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When Yu Mingyao sat down, her heart was originally calm, but this table was far too narrow—so narrow that she could even catch the faint cold scent emanating from Xie Zhuoguang.

His presence was, in fact, much too familiar.

Every time she sat beside him, the memories from her past life would automatically replay in her mind.

The days they loved, the days resentment grew, and the tangled hatred that kept her endlessly restless!

At this moment, Pei Shang spoke, pulling her back from her thoughts.

“Yao-meimei, why don’t you see what you’d like to order? There are many kinds of performances.”

After Pei Yuzhu had finished reading the program, Pei Shang bypassed her and handed the red paper menu directly to Yu Mingyao.

Hearing this, Yu Mingyao lifted her gaze and met Pei Shang’s bright smile, radiant as wild mountain flowers.

Today Pei Shang was dressed exquisitely—like a tuft of white snow wrapped in red velvet, elegant and dashing, and particularly striking.

He didn’t even blink, staring at her intently; his eyes were so full of affection it almost overflowed.

Yu Mingyao let out a long breath and gently said, “You just choose.”

“Then I’ll follow your wishes.”

Pei Shang smiled, a shallow crease forming at the corner of his lips.

Pei Bizhu, on the side, pouted. “And what about me? I haven’t ordered yet!”

She reached past Yu Jinnian, stretching her hand to tug at Pei Shang.

While the others chatted noisily, no one noticed that Xie Zhuoguang, quietly sipping his wine, had frozen for quite some time.

Taking advantage of Yu Mingyao turning sideways to rest her cheek on her hand and gaze toward Pei Shang, he silently swept several glances across her back.

When she had first sat down, she hadn’t turned away from him.

But now, with any stir from Pei Shang’s side, she would immediately shift her body towards him. Her intention to reject Xie Zhuoguang was obvious without words.

An overwhelming sense of desolation slowly rose in Xie Zhuoguang’s chest, making him restless. His hand tilted the wine cup faster without realizing it.

Cough, cough…

Unaware, a spicy burn caught in his throat, making him cough lightly.

Yu Mingyao’s body stiffened instantly.

Though the person behind her tried hard to suppress the sound, once a cough started, how could it be so easily stopped?

He never drank at all; he wasn’t someone who could handle alcohol. Why put on such an act!

She gritted her teeth inwardly, her face darkening.

Before others could cast their glances over, Pei Yuzhu was the first to look at the two of them.

She gave a faint glance at Yu Mingyao, who still hadn’t turned around, and with a soft smile, spoke gently:
“This fruit wine is indeed good, but after all, it is cold. These days are warmer than before. Drinking a little is fine to cool off and refresh the body. But too much of it, the coldness will linger inside and can harm one’s health.”

Xie Zhuoguang lowered his gaze and simply replied, “Yes.”

Yu Mingyao didn’t turn her head either, the frustration blocked in her chest only making her more impatient.

A cup of wine sat full in front of her. Seeing it, Yu Mingyao picked it up and drained it in one go.

“I’ve had wine now too. Sister, why don’t you come advise me?”

She flipped the cup upside-down on the table and crossed her arms over her chest. Though she still smiled, anyone could see the sarcasm in it.

Pei Yuzhu remained unflustered, pretending not to notice. She leaned forward and playfully reached out toward Yu Mingyao’s lips.

“Sister’s sharp tongue—let me see if there are thorns growing on it?”

Her smooth, fair hand came close, but Yu Mingyao raised her own to swat it away.

“It was me who misunderstood Sister’s good intentions. Let me apologize here and now. Sister Yuzhu is here—please do care more about everyone else. After all, as the eldest, you won’t favor some over others, will you?”

Yu Mingyao’s smile deepened, but after speaking, she rose to her feet.

“It’s stuffy here. I’ll go get some air and return shortly.”

With that, she didn’t bother about the others’ reactions and walked out by herself.

Seeing this, Pei Shang quickly put down his cup.

“Li Qing, come here.”

He waved his hand, and the waiting attendant approached.

“Today, I’m entrusting all these ladies to you. You must serve them carefully and make sure everyone enjoys themselves—don’t let anything disturb the mood.”

After saying so, he gave an apologetic smile to the group and hurried off to follow Yu Mingyao.

With two people gone and two seats empty, those remaining at the table fell silent.

The atmosphere grew colder. At that moment, Pei Yuzhu spoke softly:
“Yao-meimei and Shang-ge have both instructed us to enjoy ourselves. Is everyone acting like this because they’re annoyed at Yao-meimei’s little temper, even on a day like today?”

Upon hearing that, Yu Jinnian couldn’t sit still.

“Nonsense! My sister isn’t that kind of person!”

“Exactly!”

Pei Bizhu shot Pei Yuzhu a glare. After speaking up, she tugged at Yu Jinnian’s sleeve.

“We can’t act like this. Otherwise, if word spreads, the ill-intentioned people will be delighted.”

—

Flowers in vibrant hues competed in beauty, each bush lusher than the last.

Unconsciously, Yu Mingyao found herself in a quiet, beautiful spot.

Where is this?

She furrowed her brow. Before she could think further, a hand clapped her shoulder from behind.

“Yao-meimei, I…”

Pei Shang hadn’t finished his sentence when Yu Mingyao suddenly shuddered, turned, and with teary eyes, started hitting and biting him.

