Chapter 60

Gu Ci got into another fight with Pei Jian last night. Both panted heavily, glaring at each other with animosity, wishing they could muster ten times the strength to pummel the other to the ground. Once the best of friends, now they have become like this—naturally, this feeling is suffocating and saddening.

A sense of desolation and helplessness arose in his heart. However, on the way back under the heavy night sky, he recalled the times of his youth with Pei Jian—two equally outstanding and brilliant young men who were carefree and enjoying their time together. Perhaps it was because they got along so well, with personalities that matched, that they ended up falling for the same girl.

Gu Ci still cannot understand how someone with Pei Jian’s personality could fall in love at first sight with a girl. He is such a calm, almost cold-blooded person.

Gu Ci could feel that Pei Jian’s feelings for Nianxi were no less deep than his own—perhaps even deeper, more complex emotions.

Gu Ci was willing to share everything with Pei Jian, except for Nianxi. However, in this world, there was only one pitiful, lovely Nianxi. He tried to teach himself to be calm and at peace when facing this. Yet he still couldn’t bring himself to mention Pei Jian in front of Nianxi—it was a man’s selfishness. He didn’t want even the slightest trace of Pei Jian to linger in Nianxi’s heart, not even if it was hatred.

Nianxi looked at the wound and frowned, asking, “Have you applied medicine?”

Gu Ci adjusted his sleeve and fastened it, his expression still relaxed. “This little injury is nothing to me, don’t worry.”

Nianxi nodded and changed the subject. “Didn’t we agree to go to the southern city for polo today? Let’s go.”

“…Another day.” Pei Jian had hit him so hard that his whole body ached today. Even mounting a horse was difficult, let alone wielding a polo stick.

Nianxi looked at him closely and said seriously, “Didn’t you say it was nothing?”

Gu Ci, a bit late to realize, asked softly, “Are you angry?”

“It’s just some superficial wounds, only scary to look at,” he explained, adding, “I didn’t want you to worry.”

Nianxi replied, “So, I’m doing as you wish, pretending like nothing happened.”

Seeing her like this, Gu Ci felt a bit regretful and carefully said, “But you can’t not worry about me at all.”

“You’re being unreasonable, Little Sixth Gu,” Nianxi said with a sidelong glance, a hint of a smile finally surfacing in her eyes. “That’s too much to ask of someone.”

Seeing her smile, Gu Ci finally breathed a sigh of relief. Mimicking Nianxi’s usual playful gestures, he hooked her little finger and shook it gently, pleading pitifully, “I’m scared of you worrying too much, but also scared of you not worrying at all. I promise, I’ll never hide anything from you again in the future.”

Nianxi reached out and gently ruffled his hair, “Do you want to apply medicine to your wounds?”

Pei Jian was furious, and Gu Ci was pitiful. Judging from the condition of the injuries, it’s likely no medicine had been applied.

Gu Ci hesitated and said, “Some wounds are on my chest and abdomen, and it’s inconvenient to show them to you.”

Actually, his physique was well-proportioned, robust, and handsome. He did want to show it off to Nianxi. However, as they were in the Wen residence, even if Gu Ci had ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare.

“Don’t ever think about it~”

The two discussed and decided to first go to the city’s medical clinic to have Gu Ci’s wounds treated and then head to Fanlou to enjoy some stewed perch.

When they arrived at the medical clinic, it was crowded, and Gu Ci refused to let her accompany him. Nianxi stayed in the carriage to wait.

Unexpectedly, after a while, someone knocked on the carriage window. “Is that Sister Wen inside? I’m Qin Lang, your brother’s classmate.”

Nianxi lifted the carriage curtain and indeed saw Qin Lang standing in front of the carriage, accompanied by an elderly man with a medical kit who looked like a physician.

“Mr. Qin,” Nianxi nodded in acknowledgment but didn’t get out of the carriage. She had met Qin Lang several times before, but they weren’t considered close acquaintances.

Qin Lang, living up to his name, was straightforward and cheerful. “I noticed this carriage from afar and thought it looked familiar. It turns out it really belongs to the Wen residence. Is someone in your family unwell?”

Nianxi shook her head and pointed at the medical clinic. “Gu Ci is inside.”

“That’s quite a coincidence,” Qin Lang sighed upon hearing this. “One after another, why is everyone falling ill at the same time?”

Seeing that Nianxi didn’t respond, Qin Lang wasn’t embarrassed and explained, “I’m also here to request a physician. Pei Jian, who is Qingye’s friend—you met him last Qixi Festival at Qing Shui Pavilion—he’s also fallen ill.”

“He’s so feverish that he’s become delirious, muttering nonsense constantly and even refusing to see a physician.”

“He lives alone, with no one at home to care for him. The steward was so anxious and helpless that he sought me out. I know nothing about medicine, so I had no choice but to come here to request a physician to visit him at home.”

As he spoke, he discreetly observed Nianxi’s reaction. But despite his long explanation, Nianxi remained calm. She didn’t deliberately avoid eye contact or show any shyness; she openly said, “Then quickly have the physician examine him. Being ill is always uncomfortable.”

Qin Lang couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. It wasn’t that he was morally corrupted, trying to help Pei Jian steal Gu Ci’s love interest. It was just that Pei Jian’s situation was truly pitiful.

Qin Lang had known Pei Jian since childhood, as they both resided in the capital. Even at a young age, Pei Jian had an elegant and composed demeanor and a broad mind. No matter the time or place, he was always calm and mature—nothing like his current dejected and downtrodden state. And his face—it was covered in bruises, blue and purple, all injuries. Clearly, he had been beaten up by Gu Ci again. Who would’ve thought that Pei Jian could be such a romantic?!

Qin Lang felt that if Nianxi had shown even a trace of emotion, Pei Jian wouldn’t seem so pitiful.

But—

Ah, a cursed fate.

However, this situation only further highlighted Nianxi’s character, making her all the more deserving of Gu Ci’s deep affection.

Qin Lang didn’t dwell too much on the matter. After asking some questions about Gu Ci, he left with the physician.

Gu Ci never encountered Qin Lang, so he remained unaware of Pei Jian’s illness. After leaving the medical clinic, Gu Ci and Nianxi went to Fanlou as planned to have their meal.

As for Pei Jian’s sickness, it barely caused a ripple in Nianxi’s heart before everything returned to calm again.