trct_48

Chapter 48: Splendid Attire

After returning from the Lu residence, Ji Qingzhou first went back to his bedroom, placing today's earnings into the upper drawer of the left bedside cabinet, stacking them neatly together with the shop's previous income. Finally, he counted it all once more, confirming it came to one hundred ninety yuan.

He then opened the lower drawer, where the allowance Shen Nanqi had given him was kept—sure enough, thirty-two silver dollars remained.

He took out two to put in his bag, to be used as spending money alongside the remaining copper coins, then closed the drawer, took off his backpack, and, out of habit, checked the time. Seeing it wasn't yet lunchtime, he instinctively started walking toward the door, thinking to go find some work to do downstairs in the sewing room.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs, he suddenly stopped short.

No, he'd said he'd rest for three days, and rest for three days it would be—he wasn't to touch anything involving needle and thread, not even a little.

Otherwise, he was afraid that once he started, he wouldn't be able to stop!

Thinking this to himself, Ji Qingzhou turned and instead walked straight down the corridor, entering Jie Yu'an's study.

Passing through the dim little sitting room, as he pushed open the door to the inner room, the sound of Huang Youshu reading aloud drifted out, mingled with the melodious strings of the gramophone.

The daylight on this rainy day was dim, but a small umbrella-shaped wall lamp beside the bookshelf was lit, its amber glow illuminating the corner of the room.

Ji Qingzhou glanced at Jie Yu'an, who sat motionless in the armchair, seemingly dozing off, then walked over and took a seat in the chair on the other side of the desk. As he turned to nod a greeting to Huang Youshu, he suddenly noticed that the book in the boy's hands looked somewhat familiar.

Looking more closely, he realized it was that copy of "A History of Economic Thought" that had previously been sitting on the bedroom dresser.

Right after he'd first transmigrated here, when he'd read Jie Yu'an a bedtime story, he'd specifically picked it up and looked at its cover.

"Huh, even having this book read to you now, are you seriously planning to switch careers and go into business?" he teased, and, feeling it was rather muggy and stuffy, undid the button at his shirt collar.

Since Jie Yu'an had been listening to the reading, he obviously hadn't been asleep—in fact, when Ji Qingzhou had first come back and passed through the corridor to his bedroom earlier, he'd already heard the faint sound of his footsteps.

He simply hadn't expected him to come to the study as well...

Hearing this, Jie Yu'an replied directly, "A' You picked it up at random."

"Picked at random, and it just happened to be the book sitting on the bedroom dresser as decoration? Do you really think I'll believe that?"

Off to the side, Huang Youshu had, without anyone noticing, already paused his reading, knowing full well the two of them were about to bicker for a while.

Jie Yu'an changed the subject and asked, "Not going to make clothes?"

"Taking three days off, not working for the time being." Ji Qingzhou said this in a lazy tone, picking up the newspaper on the desk and flipping through it idly, only to find that what he'd picked up happened to be an all-English issue of the "North China Daily News".

Realizing it had apparently been quite a while since he'd read to Jie Yu'an, and that as a hired mascot he was being rather unprofessional, he asked, "Want to pause your studies for a bit? I could read you the paper, sort of an intermission?"

Jie Yu'an's expression remained indifferent, and with an air of not the slightest anticipation, he tapped the armrest of his chair, signaling that Huang Youshu could go take a break.

Seeing this, Huang Youshu understood, and flipped through the pages looking for the bookmark tucked in near the back.

But before he could find the bookmark, something yellow-and-white in color drifted slowly down from within the pages instead.

"Eh, your bookmark dropped," Ji Qingzhou happened to catch sight of this, and gave him a reminder.

Huang Youshu immediately produced another bookmark from further back, but as for that thing on the floor—not quite round, not quite square, uneven in color, with a hole in the middle... He picked it up and looked at it, but genuinely couldn't tell what it was.

Ji Qingzhou, on the other hand, stared at the thing and vaguely recalled something. He shot a thoughtful glance at Jie Yu'an, then waved A' You over. "Bring it here, let me see."

Jie Yu'an, not yet knowing what had happened, had only heard that a bookmark had fallen out, and assumed it must be some special bookmark that Ji Qingzhou wanted to take a closer look at, so he paid it no mind.

But not long after, he heard the young man give a soft laugh, his tone laced with teasing: "Jie Yuanyuan, that limited-edition spring item I gave you, the jasmine flower bracelet, where'd you put it?"

