Chapter 49

Xu Wanxin still had tears on her cheeks. As if she had just noticed it, she quickly picked up a handkerchief to wipe it away and said, “I heard that Cousin had entered the Censorate. Did you just return from the office?”

When she spoke, her voice still carried a hoarse tone from crying, and her soft, pink eyelids and lowered head conveyed a sorrowful hesitation as though she wanted to say something but refrained.

Generally, when men see or hear such a display, they cannot help but feel compassion in their hearts, wanting to know the cause of her weariness and melancholy.

Xu Wanxin had always been a beautiful yet fragile woman.

Pei Jian furrowed his brows, preoccupied with heavy thoughts. After a moment, he nodded slightly and said, “It’s late. Why are you here?”

Xu Wanxin lowered her delicate head slightly and said, “It’s hot, and the chirping of cicadas and birds makes one irritated, so I came out for a walk to clear my mind.”

Saying it’s to relax, who would choose such a rundown alley for a walk?

Xu Wanxin was simple and weak, not the type to lie.

Pei Jian did not want to expose her. His gaze swept over her slightly swollen eyes, and he said with calm indifference, “Once you’re done clearing your mind, head back early.”

He spurred his horse forward, but as he passed a carriage, he heard xu Wanxin exclaim, “Cousin, what happened to your face? Did someone hurt you?”

She was deeply concerned, her eyes filled with worry, like a rabbit provoked into agitation; even her voice carried a tone of anger, “Who did it!”

In the past, Pei Jian’s mother liked Xu Wanxin and arranged their engagement early on. Being distant relatives, Xu Wanxin had called Pei Jian “Cousin” since childhood. Even after unforeseen circumstances led to their broken engagement, the terms of address never changed.

Pei Jian replied nonchalantly, “It’s nothing.”

That night, Gu Ci struck ruthlessly, and the injury on Pei Jian’s face only faded after a few days. However, Pei Jian had not held back either, leaving Gu Ci in just as bad a condition.

Sometimes, a fight was better than harboring pent-up resentment.

Xu Wanxin’s eyes flickered as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her pale, jade-like face radiated a homely grace. “The other day, I delivered a letter to you, Cousin, but I didn’t expect you to move. May I ask where you reside now?”

Her tear-filled eyes and naturally fragile demeanor added three parts more tenderness compared to others. At this moment, her heartfelt words were genuinely touching.

Pei Jian currently resides in the home he shared with Nianxi. “We are grown now, and such situations could lead to misunderstandings. It’s not very convenient.” He did not disclose his address, politely declining.

Xu Wanxin’s face instantly flushed red, even her ears turning crimson. “It’s all because of my lack of consideration. I still think of when we were children, carefree and without worries. Cousin, I always remember when Aunt was still with us.”

Pei Jian could roughly guess the reason behind her uncharacteristic behavior today. It was none other than the issue of “marriage.”

As Xu Wanxin grew older, especially after her coming-of-age ceremony, her father, Minister Xu, actively sought matches among prestigious families for her. Being a timid person, Xu Wanxin dared not defy her father but also did not want to marry just anyone. So, she turned to Pei Jian for help.

“Cousin, I don’t want Father to marry me off randomly. He wants to use my marriage to climb social ladders, and I feel deeply wronged. But I’m just a sheltered girl; Father would never consider my wishes, just like when we broke off the engagement…”

“I couldn’t think of any better plan. I had to falsely tell Father that…I admire you, Cousin, and I wouldn’t marry anyone else!”

Pei Jian didn’t think much of her idea. “With such a reputation, how will you marry in the future?”

He had his pride. Since their engagement was annulled, Pei Jian had firmly decided that he would never marry Xu Wanxin again. Moreover, he felt no romantic feelings toward his cousin.

Xu Wanxin smiled faintly, like an innocent little deer, her eyes moist and pure. “Cousin, don’t worry. When I meet someone I truly love in the future, I’ll say it was all a rumor. There’s no evidence anyway, and you wouldn’t go around spreading it, would you?”

As a child, Xu Wanxin often visited Duke Zheng’s residence to play, frequently invited by Pei Jian’s mother. Mother Pei, who loved girls, would always say, “Wan’er is like my daughter.”

