Chapter 55:
Xie Yanyu settled his two younger sisters, and taking advantage of the early hour, returned to the Capital City overnight.
Before leaving, he hesitated and looked at his youngest sister for a long time, finally shaking his head helplessly. “Elder Brother believes you know your limits in your actions, so I won’t say more.”
Xie Wanning understood his meaning and nodded very calmly. “Elder Brother, rest assured. I certainly won’t mess around with him.”
In her heart, however, she grumbled that she was worrying about not finding someone, and now he had delivered himself to her door…
“…” Xie Yanyu looked at her speechlessly.
He had never seen any young lady say such things.
The elder brother, with the mindset of an old father, left very uneasily. No one at this farmhouse could control her anymore.
That night, Xie Wanning was so happy she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
She simply ran outside the courtyard to look at the moon.
The bright moon of midsummer shone clearly, even the rippling lake surface was visible.
She looked toward the manor across the wall, suddenly thinking that she wondered if that person was asleep at this moment.
They were so close, yet there was no reason for her to be so excited she couldn’t sleep while that person was completely unaffected.
Thinking this way, she trotted back to the room and rummaged through her vanity case for a jade flute.
Soothing flute sounds rang out under the bright moonlight, and the person appreciating the moon at night across the wall was slightly startled.
Xie Wanning closed her eyes and played, suddenly her ear tips twitched, and a familiar, melodious zither sound blended in.
This zither sound was gentle and soothing, extremely familiar. On the days she couldn’t see, it was what soothed her uneasy emotions.
If he had played a piece for her earlier, how could she have only recognized him now.
Xie Wanning was well-versed in music and naturally could tell his zither skills were extraordinary, yet he was willing to follow her flute sounds.
When the flute slowed, the zither also slowed; when the flute rose clear and passionate, the zither surged like raging waves.
She could surprisingly taste indulgence in it.
Before her eyes seemed to appear that warm and handsome face again.
At the end of the piece, Xie Wanning held the jade flute, somewhat satisfied and ready to go back to sleep, when she heard a man’s clear voice from across the wall.
Pei Yuqing said, “Is it because you just arrived here and can’t sleep?”
His voice wasn’t loud, and Xie Wanning was some distance from the wall, but fortunately it was quiet at night, so she could hear vaguely. She took a few steps to the wall, about to reply, when he said again, “Did you bring the pills I prepared for you?”
The bottle of pills given at Yuxuan Teahouse had long been finished; later, using the excuse of delivering medicinal cuisine, he gave another bottle.
He only said they helped with sleep and nourishing the spirit.
After Lu Ziyan broke into her boudoir at night, Xie Wanning was frightened and suffered from insomnia and frequent dreams, waking several times a night. She had some experience of the pills’ wonders, so she naturally brought them to the farmhouse this time.
But hearing this now, she paused before saying without a guilty conscience, “I left in a hurry and didn’t bring them.”
There was silence for a few breaths across the wall. Xie Wanning waited patiently and heard some movement. Looking up, she saw a figure appear on top of the wall.
It was Pei Er, who had been behind Pei Yuqing during the day. He handed over a jade bottle.
Xie Wanning raised her brow, with no intention of reaching for it. She knocked on the wall and couldn’t help teasing, “Pei Yuqing, aren’t you coming over yourself? I have something to ask you.”
If they were face to face, she might see the almost bashful expression on Pei Yuqing’s face at this moment.
He paused for a long time and, in front of his subordinate, forced himself to stay calm. “It’s late at night; it’s inconvenient for you and me to meet.”
“Oh…” Xie Wanning’s tone faded a bit. “Then I’ll go back to sleep.”
Pei Yuqing called out to her. “Take the medicine.”
Xie Wanning laughed. “It’s inconvenient for you and me to meet, but convenient to secretly give and receive?”
Pei Yuqing lowered his eyelashes and said nothing. He couldn’t outtalk her.
Pei Er, standing on the wall, neither went up nor down. After a few breaths of silence, he finally heard his master speak. “Come down.”
Xie Wanning thought he had given up, her face completely cold as she turned and walked away.
After only a few steps, a figure suddenly appeared before her, startling in the quiet night. She retreated repeatedly, but was grabbed by the arm and pulled back by the person.
“Didn’t you call me over? Why are you afraid now that I’ve come?”
Xie Wanning clutched her chest, wide-eyed at him. “How did you get here?”
If it were Lu Ziyan’s otherworldly martial arts suddenly appearing before her, she could accept it, but… wasn’t this person powerless?