"...!" With a jolt, Jie Yu'an's expression remained composed, but his ears instantly flushed bright red.

"Hm?"

"Couldn't find a trash bin, so I tucked it in a book," he said, feigning calm, while his fingers, unseen, gripped tightly at the curved armrest of his chair.

In truth, he simply hadn't been able to bring himself to throw it away at the time, and had grabbed a thick book from the bedroom and tucked it inside—not even sure himself which book he'd taken.

Put this way, it didn't seem like much of anything, and yet he inexplicably found it hard to admit.

"I doubt that, don't you toss your toilet paper right into the bin every time, no problem at all?" Ji Qingzhou pulled over the copy of "Sherlock Holmes" sitting on the corner of the desk and tucked the now-flattened, pressed jasmine flower bracelet back inside it.

He clicked his tongue lightly. "Ah, here I thought we just had a simple husband-and-husband relationship. If you keep this up, I'll have a hard time not reading too much into it."

"......"

Jie Yu'an fell silent for a solid ten-odd seconds before his mind settled somewhat, and he said, with an air of composed sincerity, "Properly keeping a gift someone gave you is basic courtesy."

"Oh," Ji Qingzhou held back the laugh threatening to burst out, "So it seems I'm the one lacking manners, judging your gentlemanly heart with my petty mind."

"Mm." Jie Yu'an responded, feigning indifference, though the rims of his ears remained red, and said in a cool tone, urging him on: "Read the paper."

"Alright, alright..."

Ji Qingzhou finally couldn't hold back and let out a laugh, shaking his head lightly, then picked up the newspaper and unfolded it to read.

.

During the days he stayed cooped up at home resting, Ji Qingzhou had nothing much to do, spending his time either sketching illustrations or knitting.

According to the newspaper's commission requirements, the first issue's pictorial called for six women's fashion pieces and two men's, and among the women's pieces, at least two had to feature the new-style qipao.

He'd drawn so many qipao lately that they came to him almost automatically by now, though with such a large market and Shanghai's tailors constantly innovating and reinventing, he still had to think up plenty of fresh variations.

Still, whatever the case, sketching design illustrations was a fairly relaxing thing to do during an idle break. Of the eight pieces he'd promised to submit by mid-month, he finished half of them in just a few days.

As for the knitted coat he'd promised to make for Shen Nanqi, he'd been chipping away at it bit by bit in his spare moments over the past month or so, and it was already mostly done. Spending a bit more time finishing it up these past few days, he finally completed it.

Of course, the weather right now made it impossible to wear, so once he gave it to Shen Nanqi, she'd simply have to set it aside for now and wait until autumn to wear it.

In the blink of an eye, the three-day break came to an end, and Ji Qingzhou returned to work at the shop.

Over the past few days, quite a pile of odd little jobs that Zhu Renqing couldn't handle had accumulated. Ji Qingzhou spent a full day clearing through these small tasks, and the next morning made a pattern sample for Shi Xuanman's Chinese-style dress.

That afternoon, he skipped work again.

After returning to the Jie residence for lunch and resting for two hours, he changed into a Western-style formal suit along with Jie Yu'an, preparing to attend Miss Lu's birthday banquet.

This was the first time since transmigrating that Ji Qingzhou would be attending this kind of formal evening event, and the Western suit that Shen Nanqi had taken him to have custom-made at Yuxiang finally had its use.

He specifically picked out from the wardrobe a cream-white suit he'd never worn before, the waistcoat made of the same fabric as the suit jacket—pure wool formal serge, crisp yet supple.

After tying a black bow tie at the collar of his champagne-colored dress shirt, Ji Qingzhou checked himself in the mirror and couldn't help but click his tongue.

Too close a match...

Too much like a wedding emcee... He felt like the next moment he could just grab a microphone and head up to the stage to offer blessings to the newlyweds.

So he decisively swapped the bow tie for a champagne-colored satin-weave necktie instead, tucking it into the waistcoat, and looking at himself again, it seemed considerably more normal now.

The layered clothing was somewhat heavy, and with the collar and belt cinched tight, it was bound to be stuffy and warm.

Fortunately, even though it was plum rain season, the weather was at least cool, so wearing the full suit wasn't unbearable.

The formal attire he'd picked out for Jie Yu'an was also something he'd never worn before.

