Chapter 22

Jiang Rui Could Not Accept It

“Fifth Uncle even personally prepared a thank you gift for you!”

It was even a special thank you gift that he personally went to the elders’ door for, looking for the pastries that the elders had made for him.

The more she thought about it, the more astonished Jiang Rui became.

“Also, Fifth Uncle said that he was thanking you for sending him back. What happened?”

“I had met Fifth Master Jiang, who was out alone in a wheelchair in the courtyard, and sent him back. It was very easy for me to do. It was Fifth Master Jiang who was too well-mannered.”

Shi Yan said it simply, but Jiang Rui did not think so in her heart.

This was not a problem of being too courteous. That was fifth uncle! Although fifth uncle rarely treated others coldly, she had never seen him treat anyone so specially since fifth uncle moved into the old residence!

Putting aside how incredible it was for fifth uncle to personally come to look for his elders’ pastries as a thank you gift, it was already an incredible thing for fifth uncle to actually agree to Xiao Yan sending him back.

However, Jiang Rui did not intend to get to the bottom of it. If it was just an ordinary person helping out and the other person thanking them, then she would be meddling in other people’s business.

She would just wait and see.

Jiang Rui said, “So that’s how it is.

“Since you helped out, it’s only right for Fifth Uncle to give you a thank you gift.”

Jiang Rui could not help but shiver when she said that.

Oh my god! She had done well! She even dared to speak from fifth uncle’s position! What kind of person was fifth uncle? Even her parents and her brother didn’t dare to say things like “It’s only right to prepare a gift to thank you” on behalf of fifth uncle.

Her gaze fell on the pastry box in Shi Yan’s hand once again.

Even fifth uncle thought that the pastry was delicious. She was really curious about how delicious it was.

Sensing her gaze, Shi Yan said with a faint smile, “Since this is a thank you gift personally prepared by Fifth Master Jiang, I’m afraid I can’t share it with you. I know that there’s a pretty good pastry shop not far away. I’ll treat you to their pastries.”

Jiang Rui was speechless for a moment.

She didn’t say anything.

Although it was indeed not very nice to share other people’s thank you gifts, this was food, not some expensive gift. Moreover, there was no one else here, so no one would know if they had shared it. Besides, Xiao Yan was clearly not a stingy person…

She was rather protective of this box of cakes.

She looked at Shi Yan with a slightly mocking gaze. However, she saw Shi Yan smiling at her calmly.

Hence, Jiang Rui did not understand.

Was she thinking too much?

“Fifth Uncle personally found these and handed them to you personally. I don’t dare to eat it. You were right not to distinguish it from me.”

Jiang Rui was speaking from the bottom of her heart.

She was indeed curious about the taste of pastries, but she didn’t dare to eat them. She was afraid that she couldn’t afford to have diarrhea.

“Xiao Yan, you don’t have to spend money to treat me. If you want to eat pastries, just wait until you return to the old residence and ask the kitchen to prepare them. The pastries made at home are better than those bought outside.”

“That’s true,” Shi Yan smiled.

For a big aristocratic family like the Jiang family of Sea City, the chefs they hired were all gathered from outside, so their culinary skills were naturally not bad. Moreover, many of the wives and socialites of the big aristocratic families had one or two pastries or dishes that they were good at, and Jiang Rui would be no exception.

She didn’t need to make them herself, but she had to know how to cook.

Of course, the prerequisite was that Jiang Rui was not an idiot in the kitchen.

“Then I won’t treat you to pastries. I’ll treat you to something else. It’s almost time for dinner.”

Jiang Rui didn’t refuse this time.

She didn’t want Shi Yan to spend money, but she also didn’t want Shi Yan to feel that she couldn’t even afford a meal in Jiang Rui’s eyes, which would hurt Shi Yan’s self-esteem.

It was just a meal. She just needed to find a cheaper shop.

*

Meanwhile, at the Shen Embroidery House.

After Shi Yan and Jiang Rui left, no new customers entered the shop. Only Shen Miao and Shen Yuying were left.

Shen Miao sat down on the sofa in the resting area. Shen Yuying was still standing.

“Master, Fifth Master and that Miss Shi Yan...”

