The Substitute Bride and the Cripple

He Lei shot Yin Shulai a warning look. If anything happened, his young master’s anger would be too much for the other man to bear.

But Yin Shulai didn’t care. He wanted to see Jiang Shaocheng lose control of his emotions–and how entertaining that would be.

***

In the garden, Tang Qiu stopped and suddenly said with an air of mystery, “Dear, I want to give you something.” She rushed off towards the bushes.

Puzzled, Jiang Shaocheng looked at her worriedly. “Qiu, don’t run around like that. There are mosquitoes here.”

Heedless, Tang Qiu emerged after a while with something hidden in her palms. “Dear, look what I have!”

Jiang Shaocheng watched curiously as her palm slowly opened, revealing a few fireflies. She smiled brightly at him, and he couldn’t tear his gaze away for a moment. “Fireflies! Do you know what their light is for, Qiu?”

Tang Qiu looked up at a shooting star that raced across the sky. “Some people say the way fireflies glow represents hope. My hope is for your legs to recover as soon as possible. What about you? What do you think the purpose is?”

Jiang Shaocheng smiled. “Scientifically speaking, it’s a form of courtship. Is this a confession, Qiu?”

Tang Qiu coughed, embarrassed. “I… I didn’t know that.” A blush filled her cheeks, but she couldn’t bear to release the fireflies either.

“Qiu, there’s another reason why fireflies glow.” Jiang Shaocheng held her wrist and pried her hands open to set the fireflies free. “It’s a warning that they’re poisonous and you shouldn’t come near them!”

“Poisonous?” Tang Qiu had wanted to chase after the fireflies, now she stared at him in shock.

“Yes.”

Tang Qiu’s expression changed and she quickly wiped her hands. “I didn’t know that…”

“Haven’t you heard that many beautiful flowers are poisonous, Qiu? Like roses–their thorns can prick people.”

Tang Qiu nodded earnestly before another thought came to mind. “The more beautiful something is, the more problems it causes. You’re not handsome, but you treat me very well. I like you… not all the other two-faced men in the world.”

Jiang Shaocheng paused. If he showed her the truth beneath his mask, wouldn’t that make him two-faced, too? Should he try to salvage the situation?

They walked around for a while more. Jiang Shaocheng picked a budding red rose, plucked off the thorns, and handed it to Tang Qiu. 𝑓𝗿𝐞𝘦𝘄ｅ𝘣n𝘰𝘷eƖ.c𝘰𝗺

Tang Qiu breathed in its fragrance and smiled as she tucked the rose behind her ear. “How does it look?”

Jiang Shaocheng pulled her onto his lap and lowered his head to whisper in her ear, “It’s too dark for me to see clearly. I have to take a closer look to know if it looks good.”

Tang Qiu turned and looked around. There were trees blocking them from view, so she didn’t move from his lap. She drew nearer to him so he could get a clearer glimpse of the flower, only to be met with a kiss. What could be more romantic than sharing an embrace and a kiss with the man of her heart, surrounded by the sweet scent of flowers? “Can you see more clearly now, dear?”

Jiang Shaocheng curled his lips and said, voice low, “No. You have to get closer.”

Tang Qiu played along, taking the initiative to tilt her head and kiss him. “I will,” she said playfully. “You don’t mind, do you, dear?” She was so unpractised with kissing that Jiang Shaocheng’s breathing became strained. He cupped the back of her neck, taking the lead once more. Tang Qiu was caged in his arms for a long time, letting him kiss her into equal parts intoxication and submission. She leaned into his arms, blushing and panting heavily.

“Am I very heavy when I sit on you like this, dear?”

“Yes. Very heavy.” Jiang Shaocheng nodded.

Afraid that she would crush his legs, Tang Qiu hurriedly tried to get up, but Jiang Shaocheng’s arm around her waist prevented her from moving.

“My entire world is on my lap now, Qiu. Don’t you think it would be heavy?” His forehead grazed hers, their eyes locking.

Tang Qiu stared at him blankly. “Where did you learn to talk like that?”

“Do I need to learn words like these? They come naturally when I see you.” Jiang Shaocheng would never tell her, but he had indeed picked up such phrases as a way to deepen their relationship. And why not, if he could make her happy by occasionally uttering a few sweet nothings?

No woman was completely immune to such tender words, and Tang Qiu, who was experiencing love for the first time, was no exception. She smiled and said, “You’re very strange, dear.”

Instantly, Jiang Shaocheng was alarmed. Strange? What did she mean?