Mistaken Husband After Blindness

It felt as if a stack of soft pillows was pressing against his chest.

Even though Yan Shuheng had never been this close to a woman before, he understood why he felt this way.

He quickly masked the momentary stiffness.

Si also realized what had happened. She hadn’t intended to get so close earlier, but she couldn’t see clearly and took a step forward just as he stepped toward her.

The two collided heavily.

It was truly awkward.

Si didn’t have time to worry about the soreness in her chest from the impact. She took a step back, wincing in pain. “Why do you always do this? Last time you bumped into me, my waist was sore for days. This time, you almost flattened me…”

She didn’t notice how suggestive her words sounded.

The young man’s tone softened, a hint of amusement fading.

“Does my wife always have such thoughts in her mind?”

Si didn’t respond. Instead, she took the opportunity to measure the difference in their heights by reaching up to his head.

Her hand rested just below his jaw.

Yan Shuheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he was about to step back when she grabbed his arms. “Don’t move. I’m not done yet.”

Yan Shuheng relaxed his body.

Si tried to recall the difference in height between herself and Jiang Hui, but she hadn’t paid much attention before. She only remembered that she used to reach about his jawline.

It was roughly the same now.

She then pinched his shoulders and arms.

They were lean but firm and strong, similar to what she had seen when he was changing clothes before.

She also remembered that Jiang Hui had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, agile like a young leopard. Trying to suppress her embarrassment, she wrapped her arms around his back to measure his waist.

He was a bit slimmer than before, but not by much.

As she pondered, Yan Shuheng spoke with a touch of melancholy, “I’ve been weak since my injury and haven’t fully recovered. I hope my wife won’t find me too frail.”

“I could never think that. I’m more worried about you than anything else.” Si felt a wave of relief. How could there be two people with such similar voices and builds? As for whether he had a mole on his chest, there was no need to check anymore.

Just as she was about to withdraw her hands, he gently held them.

Si tried to pull away. “What are you doing…”

“If you’re going to measure, you should do it thoroughly, inch by inch. Otherwise, you might doubt me again someday, and that would harm our relationship.” Yan Shuheng’s hands moved slowly along Si’s forearms, gripping her hands.

He guided her, using his knuckles to measure bit by bit, until Si was forced to wrap her arms around his waist, holding him tightly without any space between them.

Her ears burned, the heat spreading like wildfire from her earlobes to her cheeks.

She remained motionless.

Whether it was intentional or not, they stood there embracing, like lovers, though their thoughts were far apart.

In the past, even calling him “husband” would make his ears turn red. Now, the tables had turned.

Si wasn’t willing to let him have the upper hand.

She deliberately pressed her fingers into the dip at the small of his back.

The hands gripping hers tightened abruptly, and his breathing hitched.

Si quickly let go and took two steps back.

Like a child caught doing something wrong, she looked up timidly. “Did I upset you just now? Or did I press on your injury? I… I heard you gasp.”

Yan Shuheng was at a loss for words, amused by the fox disguised as a rabbit before him.

He nodded, then remembered she couldn’t see and said, “It’s fine. I just have some arrangements to make for tomorrow’s trip. Rest well, and I’ll come to pick you up early in the morning.”

Si nodded. “I’ll wait for you.”

“Good.” Yan Shuheng patted her head.

After he left, he paused in the courtyard, glancing back at the room. Si was still standing there, listening intently to confirm he had gone. She let out a long exhale and rubbed her flushed cheeks.

Good, she could still feel embarrassed.

Just as Yan Shuheng was about to turn away, he saw Si purse her lips and smirk, looking like a mischievous little fox who had gotten her way.

He shook his head helplessly and walked away.

When he returned to Qingzhu Garden, the lights were still on.

Po Wu reported what Lady Li had said and asked, “Young Master, we’ve sent people to Zhushan before but found nothing. The assassin is so secretive, yet a familiar face saw him. Could it be a diversion? Should we send more people?”

Yan Shuheng thought for a moment. “Send a few dozen workers from the villa to Zhushan, pretending to be elite guards. Hide the rest in the supply carriages in case they’re trying to mislead us.”

That night, Qingzhu Garden’s lights stayed on for a long time.

Yan Shuheng worked late before finally resting. Under the quiet moonlight, the young man lay on a bamboo cot, his eyes closed. Suddenly, he raised a hand and lightly touched his chest.

The thin sleeping robe conveyed the warmth of his skin to his fingertips, and the scar beneath the fabric felt distinct.

The dull pain of a sword piercing his chest felt all too real.

Yan Shuheng’s long lashes fluttered open, like a soft sword unsheathing under the moonlight, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. But as a gentle breeze passed, his gaze returned to its usual calm and warmth.

He smiled.

He should be grateful for his voice.

The next morning, Si woke up early.

She had tossed and turned all night, not because of the upcoming journey, but because of the embrace from the day before.

It wasn’t their first time being so close.

But this time, even with layers of clothing between them, it felt strange—strange enough to keep her awake.

