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A Clever Trick Backfires; Xie Zhuoguang Ends Up Next to Yu Mingyao
Today, Yu Mingyao was dressed especially brightly and radiantly. Her beauty had always been exceptional; with such attire, she was even more dazzling, impossible to look away from.
Just earlier, when she went to greet Madam Shi Luo, the elderly lady simply smiled wordlessly at her appearance.
This made Yu Mingyao lower her gaze in embarrassment, her cheeks blushing red.
Ever since that day she accepted that bracelet, she and Pei Shang were, in effect, officially acknowledged within the household. Though no one openly discussed it, everyone tacitly understood.
It was now early summer; in four or five months, Yu Mingyao would come of age.
For a young woman, this was a significant milestone — she would soon turn fifteen (sixteen by nominal age), and be of an age to consider marriage proposals.
At the thought of this, she glanced at her elder brother beside her.
No matter what happened, she would have her maternal grandmother and elder brother supporting her. It wouldn’t be as difficult as her previous life.
“Hmph! It’s just a birthday — what’s the point of making such a big fuss?”
Yu Jinnian grumbled as he walked. He wore indigo robes today, his face dark the entire time.
Anyone would be displeased watching their lovely younger sister about to be snatched away by some brat.
In recent days, he had run into Pei Shang multiple times outside the residence.
Every time, Pei Shang was overly enthusiastic, fawning over his future brother-in-law, which Yu Jinnian found increasingly irksome.
After speaking, the two of them passed through a narrow path, went through the hanging flower gate, and arrived at the Pei residence’s main courtyard.
Even from several meters away from the main entrance, Yu Mingyao could already see Pei Shang, dressed in a wine-red robe with gold patterns of double lotus blossoms. He was radiant and brimming with vitality.
Those who knew the occasion understood it was his birthday — those who didn’t might have mistaken him for a groom!
As soon as Pei Shang saw them, he hurried over.
“Yaomei (Little Sister Yao), Brother Jinnian — you’re finally here!”
Though he addressed both of them, his star-like eyes remained fixed solely on Yu Mingyao.
Seeing this, Yu Mingyao felt a wave of inexplicable shyness rise within her. She tried to hide behind Yu Jinnian.
The two of them hadn’t met for over a month, except for a brief encounter at Rongjing Hall when paying respects.
Thus, whenever she recalled that moment of late-night stirring, it always made her heart flutter intensely.
“Since we’re already here, why are you still blabbering? Lead the way already,” Yu Jinnian snapped, shooting Pei Shang a sidelong glare, showing no mercy with his sharp tongue.
Normally just as sharp-tongued, Pei Shang merely bowed his head and responded, “Yes.”
He, dressed in scarlet, walked ahead, with Yu Mingyao and Yu Jinnian following behind.
Spring had passed, and with early summer’s arrival, the sun shone much stronger than in previous months.
As Yu Mingyao entered the main courtyard, her gaze landed on Xie Zhuoguang, who sat alone under an apricot tree, dressed in a plain cyan robe.
He sat by himself under the tree, his handsome features lowered, holding a chess piece in one hand, seemingly contemplating a move on the board before him.
The warm breeze lifted the ribbon tied in his hair slightly, yet even that seemed to pause momentarily around him.
A gentleman, dignified and upright, his presence distant and cool like the moon in the sky.
Yu Mingyao only gave a brief sidelong glance before quickly withdrawing her gaze, clutching the brocade handkerchief tightly and lowering her eyes.
After just two or three months, he seemed to have grown thinner.
In such a short time, the elegant young man resembling a bamboo stalk had already matured into a figure indistinguishable from the man who, in her past life, had drunk the wedding cup with her.
Only then, she had been his wife.
But now, she was about to become Pei Shang’s wife.
“Yaomei, what’s wrong?”
Though Pei Shang was walking ahead, he couldn’t help glancing back at Yu Mingyao frequently, even under Yu Jinnian’s watchful glare.
Yu Mingyao kept walking calmly and silently, but whenever he saw her graceful and quiet figure, a sour ache welled up in his heart.
He cast his gaze ahead, over ten meters away.
Ah… so it was that person.
A faint, bitter smile flickered across his lips but disappeared as quickly as it came.
He immediately returned to his usual high-spirited, radiant demeanor.
“Come in quickly — I’ve prepared lots of good food today, and I even asked my mother to bring plenty of fruit wine from her estate. This wine is sweet, doesn’t intoxicate easily, and won’t harm the body — everyone can drink a few cups freely!”
Pei Shang slung an arm around Yu Jinnian, acting like a close brother, yet subtly positioned himself to block Yu Mingyao’s view of Xie Zhuoguang.
Yu Mingyao did not look at Xie Zhuoguang again.
Once the three of them entered, the Pei family’s three sisters, who had been sitting in the main hall drinking tea, immediately set their cups down.
In the center sat Pei Yuzhu, her expression gentle and warm, ready to rise when Pei Bizhu suddenly darted forward like a firecracker.
“Yaosister, I missed you so much! You don’t know how arrogant someone has been at the academy while you were away — not only acting all high and mighty every day, but also clinging shamelessly to the heir-apparent Xie!”
“Hmph, she really should take a look at herself and see if she’s even worthy.”
Among the three Pei sisters, Pei Lianzhu was the plainest in appearance.
Bizhu was lively and charming, Yuzhu graceful and poised, while Lianzhu had always been self-assured but lacked two points in beauty.
