No matter how low-key Zhou He’s family tried to keep things, a wedding could never truly stay quiet.
Especially since Yuan Xiangxiang had recently been acting increasingly unstable. When she learned Zhou He was getting married earlier than her, she caused such a scene that the Yuan family had to tie her up.
In rural weddings, the banquet was usually held only at the groom’s house, with a few tables for both families and invited guests.
Yuan Zhao planned to take Shi Wuxiang and Yuan Yuan to attend. The stall would be handled by Madam Shi Zhang and the two children. Shi Qingran had rarely gone to town since returning to the village and was a bit nervous, only calming down after Yuan Zhao reassured her.
“We’ll just eat and come back,” Yuan Zhao said. “Then we’ll help out at the stall later.”
Madam Shi Zhang waved it off. “No need to rush back and forth. Just go early—you might even be able to help out.”
Yuan Zhao didn’t know there would be helping involved. Zhou He hadn’t mentioned it either.
“There are older siblings at his house. No one asked us to help,” he said. “We’ll just go early and walk slowly like it’s a trip.”
So they went on foot to Weng Family Village.
The main road was the only viable path. The small paths were too rough, so they slowly joined other villagers along the way—most of them also going to the banquet, though not many.
As they walked, Yuan Zhao noticed passing people staring and talking.
“That’s Zhao-ge’er, right? Didn’t he not have a wedding banquet? Everyone else does one. No wonder he’s so jealous.”
“I heard he cut ties with his family just to marry out. Young people nowadays really are unfilial…”
It was Zhou He’s wedding day. Yuan Zhao didn’t want to argue, so he pretended not to hear.
Yuan Yuan, however, clenched his fists in anger, but Yuan Zhao held his hand tightly to stop him.
But the more they ignored it, the worse the comments became.
Even Shi Wuxiang was mocked.
“Look at her man—doesn’t even speak. He acts like the groom himself. Dressed so nicely, trying to steal attention?”
Yuan Zhao finally couldn’t stand it. “Who are you to judge how others dress or eat?”
He shot back sharply, “We’re going to a wedding nicely dressed and clean. Unlike you, auntie—dirty clothes, dragging your whole family along. At first glance, I thought you were going begging.”
The woman exploded immediately.
“You brat! No respect, no manners! No filial piety at all!”
But Yuan Zhao didn’t bother continuing. He simply walked ahead.
Shi Wuxiang, for his part, treated them like clowns not worth responding to.
Soon they reached Weng Family Village.
Zhou He’s house was lively and crowded. The groom’s family had many sons and helpers, and the atmosphere was full of activity.
Yuan Zhao envied it slightly—but only slightly.
The earlier woman who had tried to argue also followed them but fell silent upon seeing the crowd.
“I want to talk to Zhou He,” Yuan Zhao said. “Do you want to come in or wait outside?”
“Zhao-ge’er!” Zhou He called from inside immediately upon seeing him. “Come in quickly!”
Yuan Zhao quickly agreed, but hesitated when looking back at Shi Wuxiang and Yuan Yuan.
Wen Qingshan stepped forward. “Go ahead. I’ll bring them in and seat them.”
“Alright,” Shi Wuxiang said calmly. He knew how much Yuan Zhao valued Zhou He, so he didn’t object.
Yuan Zhao ran inside.
Zhou He’s older sister, who was in the room, quietly stepped out.
Zhou He pulled him to the window and pointed at Shi Wuxiang sitting properly outside.
“That’s your husband? He really is handsome. No wonder you like him.”
“Why are you saying that?” Yuan Zhao’s face immediately turned red. “Your husband is fine too. Very steady.”
“Hehe!” Zhou He grinned foolishly before shifting to serious matters.
He told Yuan Zhao everything about Yuan family affairs—how Yuan Xiangxiang had been tied up, how she kept trying to escape, how things were getting more chaotic.
Yuan Zhao sighed softly. Not out of pity for Yuan Xiangxiang, but because this kind of fate was common for many women and young ge’ers—used only as tools for the family’s benefit.
But he felt no sympathy for her personally.
“That’s just her fate,” Yuan Zhao said.
“She used to say all those harsh things—now it’s her turn to suffer,” Zhou He said angrily.
Before long, it was time for the banquet.
Zhou He sat quietly in the room, already having met the Wen family earlier that morning. Food had been prepared for him.
Wen Qingshan respectfully toasted Shi Wuxiang several times, thanking him sincerely, showing how much he valued Zhou He.
