Chapter 31

Pei Jian returned to his residence as the sun set in the west, marking the late hours of the evening.

Gu Ci, who had come uninvited, was seated in his study, casually flipping through the books on the desk.

“Why are you back so late?” Gu Ci was the first to speak upon seeing him approach. “I took Nian’er to play at Ningbi Lake, and we returned much earlier than you.”

At the mention of Nianxi’s name, Pei Jian cast him a glance. “What is it?” His voice carried a hint of weariness.

The candlestick made a sudden “pop,” and a large flame burst forth from the wick.

Gu Ci picked up a pair of brass scissors nearby and trimmed the wick, his gaze remaining downcast. “A bursting flame—seems like something good is about to happen. I’ve been busy with the dragon boat races recently, so I haven’t had a chance to visit you in a while.”

After the passing of the old Duke Zheng and his wife, Pei Jian moved out of Duke Zheng’s residence to live on his own. At that time, he was still very young, and Madam Wang, Gu Ci’s mother, was worried about him. She often sent Gu Ci to deliver things to him—food, clothing, and daily necessities, ensuring he lacked nothing. Over time, Gu Ci would occasionally lament, “I must have been adopted, and Shizhang must be your real son.”

This would always prompt Madam Wang to chase after him, scolding him with a playful hit. Sometimes, when Gu Ci angered Madam Wang, he would come and hide at Pei Jian’s place to escape her wrath. It could be said that Gu Ci’s familiarity with this place was no less than Pei Jian’s own.

Pei Jian suppressed his restless thoughts. “I bought a house.”

“A house?” Gu Ci was surprised. “What for? Are you getting married?” As though he had said something amusing, Gu Ci chuckled to himself.

Pei Jian ignored his teasing, maintaining his stern demeanor. “I happened to come across one, and it’s decent.”

In their previous life, when Pei Jian married Nianxi, their first house was a two-courtyard residence. It was actually a bit small. He was not short of money. With his mother’s generous dowry and the “compensation” from his grandfather, a four- or five-courtyard mansion would have been no problem. But in the capital, where every inch of land is precious, buying a residence that met all his expectations required both timing and luck.

His second aunt, Madam Liao, had tried hard to persuade him to move back to Duke Zheng’s residence. “That courtyard of yours has always been empty. Renovate and expand it soon—it’ll be perfect for your new bride.”

He, of course, refused.

Later, he chose a four-courtyard residence, formerly the estate of a retired official. Apart from its somewhat remote location, it was excellent in every other aspect. However, Nian Xi said she preferred the two-courtyard one because it was more exquisite.

“This house is just for the two of us to live in. Why make it so big? It would feel desolate,” she said.

At that time, he had just begun his official career. His path was smooth, and he had a beloved by his side. With less urgency weighing on his mind, he joked, “If it feels desolate, that’s an easy fix—just have a few more boys, and it’ll liven up, won’t it?”

Blushing, Nianxi spat at him in protest.

Later, he understood why Nianxi had chosen the smaller residence—it was closer to his office, only two alleys away.

The kitchen at the office had an exceptional cook, Old Zhang, whose cloud cakes were delicate, soft, and lightly sweet without being cloying. Nianxi adored them. Whenever they were made, he would take them to her while they were still warm to satisfy her craving. In that little house, they had shared moments of sweetness and happiness.

Because it was small, only a moon gate separated the front courtyard from the rear residence, making the distance very close. Often, when Nianxi broke a vase inside, the sound would reach him in his study.

While immersed in paperwork, he occasionally heard Nianxi managing the household. Despite having only a few servants, she organized them perfectly, with each person knowing their duties clearly.

If he heard a soft tune, it meant his wife was in a good mood, tending to her precious flowers in the corridor. Those few pots of flowers were her treasures. On the days when he heard her raising her voice, it was undoubtedly to scold Xue Qiu. Xue Qiu was her black cat, who loved to damage her flowers whenever no one was watching.

Every time he heard her threaten Xue Qiu, “Do that again, and I’ll sell you, holding all four of your legs—did you hear me?” he couldn’t help but laugh.

How could there be such an adorable girl? Even towards animals, she was so gentle and patient. She said the same words whenever she got angry, with no real intimidation. No wonder Xue Qiu wasn’t afraid of her…

But soon, they moved away to a bigger and better-located residence. Because the house was so large, more servants were needed, including ones specifically assigned to look after the flowers. Two rooms were even set aside as flower houses, tended to by dedicated staff.

Although the number of people increased, the house felt emptier. By that time, he had no energy to spare for anything else. In the front courtyard, people sat outside his study day and night, waiting for an audience with him. Beyond them were his guards and personal servants.

Meanwhile, Nianxi resided far away in the inner quarters.

Though they lived in the same place, it felt as if they were separated by an unbridgeable divide, as distinct as the Chu River and Han Border.

After leaving the Qing Shui Pavilion, Pei Jian wandered aimlessly. Having avoided the mistakes of his previous life, he now had more free time. Until, by chance, he came to Chun Xiao Street, where their old home was located. Seeing the house up for sale, he purchased it without a second thought.

The past he thought he had long since left behind had remained buried deep in his memory. Upon entering the house, bits and pieces of the past scattered in the corners came flooding back, untouched and unforgotten.

In Gu Ci’s presence, Pei Jian placed the property deed in a hidden compartment in the study.

Watching his actions, Gu Ci asked, “Today’s dragon boat races were lively. Did you go?”

Pei Jian calmly closed the hidden compartment, his gaze deep. “I went.”

Gu Ci’s smile froze momentarily, but he quickly masked it. “As expected of my good brother. Were you impressed by my dragon boat performance?”

Pei Jian lowered his head to organize the books on the desk, his expression unchanged. He replied indirectly, “You still have duties tomorrow. Go rest early.”

Gu Ci was silent for a moment before nodding in agreement. As he turned, his sleeve brushed against the desk, knocking several books to the ground. Both bent down simultaneously to pick them up.

“Thud—” A small wooden box slipped out of Pei Jian’s sleeve, landing right before their eyes.

It was a delicate box; one Gu Ci was quite familiar with—a jewelry box from the Treasure Pavilion.

The smile on Gu Ci’s lips stiffened, and a heavy silence enveloped the study. Both men stared at the box, neither making a move.

“Ha—” Gu Ci broke the tension first, picking up the wooden box and opening it. Inside was a pair of tortoiseshell earrings.

“Another pair of earrings?” He toyed with it in his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Why not try something else? Do you really like buying earrings for young ladies?”

Pei Jian picked up the books scattered on the floor, placed them neatly, and then turned to take the earrings. The dim light in the study concealed his expression from Gu Ci.

All Gu Ci heard was Pei Jian saying, “Yes, I do.”

The veins on Gu Ci’s hand clenched behind his back bulged instantly, though his tone remained calm. “Did you give away the white jade earrings?”

Pei Jian’s long, dark lashes cast shadows over his eyes, and he didn’t look up. Unlike his usual aloof demeanor, he exuded a sharp aura now—cold and unapproachable, like ice on a mountaintop.

“What do you think?”

Gu Ci lacked Pei Jian’s restraint and was far from Nianxi’s knack for hitting people where it hurt. Gu Ci was an earnest youth, not yet of age, with the hot-blooded impulsiveness and passion befitting his years. At the same time, he had a soft, forgiving heart. “How would I know?”

Pei Jian finally raised his head. His pitch-black eyes brimmed with a complex emotion that Gu Ci couldn’t comprehend. After a moment, Pei Jian slowly shook his head. “No, she didn’t want them.”