In Pei Jian’s hazy memories of his parents, there was always a scene of his mother and Xu Wanxin playing in the courtyard. While he was being trained in fundamental martial arts by his father, his legs trembling from stance practice, he would see his mother and cousin laughing under the trees. At that time, he felt a deep sense of envy. This was a cherished memory he kept deep in his heart.

He, too, had experienced a time when his parents were alive, and life was good. Because of this, he always showed Xu Wanxin a bit more patience than he did with others.

“A young lady’s reputation is precious; please think it over carefully,” he said.

He agreed to Xu Wanxin’s request. Later, rumors spread for years that Xu Wanxin was infatuated with him. In truth, both of them were well aware that he was merely a shield for her, a way to avoid being forced into marriage. However, he was a man of his word and never brought up this matter to anyone else. Moreover, he was too occupied with significant affairs to give this trivial matter much thought. It was something he soon put out of his mind.

Seeing Xu Wanxin’s embarrassment now and hearing her mention his late mother, Pei Jian thought for a moment and said, “This is a rundown alley. Let me escort you to the main street before I leave.”

Joy immediately lit up Xu Wanxin’s eyes, and she nodded with tears in her gaze.

The carriage headed toward Zhuque Street, passing by Washi Market, with rows of taverns and inns along the way. Xu Wanxin lifted the curtain and said, “Cousin, after a busy day, you must head home alone. How about I treat you to dinner?”

Her voice gradually lowered, “I don’t want to go home so early. My father, he…”

Pei Jian’s patience began to wear thin. Nowadays, patience is the scarcest thing for him. Suppressing his own emotions was already exhausting enough; it was difficult to spare any for others.

Besides, Xu Wanxin would eventually have to marry. Constantly avoiding the issue and using him as a shield was no different from drinking poison to quench her thirst. For some reason, ever since his rebirth, hearing others gossip about him and Xu Wanxin had always left him feeling uneasy. After all, he was supposed to belong to Wen Nianxi!

At that time, he had harshly refused the middleman who came on Minister Xu’s behalf, partly to help Xu Wanxin face reality. He could never marry her.

Before he could decline, Xu Wanxin had already changed her tone. “Look at me, so thoughtless. I only cared about worrying for Cousin and forgot that, after a busy day, you must wish to go home and rest.”

She blinked her eyes, showing rare playfulness. “Then next time, can Wan’er treat Cousin to a meal?”

Pei Jian nodded indifferently, “I’ve been busy lately; we’ll talk about it later.”

Before Xu Wanxin could say anything further, he pulled the reins of his horse, ready to leave.

A familiar carriage appeared ahead, stopping in front of an inn across the street. Shortly after, Gu Ci helped Nianxi out of the carriage.

Pei Jian abruptly halted.

Sensing someone looking in their direction, Gu Ci turned around. Across the noisy street, the two locked eyes.

Gu Ci’s expression changed dramatically, his face turning dark and unpleasant. He didn’t notice Xu Wanxin standing to the side, focusing solely on Pei Jian. Thinking of how this man shamelessly coveted his Nianxi, disregarding all decency, Gu Ci even suspected their encounter here might have been deliberate—Pei Jian possibly stalking and pestering them on purpose. In his mind, there was no despicable act that Pei Jian couldn’t commit.

Pei Jian fared no better, viewing Gu Ci as his arch-enemy. The thought of this man, whose future was uncertain yet still clinging to Nianxi, ignited a deep resentment within him. He wished for Gu Ci to vanish on the spot.

Gu Ci’s abrupt change in expression did not go unnoticed by Nianxi standing beside him. Following his gaze, she immediately spotted Pei Jian across the street, along with his cousin Xu Wanxin, standing by his side.

How amusing.

Just a couple of days ago, he had been madly pestering her, and now he was meeting his dear cousin at an inn.

Heh, men. With indifference, Nianxi withdrew her gaze, tilted her head, and lightly tugged on a piece of Gu Ci’s sleeve.

Awakened from his thoughts, Gu Ci responded instinctively by holding Nianxi’s hand, and the two of them walked inside without looking back.