A black superfine wool tailcoat, with satin-faced lapels, finely tailored shoulder seams, and a crisply structured, shaped collar. Once put on, the whole outfit was perhaps a touch too formal, as if he were rushing off to his own wedding, but there was no denying it was truly elegant, distinguished, and strikingly dashing.

Ji Qingzhou tied his bow tie for him, pinned on a sun-shaped brooch made of metal and gemstones, then stepped back two paces, nodding lightly, and teased:

"Our handsome treasure here is so good-looking—tonight I'll really have to keep a close eye on you, otherwise I'm worried that with your eyes not working, you won't be able to tell people apart, and some sketchy character will sweet-talk you into running off with them."

"Aren't you the sketchiest one here?"

"Me? My background got thoroughly investigated top to bottom by your family, squeaky clean, otherwise how could I have ever gotten through your door? Don't go slandering an upstanding man."

Jie Yu'an gave an ambiguous little snort, and said nothing more.

"Alright, you've changed and had your hair done too, have A' You take you downstairs to sit for a while. I need to go check on how Madam Shen's getting ready."

Having said this, Ji Qingzhou called out toward the tea room next to the cloakroom, summoning Huang Youshu.

He then headed straight down the corridor toward the West Wing's parlor exclusively reserved for the lady of the house on the second floor.

Shen Nanqi had only returned home an hour ago. After resting briefly for ten minutes once home, she'd begun changing and putting on makeup.

Partway through, she'd even specifically sent Aunt Liang over to the East Wing to hurry Ji Qingzhou along, telling him that once he'd finished getting her son ready, he should come help adjust her look for the evening banquet.

In truth, there wasn't really much to adjust. That white pear-blossom embroidered gown—Shen Nanqi had already tried it on no fewer than three times, and it already looked wonderful on her without Ji Qingzhou needing to do anything.

All Ji Qingzhou could really contribute was helping her pick out matching earrings and a style of heels.

As for the hat, she wouldn't be wearing it just yet—since they'd still need to ride in the car shortly, and with that dramatic wide-brimmed hat decorated with silk pear blossoms and ribbons, she might not even be able to squeeze through the car door wearing it.

For this birthday banquet, everyone in the Jie household would be attending together, except for the elderly, young children, and pregnant women.

While Ji Qingzhou was discussing and picking out matching earrings with Shen Nanqi, Zhao Yanzhi sat on the sofa, her eyes bright as she watched her mother-in-law, with a little girl in a cream-blue dress seated beside her.

"Are you sure about this pair? Won't it be a bit too eye-catching?"

Shen Nanqi put on the earrings Ji Qingzhou had selected and checked herself in the mirror.

In the mirror, her black hair was braided into three strands and coiled into a low bun at the back of her head, with no particularly eye-catching hair ornaments—only a pair of precious earrings set with emeralds surrounded by small diamonds at her earlobes.

Had she chosen the pairing herself, she might have simply gone with a pair of plain pearl earrings. But ever since witnessing Ji Qingzhou's talent for gown design, she'd come to regard him as an absolute authority in this area, even asking his opinion on something as small as whether to pin her hair up high or low.

"Mm, since it's an evening banquet today, feel free to be bold with your accessory choices. At night, nothing shines brighter than the pure white you're wearing.

"Once the lights hit it, everything from the gown to the earrings will sparkle—it'll actually be more visually balanced and harmonious that way."

Ji Qingzhou said this, meeting her gaze in the mirror, "But if you were just heading out for a stroll during the day, then delicate little pearl earrings would suit better as a complement in the sunlight."

Hearing him explain it this way, Shen Nanqi felt that with these grand, statement earrings on, even her fresh and elegant gown had gained a touch more nobility and splendor, and she curved her lips into a smile: "Mm, I'll go with what you say then."

In good spirits, Shen Nanqi put on her gloves, and turning around, saw Jie Linglong curled up on the sofa, her eyes round and fixed on her. "Why are you staring at me like that, Linglong?"

Jie Linglong broke into a grin. "Grandma looks so pretty today. Your dress is like a wedding dress."

"Oh? Have you seen a wedding dress before?"

"In Mama and Daddy's wedding photo, Mama wore a wedding dress." Young as she was, Jie Linglong knew quite a bit, and went on cheerfully, "Wedding dresses are pretty, I want to wear one too."

