Chapter 568: Chapter 557: Matters Between Men and Women Require Mutual Consent
Lady Xiao cried out in shock, "Impossible."
"Is it really from her?" She turned her head and asked Sese.
How could Sese explain clearly? It was her first time meeting Shen Hua.
Then the little girl spoke in a cheap tone: "What does it matter whether it’s mine or not, why ask so many questions? Just accept your fate."
Lady Xiao felt like there was a fishbone stuck in her throat.
"It’s not a big deal, Sese was happy to give it to her brother, she’s actually used to it."
"Used to it?"
Shen Hua: "Why should she get used to it?"
Lady Xiao said as a matter of course: "What are you talking about? Barging into my home and pointing fingers? She is a daughter. She should make sacrifices."
Shen Hua fell silent. She narrowed her eyes, just staring at Lady Xiao.
A certain emotion enveloped her whole body.
It’s called — sorrow.
It’s not other people who look down on women, but they themselves, who have deeply ingrained the notion that they deserve to be oppressed.
Because she had been cherished since childhood, Shen Hua felt this was wrong, while these people had long been eroded by numb thoughts.
Very annoying.
However, before leaving home, an old woman next to Mama specifically chased after her, instructing a word.
——Madam said, young lady can make a scene, but not too much, you are a little girl, and this time is the most appropriate to step forward. If Xiao Family’s parents are really only interested in profit, just by mentioning that Lady Xiao is prized by us, her days would be better ahead.
——After all, being an unmarried girl, it’s not good for us to intervene too much, nor damage the outward harmony.
Being short, Shen Hua sneered, "Don’t talk about children being ignorant, children’s ignorance can still be disciplined, adults being ignorant, that’s just outrageous."
Being trapped by an eight-year-old like this, Father Xiao dared not get angry. His mind was full of the glory and riches of the Shen Family.
Thus, he hesitated no further and gave Sese a meaningful look.
Sese bit her lip, "I..."
She had only spoken a word.
"Sister Xiao, the snacks from my residence also taste good, why not come over when you have time?"
Upon hearing this, Father Xiao was thrilled. He promptly agreed, "Of course, when we’re free. Sese hardly goes out, her mother and I always worry she might get sick from being cooped up."
Speaking of which, he seemed to have just realized it.
First, he scolded Lady Xiao.
"Ignorant woman! This was Quan’s fault. Look at what you’ve spoiled him into?"
And he grabbed his most beloved Xiao Quan.
"Admit your mistake!"
Xiao Quan burped, childish yet savvy, "I was wrong."
"Admit it properly!"
"What am I admitting if I wasn’t wrong? Sister is just too problematic, this isn’t allowed, that isn’t. Daddy, you’re almost done." He instantly became unhappy.
Shen Hua suppressed her scoff, she walked up to Sese briskly.
"Sister Xiao, Mama knows you’re not feeling well, she especially sent me to bring this to you."
Sese having stood for a while, felt lightheaded.
"May I know what your mother is?"
Shen Hua, as if she hadn’t heard, just seriously told her, "She really cares about you."
"Actually, if it weren’t for the mess at home that she couldn’t leave, Mama was planning to come in person."
"But she didn’t expect you to be so overlooked..."
Successfully, prompting Father Xiao to beat Xiao Quan.
"You weren’t wrong? You’re still not wrong?"
"Ah! It hurts, it hurts."
Lady Xiao rushed over, "Why are you hitting him?"
"Step aside, a loving mother spoils her son! The son is spoiled by you!"
As he spoke, another slap descended onto his back.
"Now you’re acting up like this, what can your Mama and I expect from you in the future!"
Xiao Quan cried with a mix of snot and tears.
"Look, even Miss Shen is here to see the joke."
If it were someone else, they would have found it unbearable to persuade anymore.
Shen Hua: "The beating wasn’t hard enough. Use more strength!"
She told Father Xiao, "People are inherent base, always needing a good beating to be honest. Without someone like me to protect them on top and clean up their messes, they should check on themselves how much they truly weigh. Otherwise, when they grow up, they’d probably just be unworthy vagabonds on the streets for life."
Not like her.
No matter what, she is a girl to be served.
Shen Hua looked spirited and refreshed.
"The bundle is a bit heavy, I’ll take it to Sister Xiao’s room."
Saying this, she accurately entered Xiao Sese’s room with familiarity; Xiao Sese’s brow furrowed tightly as she hurriedly followed.
Shen Hua tilted her head examining her room, and upon Xiao Sese’s entry, handed over the bundle.
Xiao Sese’s eyes met her sincere and clear ones, she pursed her lips and closed the door, blocking the seemingly non-existent gazes from outside.
"I see your dressing, it must not be of ordinary origin."
"From the way my Daddy is, I was guessing which Shen Family it might be."
"So, did you guess correctly?"
Under Shen Hua’s anticipation, Xiao Sese embarrassingly shook her head.
Fortunately, Shen Hua did not dwell too much on it. The package was bulgingly stuffed, and she opened it while still cooing about her merits.
"Yesterday when I came to your room, I saw you all sweaty, holding your stomach, suffering severe abdominal pain."
"Upon learning this, Mama prepared these. Remember to cook this brown sugar, Sister Xiao, and these red dates with longan are sweet and easy to crack open. Also, she told me to tell you to avoid cold water at night, if you really feel terrible, remember to soak your feet in hot water with ginger and mugwort before sleeping. Your body belongs to you, if you don’t take care of it, you’ll suffer."
Seeing her pale face, Shen Hua picked up the brown sugar and headed out.
Xiao Sese saw her heading towards Yicui.
Soon, the girl flitted back and forth.
"Sister Xiao, I left something in the carriage, accompany me there."
The girl peeked out halfway, eager that Xiao Sese would not refuse, and swiftly pulled her outside.
Seeing her sincere expression, Xiao Sese wasn’t suspicious. It was only when she was dizzily lured into the carriage by the girl.
then she met Shen Zhi’s gaze inside the carriage.
"Do you still remember me?"
Xiao Sese’s eyes brightened, losing some of her restlessness, and she didn’t feel uncomfortable sitting beside the youth, "Thanks to you for protecting me during the incident in the street last time."
If it weren’t for him, she would have likely been harassed by the vagabonds on the street.
She was grateful, and also did not expect to see Shen Zhi again.
But... why was the benefactor here again?
He resembled Miss Shen with his eyebrows and eyes, probably siblings.
Remembering is enough.
"That time I rescued you wasn’t merely by passing by."
Shen Zhi’s eyes trembled.
"It was because you were in trouble that I had a proper reason to appear."
Therefore, he had the chance to know her name. According to the girl he had been keeping tabs on.
—My name is Xiao Sese.
"It’s inappropriate to take you out like this, but I have to go to school tomorrow, and I really wanted to see you one last time. I wanted to ask for an answer."
He was nervous to say the least, but watching Xiao Sese, caught between leaving or not leaving, he seemed even more anxious. Shen Zhi suddenly smiled.
"Matters of men and women, even though commanded by parents, also require mutual consent. Such things, you need to nod in agreement."
"Mr. Shen."
"There’s no need for us to be strangers."
Shen Zhi, gentle as jade: "My nickname is Bai Zhou."