After breakfast, Yan Shuheng arrived as promised. He brought her a slender bamboo cane, polished smooth and easy to handle.

Si tapped the ground with the cane. “It’s quite handy, but it feels a bit odd.”

Yan Shuheng chuckled. “How so?”

Si sat in a reclining chair, resting her chin on her hands, which were propped on the cane. She sighed dramatically, “It makes me feel like I’ve aged decades all of a sudden.”

Yan Shuheng laughed.

Hearing his laughter, Si’s eyes sparkled, and she added, “But I’ve thought of a way to make a living if things ever get tough.”

Yan Shuheng was intrigued. “What’s the plan? Let’s hear it. Maybe we can work together.”

Si’s lips curled into a smile, her tone noticeably brighter. “If my husband joins me, it’ll be even better. You have a nice voice, so you can be a storyteller. As for me, I’m blind and frail, so I’ll just sit by your feet with a bowl to collect money.”

Yan Shuheng tapped her forehead lightly. “You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you? I do the work, and you collect the money.”

Si rubbed her forehead, hiding her slyness. “The money will be ours anyway. Why split it so clearly? That would only create distance between us.”

Yan Shuheng tapped her forehead again, but as his finger touched her skin, he looked down and met her clear, gentle eyes, unbound by the usual ribbon.

He withdrew his hand indulgently.

“Fine, all the earnings will go to you.”

After a quick packing, the two, along with Zhuyuan, boarded a carriage to the dock.

The area was remote, with only one dock between Zhuxi and Zhushan, about twenty miles from Zhuxi.

The narrow road made for a slow and bumpy ride. As they passed a tea stall, Yan Shuheng pulled Si aside. “There’s a tea stall here. Would you like to stretch your legs?”

Si, feeling queasy from the ride, agreed.

They sat at a crude wooden table, surrounded by silent guards. The tea seller, a limping man, approached obsequiously to pour tea but was stopped by the guards a few feet away.

The man stammered, “W-what’s going on?”

Po Wu, unable to explain, handed him a silver coin and gestured for him to leave.

The man stepped aside, and the guards set up their own tea set on the table. Yan Shuheng poured a cup for Si. “You haven’t had water all morning. Have some to soothe your throat.”

Si took the cup but hesitated. Unaware that it was Yan Shuheng’s personal tea set, she found the tea seller’s stammering suspicious. Out of caution, she set the cup down without drinking. “I’m not thirsty. Jiang Hui, it’s a bit chilly outside. Let’s head back.”

The sudden change in how she addressed him made Yan Shuheng frown slightly, but he replied gently, “Alright.”

They left the tea stall but didn’t board the carriage right away. Yan Shuheng asked, “Why didn’t you drink the tea, and why did you call me by name? You usually call me ‘husband.’”

Si led him back to the carriage and whispered, “Husband, that tea seller seemed suspicious.”

Yan Shuheng asked slowly, “How so?”

She explained, “He was stammering and didn’t seem honest. You’ve mentioned that there are many shady places along the road. I was just being careful.”

Yan Shuheng smiled. “I see. But don’t worry. He’s just a stutterer.”

Or perhaps he was intimidated by the number of guards.

Si finally relaxed.

The carriage disappeared along the winding path, and the limping man watched the tracks fade into the distance before hobbling into the woods behind him.

Deep within the forest, a young man clad in dark robes stood tall, his long sword glinting coldly under the sunlight. Hearing the uneven footsteps, the young man turned around, revealing a handsome yet aloof face.

"How did it go?"

His voice was clear and melodious.

But perhaps due to his indifferent gaze, his words carried the same chill as the cold sword in his hand.

The limping man snapped out of his daze.

In a solemn tone, he replied, "Though few in number, they are all elites. It was impossible to get close."

The dark-robed man nodded faintly.

After a moment, a hint of uncertainty crept into his voice, revealing a trace of gentleness that was almost imperceptible.

"And her?"

The limping man knew exactly who he was asking about. He had clearly heard the name "Jiang Hui" earlier, and now, upon hearing his young master's tone, he understood the situation fully.

But after some consideration, he said, "The young lady seems to be quite favored by Yan Shuheng. She has already started calling him 'husband.'"

The young man slowly raised his eyes.

He said nothing, only stared at the limping man with a gaze as sharp as a blade, his star-like eyes cold and distant.

The limping man felt a chill run down his spine under that stare.

Just as he began to feel uneasy, a flash of cold light caught his eye.

He stared in shock at the sword now pointed at him, exclaiming, "Young master, what is the meaning of this?!"

The dark-robed man's voice remained emotionless.

"You know why."

The limping man decided to lay his cards on the table. "Indeed, I lied. The young lady believes the man by her side is you. But have you forgotten the master's instructions? A true man should not fret over the lack of a wife. Only a heart of stone can achieve great things!

"You've already failed once. If you truly had the resolve, you should have used the young lady as bait from the start. Are you really going to choose being a husband over being a great man—"

Before he could finish, a sharp pain pierced his neck.