Chapter 100

Pei Jian was counting the days—it had been seven days since he last saw Nianxi. Considering that Gu Ci had just left, and Nianxi might not be in a good mood, he refrained from appearing frequently around her, fearing she might grow annoyed.

Back when he had just returned after being reborn, his arrogance had cost him the opportunity to act first, allowing Gu Ci to take advantage of the situation instead.

Now that Gu Ci couldn’t return for the time being, Pei Jian had no immediate concerns and had the time to mend his relationship with Nianxi slowly.

In recent days, Pei Jian has collected numerous ancient books and paintings to cater to Father Wen’s tastes. However, at the entrance of Yiqiao Street, he saw Wen Qingheng walking with an outstandingly handsome young man, laughing together as they entered the Wen residence.

Zhou Yanli.

Upon recognizing who that young man was, Pei Jian was almost stunned on the spot. When did Zhou Yanli have dealings with the Wen family?

He had never been aware of their connection.

Zhou Yanli was a member of Empress Lu’s maternal family. After entering officialdom, he naturally aligned himself with the King Jing faction, making him a political adversary to Pei Jian. Furthermore, Zhou Yanli was cunning and adept at manipulating situations, making him an exceptionally challenging rival. Seeing him caused Pei Jian’s previously good mood to plummet instantly.

It wasn’t out of fear.

In his previous life, Pei Jian had successfully supported the Crown Prince to ascend to the throne, and now he feared no one even more. He was simply worried, imagining a certain possibility, afraid that things might spiral out of control again.

The number of men in this world was truly overwhelming.

First, Gu Ci left, and now Zhou Yanli appeared.

Nianxi had a preference for handsome men. Whether it was him or Gu Ci, they shared certain similarities in this aspect.

As for Zhou Yanli, he was elegant, handsome, and even more striking in appearance—and also very young.

Pei Jian suddenly felt a deep sense of crisis and urgency.

At one moment, he had an intense urge to see Nianxi immediately, to ask her whether she knew Zhou Yanli and whether she might be attracted to such a man. Impulsiveness and impatience swept over him once again.

His rationality crumbled quickly, and in almost an instant, he was already heading toward Fusheng Banzhan. He even wanted to seek her assurance—that she would promise not to be attracted to the young man in her home.

Luckily, a sliver of remaining reason stopped him.

Why would she?

Why would Nianxi make such a promise to him?

And why would she need to explain her relationship with Zhou Yanli?

If he acted this way, it would end up just like the previous times—not only failing to get the answer he wanted but also pushing her even further away. Their relationship had only just begun to mend.

In the end, Pei Jian stopped in his tracks. Afterward, he saw Nianxi return to the residence, and it wasn’t until late in the evening that Zhou Yanli finally bid farewell and left the Wen household.

On his way back, Pei Jian sifted through all his memories of Zhou Yanli. Then it suddenly struck him—Zhou Yanli was from Jinling, and before Nianxi returned to the capital, her father-in-law had served in Jinling for several years!

They had known each other for a long time.

Pei Jian’s expression grew increasingly dark. He recalled that in his previous life, even until the time he was reborn, Zhou Yanli had remained unmarried. Some colleagues wanted to arrange a match for Zhou Yanli, but he brushed it off, saying he already had someone in his heart.

Among men, and especially at banquets, no one took his words seriously. But thinking about it carefully now, it was truly unsettling.

Pei Jian didn’t know if his suspicions were correct, but sometimes, a man’s intuition could be terrifyingly accurate!

No wonder Zhou Yanli had been so antagonistic toward him in court!

Recently, he had carefully considered how someone like Nianxi, with her exceptional family background, appearance, and character, would easily attract admirers.

Just look at Gu Ci for proof.

But in his previous life, even after they married, he never realized how precious his wife was. She gave him all her love and enough security, and at that time, he didn’t even have the worries caused by Gu Ci. Yet, he failed to cherish her and squandered her feelings.

Back then, he never imagined that one day she might leave him.

…

In Fusheng Banzhan, Nianxi instructed the kitchen to prepare a few extra drinks and pastries, and she ordered them to be packed and sent to Duke Fu’s second household residence.

Wang Muyi teased, “Lu Xiaoqi just carried off a big bundle yesterday, and now you’re buttering up your seventh brother so early in the morning?”

Nianxi, fully aware she was being teased, playfully replied, “Jealous?”

Wang Muyi clicked her tongue twice, rolling her eyes dramatically, “Careful, or he might think you’re after his father.”

Nianxi couldn’t help but laugh. “Actually, you two should form a sworn brotherhood. With your imagination, you’d have even more to talk about with Lu Huai.”

“This is for Duke Fu’s secondary household. It’s for my neighbor’s younger brother from Jinling. He’s coming to the capital and staying with Duke Fu’s family. He mentioned our shop yesterday, so I agreed to send him some samples.”

“Neighbor’s younger brother? Is he the handsome and obedient one you’ve mentioned before?” Wang Muyi immediately had questions. “How old is he? Much younger than you?”

Nianxi gave her a sidelong glance. “What nonsense are you thinking?”

Wang Muyi retorted slyly, “If you haven’t thought in that direction, how do you know I’m being ridiculous?”

“When I was a child, I was mischievous and often played with him. Now that we’ve both grown up and he’s heading to the Imperial Academy to study for the imperial examination, things can no longer be the same as before. Sending him this food is simply to honor our childhood bond.” And to show gratitude for that snowy day when he shielded her with an umbrella.

Seeing that Nianxi’s explanation was ordinary, Wang Muyi lost interest. “True enough. Gu Ci only just left; naturally, it’ll take ten days or half a month to adjust one’s mood.”

As she was about to shift to a more cheerful topic, they overheard the maids laughing softly by the window.

During this season, Fusheng Banzhan was quiet and had few patrons. Wang Muyi and Nianxi weren’t harsh employers, so the maids gathered together, chatting and laughing to pass the time.

“What’s going on?” Wang Muyi asked.

A maid, blushing, replied, “Madam, please look outside. That gentleman has been standing there for quite a while.”

Curious, Wang Muyi walked to the window and immediately spotted Pei Jian standing forlornly across the street. With his striking demeanor and handsome appearance, passersby, especially the ladies, couldn’t help but turn to glance at him.

Wang Muyi restrained her amused smile and said to Nianxi, “Nian’er, someone is waiting for you.”

It seemed Nianxi wouldn’t have to wait ten days or half a month to adjust her mood after all.

Nianxi got up to take a look, and as if sensing it, Pei Jian lifted his head. Across the bustling street, their eyes met.

Wang Muyi had long suspected that Pei Jian’s gaze toward Nianxi was anything but pure, and now her suspicions were confirmed!

Gu Ci had only just left, and here he was, eager to steal the spotlight.

Ah, the camaraderie of men~

“Is he here out of concern for his dear brother?” Wang Muyi, who loved stirring up such drama, teasingly asked Nianxi, “While his good brother is off on the battlefield, is he here to offer you comfort?”

Before her cousin could say anything along the lines of “a moving tale of brotherly affection,” Nianxi hurriedly walked outside.

Even so, Wang Muyi’s teasing voice followed her, “What’s the rush? Can’t you make him wait a little longer?”