Chapter 8:
“Xie Wanning!” Lu Ziyan still gripped her shoulders tightly, saying word by word:
“These words, I’ll take them as your nonsense. Our wedding date is set, known to all in the Capital City. How can you just say it’s off and it’s off? Even if your parents keep spoiling you, the Xie Family has more than just one young lady. Breaking the engagement right before the wedding just because there’s one more woman by my side—this is the daughter the Xie Family raised. If word gets out, it will bring shame.”
When his voice fell, Xie Wanning stilled for a moment.
He was right.
She was the eldest legitimate daughter of this generation in the Xie Family, and there were two cousins from distant branches at home. In prominent families that valued shared honor and disgrace, breaking the engagement right before the wedding would indeed draw criticism.
And to break it off for such a reason as her future husband having an insignificant woman by his side…
Her parents doted on her and would surely follow her wishes. They might even advise her to reconsider this marriage engagement without her needing to say it outright. In the dream, once the rumor of Lu Ziyan keeping a concubine spread, it was her parents who took the initiative to persuade her.
In the dream, her insistence on marrying probably stemmed from scruples about this point as well.
She couldn’t ruin her two cousins’ futures because of herself.
…But this time, she wanted to be selfish for once.
Xie Wanning looked deeply at the man before her, sighing as if helpless: “I’ve really tried my best, but I truly regret it now.”
She didn’t want to relive the painful regret from the dream.
She was afraid.
Lu Ziyan looked at the intense and complex emotions in her eyes. For some reason, his heart felt a bit stuffy. He opened his mouth, trying to soften his tone: “Wanwan, you don’t need to compare yourself to others. In my heart, you’re always different from them.”
Xie Wanning lowered her eyes, no longer looking at him, and softly hummed: “I believe what you’re saying now is true.”
After all, they were childhood sweethearts; years of affection couldn’t be faked. They hadn’t yet reached the point of mutual disgust.
So, let’s end it here.
Er Qing in the distance seemed to have heard snippets and was looking over with a face full of worry. Xie Wanning smiled at her, then gave Lu Ziyan one last serious look. Under his slightly darkened gaze, she tried to pry his hand off her shoulder bit by bit.
Unexpectedly, it didn’t budge at all.
He seemed different from usual too. In their past interactions, he had never acted like this.
Finally, unable to break free, Xie Wanning got annoyed: “Can you take away that hand that’s touched someone else? I find it dirty!”
As soon as she said it, even Liu Manrou was shocked with her mouth slightly agape, let alone Lu Ziyan’s expression.
Taking advantage of their stunned moment, she successfully shook off his grip, turned, and was about to leave when Lu Ziyan’s icy voice came from behind: “Xie Wanning, even being willful has its limits. I’m not marrying you out of necessity.”
Xie Wanning’s steps paused slightly, then she walked forward without looking back.
None of the surrounding servants dared to make a sound.
Naturally, she didn’t stay for the family banquet. She didn’t even go to the main courtyard to bid farewell to the several madams of the Lu Family, and went straight out of the Wuyuan Marquis’s Estate with Er Qing.
Xie Wanning left as soon as she said she would, but Lu Ziyan stood in place for a good while.
Until a timid voice sounded from behind: “Lu lang…”
Lu Ziyan slowly turned around and said indifferently: “Don’t call me that from now on.”
Liu Manrou clutched her skirt hem, nodding timidly, looking very obedient.
Pink flower petals fell on his shoulder with the spring breeze, but he didn’t brush them off. He only slightly lowered his eyes to look at the woman before him, lost in thought.
After a long time, under Liu Manrou’s shrinking gaze, he said: “The Lu Residence can’t keep you now. Wait until my wife comes through the door, then we’ll arrange for you.”
With that, he turned his head and called out: “Ming Jian, take Miss Liu to Hat’er Alley to stay.”
………..
It was noon, with the sun high overhead, dispelling the chill in Xie Wanning’s heart.
After leaving the Wuyuan Marquis’s Estate, she looked up at the clear blue sky and curved her lips with a smile: “Er Qing, I’ve decided not to marry Lu Ziyan.”
“Young lady…” Er Qing’s eyes were full of heartache.
“No crying. This is a good deed for your young lady.” Xie Wanning smiled and tapped her nose: “A girl fears marrying the wrong man. Lu Ziyan is not a good man; this is timely damage control.”
Since the decision was made, there was no need to hesitate.
Xie Wanning composed her mood and prepared to return home.
Passing by the Lin Family Pastry Shop on Zhuque Street, she couldn’t help feeling a bit ashamed.
She was truly a girl who favored outsiders. These years chasing after Lu Ziyan was one thing, but she had only ever paid respects to Lu Ziyan’s elders and never put her own family in her heart.
She tightened the reins, dismounted, and entered the shop again to buy a few packages of pastries to bring back home.
Unbeknownst to her, she was clearly seen by the two sitting by the window in the teahouse across the street.
Pei Yuqing’s gaze turned to the window, and the hand holding the jade cup paused slightly.
Xie Yanyu was speaking to him, but seeing this, he followed his gaze and saw his own little sister still wandering outside at mealtime, and couldn’t help frowning slightly.
…Had she been unhappy at the Lu Residence?
Otherwise, why leave at mealtime?
He frowned and instructed the attendant behind him: “Go invite the eldest young lady up.”
When Xie Wanning came out of the shop carrying a few packages of pastries, she saw her elder brother’s attendant standing at the door waiting for a while.
She instinctively looked toward the teahouse across the way and saw the two people at the second-floor window facing this side. Her expression immediately turned helpless.
Why were these two still here after so long?
Reluctantly going up to the second floor, she hadn’t even spoken when Xie Yanyu opened his mouth: “Coming to buy pastries at this hour—have you had your meal?”
Xie Wanning answered truthfully: “Not yet.”
The current customs were open, with no rule about boys and girls not sharing a table after age seven. With Xie Yanyu present, sitting with Pei Yuqing, an outsider man, didn’t count as being alone.
Thus, the attendant quickly added a set of bowl and chopsticks.
She took her seat accordingly and realized this position had a clear view of everything downstairs across the street, so she said helplessly: “Elder Brother, why not go to a restaurant for your meal?”
The Capital City was so big, yet they ran into her twice in the same place.
Though the teahouse had meals, they surely didn’t taste as good as a restaurant’s.
Xie Yanyu hadn’t spoken yet when Pei Yuqing across from him answered first.
He said warmly: “It’s quiet here, and the dishes are light.”
Hearing this, Xie Wanning’s gaze naturally turned to him.
He sat by the window, sunlight streaming in to envelop him in half-light, half-shadow. His slender, bony hand held a jade cup filled with what might be wine or tea, his neatly trimmed nails gleaming smooth and clean in the light.
She paused slightly and said hopefully: “Do you two have important matters to discuss? Will I be disturbing you if I’m here?”
Xie Yanyu saw through her little scheme: “Eat your meal quietly. What could you possibly disturb?”
“…” Xie Wanning gave him a sulky glance, then lowered her head and obediently ate.
She hadn’t eaten much for breakfast anyway, and she was indeed hungry.
After a few bites, she heard a clear, crisp voice from beside her.
“This honey-glazed roast goose tastes good. Miss Xie, why not try it?”
