Chapter 205: Intimacy

The breakfast shop attendant delivered breakfast as usual.

As he was about to leave, a young and beautiful married woman walked up beside him.

"Young man..." Jiang Yihuan blocked the attendant’s path, "Can you deliver an extra portion for me tomorrow?"

Saying this, Jiang Yihuan stuffed broken silver into the attendant’s hand.

The attendant quickly pushed it back, declining, "Sorry, ma’am, you have to queue at our shop. We don’t do deliveries."

"If you don’t do deliveries, what are you doing here? You’ve been delivering lately, and now you say your shop doesn’t deliver breakfast?"

"Young Master Zhou is different. It’s the boss’s special orders," said the attendant and swiftly left.

Jiang Yihuan stamped her foot as she watched the attendant’s retreating figure.

She had queued up yesterday, but after waiting for half an hour, it was sold out when her turn arrived. She burst into tears on the spot, accusing them of bullying. She thought other customers would take this chance to cause a fuss, but one by one, they quietly left, seemingly accustomed to this situation.

Later, she found out that the shop’s business was excellent, not just during the exam season, but it was always like this. Buying their breakfast required persistence and a bit of luck.

"If you don’t eat this, are you going to starve to death or drool to death?" came Xiao Yanci’s disdainful voice.

Jiang Yihuan froze on the spot.

She couldn’t believe such harsh words came from Xiao Yanci’s mouth.

Although lately, his mood was worsening, and his temper was becoming stranger, it wasn’t to the point of being this harsh.

Where had his previous grace and demeanor gone? The current Xiao Yanci no longer had the warmth of the past, looking rather unpleasant.

"Brother Xiao, you’re really too much." Jiang Yihuan looked at him with tearful eyes and ran out, feeling wronged.

Xiao Yanci opened his mouth, a flash of regret in his eyes.

What was wrong with him just now?

How could he have spoken such words?

It must be the pressure of entering the exam hall, along with the shadow of the past lingering over him, causing his temper to be out of control.

Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu walked out from inside.

"Are you really not going to the poetry gathering with the other students today?"

Zhou Wangshu said, "No, I’m taking a stroll with you. I drank too much yesterday, and my head still hurts. I don’t feel like socializing with them."

"Yesterday, when I was talking business with Cui Rong in various shops, I saw a fabric store with particularly beautiful patterns. Our county doesn’t have such good quality. Since you’re not socializing with the students, be my helper, and we’ll buy some to take back for my family."

"Do I get any?"

"When have I ever skipped you?"

Xiao Yanci returned to the inner room, holding a book and reading.

His eyes rested on the book, but his mind was elsewhere. Those memories, though far away, were replaying vividly now.

In his past life, Su Yaoguang also accompanied him to the provincial examination, but at that time, he was full of vigor, adored by many. He looked down on her for being unsophisticated, never taking her out. When fellow candidates visited and asked about her identity, he only said she was a servant. When she bought him things, he criticized her choices. She wanted to visit the provincial city’s markets, but even after the examination ended, he never agreed.

It turned out her affection was never exclusively for him. Now that she’s with another man, she treats him like a treasure, presenting her very best.

No, even better than she did with him.

In his past life, he never had such good fortune.

Why?

How could Su Yaoguang thrive after leaving him?

He must become the Champion Scholar, parade gloriously in the streets, to let her know what she missed out on.

Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu exited the clothing shop. They had changed into different attire compared to when they entered.

The shopkeeper enthusiastically saw them off.

"Shopkeeper, we’re still going out to have fun, please send the clothes we bought to our current residence tomorrow."

"No problem."

The two prepared for their next stop, turning to see Zhong Chushan, Chen Buyu, and others, with over a dozen students behind them.

Zhang Linglong was among them.

"You said you had a hangover and wanted to rest at home today. When did you move house without us knowing, moving here?" Zhong Chushan teased.

"Brother Zhong, Brother Zhou just wants to spend time with his sister-in-law, let him be," said another teasingly.

Zhou Wangshu put his arm around Su Yaoguang’s shoulder, openly admitting, "I just want to accompany our Yaoguang, so what? There’s no shortage of guys in your gathering, but Yaoguang is new here. Of course, I should consider her feelings."

"Brat." The group joked and laughed.

"Sister-in-law, since we ran into each other, why not have a meal together!" suggested one student.

"Sure!" Su Yaoguang said, "He can’t join you, but I can take his place, and we’ll treat everyone to this meal."

"Then let’s go to the Mingyue Building!" Zhang Linglong suggested, "It’s the best restaurant in the provincial city, but I wonder if it’s convenient, I heard it’s a bit expensive."

"No problem," Su Yaoguang replied.

"Yaoguang, that restaurant has been fully booked lately, we probably can’t get a table," Chen Buyu noted.

"Are you silly? Isn’t that restaurant owned by Cui Rong’s aunt? We went there on our first day here," Zhong Chushan remarked.

"Right, I almost forgot. But Cui Rong isn’t here today! Without him, we don’t know if they’ll give Yaoguang any face."

The group headed to the Mingyue Building. As soon as they entered, the shopkeeper came up and recognized Su Yaoguang, whispering a few words to her.

After a moment, Su Yaoguang returned and told the group, "The shopkeeper says they’re fully booked."

Zhang Linglong smirked, eyes full of schadenfreude, "Oh, I thought you had a way, but it seems this meal is off."

Zhang Fengyi frowned and tugged at Zhang Linglong, "Can’t you stop instigating?"

Then he mediated, "Actually, dining anywhere is the same. I see several nearby restaurants have available seats. Why not find a spot and have a casual meal?"

"No need. I told the shopkeeper to offer three times the price to vacate the boss’s private guest room for us. The shopkeeper agreed," Su Yaoguang said, "Last time we visited the boss’s private room as a friend of the boss’s nephew, and we were personally entertained by the boss. Since my friend isn’t here today, I can’t go on his behalf, and spending some money seems more straightforward."

"Sister-in-law is so generous!" A student next to Zhong Chushan asked, "What’s sister-in-law’s occupation to be so wealthy?"

"If you had ever been to our county, you’d know who she is. Her shop is the hottest in our area, and she has a plaque awarded by the government. Over there, she is this..." Chen Buyu raised his thumb. "Don’t be fooled by Wang Shu’s good looks, he’s really lucked out with her."