The guests also noticed Shi Wuxiang.
And soon enough, they began trying to strike up conversation—though every question was uncomfortable or intrusive.
“Your house must be big, can we visit?”
Shi Wuxiang: “My house has a large dog. Would you like to see it?”
“You scholars must earn a lot in town, right? Unlike my useless son…”
Shi Wuxiang: “We still need someone to clean chamber pots.”
“Why do you scholars speak so sharply?”
Shi Wuxiang: “Then don’t talk to me.”
Yuan Zhao stared in shock. He quickly nudged him, worried he might get beaten.
But Shi Wuxiang had effectively offended everyone at the table. No one wanted to talk to him anymore.
Only then did he finally get peace to eat.
Yuan Zhao, meanwhile, scooped food into Yuan Yuan and Shi Wuxiang’s bowls while he himself ate simply.
After the meal, the crowd gradually dispersed.
On the way home, Yuan Zhao smiled brightly.
“It’s so lively when people get married. The food was good too. Zhou He’s husband is a carpenter—he must earn well.”
Even though he had technically been married before, he spoke as if it were the first time seeing such joy.
Shi Wuxiang felt something tighten in his chest.
He had been unconscious during that time—he had never seen any of it. Even if he had been awake, he would have refused, but he had never treated Yuan Zhao as a burden.
“As long as one works hard, they can earn a living,” Shi Wuxiang said lightly.
“That’s true,” Yuan Zhao nodded. Then he suddenly looked at him. “Why are you talking like this today? I was worried you’d get into trouble.”
Shi Wuxiang only smiled. “They wouldn’t dare.”
Before Yuan Zhao could respond, Yuan Yuan suddenly swayed.
Yuan Zhao quickly caught him. “Sleepy?”
Yuan Yuan blinked slowly.
Yuan Zhao crouched down. “First time I’ve seen someone get sleepy at a wedding banquet. Come on, I’ll carry you home.”
“Why?” Shi Wuxiang frowned slightly. What were they talking about?
“We didn’t argue, did we? You apologize to my brother, and I’ll apologize to you, then we won’t fight anymore.” Yuan Yuan explained very seriously. He didn’t want his brother to be unhappy.
“Yuan’er, your brother and I didn’t argue. We just had a small disagreement. Once the misunderstanding is cleared up, everything will be fine. You didn’t do anything wrong, so you don’t need to apologize to me.” Shi Wuxiang coaxed him a little helplessly. “I promise, by tomorrow your brother will be fine.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Yuan Yuan blinked. “Then let’s do a pinky promise.”
Shi Wuxiang readily hooked his little finger with the child’s. The moment they let go, Yuan Zhao pushed the door open and came in, looking suspicious. “Why are you still awake?”
“I’m going to sleep now!” Yuan Yuan tossed out a sentence and ran off.
Yuan Zhao placed the food on the table while explaining, “Sorry about that. He probably just came to take a look. He didn’t upset you, did he?”
“…No.” Shi Wuxiang said softly.
“That’s good. Eat first.” Yuan Zhao said with a slight curve of his lips, preparing as usual to sit by the bed and watch him eat.
But Shi Wuxiang spoke up instead. “Bring that bundle over here.”
Yuan Zhao didn’t answer, but immediately did as told. He brought the small bundle over carefully and placed it in front of him.
“Open it.”
“What is it?” Yuan Zhao asked as he obediently untied it. Inside were expensive pastries, and a carefully wrapped brocade box.
“You bought pastries? Then I’ll take them out tomorrow so everyone can share them.”
Shi Wuxiang looked down at him and said softly, coaxingly, “They’re for you. You can eat them yourself or share them with the family. Everything in the brocade box is also for you.”
Yuan Zhao suddenly felt nervous. He carefully opened the box, revealing a green hair ribbon inside. The fabric was smooth and soft—obviously expensive at a glance.
“This… is also for me?” His voice was very soft, tinged with emotion.
“Yes.” Shi Wuxiang said. “I’m apologizing for what happened yesterday. No matter what you think, can you forgive me? Or if you’re dissatisfied, you can tell me. If there’s anything you want, I’ll get it for you…”
When he said the last part, he was clearly a bit guilty.
He knew what Yuan Zhao truly wanted—but he currently couldn’t give it.
“I’m not trying to take things from you…” Yuan Zhao gently touched the hair ribbon, tears falling uncontrollably. He had never expected anything like this.