“Pei Shang, you scoundrel! Do you know…”

As she spoke, still feeling unsatisfied, she bit down hard. Through the fabric, the flesh beneath was firm and unyielding—she couldn’t break the skin even after two bites.

Ashamed, angry, and grieving all at once, she slowly rested her forehead against Pei Shang’s chest.

She refused to look at him.

Her tears, hot and scalding, soaked into his chest in streams. Pei Shang, unable to care about the soft body in his arms or how her slender arms around his waist made his heart tremble, focused entirely on her averted eyes.

What monstrous thing had he done to make the woman he treasured cry like this?

“Yao-meimei, hit me, punish me, I…”

Pei Shang’s eyes reddened too. He always said such words, but it was always him who made her sad.

The fear of nearly drowning, the unspoken, unavenged hatred had weighed on Yu Mingyao’s heart far too long.

For the past two or three months, she hadn’t slept peacefully even once.

The cold water of the pond had engulfed her head to toe—the suffocating sensation from all sides often made her jerk awake from nightmares, screaming.

Thankfully, eight times out of ten, a pair of cold but steady hands would encircle her waist.

Thinking of this, Yu Mingyao’s arms around Pei Shang’s waist tightened.

She no longer cried. Embarrassed, she nuzzled her face into Pei Shang’s chest like a tear-streaked, docile little wildcat.

Pei Shang hadn’t thought much before, but now that her sobs had ceased and her compliant figure wriggled in his arms, the dark flame he’d been suppressing suddenly roared into a wildfire.

She pressed so closely against him that, even if he tried to block all sensation, he couldn’t ignore the soft weight pressing against his firm chest.

Before he could pull his lower body away, Yu Mingyao quickly let go of him.

“Rogue!”

Her snowy white face flushed with two layers of rosy red.

Her coquettish scolding made Pei Shang feel weak all over. He glanced around—the quiet back garden was empty.

This place was near his mother’s courtyard; knowing her temperament, others wouldn’t come.

Emboldened, Pei Shang didn’t back away but stepped forward, gripping Yu Mingyao’s soft little hand tightly.

He huskily declared,
“My feelings for you are witnessed by heaven and earth. You are my future wife. If I can’t be a little shameless with you, with whom should I be?”

Yu Mingyao glared at him angrily and tried to yank her hand free.

But Pei Shang’s grip was far too strong and determined. Despite her attempts, she couldn’t break away.

Frustrated, she stomped hard on his foot several times.

Pei Shang made no sound but simply led her toward a nearby pavilion.

His voice was still hoarse:
“If you’re still angry, bite me a few more times? The bite marks on my chest haven’t faded yet.”

His roguish tone, like a romantic scoundrel from a storybook, made Yu Mingyao angrily kick him hard again, finally freeing her hand.

Once they sat side by side on stone stools, Pei Shang finally straightened and asked seriously,
“Meimei, did something happen before? Is that why you were so frightened?”

His dark eyes, clear and bright, shone with sincerity.

Yu Mingyao met his gaze a few times before surrendering.

She stared at the small stones on the flagstone path for a long while before softly muttering,
“If I told you someone pushed me that day, deliberately trying to kill me—would you believe me?”

She lifted her head to see Pei Shang’s confused face and widening eyes.

Her heart sank like a stone in a pond.

“If you don’t believe me, forget it.”

Hearing this, Pei Shang anxiously stomped his foot and nearly swore to the heavens.

“I was just surprised, not disbelieving! How could I not believe what you say, Yao-meimei?”

“I believe you—truly, I believe you!”

Hearing this, Yu Mingyao slowly raised her eyes and grasped his hand, but she didn’t look at him again as she spoke.

“But what if I said—that person was your eldest sister?”

“Would you still seek justice for me?”

At these words, all the grievances and bitterness from her previous life surged forth uncontrollably.

She hadn’t been as virtuous as Pei Shang imagined. In her past life, after marrying Xie Zhuoguang, she had once been content.

Pei Yuzhu had always been poised and capable, easily managing things she herself couldn’t comprehend. Back then, Yu Mingyao had felt both uncertain and inferior.

She only had her looks, nothing else remarkable.

But how could a nobleman of Xie Zhuoguang’s character be swayed by beauty?

Aside from being a widow, Pei Yuzhu excelled in every way. As a model noblewoman of the capital, she handled everything with ease—unlike herself.

Sometimes, thinking of her mother-in-law—Xie Zhuoguang’s late mother’s closest friend—Yu Mingyao would be startled.

She’d guarded against Pei Yuzhu, but Sister Yuzhu was so kind that, even seeing her wariness and distance, she would still help her without complaint.

In front of such a good person, Yu Mingyao couldn’t help but feel like her true self was exposed under the scorching sun.

“Yao-meimei, don’t be sad. I believe you.”

Pei Shang saw that, after his silence, Yu Mingyao sat absent-minded and pale as if her soul had left her body.

His heart ached terribly.

Pei Shang squeezed her hand back.
“You don’t know… that day, when I returned after getting fish food and saw you lying pale in Brother Jinnian’s arms—how much it broke my heart.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Mingyao’s mind felt struck by lightning. She snapped awake.

She very slowly withdrew her hand from Pei Shang’s grasp.

That day… it wasn’t Pei Shang?

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