Simeon looked at her with burning eyes, afraid she would suddenly say it was all a joke. Ran stepped forward and gently hugged him, feeling his body tense instantly. She patted his back with sympathy and nestled in his arms, softly saying, "Tomorrow we will tell the village chief and Madam He. I will personally go to the matchmaker's to propose."
"Really?" Simeon was a little incredulous. Though he was a man and already a scholar, his status was still a bit low. Ran still looked like a gentleman, which made his heart race.
If her female identity was revealed, many gentlemen would flock to her, some with high rank and power. Thinking of this, Simeon felt anxious. He hugged Ran tightly, afraid she would disappear if he let go.
"It's true!" Ran gently rubbed against his chest, feeling its warmth and pounding heart. She felt full inside. "I didn't tell you at first because I didn't want to disturb you before the spring exam."
"Now that we have come this far, there's nothing to hide." Simeon asked nervously, "Ran, how old are you this year?" He didn't know her exact age but guessed she was not very young.
"I'm twenty years old!" Ran understood what he worried about. When she first came, she didn't know much and had already registered her age officially. It's impossible to change now.
After hearing her age, Simeon felt as if the sky was falling. He had just learned her identity, and they had just confessed feelings. Now he faced such a dilemma.
Suddenly, Simeon thought of her previous husband. He had believed she was a gentleman and trusted her story about fleeing. Now knowing her real identity, he recalled her difficulties and felt a surge of anger.
How did her husband protect her? And after so long, no one came looking for her. Ran saw he was silent and didn't know what he was thinking.
She noticed his bad mood, even anger burning like fire. "Simeon, what's wrong?" Ran asked worriedly. "How dare they treat you like this?!"
He looked at her with red eyes, full of pity. "Them? Who are they?" Ran was confused, not understanding what he was imagining now.
"Your... former husband!" Though pained, Simeon spoke. "They didn't protect you. Letting you suffer so much is unforgivable!"
"Are you mistaken?" Ran broke free from his arms and looked at his unwilling expression. She wanted to smile but didn't dare to. Afraid to upset him, she decided to explain honestly.
"I actually don't have a husband. Before you, I was never so close to any gentleman. So don't imagine things."
"What?" Simeon stared wide-eyed in disbelief. "You don't have a husband!" It was no wonder he was shocked.
In his knowledge, no female lord at twenty had no husband. In this world with few women, many female lords had several husbands from birth. Many had concubines by their teens and married as soon as they came of age.
At twenty, most would have multiple husbands and countless concubines in their rear palace. Even his mother was like that.
Now, Ran actually told him that she was already twenty-five and didn't even have a single husband.
How could that not shock him?
But after the shock came even more surprise and joy. He never expected that the wife he brought home was actually a virgin.
"No!" Ran firmly nodded. This was her first time falling in love.
Before the apocalypse, she had just graduated from university. Because of her looks, she never lacked admirers.
But she didn't want to date. She always rejected them right away because she only wanted to study hard and earn recognition.
She never expected that just after stepping out of university, the apocalypse came.
After that, she spent every day trying to survive and had no time for love at all.
That's why Simeon was the first man she ever liked.
As soon as Ran finished speaking, she looked up and saw Simeon grinning foolishly.
"Pfft!"
Ran looked at his silly smile and couldn't help but laugh. It was her first time seeing the always gentle scholar look like that.
In her eyes, he had always been a smart and well-mannered man. His every move had always been calm and proper. This might be the first time in his life he had shown such a silly expression.
Looking at the bright smile on Ran's face, Simeon felt warmth fill his chest. His eyes uncontrollably fell on her rosy lips, and he suddenly remembered that quick kiss.
Thinking of that soft and fragrant feeling, Simeon felt like he was burning all over. His gaze darkened, and his Adam's apple moved on its own.
"T-Then you should rest well tonight! I'll go to Father's room tonight." As soon as he finished, he turned and quickly walked out before Ran could respond, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.
Standing outside in the cold wind, Simeon took a deep breath to calm his restless heart.
If he had stayed in the room just now, he was really afraid he would have done something.
Ran blinked her big eyes and looked at the tightly closed door, still not quite reacting. What... what just happened to him?
But since he had already left, and it was getting late, Ran thought whatever she wanted to say could wait until tomorrow.
She yawned, stretched, took off her outer robe, and got into bed, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket.