Hearing Pei Bizhu’s thinly veiled insult, Pei Lianzhu got up, grabbed Bizhu’s sleeve, and shot back sharply.
In an instant, the large room erupted into a back-and-forth spat between the two sisters.
Before Yu Mingyao could say anything, Pei Shang secretly gave her a meaningful look.
She had yet to figure out what he meant when Pei Shang, still jostling with Yu Jinnian, steered him toward another room.
Li Qing stepped forward.
“The stage in the courtyard has been set; now we’re just waiting for everyone to take their seats. My young master really put in a lot of effort for this birthday banquet — he even reviewed all the acrobatic programs several times to make sure everyone enjoys themselves.”
His expression was humble, and he spoke directly to Yu Mingyao, bowing slightly afterward.
Pei Bizhu, having just finished arguing with Pei Lianzhu, simply gave a cold snort and leaned against Yu Mingyao without another word.
Pei Lianzhu rolled her eyes and followed Pei Yuzhu silently. No one else spoke.
After a few moments, Pei Yuzhu gently asked, “Is it just us few? Or… are there others?”
Her tone was soft and calm, with no visible emotion.
At first, Li Qing was puzzled by the question, then after a long pause, realization dawned.
“Oh! You mean Young Master Xie? I’ll go invite him shortly. For now, please — this way—”
He bowed and gestured politely.
Pei Yuzhu said no more and left with Pei Lianzhu following behind.
Only Yu Mingyao stood still for a while, her usual gentle demeanor replaced with an icy expression.
No wonder… no wonder this person treated her that way in her past life. But why? She was just a secluded woman — how could it have come to this?
All for Xie Zhuoguang? To the point of abandoning sisterly bonds?
And the Pei family — what role did she play when the Pei family faced trouble?
“Yaosister, let’s go…” Pei Bizhu hesitated.
“It’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Yu Mingyao patted Pei Bizhu’s wrist and forced a faint smile.
By the stage, seven seats had been arranged. When Yu Mingyao and Pei Bizhu arrived, Pei Yuzhu and Pei Lianzhu were already waiting in front of the seats.
Seeing Pei Yuzhu about to politely offer seats, Yu Mingyao decided to skip the formalities. She called over a servant.
“Were these seats arranged by your master? Or are we free to sit as we please?”
The servant smiled smartly.
“Miss Yu, you asked the right person! Our young master said if you asked, I should tell you to look at the back of the chairs.”
As soon as he finished, Pei Bizhu stepped forward.
“I want to see what trick my fourth brother is playing now.”
In a few steps, she peeked behind the chairs and burst out laughing.
“Yaosister, come see! Look how shameless he is just because it’s his birthday!”
Yu Mingyao stepped up and couldn’t help but chuckle too.
Of the seven seats, Pei Shang had placed himself in the center, Yu Mingyao on his right. Pei Bizhu sat next to her, and Pei Lianzhu was furthest on that side.
On the left, Xie Zhuoguang had the outermost seat, followed by Yu Jinnian, then Pei Yuzhu.
Pei Shang was quite pleased with his arrangement.
His close friend liked quiet, so he deliberately gave him the corner spot to avoid disturbances.
Yuzhu was the eldest among them, so sitting near the center made sense too.
Everyone could see his little scheme clearly but chose not to expose him.
Yu Mingyao had just sat down when Yu Jinnian and Pei Shang returned, Xie Zhuoguang following at a distance.
Yu Jinnian immediately went toward the seat on Yu Mingyao’s left and was about to sit when Pei Bizhu giggled.
“Wrong seat — look behind you.”
Yu Jinnian frowned, but after glancing at the label, his face darkened.
“Brother Jinnian, don’t be mad! Look — next to you is Young Master Xie, the pride of our academy! Sitting beside him is quite an honor.”
“Then you take the honor — do you want it?”
Yu Jinnian sneered.
Seeing this, Pei Shang grew nervous and quickly said, “All the seats are the same. If I weren’t the birthday boy, I’d gladly switch seats with you today.”
“What ‘brother’? I’m younger than you!”
Finally, Yu Jinnian couldn’t hold back anymore. He was older, yet Pei Shang kept calling him “brother” — who did that favor?
Xie Zhuoguang sat silently at the end, casting a cool glance.
In the end, Pei Shang couldn’t win against Yu Jinnian and let him swap seats with Yu Mingyao.
As Yu Mingyao rose, Pei Shang felt like he had been struck by lightning, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of that blue figure.
“Yaomei—”
He dragged out his voice, pleading, “Don’t—”
“Don’t what?” Yu Jinnian gruffly cut in.
This pretty boy! Still trying to flirt with his sister right in front of him? No way!
For the first time ever, Yu Jinnian showed such dominance in front of Yu Mingyao.
Without waiting for her consent, he sat down on his own.
Yu Mingyao frowned slightly. She didn’t want to sit next to that person, but Yu Jinnian was too insistent, and besides…
She looked up at Xie Zhuoguang in the corner.
Even after all that commotion, knowing she’d be sitting beside him, he remained indifferent, completely detached.
Truly infuriating!
Yu Mingyao bit her lip, resentment welling up as she recalled Pei Yuzhu’s earlier pretenses. Her chest felt like it had a fishbone stuck halfway.
Since it was like this — fine.
Suppressing her annoyance, she wore a cold expression and walked toward the seat beside Xie Zhuoguang.
Thus, the final arrangement became: Xie Zhuoguang next to Yu Mingyao, Yu Mingyao next to Pei Yuzhu.
Pei Shang ended up with Yu Jinnian beside him.