He also never intended for Shi Wuxiang to bear his bad moods. He just couldn’t help feeling wronged sometimes, getting angry at himself more than anyone else.
If he were truly a good enough person, how could Shi Wuxiang possibly not like him?
Shi Wuxiang panicked immediately. He quickly wiped Yuan Zhao’s tears with his sleeve. “Don’t cry. Don’t misunderstand me. I wanted to buy these for you. I wanted to coax you…”
Yuan Zhao was very good. Extremely good.
In the time Shi Wuxiang had spent in the Shi household, this was what he had come to understand. But someone this good—he would never be able to love.
The overwhelming emotions surged like a flood, tearing through all of Yuan Zhao’s composure. His tears fell like they cost nothing.
“Ah… Xiang…” he sobbed uncontrollably. There were too many things he couldn’t say. No one could be better than him.
Shi Wuxiang’s expression darkened with distress. He pulled Yuan Zhao into his arms, one hand pressing his head against his chest, the other firmly around his waist.
He couldn’t let Yuan Zhao dissolve alone in this emotion. Nor could he remain indifferent to his tears.
He had to admit—there were many people in the world who could soften one’s heart, but Yuan Zhao was the one he could never abandon.
“It’s my fault. I said terrible things before when I wasn’t clear-headed. If you want, none of that counts. Yuan Zhao, I never meant to drive you away.” Shi Wuxiang frowned deeply.
The crying beside his ear burned at his nerves, making him resent his past self for ever speaking those words.
“You did… you did mean it…” Yuan Zhao cried, shaking his head.
He had come to this household with what kind of feelings? Yet this place would never truly belong to him and Yuan Yuan. He had to admit his own uselessness. He just wanted a home where he and Yuan Yuan could belong.
“I didn’t—stop, stop crying!” Shi Wuxiang didn’t deny it, but followed his words instead. “Even if I once thought that, I don’t anymore. We live together happily now, don’t we? Who would live so happily with someone they hate? Would you?”
“No…” Yuan Zhao sniffled and shook his head.
Even like this, he still answered every question.
“Yes. So what does that mean?” Shi Wuxiang asked gently, trying to calm him.
“It means… it means you like… living with us…” Yuan Zhao said through tears, reaching that conclusion.
“So isn’t that enough? Just living together happily—wouldn’t that be good? Don’t you want that?”
“I do…” Yuan Zhao nodded, tears smearing all over Shi Wuxiang’s clothes. He understood all of this—but still, “But… can’t you like me?”
That was the first time he faced this question directly.
He was so sincere, yet so timid and brave at the same time.
Even though he knew saying it might ruin the ease between them, he still wanted Shi Wuxiang to see how much he adored him.
Shi Wuxiang could no longer avoid it.
“Honestly, I like you very much.”
“But Yuan Zhao, I can’t give you the feelings you want right now. We can continue living like this. I promise there will be no one else. We’ll always be like this—can that be enough?”
This was gentle, yet also painfully final.
It clearly told Yuan Zhao that what he wanted could not be given immediately.
Yet it wasn’t entirely without warmth. Shi Wuxiang’s promise was real—there would indeed be no one else.
“I… am I very ugly and bad…” Yuan Zhao asked suddenly, not truly doubting himself, but seeing himself through Shi Wuxiang’s eyes.
“Of course not. It’s my problem.” Shi Wuxiang patted his back. “You’re very good. Not being able to like you is my lack of vision. But you can’t force others to like you. And you must never doubt yourself—you are the most adorable child I’ve ever seen.”
He refused to define Yuan Zhao with narrow labels.
To him, Yuan Zhao could not be described by such simple words. The only word that came to mind was “adorable”—the kind of adorable that made people want to protect him and cherish him.
If he could not love Yuan Zhao, then he would not love anyone else.
“But I’m not a child anymore. You can’t keep treating me like one. That’s unfair.” Yuan Zhao had calmed down, though still a little unconvinced.
“Yes. I want to treat you like one—because you deserve to be protected, cared for, praised, and affirmed… That’s my problem.” Shi Wuxiang said.
That made Yuan Zhao cry again.
“Then I just like you. I’ll keep liking you. What should I do? Will you hate it? Will you get annoyed?” Yuan Zhao asked, almost recklessly.
“Then keep liking me—until the day you don’t anymore. And I won’t have anyone else either. You can always be my husband, until you no longer want it.”
Yuan Zhao smiled faintly.
That was enough.
Shi Wuxiang had already stepped back as far as he could.