Lying on the bed, Ran couldn't help but think about that kiss just now. Her fingers touched her soft lips, and the corners of her mouth lifted into a wide smile.
"Aiya! So embarrassing!"
Ran thought of Simeon's handsome face and gentle manner, then remembered that brief kiss again. Her cheeks turned red as she rolled around in bed with the blanket wrapped around her.
Simeon had never left the doorway.
Listening to the sounds from the room, he smiled softly with a look of confidence in his eyes.
"Ran, you came to provoke me first! I will hold on to you tightly. Even if you regret it later, I will never let go."
The room stayed completely silent. Simeon gave the tightly shut door one last look. Then he turned and left.
The next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Ran got up to train her powers. She wasn't sure if it was because the village was so close to the mountains, but it felt like this place was perfect for her cultivation. After training for an hour, the sunlight finally broke through the clouds and spilled down.
Ran stood bathed in golden light, her whole figure glowing so beautifully it could take one's breath away. Simeon had just opened the door when he saw this scene. He didn't even dare approach, afraid of disturbing her.
Even though he had studied at the academy since he was young, and female nobles often visited the instructors there, so he had seen many noblewomen, he had never met anyone as stunning as her. She looked like a divine goddess who had descended to the mortal world. He felt like he had been lucky enough to stumble across something unreal.
Ever since he found out she was a noblewoman, Simeon hadn't slept the entire night. He was terrified it was all a dream. If he closed his eyes, everything might disappear.
He tossed and turned in bed, images of her flashing through his mind—angry, laughing, blushing. But what stuck with him most was the first time he saw her. She had been covered in wounds, thin to the point of almost no flesh on her bones, and in an awful state.
Every time he shut his eyes, all he could see was her injured body. He knew very well that with Ran's beauty and kind nature, she would attract plenty of predators. Right now, he had neither the power nor the wealth to protect her.
Even though the laws in Da Qian were strict, there were still missing noblewomen cases every year. If Ran's identity was exposed, her looks alone would put her in danger. And yet, he still couldn't protect her.
He had spent the entire night thinking about it and had no choice but to face the truth. He had to swallow the pain in his heart. He needed another man to help him protect her.
He stood outside her door for a long time, hesitating. He still didn't know how to bring it up. For now, he could only push the thoughts away and go in to help her wash up.
But the moment he stepped inside, he saw her bathed in golden light. Simeon's heart jumped in panic. He was afraid she would float away like a celestial being.
He rushed forward and pulled her into his arms. With red eyes, he whispered softly, "Ran, don't go. Don't leave me."
Ran opened her eyes and heard the choking sound in his voice. She didn't know what he had been imagining again, but she gently patted his back and comforted him softly. "Don't be afraid. I'm here. I've always been here."
Only after his emotions slowly calmed down did Ran push him away. Seeing his red eyes made her feel heavy inside. She couldn't help but reach out and gently touch the corner of his eye.
She asked in a soft voice, "What happened to you just now? Did something go wrong?" Simeon stared at her, unwilling to even blink in case she vanished.
He held her soft little hand and forced out a smile as he said, "Nothing. I was just afraid this was a dream. I was scared you didn't want me anymore."
"How could that be? Didn't we already agree? We'll visit Madam He today, and I'll personally propose, alright?"
Ran couldn't stand seeing him unhappy. Seeing his red eyes now made her even more reluctant to upset him. She could only speak gently to soothe him.
"Alright." Hearing Ran say it again, Simeon finally felt at peace inside.
He smiled and picked up a nearby coat. He said to Ran, "Ran, today I will help you change your clothes."
"No, no need!" Ran felt very uncomfortable seeing him act like a good husband. She quickly took the coat and put on her shoes.
"Ran, do you not like me?" Simeon lowered his eyelids and fluttered his thick eyelashes as he said softly, "If you don't like me, you can just tell me. You don't need to force yourself."
"I don't dislike you!" Ran didn't understand what was wrong with him. Just now, he was still lively. Why did he get so upset just because she wouldn't let him help her dress?
"Since you like me, why don't you let me help you?" Simeon said quietly, his tone full of grievance.
"I just don't like being helped by others!" Ran sighed helplessly and took his hand to leave the room.
"But here, only the wife who doesn't like someone lets them not get close to help!" Hearing her say she was uncomfortable with someone helping closely, Simeon's eyes flashed with bright light. Still, he pretended to be hurt as he spoke.
