Chapter 88

Xu Wanxin was dressed in a flowing red gown with wide sleeves and a thin, gauzy top wrapped around her graceful figure. On an autumn night like this, just looking at her gave a sense of coldness.

Pei Jian stopped at a distance.

“Cousin!” She raised her head and saw him, exclaiming in delight.

Pei Jian acknowledged her with a calm response, “What are you doing here?”

Xu Wanxin’s makeup was immaculate, and her attire was exquisitely done, yet sorrow lingered in her brows. Under the lamplight, her striking appearance seemed even more melancholy and dreamlike. She pleaded softly, “Cousin, may I come in to talk?”

For a young woman to lower herself so much, any man would naturally feel pity, especially with the autumn wind lifting her gauzy top, adding a touch of fragile beauty.

However, Pei Jian seemed to have a heart of stone. He did not spare a glance at her helplessness. “It’s not convenient,” he replied coldly.

Xu Wanxin was stunned. She lowered her head and smiled faintly, and when she raised it again, two streams of tears slid down her fair cheeks. “Cousin, how heartless you are. Are all men so unfeeling and indifferent? Do you not have a shred of compassion or affection for women?”

Her words were mournful, yet they sounded somewhat insincere to Pei Jian. He had heard a bit about Xu Wanxin’s situation but had not paid much attention. He only knew that the gentleman Xing was a notorious playboy with a group of female companions.

These days, Pei Jian has been busy with matters at the Gu family residence and is preoccupied with thoughts of Nianxi. If not for meeting Xu Wanxin today, she would have rarely crossed his mind. But from her words, it seemed she was lumping him into the group of “unfeeling and indifferent” men.

If this had been back when Nianxi loved him, Pei Jian might not have been so sensitive. But now that he and Nianxi were showing signs of reconciliation, even the slightest rumor would reach her ears. With her proud and stubborn nature, she would undoubtedly ignore him completely.

Therefore, in response to the beauty’s tearful and resentful complaint, Pei Jian’s immediate thought was only to clarify, “Mind your words. You and I have no ties; how could I be heartless?”

His words were as cold and unfeeling as could be.

Xu Wanxin dug her nails into her palms to restrain herself. She had done so much, even disregarding her own reputation, not to hear such hurtful words. “It is Wan’er who is heartbroken and confused.”

Pei Jian refused to come closer, so she stepped forward instead.

Xu Wanxin walked up to Pei Jian and slightly raised her head. Beneath her thin clothes revealed a trace of youthful softness and warmth. “Cousin, don’t be angry with Wan’er. I really have no other options. Cousin, I beg you to help me.”

Pei Jian’s gaze landed on the girl’s delicate and radiant face, lingering for a moment. Finally, out of consideration for a trace of youthful memory, he asked in a deep voice, “What is it?”

Xu Wanxin’s heart was stirred, and her tone became even more tender. “You must have heard about my situation with Mr. Xing, haven’t you, cousin?”

Pei Jian responded with a hum.

“At that time, Cousin advised me to find a good match. I listened to you and accidentally met Xing Yuan. At first, he was incredibly caring and put me first in everything, but gradually, he changed. He became extremely busy and often disappeared. When I sent someone to convey a message, he always brushed it off. Today, I heard from my second brother that he had a fight over a courtesan, causing an uproar in the city…”

Xu Wanxin’s gaze was filled with grief and helplessness. “Cousin, I was so sincere to him, yet he despised and belittled me. I only blame my unfortunate fate, but I still can’t let him go. I toss and turn because of him. The sorrow in my heart is hard to dispel. Thinking of the carefree days with you during our youth brings a flood of emotions, and that’s why I wandered here…”

Xu Wanxin had calculated Pei Jian’s feelings for Wen Nianxi and deliberately placed herself in the same lowly position. She did not believe he would remain unmoved.

In the alley, silence reigned; only the solitary moon hung high in the sky.

After a moment of silence, Pei Jian slowly said, “Xing Yuan is not a suitable match for you.”

“Really?” Xu Wanxin gently shook her head, her eyes already brimming with tears, a picture of heartbreak. “Others also advise me to let go, but my heart just can’t. He used to treat me so well—how could he have changed? Cousin, I wait every day for his message, but day after day, I’m left disappointed. My heart aches so much.”

As she spoke, Xu Wanxin moved closer as if she were on the verge of breaking apart and could no longer support herself, leaning toward Pei Jian’s chest. “Cousin, now you’re the only one I can rely on…”

Just as she was about to lean on him, Pei Jian suddenly turned aside, nearly causing her to fall.

Pei Jian had initially only listened to Xu Wanxin’s words, but gradually, he began to resonate with them. Especially when Xu Wanxin lamented waiting daily but never receiving news from that man, it felt like a bolt of lightning had struck him, leaving him paralyzed.

At the same time, it was like a sudden awakening, making him reflect on all the things he had never cared about before.

Back then, he often neglected Nianxi, always making her wait—this was indeed true. He deeply understood the mistakes he had made.

And those rumors he had never paid attention to before, the unfounded gossip about him and Xu Wanxin since their youth—could those cause Nianxi to endure the same pain as Xu Wanxin now?

He had no feelings whatsoever for Xu Wanxin; both he and Xu Wanxin were well aware of this. But did Nianxi know it?

Pei Jian’s heart suddenly began to pound. He could barely wait a moment longer—he couldn’t allow Nianxi to misunderstand. He had to rush to Nianxi’s side immediately and tell her that the tender words they had once shared on the bed had never been forgotten.

From beginning to end, there had only ever been one person in his heart—her!

Pei Jian felt a surge of joy as he found another reason to see her. It wasn’t until a faint “Cousin” sounded softly that he remembered Xu Wanxin standing nearby.

Rarely showing such a kind expression, Pei Jian nodded slightly to Xu Wanxin and said, “Xing Yuan is not a good match for you. You should turn back from your misguided path.”

“I have other matters to attend to. I’m leaving now.” After saying this, without a backward glance, he disappeared into the night.

Xu Wanxin was left alone, crying and laughing at the same time, her expression distorted.