Zhao Yanzhi, who had just been watching her mother-in-law's outfit with a touch of envy, immediately spoke up to stop her upon hearing this: "Linglong, don't say things like that."

Jie Linglong shrank her shoulders at the scolding, her eyes darting around before landing on Ji Qingzhou, who was leaning against the single-seat sofa nearby. She hopped down from the sofa and walked over to his side, asking, "Cousin-uncle, can I not wear a wedding dress?"

Ji Qingzhou crouched down halfway and comforted her, "Your mom's right about this, wedding dresses are for brides, and you can't wear one just yet. But there are plenty of other pretty dresses just like wedding dresses. How about, when Lingling's birthday comes next year, Cousin-uncle gets you one then?"

"Yay!" Jie Linglong's face immediately lit up with delight, and she hugged his arm, saying, "I love Cousin-uncle so much."

"Oh, you..." Shen Nanqi shook her head helplessly, not scolding her for being too unreasonable—after all, she herself was quite fond of a young man like Ji Qingzhou, gifted in both looks and talent, and cheerful and warm in personality besides.

Once she'd finished getting ready, Ji Qingzhou went downstairs together with Shen Nanqi. By then, the three members of the Jie Jianshan family had already been waiting in the main sitting room for a good while.

Jie Jianshan had originally been idly flipping through a newspaper to pass the time, but upon hearing the sound of high heels approaching, he instinctively lifted his gaze.

The next moment, he saw his wife, holding her hat, stepping in low-cut cream-white heels, gliding forward, seemingly radiant all over—his gaze froze for a moment in a daze.

Several seconds passed before, as Shen Nanqi drew near, he finally snapped back to himself, set down the newspaper, rose, and said cheerfully, "Is this the gown Xiao Ji made for you? Absolutely gorgeous, I thought a fairy had descended from the heavens."

Hearing his blunt description, Shen Nanqi couldn't help but laugh. "And here you are, supposedly a man of letters, using such vulgar phrasing."

"Stopped being a man of letters decades ago, I'm just a businessman now, so you'll have to forgive a bit of vulgarity, my dear wife." Jie Jianshan rubbed his nose and laughed.

Then, as if to deflect the awkwardness, he shifted his praise toward Ji Qingzhou instead: "Xiao Ji looks quite refined and dashing in this outfit today as well!"

"I was just saying so myself. With his hair combed back like that, his face looks even more handsome."

Shen Nanqi chimed in, looking at Ji Qingzhou with a gentle smile, "You should wear suits more often. It really suits you, makes you look just like a young master of our Jie family."

Ji Qingzhou glanced at the two actual young masters of the Jie family standing nearby and replied, "Actually, I'm two years older than Jie Yuchuan."

Jie Yuchuan feigned a complaint, "Eh, dressed up like this, you look even younger than usual, makes me look five or six years older than you instead."

"Exactly, so we might as well just tell people Qingzhou is your cousin, much more believable that way," Shen Nanqi added.

Jie Yu'an, being blind, couldn't participate in their discussion even a single word.

He pressed his lips shut tightly, his heart scratched at as if by claws, an anxious itch with no way to relieve it.

"Everyone's here, let's head out then," Jie Yuchuan said, rising and giving his younger brother's shoulder a pat. "I'll ride with Mom and Dad later. Qingzhou, you go with him in the other car."

Jie Yu'an nodded, giving an "Mm". As Ji Qingzhou walked up beside him and took hold of his arm through his sleeve, he didn't hesitate before slipping his arm free and instead catching the other's hand in his own, palm to palm.

Feeling the familiar warmth of body heat coming through between their fingers, his heart settled considerably, more at ease.

"Holding hands for just this short stretch too?"

Though Ji Qingzhou had long since gotten used to holding hands with him, and understood that Jie Yu'an, being blind, simply lacked a sense of security and so wanted to actively take control of his position as his human guide dog, doing this kind of intimate gesture right under his parents' noses still gave him some measure of hesitation.

Jie Yu'an replied without changing expression, "Easier to walk this way."

"Oh, then let's walk a bit slower, so your parents and your brother don't catch sight of us. Wouldn't want them mistaking this for us running off to elope, that'd be a disaster."

"Watch your words and actions," Jie Yu'an warned flatly.

Ji Qingzhou couldn't help but chuckle at this, "I'll take the 'watch your words' part. As for 'watch your actions,' though, better save that one for yourself."

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