirst out of it. She barely caught herself on the windowsill, heart pounding, only to meet Shen Qingqi’s icy glare.

“You open windows while changing?” His voice was dry, his gaze as cold as ever.

That look didn’t say fondness. It said murderous intent.

The eyes never lie—whether hiding affection or homicidal urges.

And right now, Shen Qingqi’s stare was pure knife emoji.

Xin Yueying straightened up, gripping the windowsill to salvage her dignity. “I was just… curious.”

“Curious about what?” A slow, dangerous smile curled his lips. “Or should I ask—curious about who?”

“You, of course.” Xin Yueying tilted her head, looking down at him.

Shen Qingqi’s gaze flickered almost imperceptibly.

Xin Yueying, “Why did you buy me a dudou?”

From her elevated position, the question instantly deflated Shen Qingqi’s imposing aura.

His sword-like brows furrowed slightly, voice lowering, “I told the shopkeeper to pick a few things at random.” He glanced toward Xie Asheng, who stood with his back to them, and pointed impatiently. “Can’t you see we have a guest? Change quickly. Don’t embarrass me.”

“Random?” Xin Yueying didn’t buy it. She turned to eye the delicate undergarment skeptically. “Since when do random picks include dudou? Did he scam you? Also, let me tell you—”

BANG.

The window was slammed shut from the outside—firmly, decisively.

“Who’s embarrassing you?! This lady is the epitome of brains and beauty, unparalleled in the world!”

You know nothing.

Xin Yueying defiantly mouthed the last part at the closed window, though prudently omitting the actual words—just in case Shen Qingqi lost his temper.

Whatever feud they had could wait. Right now, she had new clothes to try on.

Grinning, she began undressing.

Whether the shopkeeper had swindled Shen Qingqi or not, the clothes were undeniably exquisite. Soft moon-white and celadon skirts, vibrant pomegranate red, pale yellow, and blush pink—but the most striking was a shimmering aqua-blue gown. The fabrics and craftsmanship were impeccable.

She slipped into the pale yellow outer robe with a moon-white underskirt, then twisted her thick black hair into a bun. One hand rummaged through the jewelry box.

Even with her untrained eye, she could tell the jade pieces were high-quality. She selected a peach-blossom hairpin and secured it into her bun.

Silence lingered outside. Xin Yueying ate the steamed bun, then carefully stored her new wardrobe in the cabinet.

Without a mirror, she had no idea how she looked. Having slept all day, she wasn’t tired, so she retrieved the needles, thread, cotton, and blue fabric she’d bought earlier and knelt by the kang’s edge, padding its sharp corners.

It wasn’t difficult—she’d made similar childproofing bumpers in her past life. Soon, the edges were neatly wrapped in soft blue fabric.

Absentmindedly, she trailed her fingers along the padded rim, boredom settling in.

Then, instinctively, she glanced up—

And found Shen Qingqi holding the door curtain aside, watching her.

His hand had been frozen mid-motion for who knew how long.

His lips parted slightly, dark eyes fixed on her with an intensity that stole her breath.