Chapter 45

The carriage ride back to the residence was somewhat silent. Nianxi tried to start a conversation, but Gu Ci seemed distracted.

For the first time, there was an awkward silence between them. They had always had endless things to talk about, even mundane topics like the weather, which made the return journey feel short.

Nianxi knew that Gu Ci had already guessed or even seen something. She tried to explain several times but didn’t know where to begin.

As for Pei Jian, she had loved and hated him, but now she had long let go. However, their shared history was so extraordinary that no one would believe that she and Pei Jian had been companions for thirteen years.

They were the most familiar strangers.

When they reached Yiqiao Street, the carriage stopped. Just as Nianxi was about to get off, Gu Ci suddenly called out to her. “Nian’er, do you like me?”

Nianxi hesitated for a moment, then sat back in her original seat. She looked at Gu Ci and, in a voice softer than usual, said, “I like you.”

Gu Ci, concealed in the shadows, seemed to smile upon hearing her response. His voice was deep and solemn, carrying a tone of commitment, “I like you too, very much.”

He liked her so much that he feared this love was too heavy, too overwhelming to express fully. It was the first time he had ever loved someone. He only knew how to offer his genuine heart, never calculating gains or losses. All he wanted was to give Nianxi the best love he could provide.

Nianxi could feel the emotional fluctuations in Gu Ci at that moment. He had always been a kind and sensitive person. Even though his father and brothers were often away from the capital for years, and he was the youngest son, he knew how to care for his mother and look after his sisters. He handled the small details that others often overlooked with great attentiveness.

Very few people truly love others. For most, love is given with the hope of receiving more in return, much like fishing for affection. But Gu Ci, pure as a child, never hesitated to give. His love was passionate and sincere.

Nianxi leaned forward, cupping his defined young face in her hands.

Gu Ci worried her leaning posture might be uncomfortable, so he leaned forward proactively. Nianxi felt a warmth in her heart—this was Gu Ci, always thinking of others no matter the situation. She took the opportunity to kiss the corner of his lips and murmured in a voice only the two could hear, “I know, I can feel it.”

Gu Ci had already been drawn out from the shadows of the carriage. Nianxi pulled back slightly, thought for a moment, and said, “Master Gu, I have one more favor to ask of you.”

Gu Ci asked, “What is it?”

Nianxi glanced at the broken-armed Mohe doll on the carriage seat and said, “Master Gu, I entrust Gu Sixth Brother to you. I love him too much to see him suffer any harm. You must help me fix him.”

Gu Ci’s face was still cradled in her hands as he gazed at her intently. After a long pause, he nodded firmly, his chin brushing against Nianxi’s palm, leaving a ticklish sensation.

Nianxi tried to withdraw her hand, but he was quicker, grasping it and planting a kiss on her pale palm.

Nianxi’s soft words had soothed the gloom in Gu Ci’s heart, and his voice regained its usual clarity. “Don’t worry.”

“It will definitely be fixed.”

“Thank you, Master Gu,” Nianxi said with a light smile. “Cousin Mu said the shop has already been repaired. Tomorrow, will you accompany me to take a look at it? I wonder how it turned out.”

Gu Ci’s eyes lit up again with vitality. “Alright, I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow. Now go on inside.”

Gu Ci watched Nianxi enter the residence before turning back and heading toward the bustling, vibrant Western Market. It was still the same restaurant and private room as before. By now, night had deepened, and the number of people in the restaurant had significantly decreased.

Pei Jian and the others had already arrived.

When Gu Ci hadn’t yet appeared earlier, Qin Lang quietly advised Pei Jian, “You’ve seen it too; Nianxi and Qingye share a strong bond. There are plenty of women in the capital who admire you; there’s no need to act this way.”

The private room had its windows open, allowing the lively noise from outside to filter in. The night wind was sweltering and restless, arousing annoyance in people’s hearts.

Pei Jian’s gaze was deep as he stared at the moonlight outside the window. “I don’t think so,” he said.

Qin Lang kept an eye on Wen Qingheng at all times. Seizing a moment when he was unguarded, Qin Lang continued, “The girl doesn’t even like you. Why cause such an ugly scene? Gu Ci is serious about her—they will get married.”

