Diamond Hairpin

The meal was a joyous one.

Zhu Yang and Jiang Danhe went off to have a chat after dinner.

Xiaoyang and Xiaoguo stayed beside the two sleeping children.

Zhuang Zhuang could not stand Zhu Ming pestering Xiaoguo, so he took the initiative to talk to the boy and invited him to play.

Xiaoguo saw the smile on Zhuang Zhuang’s face before he left. She was a little worried for the innocent Zhu Ming. Although Little Zhu Ming was playful, in Xiaoguo’s eyes, he was a carefree, innocent, and kind person. On the other hand, Zhuang Zhuang was not as innocent as he looked. She reckoned that three of Zhu Ming placed together would be no match for her son.

Earlier on when they were in the carriage and Xiaoguo had just finished buying the longevity lock, Jiang Danhe told her belatedly that Zhu Yang had three kids who were about the same age. It is not very polite to prepare a gift for only one child. However, they were almost reaching Zhu Yang’s place when Xiaoguo found out about this. It would be unrealistic for them to turn back. Therefore Xiaoguo could only wait for a suitable opportunity to hand over the gift.

Seeing that there was no one else in the room, Xiaoguo took out the longevity lock she had bought. When they first arrived, she didn’t get the chance to give it to Xiaoyang. Later on, with the children around, it wasn’t appropriate for Xiaoguo to bring out the gift either.

“This is for the baby.” Xiaoguo took out the wrapped gift and handed it to Xiaoyang. “It’s a longevity lock, for good luck. I hope she lives to a ripe old age as this lock implies.”

Xiaoguo was not very good with words, so she gave her most sincere blessings.

Xiao Yang happily took the longevity lock and looked at it carefully. She liked it very much. “Thank you. It’s really beautiful!”

As she spoke, she put on the longevity lock for the sleeping girl.

The little girl seemed to have sensed her mother’s touch in her sleep. She moved her head and as a result, Xiaoyang was able to put it on easily.

This small gesture made the two adults chuckle.

–

“Let’s go back.”

Jiang Danhe waved his hand and got into the carriage.

Xiaoyang didn’t come out because she could not be exposed to the elements during her confinement. Zhu Yang and Zhu Ming stood at the door and watched the carriage leave.

Zhu Ming was all teared up. He really couldn’t bear to part with this beautiful aunt.

Zhu Yang waved at the carriage again. He did not know when they would meet again. As he was stationed in Luoyang City, he could hardly leave the place. Therefore, there were not many chances for him to meet Jiang Danhe.

Zhu Yang gave out a sigh, causing Zhu Ming to look at him in confusion. Zhu Yang shook his head and did not speak. He rubbed the boy’s head and said, “Let’s go back.”

Zhu Ming was still young. He wouldn’t understand even if he told him the reason.

Zhu Ming shrugged and followed Zhu Yang back to the mansion. “Father, can I go to Miss Xiaohua’s place tomorrow?”

Zhu Yang’s legs went weak and he almost fell to his knees. The veins on his forehead were bulging. He gathered energy towards his feet and a miracle happened.

“Ah!!!!”

A shrill cry sounded in the air, startling the birds from their resting place in the darkness.

“Call Aunt Hua!”

Zhu Yang exhaled and said calmly.

–

Zhuang Zhuang was still young, and his energy had run out by nighttime. When he got on the carriage, he leaned against Xiaoguo and fell asleep.

When it was time to get off the carriage, Jiang Danhe picked up Zhuang Zhuang while Xiaoguo headed to the room first. She laid out the blankets so that the boy could be transferred to the bed.

Once his body touched the bed, Zhuang Zhuang rolled over and snuggled into the blanket. Jiang Danhe deftly brought some water and dampened a clean towel before handing it to Xiaoguo.

Xiaoguo took the towel from him and gave Zhuang Zhuang a simple wipe-down. At first, Zhuang Zhuang refused to cooperate because he was sleepy. Xiaoguo tried comforting him in a low voice, but he was still unwilling. Seeing this, Jiang Danhe held on to Zhuang Zhuang’s swaying head with his big hands so that Xiaoguo could wipe his face.

Xiaoguo took the opportunity to quickly clean the boy’s face.

