A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Chen Wanxing smiled slightly: "What I'm after isn't your fame and fortune, so why would I be disappointed by that?"

As she spoke, she suddenly leaned forward and lowered her voice: "Compared to this, I would be disappointed if you were so stressed that you couldn't eat or sleep, and made this pretty face look haggard."

Wang Yanning looked at her, her ears instantly turning red, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

Chen Wanxing, however, wouldn't let him off the hook. She winked at him and continued, "So don't worry, as long as you still have this face, I won't lose out."

Chen Wanxing, still leaning forward, brushed past Wang Yanning from the stone table behind him, picked up a cup of tea, and then straightened up. His wide sleeves lightly brushed against the edge of Wang Yanning's neck, as if nothing had happened.

"You're only eighteen. How many scholars in the entire Runing Prefecture are there at eighteen? Although I haven't seen many scholars, I've heard that some people still only get to the lowest level of the imperial examinations even after their beards have turned white."

Chen Wanxing curled the corners of her mouth, her tone slightly teasing: "So I really don't understand, what do you have to be nervous about? The people who should be nervous are the ones taking the exam with you. Being in the same year as you and having such a strong opponent, that's what's unlucky."

Wang Yanning finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. The laughter was very soft, but the knot between her brows and eyes had truly loosened this time.

Seeing his expression, Chen Wanxing softened her tone: "There are so many students every year, it's not uncommon for them to fail the exam."

If you pass the provincial examination this time, you will become a scholar who is not yet twenty years old, which would be a great surprise.

As for failing the exam, at the time it felt like the sky was falling, but looking back now, it's not such a big deal.

"You're so scared now. After the exam, whether you pass or fail, when you look back at yourself now, you might even think you were foolish."

Wang Yanning didn't speak, but the turmoil in her eyes seemed to have dissipated somewhat. Chen Wanxing smiled slightly and suddenly changed the subject:

"If you're really too scared to sleep, why not think more about what it will be like to pass the exam? For example—what's the first thing you want to do after you pass?"

Wang Yanning looked up at her, and this time, instead of thinking before answering as before, he spoke directly, his voice steady: "I will marry you."

Chen Wanxing was stunned for a moment.

He continued speaking, his tone very serious, his eyes clear and unwavering, without the slightest hint of evasion:

"We agreed when we got engaged that we would get married after the provincial examination this autumn, so the first thing I'll do after I finish the exam is to start preparing for our family's wedding."

Looking at his serious expression, Chen Wanxing felt incredibly soft-hearted, but she couldn't resist teasing him. So, she deliberately dragged out her words and asked slowly, "Oh, so you mean you can only marry me if I pass the exam?"

"Of course not!" Wang Yanning's expression changed instantly. He almost blurted it out, his voice was much faster than before, and he leaned forward.

"When we got engaged, we didn't say that we had to pass the exam to get married. We just said that the wedding would be held after the provincial exam, regardless of whether we passed or not."

As he spoke, he suddenly seemed to remember something, and a hint of cautious grievance appeared in his eyes. His voice lowered, carrying a touch of uncertain probing: "If I don't pass the exam, you won't not want to marry me anymore, will you?"

Looking at him like this, Chen Wanxing could hardly suppress the smile in her heart, but she deliberately didn't say anything. She just raised her eyebrows slightly, with a half-smile on her lips, and looked at him.

Although Wang Yanning knew that she was most likely teasing him on purpose, he was particularly concerned about this matter and did not want to have even the slightest uncertainty.

He leaned forward again, this time with a hint of coquetry in his voice, low and soft, as if afraid she wouldn't hear him: "Xingxing, say something."

Chen Wanxing remained silent, but a smile spread from the corners of her mouth to her eyes, sparkling as if she were hiding some secret.

"No matter what you think, I'm going to marry you. We made a promise, and you can't go back on your word."

After he finished speaking, he looked up again, his eyes bright and slightly aggrieved, staring straight at her as if trying to see into her heart: "Even if I really fail the exam, you are not allowed to despise me."

"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore," Chen Wanxing finally couldn't help but smile, her eyes brimming with joy. She reached out and tugged at his sleeve.

"Whether you pass the exam or not, we'll go back and get married after the provincial examination."

Wang Yanning gave a soft "Mmm," her voice filled with satisfaction, and said in a low voice, "Then it's settled, no changes allowed."

Looking at Chen Wanxing's smiling face, Wang Yanning felt at ease. She swayed her arm in response to Chen Wanxing's movement, then carefully took her hand in her palm and subconsciously rubbed it gently with her fingers.

The movements were so gentle, as if afraid of hurting her, and so slow, as if on purpose.

Chen Wanxing's palms itched from his rubbing, and the itch spread little by little from the back of her hand to her wrist, and then climbed up her arm, making her heart itch as well. She couldn't help but gently pat the back of his hand, wanting to pull her hand back.

As a result of her movement, Wang Yanning seemed to suddenly come to her senses. She looked down and saw that she was holding the other person's hand, and holding it quite tightly, with her fingers rubbing against the back of the other person's hand.

His face flushed instantly, the red starting from the base of his ears and spreading across his entire face in an instant.

He opened his mouth as if to explain something, but couldn't utter a single word. He just stared blankly at the hand he was holding, as if that hand wasn't his own.

Chen Wanxing originally wanted to laugh at him, but when she met his flustered and embarrassed eyes, she stopped teasing him.

She let him hold her hand, not pulling it away again, and gently soothed him, "Are you silly?"

Wang Yanning seemed to finally realize what was happening, and hurriedly let go of her hand. But after letting go, she felt something was wrong. She wanted to hold on again but didn't dare. Her hand was frozen in mid-air, unable to retract or release it.

Seeing his helpless expression, Chen Wanxing felt a surge of tenderness in her heart. She couldn't help but smile, reach out and pull his hand into hers, holding it in her own again.

Then she looked up at him, her eyes bright and smiling: "Alright, we've already shaken hands, isn't it a bit too late to let go now?"

Wang Yanning looked at her, the blush spreading from her face to her eyes, softening his gaze even more.

He didn't say anything, but instead gripped her hand tightly with his other hand, gently rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand. This time, it was intentional, and even gentler than before.

The two sat there without saying a word, but the warmth emanating from their hands was more effective than any words could be spoken.

After a while, Chen Wanxing gently pulled her hand away. This time, Wang Yanning didn't stop her and obediently let go, but his eyes were still glued to her, unwilling to look away.

Chen Wanxing stood up and walked inside. After taking two steps, she turned back to look at him and said, "Wait here."

Wang Yanning sat there obediently and waited.

After a while, Chen Wanxing came out carrying a bundle and placed it in front of him. The bundle wasn't big, but it was bulging.

"Open it and take a look."

Wang Yanning untied the bundle, and the most eye-catching items inside were two vests, padded with thick cotton, soft to the touch, and warm just to look at. On top of them were a pair of fur knee pads and two pairs of thick socks with fine stitches.

He looked at each item one by one, and Chen Wanxing sat down beside him. "The cell is drafty and very cold. I specially asked Granny Li to make two thicker vests for you to wear alternately."

As Chen Wanxing spoke, she took out a small porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handed it to Wang Yanning: "These incense pills are made from the same formula as the ones I gave you last time. Take them with you."

Wang Yanning lowered her head, her fingers gently touching the knee pads, then looked at the familiar incense stick in front of her, and remained silent for a long while.

"Are you less nervous now?"

Wang Yanning looked up at her, her eyes bright, and shook her head with a slight smile.