Her thoughts were completely written on her face, plain as day to Pei Yuqing. His lips twitched slightly as he said helplessly, “I’m not entirely useless.”
Having underestimated him and been found out, Xie Wanning blinked awkwardly and asked curiously, “But don’t you have a heart condition? Can you practice martial arts?”
“I practice martial arts only for health, not rigorously,” Pei Yuqing looked down at her. His eyes were unreadable in the moonlight as he explained, “I’m just decent at lightness skill.”
Xie Wanning said “oh,” so that was it.
She had wondered how someone who was next door just moments ago had suddenly appeared before her.
Pei Yuqing said, “Something you want to ask me?”
Xie Wanning smiled. “Yes, many things I want to ask you.”
But now she wasn’t in a hurry. She looked around and pointed to the lake not far away. “Shall we sit over there?”
The farmhouse was not like the Marquis’s Estate; there were no pavilions or towers, no rockery or streams, no viewing platforms—just stone benches everywhere.
Weeds grew thick by the lakeside, with a few stubborn rocks piled up.
Xie Wanning stepped toward it, but he stopped her by holding her arm.
“In this season, don’t easily step into weedy places like this at the farmhouse.” Seeing the young lady’s puzzled expression, Pei Yuqing smiled. “Are you afraid of snakes?”
“…” Xie Wanning fell silent, instinctively gripping his arm in return. “You mean there are snakes here? Will they come into the house at night?”
This lake was not far from the courtyard where she stayed.
The last time she came, it was winter, and she was still blind then, never having thought that the farmhouse in summer would have snakes.
“Don’t worry,” Unexpectedly, his casual remark had frightened her. Pei Yuqing quickly soothed, “The servants around you will take care of it… Otherwise, take me to see the courtyard.”
Could the subordinates not know what the master didn’t?
And the farmhouse stewards—how could they not prepare properly? If snakes, insects, rats, or ants disturbed the master…
Thinking this way, Xie Wanning wasn’t so nervous anymore.
Her gaze still lingered on the weeds by the lake.
Pei Er had already gone ahead to check and confirmed no snakes or insects, so she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Which young lady wasn’t afraid of snakes? She had seen snake sellers at the market, with large and small colorful snakes coiled around their arms— even a distant glance gave her goosebumps.
Pei Yuqing pulled her to sit on the rocks, bending down to meet her eyes. “I misspoke just now. There are no snakes here; don’t let it scare you into sleeplessness tonight.”
“…” Xie Wanning looked at him speechlessly. “In your eyes, am I that timid?”
Wasn’t she timid?
A little rustle and she would be disturbed, tossing and turning all night.
…And somewhat prone to tears.
Thinking of the little girl at their first meeting, wrapped in thick furs, suffering from an eye illness, always on the verge of shedding golden beans, Pei Yuqing’s heart softened unreasonably.
He sighed softly and smiled. “It’s no big deal for a young lady to be a bit timid.”
“…” Xie Wanning was truly unhappy now. She grabbed his lapel and tugged, humming, “I think you’re the timid one, hesitating and shrinking back, not knowing what you’re afraid of.”
Her pointed words made Pei Yuqing’s expression freeze, and he didn’t reply for a long time.
Normally, if he retreated, Xie Wanning would let him go, since she had no intention of emotional entanglement with any man, but not now.
Ever since Lu Ziyan broke into the Marquis’s Estate at night, sneaked into her boudoir, and pestered her relentlessly, forcing her to wait for his return, her idea of marrying to get rid of him had snowballed uncontrollably.
It had been hard for Lu Ziyan to leave the Capital City; if she really waited obediently for his triumphant return, they would enter another round of entanglement.
Could she easily get rid of him then?
He could break into her boudoir at night—what couldn’t he do?
Xie Wanning was unwilling to have any further involvement with him.
Thinking this way, she looked at the man before her with even more anger.
Clearly interested in her, even seeming deeply in love, yet stubbornly refusing to be brave.
He even dared to call her timid.
Where was she timid? Facing Lu Ziyan’s cold face, she had charged forward courageously for so long, growing bolder with each setback, until those painful dreams finally woke her up.
And him?
He was the timid as a mouse!
Under the night sky, the girl’s gaze burned intensely, practically staring him down. Pei Yuqing turned his face away under her gaze.
“Do you still remember what you said?” Xie Wanning said. “If I could remember who you are, you would grant me one request?”
Pei Yuqing’s eyelashes trembled lightly. He raised his eyes to look at her but said nothing.
