Chapter 33

Qin Lang spotted Gu Ci from afar and greeted him with a wave, “Qingye!”

Then, a beat later, he noticed Nianxi standing beside Gu Ci. Realizing who was next to him, regret instantly filled his mind. When he overheard Gu Ci, with a tender smile, saying something about “telling it to my future wife,” Qin Lang already started sympathizing with Pei Jian.

As Gu Ci’s friend, listening to his ever-changing displays of affection must require some serious resilience. However, since they had already bumped into each other, there was no avoiding the encounter.

With a smile, Qin Lang asked Gu Ci, “Where are you headed?”

Ever radiant and open, Gu Ci replied, “A new troupe has arrived at Wazi, and they’re said to perform shadow plays rather brilliantly. We were just about to go watch. Shizhang, care to join us?”

Qin Lang turned his head toward his companion and, inexplicably, felt a wave of nervousness.

Pei Jian replied coolly, “No need.”

Qin Lang immediately let out a sigh of relief. If Pei Jian weren’t present, he’d definitely tease Gu Ci. When did Young Master Gu develop a new hobby of attending plays? Wasn’t he always the most impatient with these things?

But with the unpredictable “Buddha” by his side, Qin Lang didn’t even dare make small talk. Instead, he urged, “I’ve heard shadow plays are wildly popular in the capital lately; tickets are nearly impossible to get. You two better go quickly. I have serious matters to discuss with Shizhang.”

Since it was a serious matter, Gu Ci didn’t linger. He responded and left with Nianxi.

From start to finish, Nianxi never glanced in Pei Jian’s direction.

Qin Lang indeed had important business to consult Pei Jian about today. His father, who held the position of Vice Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, wanted him to join the Hanlin Academy as a junior compiler to build seniority. After three years, during the imperial exams, this would give him a better starting point and rank.

Qin Lang, aware that his academic abilities were subpar, felt that simply passing the imperial exam and becoming a scholar-official was already a stroke of luck. He was unwilling to enter the Hanlin Academy.

Although it’s said that only scholars enter Hanlin, and only Hanlin graduates enter the Grand Secretariat, he had a clear sense of self-awareness. If anyone had the potential to rise to such heights, it would undoubtedly be Pei Jian—not him.

“My father is set on me becoming a junior compiler. Shizhang, what do you think?”

Pei Jian, independent from a young age, had always been clear and farsighted about his future plans. Since their time at the Imperial Academy, Qin Lang had recognized that Pei Jian was destined for great things. That was why he sought his opinion today.

Pei Jian, his face cold and stern, tilted his head back and drank a cup of wine. He firmly replied, “The Ministry of Revenue is a better fit for you.”

In his past life, Qin Lang had indeed become a junior compiler and endured eight long years of building seniority in the Hanlin Academy. Only when he moved to the Ministry of Revenue he finally displayed his talents.

“I knew you’d have the answer!” Qin Lang’s eyes lit up as he clapped his hands. “The Ministry of Revenue… Yes, that’s where I want to go! Even if I have to start from the lowest rank!”

As if he had been enlightened, the long-standing worry that had plagued Qin Lang was resolved, leaving him brimming with joy. Beside him, Pei Jian continued drinking, pouring himself cup after cup.

When Qin Lang returned to his senses, the jug of wine was already empty. Seeing Pei Jian about to fetch a second jug, Qin Lang quickly stopped him. “Take it slow; be careful not to overdo it.”

Pei Jian shot him a glance, took the wine jug, poured another cup, and said coldly, “None of your concern.”

The man was cold, and so was his voice, like the clanging of bronze, filled with a chilling aura.

Qin Lang sighed in his heart, recalling the scene he had witnessed a few days ago at Pei Jian’s residence—The weather that day was bad, with howling wind and heavy rain, and it was abnormally cold. Pei Jian wore only a thin, light-moon white long robe with a straight collar, leaning on a bamboo couch beneath the corridor. Inside the house, three to five candelabras burned, casting dim light. Facing the courtyard, he held a jug of wine in his hand, slightly tilting his neck back as he drank directly from the spout. The wind roared, surging in through the west window, and the corners of his robe and wide sleeves danced wildly with the wind. Hearing the noise, he turned his face slightly, his eyes as dark as ink. He seemed drunk. The wine jug floated lightly to the ground, and he paid it no attention.

It was as though solitary loneliness was his default state. Crimson red wine trickled down from the corner of his lips, resembling a streak of blood, winding and sliding down, forlorn and desolate. Just like the contradictory feeling he exuded—a deeper layer of desires locked beneath his cold and indifferent facade, suppressing emotions and pretending to be abstinent.

Seeing him like this again today, Qin Lang couldn’t help but advise, “Gu Ci and… her, they’re really quite good together.”

Pei Jian turned a deaf ear, his expression still cold and stern as he continued to pour and drink on his own.

Qin Lang had no choice but to add, “There are many women who like you and want to marry you.”

He almost said: ‘The world is full of flowers; cherish the one in front of you,’ but was interrupted by Pei Jian’s sharp glance.

“They’re about to get married,” Qin Lang had no other option but to say something more impactful, “There’s no need for this. Why not step out and take a look—”

“No,” Pei Jian’s gaze was deep, cutting off Qin Lang’s words, “They won’t get married.”

Qin Lang was stunned, “See how Gu Ci acted just now! As if he couldn’t wait another moment to marry her and treat her like the most precious thing—besides—”

Pei Jian interrupted again, “Even if they marry, there can still be a separation.”

Qin Lang: “!”

Pei Shizhang, something’s wrong with you!

Qin Lang clutched his chest, unable to believe it. “Pei Shizhang, what do you mean?”

Without the slightest sense of guilt, Pei Jian coldly replied, “What do you think?”

Qin Lang was momentarily at a loss for words. Indeed, someone capable of great things—even undermining a brother’s bond—can do so with such righteousness and audacity. How could the friendship between men be so fragile?

“I think you’ll definitely meet a better girl, someone you’ll like even more in the future,” Qin Lang tried to steer Pei Jian back onto a moral path.

“There won’t be another.” After finishing the last sip of wine, Pei Jian stood up and said, “I’ll head out first.”

Qin Lang felt uneasy. He feared Pei Jian might disregard his reputation and follow them to the entertainment quarter. He was about to get up and follow.

Pei Jian waved his hand as if seeing right through Qin Lang and said coldly, “I’m returning to the residence.”

Qin Lang: “…Oh.”

Of course, Pei Jian wasn’t foolish enough to follow them to the entertainment quarter. Doing so would only make Nianxi even more repelled by him. Within this youthful body, his anger and anxiety were difficult to control. He wasn’t his composed, strategic, thirty-something self. That’s why he had done such reckless things.

Pei Jian reminded himself that he didn’t need to do anything; he only had to wait.

Wait for them to separate.

That was an inevitable outcome.

Nianxi and Gu Ci have only known each other for a few months—how deep could their feelings really be? It’s fundamentally fragile, unable to withstand the tests of stormy waves.

Pei Jian was confident that Nianxi would not leave her parents and family. But reason has moments when it cannot be controlled, and he couldn’t help but wonder: what is she doing right now? What were they doing in their past lives?

The more he recalled, the more restless he became. There was a ferocious beast in his heart, always ready to break out of its cage and reclaim Nianxi, who belonged to him. So, sometimes, he needed the aid of alcohol to calm himself down. After all, no one cared about him, and no one would miss him now.