Ran looked at him, feeling a little headache. Although she did not understand some of the situations here, she still knew some things. At this moment, she only felt deep helplessness.
She had to admit, the men in this world really had no shame!
While she was lost in thought, Simeon brought a basin of hot water. He wrung out a steaming towel and handed it to her.
To avoid making him feel wronged again, Ran had no choice but to accept the towel and quickly finished washing up. Then she finally relaxed.
Simeon had prepared breakfast early, and the temperature was just right.
To help her get nutrition, he steamed an egg custard especially for her.
He placed the egg custard in front of Ran and looked at her with bright eyes like a big dog waiting for praise from its owner.
"Thank you! It tastes very good. I really like it!" Ran took a bite and couldn't help but give him a thumbs up. She sincerely praised, "Simeon, your cooking is really great! This egg custard has no fishy smell at all!"
"You like it. I will cook it for you often from now on!" Simeon was even happier seeing her truly like it, and his mouth couldn't help but lift into a smile.
Ran looked at him and smiled in her heart. She thought that if he had a tail, it might be wagging like a helicopter propeller now!
After breakfast, Ran took firecrackers and a bag of sesame candies and went to the new house with Simeon.
"Oh! The owner is here!" Master Chen saw Ran and quickly came over to greet her.
"Master Chen, these are two strings of firecrackers and a bag of sesame candies. Please help hand out the candies when we raise the beam today to add some joy." She was about to take the firecrackers and candies from Simeon but found that he had already handed them to Master Chen.
"The owner is really generous!" Master Chen rarely saw anyone hand out sesame candies when raising the beam for a house. He nodded repeatedly inside and said quickly, "Owner, don't worry! I promise to take good care of this!"
"No trouble at all, Master Chen!" Ran smiled.
"Owner, you're polite. This is what I should do!" Master Chen said humbly with a smile.
Because she was in a hurry to visit Simeon's parents, Ran only glanced at the nearly finished house.
She briefly talked with Master Chen before leaving.
Since Simeon was home, the family's carriage was also there.
The distance to Suzhou city was not close.
Before, when he was not home, it did not matter.
Now that he was home and knew Ran's identity, he did not want her to walk anymore.
Before leaving, Simeon had already told Uncle Wang to park the carriage at the door, ready for their return to depart.
He carefully helped Ran into the carriage under Uncle Wang's shocked gaze, then followed and sat inside.
Ran lifted the curtain and was shocked by the carriage's decoration!
She had once ridden in Simeon's carriage before.
At that time, there was only a small tea table piled with books.
Now, the carriage was lined with thick, soft white rabbit fur.
Beside it was a bright red fur coat.
The books were placed aside, and on the tea table was a small stove with a purple clay teapot on it.
Next to the stove were tea sets, and beside them was a food box.
The whole carriage looked warm and comfortable.
Ran sat down and looked around at the decorations.
She lightly touched the soft carpet on the floor.
Even though she did not know the price, she guessed it could not be cheap.
Simeon saw this and was happy to see her pleased.
Last night, he tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
He thought of Ran visiting his family today and worried the empty carriage would be uncomfortable for her.
So he spent the whole night decorating it to be warm and cozy.
Fortunately, she liked it very much.
"Do you like it?" He asked, wanting to hear her say it.
Ran smiled brightly and nodded with sparkling eyes.
"I like it! When did you decorate it?"
"Just last night! I'm glad you like it!"
Simeon smiled and poured her a cup of hot water.
He was not the type to keep quiet about what he did for his wife.
He wanted her to know how much he cared.
As he thought, Ran looked touched.
Her delicate hand held his rough one.
She said softly, "Thank you, Simeon!"
"As long as you like it, it's all worth it!" He smiled, squeezing her hand gently with affection.
The carriage filled with warmth and love, as if pink bubbles floated in the air.
Outside, Uncle Wang heard the sounds and felt mixed emotions.
He had worked as a coachman for the Simeon family for a long time.
When Simeon went to Bailu Academy, Uncle Wang gave Simeon's aunt to him.
He had watched Simeon grow up.
But he never imagined the gentle, noble young master would be... a homosexual.
How could he face the family head?
Just thinking about the consequences made Uncle Wang's face turn pale.
Still, despite his reluctance, he obediently drove the carriage toward the Simeon residence.
Because it was a carriage, they entered the city through the main gate after inspection.
"Uncle Wang, stop in front of Shiwei Restaurant first!"