Chapter 53

In recent days, to prepare for the opening of Fusheng Banzhan, Nianxi has been visiting the shop daily to check on the progress.

After finishing his work at the government office, Gu Ci would conveniently come to escort Nianxi back home.

This happened frequently enough that Wang Muyi couldn’t resist teasing them a little. One day, she had a sudden idea and joked, “Could it be that some other gentleman has shown interest in you recently, making Gu Ci feel a strong sense of crisis, and that’s why he’s so attentive and worried about you?”

Nianxi, unwilling to explain, tried to change the topic, saying, “Who said so? Gu Ci has always been wonderful!”

“With his family background and talents, you couldn’t find many like him, even in the entire capital. For someone to make him act like he’s facing a formidable enemy…” Wang Muyi wasn’t easily fooled and muttered to herself, “Could it be Pei Jian?!”

Nianxi retorted, “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Wang Muyi leaned closer and whispered mysteriously, “Aren’t you even a little curious? I keep feeling that Pei Jian treats you differently.”

Nianxi glanced at her sideways. “I’ve barely met him a few times, and you already know?”

Wang Muyi, full of confidence, replied, “When you love someone, it’s impossible to hide it in your eyes.”

“How cheesy!” Nianxi frowned. “Speak properly.”

“I’m telling the truth,” Wang Muyi said with an exaggerated nod. After thinking for a moment, she added:

“But I believe someone like Pei Jian wouldn’t easily fall for someone. Once he does, it might be as catastrophic as the earth splitting apart. He would burn himself to ashes, and the person he loves would also be scorched and in pain…”

Nianxi thought to herself that she must have guessed wrong. Judging by how he described Cousin Xu, it didn’t seem like the grand earth-shattering kind of love.

“Have you been reading too many storybooks lately? Why does your speech sound so excessively refined and pretentious, like my elder brother’s?”

Since that night during the Qixi Festival, Wen Qingheng had occasionally spoken enigmatic words in front of Nianxi recently, intending to encourage his younger sister to live authentically and not be influenced by external factors.

“You’re comparing me to your brother?!” Wang Muyi was exasperated by Nianxi’s lack of tact. However—

“Is Aunt still matchmaking for your brother? I happen to know a few excellent young ladies…”

Successfully changing the subject, Nianxi let out a sigh of relief. Whether Pei Jian was someone prone to emotional entanglements or whether he wanted to burn himself to ashes—what did that have to do with her?

As long as he didn’t come looking for her.

Gu Ci helped Nianxi into the carriage and, on the way home, let her rest her head on his shoulder, gently asking, “Are you tired?”

She mumbled her reply, “Tired! But being able to accomplish this, to open the shop of my dreams makes it all worth it.”

He fondly patted her head. “It’s a pity it only serves women; otherwise, this partner of yours would definitely step in to help.”

Nianxi chuckled softly, her face nestling against his shoulder. “Did you forget you’re my ‘Sister Ci’?”

Gu Ci saw that her eyes were half-closed, already drowsy. Fearing she might fall asleep now and struggle to sleep later in the evening, he playfully pinched his voice and whispered in her ear, “Then I shall come tomorrow to serve tea and water, begging the shopkeeper for mercy.”

“My shop is a proper teahouse.”

“And I am a proper person!”

Nianxi laughed so hard that she slid off Gu Ci’s shoulder. Gu Ci quickly held her steady with his large hand, pulling her into his arms and gently patting her back to help her catch her breath.

“Are you still sleepy now?” he asked softly.

Nianxi, after laughing enough, worried about messing up her hair. She climbed out of his embrace.

Gu Ci carefully tucked her loose hair behind her ear.

Feeling at ease with Gu Ci’s care, Nianxi gave him a sweet smile once he was done and said, “Thank you, Sister Ci.”

Gu Ci, who was always mild-tempered, couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss Nianxi when he saw her cheeks flush red with laughter. Initially, it was just a light touch, but as the kiss deepened, he was unwilling to pull away, lingering and savoring it. Finally, he rose abruptly, crouching in front of Nianxi, his hands braced on either side of her in an encircling posture. His phoenix-like eyes burned as they fixed on her crimson lips, and in a voice, only the two of them could hear, he said, “Call me, brother.”