Shen Yuying obviously hesitated for a long time before she opened her mouth. However, just as she opened her mouth, Shen Miao raised her eyes to look at her and stopped her from continuing.

“It’s best that we don’t ask too much about Ah Che’s matters. Otherwise, he won’t even care about us in the end.”

Hearing Shen Miao’s words, Shen Yuying was secretly shocked.

She was used to seeing that master being gentle and elegant in front of her master. She almost forgot what kind of person he originally was. If she really crossed the line and asked about his matters, it would be a light punishment for him to ignore them. If he were to be angered, it would be difficult to end things.

“Master, I understand. I’ve just never seen the Fifth Master treat anyone so differently. I can’t help but feel a little curious. I’m only saying these things in front of you.”

“You’re not the only one curious. I’m curious too.”

As she spoke, Shen Miao said thoughtfully, “Speaking of which, this Shi Yan seems somewhat familiar to me. I don’t know where I’ve seen her before.”

“She came to our shop before, about twenty days ago. At that time, you were receiving other customers, so you probably didn’t notice.”

“So she came to our shop before. No wonder I felt that she looked a little familiar.”

Shen Miao suddenly thought of something and looked at Shen Yuying, her eyes becoming more serious. “Ah Che has been outstanding since he was young. No one can compare to him in terms of his abilities, looks, and bearing. There are many girls who admire him.

“Yuying, you’ve been by my side since you were young. Although you don’t often interact with Ah Che, because of me, you can be considered to be familiar with him. You...”

Before she could finish her sentence, Shen Yuying’s face turned white in an instant. She even shuddered violently.

“Master, why would you have such thoughts? That’s Fifth Master Jiang! If it wasn’t for you by my side, I wouldn’t even dare to stand in front of him. Do you have any thoughts towards him? Please spare me.

“To exaggerate a little, in my eyes, Fifth Master is like the bright moon in the sky and the land... The Immortals of the nine heavens can only be looked up to, and I don’t dare to blaspheme!”

She was so excited that she almost blurted out what she was thinking.

Master treated the Fifth Master as her own junior. It was somewhat inappropriate for her to describe the Fifth Master as the god of killing in the land in front of her master.

Hearing her say this, Shen Miao’s serious gaze finally stopped, and she laughed lightly.

“Master is relieved that you think so. Although Ah Che is an outstanding child, he is not suitable for you. Ever since Master adopted you by her side, you are clearly your Master’s, but in Master’s heart, you are my daughter. Master doesn’t want you to torment yourself.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Of course, if Ah Che is interested in you, then Master...”

Without waiting for her to finish speaking, Shen Yuying waved her hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. She said in shock, “Don’t, don’t, don’t! Master, I can’t take it! Don’t make wild guesses. Because of you, Fifth Master and I have known each other for more than ten years. If I wanted to be interested, I would have done it long ago. I wouldn’t have waited until now.”

Shen Miao smiled. “I wasn’t afraid that you would be tempted in the past because Ah Che didn’t mean it. Now that he treats other girls differently, I...”

“Master!” Shen Yuying was speechless. She stamped her feet anxiously.

“Alright, alright. Master won’t tease you anymore. As long as you don’t have such thoughts, Master will be at ease. As for Ah Che and that girl called Shi Yan, let Ah Che go. We’ll just watch.”

Shen Yuying regained her serious expression and walked to the other side of the sofa to sit down.

“But Master, I’ve heard a lot of rumors about Miss Shi Yan. She’s an orphan who grew up in the countryside without parents... I mentioned this not to say that she’s not worthy of master five or anything. After all, one’s birth is not something that can be decided by oneself. Just like myself. If I hadn’t met Master and received your adoption and guidance, I still wouldn’t know what I would be like now.

“On the contrary, I think that Miss Shi Yan and Fifth Master are a perfect match in terms of looks and temperament. Naturally, the prerequisite is that Fifth Master likes her.

“I’m afraid that if they really have too many interactions and even get together in the end, Miss Shi Yan, who doesn’t have a solid background to protect her, will become a breakthrough for others to suppress Fifth Master, and Miss Shi Yan herself will be in danger.”