Hearing this, Pei Jian turned his head and replied indifferently, “Is that so?”

Qin Lang, exasperated, felt the conversation was going nowhere. “Of course! Don’t tell me you can’t see it!”

Pei Jian pulled out a faint smile, his voice cold. “They won’t end up together.”

Qin Lang retorted, “Must you keep crashing into the same wall until it’s completely wrecked? Qingye sees you as a brother.”

Pei Jian stopped speaking and continued to gaze out the window silently. Qingye was undoubtedly his best friend, but Nianxi was, in the past thirty years of his emotionally barren life, the only woman he had ever loved.

Once, he had lost himself in the rapid expansion of his power, neglecting the people around him. He took Nianxi’s care and devotion for granted. When he felt the warmth of her love, he never thought the sun would set or that the person he loved would leave.

He had tried to let go.

He thought he could get used to it.

But as long as he thought of her being with another man, he could not endure it.

Pei Jian never liked making things difficult for himself. He feared that if things were allowed to develop, Nianxi would truly disregard everything and follow Gu Ci. He feared that if he didn’t express himself or let Nianxi know, he wouldn’t even have the chance to make amends or love her again.

Above all, he feared growing old alone.

Because, apart from her, no one else would do.

He found it impossible to love anyone else.

Pei Jian understood himself. In the many years that had passed, his emotions had been stable, even indifferent, rarely stirred. However, when he returned to this young, impulsive, and irritable body, tormented by restlessness and anger, all his memories of love awakened once again.

He still loved her. This had never changed. Yet, he could never give selflessly without expecting anything in return.

He admitted his own baseness. He wanted all of his lover, to be the most important existence in her heart. He wanted her to reciprocate with the same passionate love—He wanted Nianxi to love him again.

Gu Ci was the last to arrive, his expression as calm as ever.

The four of them sat down.

He raised his cup. “Back when we studied at the Imperial Academy, we lived in the same courtyard, eating and staying together. Now that we’ve entered officialdom, we’ve all become busy and rarely meet. On this festive day, it’s a rare joy for us to gather. This cup, I toast to everyone.”

Qin Lang chimed in enthusiastically, “This is what they call fate, fate!”

The four of them drank their wine.

Gu Ci then toasted Wen Qingheng, “I’ve known Nianxi for half a year, not too long, but my feelings for her have not wavered since the moment I met her. Jinghe, rest assured, in this lifetime, I will treat Nian’er well—only her. Once my father returns to the capital, I will personally go to your noble residence to formally propose marriage.”

Wen Qingheng had already, in his heart, accepted Gu Ci as his brother-in-law. You couldn’t blame him; Gu Ci practically lived at their house, showing endless patience and care for Nian’er—qualities he had observed time and time again. By nature, he had intended to put on the air of an elder brother-in-law and give Gu Ci a few pointers. But given the solemn and formal atmosphere at the moment, joking around seemed inappropriate. He said no more and simply raised his glass and drank.

Gu Ci then toasted Qin Lang, “We’ve been classmates for years, and you know my character well. When I marry Nianxi, you must come and be my groomsman.”

Without hesitation, Qin Lang readily agreed, “Of course.” In his heart, he couldn’t stop mulling things over. Judging by Gu Ci’s stance, he planned to make everything clear tonight. A mix of concern and excitement arose within him. He always referred to Gu Ci as “Young Master Gu” because his temper was nothing like the gentle and harmless demeanor he showed in front of Nianxi. He still remembers that when they first entered the Imperial Academy, a noble youth had said something offensive, and Gu Ci had broken the young man’s front teeth. The incident caused a big stir, and Gu Ci was nearly expelled from the academy.

Qin Lang used to think Gu Ci was wild and Pei Jian was mad. If these two forces of chaos clashed, he hoped the fallout wouldn’t be too disastrous.

Finally, Gu Ci turned to Pei Jian, “Shizhang, we’ve been brothers since childhood. Whenever I got into trouble, you cleaned up the mess for me. I’ve stayed at your house more often than at my own. No matter what I do, as long as you’re around, I feel at ease.”

“Marriage is a major life event. When I marry Nianxi, if Brother Jinghe puts me on the spot and asks me to compose seventeen or eighteen bridal poems, you must come to my rescue.”