Chapter 112

The winter days were short, and it was almost dark when Nianxi and her group returned.

Madam Li had already instructed the kitchen to prepare a table of dishes everyone liked, but she waited and waited, and no one returned. Naturally, this left her restless.

Fortunately, Zhou Yanli patiently consoled her, somewhat calming her down.

When Wen Yuanqiao and the others finally returned, Madam Li was originally about to get angry, but upon seeing everyone’s pale faces and hearing Father Wen explain what had happened earlier at the teahouse, she clasped her hands together and muttered a prayer.

“Thank goodness Lord Pei shielded you. Otherwise, that strike would have been fatal!” Still shaken, Madam Li was grateful to Pei Jian and asked, “Since it was a life-saving act, why didn’t you invite him to our home for a meal?”

Wen Yuanqiao, too, looked regretful. “If I had known Yanli was here, I would have insisted on bringing Shizhang over earlier. That child values etiquette and mentioned that today was the Winter Solstice celebration, so he declined to visit our home.”

The speaker’s words were unintentional, but to others, they made Zhou Yanli seem inconsiderate.

Madam Li subtly added, “It does seem a bit distant. But considering you’ve only known each other for a short time, it’s understandable. Unlike Yanli, whom we’ve watched grow up, he’s no different from one of our own children.”

Nianxi also noticed Zhou Yanli’s unease and smiled gently at him, saying, “On the way back, I bought honey lotus seeds. I remember you like them, so have some more later.”

Zhou Yanli looked up, a faint smile appearing on his face. “Thank you, Elder Sister.”

Everyone then washed their hands and changed clothes.

The Wen household had no strict rule about remaining silent during meals, so the conversation at the table revolved around the day’s events.

Zhou Yanli suggested, “Since that rogue committed violence in the street, it’s best to report him to the authorities immediately.”

“Shizhang said he would handle the matter,” someone replied.

Father Wen now had great confidence in Pei Jian. Stroking his beard, he smiled and said, “Shizhang immediately pointed out who that rogue’s father is. He’s a deputy censor in the imperial Censorate, overseeing officials. Entrusting this matter to him is undoubtedly the right choice.”

Upon hearing this, Madam Li spoke of social etiquette: “When this matter is resolved, we must properly thank Lord Pei and prepare a generous gift.”

Father Wen, however, inwardly disagreed. Despite their age difference, he considered himself a friend of Pei Jian and believed there was no need for material gestures. But since his wife had spoken, he could not object and could only respond perfunctorily, “I know what to do.”

Wen Qingheng, however, found it even more unnecessary. He thought Pei Jian should be grateful to Father Wen for allowing him to make an impression in front of his sister. Would Pei Jian really have the audacity to accept their family’s gift?

So he casually remarked, “I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Madam Li immediately raised her brows and retorted, “How is it unnecessary? Lord Pei was injured saving your father, yet you remain so indifferent. You were there at the scene—why didn’t you step forward to shield your father yourself?”

“And now you’re talking nonsense again. Tomorrow, you will take the thank-you gift to Pei’s residence and express your gratitude on behalf of your father!” she commanded.

Wen Qingheng never expected that one casual remark would lead to so much blame from his mother. He muttered a response and kept his head down, focusing on eating, not daring to speak further.

After venting her frustration on her son, Madam Li felt much more at ease. She then asked Father Wen, “Does Lord Pei have a wife?”

Not particularly concerned about such matters, Father Wen thought for a moment before replying, “Probably… not yet.”

“I imagine many prominent families in the capital would want him as a son-in-law.”

“Shizhang is indeed an excellent young man. Any girl who marries him is sure to have a fortunate future,” Madam Li remarked.

As the couple chatted about everyday topics, Wen Qingheng remained silent, and Nianxi gracefully focused on eating, her demeanor elegant and composed, never joining the conversation. Meanwhile, Zhou Yanli maintained his usual gentle expression, though the inner turmoil he experienced remained a mystery. He forced himself to endure it, but beneath the table, his hand was tightly clenched, the pain spreading to the base of his thumb.

“Try this; Mother made it especially for you,” Nianxi said softly, pointing to a plate of fish slices.

Zhou Yanli froze for a moment. Nianxi’s gentle gaze was so close. “I noticed you haven’t eaten much dinner,” she continued.

“Every holiday, Mother always has the kitchen prepare everyone’s favorite dishes. Mine is Eight Treasures Duck, my brother’s is bamboo shoots with lamb hooves, and my Father’s is stir-fried chicken mushrooms. This dish of fish slices was made for you.”

“Do you have no appetite, or has your taste changed?” she asked.

Zhou Yanli looked at her, struggling to suppress his emotions, wanting desperately to see a trace of affection in her concerned expression.

But there was none. Her every move was calm and composed. She treated him as nothing more than a childhood companion or perhaps a thoughtful younger brother.

Zhou Yanli lowered his eyes, hiding the sorrow in his gaze, and said nonchalantly, “No, I’ve never changed.” He had thought that his return would make everything as he had envisioned. That the sister he had longed for would also be missing and waiting for him. But her steps had never paused, and as he fought a losing battle against time, others continued to appear by her side.

Zhou Yanli had always thought his rival was the distant Gu Ci, but he had oversimplified things. Listening to Wen’s parents’ conversation at the table, he realized he had underestimated his opponent and overestimated himself.

This realization left Zhou Yanli feeling deeply disheartened. He tried his best to control these emotions, but as a sixteen-year-old boy, it was difficult to hide them entirely.

At that very moment, Nianxi finally reached a conclusion. The red-robed minister of power who once held an umbrella with her under a snowstorm, the old friend who chased her to the mountain pavilion to share tea and listen to the rain—he had always harbored an unspoken, deeply buried affection for her.

For a brief moment, the chopsticks in her hand felt as heavy as a thousand catties. Weighing on her heart was a profound, indescribable sentiment that stirred her deeply. No one understood the feeling of waiting better than she did.

As she looked at Zhou Yanli in this state, an overwhelming sense of sorrow crept over her, rising like water that soaked through her very being, threatening to drown her entirely. “Yanli, are you free tomorrow?” she asked softly.

Zhou Yanli froze for a moment before looking up at her.

“You’ve been in the capital for so long, and I still haven’t taken you to try the city’s delicacies,” Nianxi said earnestly, her clear almond-shaped eyes full of sincerity. “Would you like to go together?”

Zhou Yanli was momentarily at a loss.

Recently, Nianxi had been subtly avoiding him, leaving Zhou Yanli anxious and unsure about what he might have done wrong to upset her. He never expected Nianxi to take the initiative to invite him. Though he couldn’t understand her intentions, he nodded and replied solemnly, “Alright.”

The next day, Nianxi took a carriage to Panlou by herself. Arriving early, she managed to book a comforting private room.

This time, instead of ordering a hotpot, she selected the restaurant’s signature dishes and instructed the staff to serve them once everyone arrived. Then, she quietly gazed at the plum tree in the courtyard, reminiscing about her past and present encounters with Zhou Yanli.

Zhou Yanli was very punctual, arriving much earlier than the agreed time.

“Weren’t we supposed to meet at noon? Why are you here so early?” she asked, her eyes curving slightly, radiating a lively and captivating charm as clear and vivid as a spring.

Zhou Yanli was momentarily dazed by her smile, his heart trembling. It was as if he were transported back to that winter, where a clumsy little girl tried to cheer up a gloomy, sorrowful boy, pulling him back into the light. He couldn’t help but lower his gaze. Beneath his long lashes, he concealed the turbulent emotions surging in his eyes.

“Because Elder Sister hates waiting, so I came a little earlier,” he said.