After she was done, the two of them let go of Zhuang Zhuang and held their breaths.

Now that he was released, Zhuang Zhuang snorted unhappily and rolled on his side, showing his back view to the two of them.

Xiaoguo and Jiang Danhe smiled secretly, but they kept their voices down in fear that they would wake Zhuang Zhuang up. However, they accidentally made a slight sound that made Zhuang Zhuang snort in dissatisfaction.

At this moment, the bond between the three of them was getting stronger.

“Guo’er, come here.”

Jiang Danhe put down the towel in his hand and called Xiaoguo over to the table.

Xiaoguo put down the bed curtains for Zhuang Zhuang and walked over. “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Danhe patted the stool beside him and asked her to sit down.

Xiaoguo looked at the secretive Jiang Danhe in confusion. “What was he up to?”

Despite her thoughts, Xiaoguo walked over. She was a little curious.

Jiang Danhe waited for her to sit down before taking out the bag of jewelry he had bought.

“Take a look.”

Jiang Danhe handed it to her.

Xiaoguo remembered the bag when she saw it. She had completely forgotten about it. She took it from him and loosened the string.

As soon as she peeked through the bag opening, she was blinded by what was inside.

Xiaoguo shut her eyes in discomfort.

“WOW!!”

“Diamonds?!”

Xiaoguo cried out, then instinctively covered her mouth and looked around.

“Diamonds? That’s a rather apt name.”

Jiang Danhe thought that it sounded like a good name. “I saw this in that shop. But I heard from the shop assistant that it’s some kind of stone. It’s a new product.”

Xiaoguo finally understood why it was so expensive.

Jiang Danhe had bought a hairpin that was densely embedded with small diamonds. It was this hairpin that had almost blinded her.

“It has no name?”

Xiaoguo’s eyes widened with curiosity. She didn’t know that diamonds did not have a name in this era.

“I’ll put it on for you.”

Jiang Danhe picked up the hairpin and walked behind her.

Xiaoguo straightened her back nervously and waited for Jiang Danhe to put it on her.

Since she couldn’t see what was happening behind her, her other senses became much more sensitive.

Xiaoguo felt Jiang Danhe come up behind her. Immediately after, a pair of big warm hands slid over her shoulders. Xiaoguo shrank from his touch uncomfortably.

Jiang Danhe knew that he shouldn’t push it. In fact, he had been eyeing her shoulders for a long time. He gently took off the hair accessory on her head and tried to replace it with the hairpin.

The attempt did not go well. This was the first time he was doing this for a woman, so his hands were trembling uncontrollably.

It was fine for him to tremble, but it was hard on Xiaoguo because his movements were hurting her.

No matter how charming the atmosphere was just now, there was only awkwardness and pain now.

Jiang Danhe was feeling embarrassed now. The more anxious he was, the more he could not put it on.

Jiang Danhe was tugging hard on Xiaoguo’s head, and it was quite hair-consuming.

“… are you done?”

Xiaoguo couldn’t take it anymore. It was taking so long. Was he building a house?

“…Okay, okay, it’s done!”

Jiang Danhe let out a breath. Finally he got it in.

Jiang Danhe raised his hand to wipe his sweat, but as soon as he did so, he was stunned.

Xiaoguo rubbed her head—the pain was killing her. She started to get up to see if it looked good.

“… Wait a minute!”

Jiang Danhe suddenly stopped Xiaoguo.

Xiaoguo had just lifted her butt from her chair when Jiang Danhe pressed her down hard and she fell heavily onto the stool.

“Ouch!”

The pain in Xiaoguo’s head had yet to subside and now her butt was seriously injured.

“Hush, hush.”

Jiang Danhe knew that he had made a big mistake and coaxed Xiaoguo in a low voice.

Xiaoguo slapped him angrily, right on his hand.

At this moment, Xiaoguo saw a few strands of black hair wrapped around his big hand.

“…Jiang! Dan! He!!”

In consideration of Zhuang Zhuang, who was still sleeping, Xiaoguo tried to suppress her anger.

Xiaoguo was sure that she didn’t have a temper, but when it comes to Jiang Danhe, she was like a firecracker.

In the end, anger still took over.