vstars Chapter 96 Shen Xiujin's High-Profile Declaration of Love
Chapter 96 Shen Xiujin's High-Profile Declaration of Love
Jiang Mianmian looked at Zhou Jingyao with a serious expression and solemnly asked:
"Zhou Jingyao, have you truly considered this matter thoroughly and made up your mind?"
Faced with Jiang Mianmian's questioning, Zhou Jingyao nodded without hesitation and replied firmly, "Yes, I have thought it through very clearly and without the slightest hesitation."
If I encounter any unexpected situations or sudden changes during the process of simulating a romantic relationship, then I can only say that it's my fate.
Furthermore, everything was my own doing and has nothing to do with anyone else. I will not implicate anyone else in this matter.
Since she had made a risky decision, she should bravely bear whatever the outcome and cost might be. Zhou Jingyao understood this perfectly.
Zhou Jingyao has always been the kind of person who won't give up until she's completely convinced of her feelings, especially when it comes to her crush on Shen Xiujin.
She had to admit that, deep down, she did have feelings for Shen Xiujin, and these feelings were not just a passing impulse, but rather a genuine attraction.
Even though she showed obvious skepticism about what Shen Xiujin had said, she still wanted to test the truth of it for herself.
Just as her mother said, she was a stubborn and inflexible person. If she didn't give it a try, she would probably regret it for the rest of her life.
If, after some testing, she discovers that it was all just a false hope, and all the sweet words were just lies, then she will have nothing more to say.
At least this way, I can clearly see Shen Xiujin's true colors, so that I can completely give up on him, cut off this inappropriate feeling, and start a new life.
But... what if that's not the case? What if Shen Xiujin's feelings for her...?
Thinking of this, Zhou Jingyao's heart started pounding again.
Just then, Jiang Mianmian, who was standing to the side, still seemed a little uneasy and couldn't help but ask her several more questions about the details of the matter.
Finally, they were asked if anyone else knew about their so-called "fake relationship."
Jiang Mianmian solemnly told them that the number of people who knew about this matter should be kept to a minimum. Because if too many people knew the inside story, it would be difficult to accurately determine the truth of the plot's power, which would be detrimental to the development of the story.
Moreover, if more people know about this, it will definitely not be a good thing for them.
It's important to understand that in the original plot, Zhou Jingyao, as the number one villainous female supporting character, was able to survive unscathed until the finale, which was by no means solely due to luck.
What truly sustained her to the end was her so-called "true love" for Shen Xiujin.
Jiang Mianmian suggested to Zhou Jingyao, "Why don't we talk to your parents? Or I could just go to your general's mansion and finalize your marriage?"
However, Zhou Jingyao rejected all of these suggestions without exception.
Zhou Jingyao slowly said, "About this matter, I've actually already discussed it with my parents. At first, they were firmly opposed, but in the end they couldn't persuade me and agreed."
Even so, they still left with the statement, saying they would observe the situation first and then make a final decision based on how things develop…
Although she only told her parents half of what was going on and didn't reveal the most important thing, otherwise her father might have just killed Shen Xiujin with a knife, just in case.
Hearing this, and from Zhou Jingyao's unspoken words, her hesitant expression, and the meaning conveyed between the lines, Jiang Mianmian understood everything.
Zhou Jingyao clearly wanted to observe the second son further to see if he would truly fall in love with her in the end before making a final decision!
Sigh, Jiang Mianmian couldn't help but sigh in her heart again. How important a woman's reputation and chastity are! But this love-struck silly girl in front of her does have some brains, though not many.
However, Jiang Mianmian had already made a decision in her heart: if the second son did not end up with Zhou Jingyao, then she would recognize Zhou Jingyao as her goddaughter and carefully prepare an extremely generous dowry for her.
In this way, the negative impact of the rumors surrounding her can be effectively eliminated.
Hearing Jiang Mianmian's heartfelt words, Zhou Jingyao felt a surge of warmth in her heart. Her eyes welled up slightly, and a grateful smile appeared on her lips as she softly said:
"Auntie, thank you so much! However, Shen Xiujin is a very popular husband in the capital, and there are probably quite a few women who want to marry him."
If people knew we were together now, countless girls would be green with envy! And everyone else would just praise me for having such discerning eyes!
Hearing Zhou Jingyao's expectant and confident words, Jiang Mianmian still wore a kind smile on her face, but she couldn't help but mutter to herself in her heart.