“Sister,” Nianxi replied with a mischievous smile, earning herself a firm kiss as punishment.

Pulling back slightly, he repeated, “Call me brother.”

“Sister Ci~” she teased again.

Another kiss followed.

He exhaled softly, his Adam’s apple moving visibly, his voice husky and low, “Be good; call me brother.”

“Brother Ci.” Nianxi finally addressed him as he wished, but before the last word could leave her lips, he cradled the back of her neck and kissed her passionately.

These days, Gu Ci had grown increasingly clingy. He always wanted to know where Nianxi was and what she was doing. He resembled a lion, ever vigilant of everyone around Nianxi. On edge and jumpy, he had been greatly provoked by Pei Jian.

Nianxi was willing to soothe his unease in the way he liked.

However—

Gu Ci straightened his posture, rested his elbows on his knees, and exhaled slowly, attempting to mask his embarrassment. Nianxi thought to herself that he was just putting himself in a tough spot.

The carriage stopped at the Wen residence on Yiqiao Street.

Nianxi pretended not to notice anything, got off the carriage on her own, and bid farewell to Gu Ci.

Gu Ci remained seated in the carriage, his face unusually red. Struggling to find something to say, he asked, “Are you going to the shop again tomorrow?”

Nianxi nodded, “It only opened today. Tomorrow is the first official day of business, so I should go and take a look.”

Gu Ci agreed, “Then I’ll pick you up again tomorrow.”

And so, the days passed by in a rhythm of busyness and simplicity.

Later, Nianxi chose a hairpin of equivalent value and asked Cousin Mu to return the favor to Xu Wanxin.

Xu Wanxin politely refused to accept the gift, but Wang Muyi, not being one to back down, responded firmly, “You’re welcome to come to my shop and enjoy a drink. We’re here to serve our guests. But it’s not proper for a guest to give the host such a generous gift. Knowing this is your kind gesture, we can’t refuse outright, so we must return the favor.”

“Otherwise, if word gets out that Fusheng Banzhan took advantage of someone, it wouldn’t look good.”

Her words were tactful yet firm, leaving Xu Wanxin blushing as she accepted, saying, “It was thoughtless of me and caused Sister Wang unnecessary trouble.”

And with that, the matter was settled.

From then on, Xu Wanxin often brought her close friends to the shop for tea and refreshments. Coincidentally, Nianxi was always present, and casual greetings between the two became inevitable.

After a few visits, even Gu Ci noticed and remarked, “Miss Xu sure has a fondness for tea.”

Nianxi had just escaped from her private room and, frustrated, complained to Gu Ci, “Exactly! She pulls me into long conversations whenever she comes, even though we’re not close.”

However, Xu Wanxin, being such a graceful and gentle person, rarely displayed such enthusiasm. She supported the shop wholeheartedly, praising Fusheng Banzhan highly among the noblewomen and promoting it with great effort.

Welcoming guests, she couldn’t possibly put on a cold face, which only made the situation more troublesome.

Gu Ci, however, thought more deeply about it.

Xu Wanxin was Pei Jian’s cousin and had always been deeply infatuated with him. Previously, there had been no sign of Xu Wanxin being close to Nian’er. Yet, as soon as Pei Jian left for Lan County, Xu Wanxin started eagerly trying to get close to her.

Even though Gu Ci believed that no matter how much one loved someone, it would be impossible to befriend a rival in love for their sake, what if Xu Wanxin was that rare exception?

What if she loved Pei Jian so hopelessly that she only wished for his happiness, willing to do anything for him, even to matchmake Pei Jian and Nianxi?

Cunning as Pei Jian was, who knew what schemes he might be capable of?

Gu Ci had to stay vigilant.

“Nian’er, now that everything is running smoothly with the fragrance tea shop, you’ve been working hard lately. Why don’t you rest at home for a couple of days? When I have my day off, we can go to Mount Tu for an outing. What do you think?”

Gu Ci always added a gentle phrase like “What do you think?” or “How does that sound?” at the end of his suggestions. He was always respectful and never made decisions for Nianxi lightly.

“Sounds good,” Nianxi readily agreed, not wanting to continue the polite yet tiresome interaction with Xu Wanxin.