“Does it not count anymore?” Xie Wanning felt her heart sinking, pursed her lips. “Forget it then.”
She wasn’t one to force things; if he wasn’t willing, could she make him compromise?
It was quite pointless.
Releasing her grip on his lapel, Xie Wanning stood up. “I’m leaving.”
“…Wanwan,” Pei Yuqing finally spoke, his voice hoarse.
Thinking he had finally stopped holding back, Xie Wanning’s heart rejoiced. As she turned, she saw him offering the medicine bottle, and her upturned lips fell instantly.
Blazing anger surged from nowhere straight to the top of her head, burning away her reason. She snatched the jade bottle and threw it directly into the lake.
“Who wants your pills! Pei Yuqing, don’t you think your words and actions are inappropriate? On one hand, you seem gentle and considerate toward me, full of care; on the other, you refuse to admit your feelings. Are you trying to string me along with hot and cold, distant and close tactics?”
“No,” Pei Yuqing clenched his empty hand tightly. His face was unclear in the night, but his tone carried rare panic. “I’ve never thought of stringing you along.”
“Is that so?” Xie Wanning sneered. “If that’s the case, then tell me—what is our relationship?”
Friends?
Even in this open dynasty, there were no rumors of male and female friends meeting privately alone.
Lovers?
His feelings had been completely revealed, yet he stubbornly refused to admit it.
Brother and sister?
That was even more ridiculous. Not to mention they had no blood ties—even her own elder brother Xie Yanyu had never been alone with her at night since they understood things.
So, what was their relationship?
Pei Yuqing was momentarily speechless.
He finally realized that because of his inability to control himself, their relationship had indeed crossed boundaries.
Hardly the act of a gentleman.
Clearly, at the beginning, he only wanted to watch her from afar.
He fell silent for a long time, and Xie Wanning was thoroughly disappointed, even suspecting if she had been overthinking and misunderstood his feelings.
Or perhaps, he truly had no intentions toward her and only cared for her repeatedly because she was his friend’s younger sister?
…No!
She absolutely didn’t believe it!
Whether out of anger or unwillingness, Xie Wanning suddenly reached out, grabbed his lapel, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his face.
The girl’s sweet fragrance suddenly approached. Before Pei Yuqing could react, his cheek was lightly touched like a dragonfly skimming water, and he froze in place.
He stood still for a moment. When he came back to himself, the kissed right side of his face suddenly burned scorching hot. Fortunately, the night hid it, so she couldn’t see.
Pei Yuqing had just thought this with relief when the bold girl pressed her cool little hand against it again.
Xie Wanning touched it; the heat on the man’s face could almost scald. She sneered mockingly, “Hypocritical false gentleman.”
“…” Even with the best temper, Pei Yuqing couldn’t hold on now. He lowered his eyes and looked straight at her.
Xie Wanning met his gaze fearlessly. “Am I wrong? Do you dare say you don’t like me?”
Under the night sky, her eyes were still clear and bright. Probably preparing to rest and having gotten up again, she had only loosely inserted a jade hairpin in her hair, with loose hair at her temples and forehead. She was looking up at him, and they were actually very close.
Close enough for him to clearly see her beautiful lips slightly parted, ready to say more mocking words at any time.
Pei Yuqing suddenly felt his throat dry and subconsciously stepped back.
Xie Wanning didn’t stop him. She released her grip on his lapel, said nothing, turned, and walked away.
She had no mind to discern whether he was just stubborn, hypocritical, or if she had truly overthought and misunderstood his feelings.
She walked away so decisively that Pei Yuqing couldn’t help calling her name.
But this time, she had no intention of stopping. He paused, then finally stepped forward to chase her.
“…I like you.”
Xie Wanning’s steps faltered slightly, but she didn’t turn back.
Pei Yuqing looked at her back, his palm slowly clenching, his voice hoarse. “I like you.”
No one had ever pushed him to this extent.
If he didn’t like her, why would he go to such lengths, let her sway his emotions, wait at the teahouse day after day for her to pass by.
…Why would he let her kiss him.
He could have dodged, actually.
She was right; he really was a false gentleman.
Xie Wanning turned, looked up at him for a while, and said softly, “Bend down a bit; my neck hurts.”
“…” Pei Yuqing’s eyelashes trembled, and he slowly bent at the waist.
Their eyes met at the same level, gazes intertwining.
Xie Wanning said, “Does your promise still count?”
That promise—if she remembered who he was, he would grant her one thing—did it still count?
Pei Yuqing looked at her fixedly and said, “You say.”