[Hehehe! Whether these people will praise your discerning eye or secretly mock you for being blind and unable to distinguish right from wrong, it's hard to say!]
After all, who can truly fathom the thoughts of those gossipy women and pampered young ladies? They are often unable to bear seeing others prosper, and they are all prone to gloating.
[Given any opportunity, they'll stir up trouble and spread rumors, sowing discord and creating chaos. I, Jiang Mianmian, know this all too well!]
Jiang Mianmian pursed her lips and muttered to herself, but she didn't say these thoughts out loud.
Zhou Jingyao: "..."
Shen Xiujin: "..."
They also realized that sometimes being able to hear their mother's inner thoughts wasn't as wonderful as they had imagined!
"Oh dear! Jingyao, I forgot to ask you how your mother is doing. Is she feeling better? I left your house in a hurry that day and forgot to ask about her condition."
"I was thinking of visiting your mother sometime, but I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to find the time," Jiang Mianmian asked with a look of annoyance.
Zhou Jingyao knew that Jiang Mianmian wanted to know about her father and mother's condition, so she smiled and said, "Yes, my mother is much better now. She just felt unwell that day and is fine now. It's really kind of you to worry about her, Auntie."
Moreover, lately I've noticed my father is often very amiable and obsequious towards my mother. Even when she kicks him out of the room, he just grins like an idiot!
Actually, she was quite grateful to Jiang Mianmian. If it weren't for her, her mother and father's relationship wouldn't have improved. They wouldn't be as respectful to each other as before. Maybe one day, the two of them would give her a younger brother or sister.
Jiang Mianmian smiled and nodded, inwardly thinking:
[Hehehe, isn't this situation exactly like the "wife-chasing-after-the-cremation" trope in storybooks? Speaking of which, Zhou Liang deserves it. You used to ignore her, now you're getting a taste of what it's like to be out of her league. Hmm, Mrs. Zhou should torment you first!]
Zhou Jingyao: "..."
Ahem, a little bit of angst is okay, she's waiting to be the big sister, isn't she? Next time you see your mother, you mustn't say anything like that, otherwise her father will have been living alone for the rest of his life as a bachelor!
…………
In the following days, although their alleged romantic relationship was merely a facade, in order to successfully convey this information to the female protagonist and the powerful figure behind her,
In order to win over the girl, Shen Xiujin listened to half a dozen rumors and then racked his brains to devise a plan.
First, he solemnly instructed the servants in his household to make sure everyone knew that he was the one who sent Zhou Jingyao the dazzling array of exquisite jewelry. However, he didn't want it to be too exaggerated; he wanted everyone to know his feelings for Zhou Jingyao.
Secondly, having heard that girls also like clothes and fabrics, he looked at the gorgeous and colorful dresses in his shop and felt that Zhou Jingyao was also indispensable, so he waved his hand and gave them away.
Besides, didn't Ba Liang say that women love flowers too? Beautiful and fragrant flowers are definitely what Zhou Jingyao likes even more, regardless of whether they are red, pink, white, or purple... So with a wave of her hand, she started giving them away again.
In addition, the delicious pastries and sweet candied fruits that are popular with girls are also indispensable. He had someone pack up so many snacks that he could never finish them even if he died in six months, and he still just gave them away.
Sure enough, within two days, the results were astonishing. Rumors immediately spread throughout the capital, causing a great uproar and uproar.
On the streets and in the alleys, during leisure time, the most talked-about topic was that Shen Xiujin, the second master of the Marquis's mansion, was actually in love with Zhou Jingyao, the eldest daughter of the General of the North's mansion.
Moreover, he publicly expressed his love, sending her a series of expensive jewelry, fabrics, and snacks.
When this news came out, everyone was stunned. Who would have thought that the usually aloof and celibate Master Shen would have fallen for a woman? It was completely unexpected!
Many people didn't know when the two of them fell in love. Even some of Shen Xiujin's close friends couldn't help but come to him to ask what was going on, but he dismissed them all with a simple "love at first sight".
That morning, Shen Xiujin was in a private room at the restaurant, reviewing the recent accounts of various shops, when someone suddenly barged into his room.
She loudly questioned him about why he abandoned Su Qianqian and how he had seduced and then abandoned her, and she also gave him a thorough dressing-down, practically cursing his ancestors for eighteen generations.